Animation and Hip Hop

Anyone that know their Urban Metaphors, knows that Roses grow out of concrete. And being a fan of this saying I wanted it so badly to describe the very first animated movie I saw that had a hip hop sensibility to it. Unfortunately upon re-watching Bebe's kids it became apparent that a weed growing out of concrete was the more apt metaphor.

As Far as I can remember Bebe's kid was the first animated movie that had a hip hop sensibility to it. Based on a comedy skit by late comedian Robin Harris, it unfortunately did not stand the test of time when recently watching it as an adult. Both critics and the studio that produced it gave it the side eye treatment. Reviews for it were horrible and the DVD was discontinued due to low sales.

Now thinking of Hip Hop and Animation in the same sentence gives people pause. After all Hip Hop is stereotypically about gritty street imagery, while animation is stereotypically about cute talking animals and bunnies, and flowers and fairy princesses. However I might suggest that this is because these people never ever paid full attention to Disney Movies in particular their villains who show us mere mortals how grimy is done.

In Disney's very first Movie “Snow White” the Evil Queen literally ask for Snow Whites heart to be bought to her in a box. Disney screwed up many a child hood by killing Bambi's mother. In “Sleeping Beauty” Maleficent catches feelings cause she wasn't invited to a birthday part so she curses a infant with a horrible death (not making this up folks, re-watch the movie.)

Both Lady Tremaine (aka this Axe murderer looking bitch from "Cinderella")



And Madame Medusa from “The Rescuers”
didn't just write the definitive books on Child endangerment and abuse but they founded and maintain the library on that subject.

Let's not forget Judge Claude Frollo who if we learned anything from “Hunchback of Notre Dame” is that his favorite pickup line is “Sleep with me, or I'll kill you and your entire ethnic Group.” So yeah fuck that Bull@#$% If you're walking down the block and Captain Hook and his crew are on one side of the road and the Crips are on the other side you better walk in the middle .

So after that brief education in Disney Griminess and the early failures to incorporate Hip Hop and Animation (Not even going to discuss the MC Hammer Cartoon aka “That which must be named.” Here are some examples of making it work.



Afro Samurai – In contrast to Disney's falsely earned reputation for being all pixie dust and fluffiness, Anime always had a harder edged reputation, that gained it a big underground audience. So it wasn't out of left field when Afro Samurai with its Kung Fu Movie, Rap and Japanese cultural references, was introduced. Further adding to the pedigree is the soundtrack by Wu-Tang's Rza and the lead character being voiced by Samuel L. Jackson.



Samurai Champloo – Another example of Hip Hop and Anime. A excellent soundtrack provided by the now regrettably deceased Producer Nujabes. The Anachronistic story telling includes beat boxing Samurai, Break-dancing Samurai, Yakuza with Gold Fronts, A episode that gives a completely new meaning to “blazing trees”. In addition this anime also tackles some social issues like the mistreatment of the Ainu, a minority group in Japan, homosexuality, and the early persecutions of Christians in early Japan.



Madagascar 2 – For the Second Madagascar movie Movie Soundtrack Movie Maestro Hans Zimmer teamed up with Will I Am for a Animated movie with a Heavily Hip Hop tinged soundtrack. My Favorite moment of this movie was Alex On The Spot/The Traveling Song where the Hans Zimmer/Will I Am combination create a truly moving father/son moment.





Despicable Me – For their first animated outing the guys who did Despicable Me went with a Big Gun, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes. As Far as I can tell this is Pharrell's first movie composer credit and I'm impressed. The high point is probably the R&B and Jazz infused song “Prettiest Girls”. The Title song for this movie is also killer.


Honorable Mentions:

(Gatchaman :)

While Technically not Hip Hop C'mon its a soundtrack composed by Earth Wind and Fire's Maurice White and the 80's R&B Inspired exit song for Gatchaman isn't bad.




(Proud Family:)

So Yeah Breakdancing against Mutant Peanuts........



(Tengo Tenge:)

One of the few Animes with a black central character it makes the list with its snazzy dance opening