By Odeisel

Artists challenge what exist, even though they are responsible for creating what doesn’t. They push boundaries past our normal ideas and force us to reconsider our reality. At least the good ones do. Pharoahe Monch is counted as an artist and a renegade and those designations are glaringly present in his latest mini movie “Clap.”

The film takes to task police brutality in Black communities, but not from an angle of rage or retaliation, but with a haunting retribution that is shockingly final. A police informant sends the cops for Monch and as has happened in real life police raids, they bumrush the wrong pad and an innocent loses their life.

The policeman who fired the killing blow is haunted by a community that has had enough and the way that they bring him down is outright spooky. As cinema, the imagery is jarring and not overdone. There are no Black momma crying scenes, or anyone in a bandana or sagging jeans or anything to signify urban decay. The neighborhood is snow covered and grim with death but not depressed, just somber. Adding to the mood is the inordinate amount of emotionless faces; much more alarming than the expected outrage.

The scenes with Pharoah Monch are kinetic with Hip-Hop. Rakim’s classics play in the background while Monch rocks unaware of what’s going on in the next door apartment. The emotion gets even higher after the incidents and the scratches add to the motion and energy.

For 10 minutes in length, the video is well-paced. You don’t pine for its end and you aren’t left feeling cheated when it’s over. The moods ebb and flow from scene to scene, while maintaining an overarching chill. Snow covered streets, empty subway cars, sterile hallways enhance the overall chill, while strings in the score give the appropriate scenes the right gravity.

The track “Clap” is classic Monch and full of reference to police brutality, Tupac, Ice Cube’s “Straight Outta Compton” verse and other socially relevant terms. It’s chopped up well to fill out then 10 minutes film run.

The film is a very satisfying appetizer to make you want to hear the balance of W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). It is compelling filmmaking, solid acting, and a well-done storyline. If more Hip-Hop “artists” were renegades  our music and culture would be worthy of applause. Until then, “Clap.”

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