What Spinal Tap did to heavy rock, CB4 does to rap in the 1990s and it was about time.
Chris Rock is Albert, a decent guy who along with his friends want to hit the big time as rappers. They try every gimmick to break into showbiz. Albert inadvertently gets mixed up with a local hoodlum, Gusto getting arrested and decides to adopt his hard core gangster identity, MC Gusto and the group becomes CB4. They eventually raise the ire of conservative politicians but the record buying public love them but Gusto breaks out of prison and wants to get even.
The film succeeds because it makes pointed and prescient digs at gangsta rap and some of the songs they parody are actually very good and reflective of the music of the early 1990s.
The story is not the strongest, the satire always not sharp or even hits the target but the Rock and the rest of the cast seem to be enjoying the ride and real rappers turn up as to be in on the joke.
Chris Rock is Albert, a decent guy who along with his friends want to hit the big time as rappers. They try every gimmick to break into showbiz. Albert inadvertently gets mixed up with a local hoodlum, Gusto getting arrested and decides to adopt his hard core gangster identity, MC Gusto and the group becomes CB4. They eventually raise the ire of conservative politicians but the record buying public love them but Gusto breaks out of prison and wants to get even.
The film succeeds because it makes pointed and prescient digs at gangsta rap and some of the songs they parody are actually very good and reflective of the music of the early 1990s.
The story is not the strongest, the satire always not sharp or even hits the target but the Rock and the rest of the cast seem to be enjoying the ride and real rappers turn up as to be in on the joke.