In large part responsible for singlehandedly bringing rap music to the mainstream and giving it staying power, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons provides a look into the goings-on behind the scenes with THE INDUSTRY. The rollercoaster ride of rap is narrated in interviews with such luminaries of the business as Kanye West, Chingy, Ludacris, and Andre 3000 among others. We also hear from the astute businessmen who support, promote, and manage this talent, including Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, LA Reid, Blue Williams, Chaka Zulu, and Simmons himself. No one knows the industry better than these folks who make it happen, and this documentary becomes a fascinating foray into the workings of a world of which the public normally only sees one side. Replete with concert, backstage, and rehearsal footage, THE INDUSTRY also features the making of three Grammy-winning albums: Outkast's SPEAKERBOXX/ LOVE BELOW, Kanye West's COLLEGE DROPOUT, and Ludacris's CHICKEN-N-BEER.

History in the making, Kanye West exploded in 2004 with his debut solo album COLLEGE DROPOUT, with multiple cuts that were ubiquitous on the radio; the album eventually swept the Grammys later that year. But before his solo hip hop career, Kanye was producing hits for the likes of Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Nas, Alicia Keyes, Brandy, Jadakiss, Janet Jackson, and many others. This documentary traces his path to the top, showing how the Chicago rapper breathed a new life into hip hop with work that eschewed the bling and violence that dominated rap, adopting instead an appealing wit, humor, earnestness, and imbuing his lyrics with a charismatic but humble delivery.

If one man defined the musical landscape in 2004 it was Kanye West. His album, THE COLLEGE DROPOUT, sold in excess of 2.5 million copies, and Kanye picked up a number of awards, including a much-coveted Grammy. Part of his appeal lay in some innovative video work, not surprisingly considering the superstar rapper himself has directed videos for Common and John Legend. On this anthology, promo's for "Jesus Walks," "Two Words," "Through The Wire," and "All Falls Down" are included, alongside other promotional clips, a documentary, and an alternate take of "The New Workout Plan."

With the release of his career-defining THE BLACK ALBUM in 2003, Jay-Z shocked his fans and the industry by announcing he was quitting the business. Having honed his rhyming skills in the tough Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, Jay-Z's story is a classic rags-to-riches tale. Although best known for his multi-million-dollar selling albums, the rap impresario has also dipped his toe into corporate waters. His record label, Roc-a-Fella, has proved highly lucrative, as has his clothing line, and an excursion into movie production. So when he relinquished his position at the top of the rap game, the inimitable performer decided to stage a flamboyant farewell gesture in the form of a special guest-laden concert at New York's prestigious Madison Square Garden. Directors Michael John Warren and Paul Paulson were given the task of catching the festivities on camera, and also managed to capture some candid snippets of the star as he prepared for the show. But it's when he hits the stage that the astonishing breadths of his talents are revealed. Making the cavernous venue seem intimate via some touching interplay with the audience, Jay-Z beckons a breathtaking list of hip-hop and R&B glitterati onto the stage. Among them are Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, P. Diddy, R. Kelly, and Beyonce Knowles. The ecstatic crowd laps up the onstage action throughout, and are clearly delighted to be invited to one of the grandest parting shots in history. Since the film's completion, Jay-Z has reneged on his retirement, and the music world is a much better place for it.

Sidney and Dre can attribute their friendship and the launch of their careers to one single childhood instant - witnessing the birth of hip-hop on a New York street corner. Now, some fifteen years later, she is a revered music critic and he is a successful, though unfulfilled, music executive. Both come to realize that their true-life passions will only be fulfilled by remembering what they learned on that street corner.