G-Funk
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Excellent docu about West Coast hip-hop; cursing, drugs.
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What's the Story?
G-FUNK chronicles the origins, rise, and lasting influence of 1990s West Coat hip-hop. The term "G-funk" refers to gangsta funk, a subgenre of hip-hop music that emerged from West Coast rap, heavily influenced by 1970s funk artists such as Marvin Gaye and Parliament-Funkadelic. Through interviews and archival footage, seminal and successful performers from that era -- including Snoop Dogg and Warren G. -- discuss how the West Coast style developed, how it was different from what grew out of New York City, and the meteoric rise of their careers in the aftermath of the now classic Dr. Dre album The Chronic. G-Funk explores the iconic musical movement and how it continues to influence the musicians of today.
Is It Any Good?
Whether or not you're a fan of hip-hop and its rich history, you'll appreciate how this documentary traces the origins of this artistic movement. But if you love music, you'll love G-Funk. All interviewed parties freely acknowledge how the music they grew up listening to as kids in the '70s led to the music they made in the '90s, and how none of it came out of a vacuum, but was instead an original twist on their influences. And at the end of the movie, coming full circle, Snoop Dogg and Warren G. talk of how the performers today tell them how they grew up listening to their music as kids in the '90s.
The historical context, the rough neighborhoods the artists grew up in, and the reactionary politics of the 1980s are also explained; it's easy to see how these influences also informed the music. Interviews with Chuck D., Russell Simmons, Ice-T, Deion Sanders, among others, go far in explaining just how original, exciting, and timeless the music that came out of G-Funk has proven to be. And place is given a lot of consideration -- how the frenzy of NYC urban life and the disco of the 1970s had an impact on the beats and style of the hip-hop that came out of there, and how the climate, driving culture, and funk of the '70s had an impact on the hip-hop that came out of Southern California. It's as informative and entertaining as you would want a music documentary to be.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about music documentaries. How does G-Funk compare to other music documentaries you've seen?
What did you learn in terms of how the music and culture of a location influenced the music of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Warren G., Nate Dogg, and all who were involved with G-Funk? How was this music and culture shown to be a contrast to what happened in New York City hip-hop?
An interviewee says that the crime and drug epidemics in the 1980s were a direct result of the federal government cutting after-school programs for kids and teens. Does that sound right to you? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 11, 2018
- Cast: Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Ice-T
- Director: Karam Gill
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors
- Studio: Chavez Bros. Productions
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models, History, Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
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