April 30 2013 – Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market. Each year, the Festival presents a selection of more than 180 cutting-edge documentaries from Canada and around the globe. Through its industry programs, Hot Docs also provides a full range of professional development, market and networking opportunities for documentary professionals. This year’s festival runs from April 25th to May 5th, 2013
“Black people have been the first at being last for a long time and were just trying to get even” – Alkatraz.
This is just one of the profound musings of Toronto rapper, Alkatraz as he orchestrates the next chapter of his music career. He’s working the hustle by tripping that fine line between making it and breaking it, all the while staying true to his musical roots in this hard knocks documentary, Alias.
We open with a rap video that super imposes images of guns violence, police arrests and other negative depictions of Toronto’s hip-hop industry that saturates the public consciousness . This is a world mainstream media depicts through stock images of community housing, drugs, police raids, and glorified thug life. What’s not seen – what’s never seen – is the B-Side of that equation. The hard working artist in the studio with producers; the caring family man making time for his kids; the studious twenty-something working towards a law degree; the never ending push to get video play in Canada and crack the holy grail, the US urban music market. Writer / Director Michelle Latimer gives equal billing to the B-Side, which makes this more than just another documentary about the hip-hop music scene. And yes, through it all, it all comes back to the beats.
Latimer successfully peels back the facade of this jocular, hyper masculine, music industry to reveal in gritty details, the hopes, dreams, struggles and setbacks of five Toronto rap artists at various stages in their careers. First out the gate is Alias Donmillion whose success with hit single Dirty Dot, also nominated for a 2006 MMVA (garnering him national cred on Much Music) was short circuited by a firearms violation. Successfully juggling fatherhood and his music, Alias, streetwise beyond his years, ruminates on the systemic problems of his community and the legacy he wants to leave for his child. Its now time to reset his career, but he is no island. So he surrounds himself with some of the hottest rappers and producers in the game, like Master Knia (Mr. Know It All). This savvy Producer, Promoter, Mentor and Mensa has experienced the struggling business side of the Toronto hip-hop scene and wants to right the ship. Leveraging the success of his previous ‘Jump Off’ shows, Knia takes us through the planning and execution of his next creation, ‘The Stage Is Yours’ show at the Opera House to mixed reviews. Undeterred, he soldiers on.
It is evident to anyone who sees this documentary that Alias is the real deal. When you cut through the swagger and self-aggrandisement, what your left with is a rap artist that has honed his craft through layers of observational lyrics that cut deep and switches back to revealing the under belly of injustices within our dysfunctional society. Protest anthems of a marginalized community mixed with the opportunities that music can bring echo convincingly within each beat heavy jam. And it’s these rhymes together with the sultry stylings of Keon Love, a soul sister and lyrical visionary which helps round out the T.Dot sound.
Keon, the versatile and lone female in this film is also on the hustle. With a young daughter to raise she also doesn’t have the luxury of half stepp’n. What she does provide is the essential hooks for Alkatraz’s summer jam video shoot for the song, Superstar Love, shot on location on the beach down by Asbridges Bay. Her Jennifer Hudson pipes and camera ready looks shined so bright on this cut. But Keon’s true skills were revealed on the all too brief lyrics she lays down mid way through the documentary. Her heart felt and tortured rhymes, edited through tight hand held camera shots struck just the right tone of despair.
The only one who truly isn’t grounded is Trench. Still young and viewing the world through rose coloured glasses, he is determined on chasing his dream through hard work in the studio even if it means breaking out first in Europe. But, unlike the other rappers Trench doesn’t appear to have any formalized business plan to achieve this goal. It’s an old adage but it’s still holds true; the music business is equal parts music and business.
The hip-hop industry in general is very unforgiving. When you add in systemic impediments to the mix such as the glorification of drug, gang violence, misogynistic imagery and it’s materialistic under pinning, its a wonder anyone in the hood get out.
Verdict – 3.5 / 5: Alias shines its unapologetic lens on the ever changing urban music scene in Toronto and the troubled communities that created it. Offering no clear solutions to an industry in flux, Director, Michelle Latimer balances the intimate portraits of local rap artists by seamlessly incorporating their love of hip-hop with the family narrative that’s usually relegated to footnote status in other films. Stylized concert footage gets a reboot by dubbing over a tonal hum and slowing down the film. Cinematographer, Chris Romeike ethereal flourishes elevated these performance to some otherworldly experience.
The voices of power and protest will rise to be heard.
Country: Canada
Director: Michelle Latimer
Writer: Michelle Latimer
Producer(s): Michelle Latimer, Nida Marji
Programme: Canadian Spectrum (World Premiere)
Duration: 67 minutes
Cast: Alkatraz, Trench, Alias Donmillion, Master Knia, Keon Love
Review – John Dash T-Mak World: Toronto’s Site for Music, Movies and Culture www.tmakworld.com | Twitter | Facebook Get the T-Mak World Toolbar below to get all the info you need
