Culture, counter-culture and music do no operate in vacuums. While there are people who like to place things in nice neat boxes, in reality life is messy. New York in the 1980s and early 1990s was a city full of crime, poverty and myriad social issues. Places like downtown Manhattan haven’t always been the preserve of the rich and swarming with tourists. Before gentrification was even a thing each block had its own distinct personality.
While a number of talented artists were pioneering a new kind of music in New York, a thriving subculture around skating was also springing up on the streets. Despite growing organically and interdependently of each other, it was only a matter of time before they crossed over. All the Streets are Silent is the new documentary from Jeremy Elkin which tells the story of when the two subcultures of hip-hop and skateboarding collided.
All the Streets are Silent is a vibrant and compelling portrait of a time and place when creativity and youthful energy were off the scale. Narrated by Eli Gesner (co-founder of Zoo York) and scored by hip-hop producer Large Professor, it uses a rich array of home video footage from the time to bring the period to life. All the Streets are Silent is a fascinating insight into an exciting and electric time in the history of the Big Apple.
All the Streets are Silent is in US cinemas from 23 July.
