Russell (Blair Underwood) has just hit pay dirt with his brother's band. Run DMC's debut record is flying off the shelves and Russell's music label, Krush Groove, can't keep it in stock. He knows it could make his name if he could just get $5000 to run another printing. The problem is that no one will lend him the money except a loan shark (Richard Gant).
The story is really just a framework to showcase the musical numbers featuring a who's who of pioneers like Kurtis Blow, New Edition, Sheila E., and the debuts of LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys. There's a bare-bones romantic angle just to give Sheila E. more screen time, and a subplot involving The Fat Boys as high schoolers overcoming their self-confidence issues. It's not technically a musical because none of the songs further the plot, but if you've ever been interested in the origins of hip-hop and rap, this is an easy place to start. This is also Underwood's debut film, although you'd hardly know it with how self-assured he is. Krush Groove is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel.
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