Belfast trio Kneecap has recently become the unlikeliest entry in the list of hip-hop acts to star in their own biopic. The film, simply titled Kneecap, directed by Rich Peppiatt, aims to introduce the band to an international audience through its depiction of their rise to fame and political principles. The movie avoids typical biographical tropes and instead emphasizes a knockabout tone and heightened comedy, creating a mythmaking exercise similar to many rap culture narratives.
While hip-hop movies often capture the essence of the music through fiction, more conventional examples like Curtis Hanson’s 8 Mile and the more recent Straight Outta Compton have offered a different perspective on the genre. However, films like Roxanne Roxanne and Bobi Wine: The People’s President have explored the lives of lesser-known hip-hop artists with a playful and engaging approach.
Recent years have seen a shift towards addressing the gender imbalance in hip-hop cinema, with films like Patti Cake$ and The 40-Year-Old Version offering compelling portraits of female rappers. Additionally, Moroccan film-maker Nabil Ayouch’s Casablanca Beats portrays a diverse group of Casablanca teens forming a rap collective with a socially conscious message.
Kneecap’s unique journey to the big screen adds to the diverse range of hip-hop biopics available for streaming, offering viewers a glimpse into the unconventional world of this spiky Belfast trio.
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