An exciting documentary that screened at the recent Tribeca Film Festival provided a wealth of information about the great hip-hop groups that came out of Long Island, New York.
“The Sixth Borough” highlights rappers either born in or who came out of Long Island. Method Man. De La Soul. Craig Mack. Rakim. Chuck D. Public Enemy.
The term “sixth borough” is used informally to refer to places outside of New York City’s five official boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island) that have strong connections to the city, often due to a large population of former New Yorkers or a significant cultural influence.
In the documentary, we learn that many families had left Brooklyn and The Bronx in the late 70s and early 80s and moved to Long Island, hoping for more prosperous lives. At the same time, whites started moving out of the many communities of Long Island.
This vibrant documentary explores Long Island’s indelible yet often overlooked impact on hip-hop’s evolution, presented through the voices of the pioneering artists who shaped the genre’s expansion beyond its urban roots.
The film reveals how the suburban landscape of Long Island (which has many vast communities) — characterized by single-family homes, expansive greenery and diverse schools — provides a striking contrast to city life, inspiring a unique sound that broadened hip-hop’s boundaries and appeal. While Black families could relocate to what seemed like a suburban utopia, they were not immune to the persistent challenges of racism, drugs and violence, resulting in art that both celebrated and critiqued their surroundings.
Through rich archival performance footage, news clips and compelling interviews with scene originators, the film crafts an engaging and informative exploration of how this “sixth borough” created space for new voices within hip-hop culture.
The documentary skillfully balances its celebration of Long Island’s musical contributions with an unflinching examination of the false promises of suburban life for Black families, providing essential historical context for understanding both the scene’s formation and its enduring influence.
Amityville High School was the kick off point for some rappers, and it’s amazing that many of the early artists and many who are still representing the hip-hop game harvested their skills at that school.
Before they were known for their rap spitting skills, Rakim (William Michael Griffin Jr.) played sax in the band, and Method Man was simply Clifford Smith on the lacrosse team.
For music lovers, cultural historians and New York aficionados alike, “The Sixth Borough” offers an enlightening journey through a crucial chapter in hip-hop’s evolution, demonstrating that the genre would not be what it is today without the voices emerging from these suburban communities.
Early on, Eric B. and Rakim sampled Fonda Rae’s “Over Like a Fat Rat” and James Brown’s “Funky President (People It’s Bad)” for their iconic debut single, “Eric B. Is President.”
“The night ambience of The Bronx and then crickets resonated to freedom,” said Kelvin Mercer, also known as Posdnuos or POS, of De La Soul fame, as he reflected on his first thoughts about life on Long Island.
Chuck D of Public Enemy described Long Island as “Happy Days without Richie.”
The late Harlem rapper Biz Markie was featured prominently in the documentary, with others saying he would visit the junior high school on Long Island to put on a concert. “He was affable and had no problem with authority.”
“He made me love hip-hop more and invited me to his parties in Harlem,” said Rakim.
Parrish Smith of EPMD, along with co-founder Erick Sermon, recalled how he surprisingly learned that, although not wealthy, his mom had hidden a full set of recording equipment and amps in the basement for one memorable Christmas.
“Long Island wasn’t utopia, but it gave us artistic and creative freedom. You couldn’t get that in Brooklyn,” said Bill Stephney, whose work at WBAU radio played a significant role in the birth of Long Island hip-hop.
But things weren’t always serene. POS talked about the proliferation of crack cocaine into Long Island from the urban parts of New York in the mid 80s.
Maseo (Vincent Mason) relished the friendship between the members of De La Soul, a group that was also featured prominently in the documentary.
“We were a new type of tidal wave with the 1989 “Three Feet High and Rising” album, said Maseo.
Search for “Tribeca De La Soul concert” to see a short video of them performing.
Look for this engaging documentary on streaming services or just maybe at the upcoming Black Harvest Film Festival.
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., is the Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Crusader. She is a National Newspaper Publishers Association ‘Entertainment Writing’ award winner, contributor to “Rust Belt Chicago” and the author of “Old School Adventures from Englewood: South Side of Chicago.” For info, https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/englewoodelaine/.