Lil Pump and Lil Xan represent a new wave of rappers making their mark on hip hop from their homes in the United States. "American Rapstar" focuses on artists who gained fame through SoundCloud, using their music to express the realities of youth culture. The 81-minute film looks at their rise to millionaire status, their lifestyle choices, and the future of the music streaming economy. It provides context for the SoundCloud rap scene within contemporary music.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Lil Pump and Lil Xan in their element.
Follow the rise of SoundCloud rap.
Find out how youth culture is changing.

Did You Know

The film features artists like Lil Pump and Lil Xan.
The documentary runs for 81 minutes.
It was directed by Justin Staple.
The production country is the United States.

Perfect For

Hip hop enthusiastsSoundCloud usersYouth culture analysts

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed the documentary American Rapstar?

American Rapstar was directed by Justin Staple.

What year was American Rapstar released?

American Rapstar was released in 2020.

What is the duration of the documentary American Rapstar?

The duration of American Rapstar is 81 minutes.

Awards & Festivals

DOC NYC

2020 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

1h33m

Crips and Bloods: Made in America

2009•1h33m•★6.7TMDB

Over 15,000 gang-related deaths have occurred in Los Angeles County in the past 20 years, marking a long history of violence between the Crips and Bloods.

Crips and Bloods: Made in America

2009

1h46m

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

2012•1h46m•★6.7TMDB

Ice-T states that rap music saved his life and emphasizes that the film focuses on the craft of writing rap, not the material aspects of the genre.

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

2012

50m

Rap Stars: From the Streets to Stardom

2024•50m

Rap music, rooted in the struggles of ghetto life, has transformed into a mass cultural phenomenon, raising questions about its commercialization and connection to violence.

Rap Stars: From the Streets to Stardom

2024

27m

Experts Explain How K-Pop Exploded in America

2020•27m

BTS appeared on major U.S. television shows like 'Carpool Karaoke' and 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show,' marking a significant breakthrough for K-Pop in America.

Experts Explain How K-Pop Exploded in America

2020

25m

How record deals work and making money in the music industry

2021•25m

Music industry revenues reached an all-time high in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down live music venues worldwide.

How record deals work and making money in the music industry

2021

1h36m

Controversial Yet Captivating: Trump's Path to Presidency and Conviction

2021•1h36m

Donald Trump called President Obama a "bad negotiator" and criticized the media during the first debate of the 2016 presidential campaign in Cleveland, Ohio.

Controversial Yet Captivating: Trump's Path to Presidency and Conviction

2021

23m

How Donald Trump won the White House

2016•23m

Donald Trump called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States during his campaign for the presidency in 2016.

How Donald Trump won the White House

2016

48m

The Rise and Fall Of Trump & Elon Musk: The Epstein Files Scandal

2025•48m

Donald Trump’s second term is examined through his tumultuous relationship with Elon Musk, highlighting their collaboration and subsequent public fallout amid serious investigations.

The Rise and Fall Of Trump & Elon Musk: The Epstein Files Scandal

2025

50m

Violent Rap: From the Street to Pop Mainstream

2025•50m

Rap music, rooted in the struggles of ghetto life, has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon, raising questions about its commercialization and connection to violence.

Violent Rap: From the Street to Pop Mainstream

2025

1h5m

Hip-Hop

2025•1h5m

Hip-hop, originating in the Bronx during the 1970s, has evolved into a global cultural force, influencing social discourse and featuring voices like Grandmaster Flash and Kendrick Lamar.

Hip-Hop

2025

44m

Meet Jimmy The Weed: The Legend Of The Quality Street Gang

2022•44m

The Quality Street Gang, Manchester's infamous gang, sends the Krays packing in the 1960s.

Meet Jimmy The Weed: The Legend Of The Quality Street Gang

2022

2h8m

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Cop?

2025•2h8m

Rookie Cops in Kent, England, showcases new officers facing real-world challenges in Season 2.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Cop?

2025

Explore American Rapstar

People Awards Deep Dive Topics FAQ Stream

Browse more like this

50m

Rap Stars: From the Streets to Stardom

2024•50m

Rap music, rooted in the struggles of ghetto life, has transformed into a mass cultural phenomenon, raising questions about its commercialization and connection to violence.

Rap Stars: From the Streets to Stardom

2024

No digital watch option in your country

48m

The Rise and Fall Of Trump & Elon Musk: The Epstein Files Scandal

2025•48m

Donald Trump’s second term is examined through his tumultuous relationship with Elon Musk, highlighting their collaboration and subsequent public fallout amid serious investigations.

The Rise and Fall Of Trump & Elon Musk: The Epstein Files Scandal

2025

No digital watch option in your country

50m

Violent Rap: From the Street to Pop Mainstream

2025•50m

Rap music, rooted in the struggles of ghetto life, has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon, raising questions about its commercialization and connection to violence.

Violent Rap: From the Street to Pop Mainstream

2025

No digital watch option in your country

1h5m

Hip-Hop

2025•1h5m

Hip-hop, originating in the Bronx during the 1970s, has evolved into a global cultural force, influencing social discourse and featuring voices like Grandmaster Flash and Kendrick Lamar.

Hip-Hop

2025

No digital watch option in your country

2h8m

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Cop?

2025•2h8m

Rookie Cops in Kent, England, showcases new officers facing real-world challenges in Season 2.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Cop?

2025

No digital watch option in your country

1h21m

Bad Rap

2016•1h21m•★6.3TMDB

Four Korean-American hip-hop artists confront industry biases and strive for recognition in a genre dominated by Black and Latino voices.

Bad Rap

2016

1h11m

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme

2000•1h11m•★6.9TMDB

Over seven years, the film captures the evolution of freestyle rap, tracing its roots to African-American preachers and Jamaican toasts.

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme

2000

1h20m

Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops

2006•1h20m•★9.0TMDB

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have created secret dossiers on hip-hop artists and industry executives in the United States.

Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops

2006

1h5m

Copyright Criminals

2009•1h5m•★6.8TMDB

Five years of production led to a 2009 film that addresses the legal battles over music sampling in hip-hop and its impact on artists.

2009

Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip-Hop

2019•1h•★9.7TMDB

Six artists from China, Japan, and Indonesia share their stories and cultural insights, reflecting the rapid evolution of Asia's hip-hop scene.

Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip-Hop

2019

1h30m

American Chaos

2018•1h30m•★6.5TMDB

In various locations across the United States, James D. Stern interviews Donald Trump supporters to capture their motivations and beliefs during the 2016 presidential election.

American Chaos

2018

1h13m

Crestone

2020•1h13m•★5.3TMDB

A group of SoundCloud rappers in Crestone, Colorado, cultivates cannabis and creates music while facing the challenges of their isolated lifestyle.

Crestone

2020

1h24m

AKA Tommy Chong

2006•1h24m•★7.3TMDB

On February 24, 2003, DEA agents raided Tommy Chong's home as part of a nationwide operation that resulted in 100 raids and 55 indictments.

AKA Tommy Chong

2006

1h33m

Guilty

2017•1h33m•★6.0TMDB

Five years after his sentencing, Myuran Sukumaran was executed by firing squad in April 2015, having transformed his life through art while on death row.

Guilty

2017