Credit: Courtesy of Chris Black
A Cleveland State student, local filmmaker Najada Davis profiles several local rappers in the new film, Legion of Lyricists. The film is loosely based on the life of locally based rapper Chris Black.

“[It’s about] the trials between being white and wanting to rap and people not accepting that [because of the way Black looks],” says Davis in a press release.

In the film, Black has several “intense lyrical exchanges” with Cleveland artists A-to-Z and Honasty Blade. It also features Sean Manos, a Cleveland actor who portrays Black’s trainer.

The movie makes its debut at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 21, Atlas Cinemas Diamond Center in Mentor. Tickets are $15.  

This article appears in May 9-15, 2018.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.