Beyond Beats and Ryhmes:  A Local Response

In March, 2007, the Youth Media Workshop brought filmmaker Byron Hurt to Urbana, Illinois, for a screening and discussion of his film, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.  The film takes an in-depth look at manhood in rap music and hip-hop culture -- where creative genius, poetic beauty and mad beats collide with misogyny, violence and homophobia.  A Local Response features 30 minutes of a critical discussion about the film and hip-hop culture with a love audience and a diverse group of panelists. The screening/discussion tool place at the Spurlock Musuem on the campus of the University of Illinois.