Stomp the Yard

Even though the critics generally considered it cliché-ridden and forgettable, Stomp the Yard was number one at the box office in its opening week and there was enough talk about it in the media to call it a phenomenon. The one thing the critics all gave in on was that the music and step dancing was exciting to listen to and watch. Audiences agreed and forgave the mediocre story, latching onto the thrilling step competition scenes instead. So if the music is so important to one's attachment to the film, the Stomp the Yard soundtrack isn't the souvenir it should be. Removed from the film, it's a thrilling and somewhat confusing mix of pop-rap, Hyphy club tracks, a little bit of a R&B from the film's stars Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, along with some surprisingly deep cuts from left-fielders Ghostface Killah, Public Enemy, and Cut Chemist. There's even an excellent rave-up from jam band man Robert Randolph and Atlanta rapper Bonecrusher with his metal band Onslaught. The Bonecrusher cut opened the film and ends up one of the numerous highlights included here, but tracks from Trick Daddy ("Let's Go") and B Real ("Step Up") don't make the transfer from screen to CD. Fans of the film will have to go elsewhere for those pivotal cuts, making this both a very good mixtape and a somewhat disappointing soundtrack. ~ David Jeffries