Halverwege de jaren 80, Compton Californië. Vijf jonge mannen delen hun ervaringen door middel van het maken van 'brutale' en eerlijke muziek, die symbool staat voor de opstand tegen misbruik van gezag.
In 1992, Mercer is desperately trying to rebuild his life and his relationship with his son amidst the turbulent Los Angeles uprising following the Rodney King verdict. Across town, another father and son put their own strained relationship to the test as they plot a dangerous heist to steal catalytic converters, which contain valuable platinum, from the factory where Mercer works. As tensions rise in Los Angeles and chaos erupts, both families reach their boiling points when their worlds collide.
Los Angeles, 3 maart 1991. De zwarte taxichauffeur Rodney King wordt bij zijn arrestatie mishandeld door vier blanke politieagenten. De video-opname hiervan staat veel Amerikanen nog op het netvlies gebrand. Als de vier agenten in de lente van 1992 worden vrijgesproken, leidt dit tot gewelddadige rellen in Los Angeles, die zes dagen aanhouden.
A Los Angeles newspaperman seeks a woman's sister and finds a black-market baby ring.
An in-depth look at the culture of Los Angeles in the ten years leading up to the 1992 uprising that erupted after the verdict of police officers cleared of beating Rodney King.
An in-depth and provocative look at the 1992 Los Angeles riots exploring the roots of civil unrest in California and the relationship between African Americans and LAPD.
Documentary film exploring the lives of the people at the flashpoint of the LA riots, 25 years after the uprising made national headlines and highlighted the racial divide in America.
Looking back over 20 years later at the Los Angeles riots in Koreatown as a result of the Rodney King verdict.
Leon Watkins runs a community helpline in South Central LA, where anyone in need of help is welcome. One of his most frequent visitors is local gang leader, John Wesley Hunter, otherwise known as “Joker” to the streets. After a day of hustling and almost losing his life in a shoot-out, Joker goes to the one place where he knows he can get help. All in a typical day’s work for Leon until an unlikely woman shows up insisting on aiding him in his fight for his community. This unlikely team defies social constructs by working together to actively fight oppression and gain nation-wide recognition for a hidden reality of many. Along their way they experience the deep-seeded hatred that has plagued America, great love, and tragedy as they leave behind a legacy.
Filmmaker Mark Ford bespreekt de rellen in Los Angeles en de impact van rapmuziek op de gebeurtenissen.