An example of musical excellence in film format, ‘Love Beats Rhymes’ manages to deliver one of the most thoughtful, significant, and everlasting statements about poetic expression; what it means to struggle against adversity and how unforeseen hardships can be channeled immaculately into artistic pursuit.
Main cast: Azealia Banks, John David Washington, Jill Scott, Lucien Laviscount, MC Jin, Common, Lorraine Toussaint, Method Man, Hana Mae Lee
Leading the cast is world-famous rapper and singer, the beautiful Azealia Banks: known for her extremely memorable single “212” and her studio album ‘Broke with Expensive Tastes’, as well as a nomination for Best Female Hip-hop Artist at the 2013 BET Awards, two mixtapes, and countless hit songs released over the years. Here she plays Coco Ford: a young woman on her way up in the local battle rap scene who sometimes prefers to dabble in the less antagonistic forms of Hip-hop – referred to as “conscious rap” by some or “alternative rap” by others. For a relative newcomer to acting at the time Azealia Banks’ on-screen presence isn’t just impressive – it’s nearly numinous in its emotionality – you get a very deep sense that she truly cares for the role. A performance that is both naturalistic and skillfully compleat; not to mention, quintessentially thespian; these words and more all spring readily to mind. Coco Ford’s story is one that grabs the viewer — from the get-go and carries you along for the ride, while ensuring your attention span for the entirety of the film.
This feature was directed by RZA (Robert Diggs) who’s known for founding the rap supergroup ‘Wu-Tang Clan’, and producing countless award winning records, scoring both Kill Bill I & II, a career in acting (he received a SAG award nomination for his role in ‘American Gangster’), releasing internationally loved music, and many other vocations. Black celebrities and musicians comprise the majority of the cast, allowing for a film that showcases Black voices and personalities in a wide array – not dissimilar to a Spike Lee picture. RZA’s attention to detail is evident throughout the film, the cinematography is poignant when needed; highlighting the emotional beats and bringing dynamism during the “rap battle” sequences. ‘Love Beats Rhymes’ is interspersed with poetry reciting, some spoken word or def, others being Coco Ford (Azealia Banks) freestyling her own organically crafted lyrics for other students. A recurring theme present in the picture is the age-old question: “what constitutes poetry” and “whether or not Hip-hop fits that mold” – a paradox that is played upon expertly to examine cultural beliefs and exclusionary thinking when applied to art –and the pitfalls therein.
an introspective journey that Coco Ford (Banks) is on as she gains notoriety within the local rap scene, and navigates love, performs small shows with her band, all while attending college and pursuing a degree in English and a specialization in Poetry and Poetics. There she meets an obstinate and snobbish professor (Jill Scott), a teacher’s assistant (Lucien Laviscount) who initially infuriates her (but later proves to gain her affections as a love interest), and a class full of aspiring poets, many of which enjoy her brief outbursts of “freestyle poetry” that take the form of lyricism. Even despite her professor’s repeated admonishments.
All-in-all, the film is uniquely successful in juggling all these competing elements; cohesive rather than disjointed. John David Washington who’s now skyrocketed to Hollywood platinum status (known for ‘Tenet’, Spike Lee’s ‘Black KKKlansman’ and ‘The Creator’) plays Coco Ford’s longtime friend and musical partner Mahlik, providing a solid through-line that keeps the viewer from losing track of the B-plot thread – in amongst the more prominently positioned story beats.
I can’t emphasize this enough Azealia Banks delivers a performance that mesmerizes, hypnotizes, and entertains while providing a cathartic reprieve for anyone who has even a fleeting love for Hip-hop or poetic expression. Her scenes are captivating because she commands the screen with the finesse of a much more trained actress. Talented direction aside – at the end of the day this film was constructed as a cinematic vehicle for Banks – and she drove the fuck out of it.
‘Love Beats Rhymes’, authentically badass and unapologetically fire.
Rating 9/10
Go write some poetry or freestyle.
