There comes a time in everyone’s lives when they pass on the secrets to their craft, the blueprint to their success, and, for me, that is without doubt the bizarre world of YouTube documentaries. From a video essay chronicling one creator’s deeply personal connection to dubstep’s appropriation at the hands of Skrillex, to what is essentially found footage documenting the unlikely shared birthplace of Palestinian and Israeli hip-hop, the starkly low barrier to creating YouTube content allows for the uplifting of diverse and international voices. Far from the hyper-stylised big budgets of mainstream streaming sites, these documentaries are raw, random, and I would be nowhere without the wonder they instilled in me at formative moments in my life.
In many ways, Timbah on Toast is the gold standard of what a YouTube video essay can achieve. His unique ability to verbalise the intangibilities of electronic music is virtually unmatched, and speaks to a very genuine connection to the art form. This video centres on the much-maligned transition of UK dubstep, an underground and spiritual movement unfolding over the 00s, into the notorious brostep sound pioneered by the likes of Skrillex. A special shoutout must also be given to another of Timbah’s musical love letters: Flirta D: The Guy That Makes Noises.
Yes, look no further than Dazed’s own deep dive into the sonic science fiction of hyperpop in Tokyo. Comprising both Japanese and international group members, this feature documents a group which are – to this day – not only pushing the boundaries of music, but also the social boundaries of Japan itself.
This is one of those hidden gems that gives me hope that trawling the colourful caverns of YouTube at 1am on a work night can produce something fruitful. It has it all: mind-bogglingly rare footage of China’s emerging freestyle battle rap scene, an extended power struggle between Chinese MCs Dawei and Majun, and a surprisingly thought-provoking element in the background story of Iron Mic winner MC Air, who hails from China’s persecuted Uyghur ethnic group.
Now, this documentary has its shortcomings – dated production, shaky English translation and a depressingly neutral slant on the plight of the Palestinian people – but, it makes up for this tenfold with just how insane the story it covers is. Seemingly getting in at the (under)ground floor of rap in the Levant, Channels of Rage follows Tamer Nafar and Subliminal – the first Palestinian and Israeli rappers respectively – as they go from close friends and collaborators. A must-watch, now more than ever.
As the internet, and YouTube in particular, rose to become the dominant mode of music consumption in the early 10s, the era-defining mythologies of early UK rap stars like Lethal Bizzle and Nu Brand Flexx became gradually lost – and it is precisely this lineage that Link Up TV’s documentary sheds light on. Finding a home in the back channels of Sky TV through a serendipitous telecommunications loophole, Channel U played a huge role in spotlighting the UK’s street-level talent in the early 2000s. It’s a wild ride, filled with anecdotes that would feel more at home in an episode of The Office (UK) than a music documentary, and a beautiful archive of pre-internet music culture.
The late Upsetter has potentially had more influence on music than any individual in history. His debut album featured the first sample ever (a baby crying on 1968 release “People Funny Boy”), essentially making him the forefather of electronic music as a whole, and he has produced iconic albums for the likes of Bob Marley and The Congos. There has, rightfully, been countless documentaries made about Lee Perry, but this one stands out for telling the fittingly bonkers origin story behind his love of music: banging rocks in a quarry in Negril, West Jamaica.
Producing the likes of ABBA, Robyn, Roxette and AVICII, Sweden’s humble ten million inhabitants (roughly the same amount of people living in inner-city London) have had an oversized impact on pop. Boasting the now-closed Cheiron Studios and countless world-class producers, the Nordic nation has discovered a knack for boiling music down to its most simplistic and captivating elements.
It’s hard to underestimate the influence that Asian-American music label 88rising has had on both music and international relations as a whole over the last decade. Responsible for breaking global stars like JOJI, Rich Brian, NIKI, Higher Brothers and many more, the label also played a huge part in redefining Asian identity and their representations in popular media, moving away from rather reductivist portrayals in TV and film and towards recognition as prime movers and shakers of youth culture.
While the hyper-sexualised melodies of artists like Brazilian child star MC Pikachu became a trendy addition to London’s DJ sets a couple of years ago, baile funk has actually been a staple of the favelas for decades. Blending elements of Miami bass music and gangsta rap with more traditional Brazilian percussive rhythms, the genre tells a touching story of love emerging in deprived and lawless neighbourhoods, which is on full display in this documentary.
Centring on London’s council estates in the early 00s, Tower Block Dreams has the unique accolade of being the inspiration behind the dysfunctionally captivating mockumentary People Just Do Nothing. This first episode follows a fresh-faced Charlie Sloth (who would go on to produce the notorious Fire in the Booth series for BBC 1Xtra) as he strives to escape a life behind bars, and UK hip hop legend Skinnyman in the run-up to the release of seminal album Council Estate of Mind. While initially flying under the radar during its first run on BBC Three, the documentary enjoyed renewed interest following its upload to YouTube in 2016, prompting director David O’Neill to issue a heartfelt message to viewers in the video’s description. See, YouTube can achieve so much more than Mr. Beast giveaways.