CB4

1993 "Sex, rap and family values?"
6.2| 1h29m| R| en| More Info
Released: 12 March 1993 Released
Producted By: Universal Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't appear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star...

Genre

Comedy, Music

Watch Online

CB4 (1993) is now streaming with subscription on Starz

Director

Tamra Davis

Production Companies

Universal Pictures

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CB4 Audience Reviews

Pluskylang Great Film overall
Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
tnrcooper It's always difficult to do a hard-hitting parody of anything. One needs to have knowledge of a topic as well as a general affection for it. If you hate a topic, your distaste for the topic will come out in cruel jokes and that is not good for the target audience for parodies which is often fans of the material which was parodied. They will not want to see parodies which are mean-spirited. If you like a topic, you won't make a mean-spirited parody. Your affection for your topic will be clear in the movie you make.This film is very funny in portraying the hypocrisy of family values politicians such as senate candidate Robinson(Phil Hartman) condemning gangsta rap for political gain while his kid Ben (J.D. Daniels) idolizes the group and has plastered his wall's room with posters of the group. It's also excellent in establishing that the group has not come up from poverty but actually has suburban roots. None of the characters (portrayed by Chris Rock, Deezer D, and Allen Payne) have fought their way into this business opportunity from poverty. All have seen a business opportunity or a musical opportunity but they have not made themselves out of nothing, another trope the music industry has not shrunk from.The earnestness of documentary filmmaker A. White (Chris Elliott) is also funny - the earnest desire to depict of a white man to treat rap and rappers with respect is also mocked hilariously by Elliott's nebbishness. The depiction of rap groupie Sissy is hilariously parodied by Khandi Alexander in over-the-top excess. Alexander shreds the promiscuity of the super-groupie with her over-the-top depiction. Gusto as depicted by Charlie Murphy is also hilarious. Murphy tears into the role of a truly bad man who serves as a club owner but who also deals drugs on the side. The willingess of MC Gusto and his crew to appropriate Gusto's name to promote an image of toughness is also a good method to allow the mens' true toughness to be revealed.I think if anything, this film's middle section could have been developed more into a harsher, more acerbic treatment of the hypocrisy of politicians, the disingenuousness of the would-be gangsta-rappers, and of the over-the-top obscenity which often seems so gratuitous that it loses its ability to shock. Screenwriters Nelson George and Chris Rock, if anything, understated the acidity of their idea. The ability of gangsta rap to withstand barbed, extended parody is greater than the parody they have made here. The segment in which the group goes on tour could have been longer and Robinson's hypocrisy could have withstood a lot more parody also. All in all, this is a good film which could have been a great film.
fonklord I'm flabbergasted as to why this film has such a poor rating. It is hilarious, even if you do not have an interest in hip hop. If you do then it is probably one of the funniest films you will ever have the pleasure to see. Featuring all sorts of cameos inc. Ice T, Ice Cube, Chuck D, and Isaac Hayes in a truly surreal cameo (you'll have to wait till the end of the credit...), some top quality music from classic rap jams to hilarious spoofs of NWA's 'Straight Outta Compton', and the awesome 'Sweat on My Balls.' the film deals with all sorts of stereotypes from the rap game, sending them all up, but never totally criticising one particular method of getting over. I've seen this film hundreds of times and it never bores me. Watch it and you'll soon have your own favourite bits of dialogue.'Pimp those MF hoes'!
scobbah I've heard various stories about CB4, so finally I had the conclusion that I just have to see this piece. CB4 covers all my funny prejudices about the gangsterrap culture, and starts out with a small crew who wants to end up like rap stars - it's all about the beat and the attitude! Chris Rock just plays his role like a mad man, so good and so real! I just laughed the whole time this piece rolled in the VCR, and these scenes who are shooting parody of the gangsterculture just takes home the first prize award - it's too much of the good stuff! It has a good point after all, and when the ending credits roll I felt that this was a true piece of acting - funny and creative as it does not follow any other film formula I've yet seen so far. 7/10!
gondee This movie is one of my favorite satirical comedies right up there with Airplane...that's right, up there with the big 'A'. The group member's names are perfect (Dead Mike and Stabmaster Arson particularly). The satirical rap songs in the movie are so well-written (parodies of old-school hits) that it's easy to finish watching this movie and find yourself humming the songs. Of course, this movie has its share of sex jokes (Rip as a phone sex operator and Chris Rock sleeping with the big-haired groupie are a hoot) and lewd language (warning: f-word some 78 times).Go into the movie with a eye towards lambasting the rap industry and you should get some good laughs. Remember this was made still EARLY in Chris Rock's career, the humor in this is not as fine-tuned as some of his newer stuff. I've heard Chris Rock thinks of this movie as his "one bad movie", but if you know even a little about the rap industry, you'll love it. 7.5 outta 10.