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Hip Hop…it’s a funny old concept…Something that started life 30 years ago in New York’s South Bronx is now by far one of the most common (and most commercially successful) music genres worldwide.

It’s also one of the vaguest.

In everyday speak, the term “hip hop” is used to describe everything from the most underground Wu-Tang freestyle, to the latest nondescript, instantly forgettable release from this weeks favourite label-hyped, money-led, soulful boy band. “Hip hop” is everywhere. You can buy a hip hop CD in Tesco’s these days, for God’s sake! (I wouldn’t bother though, if I were you). But, those with any knowledge of the subject would argue this isn’t the real deal, not by a long way.

Digging a little further, hip hop is a lot of things to a lot of people. More specifically here in the UK, it’s often thought of as some sort of “American import“, that’s all about guns, ho’s, and drive-by shootings. Doesn’t sit well with your cup o’ tea and bacon sandwich during Countdown, does it?

Now, admittedly, there are a whole host of quality, credible, UK hip hop artists, DJs and producers out there. There always has been. But, those of us with fat laces in our Superstars have always got a bit of grief off those who don’t quite get what hip hop is all about here in the UK, and see it as “a load of white kids talking ghetto and spinning on their heads in tracksuits“

Well, there’s a lot more to it than that.

This brings me on to the point of this post (“Hallelujah”, I hear you cry….), which is to give you all a heads up about the newly released “South Coast“, from Fractured Films.

This well-grounded documentary (which took 4 years to make) charts the rise of the UK scene, and in particular, whats happening on the South Coast around Brighton. It expands on what I mentioned above, which is how this black, ghetto, U.S. sound managed to take root in seaside towns and cities in the UK (all over the UK, in fact). It gives an honest insight to the history of hip hop in the UK, and how it managed to find its own identity.

There’s plenty here to talk about. From Djs, to MCs, to footage of graf writers, old-skool UK hip hop videos, hip hop clubs, footage of MC and breaker battles, and up close and personal interviews and opinions from some of the biggest names on the bill (from Norman Cook, to Beardyman, and everyone else inbetween).

This film is a contemporary look at the flourishing UK hip hop agenda, and showcases some of the talent that are at the top of their game, after doing this stuff for years. It’s refreshing to see, and is able to convince and old man like me (!) that the youth are capable of doing something musically constructive for the love of it. It’s not all about Jay-Z and his bling, especially if you live in Sussex (Thank God. That would just be daft)

In short, it’s really worth a watch. Now, I’m a self-confessed hip-hop head, but even if I wasn’t, this is an accurate social commentary on the conception and evolution of UK hip hop as a youth movement, musical genre, fashion influence and business model. It shows how the concept of hip hop is universal, and how people all over the world make beats, rhyme, paint on a wall or whatever, just for the love of doing it. And, as far as I’m concerned, that’s what it’s all about, and it’s all fine by me.

The list of people in this film reads like a who’s who of UK South Coast hip hop, graf, and Djs. The likes of Dr Syntax, Enlish, Rarekind, Aroe, and Killa Kela are all on here, to name but a few. Being a “Brighton thing”, Skint Records and Tru Thoughts also get a look in, which is no bad thing at all.

On a purely technical level, the whole thing is well narrated and edited, and put together is a really fresh style.

Do yourself a favour. Visit the site, get the film, and watch and enjoy. We did. If you don’t believe us, the take the opinion of Hip Hop Connection, who described it as “Both a time capsule and a recently-snapped postcard“, and is among one of the many institutions to big up this production.

In fact, we liked it so much, we’re hoping to do a little more on the subject in the near future in terms of mixes, interviews etc on the UK scene. Big thanks go to Mike Ashworth for making us aware of this documentary, and for getting a copy to us.

So there you have it. South Coast. Get a copy, it’s out now! End of.