Rhyme & Reason

"Crack just ripped the asshole out of the neighborhood," says elder statesman rap artist Ice-T in as eloquent and honest an indictment of ghetto drug life as I've heard lately. Of course, this is one of Rhyme & Reason's interesting backboard shots, a tangential zinger in an otherwise steady stream of swoosh sound bites on the history of rap and hip hop. Peter Spirer's maiden documentary offers commentary from the late Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., as well as interview clips with Dr. Dre (who launches a pre-emptive strike against my tribe by allowing that "the critics can kiss my ass, straight-up"), Salt-N-Pepa, and members of The Fugees. At its best, Rhyme & Reason offers a passionate defense (though somewhat scattered history) of hip hop and rap, with great home movie clips of breakin', scratchin', and taggin'. But like the music itself, there's a whole lotta repetition goin' on here; and if you're looking for a serious appraisal of the darker elements of gangsta rap (drugs, sex, and violence, in particular), you're not going to find it in this profanity-ridden valentine. Still, with the popularity of the soundtrack and the dearth of even semi-critical or historical looks at hip hop culture, this is a strong optional purchase. (R. Pitman)