Less than a decade after This Is Spinal Tap(1984) lovingly lampooned heavy metal, Chris Rock starred in the mockumentary CB4, a send-up of gangsta rap.
Rock plays a wannabe rapper named Albert Brown, who assumes the identity of a gang member called Gusto.
When the real Gusto (Charlie Murphy) goes to jail after Albert accidentally causes his arrest, Albert becomes MC Gusto, and his middle-class Los Angeles buddies Euripides (Allen Payne) and Otis (Deezer D) take on the aliases Dead Mike and Stab Master Arson to make up CB4 (short for “Cell Block 4”).
The trio record tracks like Straight Outta LoCash – an NWA parody with Rock (who sounds a lot like Eazy E) rapping, “I fucked ya wife, ’cause the bitch is a big ho/I fucked ya sister, I fucked ya cat/I would have fucked ya mom, but the bitch is too fat!”
The flamboyant reign of CB4 is viewed through the awed eyes of a wimpy, fawning, impressionable white filmmaker (Chris Elliott) who is making a “Rapumentary” and can’t get enough of hostile black attitude.
CB4 climb the charts while bedding uninhibited groupies and fleeing trigger-happy mobsters, but Albert yearns to return to his prim girlfriend (Rachel True) and his self-made dad.
The film has its moments, including an early sequence in which real-life rap stars Ice T, Ice Cube and Flavor Flav – along with Halle Berry and Shaquille O’Neal – deliver deadpan assessments of CB4 (“They’re wack,” says Flav dismissively). But the movie runs short of material and loses its comic edge about halfway through, although it’s jumpy enough to keep you interested.
The rap video parodies are almost indistinguishable from the real thing . . .
Albert Brown/MC Gusto
Chris Rock Euripides Smalls/Dead Mike
Allen Payne Otis/Stab Master Arson
Deezer D A. White
Chris Elliott Virgil Robinson
Phil Hartman Gusto
Charlie Murphy Sissy
Khandi Alexander Eve
Theresa Randle Trustus
Willard E. Pugh 40 Dog
Ty Granderson Jones Daliha
Rachel True Lt. Davenport
Victor Wilson Baa Baa Ack
Richard Gant Ben
J.D. Daniels Wacky Dee
Stoney Jackson Owner
Isaac Hayes Grandma
LaWanda Page Mrs Otis
Louisa Abernathy Tamika
Sharisse Jackson Tashana
Daphne Jones Tawana
Saba Shawel Talona
Vanessa Chester Tee Tee
Chasiti Hampton Malik
Jeremiah Birkett Accountant
Christopher Keene 976-Sexy
Shirley Hemphill 976-Piss
Mari J. Sahley 976-Diss
Al Clegg Sun
Mary Ann Hermansen Shine
Robbin Tasha-Ford Albertina
Niketa Calame Ice T
Himself Halle Berry
Herself Ice Cube
Himself Flavor Flav
Himself Shaquille O’Neal
Himself Eazy E
Himself Butthole Surfers
Themselves
Director
Tamra Davis
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The trio record tracks like Straight Outta LoCash – an NWA parody with Rock (who sounds a lot like Eazy E) rapping, “I fucked ya wife, ’cause the bitch is a big ho/I fucked ya sister, I fucked ya cat/I would have fucked ya mom, but the bitch is too fat!”
