bleak-nik
FREAK NIK (2000)
directed by Howard Daniel III and Trent Daniel
approx. 53 minutes

Well what do we have here? A "hip hopumentary" on the embarassment known as the "Freaknik". This was a black college festival held in Atlanta. According to this movie, the party got its start around the infamous freak dance and was promoted early on by Rick James. The freakin never left, and this movie proves that white people aren't the only ones capable of making half-naked fools out of themselves (i.e.- "GIRLS GONE WILD"). We see young college student lift their skirts and pull their pants down in the middle of the street and random dudes squeezing and holding cameras inches away from their backsides. It has to be seen to be believed. In case the "point" isn't made perfectly clear, footage of professional strippers is cut in with footage of the college students' booty dancing. There are occasional "interviews" with partygoers, telling what the festival means to them or shouting out the area they're from.

Throughout the movie we see some performers who "fit the bill" better than others. I wasn't really surprised to see THREE 6 MAFIA, 69 BOYZ or DISCO RICK here, but was a little disappointed to see OUTKAST and GOODIE MOB. Several members of Bone's MO THUGS family make appearances as well. This movie also contains some footage of the late funk great ROGER TROUTMAN (from Zapp) and there is a dedication to him at the end.

Towards the end of the movie, a young man with dreads makes an intelligent comment: what if all those students had gotten together and discussed important issues instead of drinking alcohol and going to strip clubs? Maybe there was something other than "freakin" at the Freak Nik, but this movie doesn't really show that. The only thing I'd really recommend this movie to anyone for is the fraternity and sorority stomp dancing competition.