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Crackheads Gone Wild DVD · by jimi izrael
There is a DVD called “Crackheads Gone Wild” being sold on the internet and select spots in the ‘hood. It’s caught the attention of pundits in some news circles, and to date has sold over 65,000 copies, netting about $250,000.
I happen to have a copy, as I frequent an Arab ‘hood spot that keeps all my necessaries in stock. You know—mixtapes, incense, Fred Sanford t-shirts and hood pornos and DVDs, because I can’t find stuff like that at the mall. “Crackheads Gone Wild” is one of a growing genre of hood films made for the hood, by the hood. It features the exploits of Crip, Zookeeper, Dee-Dee and cavalcade of crack fiends answering the musical question “what’s the craziest thing you have ever done for crack?” Now, let’s get this disclaimer out the way: substance abuse is no laughing matter. But it’s a hard to deny the entertainment value of a crackhead doing the “Harlem Shake”. Not to mention the one crack couple, caught outside in flagrante delicto, give an astonishingly insightful thesis on the underground drug economy without missing a beat. Now, you’ll never see that on Dateline. It would be easy to dismiss this as another in the ever-growing collection of “extreme” DVDs where college students pay homeless people to commit outrageous acts of violence and anti-social behavior.
But “Crackheads” is more like a PSA unlike any you have ever seen. As a reporter that has interviewed crackheads myself, I can say that this is the realest, necessarily grittiest portrayal of cracklife on film, Sam Jackson’s “Gator” not withstanding. This is as close as any of us wants to come to understanding what it means to live with crack addiction. This DVD documents the folly of mixing poverty with drugs like 60 Minutes never could. As hard as it is to watch, I have to recommend it as required viewing in any thorough discussion about drugs.
The title is decidedly whimsical, but “Crackheads” is only funny for about the first fifteen minutes before it descends into the rawest anti-drug documentary you have ever seen. Rather than trying to illustrate “your brain on drugs,” the unseen host interviews real people as they talk about the early days when crack hit the inner city, tell tales of their first hit, and share stories about snatching crack-pipes from the hands of dead friends. There is a tour of a crack house, and in-depth interview with a crack-addicted prostitute. Yes, you’ve seen those before. But not like this.
The producers should consider editing a version of this must-see DVD for use by parent and classrooms. The language, graphic scenes of sex, nudity and drug usage preclude this from being a high-school health-class pick. Critics of the DVD say it exploits the drug addicted. They miss the point. What it does is allow people to tell their stories that would scare anybody straight, unfiltered by pundits with pie-charts and expert panelists. Crack hit hard the first time around, in the late 80s. “Crackhead’s Gone Wild” is evidence that it is returning harder than ever.
www.crackheadsgonewild.com
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Catch more of jimi izrael at his blog
I got volume two of this embarassing piece of shit in the mail to review along with a mixtape to go with it. At times like these I’m glad other people writer for RR, because shamelessly exploiting other people’s tragedies for profit is not something I enjoy reviewing or writing about. It would be like sending a camera man to Beirut and filming “Israel’s Funniest Building Demolition.”
— DJ Flash Aug 4, 01:43 AM
can’t believe that was the first comment on this piece.
Pretty interesting that it has such a concrete message, even if unintended.
— David Aug 4, 02:57 AM
play it
— lionel parks Dec 4, 02:23 PM
THE PERSON THAT MADE THE 1ST COMMENT HAS MISINFORMATION. THERE IS NO 2ND EDITION OUT YET. SOME GUYS FROM NY COPEID THE IDEA AND MADE THERE OWN VERSION AND YOUR RIGHT ABOUT IT BEING BULLSHIT BUT THATS NOT THE ONE BEING REFERED TO
— daryl smith Jan 4, 01:24 AM
I have the original and it’s hard as hell to watch. Almost made me want to give up my trees it was that rough.
— rdc Jan 4, 12:33 PM
its funny that when i went to see darryl smith at his studio in atlanta he wanted me to be his friend and give him the rights to my trademark, now he calls me a copycat? comeon brother, stick to addressing the drug problems in america and stop adding to the negative perspective of blackmen in america.
— k.hodges Jan 23, 12:32 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX6cTQWsma8
— daryl smith Feb 6, 10:28 PM
i havent seen it yet but i have heard that it is halarious and i really want the chance to see it sometime really so ya digg!!
— simone Mar 5, 02:59 PM
fuck it!son you off the chain wit dat shit! nigga im in fla.I saw you on the news and laugh my ass off!!!!!!
— junnie"mighty mac"wilkins Apr 25, 08:13 PM
Crackheads r funny
— Big Smoke May 17, 07:46 PM
i haven’t seen it yet do anyone no where i can get the real thing and any other very interesting movies cause in MS i cant get get what i want and whats out there so please hook me up with some dope stuff
— kay Jul 29, 03:48 AM
I don’t need that bullshit tape!!When I walk out the door there them MF’s are.Super roaches on crack!!!!
— big hood Sep 4, 04:00 AM
who care;s
— evelyn Nov 6, 06:38 PM
i’ve viewed this movie and i tell you for profit or not it carries a real message to the young people of america.
— john Jan 17, 09:13 PM
its not a funny video, its showing what life is really like, and the crack epidemic, the footage is to intense to show on stupid news reports so they only show the 2 seconds of funny stuff… its actually hard to watch and believe that this actually goes on , watch the youtube preview for the second one and see if you think thats funny
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HX6cTQWsma8
— alex Feb 11, 02:12 PM
Well you can download it from pirate bay’ i must say it’s interesting stuff, america is fucked already. One day it’ll be used in war to win’ big crack bomb will drop, and we’ll all be effected. I say good luck to these people, they enjoy doing what they do. And drugs are on every street in every part of the world – it’s your choice with the first pipe, we all know the edanger with drugs! People do much worster things without evan being on drugs so crack is nothing! try it and you’ll see’ it’s just another drug. x
— David Mar 2, 01:29 PM
Welcome to ATL
— E man Sep 29, 02:34 AM