The Legendary Film That Influenced the Beastie Boys

Wild Style, released in 1983, is credited with sparking the global spread of hip-hop culture—comprising DJing, rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti art—and has been cited as an influence by numerous artists, including the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and Nas.

Set in New York's South Bronx in 1982, this film features a multitude of artists, including graffiti writers, dancers, DJs, and rappers of the era. It remains a landmark film with enduring popularity, evidenced by the release of a 30th-anniversary DVD-BOX in the United States in 2013. Now, over 30 years later, it is finally set for a theatrical release in Japan.

Raymond, the graffiti artist protagonist, is played by artist Lee Quiñones. Rose, Raymond's girlfriend, is portrayed by artist Sandra "Pink" Fabara. Both are essential figures in understanding graffiti art, with their works collected by the Whitney Museum.

The film is directed by Charlie Ahearn, known for his documentary Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer. It masterfully portrays the inner conflict of Raymond, a graffiti writer, as he grapples with the choice between expressing his art freely in the underground scene and creating it for a living in the glamorous mainstream.

For this Japanese release, K Dub Shine has supervised the Japanese subtitles.

A Vivid Record of Hip-Hop's Genesis

New York, South Bronx, 1982. Raymond, a graffiti writer, sneaks into a subway garage late at night to spray graffiti on a train. Raymond's distinctive designs gain notoriety, but he cannot reveal his identity due to the illegal nature of his work—a secret he keeps from his girlfriend, Rose, as well.

One day, his associate Fade introduces him to Virginia, a newspaper reporter. Virginia, who has helped launch the careers of many artists, offers Raymond a commission. However, he finds himself torn between creating art for a living and expressing himself freely.

Wild Style
Nationwide theatrical release begins March 21st (Saturday) at Shibuya Cine Rise and other theaters.
Director | Charlie Ahearn
Starring | Lee Quiñones, Sandra Pink Fabara, Patti Astor,
Fab 5 Freddy, Cold Crush Brothers, Rock Steady Crew,
Busy Bee, Rammellzee
Distributor | Uplink
1982 / USA / 82 min
http://www.uplink.co.jp/wildstyle/