Rating: 
Summary: One of the funnies films about the music biz
Review: On its face, "Fear of A Black Hat" is a Spinal-Tap mockumentary about the world of hip hop. Indeed, it does a fantastic job of poking fun at anybody who was anyone (circa 1994, of course) in the hip hop world, and anyone who knew what hip-hop was all about in the mid-90s will be choking back tears of laughter. The film even takes a stab at the age-old hip hop question, "What's the difference between a b*tch and a ho?"It's also a great film about the music biz in general, though, taking on such topics as sleazy promoters, sycophantic managers, crazy label execs, and even retail placement. One of the perhaps unintentionally humorous aspects of the film is the fact that almost all of the music used in the movie is actually pretty damn good, despite the fact that the tracks are originals, and not done by famous pro musicians. Granted, some of them are parodies and employ familiar song structures...but some aren't. Interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Wear your hat.......
Review: I own a well worn VHS of this movie, and it is still as funny today as it was in the early 90's when it first came out. This witty parody of the Hip-Hop scene by Rusty Cundieff and Crew (Tales from the Hood fame) is vastly superior to it's rival CB4.
This movie is to Hip Hop, what Spinal Tap was to Metal. Either way even if you just know a little about the rap scene of the 90's you will roll laughing. The scene where the security guards have Ice Cold (Rusty Cundieff) outside of his car, and he has like 50 people with vidoe cameras and even the guy from the courtroom painting his portrait, "Cuz ain't gonna be no mo' rodney king up in here" will bring tears to your eys from laughter....... Until next time y'all. "Wear yo' Hat!"
Rating:
Summary: A cult classic
Review: This movie is the "Spinal Tap" for the hip hop set. This movie is very dated, but very hilarious, the jokes never get old. I have seen this movie hundreds of time and am glad to see it come to DVD finally. Rusty Cundieff is a talented writer, as well as a great actor, and should be noted as one of the best that black cinema has to offer.
Rating:
Summary: So good, I've had my first copy stolen!!!!!!!!
Review: By far the best movie I've laid my eyes on. The laughs come at you in all directions, suddleties, and all the time. Rusty Cundieff is the man when it comes to spoofs, Fear of a Black Hat is about early 90's rap, such as This is Spinal Tap is to rock and roll(Another great movie). This movie is so good, that my first copy was stolen and I non-hesitantly bought another one. Words can't say how funny this movie is, socheck it out and see for yourself. If you don't know early 90's Rap and R&B, this movie won't be as funny, but you will still laugh through the whole thing.
Rating:
Summary: An Overlooked Gem
Review: I was fortunate enough to see Fear of a Black Hat through a friend about 8 years ago. Since that time, I don't think I have ever laughed so hard. This "mockumentary" about a fictitious gangster rap group's rise, fall and resurrection not only has some of the most quotable lines in a comedy since "Spaceballs," but the songs are hysterical and surprisingly well done (on that note, I also highly recommend picking up the soundtrack on CD). I have shown this movie to probably 50 other people since purchasing it, and with a few exceptions (people who can't appreciate brilliant comedy), everyone is now hooked. We can only hope that this movie eventually comes out on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: One of the funnies films about the music biz
Review: On its face, "Fear of A Black Hat" is a Spinal-Tap mockumentary about the world of hip hop. Indeed, it does a fantastic job of poking fun at anybody who was anyone (circa 1994, of course) in the hip hop world, and anyone who knew what hip-hop was all about in the mid-90s will be choking back tears of laughter. The film even takes a stab at the age-old hip hop question, "What's the difference between a b*tch and a ho?" It's also a great film about the music biz in general, though, taking on such topics as sleazy promoters, sycophantic managers, crazy label execs, and even retail placement. One of the perhaps unintentionally humorous aspects of the film is the fact that almost all of the music used in the movie is actually pretty damn good, despite the fact that the tracks are originals, and not done by famous pro musicians. Granted, some of them are parodies and employ familiar song structures...but some aren't. Interesting.
Rating:
Summary: A cult classic
Review: This movie is the "Spinal Tap" for the hip hop set. This movie is very dated, but very hilarious, the jokes never get old. I have seen this movie hundreds of time and am glad to see it come to DVD finally. Rusty Cundieff is a talented writer, as well as a great actor, and should be noted as one of the best that black cinema has to offer.
Rating: 
Summary: not funny
Review: the "jokes" are all telegraphed and almost all of them not funny at all. this is nowhere near as good as the rock group spoof "this is spinal tap." with all the material that can be used to poke fun at rappers it's surprising just how lacking this film is. the only reason i gave it 2 stars instead of 1, is that the rap songs are actually quite good and some are funny like "peanuts." but as good as the videos are they don't make up for the painful experience of watching nearly 2 hours of telegraphed, unfunny jokes.
Rating:
Summary: Truly hilarious satire spotlighting culture clashes
Review: You don't have to know a thing about rap music to love this screamingly funny satire about culture clash, the media, fame, hypocrisy and a lot more. A black woman (college-educated, oh-so-serious public TV type) is filming a documentary on a three-man rap group from the streets. Calling their mean selves Niggas With Hats (NWH), they're very concerned, at least while on camera (which is all we see) with maintaining their "hood" persona. All their managers are mysteriously shot dead while NWH are "out of town" (wink, nudge). Early on they switch from using family members as managers to employing Jewish white boys. Before the film ends, they go through six of these poor fellows. The dialog between the group and their middle-aged Caucasian record company owner is sidesplitting. With misplaced confidence, the businessman feels compelled to speak street talk in a doomed attempt to bond with his artists. We watch the astonished faces of our rappers as they listen to his ludicrous slang, which dates back to Malcolm X's time. NWH even puts out a Christmas album called "Ho, Ho, Ho's." A rival rap group dogs their rise to fame, each outfit trying to destroy the other. NWH finally prevails, however, when it's discovered that the opposition's lead singer went to a prep school and even edited its yearbook. His career ruined, the antagonist and his crew are banished in shame. There's an angry Spike Lee wannabe and an opening act, Vanilla Sherbet, a bouncy white rapper who insists he was raised by a black family. The concert audiences are pimply white youth who ape the group's moves, clothing and speech mannerisms and for whom the rappers can barely disguise their utter contempt. Relating these details in no way spoils the fun, for it's the telling of the tale and the facial expressions of those to whom all of this happens that make the movie. No matter what your age or background, you'll be howling out loud at many parts of this parody. See it soon.
Rating:
Summary: Fear of laughing to death
Review: When a friend reccomended this movie, some time ago, I was kind of reluctent to rent a movie about a rap group that has a thing about hats. I eventually broke down and did rent it. This movie is a great satire/parody of rap and its' various movers and sometime shakers. The obvious comparison between this movie and This is spinal tap begins and ends with the music element. Fear of a black hat hits every social/cultural hot button there is while streaming along with truly funny developments that mirror real life events. In short buy this movie and laugh your ass off.
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