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Fear of a Black Hat

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Fear of a Black Hat

R

Released Jun 3, 1994

1h 25m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

This mock documentary follows sociologist Nina Blackburn (Kasi Lemmons) during the year she spends studying hip-hop artists Ice Cold (Rusty Cundieff), Tasty-Taste (Larry B. Scott), Tone Def (Mark Christopher Lawrence) and a series of disappearing white managers. Every rap cliché is on display: sex, sexism, violent imagery and paint-peeling profanity -- all of it, the group insists, with a deeper political meaning -- plus the inevitable rivalry with other rappers and ultimately themselves.

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Anderson Jones

Detroit Free Press

What Rusty Cundieff, who wrote, directs and stars in the film, doesn't realize is that satire isn't just parody; it also requires razor-sharp insight.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 26, 2022

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

The best hip-hop film of all.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 14, 2007

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Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

Director Rusty Cundieff manages to make the film entertaining with fresh gags and hilarious parodies of music videos.

May 16, 2022

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Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

If you've never seen this film but have love for hip-hop in your heart, you need to check it out.

Sep 10, 2021

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

It lampoons the luminaries, yes, but gives their authentic anger, which came from a real place, the benefit of gentler nudges. Its greatest fury lambastes losers who embraced a gangster rap ethos to build a bank account, not let loose a battle cry.

Rated: 4/5

May 30, 2014

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Audience Member

It's ye olde cliche, but, if you like "This is Spinal Tap" (1984), you'll love "Fear of a Black Hat," and not just for the internal rhyme of it all. Larry B. Scott (better known as Lamar from the "Revenge of the Nerd" films) is not recognizable as Tasty Taste, and is so un-Lamar-like here, it will shock you. The sensitivity Mark Christopher Lawrence brings to Tone Def as the gangsta who goes all P.M. Dawn is so great, it's worth watching this one for his portrayal alone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

AKA "This Is Spinal Rap"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Andreas T

This is a complete must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/21

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Audience Member

One of the most underrated movies I've seen. It's basically spinal tap for hip-hop.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

A true classic. One of (if not) the best mockumentary movie out there.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

One of the funniest 90s movies to this date.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Rusty Cundieff

Director

Larry B. Scott

Tasty Taste

Mark Christopher Lawrence

Tone Def

Rusty Cundieff

Ice Cold

Kasi Lemmons

Nina Blackburn

Howie Gold

Guy Friesch

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Synopsis

This mock documentary follows sociologist Nina Blackburn (Kasi Lemmons) during the year she spends studying hip-hop artists Ice Cold (Rusty Cundieff), Tasty-Taste (Larry B. Scott), Tone Def (Mark Christopher Lawrence) and a series of disappearing white managers. Every rap cliché is on display: sex, sexism, violent imagery and paint-peeling profanity -- all of it, the group insists, with a deeper political meaning -- plus the inevitable rivalry with other rappers and ultimately themselves.

Director: Rusty Cundieff
Producer: Darin Scott
Screenwriter: Rusty Cundieff
Distributor: Avatar Films, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co: Oakwood Productions, Incorporated Television Company
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $232.5K
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Ultra-Stereo, Surround, Stereo

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