Amazon.com

This hip look at the Seattle music scene of the past decade treats thehype with bemused humor but treats the music with respect. Packedwith witty interviews with band members, record execs, and Seattle music aficionados, much of the film places a welcome spotlight on the bands that didn't become part of the national "grunge" phenomenon and scores of live clips and rare recordings show that "the Seattle Sound" didn't begin with Nirvana or end with Soundgarden. You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this ebullient rockumentary, and if you're not careful, director Doug Pray's infectious love of the music may even make you one. This video features performances byBlood Circus, Coffin Break, Crackerbash, Dead Moon, Fastbacks, Flop, Gas Huffer, The Gits, Hammerbox, Love Battery, The Melvins, The Mono Men, Mudhoney, Nirvana, The Posies, Seaweed, 7 Year Bitch, Some Velvet Sidewalk, Soundgarden, Supersuckers, Young Fresh Fellows, and Zipgun, and includes Nirvana's first live performance of the grunge anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit." --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A raw look at the Seattle music scene and its exploitation
HYPE! is one of the best documentaries of the last decade, bar none. Growing up when "Grunge" was all the rage I was automatically psyched to see HYPE! and did so the first chance I got. But, what HYPE! does is suck you in with the music and the personalities and proceeds to show you how the Seattle music "scene" was expolited by corporate America and eventually destroyed.

Most of the bands you see in HYPE! are exciting, energetic, talented musicians both on record and stage, but the travesty of the situation is that no one knows who they are until now. In that aspect HYPE! is a great showcase of all the talent of Seattle musicians, not just a document of Kurt Cobain and the triumph of Grunge in the mainstream.

The most interesting aspect of HYPE! is its depiction of SubPop records and how they instigated the hype that ultimately lead to the over-commercialization and downfall of grunge -- whether it was done out of calculated marketing or misguided satire, the result is evident.

HYPE! is a testament to the great people involved in the Seattle music community, whether they be musicians, producers, artists, or just acquaintances.

HYPE! is a document of counter culture explosion that we were lucky enough to be a part of.

One of the best documentaries ever
This film is amazing beyond words. It gives all of the infomration one would need about the greatest musical scene of the 90stold by the artists/producers/record company CEOs themselves. A lot of the people interviewed were humorous, others very serious, but either way it was a really candid interview.

It gives insight to the origin of grunge around 1984 or 1985 with bandslike Green River and the U-Men, to the fomration of its core bands like Soundgraden and Alice In Chains, the grunge explosion of the early 90s, and its demise with the death of Kurt Cobain and the fall of other great Seattle bands.

In addition to excellent interviews, and some great live performances, it has the very first performance of Nirvana's classic song "Smells Like Teen Spirit," about 100 tiumes more raw and abrasive than the version on Nevermind.

great documentary
this is my favorite film.if your a nirvana, soundgarden, or pearl jam, i highly recomend this movie. for the nirvana fans, theres a clip of the first preformance of 'teen spirit' with alt lyrics. for the soundgarden fans, theres a whole big scene where it shows the process of setting up a show while one of their songs is playing in the backround. for pearl jam fans, theres an interview with eddie veddar, but no live stuff. aside from the bands who made it, it focus much on all the bands that didnt and stayed indie. those bands (ie: the gits, monomen, coffin break, supersuckers, etc) are way better than the three above. great humor from the interviewee's. this is an excellent movie, so go rent it or buy it, and enjoy it.

Satisfying Documentary
I don't habitually relish watching documentaries, because I've barely found any that I enjoy viewing, that does not include "Hype!" They mention an immense amount of good bands and interesting facts about them in this excellent film. I missed the first fifteen minutes of the movie and don't recall seeing anything about Nirvana in this. It is a satisfying documentary about grunge music, but would probably be tedious to someone not interested in it's roots.

Boring overated documentery
If you're a fan of that genre of "music," I guess this movie is for you. For me, it was nothing more than a cure for my insomnia.

Blech! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the language of hip-hop, the MC raps on top of the beats. The DJ--or turntablist--supplies the beats. Doug Pray's lively documentary is a tribute to these unsung heroes of the "scratch." His approach is neither dry nor academic and is designed as much for the masters of the form as for the fans. Pray was also behind Hype!, which focused on the Seattle scene in the 1980s and 1990s. In his 2002 follow-up, he travels as far back as the 1970s (DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa) and roams the U.S. from New York (Gang Starr's DJ Premier) to the Bay Area (DJ Shadow, Q-Bert). After watching the film and grooving to the beat, you're likely to wonder if there's a soundtrack to accompany it. Fortunately, there is--Bill Laswell, producer of Herbie Hancock's seminal "Rockit," is behind a compilation featuring many of the same artists celebrated in Scratch. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Fascinating Look at DJs/Turntablists
A fascinating look at DJs/turntablists as well as the hip-hop culture in general. "Scratch" is a fast-paced and often hilarious film filled with awesome music that will get your body moving. The DJs interviewed (Qbert, DJ Premier, DJ Shadow and Mix Master Mike just to name a few) seem to take themselves (and their art) a little too seriously at times, but they are all very articulate, interesting, funny and amazingly talented at what they do. The movie is also very informative, and even if you are not a fan of the genre, you'll definitely learn to appreciate their artistry and realize that scratching is more than just playing around with a turntable and records.

best film without sheila e or the fat boys?? - SCRATCH
Doug Pray has done an excellent job capturing the essence of the scratch dj movement. Starting with the birth of the scratch and showing many of the influential figures in the development of the culture, this documentary is entertaing, as well as informative. I can recommend this for anyone who has even the slightest interest in the genre - they will gain much insight into the oft-misunderstood hip hop/ scratch dj culture. For a dj who is already involved and knowlegeable in the culture (such as myself), this film should provide as an entertaing photo album of sorts, not to mention.. the best tool to help your family, friends, or significant other understand what the heck you've been doing all these years! (it worked for me) With the slight exception of a few key figures overlooked (djs- jazzy jeff, cash money, aladdin) this is quite possibly the finest hip-hop documentary ever!! also recommended - keepin' time by B+

killer
That one guy who gave it 3 stars is a hater, if I've ever seen one. For a 1.5 hour documentary, they have everything right. This is not just a film for the DJ/hip hop freaks. This disc has something for everyone, especially those just starting down the road of scratching.
There is no way they could have incorporated the tons of DJs that the other poster listed, plus this film is trying to appeal to people who may have never known anything about DJing besides what little is shown on MTV.
Any one who is not a hater will really enjoy this film. Its smart, somewhat funny, and definitely enthusiastic about its subject.

made lemonade out of lemons
Ok, I wouldn't quite go so far as to call the djs in this video lemons, but, give Doug Pray credit for assembling a video based on who was accessible for his project. It probably would've been nice to see a bunch of other influential djs, as some of the other reviewers here have mentioned, however, the movie probably wouldn't have been as watchable and entertaining for the cross section of audience members who are new and old to scratchin'. After all, there aren't many movies out there about scratchin', so if you are into it, you should support it so that more funds could be aimed at making documentaries that go a little further in depth. We played this video for a group of people who had a wide range of musical interests and they all enjoyed it. This dvd's content is entertaining and educational. So you should buy it!

Essential viewing for the Hip-Hop generation...
I first saw this in the theater with virtually no prior knowledge about it's contents. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed. This DVD is a must have for anyone with even a passing interest in DJ culture. A history lesson awaits. This is an excellent product, outlining the evolution of the DJ- from the birth of the break (Kool Herc) to the modern madness of the turntablist. This is an excellent, well-constructed and very entertaining film. Even if you are not into Hip-Hop, chances are you will enjoy this documentary. If you are, I'm sure you have already seen this, if not, BUY IT NOW! This is in my top three all-time documentaries, with 'Dogtown' and 'Freshest Kids'. This is essential viewing for all hipsters. ... Read more