ARTE Distribution

The Radio is the name of the first hip-hop nightclub in Los Angeles. This crazy, ephemeral adventure (1982-1984) started out with two teenagers, who were barely eighteen, Alex Jordanov (Super AJ), a young Frenchman, and an up-and-coming rapper named Tracy Lauren Marrow, (Ice-T). Less than two years later, this legendary club had become THE club if you were interested in underground culture, and the evenings with Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna... are still described today as legendary!

In the cultural effervescence of the '80s, The Radio was a cultural testing ground where music, dance and urban art transcended social, racial and ethnic barriers. While hip-hop is often associated with the bad-boy image and a culture of rivalry, The Radio embodied a festive ‘peace & love’ kind of spirit. The documentary explores this exceptional and dazzling two-year period in the club's life using the dynamics of a buddy movie. The friendship between Alex Jordanov, a young French-Bulgarian man, and Tracy Marrow, aka Ice-T, a mixed-race young man from South Central, perfectly embodies the inclusive spirit of The Radio. Here is the story of a band of passionate young people, a group of friends who created a place where differences were erased in favor of collective energy. It was also a real melting pot of creativity, where DJs, MCs, beatmakers and dancers worked together to shape an emerging cultural revolution. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, it is this glorious period that this documentary explores: a new look at hip-hop as a culture capable of transcending differences, building bridges between communities, and inspiring future generations.