American — Rapstar

: The New York Times pop music critic provides a running commentary, observing that "what young people want out of pop culture isn't what old people want".

Watch the official trailer to see the 'American Rapstar' documentary's lo-fi aesthetic and high-energy artist profiles: American Rapstar | Official Trailer | Utopia YouTube• Aug 31, 2022 American Rapstar

The documentary is framed through the insights of industry observers and psychological experts: : The New York Times pop music critic

: A Blu-Ray release includes a detailed audio commentary from director Justin Staple. : The film uses psychologists to examine how

: A rebellious, often ahistorical approach that prioritized raw emotion over technical rap tradition.

: The film uses psychologists to examine how many of these artists emerged from broken homes and turned to "homegrown" rap as an outlet for their environment. Where to Watch You can find the film on various platforms: Streaming : It began streaming on Hulu in September 2022.

While celebrating the musical shift, "American Rapstar" also functions as a cautionary tale. It provides a cold spotlight on the substance-abuse epidemic within the scene, particularly the use of prescription drugs like Xanax and Percocet. Critics have noted that the film goes beyond the music to indict broader societal issues, including the influence of Big Pharma and the toxic nature of internet fame.