'SKIP HOP' DVD - Capturing True Australian Hip-Hop Culture
Author: Newzfusion
Friday, August 11, 2006
Charting the rise of the genre from its roots and detailing the history of hip hop in Australia, Skip Hop includes interviews and music from Def Wish Cast, DJ Peril, Hilltop Hoods, The Herd and Wickid Force Breakers, all of which have played an important role in the evolution of hip hop in Australia.
Both entertaining and educational, 'Skip Hop' focuses not only on the sounds of hip hop, but highlights other aspects of Australian hip hop culture - the music, the dance, the fashion and the message. Skip Hop also gives an insight into the future of Australian hip hop, showing a positive movement taught through workshops for kids providing guidance from prominent artists within the scene.
Exploring the popularity of hip hop amongst everyone from men and women through to primary school children, Skip Hop features heated b-boy battles, controversial MC battles, interviews and live footage collected from prominent gigs around Australia. This spirited mix draws the audience along with its upbeat rhythms and rhymes consistent with the genre, embracing a strong culture that joins youth and positive force together as an avenue of self-expression.
Skip Hop producer/director/editor Oriel has a profound love for hip hop, and was initially introduced to the culture by listening to the music, and open ciphers. Whilst living in Canberra she became involved with graffiti, and was influenced by fellow "graffer" friends painting in the inner city storm water drains. Upon moving to Melbourne, Oriel started conducting break workshops with The Wickid Force Crew, and was introduced to the culture through the Fresh Sox Crew. Oriel also documents this underground culture by creating Breaking DVD's from jams and battles held around the inner city and burbs.
Oriel started working on similar projects whilst studying at RMIT, when she met Andrew Montell from Out4Fame. From there, she began creating the official DVD's for the AUST Vs NZ MC Battle 4 Supremacy. Oriel explains "MC Battles are something that can only happen once - a moment in time that can never be repeated, this inspired me to capture the battles unfolding in front of me on film." She felt the need to do the culture justice by giving Australia a documentary for all the people involved and all those who want to learn about it.
Unable to fit the entirety of Australian Hip Hop into one documentary, Skip Hop Volume 2 is already in the works. The follow-up feature will include stories from other important crews, groups and record labels that have helped pave the way for hip hop in this country. The second installment of Skip Hop will also include a heavier element of graffiti culture, including the foundations of the movement and its history. Featuring so far are; Hilltop Hoods album launch, 'Round Two' b-boy battle, and b-boy battle street jams.
Release Date: August 19th 2006
Label/Distributor: Streetelite / Rubber Records / EMI Tags