Synopsis

Rhyme & Reason traces the rise of hip-hop from its Bronx beginnings to its emergence as a powerful cultural and commercial force. Through interviews, performance footage, and discussions of race, violence, policing, family, sex, and artistic responsibility, the documentary presents rap as both an evolving art form and a reflection of the social realities surrounding its creators.

Factoids & Trivia

• The documentary features more than 80 interviews with rappers, DJs, and other figures from hip-hop's old-school, underground, and mainstream scenes.

• The film's historical scope reaches from hip-hop's origins in the Bronx to the genre's rapid expansion into a major international business.

• The documentary includes an interview with The Notorious B.I.G. recorded less than four days before his murder on March 9, 1997.

• The accompanying soundtrack was released by Priority Records on January 14, 1997, ahead of the film's March 5 theatrical release. It reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200, topped the R&B album chart, and was certified gold in the United States.

• Rhyme & Reason opened in 280 theaters and earned $1,608,277 during its theatrical run.

• In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the film No. 35 on its list of the greatest music documentaries.

• A 2023 repertory screening at the Jacob Burns Film Center revisited the documentary as part of celebrations marking hip-hop's 50th anniversary.