Acclaimed Hip Hop/graffiti documentary Style Wars was released in 1983 at just a slim 69 minutes. The film made by Henry Chalfant and Tony Silver featuring a young DJ Kay Slay (as Dez), Dondi and Seen featured over 30 hours of documentary footage never seen by the public. This includes interview footage with then New York City Mayor Ed Koch. A new KickStarter.com campaign is set to change this, with a $28,000 pledge goal launched by Public Art Films.
If the goal is achieved, a new release of Style Wars is promised.
In 2003, Style Wars was re-released as a 20th anniversary edition to double-DVD box set featuring music from then Definitive Jux Records artist Aesop Rock, along with 20-plus minutes from the aforementioned 30 hours.
(November 8)
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UPDATE: On December 1, Style Wars filmmaker Henry Chalfant released the following statement: “The goal of $28,000 was met. Because of 412 cool and inspired backers (plus more as I write this update), we’ll all now get to see what is in the outtakes!…All funds raised over $28,000 will go to restoring the entire film: STYLE WARS. We hope that soon, we will be able to deliver STYLE WARS to digital audiences everywhere. Congratulations all. Thank you.”
HipHopDX will keep you updated.
Additional Reporting by Slava Kuperstein
