Watch 'Backstage' tonight on AUX Docs
by Allan Tong
February 13, 2011
Watch Backstage tonight on AUX Docs at 9pm ET.
Backstage is just that: going behind the scenes of the 1999 Hard Knock Life tour. We follow Roc-a-fella and Def Jam artists including Jay-Z, Method Man, Redman, Eve, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Siegel, DMX, AML, DJ Clive and Ja Rule as they joke, gamble, score, freestyle and perform in front of sold-out houses. The editing is fast-paced, cutting between stages, plush hotels and multi-screen buses.
Onstage performances tend to be short, but everyone on this massive tour gets screen time. These artists shoot dice as a cop nervously watches, show off their tattoos, talk about gangster films and mug for the camera. Ironically, though these musicians sing about the ghetto they travel in luxury like one, big travelling party. After all, this is a boys club with the ladies relegated to the background as groupies (though don’t expect anything explicit). There’s plenty of horseplay and ego. Roc-a-fella CEO Damon Dash (CEO of Roc-a-fella records) nearly steals the show as disses DefJam’s attempt to outdo his artists throughout the 53 tour shows. Another highlight is an argument between Dash and Russel Simmons.
Consider this your backstage pass.
Youtube trailer:
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