Overview: Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money. This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry. For more than thirty years, innovative hip-hop performers and producers have been re-using portions of previously recorded music in new, otherwise original compositions. When lawyers and record companies got involved, what was once referred to as a “borrowed melody” became a “copyright infringement.” The film showcases many of hip-hop music’s founding figures like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Digital Underground—while also featuring emerging hip-hop artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more.

Genres: Music Documentary

Overview: The hard-earned honor of Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction culminated at the end of several days of celebration in April. On the eve of the formal event, hip-hop gods, friends and extended family paid tribute to P.E. at a pre-party at the Los Angeles House of Blues. Centric TV captured the hype, which included performances from legends Whodini, Kool Moe Dee, The Treacherous Three & JJ Fad.

Genres: No genres available

Overview: The digital revolution of the last decade has unleashed creativity and talent of people in an unprecedented way, unleashing unlimited creative opportunites. But does democratized culture mean better art, film, music and literature or is true talent instead flooded and drowned in the vast digital ocean of mass culture? Is it cultural democracy or mediocrity? This is the question addressed by PressPausePlay, a documentary film containing interviews with some of the world’s most influential creators of the digital era.

Genres: Documentary Music