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Review: Hip-hop play ‘How We Got On’ deftly tackles coming-of-age themes but needs a little remixing

suntimes.com · 16h · first reportShare

The year is 1988. Hip-hop is in its golden era. E.U. has the whole country doing “Da Butt,” as suggested in the group's chart-topping hit from the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s film “School Daze.” On the West Coast, N.W.A. released “Straight Outta Compton,” and Public Enemy’s “Don’t Believe the Hype” is blaring out of boomboxes on street corners coast to coast. This is the backdrop of “How We Got On,” a play with music having its world premiere at Hyde Park’s Definition Theatre. Directed by artistic director Tyrone Phillips, the drama follows teens Hank, Julian and Luann as they’re caught in the tidal wave of hip-hop by way of the classic television show “Yo! MTV Raps.” Influenced by the show’s aesthetic of flashy jewels, fancy cars and fresh rhymes, these teens decide they will become the next rap superstars. But here’s the catch: These kids are from the suburbs. A world away from the urban areas where hip-hop is booming. The script by veteran playwright Idris Goodwin has good bones. Hip-