American machismo is mass-produced and comodified through mainstream
hip hop. This is a music that was pounded out on the lips and
fingertips of former gang members on the streets of New York City as a
way to curb the gang violence that had destroyed their communities. The
heavy beat and rhythmic tones became a freedom song, a protest and
revolution against oppressive systems sung by the people for the
people. How has this music changed, has it? Through hip-hop our
American youth are told violence, sex and money makes a man. Kids from
all different ethnic, racial and class backgrounds hear the message
reverberated through speakers on TV's, radios, cars and the clubs. Yet
the freedom song, the protest and revolution has not been lost.
Sol
Productions has created the revolutionary film "World Wide" to bring
light to underground American hip-hop and international hip-hop.
American mainstream hip-hop has leaked out of our carefully hewn
country lines and kids all over the world are embracing the hip-hop
movement as their own. Not only are they are embracing the original
ideals of hip-hop but they are using the movement to call for a
revolution of their own, within their own political and social
contexts. With footage from all over the world, the goal of the film is
to showcase hip hop's usage as a political and revolutionary tool to
fight oppression and injustice throughout the world. As the world gets
smaller, "World Wide" helps us all understand our responsibilities as
world citizens.
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