Bring Hip-Hop Back

Filmmaker Byron Hurt was watching Black Entertainment Television one day and noticed that all of the hip-hop music videos had the same formula — nice cars, cash money and plenty of hos backup-dancing in bikinis. That moment led to Hurt's exploration and criticism of hip-hop culture: He examined the violence, the misogyny and the homophobia — in short, gender politics — and turned his findings into a documentary called Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.

Hurt interviewed rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Chuck D and Jadakiss as well as cultural mogul Russell Simmons; commentary by scholars and young women add to the thoughtful, intelligent discussion the filmmaker spurred with his inquiries. Hip Hop is scheduled for broadcast on February 20 as part of the Independent Lens series on Rocky Mountain PBS, but you can catch a free screening tonight at 7 p.m. at Starz FilmCenter in the Tivoli. Visit www.rmpbs.org or call 303-893-3456 for more information.
Wed., May 2, 7 p.m.