Fear of a Black Hat (1994)
Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 3
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 4,778
My Rating
Movie Info
Writer/director Rusty Cundieff's satire of gangsta rappers, focusing on a hiphop trio who release a Christmas album called "Ho Ho 'Hos." ~ Nicole Gagne, Rovi
Jun 3, 1994 Wide
Jul 8, 2003
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Rusty Cundieff
Ice Cold -
Larry B. Scott
Tasty Taste -
Mark Christopher Lawrence
Tone Def -
Kasi Lemmons
Nina Blackburn -
Howie Gold
Guy Friesch -
Barry Heins
Marty Rabinow -
Eric Laneuville
Jike Singelton -
Rochelle Ashana
Tiffini -
G. Smokey Campbell
Backstage Manager #1 -
Lance Crouther
Street Vender -
Deezer D
Jam Boy -
Nancy Giles
Loreatha -
Rosemary Jackson
Cheryl C. -
Penny Johnson
Re-Re -
Clyde Jones
Rico -
Homeselle Joy
Mabel Ann Jackson -
Kurt Loder
Himself -
-
Brad Sanders
Promoter #2 -
Jeff Burr
Chicago Cop -
Kenneth J. Hall
John Liggert -
Tim Hutchinson
Reggie Clay -
Lamont Johnson
MC Slammer -
Darin Scott
Security Head -
Don Reed
Daryll in Charge -
-
Jeff Pollack
White Punk #2 -
-
Moon Jones
Jam Boy -
Billy Elmer
Security Guard #1 -
-
-
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (20) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (3) | DVD (5)
The best hip-hop film of all.
Inspired by This Is Spinal Tap, this mockumentary exposes the trials of a hardcore rap band, N.W.H. (Niggas With Hats) with wild, irreverent humor and exuberant music.
While individual interviews, pop-video parodies and album titles hit the mark, the film as a whole is insufficiently clear-cut in its satire of the bands' dubious antics and attitudes.
Top CriticIf Mr. Cundieff doesn't match the satirical genius of Mr. Reiner's film, he does understand the rules of the game.
Not as fearless and sharp-edged as it could be -- but it provides a lot of laughs, and barbecues a few sacred cows.
This movie is not tightly-scripted or elegantly produced, but it is (for the most part) highly entertaining. For those who have been waiting for a sequel to Spinal Tap, this may be the best alternative.
Borrowing intelligently from This is Spinal Tap, writer-director-actor Rusty Cundieff has crafted a mock music documentary that is as irreverent, hilarious, and tough-minded as its model.
The rap scene has always had its share of colourful characters that are already caricatures. Why is there a need to spoof it?
To me, Fear of a Black Hat has more focus and is more accurate in its tearing apart of the early '90s rap industry than Spinal Tap was regarding heavy metal.
Satire at its finest. Uproarious and endlessly creative.
It's like "CB-4" -- only funnier.
There's no plot to speak of, just gag after gag. Rap fans will likely love most of it; all others, flip a coin.
Cundieff is perhaps most adept at skewering rap's self-important politics through Ice Cold's wonderfully improbable explanations of how songs such as 'Booty Juice' actually contain an important social message.
Audience Reviews for Fear of a Black Hat
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Fear of a Black Hat yet.
Latest News on Fear of a Black Hat
December 19, 2007:
Total Recall: Walk Hard While My Biopic Gently WeepsOn Friday, you'll finally be able to see John C. Reilly take center stage. He'll be playing Dewey...
What's Hot On RT
The Last Stand, Side Effects
Trailer for new Coen Bros movie
Rachel McAdams' time travel romantic drama
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- See the Best-Reviewed in Summer Movie Scorecard 2013 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Last Stand and Side Effects 9
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Star Trek Softer Than Expected at #1 82
- Weekly Ketchup: Will Smith to Star in Wild Bunch Remake? 37
- Critics Consensus: Star Trek Into Darkness is Certified Fresh 106
- Red Carpet Roundup: Star Trek Into Darkness Edition 0
- Video Interviews with Katie Aselton & Lake Bell of Black Rock 2
Top Headlines
-
Poltergeist Remake Synopsis Hints at Plot Differences
0
-
Kristen Wiig Says Welcome to Me
0
-
David Fincher's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Gets Bumped
0
-
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Remake in the Works
0
-
Alex Gibney Talks We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks
0
-
RED Screenwriters Returning for RED 3
0
-
Brave's Brenda Chapman Talks Merida Makeover Controversy
2
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
The film's title probably didn't do much for its marketing campaign, if there even was one. And really, that's the only area where this movie failed. It's like CB4 but funny. And relevant. Even to this day. Even if you don't like rap as much as I do.