A man stands with a microphone and his hand in the air.

A man stands with a microphone and his hand in the air.

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This is the Life

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A Film by Ava DuVernay

2008|Documentary|1hr 37m

A feature-length documentary that chronicles “The Good Life” emcees, the alternative music movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the art form.

Directed by Ava DuVernay • Screenplay by Ava DuVernay • Produced by Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Omid Walizadeh, Isaac Klotz

Ava DuVernay’s 2008 documentary is a personal love letter to a slice of Los Angeles’s 1990s hip-hop – The New York Times

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Residue Film Poster

<img decoding="async" width="1561" height="2232" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_.jpg" alt="Residue Film Poster" title="Residue_KeyArt_FINAL_WEB" srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_.jpg 1561w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_-1280x1830.jpg 1280w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_-980x1401.jpg 980w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_-480x686.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1561px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14544" />

This is the Life

Residue Film Poster

<img decoding="async" width="1561" height="2232" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_.jpg" alt="Residue Film Poster" title="Residue_KeyArt_FINAL_WEB" srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_.jpg 1561w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_-1280x1830.jpg 1280w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_-980x1401.jpg 980w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MV5BMTI2MTM4NTUzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjAzOTEzMg@@._V1_-480x686.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1561px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14544" />

A Film by Ava DuVernay

2008|Documentary|1hr 37m

A feature-length documentary that chronicles “The Good Life” emcees, the alternative music movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the art form.

Directed by Ava DuVernay • Screenplay by Ava DuVernay • Produced by Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Omid Walizadeh, Isaac Klotz

Ava DuVernay’s 2008 documentary is a personal love letter to a slice of Los Angeles’s 1990s hip-hop – The New York Times

Request a screening

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A man stands on a stage in front of an audience.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE5-400x284.jpeg" alt="A man stands on a stage in front of an audience." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE5.jpeg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE5-400x284.jpeg 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14543" />

A woman stands on stage.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE6-400x284.jpeg" alt="A woman stands on stage." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE6.jpeg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE6-400x284.jpeg 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14542" />

A man stands with a microphone and his hand in the air.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE3-400x284.png" alt="A man stands with a microphone and his hand in the air." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE3.png 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE3-400x284.png 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14541" />

A woman sings into a microphone.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thisisthelife2-articleLarge-400x284.jpg" alt="A woman sings into a microphone." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thisisthelife2-articleLarge.jpg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thisisthelife2-articleLarge-400x284.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14540" />

A man stands on a stage in front of an audience.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE5-400x284.jpeg" alt="A man stands on a stage in front of an audience." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE5.jpeg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE5-400x284.jpeg 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14543" />

A woman stands on stage.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE6-400x284.jpeg" alt="A woman stands on stage." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE6.jpeg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE6-400x284.jpeg 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14542" />

A woman sings into a microphone.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thisisthelife2-articleLarge-400x284.jpg" alt="A woman sings into a microphone." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thisisthelife2-articleLarge.jpg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thisisthelife2-articleLarge-400x284.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14540" />

A man stands with a microphone and his hand in the air.

<img decoding="async" width="400" height="284" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE3-400x284.png" alt="A man stands with a microphone and his hand in the air." srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE3.png 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/THISISTHELIFE3-400x284.png 480w" sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw" class="wp-image-14541" />

Upcoming screenings

There are no upcoming screenings right now.

In the News

‘This Is the Life’ Review: A Valuable Part of Hip-Hop History

<img decoding="async" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NYT_NewsImage-400x250.jpg" alt="‘This Is the Life’ Review: A Valuable Part of Hip-Hop History" class="" srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NYT_NewsImage.jpg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NYT_NewsImage-400x250.jpg 480w " sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw " width="400" height="250" />

‘This Is the Life’ Review: A Valuable Part of Hip-Hop History

Ava DuVernay’s 2008 debut feature, the documentary “This Is the Life,” is a refreshing portrait of a 1990s California hip-hop subculture that thrived separately from gangsta rap.

Ava Duvernay’s ‘this Is The Life’ Doc Hits Netflix As One Of Its Stars Myka 9 Drops ‘nine Clouds’ Album

<img decoding="async" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HipHopDX_NewsImage-400x250.jpg" alt="Ava Duvernay’s ‘this Is The Life’ Doc Hits Netflix As One Of Its Stars Myka 9 Drops ‘nine Clouds’ Album" class="" srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HipHopDX_NewsImage.jpg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HipHopDX_NewsImage-400x250.jpg 480w " sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw " width="400" height="250" />

Ava Duvernay’s ‘this Is The Life’ Doc Hits Netflix As One Of Its Stars Myka 9 Drops ‘nine Clouds’ Album

Freestyle Fellowship and Project Blowed MC Myka 9 came up in Los Angeles during The Good Life Cafe era.

In the News

‘This Is the Life’ Review: A Valuable Part of Hip-Hop History

<img decoding="async" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NYT_NewsImage-400x250.jpg" alt="‘This Is the Life’ Review: A Valuable Part of Hip-Hop History" class="" srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NYT_NewsImage.jpg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NYT_NewsImage-400x250.jpg 480w " sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw " width="400" height="250" />

‘This Is the Life’ Review: A Valuable Part of Hip-Hop History

Ava DuVernay’s 2008 debut feature, the documentary “This Is the Life,” is a refreshing portrait of a 1990s California hip-hop subculture that thrived separately from gangsta rap.

Ava Duvernay’s ‘this Is The Life’ Doc Hits Netflix As One Of Its Stars Myka 9 Drops ‘nine Clouds’ Album

<img decoding="async" src="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HipHopDX_NewsImage-400x250.jpg" alt="Ava Duvernay’s ‘this Is The Life’ Doc Hits Netflix As One Of Its Stars Myka 9 Drops ‘nine Clouds’ Album" class="" srcset="https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HipHopDX_NewsImage.jpg 479w, https://arraynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HipHopDX_NewsImage-400x250.jpg 480w " sizes="(max-width:479px) 479px, 100vw " width="400" height="250" />

Ava Duvernay’s ‘this Is The Life’ Doc Hits Netflix As One Of Its Stars Myka 9 Drops ‘nine Clouds’ Album

Freestyle Fellowship and Project Blowed MC Myka 9 came up in Los Angeles during The Good Life Cafe era.