A progressive graduate student finds success and sparks outrage when his interest in battle rap as a thesis subject becomes a competitive obsession.
Writing
Rap lyrics so vicious they need trigger warnings.
Direction
Joseph Kahn's music video chaos energy infects every frame.
Acting
Calum Worthy's descent from nice boy to monster is unwatchably good.
Director
Joseph Kahn
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Joseph Kahn directed iconic music videos for Britney Spears and Eminem before making this, his love-hate letter to hip-hop's contradictions.
The film premiered at TIFF before YouTube picked it up, with critics split between 'necessary provocation' and 'white director exploitation.' The debate IS the point.
US
