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Poster for JAY-Z: Fade to Black

JAY-Z: Fade to Black

2004 · 109 min

A backstage pass to a landmark concert, mixing electric stage footage with studio sessions for a warm, insider's portrait of a scene at its peak.

Genres
Documentary, Music
Tagline
The ultimate concert. Now the ultimate movie.
Overview
An intimate look at hip-hop artist Shawn Carter, Jay-Z, revealing the multiple Grammy Award winning artist as never before, from his background and rise to fame to the recording of his last album. The film chronicles the legendary concert of Jay-Z's performance at Madison Square Garden in November 2003. In an unprecedented event, a hip-hop artist sold out an arena in only two hours. Nearly one year later, fans and artists alike still reflect on this monumental musical night. The event was a spectacular culmination of Jay-Z's recording career prior to his self-proclaimed retirement from solo performing. Yet this one night also defined a musical generation, showcasing the evolution and reach of the world's most popular music genre. Guest performers included Jay-Z's closest friends and music industry colleagues: Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, R. Kelly, Foxy Brown, Pharrell, and Questlove and The Illadelphonics along with appearances by hip hop icons Damon Dash.

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Genres
Documentary, Music
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
    Pacing
    measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
    Attention
    engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
    Themes
    • music
    • ambition
    • celebrity
    • art
    • work
    Places
    • big city
    • workplace
    Era
    contemporary
    Audience
    adult
    Form
    • documentary
    • true story
    • ensemble
    Content intensity
    • Gore none
    • Language strong
    • Violence none
    • Sex mild
    All scales, 0 to 10
    Scales, 0 to 10
    ScaleValue0 to 10
    Action2
    Horror0
    Humour3
    Realism9
    Romance1
    Tension3
    Darkness2
    Complexity4
    Emotional weight5

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