BELLY — Hype Williams and Soul II Soul bring hip hop ”Back To Life”

In the '90s, there was no music video director in hip-hop bigger than Hype Williams. And he concentrated all his visual powers on his first (and for now, only) feature film, BELLY (1998): a gangster film that looked—and sounded—like no other, especially its iconic opening heist sequence, set to Soul II Soul's "Back to Life." Rico talks with Soul's songsmith Simon Law about the '80s UK club scene that birthed that megahit track and learns why this once-maligned movie has become required viewing for hip-hop nation. Other guests include the film's co-story writer Anthony Bodden and hip-hop critic Panama Jackson.

Our audio documentary podcast returns with a sequel to our popular 2023 season that dives deep into the grooves of classic movie “needle drops.”  Titled “Needle on the Record, Side Two,” in each episode host Rico Gagliano tells the story of a film that fused music and image to make magic—and sometimes, changed popular culture.

MY FATHER'S SHADOW is now streaming on MUBI almost globally.

To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.

MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.