{{short description|1985 film directed by Joel Silberg}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Rappin' | image = Rappin film poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Joel Silberg | producer = Menahem Golan<br/>Yoram Globus | writer = Adam Friedman<br/>Robert J. Litz | starring = {{Plainlist| * Mario Van Peebles * Tasia Valenza * Charles Flohe * Melvin Plowden }} | music = Michael Linn | cinematography = David Gurfinkel | editing = Marcus Manton | distributor = Cannon Films | released = {{Film date|1985|05|10}} | runtime = 92 minutes | country = United States | language = English | gross = $2,864,844<ref>{{Mojo title|rappin}}</ref> }} '''''Rappin'''''' is a 1985 American film directed by Joel Silberg, written by Adam Friedman and Robert J. Litz, produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus and starring Mario Van Peebles. The film is a sequel to ''Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo'', and is also known as '''''Breakdance 3'''''. Although it features Ice-T (who featured in ''Breakin''' and ''Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo''), ''Rappin<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' has a plot unconnected to the previous two films and features different lead characters and locations. It is also considered to be a companion piece to the documentary Breakin' 'n' Enterin'.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Piskor |first1=Ed |title=Hip Hop Family Tree Vol.4 |date=2016 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |location=Seattle |page=62}}</ref>
==Plot== Rappin' John Hood (Van Peebles), an ex-convict, attempts to save his neighborhood from developers and hoodlums. Around the same time, one of the hoodlums' girlfriend, Dixie, persuades him to audition for a rap recording contract. Their interactions develop into a relationship.
==Cast== * Mario Van Peebles as John Hood * Rutanya Alda as Cecilia * Eyde Byrde as Grandma * Rony Clanton as Cedric * Charles Grant as Duane * Melvin Plowden as "Fats" * Jessie Daniels, Antoine Lundy, Stevie D. Lundy, Charles Nelson, Trisco Pearson as The Force M.D.s * Richie Abanes as Richie * Harry Goz as Thorndike * Kadeem Hardison as "Moon" * Eriq La Salle as "Ice" * Leo O'Brien as Allan * Thomas Ross as Thomas * Joe Schad as Burton * Tasia Valenza as Dixie * Claudja Barry as herself * Eugene Wilde as himself * Richy Givens as Gangster
==Production== Mario Van Peebles' raps were overdubbed by Master Gee of the Sugarhill Gang, who also wrote one part,<ref>{{cite web|title=Accept No Substitutes – The Original Master Gee|url=http://www.thafoundation.com/mastergee.htm|work=www.thafoundation.com|accessdate=6 February 2014|author=JayQuan|year=2005}}</ref> and whose brother Leo plays the role of Allan. The film was filmed in and around Pittsburgh.
Ice-T's small role is uncredited and he reportedly provided the rhymes, including the hero's climactic lines, "Can't stop / Won't stop / Climbing that mountain 'till we reach the top!"{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}} Two verses of his 1985 single, ''Killers'', feature mid-way through the film. Brothers Evil E and Hen-Gee, both of whom would go on to work with Ice-T, feature in the film.
==Featured songs== * Born to Love - Claudja Barry * Rappin' – Lovebug Starski * Snack Attack – Melvin Plowden, Mario Van Peebles, Eriq La Salle, Kadeem Hardison, Richie Abanes * The Fight Rap – Lovebug Starski * Neighborhood Walk – Mario Van Peebles * Itchin' for a Scratch – The Force M.D.'s * Flame in the Fire – Warren Mills * Call Me – D. Terrell * If You Want To (FU12) – Lajuan Carter * Golly Gee – Tuff, Inc. * First Love Never Dies – Eugene Wilde, Joanna Gardner
==Reception== The film earned $2.9 million at the US box office.<ref name="yule">Andrew Yule, ''Hollywood a Go-Go: The True Story of the Cannon Film Empire'', Sphere Books, 1987 p111</ref>
== See also == * List of hood films
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|0089883}} * [https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C04EFDE153BF932A25756C0A963948260 New York Times review] * [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/24016 The AV Club review] * {{Rotten Tomatoes|rappin}}
Category:1985 films Category:1980s hip-hop films Category:1980s hood films Category:American crime thriller films Category:American sequel films Category:1985 thriller films Category:Golan-Globus films Category:Films shot in Pittsburgh Category:Films set in Pennsylvania Category:Films set in Pittsburgh Category:Fictional portrayals of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Category:Films produced by Menahem Golan Category:Films produced by Yoram Globus Category:1985 English-language films Category:Films directed by Joel Silberg Category:1985 American films Category:English-language crime films Category:English-language musical films Category:English-language thriller films Category:1985 musical films