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This Is the Life

Film

This Is the Life

How the West was One

5.8

1h 37m

2008

“How the West was One”

Synopsis

In 1989, a collective of young hip hop artists gathered at a health food café in South Central Los Angeles. Their mandate? To reject gang culture and expand the musical boundaries of hip hop. DuVernay's documentary chronicles the historic legacy of the Good Life Cafe — the open mic nights that became an L.A. institution, the eclectic array of talented young MCs that emerged there, the alternative hip hop movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the artform.

Director

Ava DuVernay

Trailer

DocumentaryMusic

hip-hopimprovisationwoman director

Cast & Crew

Abstract Rude

Abstract Rude

as Self

Big Al

as Self

Busdriver

Busdriver

as Self

Chali 2na

Chali 2na

as Self

Cut Chemist

Cut Chemist

as Self

Ellay Khule

Ellay Khule

as Self

Fat Jack

as Self

NgaFsh

NgaFsh

as Self

Tray Loc

as Self

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