The Sixth Borough - At Tribeca - A look at hip-hop

Documentary Shines a Spotlight on Long Island’s Unsung Role in Hip-Hop History

https://tribecafilm.com/films/sixth-borough-2025

In the new documentary The Sixth Borough, Long Island steps into the frame not as a quiet suburban retreat, but as a foundational—if often uncredited—player in the history of hip-hop. Through a vibrant mix of archival footage, news clips, and firsthand accounts, the film chronicles how the region helped shape the genre’s evolution, offering a nuanced portrayal of a place long overshadowed by its urban counterpart to the west.

While the Bronx may be widely regarded as hip-hop’s birthplace, The Sixth Borough argues persuasively that Long Island—home to artists like Rakim, Public Enemy, and De La Soul—was essential in propelling the genre forward. The documentary situates the music within the physical and social contours of suburbia: tree-lined streets, single-family homes, and integrated schools that fostered new cultural exchanges. Yet this seemingly idyllic backdrop was complicated by persistent structural racism, the crack epidemic, and economic disillusionment—realities that gave rise to both creative expression and searing critique.

What emerges is a compelling portrait of a region where musical innovation flourished in tension with a flawed American dream. The film draws strength from the voices of the artists themselves, who recount not only their personal journeys but also the broader socio-political forces that shaped their work.

For those interested in the deeper roots of hip-hop, The Sixth Borough offers more than nostalgia. It serves as cultural excavation—one that reframes suburban space as fertile ground for Black artistry, resilience, and resistance.

Following the premiere, audiences will be treated to a special live performance by De La Soul and Rakim, a fitting tribute to Long Island’s enduring impact on hip-hop.

https://tribecafilm.com/films/sixth-borough-2025