Common Sense Media Review
By Sabrina McFarland
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
'80s rap and graffiti drama has language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Beat Street
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BEAT STREET, a series of stories are at play. They include Kenny Kirkland (Guy Davis), an aspiring DJ, and younger brother and breakdancer Lee Kirkland (Robert Taylor), who both want to become rich and famous. Graffiti writer Ramon (Jon Chardiet) and Carmen (Saundra Santiago) are an unmarried couple with a kid to care for who need a place to live. Tracy Carlson (Rae Dawn Chong) is a thriving college music conductor, composer, and teacher at a Manhattan-based college who finds friendship and later love with Kenny. Issues of class and race appear in the mix of this multi-layered movie.
Is It Any Good?
Filmmaker Stan Lathan and actor Harry Belafonte, this time wearing a producer's hat, pull off a prolific portrait of the lives of teens in an impoverished urban setting. Most meaningful in Beat Street are the stories of survival and fulfilling a dream. "Take us somewhere, anywhere," says Carmen to boyfriend Ramon about a desire to have a good life. Ramon remedies the situation and gets a job after a heated argument with his dad who defines his son as a "criminal, scrawling on the subways. "How come a man is what you say?" questions Ramon about self-identity. "I'm an artist…I make them trains beautiful."
For aspiring DJ Kenny Kirkland, it's the advice of two women who will play important roles in his life to make a positive difference. Tracy Carlson is a college teacher who wants to help Kenny with his career and says she's "not a taker and I'm not a user." Kenny's mom Cora Kirkland wants the best for her son. "Eat your eggs before I break your legs," she says in a rhyme to him. "Now you know where your gallant talent came from." Cora also shares with her two sons that "you can keep your dreams, gentlemen, but get something to fall back on." Beat Street gives a bust-a-move performance with just the right break of dynamic dances, stellar sounds, and words of wisdom for teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the communication of the cast in Beat Street. How do they also demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
What do you think about the art of breakdancing? What are the positive and negative aspects of this form of freestyle physical activity?
Ramon and Kenny risk their lives walking on subway railway tracks. Ramon promises Kenny that nothing will happen to him. Would you take such a risk and follow a friend's advice? Why or why not?
How does Beat Street compare with other genre films about graffiti writing and hip-hop music? What do you think of the film's dialogue and direction?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 8, 1984
- On DVD or streaming : April 15, 2003
- Cast : Rae Dawn Chong , Jon Chardiet , Guy Davis
- Director : Stan Lathan
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Orion Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts ( Dance , Hip-Hop , Music and Sing-Along ) , Competition , Family Stories , Friendship , History , Activism ( Racial justice )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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