Krush Groove
Encyclopedia
Krush Groove is a 1985
Warner Bros.
film, written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz
(who also produced the movie, along with George Jackson and Doug McHenry
). This film is based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings
and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons
(re-named Russell Walker in the film), portrayed by Blair Underwood
in his feature film debut. Russell Simmons
was the film's co-producer and story consultant; he also has a cameo role in the film as a club owner named Crocket.
, Dr. Jeckyll
& Mr. Hyde, and Kurtis Blow
. Rick Rubin
produces their records. When Run-D.M.C. has a hit record and Russell doesn't have the money to press records, he borrows money from a street hustler
. At the same time, Russell and his brother Run are both competing for the heart of R&B singer-percussionist Sheila E. Also appearing in the film are LL Cool J
, the Beastie Boys
, New Edition
, the Fat Boys and some of their songs, as well as others from the likes of Chaka Khan
, Debbie Harry
, and The Gap Band. Members of the R&B band Full Force
also make a cameo in the film as bodyguards.
Non-fictional Background=
Krush Groove is based on the non-fiction inception of the label Def Jam and the hardships that artists RUN DMC and Russell Simmons, played by Blair Underwood, faced to become successful. Originally, Russell started out his career trying to get his company Rush Management up and running. However in the movie he is shown as already being teamed up with producer Rick Rubin to form Def Jam records, referred to as Krush Groove records in the film. The label was originally started by Rick Rubin back in 1984 in his college dorm at New York University. The movie starts off with Run-DMC and Kurtis Blow, known as the king of rap, as two of the first artists to be under the label with both Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC as both artist and song producers/writers.
The beginning of the movie is opened with Run-DMC in the studio performing “King of Rock” for Russell, Rick, and Kurtis Blow. However, Run DMC was not always involved in the Def Jam scene as shown in the movie, and Rick Ruben was not the producer of “King of Rock”. Run and D had to persuade both Russell and their original producer and bass player, Larry Smith, to give them a chance to record a demo. With the lyrics that Larry Smith had once bought off of Run for $100, their first demo, “It’s Like That” was created.
In the movie, the group also performs their track “My Adidas” from their album Raising Hell, created later after the success of the label, “Can You Rock it Like This”, and “You're Blind”. Run-DMC was known first rap act to produce cohesive, fully realized albums. With their new style in music, Run- DMC was said to have created a new era of music, an era, which according to them, would not have been created without Larry Smith. Larry Smith was the producer of Run-DMC’s first two albums that were falsely credited to Rick Rubin, who produced their third album Raising Hell. However in the movie, Larry Smith role is not portrayed at all.
Later on the team was joined by its first popular teen sensation LL Cool J, who plays a very small role in the movie at the age of 17. Playing himself, LL Cool J, is discovered through his piece “Radio” when performed at an audition in front of Russell, Curtis Blow, and Rick in Rick’s apartment. In reality, LL Cool J was discovered in Rick’s apartment but not through an audition. While going through a box of demos, Beastie Boy, Ad-Rock, stumbled across LL’s mix-tape song. With this, he produced a beat and co- wrote “I need a beat” with LL and Rick, which launched the careers of both LL and Rick, allowing the Def Jam label to take off. The song “I Can’t Live without My Radio” was conveniently made for the movie as a way for LL Cool J to star in it. However this song was also one of the great hit songs in the album Radio produced by and was the title of LL’s first debut album released in November 18, 1985.
Other artist that were a part of the Def Jam family but did not have a major role consisted of Beastie Boys, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and Whodini. Characters that were not part of the Def Jam family but greatly contributed to this new era were the Fat Boys, Sheila E, and New edition. In the movie, there is a particular focus on Sheila E. and the Fat Boys that over -shines the small amount of attention focused on New Edition.
The Fat Boys were the first group to show case the human beat box while rapping. In the movie, the group originally referred to themselves as the Disco 3. It was not till a scene in an Italian Buffet, where the three boys took the phrase “All you can eat” to the next level by eating everything. When the grouped realized this they were really fat they decided to give themselves the name “Fat Boys”. In reality, the name “Fat Boys” was suggested by their manager when he received a bill of $350 hotel bill for extra breakfast ordered by the boys on their European tour. As portrayed in the movie the group was discovered through the Coca-Cola/Tin Pan Apple rap contest at Radio City Music Hall where the won the first place prize, a recording contract, but had entered the contest to win the second place prize a stereo set. The boys perform their songs “Don’t You Dog Me”, “All You Can Eat”, “Fat Boys”, and “Pump it Up”.
Throughout the movie Sheila E. and Russell are romantically involved, which discouraged Run, who was always interested in her. In reality, Run did not like the concept of being disloyal to his brother, and the romance between Russell and Sheila was made up. Sheila E. made it into the film simply because they wanted a love interest, like in most films, and she recorded for Warner Bros, the distributor of the film. In the movie Sheila plays herself, a drummer and percussionist performing her hit songs “Holly Rock” and “Love Bizarre”. In addition, all the money issues that Russell faced in funding the label by borrowing from loan sharks and friends is also false.
The movie was not made the way the artists desired, but with all the talent of that time and most of the members of the Def Jam Family, the purpose of the movie, according to Russell Simmons, was to showcase the array of young talent emerging from New York's black music scene, and depict its vibrancy.
projects). Among the locations where the movie was shot was the famous Disco Fever, a popular club during the embryonic stages of hip hop that, by the time of the film, had fallen on some hard times. Disco Fever owner Sal Abbatiello
expected the movie not only to turn the spotlight on the burgeoning hip-hop movement but also to "bring attention [back] to the club" and so agreed to have scenes shot there. Unfortunately, the attention surrounding the filming brought the scrutiny of the local authorities, who shut the club down for good on the last day of shooting for not having all the proper licenses and permits. There was also a scene shot in Shepard Hall of the historic City College of New York
.
During an interview to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film, Russell Simmons reflected on the legacy of Krush Groove and its position in hip-hop culture history. The film, Simmons said, is still recognizable not only for having brought together so many Def Jam stars at the time, but for also introducing new talent, such as LL Cool J. Cool J was so persistent during filming, showing up to shooting locations and performing freestyles, that producers ended up putting him in the final cut. This backdoor auditioning process became a staple of the production. “Other cats weren’t so lucky,” Simmons said. “We had this one cat who tried to be like LL, and we just couldn’t understand what his gig was. Dude was a total clown. He was wearing a clock around his neck way before Flav. Neon jumpsuits, everything. Of course our whole thing was black leather and adidas. That was the thing in rap at that time. He came in speaking some sort of pidgin English and just kept groping our female set workers. We called him ‘Hands’ at first cause we didn’t know what else to call him.” Simmons went out to explain that, after some time, they crew realized ‘Hands’ was actually speaking siSwati, a sister tongue to siZulu. “That’s when we called in Afrika Bambaataa, you know, cause this is ’84, right. The Zulu Nation was hot at that time, working that African infusion into everything, breakbeats, graffiti, peace in communities. We thought Afrika could translate. Nah, son. Ends up that dude doesn’t know a word of zulu.” As former crew members tells it, the rapper referred to himself as ‘Lishisa Lizambane’, siSwati for ‘Hot Potato’. Run of Run-DMC recalls “We didn’t know how he got to the Bronx, but apparently cat was from Africa. Like real Africa. As in, middle-of-nowhere Swaziland Africa.” ‘Hot Potato’ was a self-dubbed name, due to his penchant for passing himself around amongst ladies, not unlike the action of a real hot potato. As for his freestyles, Simmons claims he “had no idea what was happening, cause it was all jumbled up siSwati and English. He wouldn’t perform without a stick in his hand, occasionally made bird whistles, and randomly did high leg kicks for no reason. I remember thinking he was rappin’ about police, police, police. Come to find out, he just kept using this word ‘liphalishi’ which is some sort of a staple meal where he comes from. I kept thinking this clown was hard, but apparently he just kept rapping about food.” Due to the absurd nature of this unknown, producers couldn’t justify including one his performances in the final cut, out of fear of alienating their core audience. “We actually tried to film him in a scene once,” remembers Kurtis Blow, “but he kept putting his mug all up on Sheila E.” After filming, ‘Hot Potato’ was never seen from him again, although speculation is that he returned to native Swaziland. “Thats unfortunate,” says Simmons, “cause once Public Enemy came out we realized just how ahead of the game ‘Hands’... excuse me... ‘Hot Potato’ really was.”
The movie was released on DVD in 2003. Among the special extras included on the DVD are commentary from Underwood, Schultz, and The Source
magazine Senior Editor Brett Johnson, a theatrical trailer for the movie, and the Krush Groove All-Stars video "Krush Groovin'."
Chris Rock
appeared uncredited as a man standing next to phone during the fight in the club. Kara Vallow
appeared uncredited as a Hip Hop Dancer. Coati Mundi
was seen as a record shop owner.
as being better than E.T
. by Loki (Matt Damon
).
by various hip-hop artists, released on Warner Brothers Records in 1985. The album peaked at #79 on the Pop chart
and #14 on the R&B chart. The Krush Groove soundtrack was released on Warner Bros. Records in 1985 and featured songs from the movie. Only 1,000 copies of the album were ever pressed on compact disc
.
Other songs appeared in the film but were not on the album soundtrack:
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
film, written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz
Michael Schultz
Michael Schultz is an American director and producer of film and television.-Life and career:Schultz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Katherine Frances , a factory worker, and Leo Schultz, an insurance salesman...
(who also produced the movie, along with George Jackson and Doug McHenry
Doug McHenry
Doug McHenry is an American film director and producer.He graduated from Stanford University in 1973 with a degree in Economics, and from Harvard University with a degree in law and business administration....
). This film is based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
(re-named Russell Walker in the film), portrayed by Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood is an American television and film actor. He is perhaps best known as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a role he portrayed for seven years. He has gained critical acclaim throughout his career, receiving numerous Golden Globe Award...
in his feature film debut. Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
was the film's co-producer and story consultant; he also has a cameo role in the film as a club owner named Crocket.
Plot
In the movie, Russell Walker has signed all of the hottest acts to his Krush Groove record label, including Run-D.M.C.Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
, Dr. Jeckyll
Andre Harrell
Andre Harrell is founder of the now defunct record label, Uptown Records. Harrell also served as president/CEO of Motown Records. He was also the first half of the hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde.-Biography:...
& Mr. Hyde, and Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
. Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
produces their records. When Run-D.M.C. has a hit record and Russell doesn't have the money to press records, he borrows money from a street hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
. At the same time, Russell and his brother Run are both competing for the heart of R&B singer-percussionist Sheila E. Also appearing in the film are LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
, New Edition
New Edition
New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
, the Fat Boys and some of their songs, as well as others from the likes of Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
, and The Gap Band. Members of the R&B band Full Force
Full Force
Full Force is a group of R&B performers and producers from Brooklyn, New York, USA, calling itself the original hip hop vocal band.-Members:*B-Fine - drums and drum programming*Shy Shy - bass guitar...
also make a cameo in the film as bodyguards.
Non-fictional Background=
Krush Groove is based on the non-fiction inception of the label Def Jam and the hardships that artists RUN DMC and Russell Simmons, played by Blair Underwood, faced to become successful. Originally, Russell started out his career trying to get his company Rush Management up and running. However in the movie he is shown as already being teamed up with producer Rick Rubin to form Def Jam records, referred to as Krush Groove records in the film. The label was originally started by Rick Rubin back in 1984 in his college dorm at New York University. The movie starts off with Run-DMC and Kurtis Blow, known as the king of rap, as two of the first artists to be under the label with both Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC as both artist and song producers/writers.
The beginning of the movie is opened with Run-DMC in the studio performing “King of Rock” for Russell, Rick, and Kurtis Blow. However, Run DMC was not always involved in the Def Jam scene as shown in the movie, and Rick Ruben was not the producer of “King of Rock”. Run and D had to persuade both Russell and their original producer and bass player, Larry Smith, to give them a chance to record a demo. With the lyrics that Larry Smith had once bought off of Run for $100, their first demo, “It’s Like That” was created.
In the movie, the group also performs their track “My Adidas” from their album Raising Hell, created later after the success of the label, “Can You Rock it Like This”, and “You're Blind”. Run-DMC was known first rap act to produce cohesive, fully realized albums. With their new style in music, Run- DMC was said to have created a new era of music, an era, which according to them, would not have been created without Larry Smith. Larry Smith was the producer of Run-DMC’s first two albums that were falsely credited to Rick Rubin, who produced their third album Raising Hell. However in the movie, Larry Smith role is not portrayed at all.
Later on the team was joined by its first popular teen sensation LL Cool J, who plays a very small role in the movie at the age of 17. Playing himself, LL Cool J, is discovered through his piece “Radio” when performed at an audition in front of Russell, Curtis Blow, and Rick in Rick’s apartment. In reality, LL Cool J was discovered in Rick’s apartment but not through an audition. While going through a box of demos, Beastie Boy, Ad-Rock, stumbled across LL’s mix-tape song. With this, he produced a beat and co- wrote “I need a beat” with LL and Rick, which launched the careers of both LL and Rick, allowing the Def Jam label to take off. The song “I Can’t Live without My Radio” was conveniently made for the movie as a way for LL Cool J to star in it. However this song was also one of the great hit songs in the album Radio produced by and was the title of LL’s first debut album released in November 18, 1985.
Other artist that were a part of the Def Jam family but did not have a major role consisted of Beastie Boys, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and Whodini. Characters that were not part of the Def Jam family but greatly contributed to this new era were the Fat Boys, Sheila E, and New edition. In the movie, there is a particular focus on Sheila E. and the Fat Boys that over -shines the small amount of attention focused on New Edition.
The Fat Boys were the first group to show case the human beat box while rapping. In the movie, the group originally referred to themselves as the Disco 3. It was not till a scene in an Italian Buffet, where the three boys took the phrase “All you can eat” to the next level by eating everything. When the grouped realized this they were really fat they decided to give themselves the name “Fat Boys”. In reality, the name “Fat Boys” was suggested by their manager when he received a bill of $350 hotel bill for extra breakfast ordered by the boys on their European tour. As portrayed in the movie the group was discovered through the Coca-Cola/Tin Pan Apple rap contest at Radio City Music Hall where the won the first place prize, a recording contract, but had entered the contest to win the second place prize a stereo set. The boys perform their songs “Don’t You Dog Me”, “All You Can Eat”, “Fat Boys”, and “Pump it Up”.
Throughout the movie Sheila E. and Russell are romantically involved, which discouraged Run, who was always interested in her. In reality, Run did not like the concept of being disloyal to his brother, and the romance between Russell and Sheila was made up. Sheila E. made it into the film simply because they wanted a love interest, like in most films, and she recorded for Warner Bros, the distributor of the film. In the movie Sheila plays herself, a drummer and percussionist performing her hit songs “Holly Rock” and “Love Bizarre”. In addition, all the money issues that Russell faced in funding the label by borrowing from loan sharks and friends is also false.
The movie was not made the way the artists desired, but with all the talent of that time and most of the members of the Def Jam Family, the purpose of the movie, according to Russell Simmons, was to showcase the array of young talent emerging from New York's black music scene, and depict its vibrancy.
Production
Krush Groove was filmed in the Bronx, New York (including at least one scene in the Marble HillMarble Hill, Manhattan
Marble Hill is the neighborhood which makes up the northernmost part of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States. Although it is politically part of Manhattan and New York County, because of the re-routing of the Harlem River, it is located on the North American mainland contiguous...
projects). Among the locations where the movie was shot was the famous Disco Fever, a popular club during the embryonic stages of hip hop that, by the time of the film, had fallen on some hard times. Disco Fever owner Sal Abbatiello
Sal Abbatiello
Sal Abbatiello is a record executive in the music business. His career goes back to the early 1970s and he is still one of the biggest concert promoters and record executives in the New York City area. Abbatiello created and produced the Freestyle, Urban/Dance-Pop trio, The Cover Girls, whose hits...
expected the movie not only to turn the spotlight on the burgeoning hip-hop movement but also to "bring attention [back] to the club" and so agreed to have scenes shot there. Unfortunately, the attention surrounding the filming brought the scrutiny of the local authorities, who shut the club down for good on the last day of shooting for not having all the proper licenses and permits. There was also a scene shot in Shepard Hall of the historic City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
.
During an interview to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film, Russell Simmons reflected on the legacy of Krush Groove and its position in hip-hop culture history. The film, Simmons said, is still recognizable not only for having brought together so many Def Jam stars at the time, but for also introducing new talent, such as LL Cool J. Cool J was so persistent during filming, showing up to shooting locations and performing freestyles, that producers ended up putting him in the final cut. This backdoor auditioning process became a staple of the production. “Other cats weren’t so lucky,” Simmons said. “We had this one cat who tried to be like LL, and we just couldn’t understand what his gig was. Dude was a total clown. He was wearing a clock around his neck way before Flav. Neon jumpsuits, everything. Of course our whole thing was black leather and adidas. That was the thing in rap at that time. He came in speaking some sort of pidgin English and just kept groping our female set workers. We called him ‘Hands’ at first cause we didn’t know what else to call him.” Simmons went out to explain that, after some time, they crew realized ‘Hands’ was actually speaking siSwati, a sister tongue to siZulu. “That’s when we called in Afrika Bambaataa, you know, cause this is ’84, right. The Zulu Nation was hot at that time, working that African infusion into everything, breakbeats, graffiti, peace in communities. We thought Afrika could translate. Nah, son. Ends up that dude doesn’t know a word of zulu.” As former crew members tells it, the rapper referred to himself as ‘Lishisa Lizambane’, siSwati for ‘Hot Potato’. Run of Run-DMC recalls “We didn’t know how he got to the Bronx, but apparently cat was from Africa. Like real Africa. As in, middle-of-nowhere Swaziland Africa.” ‘Hot Potato’ was a self-dubbed name, due to his penchant for passing himself around amongst ladies, not unlike the action of a real hot potato. As for his freestyles, Simmons claims he “had no idea what was happening, cause it was all jumbled up siSwati and English. He wouldn’t perform without a stick in his hand, occasionally made bird whistles, and randomly did high leg kicks for no reason. I remember thinking he was rappin’ about police, police, police. Come to find out, he just kept using this word ‘liphalishi’ which is some sort of a staple meal where he comes from. I kept thinking this clown was hard, but apparently he just kept rapping about food.” Due to the absurd nature of this unknown, producers couldn’t justify including one his performances in the final cut, out of fear of alienating their core audience. “We actually tried to film him in a scene once,” remembers Kurtis Blow, “but he kept putting his mug all up on Sheila E.” After filming, ‘Hot Potato’ was never seen from him again, although speculation is that he returned to native Swaziland. “Thats unfortunate,” says Simmons, “cause once Public Enemy came out we realized just how ahead of the game ‘Hands’... excuse me... ‘Hot Potato’ really was.”
The movie was released on DVD in 2003. Among the special extras included on the DVD are commentary from Underwood, Schultz, and The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
magazine Senior Editor Brett Johnson, a theatrical trailer for the movie, and the Krush Groove All-Stars video "Krush Groovin'."
Cast
The following appeared as themselves, except where noted:- Blair UnderwoodBlair UnderwoodBlair Underwood is an American television and film actor. He is perhaps best known as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a role he portrayed for seven years. He has gained critical acclaim throughout his career, receiving numerous Golden Globe Award...
(as Russell Walker) - Sheila E.Sheila E.Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
- Run-D.M.C.Run-D.M.C.Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
- The Fat BoysThe Fat BoysThe Fat Boys are a successful African American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City, that emerged in the early 1980s. Briefly, the group was known originally as the Disco 3.-Members:*Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee"...
- Kurtis BlowKurtis BlowKurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
- New EditionNew EditionNew Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
- Beastie BoysBeastie BoysBeastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
- LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
- Russell SimmonsRussell Simmons-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
(as Crocket) - Richard GantRichard GantRichard E. Gant is an American film and television actor. His credits include the films Rocky V , as a possessed cornoner in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday , Deadwood, Babylon 5, Special Unit 2, NYPD Blue, Living Single, Posse and Charmed...
(as Jay B.) - Lisa *** Hamilton (as Iesha)
- Rick RubinRick RubinFrederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
- NayobeNayobeNayobe Catalina Gomez was born in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York to Afro-Cuban parents.-Career:In the early part of 1985 Nayobe became the first Latin American female to record a Freestyle song called "Please Don't Go" which was produced by Andy Panda...
- Vicky Ruane {as girl Friday}
- Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. HydeDr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde (group)Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde was a 1980s hip hop group consisting of Andre "Dr. Jeckyll" Harrell and Alonzo "Mr. Hyde" Brown. The group was known for its corporate business image, wearing designer suits and ties while they rapped. The group first performed under the name "Harlem World Crew" and recorded...
(Andre HarrellAndre HarrellAndre Harrell is founder of the now defunct record label, Uptown Records. Harrell also served as president/CEO of Motown Records. He was also the first half of the hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde.-Biography:...
and Alonzo Brown) - Brian "B-Fine" and Paul Anthony George of Full ForceFull ForceFull Force is a group of R&B performers and producers from Brooklyn, New York, USA, calling itself the original hip hop vocal band.-Members:*B-Fine - drums and drum programming*Shy Shy - bass guitar...
(as Jay B.'s bodyguards)
Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
appeared uncredited as a man standing next to phone during the fight in the club. Kara Vallow
Kara Vallow
Kara Vallow is an American animation producer best known for her work as Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane's long time producing partner on Family Guy and American Dad, as well as The Cleveland Show.-Career:Vallow has produced 3 South and the animated series adaption of Dilbert.In 2004, she...
appeared uncredited as a Hip Hop Dancer. Coati Mundi
Coati Mundi
Coati Mundi is the stage name of American musician Andy Hernandez, percussionist, notably playing the vibraphone, and member of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, then of Kid Creole and the Coconuts. He scored the Top 40 UK hit "Me No Pop I" in 1981, just before the release of Tropical Gangsters...
was seen as a record shop owner.
Other references
This movie is referenced in the movie DogmaDogma (film)
Dogma is a 1999 American adventure fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo,...
as being better than E.T
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
. by Loki (Matt Damon
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
).
Soundtrack
Music from the Original Motion Picture Krush Groove (also called just Krush Groove Soundtrack) is a soundtrack albumSoundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
by various hip-hop artists, released on Warner Brothers Records in 1985. The album peaked at #79 on the Pop chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #14 on the R&B chart. The Krush Groove soundtrack was released on Warner Bros. Records in 1985 and featured songs from the movie. Only 1,000 copies of the album were ever pressed on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Track listing
- Chaka KhanChaka KhanChaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
—"(Krush Groove) Can't Stop The Street" (5:10) - LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
—"I Can't Live Without My RadioI Can't Live Without My Radio"I Can't Live Without My Radio" is the lead single from LL Cool J's debut album, Radio. It was released in 1985 for Def Jam Recordings and was both written and produced by LL Cool J and Rick Rubin. The song found modest success, making it to #15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks...
" (short version) (4:25) - Kurtis BlowKurtis BlowKurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
—"If I Ruled the World" (6:19) - Fat Boys—"All You Can Eat" (3:27)
- Debbie HarryDebbie HarryDeborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
—"Feel the SpinFeel the Spin"Feel the Spin" is a song by the American vocalist Debbie Harry, featured on the soundtrack album for the film Krush Groove . The song was co-written by Harry and producers John "Jellybean" Benitez and Toni C....
" (4:01) - Sheila E.Sheila E.Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
—"Holly Rock" (4:57) - Beastie BoysBeastie BoysBeastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
—"She's on ItShe's on It"She's on It" is a song by American hip-hop group the Beastie Boys. The group's debut single, it was released on the soundtrack to the 1985 film Krush Groove....
" (3:32) - Gap BandGap BandThe Gap Band was an American funk band, who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. Comprising brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group shortened its name to The Gap Band...
—"Love Triangle" (4:47) - Force MD's—"Tender Love" (3:55)
- Krush Groove All-Stars (Run-D.M.C., Sheila E., Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys)—"Krush Groovin'" (5:05)
Other songs appeared in the film but were not on the album soundtrack:
- Autumn - "Kold Krush"
- Run DMC - "King of Rock," "It's Like That", "Can You Rock it Like This," "You're Blind"
- Fat Boys - "Don't You Dog Me," "Fat Boys," "Pump it Up (Let's Get Funky)"
- Sheila E. - "A Love BizarreA Love Bizarre"A Love Bizarre" is a song written by Prince and Sheila E.. The song is a duet between both singers and it appears on Sheila E.'s 1985 album Romance 1600. It clocks in at 12:16, but the single version is 3:46 in duration....
" - UTFOUTFOUTFO is an old school hip-hop group, popular in the 1980s, that was mentored by the contemporary R&B group Full Force. The group consists of the Kangol Kid , the Educated Rapper , Doctor Ice , and Mix Master Ice...
- "Pick up the Pace" (released as the b-side of "All You Can Eat" on Warner Bros. Records 28829) - Nayobe - "Please Don't Go"
- New EditionNew EditionNew Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
- "My Secret" - Chad Elliot - "I Want You to be My Girl"