The Great Hip Hop Hoax (2013)

"Destined for greatness" was the unspoken mantra of Silibil n' Brains, the Californian hip-hop sensation that was set to take the world by storm. Behind this facade of American swagger however, hid an audacious secret - the duo was, in reality, a pair of Scottish students, Billy and Gavin, donning faux American accents and fabricated identities. After their authentic Scottish rap act was scornfully dismissed as "the rapping Proclaimers," they reincarnated themselves as LA natives, a lie that became their golden ticket to stardom, fame and a life they had only dreamed of living. 'The Great Hip Hop Hoax' is a captivating 92-minute roller-coaster ride through the labyrinth of the music industry, where truth is often stranger than fiction. As much a testament to the duos' audaciousness as it is a commentary on the desperate lengths people will go for fame, the film peels back the layers of the deception that had even music execs fooled. Through intimate confessions of the masterminds behind the hoax, insightful perspectives from the bamboozled music moguls and inventive doodle reconstructions, the film paints a vivid picture of the highs of the scam, the spiraling descent into madness and the profound personal toll the lie took on their lives. In the end, 'The Great Hip Hop Hoax' is not just a film about the American dream narrated by those who had never set foot in America; it's a fascinating exploration of truth, lies, and the haunting aftermath of faking it all in the desperate pursuit of fame. It's a story that will leave you questioning what's real and what's not in a world obsessed with stardom.

The Great Hip Hop Hoax is a comedy movie featuring Gavin Bain and directed by Jeanie Finlay.

The Great Hip Hop Hoax is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on DOCSVILLE and True Story.