Michael Rapaport Eyes Roots, De La Soul
For Next Docs
A Tribe Called Quest doc director says he "d do another hip-hop film
"if things lined up. "
The
controversy surrounding the documentary "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The
Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" has not killed director Michael Rapaport "s
hip-hop jones. The film has received rave reviews, and if given the chance,
Rapaport told MTV News that he has his eye on a few other rap acts that he "d
like to turn his lens on.
"I would love to document De La Soul," he said looking directly in
the camera making his best pitch.
Another group which Rapaport has interest in is Philadelphia hip-hop band the
Roots. While the group has had a rotating cast since their 1993 debut, Organix,
band leader and drummer ?uestlove, along with MC Black Thought and keyboardist
Kamal have been mainstays. Multi-platinum producer Scott Storch was a one-time
member, as was rapper Malik B. The Roots have released 10 studio LPs since the
early 1990s, and of course, the Grammy-winning group are enjoying success as
the in-house band for "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."
"I would love to document the Roots; I think they have an interesting
story," Rapaport said. "I have a curiosity about them. Their musicality
and their live performances I think would be great, and I have a feeling that
there are stories behind each one of them."
After filming A Tribe Called Quest for his current work, Rapaport has went
back and forth with group member Q-Tip. In light of the experience, when he
visited "RapFix Live" in March, Q-Tip urged other rappers to tell
their "own stories," a concept that confused Rapaport. "I don "t
know if he meant, "We "re from hip-hop, it should be a hip-hop director, " "
the actor-director admitted to MTV News. "I don "t know who would go under
the auspices of being a hip-hop director. Or if it was a racial thing like,
"We "re black and shouldn "t have a white director. " It was confusing to me."
As of now, Rapaport isn "t looking to do another rap film in the near future,
but he wouldn "t turn it down if the opportunity presented itself.
"Right now I "m taking a break from hip-hop documentaries," he said.
"But I would do it if things lined up."
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kara Warner mtv.com 7.5.2011
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