Fear of a Black Hat

Play trailer

Fear of a Black Hat

R,

1994,

1h 25m,

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

84%

19 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

This mock documentary follows sociologist Nina Blackburn (Kasi Lemmons) during the year she spends studying hip-hop artists Ice Cold (Rusty Cundieff), Tasty-Taste (Larry B. Scott), Tone Def (Mark Christopher Lawrence) and a series of disappearing white managers. Every rap cliché is on display: sex, sexism, violent imagery and paint-peeling profanity -- all of it, the group insists, with a deeper political meaning -- plus the inevitable rivalry with other rappers and ultimately themselves.

Anderson Jones

Detroit Free Press

Apr 26, 2022

2/4

What Rusty Cundieff, who wrote, directs and stars in the film, doesn't realize is that satire isn't just parody; it also requires razor-sharp insight.

Go to Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Aug 14, 2007

3/4

The best hip-hop film of all.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Jun 30, 2006

3/4

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.

Go to Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

May 16, 2022

Director Rusty Cundieff manages to make the film entertaining with fresh gags and hilarious parodies of music videos.

Go to Full Review

Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

Sep 10, 2021

If you've never seen this film but have love for hip-hop in your heart, you need to check it out.

Go to Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

May 30, 2014

4/5

It lampoons the luminaries, yes, but gives their authentic anger, which came from a real place, the benefit of gentler nudges. Its greatest fury lambastes losers who embraced a gangster rap ethos to build a bank account, not let loose a battle cry.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Rey G

Sep 15, 2018

A true classic. One of (if not) the best mockumentary movie out there.

Ron S

Feb 3, 2011

"He's been shot twenty-two times. Twenty-two! That muffugga ain't got no blood." 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.

See more

Read all reviews

Rusty Cundieff

Director

Larry B. Scott

Tasty Taste

Mark Christopher Lawrence

Tone Def

Rusty Cundieff

Ice Cold

Kasi Lemmons

Nina Blackburn

Howie Gold

Guy Friesch

The Confessional

81%

The Confessional

Watchlist

Man of the Century

77%

77%

Man of the Century

Watchlist

Summer in Berlin

60%

69%

Summer in Berlin

Watchlist

200 Motels

43%

67%

200 Motels

Watchlist

Broke Sky

58%

Broke Sky

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Tomatopalooza: Cinema’s Greatest Fake Bands

Total Recall: Walk Hard While My Biopic Gently Weeps

"Bond 22" Claims May 8th, 2008

View more photos

Synopsis

This mock documentary follows sociologist Nina Blackburn (Kasi Lemmons) during the year she spends studying hip-hop artists Ice Cold (Rusty Cundieff), Tasty-Taste (Larry B. Scott), Tone Def (Mark Christopher Lawrence) and a series of disappearing white managers. Every rap cliché is on display: sex, sexism, violent imagery and paint-peeling profanity -- all of it, the group insists, with a deeper political meaning -- plus the inevitable rivalry with other rappers and ultimately themselves.

Director: Rusty Cundieff
Producer: Darin Scott
Screenwriter: Rusty Cundieff
Distributor: Avatar Films, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co: Oakwood Productions, Incorporated Television Company
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $232.5K
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Ultra-Stereo, Surround, Stereo

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings