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Krush Groove was released in 1985 by Warner Brothers and directed by Michael Schultz. This film depicts Def Jam Recordings’ early days and Russell Walker’s life as a young producer. The movie centers on Krush Groove one of the latest acts that have been signed by Russell Walker. Russell doesn’t have the financial stability to produce their records and he borrows some cash from a hustler on the street. Russell and Run, his brother, are both in love with Sheila a singer and percussionist. The film also has cameo appearances from the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Fat Boys and New Edition. Full Force band members also play a minor role as bodyguards in the film.
The filming of Krush Groove was mostly done in New York’s Bronx neighborhood and one of the scenes was filmed at the Marble Hill project. Disco Fever, a famous club, was one of the locations the movie was filmed at. The owner of Disco Fever, Sal Abbatiello hoped that the film would bring back the attention that his club truly deserved. Unfortunately, the attention that was brought on by the film was rather negative which ended in the club being shut down by the local authorities as the club did not possess proper permits and licenses. Parts of the film were also shot at Sheppard Hall in the City College of New York.
On the 25th anniversary of the movie, Russell Walker reminisced on the Krush Groove legacy and how it affected the standing of hip hop culture at that time. Walker also noted that the film is relevant in today’s society for not only bringing together so many Def Jam stars but also for showcasing new talents including LL Cool J. During the filming LL was so persistent that he appeared in all the locations performing freestyles, that he was even included in the final cut. This process of backdoor auditioning became a popular trend thereafter. The album released for the movie was also known as Krush Groove with various artists performing their hip hop music. Warner Brothers released this record in 1985 but only 1000 copies were made into compact discs and ever hit the market.
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