The Weird World of Blowfly

Documentary Feature, 24 Beats Per Second
D: Jonathan Furmanski

Rap Dirty, a nonpareil piece of musIcal raunch, was released seemingly out of nowhere in 1965 by Blowfly, aka Clarence Reid, to arguably become the first rap record. But despite dropping filthy, parody-laden “party records” throughout the 1970s and beyond, Reid signed away his soon-to-be lucrative publishing rights (Beyoncé’s “Upgrade You” samples a straight-R&B track Reid wrote), ultimately toiling in semiobscurity until Miami alt-weekly writer Tom Bowker, interviewing Reid for a profile, formed him a new band, becoming his drummer and manager. The Weird World of Blowfly is part travelogue, documenting the highs and sometimes tense lows between Bowker and Reid on the road, and part character study, highlighting the surprising effect Blowfly and Reid – decidedly different songwriters – have had on music. With covers like “Shitting Off the Dock on the Bay” and originals like “Girl Let Me Cum in Your Mouth,” Blowfly’s world is certainly weird, but also unexpectedly affecting.

Friday, March 19, 9pm, Lamar 2

This article appears in March 19 • 2010.

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