Style Wars (1983)

More than any other film on this list, Style Wars manages to communicate the essence of hip-hop music without publicly focusing on the music itself. Instead, the film sets its sights on graffiti and break-dancing, centering on how the evolution of these expressions became vital to the vibrant roots of hip-hop culture spreading across the streets of New York. Take a look at this one if you want to really understand where hip-hop came from.