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Movies / On DVD / Fear of a Black Hat
Fear of a Black Hat

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Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

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84 %
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Reviews Counted:19

Fresh:16

Rotten:3

Average Rating:7/10

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Filmmaker Nina Blackburn takes her camera and follows popular rap group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). The band's 3 members explain their philosophy and reminisce about their many experiences -- which... Filmmaker Nina Blackburn takes her camera and follows popular rap group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). The band's 3 members explain their philosophy and reminisce about their many experiences -- which include run-ins with right-wing zealots, battles with rival rappers and the manipulations of greedy groupies.A mock-u-mentary of the rap scene following one fictitious band called NWH (Niggaz' With Hats). [More]

Starring: Kasi Lemmons, Rusty Cundieff, Larry B. Scott, Mark Christopher-Lawrence

Starring: Kasi Lemmons, Rusty Cundieff, Larry B. Scott, Mark Christopher-Lawrence

Director: Rusty Cundieff

Director: Rusty Cundieff
Screenwriter: Rusty Cundieff

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jul 8, 2003

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Fear of a Black Hat

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1 - 19 (sorted by date)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
3.5/4

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.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Dec., 17 2007 11:24 AM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato
3/4

Peter Travers

The best hip-hop film of all.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 14 2007 03:16 AM

Rolling Stone

tomato
3/4

Emanuel Levy

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 30 2006 03:44 PM

Variety

splat

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato
3/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 28 2005 12:40 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
4/5

Jeff Otto

No review available.

comment Comment | Feb., 07 2005 03:02 PM

IGN Movies

tomato
4/5

Sarah Chauncey

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 04 2004 06:35 AM

Reel.com

splat
63/100

Ryan Cracknell

The rap scene has always had its share of colourful characters that are already caricatures. Why is there a need to spoof it?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 25 2003 12:43 PM

Apollo Guide

tomato
3/5

Janet Maslin

If Mr. Cundieff doesn't match the satirical genius of Mr. Reiner's film, he does understand the rules of the game.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 20 2003 05:09 PM

New York Times

tomato
4/5

Phil Villarreal

Satire at its finest. Uproarious and endlessly creative.

comment Comment | Dec., 24 2002 11:14 PM

Arizona Daily Star

tomato
3/5

Rob Vaux

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 26 2002 07:20 PM

Flipside Movie Emporium

tomato
4/5

Scott Weinberg

It's like "CB-4" -- only funnier.

comment Comment | Jul., 25 2002 11:56 PM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato
4/5

Mike Bracken

It's sad that this film has been relegated to cult oddity status. If you like rap music, biting satire, or are just looking for something different, check this out.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 27 2001 09:50 PM

Mike Bracken's Horror Films

splat
2.5/5

Alvaro Rodriguez

There's no plot to speak of, just gag after gag. Rap fans will likely love most of it; all others, flip a coin.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

Austin Chronicle

tomato
3/4

James Berardinelli

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

ReelViews

tomato
3/4

Michael Snyder

As it recounts the history of N.W.H., the film also manages to lampoon rap music and its archetypes, as well as poking fun at the venal, self-serving music-business types looking to grab easy money from the scene.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

San Francisco Chronicle

tomato

Richard Harrington

Fear of a Black Hat is not brilliant, but it's bright enough.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

Washington Post

tomato
3/4

Roger Ebert

Not as fearless and sharp-edged as it could be -- but it provides a lot of laughs, and barbecues a few sacred cows.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato
8/10

Scott Renshaw

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

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