Bodied (2017) – Review

I can still remember a moment, what could have been 20 years ago, when I went to a club in Rotterdam called Nighttown (which was once the place where a cinema was located) where a hiphop festival took place. It was a mix of all kinds of disciplines. In one room there were b-boys breakdancing, music was playing and artists were performing. But the thing everyone wanted to go to were the battles, which were on the program towards the end of the evening. A gladiatorial battle between different MCs, who try to basically kill each other verbally. A spectacle in which the direct feedback from the audience is the indicator of success. A mix of well thought-out pre-written texts, but also proof that you can respond to your environment and what the other person says to you. In one of the rounds it was local artist Tim Beumers battling and the referee dropped the coin by mistake at the toin coss, he saw an opportunity. He started and made an instant statement that the other guy was so poor that he saw him wanting to pick up that dropped coin. The audience went wild and Tim immediately used that in his lyrics as well. He went home as the winner that evening.

It is a subculture of hip hop that occasionally shows up in TV shows and films, with 8 Mile probably being the best known example. Eminem, who made a name for himself as a battle MC before he broke through, brought the battling to a wider audience and in Bodied, which he produced, also is about this scene. Is this a copy of that movie or does Bodied bring something new to the table?

Adam Merkin (Calum Worthy) is a student at the University of Berkeley, who dives in the world of battle rap for his thesis. He is soon noticed when he takes part in a battle for fun in a parking lot. He appears to have talent and is invited to a trial session, where he will have to take on experienced rappers. He stands out for his looks (white and nerdy), but is able to connect with other musicians. Something his girlfriend doesn’t seem to appreciate. He becomes obsessed by battle rapping and might lose more than just a battle if he continues to dive deeper into the scene.

 For a movie with this subject you might expect it to be a hard as nails film, but that is only the case during the battles. In addition, it offers a pleasant mix of humor, deconstruction of the battle scene and the necessary drama. It is therefore relatively accessible to a wider audience. By clearly explaining battle raps (why, for example, the language is so rude) even a layman will get a better understanding. The battles themselves are obviously the main attraction and the film does not disappoint. Real MCs such as Dizaster, Dumbfoundead and Loaded Lux ​​provide authenticity and the film exudes love for this subculture. The only place where Bodied can be viewed at the moment is with a subscription to YouTube Premium, but with the news this week that Google might make this free next year (and instead use advertising) it might be worth it for some people just wait or see it once it is out of DVD/Blu Ray.

[score8]