Charlamagne Tha God and Jonathan Majors are coming together not for a podcast, not for an incendiary viral soundbite, but for a streetwise, hard-hitting action film that might change the way a new generation of fans come to see and consume Black martial arts in pop culture. The Good Time director also tells us he wrote a film called True Threat that, from what we can gather so far, ain't here to fuck around but here to shift culture.
A film by Gerard McMurray (The First Purge, Burning Sands), True Threat promises to pack a cinematic punch replete with style, substance, and street-bred know-how. At heart, the film is extremely 52 Blocks, the raw, rhythmic fighting style often called "hood martial arts." Out of New York's Black communities, 52 Blocks mixes the arts of boxing, blocking, elbows, and sometimes even a headbutt into a defensive dance performance for survival and style.
For those who know better, 52 Blocks has always been more than a "jailhouse" technique, as it tends to be mischaracterized. The fighting art is a cultural artifact, born in the gutters and alleys of cities, a music with rhythm, history , and heart. And now, thanks to Majors and Charlemagne, it's finally getting the attention it deserves.
And now, we must talk about Jonathan Majors. Months ago, word came out that Majors matter-of-factly referenced being deep into training on a project during a bolted AllHipHop interview. Well, this is the project. He's not just getting his reps in at the gym but being trained by an actual 52 Blocks legend (if you squint, there are clues on that interview). Majors is known for fully committing to his parts, as we witnessed in Magazine Dreams. So, do not look for mere stage punches. Look for truth, blood, sweat, and rhythm.
Enter Charlamagne Tha God. And while we don't know what Anderson is doing in True Threat, his mere presence can cast its weight. Charlamagne doesn't co-sign for just anything. However, his name is a nod to something more profound, maybe a sociological observation or a narrative thread that roots the story in something more than fists and footwork. Think: spiritual, social, emotional. He's the voice of the culture, and he might very well be the bridge between the streets and the screen.
Even better, True Threat might not just be a film. It seems to be trying to be a movement. The way karate blew up in the '80s through movies could start a new wave. Think of kids in gyms around the country being taught 52 Blocks, not in the corner, but a coach down on the floor, gloves and pads, and it means something.
We are witnessing the emergence of something special: a movie that entertains and upends a misunderstood art form. Actual Threat is not just a movie but a declaration. And according to what we see out there, we're ready to hear loud and clear.
0 Comments