Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Hip Hop Songs from Movies

For as long as we can all remember, hip hop and movies have been two things that just blend together. Since the late ‘80s, there have been many hip hop songs that have become synonymous with the movies they’re from. Even if in some cases the movie wasn’t anything special, the music used to promote it would still make you want to go see it.
While many of these songs were another hit to add to the catalog of an established artist, others would prove to even be a launching pad for their careers. While hip hop and movies on their own make a huge impact, both have proven to make an even bigger impact when they’re put together. It is these songs that establish how important hip hop can be not only to the career of an artist, but also in making a movie memorable.
With that being said, here are Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Hip Hop Songs from Movies:

10. Hustle & Flow: It’s Hard Out Here for A Pimp – Three Six Mafia

The 2005 movie Hustle & Flow follows the story of a pimp by the name of Djay and his attempt to leave that life behind to make it as a rapper. One of the scenes the film is most famous for is the performance of the song “It’s Hard Out Here for A Pimp,” which describes the realities of living that lifestyle. Although performed by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in the movie, the song was written by Memphis group Three Six Mafia.
For as great of a song as it was and how well it tells the story of the movie, no one would’ve guessed how successful it would become. At the 2006 Oscars, the world was shocked as the song would win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Considering only one hip hop song had won the award before this (which we’ll get into later), this moment solidified the song as a classic as well as how important it was to the movie’s success.

9. Friday: Keep Their Heads Ringing – Dr. Dre

Starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, 1995’s Friday is still hailed as one of the best comedies of all time. Also including late actors John Witherspoon, Tiny Lister Jr., and Bernie Mac, the movie was a huge breakthrough for the careers of everyone involved in it. As much as people loved the movie for the story, the setting, and the characters, what they also loved about it was the music.
The one song the movie is most famous for is the Dr. Dre smash, “Keep Their Heads Ringing.” Dre’s production and performance on the song itself showcase why he’s one of the GOATs, and the vibe it created just made you want to see the movie even more. With the setting of the movie being South Central and his former N.W.A. band mate as the main character, the song complimented the movie so perfectly that it’s hard to imagine one without the other.

8. Above the Rim: Pain – Tupac

The soundtrack for 1994’s Above the Rim is arguably considered one of the best soundtracks of all time from top to bottom. Produced by Death Row and featuring the likes of Warren G, SWV, and Lady of Rage, the soundtrack was in some ways more popular than the movie was. Out of every song on the soundtrack, the one that hits people the hardest emotionally is Tupac’s “Pain.”
One of the biggest stars in hip hop at the time and ironically one of the stars of the movie, Tupac shows on “Pain” his vulnerable side that made him so relatable. Hearing the song in the movie’s opening credits makes you realize how important he was not only for the emotion he put into his acting, but also for the emotion he put into his music. Being in a movie and making a song for a movie are great feats separately, but seeing Tupac do both for this film is another example of how there was and there never will be anyone like him.

7. Black Panther: All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar, SZA

At the height of the Marvel boom during the 2010s, one of their most anticipated releases was 2018’s Black Panther. Once it finally came out in February of that year, it would go on to break all kinds of records and be one of the most successful movies of the whole year. While people often debate whether the movie is as good as others in the Marvel universe, one thing that isn’t debatable is the impact of the movie’s theme song, “All the Stars.”
Performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “All the Stars” makes you think of Black Panther and Wakanda instantly every time it plays. Seeing how great the song turned out and how well it connects with the movie, it’s not surprising that Kendrick was hand-picked by the movie’s director to do the whole soundtrack. As by this point hip hop songs from movies weren’t as popular as they used to be, this song helped fill that void that had been left for so long.

6. Deep Cover: Deep Cover (187) – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg

1992’s Deep Cover stars Laurance Fishburne as an undercover cop who ends up falling in too deep while infiltrating the mafia. While it was a solid movie, what it is most remembered for is its theme song. Ironically enough, the name of the song takes the same name of the movie as it tells the story of murdering an undercover cop.
What makes this song even more special is that it’s performed by Dr. Dre and a debuting Snoop Dogg in their very first collaboration. While Snoop had a lot to prove considering that this was his big debut, Dre had just as much to prove as this was his first solo track since leaving N.W.A. Considering how iconic the song has become and how people remember it more than the movie itself, it’s clear that they both accomplished with it what they set out to do.

5. Juice: Know the Ledge – Eric B. & Rakim

Also released in 1992, Juice marked the impressive feature film debut of the late Tupac, with his portrayal of Bishop considered one of the best movie villains of all time. As much as people remember the movie and the Bishop character, another part of the movie that makes it so good is the soundtrack. With a soundtrack featuring the likes of Big Daddy Kane and Naughty by Nature, the track the movie is most synonymous with is Eric B & Rakim’s “Know the Ledge.”
Ironically one of their last songs together as they would break up not long after this, the song captures the vibe of the movie and early ‘90s Harlem to a Tee. The fact that you hear the song in the opening credits of the movie really sets the tone for what the next 95 minutes of the movie are going to be. For the hip hop classic that Juice is, it was only fitting that a duo as legendary as Eric B & Rakim created the theme song for it.

4. Do the Right Thing: Fight the Power – Public Enemy

The first hip hop song from a movie to really create a buzz, Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” goes hand in hand with the 1989 Spike Lee classic Do the Right Thing. As the whole song plays during the memorable opening credits, you could also hear it throughout the movie as the character Radio Raheem constantly blasts it through his boom box. Centering around racial tension in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, Spike Lee sought out “Fight the Power” specifically for this movie.
Like N.W.A. during that period, Public Enemy sparked a lot of controversy with this song as many of the issues they brought up in it weren’t what people were ready to hear. Calling out American icons like Elvis as well as shedding light on racial injustices, they say a lot of things in the song that few artists at the time were brave enough to say. With the message from the song combined with the message from the movie, both provided something that 1989 pop culture desperately needed.

3. Above the Rim: Regulate – Warren G, Nate Dogg

As mentioned earlier, 1994’s Above the Rim is considered one of the best soundtracks of all time. With two songs from it making this list, it’s very hard to argue with anyone who believes that. For as powerful of a track as Tupac’s “Pain” was, the song the movie became most known for is Warren G and Nate Dogg’s “Regulate.”
Sampling the 80s classic “I Keep Forgetting’” from Michael McDonald, the song features Warren G & Nate Dogg going back and forth every four bars as they tell stories of life in the LBC (Long Beach, Ca). Making it to number two on the Billboard charts, “Regulate” went on to be a timeless hip hop classic and the song that put Warren G on the map. Considering how popular the song became and still is today, this would be another case of where the movie’s theme song turned out to be a bigger deal than the movie itself.

2. Dangerous Minds: Gangster’s Paradise – Coolio, L.V.

The 1995 film Dangerous Minds features Michelle Pfeiffer as a retired marine who becomes a teacher at a high school in a rough neighborhood. While the movie did achieve box office success, what most people think of when they think of it is its classic theme song, “Gangster’s Paradise.” Performed by the late Coolio and L.V., the song ultimately surpassed the movie’s success and became one of the biggest hits of 1995.
“Gangster’s Paradise” spend three weeks at number one on the Billboard charts and while Coolio did have other hits, this is hands down the song he became most famous for. Another aspect of the song that was memorable was its music video, which features the rapper and Pfeiffer as her character from the movie in an interrogation setting. The collaboration of “Gangster’s Paradise” with Dangerous Minds served as a prime example of how a movie’s theme song can help make the movie more relevant than it would’ve been otherwise.

1. 8 Mile: Lose Yourself – Eminem

In the early 2000s, Eminem’s undeniable popularity led to a semi-biopic being made about him called 8 Mile. Released in 2002 and even starring Eminem as the main character, it tells the story of a white rapper named B-Rabbit struggling to break through the underground Detroit hip hop scene. While the movie did go on to be a huge success, the movie’s theme song “Lose Yourself” would become every bit as popular as the movie was.
Also performed by Eminem, the song tells the story of taking advantage of one’s opportunity and not allowing it to slip away (much like the plot of the movie). In addition to being the first Eminem song to reach number one on the Billboard charts, the song made history in 2003 by becoming the first hip hop song from a movie to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the Detroit MC’s music, this accomplishment opened the door for other hip hop songs to follow as well as being another example of how synonymous a movie’s theme can be with the movie itself.

Honorable Mentions:
• He Got Game: He Got Game – Public Enemy
• How High: Part 2 – Method Man, Redman
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse: Sunflower – Post Malone, Swae Lee
• Cradle To the Grave: X Gon’ Give It to Ya – DMX
• Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: Winter Warz – Ghostface Killah, Master Killah, Raekwon, Cappadonna, U-God










Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Movie Villains of the ‘80s

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s knows that it was a defining decade for movies. From Batman, Scarface, to The Karate Kid, the list of classic movies released from 1980-1989 is endless. As great as those movies were, what many people remember most about them are the villains. While most of us love rooting for the hero, they’re never as fun to root for without a great villain to root against. The villain can be so convincing and stand out so much that despite the fact that they’re evil, they end up being the most interesting part of the movie. Let’s not waste any more time as we break down Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Movie Villains of the 1980s.

10. Clubber Lang – Rocky III (1982)

While Rocky Balboa does fight Apollo Creed in the first two Rocky films, the respect the two have for each other makes it hard to really call Apollo a villain. However, the Italian Stallion’s opponent in 1982’s Rocky III would leave zero doubt as to who the villain was. A hungry contender with a bad attitude, Clubber Lang lets it be known that he isn’t there to make friends as he vows to crucify Rocky once they face each other in the ring. As Rocky begins questioning his confidence after learning that he was fed easy opponents throughout his title reign, Clubber proves to be his biggest test in seeing if he really is worthy of being champion. Played by Mr. T, Clubber Lang was the first real villain of the franchise in a way that Apollo wasn’t.

9. Johnny Lawrence – The Karate Kid (1984)

While the Johnny Lawrence character is now remembered for his inspiring redemption story in Netflix’s Cobra Kai, he was anything but a hero in 1984’s The Karate Kid. The star student of the vicious Cobra Kai dojo, Johnny and his karate gang torment new kid Daniel Larusso. From attacking him at the beach after seeing his ex-girlfriend talk to him to then pushing him off a hill while he was riding a bike, Johnny makes Daniel’s life a living hell. After Daniel receives karate training from the calm but lethal Mr. Miyagi, he enters the city’s karate tournament to the set the stage for an eventual showdown with Johnny. Considering that actor William Zabka received various threats and was legitimately confronted by people in public following his performance as Johnny, it’s clear to see that he did his job in making the character so unlikable.


8. Albert “Mister” Johnson – The Color Purple (1985)

Unlike any other film director Steven Spielberg had made up to that point, 1985’s A Color Purple centers around a black woman named Celie in the rural South. Abused by her father, Celie is eventually given away as a wife to a man named Mister. The abuse doesn’t stop there as Mister proves to be no less abusive than her dad was as he uses the abuse as a way to control Celie. As Mister also attempted to rape Celie’s sister before she was able to escape and run away, Mister keeps letters written from Celie’s sister to her that Celie eventually finds out about. Played to perfection by Danny Glover, Mister plays a critical part in the film as the toxic, controlling force that Celie must build up the courage to free herself from.

7. Tony Montana – Scarface (1983)

While remembered for its flash and graphic violence, 1983’s Scarface is also famous for Al Pacino’s portrayal of Tony Montana and his quest for the “American Dream.” While he eventually does achieve that dream, it comes at a huge cost. As the film progresses, Tony starts to let all his power and success go to his head. In addition to becoming extremely paranoid stemming from his coke habit, he begins mistreating those closest to him to point that he pushes them away. While the Tony Montana character became glorified in later years because of his ambition and lavish lifestyle, it can’t be forgotten that the roots of his character throughout the movie made him anything but someone to root for.

6. Ivan Drago – Rocky IV (1985)

Although Rocky Balboa overcame the challenge of Clubber Lang in Rocky III, nothing compared to the challenge he would face in Rocky IV. Released in November of 1985, Rocky IV saw the Italian Stallion go toe to toe with the physically imposing Ivan Drago. Twice the size of Rocky and hailing from the Soviet Union, Drago sends a violent message to Rocky when he kills his friend/former rival Apollo Creed during a fight. With their upcoming fight set to take place on Drago’s home turf of Russia, Rocky must fight for his country, the honor of his late friend, and most of all, his life. As Rocky IV went on to make the most money of any film in the franchise, a big part of the film’s success can be credited to Dolph Lundgren’s strong portrayal as the Russian antagonist.

5. Hans Gruber – Die Hard (1988)

While foreign villains were a common stereotype in ‘80s action movies, there was perhaps none better than the Hans Gruber character from 1988’s Die Hard. Played by the late Alan Rickman, Hans is a German criminal mastermind who takes everyone inside of an LA skyscraper hostage. Hans along with his henchmen show that they’re not playing any games as they have no issues killing anyone who tries to get between them and what they want. As one of the hostages is his estranged wife, NYPD cop John McClane stands as the only one who has any chance of putting an end to Hans’ takeover. While everyone remembers Die Hard for its incredible action scenes and McClane’s attempt to save the day, the film wouldn’t have has the same impact without a strong villain like Hans for McClane to overcome.

4. The Terminator – The Terminator (1984)

Arguably, the movie that really put Arnold Schwarzenegger on the map was 1984’s The Terminator. Although he’s mainly remembered for being the hero in the 1991 sequel, the role he played as the title character in the first film was the complete opposite. Sent from the future, The Terminator travels back to 1984 in order to kill Sarah Connor before her unborn baby is born. The entire film consists of The Terminator literally stopping at nothing to finish off Connor and complete his mission. Due to how successful and iconic Terminator 2: Judgment Day was, Schwarzenegger’s performance as the villain in the original often gets overlooked.

3. Gordon Gekko – Wall Street (1987)

The lavish and cutthroat environment of life on Wall Street was put on full display in the 1987 film of the same title. The film centers around up-and-coming stockbroker Bud Fox, who hopes to climb the ladder of success with the guidance of Wall Street tycoon Gordon Gekko. While he quickly sees the perks of being mentored by Gekko, Fox soon learns that his new mentor is only using him for his own greed. As Gekko lives by the motto that “Greed is good,” there’s no line that he won’t cross if it’ll help his bottom line. Played brilliantly by Michael Douglas, his performance as the money hungry Gekko was met with much high praise as it led to him winning an Oscar for Best Actor.

2. The Joker – Batman (1989)

For as many incarnations as there have been of The Joker, the first one that really stole the show was the character’s portrayal in 1989’s Batman. Played by Jack Nicholson, this version of The Joker was every bit as humorous as it was creepy and violent. After criminal Jack Napier falls into a vest of green chemicals following a scuffle with Batman, he survives the ordeal and morphs into the psychotic Joker. He then pulls off various acts to terrorize Gotham City for his own amusement until he publicly calls out Batman for an inevitable showdown. While many argue that this portrayal of The Joker was later topped by Heath Ledger in 2008’s The Dark Knight, that still doesn’t make this performance from Nicholson as the popular villain any less iconic.

1. Freddy Krueger – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

One of the most iconic horror movie villains of all time, audiences were first introduced to Freddy Krueger in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Originally a child murderer who killed over a dozen children in the neighborhood, a group of parents track Freddy down and set him on fire to kill him. While they believe he’s dead, a facially burned Freddy starts to invade the nightmares of their children. Using knives for fingernails, killing his victims in their nightmares strangely leads to them all dying for real. While the character would turn into more of a comedy act in the later sequels, actor Robert Englund’s portrayal of Freddy Krueger in the original is one that had audiences frightened to the point where they were afraid to fall asleep.

Honorable Mentions:
• Biff Tannen – Back to the Future (1985)
• The Predator – Predator (1987)
• John “Ace” Merrill – Stand by Me (1986)
• Arjen Rudd – Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
• Sgt. Bob Barnes – Platoon (1986)

Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Movies of 1996

While people don’t enjoy going to the movies in 2026 like they used to, that just wasn’t the case 30 years ago. While there were many great years for movies in the ‘90s, the year 1996 proved to be a really special one. In a year where the 72-win Chicago Bulls won their 4th NBA Title, the Summer Olympics took place in Atlanta, and legendary rapper Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas, many of the movies released are what that year is remembered for just as much as those events are. From hood parodies, dramas, and a classic horror film that recently released its 7th installment, there were many reasons to go to the movies in that 12-month period. Let’s not waste any more time as Konscious Kurt breaks down his 10 Favorite Movies of 1996:

10. Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood

Poking fun at the classic hood movies of the early ‘90s, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood was another classic parody from the mind of the Wayans Family. Starring Shawn & Marlon Wayans, the movie centers around Ashtray as he’s forced to move to the hood and in with his father (who’s oddly younger than him). As he proceeds to get into endless trouble with his cousin Loc Dog and instantly falls in love with Dashiki (who has seven kids), he strongly considers leaving the hood with her. Featuring cameos from Keenan Ivory Wayans, Vivica A. Fox, and the late Bernie Mac, there’s no shortage of scenes throughout it that’ll have everyone laughing their asses off. Making over $20 million at the box office, the movie put Shawn & Marlon on the map as a comedic duo and was the catalyst for the Scary Movie franchise that would come years later.

9. From Dusk Til Dawn

Starring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, and Quentin Tarantino (who also wrote it), From Dusk Til Dawn is about two fugitive brothers who take a family hostage into Mexico. Things begin to take a turn as they get trapped in a Mexican bar and are forced to fight off a horde of vampires. What really makes the movie stand out is how it starts out as a crime thriller in the first half but then turns into a horror movie in the second half. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and also starring Salma Hayek and Juliette Lewis, the movie went on to make $59 million at the box office despite getting mixed reviews. As it’s gained a cult following since then, it could also be credited for setting the groundwork for successful vampire movies that followed such as Blade and Sinners.

8. Ransom

While his reputation and career took a turn in later years, Mel Gibson was a leading man in Hollywood throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. One of the many great films he had throughout that run was 1996’s Ransom. Ransom tells the story of wealthy airline owner Tom Mullen whose son is kidnapped by a caterer who ironically happened to work for him. As the kidnappers demand $2 million in order to have his son returned alive, Tom decides not to pay the ransom and instead has a ransom placed on the kidnappers. Also starring Rene Russo and Gary Sinise as the villain, Ransom was a huge critical and commercial success as it went on to be the fifth highest grossing movie of the entire year.

7. The Nutty Professor

After a few years of hits and misses, Eddie Murphy came back in the strongest way possible with 1996’s The Nutty Professor. Released in June of that year, the movie was a remake that centered around obese Professor Sherman Klump. Insecure about his weight and also trying to gain the affection of his colleague Carla Purty, Sherman drinks a serum that turns him into a slimmer, but arrogant ladies man named Buddy Love. While he loves the feeling of being Buddy at first, the serum proves to be problematic for Sherman as he has a hard time keeping both personalities under control. Featuring Murphy playing multiple characters and also starring Jada Pinkett, the movie proved to be his huge comeback as it made $274 million at the box office and even won an Oscar for Best Makeup.

6. Sleepers

With an ensemble class including Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Jason Patrick, and Dustin Hoffman, Sleepers tells the story of four teenagers from the Hell’s Kitchen section of NYC that get in trouble for stealing a hot dog stand and accidentally dropping it from a staircase onto someone. As a result of the crime, the four of them are sentenced to over a year at a juvenile detention center. While serving their time, the guards at the detention center verbally, physically, and sexually abuse them. Fast forward to years later, the now four grown men look to seek revenge on the guards that put them through hell. Released in October of ’96, the movie’s dark tone and compelling story resonated well with audiences as it made over $150 million during its theatrical run.

5. Set It Off

Released in November of 1996, Set It Off is about four struggling black women that resort to robbing banks to lift themselves out of their financial problems. While they pull off the first few robberies successfully, it leads to much unwanted attention from the police and the money they stole being stolen from them. With the police breathing down their neck for the robberies and for the murder of the man that stole their money, they attempt to pull off one last big robbery before fleeing town. Starring Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in her film debut, Set It Off marked the first time four black women played the main characters in an action film. That combined with the movie touching on topics such as poverty, sisterhood, and being abused by the system connected with audiences as it was a critical success that earned over $40 million on a $9 million budget.

4. Scream

As interest in horror movies declined after the 1980s, the genre had a huge resurgence following the release of 1996’s Scream. The movie centers around teenager Sidney Prescott (one year after her mother was murdered) as she along with her friends are terrorized by a killer in a mask that goes by the name Ghostface. As simply killing his victims isn’t enough, Ghostface uses horror movie trivia and a handheld voice changer to disguise his voice in order to play mind games with them. Directed by the late Wes Craven, the film in many ways breaks the fourth wall as it plays off like a horror movie inside of a horror movie. With a cast featuring Neve Campbell, Drew Barrymore, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette, Scream went on to be one of the highest grossing movies of the year, reignited the horror movie genre, and has since spawned six sequels (with the most recent one being released this year).

3. Fargo

Set in the town of Fargo, North Dakota, Fargo centers around a used car salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife in exchange for ransom. However, everything soon takes a turn as the kidnapping leads to other murders that are investigated by a pregnant police chief. While based on real life events that took place in 1987, the names and several parts of the story were changed for the purpose of the movie. Starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, and Steve Buscemi, Fargo was highly praised for its direction, plot, and the performances of all its leads. In addition to its critical and financial success, it earned two Oscars including Best Screenplay as well as Best Actress for McDormand.

2. Jerry Maguire

Starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Rene Zellweger, Jerry Maguire centers around a sports agent of the same name who suddenly has a change in conscience. This sudden change of conscience leads to him being fired from his agency and deciding to start his own. With only one client and one employee to start with, starting this new agency leads to Jerry finding redemption, love, and his soul in the process. Hitting theaters in December of ’96, the film was the ninth highest grossing movie of the year, popularized the catchphrase “show me the money,” and is considered one of the defining movies in Cruise’s impressive catalog. As great as Cruise was in the movie, his co-star Cuba Gooding Jr.’s performance was also memorable as it earned him the film’s lone Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

1. A Time to Kill

Directed by Joel Schumacher and based on a novel of the same name, 1996’s A Time to Kill is arguably considered the most racially charged movie of the entire decade. After his 10-year-old daughter is raped by two white men, a black man by the name of Carl Lee Ray takes the law into his own hands and kills them. Facing the death penalty, he hires a young white Mississippi lawyer named Jake Brigance to defend him. As the trial progresses, it leads to a lot of racial tension, divide among the community, and the resurgence of the KKK. Featuring an A-list cast with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, and Sandra Bullock, A Time to Kill went on to make $152 million at the box office and despite receiving mixed reviews at the time, it’s considered an important film that sheds light on how present racism still is in modern times.


Honorable Mentions:
• Primal Fear
• Space Jam
• Up Close and Personal
• Happy Gilmore
• The Craft

Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Movies That Take Place Over One Day

If there’s one thing that makes for a great movie, it’s the ability to tell a compelling story. What makes those stories stand out even more is being able to tell them over the shortest period of time. Sometimes, getting the whole message across can be accomplished over the course of just one day. Whether it’s a drama, comedy, or an action movie, one day can feel like a really long one if the story is told effectively enough. With that being said, here are Konscious Kurt’s Ten Favorite Movies That Take Place Over One Day.

10. House Party (1990)

The first film to ever feature two rappers as the main characters, 1990’s House Party stars Kid N’ Play as fictionalized versions of themselves. With his parents out of town, Play throws a huge house party that he invites the entire school to. Despite being grounded by his dad the same day, Kid finds a way to sneak out of the house so that he doesn’t miss out on all the fun. Having everything from dance battles, rap battles, to the school bullies trying to crash it, the party more than lives up to the hype. As memorable as the party is, the shenanigans that happen before and after end up being every bit as wild and crazy. House Party proved to be a defining movie of the ’90s as it became a huge success at the box office, launched several sequels, and turned Kid N’ Play into household names.

9. Groundhog Day (1993)

Taking place over the course of one day several times, Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as TV weatherman Phil Connery as he ends up reliving the day February 2 over and over again. Realizing what’s happening, he uses his knowledge of what’s going to happen to his advantage and manipulates circumstances in his favor. While successful at first, his selfish actions eventually backfire and cause him to fall into a depression. Seeing the error of his ways, he starts to use the time loop he’s stuck in to right his wrongs and do good for others. One of the highest grossing movies of 1993, Groundhog Day is arguably considered one of Murray’s best films that’s also heavily credited with popularizing the holiday.

8. The Warriors (1979)

Set during the peak of gang violence in New York, The Warriors centers around a gang named after the movie’s title that are framed for the murder of another powerful gang leader. With a target on their backs, they must make the long journey from the Bronx all the way to their home turf of Coney Island. Along the way, they’re forced to fight off countless gangs throughout the city that think they’re guilty of a crime they didn’t commit. This ordeal will prove to be the longest night of their lives that many of them won’t live to see the end of. While not a critical success when it was first released in 1979, The Warriors has since become a cult classic and one of the films that captures how dangerous the streets of NYC were back then.

7. Fruitvale Station (2013)

Based on real life events, Fruitvale Station tells the tragic story of Oscar Grant III. Starring Michael B. Jordan, the movie dives into the last day of Grant’s Life before he’s killed by a BART officer at Oakland, California’s Fruitvale Station. A young black man who left behind a girlfriend and young daughter, Grant’s murder sparked a lot of outrage centering around police brutality and racial profiling. A grad. student at the time of the murder, it struck a nerve with director Ryan Coogler to the point where he was determined to make a movie about the last day of Grant’s life. Marking the first of many successful collaborations between Jordan & Coogler, the film would prove to be a huge success critically and commercially as it made $17 million on a $900,000 budget when it hit theaters in the Summer of 2013.

6. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Starring Matthew Broderick, 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows the escapades of high school senior Ferris Bueller. Needing a day to himself, Ferris tricks his parents into thinking he’s sick so that he can skip school. In addition to that, he convinces his girlfriend Sloan and best friend Cameron to join in on his adventure. As his principal Ed Rooney doesn’t buy his story about being sick, he goes to extreme lengths to catch Ferris in the act. Directed by the late John Hughes and featuring a cameo from an up-and-coming Charlie Sheen, the setting, comedic scenes, and important life lessons made it one of the defining teen movies of that era.

5. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Released a year earlier and also directed by John Hughes, The Breakfast Club focuses on five high school students from different social circles that are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. A jock, a princess, a brain, a criminal, and a basket case, the five teenagers couldn’t be any more different from one another. As they’d never interact with each other otherwise, being stuck together in detention forces all of them to face those differences. While they unsurprisingly don’t get along at first, the combination of outsmarting their uptight principal, smoking a joint, and opening up about their daily struggles brings them all closer together. Starring Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, and Ally Sheedy, the movie went on to be a cult classic, put all their careers on the map, and in many ways, set the blueprint for other teen movies to follow.

4. Friday (1995)

A departure from the violent hood movies of the early ’90s, Friday takes a more comedic approach to life in the hood. Released in 1995, the movie centers around Craig, his best friend Smokey, and all the off-the-wall situations they get into on a random Friday. From getting high for the first time, dodging a drive by shooting, to fighting the neighborhood bully Deebo, the chaos Craig faces throughout the day is never ending. With an incredible cast led by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, the movie made nine times its budget at the box office and launched the careers of everyone who was in it. Over 30 years later, it is still considered one of the best comedies of all time.

3. Die Hard (1988)

Arguably the greatest action movie of all time besides Terminator 2, Die Hard is credited for turning Bruce Willis into a leading man. Released in the Summer of 1988, the film focuses on NYPD cop John McClane flying to Los Angeles to meet his estranged wife at her company’s Christmas party. Things soon take a dark turn as the skyscraper where the party takes place is taken over by terrorists and all the guests become their hostages (including Mrs. McClane). Despite it not being his jurisdiction, John is the only one who has a chance at taking down the terrorists and getting everyone out of the building alive. Despite low expectations before it was released, Die Hard made over $150 million at the box office, spawned several successful sequels, as well as redefined what an action hero could be.

2. Falling Down (1993)

Also taking place in Los Angeles, Falling Down tells the story of unemployed defense worker William Foster and his journey throughout the city over the course of one day. It all begins when he just gets out of his car in the middle of rush hour after the car’s AC breaks and then proceeds to walk all the way home to see his wife and daughter (who have a restraining order against him). Throughout his long walk home, he has various violent encounters including pulling out a gun at a fast-food restaurant when they refuse to serve him breakfast and blowing up a construction site with a bazooka. On his last day as a police officer before retiring, officer Martin Prendergast is given the task of investigating Foster’s actions as this all leads to an eventual showdown between the two. Starring Michael Douglas and the late Robert Duvall, Falling Down was a huge hit when it hit theaters in early 1993 and its tragic story is one that’s very relatable to modern times.

1.Training Day (2001)

Starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, Training Day centers around rookie narcotics officer Jake Hoyt as he has to spend the day following veteran officer Alonzo Harris. Naïve to what the job entails, Jake soon learns from his time with Alonzo that being a narcotics officer is nothing like what he imagined it would be. In addition to that, he sees that Alonzo’s methods for catching the criminals on the streets are no better than the actions of the criminals themselves. As the day progresses, Jake must decide if he wants to go along with Alonzo’s brand of justice or be the one to put an end to it. Released in October 2001, Training Day made over $100 million budget at the box office and most impressively of all, Denzel’s dark portrayal as Alonzo won him the Oscar for Best Actor.

Honorable Mentions:
Phone Booth (2003)
Speed (1994)
Dazed and Confused (1993)
After Hours (1985)
Clerks (1994)

Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite ‘90s Movies with A Pre-Dominantly Black Cast

The 1990s were a massive boom period for films with mostly African American casts that focused on topics relating to the black community. While this was a trend that built momentum towards the end of the ‘80s, the success of these movies was the most consistent from 1990 onward. Whether it was a comedy, drama, or a biopic, these films told stories that connected with the black community in ways very few films had before or since. They were not only the breakthroughs for the actors, actresses, and directors that were a part of them, but the impact they’ve had since they’ve been released have made these movies timeless. Let’s not waste any more time as we break down Konscious Kurt’s 10 favorite movies from the ‘90s that featured a pre-dominantly black cast:

10. The Wood (1999)

Starring Omar Epps, Taye Diggs, and Richard T. Johnson, The Wood tells the story of childhood best friends Mike, Roland, and Slim as they prepare for Roland’s wedding. Despite it being his wedding day, Roland has second thoughts about getting married to the point where he shows up drunk to his ex-girlfriend’s house hours before. As Mike and Slim spend the whole day trying to get him to come to his senses, the whole ordeal leads to the three friends reminiscing about their teenage years growing up in Inglewood, CA (The Wood). With half of the film consisting of flashbacks, it delivers a strong balance of the present time mixed with ‘80s nostalgia. In addition to being a box office success when it hit theaters in the Summer of 1999, the stories, music, and the friendship between the main characters gave the audience a lot that they could relate to.

9. House Party (1990)

Before the start of the ‘90s, no hip-hop artists had ever played the lead characters in a major movie. That all changed in early 1990 as rappers Kid N’ Play made their film debuts as fictionized versions of themselves in the comedy/musical, House Party. The movie centers around Play throwing a huge house party while his parents are out of town, and Kid attempting to make it there despite being put on punishment the same day. Also starring the late Robin Harris, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, and AJ Johnson, some of the aspects of the film that made it stand out were the dancing, rap battles, and the crazy shenanigans all the characters get wrapped up in throughout it. With the success the film had at the box office and with audiences that led to it becoming a franchise, House Party opened the door wide open for other hip-hop artists to find success in Hollywood as the decade progressed.

8. Soul Food (1997)

With a cast featuring Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Williams, Nia Long, Brandon Hammond, and Irma P. Hall, Soul Food revolves around a Chicago family that’s held together by their matriarch, Mamma Joe. After an operation leads to her falling into a coma, the whole family begins to fall apart piece by piece. From sibling rivalries, infidelity, to skeletons creeping up from the past, the film has zero shortage of family drama. As everything happening throughout the movie is narrated by Mamma Joe’s grandson Ahmad, he starts to see himself as the only hope in bringing the family back together. Released in the Fall of 1997, the movie was a big hit with critics and audiences as it made six times its budget at the box office.

7. Friday (1995)

During the filming of his breakout performance in Boyz N The Hood (more on that later), rapper Ice Cube was told by director John Singleton that if he could write a song, he could write a movie. Cube later took Singleton’s advice as along with DJ Pooh, he wrote a comedy called Friday. Wanting to show the funnier side of life in the hood, the movie centered around friends Craig and Smokey as well as all the crazy situations they’d get caught up in throughout the day in their South-Central LA neighborhood. In addition to co-writing the film, Ice Cube also starred in it along with Chris Tucker, the late John Witherspoon, and the late Tiny Lister, Jr. The writing, setting, and the characters helped Friday become a huge success when it hit theaters in the Spring of 1995, and has since gone on to be a comedic cult classic.

6. Set It Off (1996)

The first action movie to ever feature four black women as the main characters, 1996’s Set It Off was loaded with action, violence, and drama. Released in November of that year, the movie focuses on four struggling women who resort to robbing a bank in order to lift themselves out of their financial troubles. Starring Jade Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in her film debut, the film dives into many issues such as financial struggles, personal tragedy, and constantly being abused by the system. Making over $40 million at the box office, Set It Off and the performances of all four women were well received. The success of the movie not only helped elevate their careers, but it also opened the doors for the success of many black actresses in the years that followed.

5. Malcolm X (1992)

For as impressive of a resume as Denzel Washington has, Malcolm X is one of the movies he is most remembered for. The biopic covers the life of Malcolm from his time in prison, his transition into activism, and his fallout with the Nation of Islam that ended tragically. Aside from 1989’s Do the Right Thing; Malcolm X is also considered the defining film in the catalog of director Spike Lee. Despite a challenging filming process that even required donations from black celebrities to get it finished, Malcolm X grossed $73 million when it was released in November of 1992 and Denzel’s performance as the activist received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor (which many believed he should’ve won). Of all the many classic films that Denzel and Spike made together over the years, none of them impacted the black community as strongly as this film did.

4. Juice (1992)

Starring Omar Epps and late rapper Tupac Shakur in his movie debut, Juice focuses on Harlem teenagers Q, Bishop, Raheem, and Steel as they spend their days skipping school and clowning around. The movie takes a turn when Bishop comes up with a plan for the four of them to rob a local corner store. However, the robbery doesn’t go as planned as Bishop kills the store clerk for no reason. Bishop quickly becomes consumed by the power and respect he feels he has from the gun to the point where he uses it to strike fear into anyone who gets in his way, even his own friends. While the movie was a hit and has become a hood classic since its release in January 1992, what its most remembered for is Tupac’s performance as his portrayal of Bishop is considered to be one of the best movie villains of all time.


3. Menace II Society (1993)

Hitting theaters in May of 1993, Menace II Society doesn’t hold back with its portrayal of life in the Watts section of Los Angeles. Starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, and Jada Pinkett in her first movie role, the movie tells the story of recent high school graduate Caine, his best friend O-Dog, and the constant trouble they get in due to being wrapped up in the street life. As the first few minutes of the movie show Caine being exposed to that life at an early age, it’s not that hard to understand why he grows up to be the way he is. Seeing the dark path that he’s headed down, Caine’s friend Ronnie among many others strongly encourage him to leave the streets behind before he ends up dead or in jail. Menace II Society made 10 times its budget at the box office, was highly praised by critics and audiences, and its graphic portrayal of the street life is one that few hood movies had ever shown before or since.

2. New Jack City (1991)

The crack epidemic of the 1980s was brought to the big screen in 1991’s New Jack City. Released in March of that year, the movie centers around crack kingpin Nino Brown and his crew the CMB (Cash Money Brothers) as they take over Harlem at the expense of everyone in the neighborhood. Wanting to put a stop to their criminal enterprise, detectives Scotty Appleton and Nick Peretti create a plan to infiltrate the CMB. Starring Wesley Snipes in his first leading role, rapper Ice-T in his acting debut, Chris Rock, Allen Payne, and Judd Nelson, the movie proved to be a success as it went on to be the highest grossing independent film of the year. In addition to resonating with audiences and the cult status it’s achieved since its release, New Jack City was the catalyst for Wesley becoming a leading man in Hollywood as well as for Ice-T’s 25-year stint on Law & Order: SVU.

1. Boyz N The Hood (1991)

In the same year that the brutal beating of Rodney King by LA police officers was exposed on video for the world to see, John Singleton exposed the world to the harsh reality of life in South-Central LA in his directorial debut, Boyz N The Hood. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., rapper Ice Cube in his acting debut, Morris Chestnut, Angela Basset, and Laurence Fishburne, the movie focuses on how the experiences of teenagers Tre, Doughboy, and Ricky growing up in South-Central LA shape who they are. While all of them are very different despite growing up in the same neighborhood, the biggest difference between them is Tre having the guidance of his father to lead him down the right path. A reflection of life in the hood that desperately needed to be seen at the time, Boyz N The Hood was a smash hit with both audiences and critics when it hit theaters in the Summer of 1991. In addition to launching the successful acting careers of Ice Cube as well as everyone else involved in it, the movie led to John Singleton making history as he became the youngest director to ever be nominated for an Oscar.

Honorable Mentions:
• What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
• The Best Man (1999)
• Fresh (1994)
• Dead Presidents (1995)
• He Got Game (1998)











Konscious Kurt’s 10 Favorite Songs from a Movie

If there’s one thing about a movie that can make it stand out to the audience, it is the soundtrack. While in some ways this has become a lost art, many movies over the years have become synonymous with their theme song. In many ways, they become so synonymous with each other that it becomes hard to think of one without thinking about the other. These songs not only helped in making the movie bigger, but they also helped the artist who made them in reaching levels of popularity they had never seen before. Some of these songs became so big that some of them even became more popular than the actual movie they were from. Get ready to take a trip down memory lane as we rank the Top Ten Most Memorable Songs from A Movie: 

10.  Top Gun: Take My Breath Away – Berlin

One of the defining action movies of the 1980s, 1986’s Top Gun is remembered for being one of the breakout roles for Tom Cruise and popularizing the term “need for speed.” In addition to the characters and adrenaline-fueled action scenes, the film is also fondly remembered for its soundtrack. While the Kenny Loggins song “Danger Zone” is in many ways synonymous with the movie, the song that gained even more popularity was the group Berlin’s love ballad that can be heard throughout the movie, “Take My Breath Away.” The song’s association with the film helped it become one of the biggest hits of the year as it reached number one on the Billboard charts that summer. In addition to that, it won the film its lone Oscar the following year as it won the award for Best Original Song.

9. The Breakfast Club: Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds

As movies centered around teens were a huge trend throughout the ‘80s, there was no other from that era that stood out more than The Breakfast Club. Released in 1985, the film tells the story of five teenagers from different social cliques who are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. While the movie went on to be a huge success and a cult classic, the exact same can be said for its theme song, “Don’t You Forget About Me.” Performed by Simple Minds, the song became a breakout hit for the band that made it to the top of the Billboard charts. Not only is it synonymous with the movie as it can be heard during both the opening and closing credits, its sound and lyrics are synonymous with the entire decade.

8.  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Sunflower – Post Malone, Swae Lee

For as many movie incarnations as there have been of Spider-Man over the years, the one that many fans argue tops them all is 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. While all the films about the superhero released in theaters up to that point were live action, this one was an animated version with special effects and a story that provided a breath of fresh air. Something else about the film that stood out was its heavy hip hop influence, which could be felt through its theme song, “Sunflower.” Performed by Post Malone and Swae Lee, the song topped the Billboard charts and even received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. As great as the movie was, the way the song’s sound and production perfectly fit its vibe helped make the movie even better.

7. Boomerang: End of the Road – Boyz II Men

1992’s Boomerang featured an ensemble cast with the likes of Eddie Murphy, David Allen Grier, Martin Lawrence, Robin Givens, and Halle Berry in one of her first major roles. While the film wasn’t as appreciated back then as it is now, something that was appreciated about it at the time was its soundtrack. With a soundtrack featuring songs from Johnny Gill, P.M. Dawn, and a debuting Toni Braxton, the one song from it that outshined them all was Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” Setting the record at the time for most consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard charts at 13, “End of the Road” brought the Philadelphia group to heights no other R&B group had seen before and very few have seen since. The song’s success easily overshadowed the success of the movie and became one of the many songs that made Boyz II Men the defining group of the ‘90s.

6. Rocky III: Eye of The Tiger – Survivor

Released in the Summer of 1982, Rocky III became the most successful film in the Rocky franchise by that point. Although “Gonna Fly Now” was the song most synonymous with the Rocky character in the earlier films, this sequel introduced a song that became every bit as synonymous with it. Survivor’s “Eye of The Tiger” proved to be an inspirational song that captured both the Rocky spirit and the gritty vibe of the entire movie. As Sylvester Stallone personally selected the band to put the song together, that decision paid off in a major way as it topped the Billboard charts for six weeks and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. As memorable and iconic as Rocky III is, it perhaps wouldn’t have become as iconic had “Eye of The Tiger” not been a part of it.

5. Dangerous Minds: Gangster’s Paradise – Coolio, L.V.  

The film Dangerous Minds centers around Michelle Pfeiffer as an ex-marine who becomes a teacher at an inner-city high school. While the movie did enjoy box office success when it came out in the Summer of 1995, the success it had paled in comparison to the success of its theme song, “Gangster’s Paradise.” Performed by the late Coolio featuring L.V., the song became the rapper’s biggest hit as it reached number one on the Billboard charts. Not only did it accomplish that, but it also went on to be the best-selling single of the year and even helped Coolio win a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. With Pfeiffer also appearing in the song’s music video, its success made her appearance in the video arguably more memorable than her performance in the actual movie. 

4. Armageddon: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

Released in the Summer of 1998, the action film Armageddon became the highest grossing movie of the year despite receiving mixed reviews. While Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was used as the movie’s theme song, the song’s popularity quickly surpassed the popularity of the movie. Despite being around since the early ‘70s, this song became the band’s first to ever top the Billboard charts in the United States. Holding down that top spot for four straight weeks, it went on to be one of the biggest hits of the year as well as their biggest hit to this day. While many people who’ve seen Armageddon don’t really look back on it fondly, its association with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” is something about it that is worth remembering.

3. Titanic: My Heart Will Go On – Celine Deon

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, Titanic tells the story of two people from different social classes that fall for each other during the ship’s voyage before it eventually sinks. Released in late 1997, it was the highest grossing movie of all time during its theatrical run. As big of a deal as this movie was, its theme song “My Heart Will Go On” was impressively able to match its level of popularity. Performed by Celine Dion, the song checked off every accolade that you could think of including topping the Billboard charts, becoming the best-selling single of 1998, and winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. Despite the many hits Dion has had throughout her career, “My Heart Will Go On” is widely regarded to this day as her signature song.    

2. 8 Mile: Lose Yourself – Eminem 

2002’s 8 Mile tells the ultimate underdog story of a white rapper trying to breakthrough the underground Detroit hip hop scene of the mid-90s. In his feature film debut and with it largely based around his real-life story, Eminem put on a strong performance as the film’s lead protagonist, B-Rabbit. As great as his performance was in the movie, he arguably put on an even better one for the movie’s theme song, “Lose Yourself.” Telling the same story of the movie and the B-Rabbit character, the song became Eminem’s first to top the Billboard charts and did so for 12 straight weeks. As successful as it was, the biggest accolade “Lose Yourself” achieved was becoming the first hip hop song to ever win the Oscar for Best Original Song. 

1. The Bodyguard: I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

The late Whitney Houston made her feature film debut alongside Kevin Costner in 1992’s The Bodyguard. In the movie, she plays a pop star and actress who receives protection from a former Secret Service agent after she’s sent death threats by a stalker. While the movie went on to be a success and opened the door for her acting career, the song “I Will Always Love You” that she sang for it made her an even bigger pop star than she already was. The song went on to be her biggest hit as it topped the Billboard charts for 17 straight weeks, breaking the record previously set by Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” a few months earlier. Even more impressive than that feat, “I Will Always Love You” became the best-selling single of all time for any female artist. 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Batman Forever: Kiss From a Rose – Seal
  • Men In Black: Men In Black – Will Smith
  • Ghostbusters: Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.
  • Above The Rim: Regulate – Warren G & Nate Dogg
  • Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves: Everything I Do (I Do It for You) – Brayn Adams