This isn't what you would initially think of as a great documentary. It lacks direction and at times feels like an unfinished product. However that also helps portray the sentiments that are expressed. This documentary is extremely raw and honest. All of the footage is shot form a Swedish perspective and a lot of the interviews are by Hip Hop/Rap artists. The best way to sum this documentary up is by calling it understated. It can be unbelievably deep without being deep at all.

Lots of great footage here, with some genuinely powerful, heartbreaking and depressing moments. The commentary is occasionally that moving too, like Talib Kweli's airplane story. Finally, the score co-composed by Questlove is underwhelming. I think mixtape is a great term for it - it doesn't go too deep with history, instead showing some quick highlights of each year.

"Perhaps the greatest irony of all is that such a tumultuous and thrilling time in American history can be so easily reduced to a staid classroom lecture." - Lauren Wissot