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Documentary

Sample This (2013): Cast & Plot

Sample This (2013) movie poster

Sample This is a 2013 documentary directed by Dan Forrer, starring DJ Kool Herc, Rosey Grier and King Errisson. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes.

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Sample This (2013) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Director
Dan Forrer
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Sample This About?

The premise of Sample This without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

This documentary explores the surprising story of how a relatively obscure instrumental track by The Incredible Bongo Band became a pivotal element in the birth of hip hop. DJ Kool Herc recognized the song's unique percussive qualities and pioneered the technique of extending it by playing the record back-to-back, effectively creating a groundbreaking loop that resonated throughout the Bronx and helped lay the groundwork for the genre.

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Cast & crew

Sample This Cast & Characters

DJ Kool Herc leads the cast, with Rosey Grier and King Errisson. Directed by Dan Forrer; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Sample This

· 7 more
Plot

Sample This Plot Summary

What happens in Sample This from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Sample This tells the remarkable, real-life story behind a single album that would quietly reshape popular music and lay the groundwork for a whole new genre. It begins in June 1968, when Michael Viner, then an aide to Bobby Kennedy, shares a crowded moment with his roommate, ex-NFL star Rosey Grier, who serves as Kennedy’s bodyguard. They are there when Sirhan Sirhan’s shot rings out in Los Angeles, and Grier wrestles the pistol away from the attacker while Viner watches, stunned and shaken. The tragedy leaves Viner with a sense of urgency about music, a drive to channel energy and memory into something enduring.

Full summary

The whole story of Sample This, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Sample This?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which musical genre is credited with being built, in part, on the percussion breaks of the Bongo Rock album?

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FAQ

Sample This FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Sample This, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Sample This?

Sample This runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).

When was Sample This released?

Sample This was released on September 12, 2013.

Who directed Sample This?

Sample This was directed by Dan Forrer.

Who is in the cast of Sample This?

Sample This stars DJ Kool Herc, Rosey Grier and King Errisson, among 11 credited actors.

Does Sample This have a post-credit scene?

No. Sample This has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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