Krush Groove tells a fictionalized version of the founding of Def Jam Recordings, which is called here "Krush Groove Records." Russell Simmons (Blair Underwood) and Rick Rubin are producers for up-and-coming rappers Run–D.M.C. (led by Russell's brother, Run) and Kurtis Blow, but he can't get the financing necessary to develop an independent label. He's forced to get the money from Jay B. (Richard Gant), a Loan Shark who soon creates more problems for Russell.
This movie also tells the story of how The Fat Boys became famous and includes a Sibling Triangle between Russell, Run, and Sheila E.
Despite being Very Loosely Based on a True Story, nearly all the musical characters are played by themselves. Directed by Michael Shultz, who also directed The Last Dragon the same year.
Krush Groove includes the following tropes:
- And Introducing: Blair Underwood
- Autobiographical Role: Run–D.M.C., Rick Rubin, The Fat Boys, and Kurtis Blow all play themselves. Sheila E. also plays herself, but she was in no way connected to the real-life founding of Def Jam Recordings.
- Big Eaters: The Fat Boys, particularly during the Sbarro’s scene, which served as Comfort Food after losing the competition.
- Biopic: About the founding of a hip-hop record company and starring several real-life rappers.
- Buffet Buffoonery: The Fat Boys perform their song, "All You Can Eat" while doing just that at a Sbarro's restaurant. The Fat Boys eat all the food available, including the pictures of food on the wall.
- The Cameo: LL Cool J, New Edition, and Beastie Boys all appear as themselves. Full Force appear as bodyguards and enforcers for loanshark Jay B.
- Comedic Underwear Exposure: Rick is wearing bright lavender underwear when Russell wakes him up with his idea to sign Sheila.
- Creator Cameo: Russell Simmons appears as a club owner.
- Jukebox Musical: The movie includes several musical performances, some from songs created for the movie and some made by the artists prior to the movie.
- Run–D.M.C. perform "King of Rock" and "That’s the Way It Is".
- The Fat Boys perform "Don't You Dog Me," "All You Can Eat," and "Fat Boys."
- Sheila E. performs "Love Bazaar" (including Prince’s vocals, despite him not appearing in the movie) and "Holly Rock."
- Kurtis Blow performs "If I Ruled the World".
- LL Cool J performs "I Can’t Live Without My Radio".
- New Edition performs "My Secret".
- Just Friends: Sheila tells Run she wants to be this. Run can tell she's more interested in Russell.
- Loan Shark: Russell gets the finance Krush Groove from Jay B. When’s he unable to pay back the money on time, Jay B. sends his bodyguards to beat him up. He’s finally able to pay off Jay B. when Run gives him the money from his record deal with Beeker.
- Meaningful Rename: Markie, Kool Rock Ski, and Buffy change their names from Disco 3 to the Fat Boys.
- Piss-Take Rap:
- Sheila E. does one that isn’t terrible but comes off pretty bad considering who her co-stars are.
- Rick and Russell do one to demonstrate to a banker what rap is. It’s doesn’t convince him to give them a loan.
- Rap Is Crap: A major part of the plot is the difficulties Russell and Rick have in getting a loan, because so many people looked down on rap music.
- Sell-Out: Run signs with Russell’s rival Beeker, because he offers Run better money and more exposure, but also because he’s mad at Russell for embarrassing him and because Sheila’s more attracted to Russell than him.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: Between Russell and Sheila.
- Sibling Triangle: Though Sheila E. enters the movie as a potential love interest for Run, she ends up falling for Russell instead.
- Stalker with a Crush: Markie relentlessly pursues a girl who shows little interest in him, as she has a much more muscular boyfriend. She has a change of heart, though, after Markie wins the rap contest.
- Take This Job and Shove It: At the beginning of the movie, Run DMC all quit their jobs at the car wash, after the manager fires Jam Master J for playing records rather than actually washing cars. (Hard to say the manager was wrong …)
- Three Lines, Some Waiting: The movie’s main storyline is Russell trying to get the money to establish Krush Groove, with the Sibling Triangle storyline weaved into it. The Fat Boys storyline is completely separate until the end of the movie.
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story: Though treated as a Roman à Clef for the founding of Def Jam Recordings, there are several discrepancies, which are described in greater detail on the other wiki
. Notable ones include:- Rick Rubin founded Def Jam Records alone, and Russell Simmons only joined on later.
- Run DMC’s original producer, Larry Smith, is Adapted Out and replaced by Rubin.
- Sheila E. never had a romantic relationship with Russell Simmons and wasn’t involved at all with the founding of Def Jam Records, but she was added as a Token Romance.
- Wannabe Line: The Fat Boys keep trying to get into the club but are turned away because they are too young. At the end, they are welcomed in, because they win the rap contest.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Darryl gives one both to Russell and Run:
- To Russell for publicly chewing Run out for almost showing up late for a show and then putting Sheila on.
- To Run for selling out to Beeker (even though Darryl does too as part of Run DMC).
- Working Out Their Emotions: After Runs signs with Beeker and Russell realizes he will not have the money to pay Jay B back, he works out his frustration through a series of pull-ups.