Hip-hop music originated as the voice of Black America, bubbling up through the cracks in the concrete of urban life. Since its inception, the music and the culture surrounding it have been spread far and wide, often touching the lives of those who may have been considered outsiders to the once insular community. Salima Koroma's Bad Rap takes us inside the lives of one such group of so-called outsiders—Asian-American rappers. The film follows the lives and careers of four artists trying to break into a world that often treats them with disdain or indifference. From the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of Awkwafina to the no-nonsense battle rap of legendary West Coast MC Dumbfoundead, Koroma’s documentary checks all of the boxes, looking at the role of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry with a keen observational eye. Sharing dynamic live performance footage and revealing interviews, the artists profiled will make even the most skeptical critics into believers. Crafted with humor and insight, the film paints a memorable portrait of artistic passion in the face of an unsung struggle.

—Loren Hammonds

Salima Koroma