In the 1990s, rap music, thanks to the global influence of MTV, spread all over the world. However, Hollywood studios were reluctant to exploit this phenomenon. One of the rare films to use the world of rap music as part of its plot was The Underground, a 1997 crime thriller directed by Cole S. McKay.
The plot kicks off when up-and-coming Los Angeles rap artists become targets of masked killers. Brian Donnegan (played by Jeff Fahey) and Tim Scully (played by Kenneth Tigar), two policemen investigating the murders, aren't very enthusiastic about their job because the slain musicians used to praise cop-killing in their songs. Everything changes when the killers strike again and take Scully's life in the process. Donnegan is now determined to find them and reluctantly accepts a new partner, Clarence Mills (played by Michael McFall). At first, the two of them can't stand each other but, after a while, their investigation begins to bear fruit. All clues point towards rap producer The Hound (played by Willie C. Carpenter) and an obscure 1970s disco band whose members apparently hold a grudge against him.
The Underground is a low-budget exploitation film, and in the first thirty minutes, the authors try very hard to remind the audience of that. Almost all police film clichés are used - the protagonist has his old partner killed, his supermodel wife wants to leave him, and he must deal with a new partner, etc. The film looks very cheap, and the rap music isn't any better. However, after thirty minutes, The Underground becomes more entertaining; the quality of humor improves, along with the 1970s disco music and plenty of pop culture references. This isn't enough to save the general impression of The Underground, but the film is at least watchable, which isn't common for films with such a budget and ambitions. Viewers who can't stand rap are likely to enjoy this film more than others, though.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 28, 2004)
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