Wow. I mean just wow.

That’s all I have to say about Rubble Kings. Thats the whole post. Thats everything that needs to be said.

I can try to describe my experience with Rubble Kings, but it is almost definitely going to fall flat.

Rubble Kings tells the story of the origins of hip hop. It documents the lives of individual people as they try to navigate the gang-filled environment of New York City in the 1970’s. It talks about the ways the poverty and drugs can create a culture of self-loathing that can rip a community apart. It describes how violence can fill the void left by failure of the system.

But it also shows a community coming back. Discovering ways to thrive after everyone has decided they aren’t worth saving. Banding together to fight against their own destruction. Being united through music and a desire to keep living.

From all the pain and loss that the Bronx suffered at the hands of gang violence, hip hop emerged. It knit a community together.

After the film, there was a discussion with the filmmaker and one of the subjects of the movie, Afrika Bambaataa.

During this discussion, we talked about the ways in which performance, like hip hop, can be used for social change. This is one of my favorite things to talk about. I think that the only way for a society to move forward is for people to actively work against the things they want to change. For me, performance is the perfect way to do this.

Rubble Kings was amazing. I walked in with some interest in hip hop. I walked out ready to inspire change in my community.