'Scared Of Revolution' DVD Review

Umar Bin Hassan has been called the “The Godfather of Rap”. He was born Jerome Huling and in the late 1960’s  became a member of The Last Poets. They were a group of performance poets who pushed the spirit of the times and became a big influence on hip-hop artists. One of his better known pieces is 'Niggers Are Scared of Revolution' where he criticized his fellow blacks destructive nature of the times.

Director Daniel Krikke takes a look at the life of Umar Bin Hassan from childhood to now. For instance, his own father would steal the money that a young Hassan would make shining shoes. His father would later abandon the family and Hassan was basically on his own. His mother would give him money and he would go and buy drugs. He goes on to say that drugs were a big part of his life. Hassan would go through woman like a turn style and would leave his children without any father figure. He would eventually make some money but would buy crack cocaine and wander around aimlessly.

As the documentary goes on to show it was Hassan who was afraid of Revolution. He would finally take control of his life. We see a very distraught Hassan talking about his father who he would later reconcile with and would eventually had to make the decision to turn off his fathers life support. We see a man who hadn’t reached 70 but looked like a very beat up old man. We see a man who would eventually reconcile with his children and would be a grandfather to their children which is something he never experienced as a child.

Film Movement brings this story to DVD on November 12th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is fantastic and the sights and sounds are superb. You see a life full of heartbreak but you also see the transformation of a man. This is a good addition to that personal library you may have in your home. It would also be a great gift for the holidays to that special someone.