The 15 Best Hip-Hop Movies You Can Stream On Netflix

With the hype being bestowed upon Kevin Spacey and his third season of House of Cards, it might be easy to forget that there are some really great Hip-Hop movies on Netflix, too.

Seminal classics such Boyz ‘N Da Hood, Juice, and Rap Sheet, might be available to for viewers to watch on Netflix, but are they all as influential to Hip-Hop as what’s on this list? While your Netflix queue might be hit or miss when it comes to finding a good Hip-Hop movie, you’ll actually find some great works of cinematic art that are pivotal to the culture.

From Jay z to Tupac Shakur to Grandmaster Caz, we have these best Hip-Hop movies that include content about one of the greatest forces in entertainment and music.

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Photo: Island Pictures

In Too Deep

Based on the book about Boston mega-ganglord Duane O. Gittings, also known as GOD. LL Cool J plays the callous criminal in a setting of a Cincinnati, Ohio as Dwayne Gittens. Omar Epps portrays an undercover cop who poses as a drug dealer from Akron, Ohio, who is determined to bring down God’s underworld empire. Cole becomes “in too deep” with the case and places himself and others in harm’s way.

Don’t Be A Menace to South Central

Shawn and Marlon Wayans wrote the big brother Keenan Ivory Wayans-directed comedy that is a parody of the gritty urban movies of the early 1990s. Big brother Shawn portrays the Cuba Gooding, Jr. character remixed to be named Ashtray, who moves to South Central Los Angeles and falls in line with his gang-bangin cousin (Marlon). Through some hilarious trials and tribulations, the two make a mockery of all the classic films from John Singleton’s catalog.

Poetic Justice

For most fans of Tupac Shakur, this John Singleton-directed picture endeared him to legions of single black females around the world. Starring Joe Torry, Regina King, and Janet Jackson, this film is about Justice (Jackson) and her coming-of-age journey after experiencing an extreme loss. Taking place in South Central, Los Angeles, this classic picture is worth it to watch on a rainy afternoon.

Backstage

When Def Jam was on top of the Hip-Hop world, Jay Z, Damon Dash, and their merry band of Roc-A-Fella raiders decided to go out on the road with Method Man, Redman, and DMX to form “The Hard Knock Life Tour”. Watch as this band of brothers tour 54 cities, get into all sorts of trouble, and shake the world off its axis in this Chris Flore directed documentary.

Reincarnated

When the former Death Row rapper decided to reinvigorate his career, Vice Magazine was on hand to document the transformation. In Reincarnated, Snoop goes on a mission of self-rediscovery in Jamaica, where he smokes weed with the Rastas, learn of Bob Marley’s impact, and rechristens himself Snoop Lion, a Hip-Hop Reggae artist.

Paid In Full

Starring Mekhi Phifer (8 Mile), Wood Harris (Remember The Titans), and Cam’ron (Percentage, Killa Season) team up in this hard-hitting film based on true events. In a retelling of circumstances about Harlem gangsters Alpo Martinez, Rich Porter, and Azie “AZ” Faison, the three restless souls are fueled by the fast live in their pursuit of expensive cars, flashy clothes, and jewels. If you haven’t seen this gripping look at coveting the American dream by any means, then you shouldn’t miss this flick at all.

Straight Outta L.A.

ESPN’s wildly popular documentary series finds Los Angeles legends Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg discussing the hype and folklore of the Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders. After moving to the city of Lost Angels in the 1980s, the documentary takes a look at how the culture shifted when Hip-Hop merged with the brutal sports team.

Percentage

Dubbed Cam’ron’s best movie since Paid In Full, the Dipset MC stars alongside Omar Gooding in this crime drama entitled Percentage. As two enterprising crooks, Killa and Gooding set up a scam in Miami where they quickly arouse the interest of the police and powerful crime lords.

I Got The Hook Up

The lead general of the No Limit movement, Master P, really showed how enterprising he was when he dropped this ghetto classic flick. Starring himself and Anthony Johnson as two broke best friends who discover a truckload of cellular phones, I Got The Hook Up finds this dynamic duo of discord selling them out of the back of their van. When you see the trouble that arises as a result of the hustle, the comedy and hilarity ensues, and is a great reason for you to check it out.

Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny

The big box office comedian managed to be at the top of everyone’s list when his second solo stand-up performance hit the market. Now available for streaming on Netflix, Hart stars from the hub of Upset City in Cleveland, Ohio and delivers his unique brand of comedy in rare form!

Fresh

Hip-Hop fans will instantly remember this movie as the vocal sample used in Big Punisher’s Capital Punishment album. For those not old enough to have recalled that classic, Fresh stars Sean Nelson and a pre-Avengers Samuel L. Jackson, as a father-and-son caught on the edge of insanity. Fresh (Nelson) is a clever young man who serves as a drug runner for local dealers who uses the money to support himself and his sister. A must-see if you want to hear a true Hip-Hop quotable.

Hoop Dreams

Highly beloved by the late Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert, Hoop Dreams serves as a introspective look at two high school basketball prospects who, along with living in impoverished neighborhoods, must face on-and-off-the-court pressures. This iconic documentary is a great look at how potential success, resiliency, and pure skill can impact one’s family and race.

Wild Style

Legendary Hip-Hop director Charlie Ahearn takes his love of the culture from the public access channels to the big screen with Wild Style Fellow street champions such as Fab 5 Freddy, Lee Quinones, Busy Bee, Grandmaster Caz, and Debbie Harry appear as characters in this picture during a pivotal moment in rap and Hip-Hop’s formation.

Biggie & Tupac

Nick Broomfield (Heidi Fleiss, Kurt & Courtney) directs what has been considered his third installment of entertainment documentaries with Biggie & Tupac. The introspective investigative piece digs into the marrow of the murders of Tupac Amaru Shakur and Christopher Wallace. Revealing some surprising information, this film sets itself apart from others that attempt to diagnose two of the most heinous murders in Hip-Hop history.

Rhyme & Reason

Method Man, The Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, and some of the greatest rappers ever in the game, come together to showcase their skills in front of the world. Throughout the picture, topics such as family, life on the road, violence, paranoia, and street warfare are discussed by these colorful performers, making Rhyme & Reason a must-see look at Hip-Hop culture.