Wild Style

(Charlie Ahearn, US 1983, 82 min., 35mm)

12 Notes on Film: Hip Hop. Revolutionary in documenting an emerging subculture, Charlie Ahearn’s seminal exploration of New York City’s underground hip-hop and street art scenes casts pioneering DJs, MCs, graffiti artists, breakdancers, and rappers in an understated semi-documentary drama about a South Bronx subway tagger. Zoro, portrayed by legendary Lee Quinones, struggles to balance his personal and artistic life and to hold onto his girlfriend Lady Pink, his actual girlfriend at the time and pioneering graffiti artist in her own right, Sandra Fabara. Exploring their relationship in muted tones, Ahearn skillfully counterbalances hectic scenes of rap battles, kitchen sink turntablism, and illegal nighttime subway “bombing.” With a limited budget preventing the use of licensed music, Fab 5 Freddy and Chris Stein (of (Blondie) create new break beats for the DJs and hip-hop artists featured.

Organized in collaboration with Bop Shop Records.