Miami, FL --September 26, 2007 - "The fans want blood, so we make the rappers preach it. The rappers preach it, so the fans want it more," bellows a record executive in the new hip-hop movie Nemesis. The Miami based indie feature dramatizes the hypocrisies of a multi-billion dollar industry that encourages its fans to "stay true" to the streets.
Directed by Lee Cipolla and produced by Jeremy Mitchell and Justin Marx, Nemesis tells the story of an idealistic young rap star fighting for his own voice against the corrupting influence of the hip-hop industry. A record label discovers him and he is forced to promote violence and materialism in exchange for fame.
"Nemesis is a stark look at how the hip-hop industry perpetuates stereotypes in the interest of raking in money," says the Miami New Times. (In the words of one of the film's protagonists: "Hip-hop ain't black or white anymore — it's green.") According to DJ Scoobz of Phat Trax Productions it "is one of the first movies to take an in-depth look at what really goes on in the hip-hop industry." David Frankel, director of The Devil Wears Prada, calls it “a beautifully made film, remarkable in scope, style and acting.” And despite the brutality of the subject matter, Nemesis is "an incredibly sensitive piece. About love, loyalty and meaning," says Peter Belsito, executive vice president of Film Finders.
The timing for such a film couldn't be better. With record sales plummeting, critics as diverse as Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons, and artistic rapper Kanye West outselling gangster rapper 50 Cent (who claimed he would retire if he didn't outsell West), perhaps gangster rap itself is heading for early retirement.
