This Is the Life 16 years old

How the West was One

In 1989, a collective of young hip hop artists gathered at a health food café in South Central Los Angeles. Their mandate? To reject gang culture and expand the musical boundaries of hip hop. DuVernay's documentary chronicles the historic legacy of the Good Life Cafe — the open mic nights that became an L.A. institution, the eclectic array of talented young MCs that emerged there, the alternative hip hop movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the artform.

Credits

This Is the Life Cast

Name Character
Cut Chemist He was 35, now 51 years old as himself
Ava DuVernay She was 35, now 51 years old as herself
Medusa as herself

This Is the Life Crew

Name Department
Ava DuVernay as Director. She was 35 (now 51) years old Directing
This Is the Life poster
This Is the Life (16 years)

How the West was One

  • Release day: Friday, February 08, 2008
  • Runtime: 97 minutes