‘Kicks’ Takes Fresh Approach On Classic Narrative.
“I was a terror since the public school era, bathroom passes, cutting classes, squeezin asses. Smokin blunts was a daily routine since 13, a chubby nigga on the scene…” -BIG
In any hood the streets is ALWAYS watching. Watching to see how you move, if you know what I mean.
Growing up in an urban neighborhood being one of the many kids with “less than” is as hard as it’s ever been. In an overcrowded metropolis, the haves and the have nots are meshed together almost seamlessly.
The movie “Kicks” illustrated this perfectly and brought back some real memories for me from growing up on the block.
The movie was entertaining, funny yet a harsh dose of what it’s sometimes like trying to establish your identity in the concrete jungle.
Although the story takes place recently in the Bay Area, the feel of the film is just as real as it was growing up in the mid 80s and 90s in Brooklyn, New York. Just letting you know, that every hood is the same at its core.
Even the constant New York hip-hop records on the soundtrack brought me back to another era
“Niggas start to loc out, a kid got choked out. Blows was thrown and a fucking fight broke out”
The countless references of lyrics from hip-hop legends was the biggest thing I walked away from this film with, especially considering Biggie’s lyrics from “Party and Bullshit” seem very relevant to the narrative. Hearing the soundtrack to your life in a major motion picture is something I’ve never experienced. Big ups to “Kicks” for that.
“The main character uses music as a security thing,” Kicks director Justin Tipping said. “ You know like flowing down the street escaping in the lyrics. I think a lot people do that.
This film’s narrative is told in a way that lets the viewer experience a small sample of what it’s like to grow up a have not in a world that is concerned with only what you have and what you can get. Sports, fashion, hip hop, and violent crime will forever be entangled with urban life. That’s why the Jordan I shoe , which may seem trivial, is its own character in the movie and held so much importance.
“I hope I can start a conversation about this violence and let people know this still happens, “ Kicks director Justin Tipping said.
Where I’m from, and the main character, the legit stamp comes from your wears. Fresh kicks are a must and it’s even more props if your swag is on a 100. But “the cool” almost always comes at a cost and the main character discovers that cost throughout the film while losing his innocence along the way.
I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say, go see the movie. Real Talk
