"THE HIP HOP PROJECT" tells the tale of Chris "Kazi" Rolle, a formerly homeless teenager who uses his story to motivate a group of New York City teens. The film, which opens Friday at The Majestic 20 in Silver Spring, documents the growth of Rolle's award-winning project and builds a compelling case for the importance of artistic expression inside and outside the classroom.

Using hip-hop as a vehicle, the teens involved in Rolle's program learn to transform personal narratives into art and step away from the shallow lyrics they had once spit. When they encounter some trouble trying to keep the project afloat, Russell Simmons — a long-time supporter of the program — teams with Bruce Willis to donate a recording studio. And after four years of hard work, the bunch finally produced a CD that's rife with social commentary.

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