Hip-hop musical about the semi-fictionalized early days of Def Jam Recordings. Blair Underwood stars as Russell Walker (Simmons in real life), but all of the musical acts are portrayed by the actual people. This includes Run DMC, Sheila E., the Fat Boys, and Kurtis Blow, who make up the bulk of the plot (which is actually not too bad for what amounts to a series of musical performances). New Edition, LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys, as well as a few other forgotten artists, also appear briefly. Of course these acts were all on Def Jam, so the movie is little more than a commercial for these musicians, but who cares? The music is freaking awesome, and there's a ton of it. It's corny as Hell, but it left an enormous smile on my face. Just try to watch it without overdosing on giddiness during the Fat Boys' "All You Can Eat" number. You can't! It's impossible!

A lot of good review comments, so I'll just add. This movie could well be classed a historical in some respects, and is actually shown in some colleges as part of curriculum. It is based on the true and personal story of Run DMC, The Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow, Sheila E, and others breaking out rap music for the first time to the mainstream audiences against convention and against those who would view rap as non-music and a fad. It showcases the music as a true underground phenomena; fun, creative, positive, and energetic; embraced by urban youth eager to rebel. Poor, fat, whatever, just being yourself for a change was enough for you to make a go of it and be successful. There are 12 musical productions in the film and some showstopper performances by Sheila E (coached by Prince for this film) especially. This movie was based on real events and the roles played by the people themselves who lived them. In that sense it may not have a Hollywood calibre cast and complicated plot, but that wasn't the point of this film. This film was meant to showcase the struggles of a music, the struggles of artists in an emerging genre, and show people where it was at in 1985. It did just that, capturing the heart and soul of hip-hop, where it all is rooted, free from excessive profanity, free from guns and gangsterism; just go out and have fun, stand tall, express yourself, forget the nay-sayers, and throw down the creativity. And the rest is history.

Krush Groove is the best movie about the Hip Hop culture. It shows it's roots, and how the top Hip Hop Empire got it's start. If you love Hip Hop, and like Brown Sugar you really need to see & own this movie if you haven't already. If you don't like this movie, you don't truly love hip hop, you're just having an affair. This classic shows all of the elements of Hip Hop with New Edition (the original group) Kurtis Blow (who the fugees sampled), The Fat Boys, RUN-DMC, LL Cool J who's still going strong, The Beastie Boys, & Sheila E who worked with Prince, even Rick Ruben who's in the latest Jay Z video was involved. Go get this movie! For real you need it! You won't be sorry!

This film isn't an award winner but it is a must see for all Hip Hop historians. Loosely based on the life of producer Russel Simmons this film takes us back to the early days of Hip-Hop when rap was just starting to break into the mainstream. Blair Underwood plays Russel and everyone else (Run DMC, Fat Boys, Sheila E, New Edition, Beastie Boys, L.L. Cool J, etc..) play themselves. I think, if anything, this film gives fans an idea of what it was like for young rappers, producers and other musicians from NYC in the early eighties. I think the film could have been better if it was a little grittier and honest, but if it was than Rap and Hip-Hop may not have blown up the way it did into mainstream culture.