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Documentary

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History (1984): Cast

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History (1984) movie poster

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History is a 1984 documentary directed by Dick Fontaine, starring Afrika Bambaataa, Malcolm McLaren and Grandmaster Caz.

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Beat This!: A Hip Hop History (1984) movie poster
Released
Director
Dick Fontaine
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
Studio
BBC
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Beat This!: A Hip Hop History About?

The premise of Beat This!: A Hip Hop History without spoilers.

Beat This: A Hip‑Hop History, a 1984 BBC documentary directed by Dick Fontaine, explores early hip‑hop culture. Featuring Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Kool Herc—complete with footage from his pioneering dance parties—plus the Cold Crush Brothers, Jazzy Jay, Brim Fuentes and the Dynamic Rockers. Imhotep Gary Byrd provides narration. Originally aired as part of the Arena series, it was one of the first documentaries to chronicle hip‑hop.

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Cast & crew

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History Cast

Afrika Bambaataa leads the cast, with Malcolm McLaren and Grandmaster Caz. Directed by Dick Fontaine.

From the director

More from Dick Fontaine

More films directed by Dick Fontaine: I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Sins of Rachel, Norman Mailer vs. Fun City and Who Is Sonny Rollins?.

Full filmography

Seen Beat This!: A Hip Hop History?

FAQ

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History FAQ: Cast & Release Date

Release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Beat This!: A Hip Hop History, each answered in a sentence.

When was Beat This!: A Hip Hop History released?

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History was released on January 5, 1984.

Who directed Beat This!: A Hip Hop History?

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History was directed by Dick Fontaine.

More films by Dick Fontaine

Who is in the cast of Beat This!: A Hip Hop History?

Beat This!: A Hip Hop History stars Afrika Bambaataa, Malcolm McLaren and Grandmaster Caz.

Does Beat This!: A Hip Hop History have a post-credit scene?

No. Beat This!: A Hip Hop History has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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