DETROIT, MI – October 23, 2024 – The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is excited to present an exclusive screening of It Was All A Dream, a new documentary by award-winning filmmaker dream hampton. Taking place at the historic Senate Theatre on Thursday, November 7, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, this event will give audiences an intimate view of hip-hop’s golden era through hampton’s personal archives. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

After receiving widespread acclaim on the festival circuit, It Was All A Dream arrives in Detroit for an exclusive hometown screening, highlighting the work of Detroit native dream hampton. The documentary features rare, never-before-seen footage from 1993 to 1995, capturing the pivotal moment when rap evolved from a cultural movement to a mainstream sensation. Viewers are taken inside the studios and lives of legendary artists like The Notorious B.I.G.,

Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man, and Snoop Dogg, offering an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the rise of hip-hop icons during a transformative era in music history. 

As a writer, producer, and filmmaker, hampton has long explored themes of subjugation and liberation, and this documentary adds to her legacy of documenting critical movements in culture. MOCAD is proud to showcase her latest work, which pushes the boundaries of the documentary form by weaving hampton’s own journey through hip-hop with her subjects’ rise to fame. 

Reflecting on the making of the documentary, dream hampton shared: “Making this film required that I revisit this footage I shot 30 years ago, at the dawn of the golden age. I was struck by how brave I had to be in these spaces. When people see the film, they wonder where I got that courage, and I always answer, ‘I’m from the east side of Detroit.’” 

This screening not only offers a look into a groundbreaking era in music history but also celebrates Detroit’s role, through one of its own documentarian daughters, in shaping hip-hop’s most influential voices. 

NIGHT OF:

• Exclusive screening of It Was All A Dream
• Panel discussion with dream hampton and MOCAD’s Co-Director and Artistic Director, Jova Lynne
• A thought-provoking exploration of hip-hop’s cultural impact, social dynamics, and its resonance today

DETAILS:

• Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
• Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM | Screening at 6:30 PM | Panel discussion at 8:00 PM
• Location: Senate Theatre, 6424 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48210
• Tickets: Available via Eventbrite (Refunds up to 7 days before the event. Eventbrite fees are non-refundable).
• Parking: Free venue parking is available.

MOCAD invites everyone to be part of an evening of storytelling and reflection. This event is not just a film screening; it is a celebration of hip-hop’s cultural legacy and its ongoing influence in shaping conversations on art, identity, and society.

Tickets are limited. You can purchase them via Eventbrite or contact [email protected].

ABOUT MOCAD 

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) presents exhibitions and programs that explore the best of contemporary art, connecting Detroit and the global art world. MOCAD focuses on art as a means to nurture social change and human understanding, reflecting our community. We encourage innovative experimentation by artists, musicians, makers, cultural producers, and scholars to enrich all who participate and to educate visitors of all ages in the power of art. Whether from Detroit or worldwide, we welcome creative voices who can guide us to an equitable and inclusive future. We believe that art can change us, and it’s our responsibility to hold a space where challenge, acceptance, hope, and beauty can coincide. 

Contact: 
Carolina Adams
Sutton Communications
[email protected]