The people who brought us Downtown Calling in 2009 serve up another gripping story about how the greatest city in the world became what it is, and how the events that lead up to that ultimately changed the entire world in Rubble Kings.

New York wasn’t always as glitzy and glamorous as it is today. Once upon a time, not so long ago, gangs ruled the streets and race wars ran rampant as NYC fell to the cusp of economic downfall. Neither police nor special agencies could bring an end to the brutalities. It took the cultural revolution we know today as hip-hop to turn things around for the big apple.

Sounds bad-ass to you? Well, such is the point of Rubble Kings—a documentary by Shan Nicholson (whom we also featured in our Charlotte Gainsbourg issue last year) in the line-up of HBO New York’s International Latino Film Festival.

With a lot of rare footage, photos, and even interviews with the actual cops and robbers of the time, this documentary looks to be promising. Check it out at AMC Empire 18, NYC this Thursday, August 18, at 9PM if you’re scratching the itch, or wait a while for it to hit shelves.

Click here to purchase tickets.—LONGFELLOW