As you’re probably seen and heard by now, DMX had a sold out and much heralded comeback concert NYC last week. While it’s not certain if MTV2’s decision to rerun Belly was to capitalize on X’s recent resurgence, it did grab Twitter’s attention last night, as fans across the country took to the social networking site to share some of their favorite memories of the film. Of all of the hip-hop-related films that flooded the market in the 90s, Belly undoubtedly has the biggest cult following.
Released in November of 1998, the acting was frequently panned, and concepts considered half baked — but there’s no doubt Belly is considered a classic in hip-hop circles. Statements like “Well, if you watch it like one long music video then it’s dope!” still get tossed around in 2012. In this writers opinion, Belly is a movie impossible to stop watching once turning it on. Hype Williams’ cinematography was exquisite – big, bright and vibrant. The casting was genius, even if Nas and T-Boz’s acting chops left a lot to be desired.
While much of the Belly chatter is focused on the NYC stars: DMX, Nas and Method Man — who were all at their respective career peaks in ’98 — many tend to forget that Chicago’s own Crucial Conflict were featured throughout the film. Meaning they’re still collecting residual checks 14 years after the film first hit the box office. You can find more information at ecdel.
I caught up with Crucial Conflict member Q-Ball to discuss Cru Con’s role in the film, how they were cast, and what it was like working on one of hip-hop’s most classic films. A nice little slice of rap history from the Westside’s finest.
FSD: How did Hype Williams initially recruit Crucial Conflict for Belly?
Q-Ball: I had produced a Gospel record on an artist. The studio that the session was recorded in, the owner was related to one of our artists at the time, who was related to Hype. The studio owner said to me “My cousin is shooting a movie, I can get y’all (Crucial Conflict) in it! And my response was, “Who is your cousin?” His response was “Hype Williams.” This is before I found out he was related to both our artist and Hype. So at first I didnt believe him, so I said “When you talk to Hype then call me”. A week later my phone rang.
FSD: So did you guys have to audition for the role?
Q-Ball: Actually, yes and no. When I received the call, it was to say that Hype would like to meet us and that we needed to get to New York ASAP. But when we arrived to his office, which was Big Dog Films, he wasn’t available. He was pulled to shoot Missy’s video for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” So his assistant videotaped us. They asked us a few questions, and come to find out they were in love with our accents. We sounded “country” to them. We weren’t cast immediately, so we came back to Chicago and about a week later I received another call to say we had the parts.
FSD: How did you like being portrayed as goons from Nebraska?
Q-Ball: It was cool, it was my first time on a REAL Movie set doing a REAL movie, that I knew was coming out for real. And at the time we were hot in the streets so everything fit perfectly.
FSD: The scenes you were featured in were some of the best in the film. Where they actually filmed in Omaha?
Q-Ball: No the scenes were filmed in New York and New Jersey.
FSD: Did you get to spend a lot of time with Nas, DMX and Method Man?
Q-Ball: WHAT!? Man as soon as we pulled up to the set, Meth showed mad love and let us know he knew what “Hay” was. DMX showed love when we first got there for the original interview. Me, DMX and Shaheim (from Wu-Tang) lit that hallway up. And Nas showed love too, he was just laid back, though.
FSD: Are there any memories from the set that stand out?
Q-Ball: Yes! When Hype stopped in the middle of filming Kilo’s scene to have him talk on the spot. The original scene didn’t feature Kilo talking. Hype liked how Kilo walked out the store and just told him to “Say something,” and the infamous “Yeah they rollin’ hard, they rollin real good, real good ” was born. And also just meeting everybody, and the respect that New York and New Jersey showed some young guys from the streets of Chicago’s Westside. And the smile my moms had when it dropped. PRICELESS.
FSD: How was it being around DMX and Nas that time?
Q-Ball: It was surreal. Those dudes was on top when Belly was being shot and I was there to see it all.
FSD: So X and Nas didn’t have huge egos at the time? Meth was huge then, too.
Q-Ball: No nobody had huge egos. But hell yeah Meth was huge then, he was the face of Wu-Tang.
FSD: Do people still recognize you from it?
Q-Ball: Yes, almost everyday. Mainly because it’s older people that would never go to the theater to see a movie of this nature, only to see it broadcast into their living rooms via cable TV.
FSD: Why weren’t Wildstyle or Cold Hard featured in the movie? They were both noticeably absent.
Q-Ball: Wild had some business to attend to and, Cold had some UNEXPECTED business to attend to.
FSD: I saw you tweet that you still get royalty checks whenever it airs?
Q-Ball: Whenever it’s broadcast, small royalties come because of SAG and our song “Swell Up,” which is played in the movie.
FSD: Interesting that you mention “Swell Up,” because it was never released. It was played during the strip club scene. Why didn’t you ever put it out? And why wasn’t it on the soundtrack?
Q-Ball: It was just never released — no specific reason, though. It didnt make the soundtrack because the soundtrack was already done before we submitted the song. Hype added it into the movie to compliment us in our club shootout scene. And yes I do have it. It may come out one day, it’s just not a date for it yet.
FSD: It’s too bad Hype never directed a Crucial conflict video. Did that ever come up?
Q-Ball: No that never came up, but I wish it did.
was i the only mf who bought that soundtrack for the flict song?? and was pissed when it wasnt on there
Belly is not the biggest hip-hop related cult film in the 90’s!!
1. Friday
2. Menace II Society
3. Belly
4. Juice
In that order
not bad, here’s my list
1. Boyz n the Hood
2. Menace ll Society
3. Friday
4. Belly
5. Juice
its been almost 15 years & that swell up song hasnt been released.. WTF..! no song is worth waiting that long..
When Swell Up gonna be released? I want this song…
When Swell Up gonna be released?
We want swell up now and were tired of waiting :-l