Themes: Musician's Life, Journey of Self-Discovery
Main Cast: Malik Yoba, Melissa DeSousa, John Witherspoon, Fredro Starr, Cedric the Entertainer
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 83 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In this road comedy, NYC film school grad Leta (Melissa De Sousa) gets a job assisting music-vid director Bleau Kelly (Downtown Julie Brown), and a group of rappers, singers, starlets, and showbiz wannabes sign on for a video to be shot in Florida. The gang gets acquainted on a decaying bus as they travel down the East Coast, encountering barroom fights and other problems en route to the vid gig. Cameo by Snoop Doggy Dogg. Not to be confused with another 1998 release titled The Ride. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Sticky Fingaz - Brotha X; Kellie Shanygne Williams - Tuesday; Idalis de Leon - Charity; Julia Garrison - Blacke; Guy Torrey - Indigo; Reuben Asher - Casper; The Lady Of Rage - Peaches; Dartanyan Edmonds - Bird; Downtown Julie Brown - Bleau; Kirsten Camille Hill - Girl in Red Dress; Angie Martinez - DJ
Credit
Vera Mills - Art Director, Eileen Mack Knight - Casting, S. Bryan Hickox - Co-producer, Richard Owings - Costume Designer, Van A. Hayden - First Assistant Director, Millicent Shelton - Director, Earl Watson - Editor, Bob Weinstein - Executive Producer, Harvey Weinstein - Executive Producer, Cary Granat - Executive Producer, Dunn Pearson - Composer (Music Score), Byron Phillips - Musical Direction/Supervision, Bill Stephney - Musical Direction/Supervision, Bryan Jones - Production Designer, Frank Byers - Cinematographer, Reginald Hudlin - Producer, Warrington Hudlin - Producer, Cynthia Wigginton - Set Designer, Rick Ambroise - Set Designer, Brasher Sound - Sound/Sound Designer, Millicent Shelton - Screenwriter
NYC film school graduate Leta Evans (De Sousa) has just become the assistant to hot music video director Bleau Kelly (Downtown Julie Brown). She almost loses the job before her first day's barely even started when Bleau decides budget cuts must be made for her next project. When Leta offers to do the assignment for a smaller fee, Bleau decides to have her escort a group of rappers, singers, and showbiz wanna-be's to Miami for a video shoot. The gang, which is kept in line by Poppa (Yoba), gets acquainted on a decaying bus as they travel down the East Coast, encountering barroom fights and other problems en route to the video gig.
A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on January 27, 1998 by Tommy Boy Records. It contained five charting singles, "The Worst", "Mourn You Til I Join You", "Callin'", "Jam on It" and "The Weekend".
Trivia
Chris Rock was offered a role in the film but turned it down.
