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Where We're From: the Elements Documentary is a 90-minute exploration of the emergence of the “underground” Hip Hop culture of the late 1990s-early 2000s in Los Angeles, recounted firsthand by some of its architects - the creators of Club Elements. In this space, the elements of Hip Hop – the DJ, B-Boy, Graffiti and MC – were sacred. While the mainstream media was obsessively focused on the glorification of gangster rap and its destructive messages, many Black and Brown youth found refuge from the turbulence of the time, able to connect with the art form that reflected their life experience and rock with their favorite artists. Every respected independent MC in the nation came through to Club Elements. This documentary chronicles that vibrant time of Hip Hop and shows a side of Los Angeles subculture that is responsible for an independent movement of Hip Hop within Los Angeles that spawned a slew of widely recognized artists.
This documentary features exclusive interviews and untold stories with LA-based talent talking about the craft and culture of Hip Hop that came out during a time of media-dominant gangster rap culture. Featured artists include: Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, and Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship; Cut Chemist, Chali 2na, Akil, and DJ Nu-Mark from Jurassic 5; Evidence and Rakaa Iriscience from Dilated Peoples; J-Ro of Tha Alkaholiks; DJ Icy Ice, DJ Rhettmatic, D-Styles, DJ Melo D and Mr. Choc from The Beat Junkies; DJ Revolution from The Wake Up Show and more.
Directed by DJ Bonds and DJ Breeze, executive produced by Damon Bonds – the three founders of Elements - Where We're From is structured primarily in interview style with stories from artists, radio personalities, promoters and Elements participants, including live concert footage, MC battles, dancers & DJ performances intertwined with footage from the era, most of it never before seen.
