Microphone Check stands as a groundbreaking documentary offering a compelling narrative that delves into the often-overlooked origins and evolution of hip hop culture. As the first film of its kind to center primarily on the original pioneers of the genre, it sheds light on their invaluable contributions and untold stories. Beyond this pioneering approach, Microphone Check also distinguishes itself by being the first to comprehensively explore the origins of all the elements of hip hop, from DJing and MCing to graffiti and breakdancing. Through a captivating blend of interviews, archival footage, and cultural analysis, the film not only celebrates the creative ingenuity, social impact, and enduring legacy of hip hop but also reaffirms its status as a global cultural force.
Public Enemy’s Chuck D leads a cast of hip-hop icons and leading African-American and Latino cultural commentators as they chart the factors that led to the birth of the revolutionary art form of hip-hop in 1970s New York, as well as the creation of the seminal hit The Message. They evoke a picture of how, after the turbulence of the 60s and the civil rights struggles, desperate social conditions and the experience of countless dispossessed people of colour living in a city mired in crisis helped give birth to a new art form.
Melle Mel, born Melvin Glover, is an American hip hop recording artist who was the lead vocalist and songwriter of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.