The Weird World of Blowfly (2010)

THE WEIRD WORLD OF BLOWFLY tells the story of singer/songwriter Clarence Reid and his alter ego Blowfly, the original dirty rapper. At 69 years-old, with a catalog of the world's raunchiest tunes, Blowfly continues to record new material and tour the world, struggling for success and recognition. Clarence was an integral part of the early southern soul scene; he helped discover and wrote Top-10 songs for artists such as Betty Wright, Sam and Dave, Gwen McCrae, and KC & The Sunshine Band, and was instrumental in creating the “Miami sound.” His own single, “Nobody But You Babe,” went to #7 on the charts. He also recorded what is arguably the world’s first rap song, “Rap Dirty,” in 1965. At 69 years-old Clarence is still thrilling crowds around the world but his clean career has foundered; he is mostly forgotten as the prolific singer/songwriter and almost unheard of as the father of rap music. Dozens of hip-hop and R&B stars have used samples of his music in their chart-topping recordings but, sadly, Clarence sold the rights to his catalog of songs and now sees no income from his lifetime of work. On tour and at home, we see Clarence’s life, career, and philosophy unfold. A revealing portrait of an unheralded man, THE WEIRD WORLD OF BLOWFLY examines Clarence’s personal and professional contradictions, explores his legacy, and celebrates his musical and cultural significance as a rapper and soul music legend.