Stretch & Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives (2015)

You may or may not of heard of Bobbito Garcia and DJ Stretch Armstrong, but if you were in New York City, or in any way involved in Hip Hop in the early 1990s their names were two of the most important in the game. During this time, their radio show was probably the single most vital showcase in the industry. Such was the prestige around it that an appearance on this platform alone could make or break your career. Almost every single one of your favorite artists came through their doors to get on the mic and try and make an impact. As Talbi Kweli says in this documentary "first you was nice on your block, then you was nice in your neighbourhood, then you was nice in the park, then you got to go on Stretch & Bob". That was the career path for aspiring MCs back then. 

Now, all of this might suggest some sort of grandeur around proceedings; people sitting in chairs, po-faced, silently judging talent. Nothing could be further from the truth and from the opening moment of this documentary, the spirit of the show becomes clear. It begins with the two hosts standing on a bustling corner of New York City, Bobbito desperately trying to be serious in interviewing his old colleague about their legacy. They get about eight words in before stopping to crack up laughing. It's a great opening and this lightness of touch remains throughout. That is what they are all about. 

From there we are guided through their lives growing up in the city and their introduction to each other first in the New York club scene, then in the halls of the Def Jam offices. The unshakable bond they quickly developed over a shared love of the culture soon began to turn into something more. Through Armstrong's growing reputation as one of the best hip hop DJs in town (despite being a gawky white guy) they began to explore the notion of doing a radio show together and assembled a crew of scensters to help them with this mission. After finding a decrepit office on campus at Columbia University, and with absolutely zero experience in radio, they went on air bouncing a signal off an antenna atop the World Trade Center and on a frequency that, as this doc mentions many times, was notoriously hard to find on the dial. From this humble setting, soon the show was setting the entire city of New York on fire. It's purist philosophy of playing the best hip-hop music and showcasing unsigned talent quickly became the hottest thing in the community, then became a movement. Every aspiring rapper was soon desperate to get on and show their skills. 

There are interviews with many of the top names in rap music and urban culture at that time - Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Wu-Tang, DJ Premier, Rosie Perez, the list goes on. All of them are completely unashamed to heap praise on Stretch & Bob for the importance of what they created and its impact on the genre. All of this is great, but the single best thing about this documentary is the endless treasure trove of behind the scenes footage. There is both audio and video of the studio in full swing, after-parties and general shenanigans but the real highlights are largely unseen or heard footage of all of your favourite rappers freestyling. 

One great creative choice this film (directed by Bobbito himself) makes is the act of placing headphones on interviewees. It may seem simple but allowing them to listen (on camera) to their performances from back in the day creates some wonderfully unscripted moments. There is a certain voyeuristic pleasure to watching Nas wincing at his own rhymes, or Jay-Z fully enjoying his. Embedded within this 90-minute fun ride are also a couple of very special moments featuring talents no longer with us. Fat Joe listening, for the very first time, to Big Pun spit rapid fire gold is one. Everyone listening to Big L and Jay-Z is another. But, the discovery of a very old tape featuring a very young Notorious BIG probably steals the show. Watching his old friends and colleagues listen to this largely unheard gem, from a 16 year old Biggie, brought a tear to my eye. 

Where this documentary stands out is its sense of time and place. By watching this film, you are transported to New York City when a genre was making its transition from underground fad to mainstream Goliath. If you weren't there, you get the feeling you should have been. This is largely achieved through the fantastic editing from Emir Lewis and Mariah Rehmet. Scenes featuring on-air 3AM freestyles are intercut with various shots from all around the city and, as a result, draw you in completely. From stick-up kids in Brooklyn, to downtown hipsters, to Harlem hustlers to inmates on Rikers Island, everyone was tuning in and these scenes capture the intoxicating magic of New York City itself.  It is the audio visual equivalent of opening a time capsule and any fan will be grateful for that. 

It is hard to imagine hip-hop in this format, given the mainstream animal it has become since then, but this film showcases everything that makes this music great. It began in rec rooms and block parties and, as one interviewee observes, Stretch & Bob managed to 'bring the corner to the radio'. It is funny, heartfelt and the music is outstanding. During its peak, the existence of their show really encapsulated all that is memorable about being young, sharing the same love for the same thing, and having the time of your life creating something together. This is your invite to the party, so you should probably take it. 

★★★★☆

PS - R.I.P. DJ Clark Kent, who features in this film and was a giant of this culture. 

JB