All the Streets Are Silent: The Convergence of Hip Hop and Skateboarding

All the Streets Are Silent: The Convergence of Hip Hop and Skateboarding (1987-1997) is a formidable documentary that traces the socio-cultural evolution of New York City during the 1980s and 1990s. The film is a captivating synthesis of street culture, exploring the fascinating fusion of two seemingly disparate subcultures – hip hop and skateboarding, predominantly through the lens of East Village and Lower East Side Manhattan. Narrated by Eli Gesner and featuring a range of interviews with heavyweights from both sides of the cultural divide, including actress Rosario Dawson, late skateboarders Harold Hunter and Justin Pierce, and prolific skateboarder Keith Hufnagel among others, the film paints an honest portrait of the influential era in the world of urban culture.

Directed by Jeremy Elkin, the heart of the documentary lies in the symbiosis between the worlds of artificial urban skate spots and basement hip-hop parties that emerged as a response to the socio-economic upheavals of the time. It brings to life the convergence, adaption, and evolution of these cultures through nostalgic archival footage, personal anecdotes, and deeply engaging interviews, primarily steeped in the premise of how cultures that were peripheral at a time would later come to dominate the mainstream.

The film follows a chronological journey, unravelling the rebellious spirit of the late 80s and early 90s in the city, starting from the crack epidemic, which heightened racial tensions and violence, through to the flourishing of these countercultures. These adversities collectively lead to innumerable youth finding solace in re-appropriating public space for skateboarding and converging around the equally communal and rebellious act of hip-hop.

Eli Gesner, the film's narrator and a prominent figure of the time, adds depth and authenticity to this exploration. The film further benefits from captivating interviews with personalities like Rosario Dawson, who recalls growing up near the iconic Skaters’ Paradise, the Supreme store, and witnessing firsthand the cultural interplay. The film does a commendable job in offering such lucid observations and memories of living in an era that would later be romanticized and commodified by mainstream culture.

A prominent figure in the film is the Schlosser brothers' nightclub, Mars, a multi-storey haven for skaters and hip-hop enthusiasts alike. This fascinating club is presented as a central hub for these intermingling subcultures, where big names in the hip-hop industry, like Run DMC, would perform. The film maintains an excellent balance as it captures the exhilarating energy of the pioneering youth movement, without shying away from the harsh realities about the socio-political climate that fueled these subcultures.

The archival footage and photographs in the film play an important role, creating a deeply evocative atmosphere that transports viewers back in time. The candid shots of skaters hanging out in Washington Square Park, the images of the bustling hip-hop scene at Mars, the rare footage of artists like Jay-Z performing in their early days, are all integral to venturing into this incredible journey of convergence – where race, economics, and social norms were continually being pushed and tested.

A special mention is given to the late Harold Hunter and Justin Pierce, skateboarders and actors who were iconic figures in both the skateboarding and hip-hop scenes. Presented in a loving yet honest light, their rise and fall revel in the adventurous, often chaotic spirit of the streets they grew up in.

While the movie doesn't shy away from the volatile and tumultuous aspects of these cultures, it also celebrates the artistic, rebellious spirit that pervaded among the youth. It's about skaters that jam to hip-hop tapes on boomboxes, about ghetto youngsters conveying their realities through rap, about forgotten alleyways of NYC transforming into skating spots, and about the power of art and counterculture in shaping and uniting a generation. All the Streets Are Silent provides a fascinating, gritty, and vibrant mosaic of a time and a city grappling with change, and the youth cultures that emerged as towering beacons of resilience and creativity.

This documentary, supported by an enthralling cast of real-life characters, vibrant visuals and a pulsating soundtrack that seamlessly blends skateboard wheels' rhythmic hits with hip-hop's reverberating beats, is a must-watch for anyone eager to delve into the roots of urban culture and its intersectionality during a transformative decade.