Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap is a 2012 American documentary film directed and executive produced by Ice-T and co-directed by Andy Baybutt. It focuses on the craft of writing and performing rap verses, and all the interviewees are musicians of the genre and friends of Ice-T. Producer Paul Toogood states on the DVD release that the genesis of the project stemmed from a conversation he had with Ice-T in which he asked him how he wrote "seminal tracks" such as "6 in the Mornin'" and "Colors".
Ice-T replied that in his thirty-year hip-hop career, no one had ever asked him that. Grandmaster Caz features more than any other interviewee, and the movie returns to his home on multiple occasions throughout showing his creative process as he writes "The Art Of Rap" rap, which he then delivers. It was shot on location, but mainly in New York, Los Angeles and Detroit. The film was an official selection for the Sundance Film Festival where it was screened as a premiere on January 2, 2012. The film was released in the theaters on June 15, 2012 and in the UK it was released on July 20, 2012.
Contents
Cast
In alphabetical order, as named in the film:
Afrika Bambaataa
Big Daddy Kane
B-Real
Bun B
Cashout Chris
Chino XL
Chuck D
Common
Dana Dane
Denis "Deft" Matinez
DJ Premier
DMC
Doug E. Fresh
Dr. Dre
Eminem
Freddie Demarco
Grandmaster Caz
Ice Cube
Ice-T
Immortal Technique
Joe Budden
Kanye West
Kool Boy
Kool Keith
Kool Moe Dee
KRS-One
Loke
Lord Finesse
Lord Jamar
Marley Marl
MC Lyte
Melle Mel
Nas
Puerto Rico
Q-Tip
Raekwon
Rakim
Ras Kass
Redman
Royce da 5'9"
Run
Salt
Snoop Dogg
Tha Furious One
Treach
WC
Xzibit
Yasiin (formerly known as Mos Def)
Soundtrack album
An official soundtrack to the film was released on CD and as a digital download featuring fifteen songs selected from the movie, seven freestyles as performed in the film, plus one track "Harder Than You Think (Just Like That)" by Public Enemy, which featured in the film's trailer but does not feature in the actual movie. The first track is an official live acapella freestyle by Ice-T, but in the film's credits, this track is referred to as "Chrome Plated 357". Ice-T is also featured on Immortal Technique's live acapella freestyle but is not credited as such on the soundtrack.