From Mambo to Hip Hop

From Mambo to Hip Hop is a great example of superb documentary storytelling, at its best. The director, Henry Chalfant, takes great look at the changing face of the diverse South Bronx, and how it is incomparable to any other neighborhood - it is truly one of a kind. We see the up-and-coming years of the mambo, beautifully presented through interviews, grainy footage of fiery dancers, and what the dance and music truly mean to those for whom it bares special significance. We see the early break dancers, the Zulu Nation participants who first got a taste of hip hop, break dancing and record scratching in the 1970s. Deejay Charlie Chase (Wild Style) provides us with some of the strongest insight into how he broke into the record spinning role, in an African American dominated subculture, as someone of Puerto Rican descent. He decided to choose a culturally neutral name, in an effort not to alienate his audience.I love the flavor, here, the footage, the music and how we are educated, here. I plan to visit that community, some day - good film to cut your teeth on. Brilliant, even.

I ordered this to use in my Hip Hop course and it is perfect. It provides a nice introduction to the contributions of Latinos to Hip Hop. But I appreciated the indepth discussion of the relevance of mambo and salsa. It also addresses the importance of Puerto Rican and Cuban migration- particularly focuses on Afro Cuban contributions- to the development of the South Bronx as a cultural space. This is a well done documentary that features individuals that played significant roles in mambo, salsa and Hip Hop- including musicians, dancers, politicans, former gang members, and others.

This documentary does a fantastic job of covering an essential, but little known, chapter of American cultural history. If you're interested in Hip Hop, Latin music, the Bronx, or American culture in general, this is a must viewing.

A family member recommended this film to me as I'm an avid lover of Hip Hop and Salsa. This film gave a most accurate depiction of the two cultures and it showed how the merged in the streets of New York City, which is my home.For all of those folks who have some sort of pre-conceived notions of either genre' or sub-culture, BUY THIS FILM!!! It's EXCELLENT!!!

A tour of music through the 1960's & 70's South Bronx. An educational insight of the pioneers of Mambo, Salsa & Hip-Hop. This documentary also presents the economic distress of the times. An immigration of people from Puerto Rico and the southern United States coming together under a fusion of music and urban decay. A must see for the seasoned and up-coming generations.

Fascinating documentary. Perhaps it doesn't matter, but creating a link between mambo and hip-hop is a little bit of a stretch.

This was an entertaining and informative video of a musical progressionin the world of latin sound. There were things I saw that I wasn't awareof before. This video is a "Keeper".

Good film. It shows the connection between black and Latin music as it developed in NYC. More Latins should check it out.

Very interesting exhilarating Documentary with some fabulous musicians and dancers alike!Great to see the history of an era in music which was so fresh and exciting go from cultural expression to cultural expression political.What brought us together and kept us going during the hardest of times. Music and dance transcends all! Well recommended.

Concise well produced documentary, does exactly what it promises. Contains rare footage of the Bronx, especially of "old school" Hip Hop era.