P-Star Rising is a multidimensional documentary that delves into the reality of two struggles: surviving in the inner city and making it in the music business. The themes touched on include drug addition, family turmoil, following one’s dreams, and finding redemption. During the ’80s, Jesse Diaz was an up and coming contender. He toured with some heavy hitters and began to get his feet wet as a performer struggling to get out of New York City’s slums. Years ago, during the genre’s infancy, Jesse was a teenager who had a passion for Hip Hop. He managed to get a taste of the limelight, and then dropped out of the business to deal with the responsibilities of raising a family after the mother of his children succumbed to a life of drug addiction. Unfortunately, in the process of attempting to make a living, he made poor decisions and ended up having serve a stint in prison. When he emerged, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his daughters. His youngest displayed an interest in picking up where her father’s performance life stalled . This rekindled Jesse’s passion for the spotlight, and he worked with his nine-year-old on her craft, and successful in getting her signed to a record label deal. The rest you’ll have to learn by watching P-Star Rising, a documentary that touches the heart, sheds insight into the struggles of urban blight, and provides a slice of what it’s like to break into the music industry.
Kudos to director Gabriel Noble. Hollywood hasn’t come as close as P-Star Rising to displaying a more realistic glimpse into this subject matter without glamorizing or sensationalizing it. He effectively tells the story, blemishes and all, of a family struggling to make it and the power of passion.
-I. Vasquetelle
Here’s a track from the movie:
