Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Iconic '80s movie captures the era's rap music; language.
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Krush Groove
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In KRUSH GROOVE, Russell (Blair Underwood) is trying to get his small record label, Krush Groove, off the ground in New York City. He has just released a single by Run DMC that features his brother Run (Joseph Simmons) that is getting a lot of local radio airplay, and they lack the funds to keep up with the demand as orders for the record come piling in. After Russell and label partner Rick (Rick Rubin) are turned down for a bank loan, Russell decides to take out a loan from a sketchy local businessman, who doesn't take kindly to late repayments. Meanwhile, Russell gets angry when Run puts Sheila E on a bill without telling him, and Run retaliates by signing with a major label, costing Russell money he doesn't have. While this is going on, a rap group called "The Disco 3" changes their name to "Fat Boys," and they begin to finally find some success in the area. As Russell takes a love interest in the on-the-rise performer Sheila E., Run also has feelings for her, adding more tension to their frayed relationship. When Russell is unable to pay back the loan, he starts to get into big trouble and must find a way to become friends with his brother Run again while taking Krush Groove to the next level.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fun slice of '80s nostalgia that also captures several iconic rap artists just as they're hitting their stride. Krush Groove came out at a time when rap and hip-hop were still considered by many to be novelty genres at best, and, at worst, not a legitimate form of musical expression. While panned at the time, the movie has held up and then some, if only because it captures so many great performances from everyone from Sheila E. to the Beastie Boys, Kurtis Blow to Fat Boys, and Run DMC as they were on the verge of international success.
Krush Groove has the same charm as '60s movies in which hippie youth are trying to be who they are despite the adults who mock them for their long hair, or '70s and '80s movies in which punk rockers face similar conflicts against various forms of authority. And like most of those movies, Krush Groove is better enjoyed for the musical interludes -- of which there are many. In fact, the musical interludes tend to supersede the story, and there's no reason to complain about this. As a bonus, it's delightful to see a young Rick Rubin (before becoming an iconic producer and best-selling author on the creative process) rocking out in the background behind the soundboard in a Hüsker Dü t-shirt.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the setting of Krush Groove. How does the movie capture the society and culture of early and mid-1980s New York City and Brooklyn?
What does this movie say about the struggles independent record labels and artists faced while trying to find success in a new musical genre in the 1980s?
Where does the movie feel dated? Where does the movie have more of a timeless quality?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 25, 1985
- Cast : Blair Underwood , Joseph Simmons , Sheila E
- Director : Michael Schultz
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Musical
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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