ABOUT WORTOWN RISING
“wortown rising” - is a documentary by director/producer kaz supernova chronicling the first hip-hop movement in worcester ma, that began around 1979, blossomed in the 80's and eventually became known as "wortown". the story traces the scenes local roots and connections to nyc's south bronx. featuring never before seen video footage, articles, music, photographs and interviews with over 80 artists who's paths are connected through hip-hop .
worcester's early hip-hop history was a vibrant reality but was seldom covered or recorded at the time by the local media. despite this neglect, it has survived and had a lasting impact. the struggles, innovation and perseverance of the early artists serve as inspiration and offer wisdom for future generations. it's also testament to the genuine love of the art and culture that persevered against misunderstanding and rejection.
as in many other cities, hip-hop’s early roots in worcester began in worcester's inner city, housing projects, recreational centers, and low-income urban areas. the movement was driven primarily by individuals from the black and latino communities, many of whom had migrated here from other cities, states, and countries. not only were they faced with the struggles common to urban environments, but they were also challenged with the social and racial/cultural biases that existed in worcester at the time.
the story touches on themes of social acceptance, alienation, race, and identity as well as worcester social history including the great brook valley riots of 1977 and how they affected the social climate (where hip-hop began) in similar fashion to other uprisings and protests across the nation. the documentary also illustrates how our community radio station wcuw became an outlet for early hip-hop music including the growing local artists. first-hand accounts also depict worcester's sometimes lukewarm reception to this new art form.
wortown rising traces worcester hip-hop’s local roots and connections to nyc's south bronx, including a direct influence from dj charlie chase (of the pioneering hip hop group cold crush brothers) who in 1979 was traveling back and forth from the south bronx to the great brook valley housing project in worcester. the story continues through the 80's into the late 90's noting the international breakthroughs like the classic “too complex”(1997) by l tha headtoucha (larry cheeba) and concludes in a second renaissance period in the city's hip-hop scene now known as “wortown”.
the film features never-before seen video footage, articles, music, photographs, and interviews with over 80 hip hop artists and associates from worcester and beyond. these include artists dj chuck chillin', dj shame, domingo guyton, ghost of the machine, and death over simplicity; local writers brian goslow and scott mclennan; former tv 27 reporter george cortes; many wcuw alum; articles from worcester magazine; an interview with t la rock (the first def jam recording artist) about his 1987 show in worcester; and photographs from legendary photographers stephen dirado (worcester, ma), and joe conzo (south bronx, ny). it also features an amazing sound track comprised not only of an original score but also music from the first recordings and demos of worcester's pioneering artists.
wortown rising is currently in limited release for exclusive screenings only.
the worldwide release is planned for late 2025 .
