5 Cool Docs on Netflix

Are you home alone?  Getting cozy with your honey or just hosting movie night with the friends. Whatever the reason, if you subscribe to Netflix Instant Watching, you probably don’t want to search through thousands of really bad movies for two hours. So to help you out,  I have narrowed down my top favorite documentaries that celebrate Black culture and creativity.

1. The Art of Rap  (2012)

Note: Explicit Language

Ice-T ventures into the birthplace of hip-hop, New York City, asking elite rappers about the technical and emotional evolution of hip-hop. Eminem, Rakim, Bid Daddy Kane and Q-Tip talk to rapper, actor, producer and now filmmaker Ice-T as he asks the question, “Why don’t you think rap is respected?”

Nas gives the best response, “We are not supposed to be talking like this… How are we making poetry with this “broken English?”  The Art of Rap explores the ingenuity of rappers and the how they brought the “street” conversation to the mainstream world. Visit http://theartofrap.com/

 

2. Marley -Life  & Legacy (2012)

Director Kevin McDonald provides an intimate and powerful window into the short lived life of Bob Marley. We follow the camera around the world as Bob Marley, his children, wife, mother and lovers talk about his personal life.

While we watch Bob Marley’s fans celebrate his musical message of love and unification, we also painfully see Marley at his most challenging times. Marley comes out of his iconic status and into mortality as he continues to perform around the world despite his cancer diagnosis. Visit http://www.bobmarley.com/marley_the_movie.php

 

3. Brooklyn Boheme (2011)

Before the hipsters, the skateboards, the skinny jeans and lattes, the neighborhood of Fort Greene Brooklyn was an enclave for the black creative class. Brooklyn Boheme interviews Rosie Perez, Spike Lee, Mos Def and Talib Kweli to figure out why Brooklyn was the place to be for offbeat black thinker.

Spike Lee dominates the movie emphasizing that Brooklyn stood out because they learned to balance creativity with making cash! Visit http://bkboheme.com/

Note: Explicit Language

4.  Just For Kicks (2005)

Air Force Ones, shell-toe Adidas and  Air Jordan’s are just a few of the of sneakers that helped turn companies like Nike, Puma and Adidas into economic power houses.

Just For Kicks highlights the role of urban style and clever hip hop promotions on the meteoric sneaker culture craze.  Director Lisa Leone interviews Run-DMC, Bonz Malone and corporate executives on the cash cow of urban influence on sneakers and hip hop’s dependency on the fashion.

Note: Explicit Language

5. The Radiant Child

Jean Michel Basquiat (2010)

Madonna, Andy Warhol and Julian Schnabel were Basquiat’s best friends. But Basquiat’s creative power came from his limitless determination to make art that challenged the 1980’s pop art status quo.  Director Tamra Davis combs through tons of old footage, images and interviews with Jean Michel Basquiat hoping to get inside his head. Visit https://streamingmoviesright.com/us/movie/jean-michel-basquiat-the-radiant-child/

 

For more tips from Huffington Post on finding good movies on Netflix Instant Watching

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/netflix-movies-streaming_n_2527180.html

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