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Movie:3.5 stars
Soundtrack:4.0 stars
The Dirty South has done it again!
Without the aid of Hollywood, major distribution or a star-studded cast of characters, 27-year-old New Orleans native Percy Smith released on a $20 video cassette a Big Easy version of "Menace To Society" meets "Tougher Than Leather".
On a $1.5 million budget and amateur actors, parts played by hired residents of New Orleans' infamous Calliope Projects where Smith, better known by his stage name Master P , grew up.
"I'm 'bout it," short for I am about it, is New Orleans' slang meaning willing to do anything it takes to get what you want.
It is also a twice-told gangster tale shwoing the not-so-touris-attractive sections of the Crescent City.
In his acting debut, P strives at being the next Godfather in an attempt to save his family from the bonds of poverty.
In many ways, "I'm 'Bout It" could serve as a documentary on the New Orleans murder rate that is constantly in the national taop ten or the modernized slavery the crooked cops oversee.
It could also illustrate the often fatal result of dumping boatloads of cocaine in ghettos all across America.
What this choot' em up, bang bang urbanized Western lacks in Hollywood glitter, it maked up in feeling. Officer Friendly, a crooked cop who had P's brother killed, made me hate him. the crackhead zombies in the movie made me both laugh at and have pity for them.
I could almost smell the stench of trash piles, dried-up piss and God knows what in the air.
Although the directing and acting could stand some improvement, the feelings of hopelessness, anger, and terror of living in some of New Orleans' below-the -poverty level, drug-infested sections like the ninth ward, 17th ward and St. Bernard are present.
Considering P had no prior film experience while working with such a limited budget, he did excellent on his freshan attempt at writing , directing and acting.
Just like his Southern hip hop forefathers James Smith, Ceo of Rap-A-Lot Records, and Tony Draper, CEO of Suave House Records, multi-talented Master P transformed his mom-and -pop-owned No Limit Records from being a shaky business investment into a lucrative venture.
The business went from selling tapes out of car trunks into a million dollar, platimun-selling empire that is taking the rap world by storm with virtually no video or airplay.
But P took the record selling a step further with this homemande movie, one that is accompanied by one of the dopest soundtracks that hip hop has ever produced.
The "I'm 'Bout It" soundtrack may be even more graphic than the movie with a seemingly unlimited array of hardcore gangsta rap acts and styles.
Includes on the soundtrack are Memphis pimps turned poets Eightball and MJG representing Orange Mound on a murderous team-up with Master P and the Underground Kings on the first cut of the CD "Meal Ticket."
And the musical mayhem does not stop there. Jam packed with 22 trackes, the "I'm 'Bout IT" soundtrack is a must for all the gangsta rap fans. Also included are other smoking cuts by E-40 and B-Legit called "Come On."
the trck is a freaky and unpredictable flow by the newly signed No Limit Soldier Mystikal. The gangstas invade rhythm and blues music with slow G-funk grooves like "Ride $ U" by Mr. Jinks and "Pushin' Inside You" by the Sons of Funk.
Master P has two other films in the making, "911" and "I Gots the Hook Up."
He is currently negotiating with Miramax and other Hollywood studios for distribution.
With all of this hip hop noise being made down south, new meaning may be given to the historical saying "The South shall rise again."
-June 19, 1997
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© 1997 slyons@ocean.st.usm.edu
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