Fear of a Black Hat

Play trailer

Fear of a Black Hat

R

Released Jun 3, 1994

1h 25m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

24 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.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

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

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

The best hip-hop film of all.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 14, 2007

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

Audience Member

AKA "This Is Spinal Rap"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Andreas T

This is a complete must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/21

Full Review

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

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

william s

It's not as good as Spinal Tap but it's in the neighborhood.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Friday

76%

91%

Friday

Watchlist

House Party 3

0%

67%

House Party 3

Watchlist

Whiteboys

13%

45%

Whiteboys

Watchlist

Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood

32%

80%

Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood

Watchlist

The Last Big Thing

67%

60%

The Last Big Thing

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Tomatopalooza: Cinema’s Greatest Fake Bands

Total Recall: Walk Hard While My Biopic Gently Weeps

"Bond 22" Claims May 8th, 2008

View more photos

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: Incorporated Television Company, Oakwood Productions
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

Most Popular at Home Now