New York, NY

Red Bull Music has released a new documentary about the late Hip Hop icon Rammellzee titled RAMMELLZEE: It’s Not Who But What. 

Written and directed by Oscar Boyson, the short film tells the story of the New York City graffiti artist, rapper and visual artist who amassed a significant underground following in the ’70s and ’80s.

Along with archival footage of the artist and a robotic narrator explaining Rammellzee’s theory of Gothic Futurism — his personal dialect of Afro-Futurism — the film includes interviews with artists DELTA 2, Kool Koor, Toxic, Michael Holman, INK 76, singer/violinist Eszter Balint, and writers Carlo McCormick and Dave Tompkins.

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The film was created in collaboration with the Red Bull Arts New York curatorial team behind the RAMMΣLLZΣΣ: Racing for Thunder exhibition and its release marked the close of Red Bull Music Festival New York 2018.

Rammellzee’s “Beat Bop” single featured the artwork of legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and is considered one of the rarest vinyl albums in existence.

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Only 500 copies were pressed in 1983 and an original copy can fetch up to $1,500, according to Get On Down Records. 

Rammellzee passed away in 2010 at the age of 49. His official cause of death was heart disease.

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The RAMMΣLLZΣΣ: Racing for Thunder exhibition wraps up on August 26 at Red Bull Arts in New York City.

Check out some of the photos below. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]

RAMMΣLLZΣΣ as “DESTIN” and “DESTINY”. A blue-green Hue-man and “wombed-man” due to genetic alteration. Special powers: With a clap of the hands or prayers, this double headed entity can split into two. Its spells are deadly to all that is known and unknown. Age: 6,000 years. This week we’ll be featuring portraits of #RAMMELLZEE’s ‘Garbage Gods’ – a set of 21 cosmic characters that he created and embodied, all of which have their own origin stories, personalities, and special powers. All portraits taken by Keetja Allard (@keetjaallard) in NYC in July 2002. Photo: RAMMΣLLZΣΣ as “DESTIN” and “DESTINY”, courtesy Keetja Allard. “DESTIN” and “DESTINY” © 2018 The Rammellzee Estate

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