Guest Author - Rain Battle

When music and love collide, it makes for a heady romance. In "Brown Sugar" two childhood friends grow up learning to love hip-hop music and each other. Sanaa Lathan is Sydney, a music critic who reviews the latest for a major hip-hop magazine. Taye Diggs ("Kevin Hill" UPN) is Andre, nicknamed 'Dre, a confident music executive responsible for finding and honing new talent. Individually, they're both making their way up the industry ladder. After a long hiatus, Sydney moves back to the city she grew up in for a new job opportunity. She gets help from her sassy cousin Francine (Queen Latifah), who makes it her family obligation to help Sydney find a man.

Dre beats Sydney to the punch, announcing at an industry party that he's going to marry Reese (Nicole Ari Parker). Reese is beautiful and wealthy and makes Sydney feel dowdy in comparison. Although Sydney is happy for her friend, a part of her feels some regret that he's marrying someone else, a feeling she quickly hides around her preceptive cousin. Eventually Sydney finds her own potential husband in Kirby (Borid Kodjoe). Kirby is everything Sydney thinks she wants: he's tall and handsome, a star athlete, and very much in love with her.

Unfortunately, while Sydney is happy in love, Dre's marriage is already falling apart. To complicate matters, Kirby proposes to Sydney and she can't figure out why she isn't happier about it. Is she passing up her potential soulmate in Andre? Will he work things out with his wife?

"Brown Sugar" is a fun love story which may have run the risk of being too sappy were it not for the realism of watching friendships blossom and romances grow and deteriorate. The two lead stars had a genuine chemistry and seemed to slide easily into the comfort level only two long-time friends can share.

The director, Rick Famuyiwa, also directed "The Wood" which I didn't really care for. He made magic with "Brown Sugar," a fascinating dedication of the history of just how hip-hop developed over the years, the key players who helped shape it, and two people who let it unite their hearts.

Extra! Extra! Tidbits About the Movie:

*NOTE: Watch for Mos Def in his funny role as Chris, a taxicab driver hoping to be discovered as a rapper.

*Songworthy: "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" - Erykah Badu ft. Common