Hip Hop Artists Common, Xzibit Close Out Last Day of the PAFF

On Monday, February 18, hip hop icon Common,Sherri Shepherdand Dante Brownhosted a red carpet screening of the short film Hats at the 27th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival. Following their screening, was the premiere of Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner‘s film, Broken Ground, which featured James ‘Jayo Felony’ Savage. The premieres were held at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Hats, directed by Sadé Clacken Joseph, is about a young black, aspiring baseball player (Dante Brown) who struggles to find his place between his predominantly white high school and the gang-infested streets of South Central where he lives.

After the film, Hip Hollywood‘s Jasmine Simpkins moderated a Q&A with the cast and crew.

Also during the Q&A session, producers and writers gave aspiring content creators tips on how to succeed and breakout into the industry.

Other short films that were shown with Hats included Fayth, If I Knew You Were Coming and Still Harlem.

Following the premiere of the short films, Xzibizt premiered his film, Broken Ground.

Broken Ground is about James Savage, a once prominent West Coast rapper until he was set-up, arrested and sent to prison. Upon his release, he seeks answers from the man who put him behind bars, sabotaging his life and career.

The cast features Anthony Michael Hall, Anna Hutchison, Sticky Fingaz and Slink Johnson. The film is the directorial debut from multi-platinum recording artist and actor Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner. It was written and produced by him as well. The Q&A session was moderated by Big Boy of Read 92.3