The Book of Rhyme & Reason Book Signing + Screening
The Book of Rhyme & Reason Book Signing + Screening
On the heels of the book release, we will be hosting director, Peter Spirer, for a meet and greet signing, followed by a discussion with the director and infamous Los Angeles radio personality Big Boy, and a screening of Rhyme and Reason.
Filmed between 1994 and 1997, Rhyme & Reason captures a critical period in the history of rap music and hip-hop culture. Academy Award–nominated documentary filmmaker Peter Spirer used his connections as a music video director to get access to pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz, KRS-One, Kurtis Blow, and Biz Markie; rap icons Ice-T, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., and Dr. Dre; as well as RZA, Method Man, and Raekwon during the Wu-Tang Clan’s rise to fame, to share firsthand accounts of the evolution of their artform from its early beginnings in the Bronx to becoming accepted by mainstream culture. The film is a rare document of the hip-hop scene right before it blew up to become the major cultural force it still is today. Released alongside a soundtrack featuring many of the artists interviewed in the film, which was later certified gold, Rhyme & Reason remains a fan favorite and an important piece of hip-hop history.
Join us for a screening with director Peter Spirer in attendance as he presents his newly published book, The Book of Rhyme & Reason: 1994–1997, featuring over 130 of his photographs taken during the making of his film.
Schedule
6-7pm | Book Signing with director, Peter Spirer
Ted Mann Lobby on Lower Level 1.
7:30pm | Discussion with Peter Spirer and Big Boy followed by Rhyme & Reason Screening
Ted Mann Theater
DIRECTED BY: Peter Spirer. WITH: The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, KRS-One, Dr. Dre. 1997. 90 min. USA. Color. English. Rated R. 35mm.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
Theater accessibility accommodations available upon request. Learn more about our accessibility initiatives.
Book Signing with Director Peter Spirer
The Book of Rhyme & Reason: Hip-Hop 1994–1997
This coffee-table volume features over 130 of Spirer’s photographs from 1994 to 1997. As hip-hop commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2023, it is particularly fitting that many of these images from this formative period are being published for the first time.
Peter Spirer (born 1963) is an Academy Award– and Emmy Award–nominated director and producer. His catalog of over 32 films includes Rhyme & Reason (1997), Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel, Life of an Outlaw (2002), the BEEF series (2003–5), Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life (2007) and The Legend of 420 (2017).
Tickets are $55 for the book signing,
Book signing + screening/discussion: $60 – adult, $57 – senior, $55 – student - $5 savings and includes access to the event, a signed copy of the book and meet and greet with the author. You must have a ticket to attend the book signing.
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