[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
IS THAT HIM?
WALTER SHERMAN.
HE 100% WHITE BOY. LOOK AT HOW HE DANCE.
YES, 100%.
BUT HE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
IT'S, UH, ALMOST TIME.
[MUSIC STOPS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
MR. SHERMAN!
HEY, FOOL, SHE MEAN COME OVER HERE.
RIGHT.
OH. HUH.
THAT'S ONE HELL OF A PARTY.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME, BIG GLADE.
I'M SORRY, DO I-- DO I CALL YOU "BIG" OR "MR. GLADE"?
CALL ME "GLADE."
MY LAWYER HERE SAYS YOU CAN STRAIGHT UP FIND ANYTHING.
WELL, IF I WANT TO. I DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO.
I NEED YOU TO LISTEN TO SOMETHING.
PLAY THAT THING.
Man: AS PROMISED,
ONE OF THE NEWLY FOUND UNRELEASED EXCLUSIVE TRACKS
FROM THE LATE, GREAT J-STRYKE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE I GOT IT,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT OVER THE NEXT 4 DAYS,
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE FROM J-STRYKE
BEYOND THE GRAVE.
WHY IN 4 DAYS?
BECAUSE IN 4 DAYS,
IT'LL BE 10 YEARS SINCE J-STRYKE WAS MURDERED.
REAL MUSIC IS STILL WHAT YOU WANT,
SO HERE'S A LITTLE TASTE.
[MUSIC GETS LOUDER]
[PEOPLE GASPING]
[SCREAMS]
WOW.
YOU REALLY HATE URBAN BEATS.
I INVENTED URBAN BEATS.
WHAT YOU HEARD BEFORE GLADE SHOT A PERFECTLY GOOD PAIR OF SPEAKERS
IS A LONG-LOST TRACK BY J-STRYKE.
HE DIED 10 YEARS AGO AT THE AGE OF 19.
OR DID HE?
WHAT'D HE SAY?
THOSE TRACKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF GANGSTA GLADE RECORDS.
THAT'S ME, GANGSTA GLADE.
J-STRYKE WAS SIGNED TO GANGSTA GLADE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
THAT TRACK AND THE PROCEEDS FROM IT ARE MINE.
YOU FIND THAT TRACK AND ANY OTHERS
BEFORE THEY LEAK OUT OVER THE INTERNET.
NOT INTERESTED.
DID HE JUST DENY ME?
BECAUSE I DON'T GET DENIED, NOT IN MY OWN HOUSE.
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. I'M JUST NOT INTERESTED.
MR. SHERMAN, WE WILL PAY YOU WELL.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST PAY OFF THE PIRATE?
THE PIRATE? THAT'S WHY WE GOT YOU, TO FIND THE PIRATE.
HE'S TOUCHED IN HIS HEAD, MAN.
LOOK. I CAN FIND THINGS IF I'M INTERESTED.
BUT IF I'M NOT MOTIVATED, MEH.
MR. SHERMAN...
WOULD IT MOTIVATE YOU
IF I TOLD YOU THAT I KNOW LEO KNOX PERSONALLY?
IF THAT WERE TRUE, THEN HOW COME YOU
DIDN'T COME SEE US AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH?
BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THAT LEO AND I...INTERFACED,
HE WAS MARRIED. IT WAS BAD TIMING.
SO YOU WANT TO KICK THE LEO CAN
AND YOU WANT TO USE ME TO DO IT?
YES.
OH, I'M IN.
I'LL HOOK YOU UP WITH LEO.
ENOUGH ABOUT HER LOVE LIFE, MAN. FIND THE TRACKS.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I'LL FIND J-STRYKE.
J-STRYKE IS DEAD.
I DON'T THINK SO.
SEE, THAT CLIP FEATURED A DTK-7000 KEYBOARD.
THAT DIDN'T EXIST 10 YEARS AGO.
HOW COME A PRODUCER LIKE YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT?
FOOL, I HEARD THE DTK.
J-STRYKE WAS SAMPLED, PROBABLY BY THE PIRATE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S STILL ALIVE.
NEXT YOU'RE GONNA TELL US WHERE TO FIND ELVIS.
ELVIS LIVES ON BITRA ISLAND IN THE LAKSHADWEEP SEA.
MAN, WHY WE TALKING ABOUT ELVIS?
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ELVIS.
I'LL FIND J-STRYKE.
HIS MUSIC.
FIND THE MUSIC!
HE WORK FOR ME NOW.
J-STRYKE. HE'S FROM LIBERTY CITY.
I NEVER HEARD OF HIM.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU STOP WORKING FOR 10 YEARS.
"STOP WORKING"?
THAT YOUR WAY OF SAYING "DEAD"?
CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS DJ W-SQUARED GUY
IS BROADCASTING FROM?
[SIGH]
WELL, HE'S BROADCASTING FROM THE INTERNET.
I MEAN, WHERE ON THE REAL PLANET EARTH.
IT VIOLATES MY PROBATION TO USE THE INTERNET.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU GOT CAUGHT
SETTING UP A FAKE CHARITY WEB SITE.
I NEVER GOT CAUGHT. THEY COULDN'T PROVE IT WAS ME.
SO YOU KNOW ALL THE TRICKS
THIS GUY'S USING TO STAY HIDDEN.
SO...TALK ME THROUGH IT,
ONLY WITHOUT USING WORDS.
WITHOUT USING WORDS? HOW?
BY DEMONSTRATING ON THE KEYBOARD.
COME ON.
OK.
FIRST, USE TRACER-T TO FIND THE IP GEO-LOCATION.
[BEEPING]
SOFIA, BULGARIA.
IS THAT REALLY A PLACE?
AW, YOU SUCK AT THIS.
OH, IT'S A DUCK BLIND.
THIS GUY IS TECH-SAVVY, MAYBE A PROGRAMMER.
GO! DO IT. CYBERHACK HIM TO BITS.
LEO GETS MAD WHEN I BREAK PROBATION.
WE'RE NOT GONNA TELL HIM.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
YOU CAN HELP LEO IMPRESS A VERY PRETTY WOMAN FROM HIS PAST.
IMAGINE HOW HIS MOOD WILL IMPROVE.
EW.
OK. I'M GONNA NEED AN HOUR, 3 CUPS OF ESPRESSO,
AND LEO OUT OF MY WAY.
YOU GET 3 HOURS, ONE CUP OF ESPRESSO,
AND I'LL KEEP LEO OUT OF YOUR WAY.
[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
THIS IS GOOD. THIS KID'S A REAL POET.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE MR. JAZZ.
GIL SCOTT-HERON STARTED RAP OFF OF JAZZ.
HE'S THE ORIGINATOR.
I THINK HE'S STILL ALIVE.
GIL SCOTT-HERON IS NOT ALIVE.
NO, J-STRYKE IS STILL ALIVE.
J-STRYKE GOT SHOT AND DIED IN HIS BROTHER'S ARMS.
BLED OUT THROUGH HIS FEMORAL ARTERY.
I CAN PROVE HE'S ALIVE.
HOW?
WE'LL DIG UP HIS COFFIN. HIS BODY WON'T BE THERE.
NO.
IT'LL BE QUICK, I PROMISE.
IT'S ILLEGAL WITHOUT A COURT ORDER.
NOT IF THE COFFIN'S EMPTY. THEN IT'S JUST GOOD EXERCISE.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN, WALTER.
WHY WOULD J-STRYKE WAIT ALL THIS TIME
TO SUDDENLY RESURFACE?
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.
BIG COMEBACK.
IF WE DON'T DIG UP J-STRYKE'S COFFIN,
THEN WE'LL HAVE TO GO TALK TO HIS FAMILY,
WHICH WILL BE NO KIND OF EXERCISE.
IF YOU WANT EXERCISE, GO FOR A SWIM.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
OOH.
I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO HELP YOU
IF YOU'RE WORKING FOR BIG GLADE.
WALTER REALLY DOESN'T WORK FOR ANYONE.
NO, I FIND THINGS.
SO WHY DO YOU HATE BIG GLADE?
GLADE AND HIS DRAGON LADY LAWYER
GOT ALL MY BROTHER'S PUBLISHING RIGHTS.
MOM DIDN'T GET ANYTHING WHEN HE DIED.
THIS IS MY SON TREY.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOU GUYS NEED ANYTHING ELSE?
NO THANK YOU, TREY.
[SNIFFS]
HUH.
ARE YOU AWARE THAT TREY IS AN ALCOHOLIC?
WALTER. WHAT?
NOBODY RATTLES AROUND ICE CUBES IN WATER.
THAT'S VODKA.
MR. SHERMAN, I'M AWARE,
BUT YOU BRINGING IT UP
AND WORKING FOR BIG GLADE,
THAT'S TWO STRIKES.
I'M SURE IT MUST BE HARD ON YOUR BOY
WITNESSING HIS BROTHER'S MURDER.
TREY WAS ALL RIGHT FOR A FEW YEARS.
HE GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO MIT.
GRADUATED THE TOP OF HIS CLASS.
THEN THINGS WENT WRONG.
MIT--A SMART BOY.
I'VE BEEN HIRED TO FIND A LONG-LOST TRACK FROM J-STRYKE.
YOU MIND CALLING MY SON BY HIS GIVEN NAME?
IT'S BOOKER.
FINE, STRONG NAME.
AHEM. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
WALTER.
LET ME ASK.
MS. ESTELLE, IS THERE ANY CHANCE
YOUR SON BOOKER MIGHT STILL BE ALIVE?
10 YEARS AGO, I IDENTIFIED MY BOY'S REMAINS.
I TOUCHED HIS COLD HAND AND FELT HIS SPIRIT LEAVE.
THEN I BURIED HIM.
NO, THERE IS NO CHANCE MY SON IS STILL ALIVE.
NOW EXCUSE ME.
I HAVE A BUSINESS TO RUN.
[SOUL MUSIC PLAYING]
ATHENA.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
DON'T WORRY. I PUT MY MONEY IN THE JAR.
MY, LEO.
YOU WERE FINE WHEN YOU WERE FAT,
BUT NOW LOOK AT YOU.
YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED ONE BIT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WALTER DIDN'T MENTION ME?
WHY WOULD HE?
I'M BIG GLADE'S LAWYER. GANGSTA GLADE RECORDS.
BASICALLY, I'M WALTER'S CLIENT.
SMALL WORLD.
YEAH. NOT REALLY.
I KNOW ABOUT WALTER BECAUSE I'VE KEPT ONE EYE ON YOU.
YOU'RE SINGLE NOW.
I THINK IT'S OK FOR YOU TO TALK TO ME.
PLUS WE NEVER DID ANYTHING.
I WAS TEMPTED, ATHENA,
AND I HAVE SOME GUILT ABOUT THAT.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT AGAIN, COUNSELOR,
WE'RE BOTH FREE AND CLEAR.
MS. ESTELLE MENTIONED A DRAGON LADY LAWYER.
SHE MEANT YOU, DIDN'T SHE?
I FIGURED YOU'D TALK TO HER,
SO I BROUGHT YOU A CONTRACT.
DON'T WORRY. WE WILL KEEP EVERYTHING STRICTLY BUSINESS.
WE WILL GO OVER THIS CONTRACT
LIKE STONE-COLD LAWYERS.
IF THE CAMEL ONCE GETS HIS NOSE IN THE TENT,
HIS BODY WILL SOON FOLLOW.
HONEY, DO I LOOK LIKE A CAMEL?
NO, YOU DO NOT.
AH. EXCUSE ME,
GROSS OLD PEOPLE LOOKING ALL GOO-GOO AT EACH OTHER.
WALTER WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN BORROW THE JUKEBOX.
WORD.
CHECK IT. AHH.
* LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER SINGS FOR HIS SUPPER *
[SPUTTERING]
* WHAT SHALL WE GIVE HIM? BROWN BREAD AND BUTTER *
* HOW SHALL WE CUT IT WITHOUT A KNIFE?
* HOW SHALL WE MARRY YOU WITHOUT A WIFE? *
[SPUTTERING]
ON BEHALF OF WHITE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE,
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
ALL RIGHT. I DOWNLOADED THE PIRATE'S VOICE.
I PLAY IT THROUGH THIS GIZMO HERE.
KICKING IT ONE TIME. * DJ
DJ W-Squared: AS PROMISED,
ONE OF THE NEWLY FOUND UNRELEASED EXCLUSIVE TRACKS
FROM THE LATE, GREAT J-STRYKE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE I GOT IT,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT OVER THE NEXT 4 DAYS,
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE FROM J-STRYKE
BEYOND THE GRAVE.
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
HE'S DISGUISING HIS VOICE
WITH A PITCH SHIFTER.
HOW CAN YOU TELL?
FOURIER TRANSFORM ANALYSIS MEASURES THE ENERGY
WITHIN TIME DOMAIN WAVEFORMS.
WHAT?
A NATURAL VOICE SHOULDN'T HAVE FLASHED YELLOW.
SO OUR PIRATE'S A LITTLE MAN,
LITTLE VOICE, LACKS CONFIDENCE.
SO...NOT J-STRYKE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE THINKING.
I DID NOT THINK THAT, BECAUSE J-STRYKE IS DEAD.
IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I'M GONNA GET BACK TO LEO.
WORD TO YOUR MOTHER. WHAT?
OK. GOOD JOB FIGURING OUT NOTHING USEFUL
ON THE PIRATE.
I FOUND HIS ACTUAL ADDRESS.
WHERE, ON A SOFA IN BULGARIA?
NOPE.
OK, WHERE?
OH, IT'S A LOVELY NIGHT FOR A DRIVE.
OK, IS THIS THE MOST YOU CAN NARROW IT DOWN?
IT'S AN ADDRESS. THERE'S NOTHING NARROWER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT, A ROOM?
I ONCE FOUND A WHITE CAT IN A SNOWSTORM.
WHAT YOU DO IS LOOK FOR EYES AND A BUTT.
IT'S CHILD'S PLAY.
HEY, AT LEAST IT'S SMALLER THAN BULGARIA.
THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LITTLE MORE NARROWING DOWN.
I SWEAR JUDGE HALLIDAY'S HEAD WAS GOING TO EXPLODE.
SHE WAS NOT GONNA RULE MY WAY.
OH, YOU OUTED HER AS AN ADULTERER,
AND SHE SHOUTED AT YOU IN COURT. MISTRIAL.
NOT ONE OF MY FINER MOMENTS.
WELL, ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE, WAR, AND COURT.
YOU TAUGHT ME THAT.
A LEGACY I'M NOT PROUD OF.
I'VE CHANGED.
I CAN SEE THAT.
I MEAN ON THE INSIDE.
YES, YOU HAVE TURNED INTO A MAN
THAT OWNS A BAR CALLED "THE ENDS OF THE EARTH"
ON A KEY THAT NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD OF.
AND YOU TURNED INTO A LAWYER FOR A MAN WHO BULLIES PEOPLE
AND WAVES AROUND GUNS
AND RETAINS THE RIGHTS TO ALL THE MUSIC.
HEH. SO...
YOU HIRED WALTER AND FOUND ME, HUH?
LIKE I SAID, THE WHOLE J-STRYKE THING...
JUST AN EXCUSE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
WHY?
BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT.
[BZZT]
DOES ANYTHING HERE NEED AN EXPLANATION?
AH...NO, EXCEPT FOR EVERYTHING.
WHAT, YOU PONGED A P.I., CALLED THE I.N.S.,
AND CLICKETY-CLICKED TO FIND THAT THE PIRATE'S WEB SITE
IS RUN OUT OF SOUTH BEACH UNIVERSITY.
STAFF, FACULTY, STUDENTS-- 20,000 PEEPS.
THIS IS HOW WE NARROW IT DOWN.
WE'RE GONNA LISTEN TO THE PIRATE'S BROADCAST,
AND WE'RE GONNA SUCK EVERY LAST CLUE WE CAN OUT OF IT.
USING A GIANT EYEBALL?
EVERY TIME HE SAYS "LISTEN," I MOVE THE EAR.
EVERY TIME HE SAYS "LOOK," I MOVE THE EYEBALL.
EVERY TIME HE SAYS "I FEEL,"
I MOVE THE HEART.
- WHY? - PERSONALITY TYPES.
DIDN'T THEY TEACH YOU ANYTHING IN GYPSY SCHOOL?
WHAT DO YOU NEED ME FOR?
I NEED YOU TO LOOK FOR EVERY METAPHOR AND SIMILE,
ESPECIALLY ANIMALS.
SAME GOES WITH COLORS.
USE THESE TO KEEP SCORE.
ANYTIME HE USES ANY NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORDS OR PHRASES...
[DING DING DING]
ALL RIGHT. YOU READY?
YEAH, EXCEPT FOR EVERYTHING.
GO.
DJ W-Squared: BIENVENIDO TO THE DJ W-SQUARED SHOW.
I AM DJ W-SQUARED,
THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN LISTEN
TO A RAINBOW OF AUTHENTIC RAP AND HIP-HOP
THAT WILL MOVE YOU.
FIRST UP TODAY, I'VE DECIDED
I'M GONNA PLAY A NEW J-STRYKE TRACK EACH DAY THIS WEEK.
NEXT ONE IS UP TONIGHT, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW.
NOW LET YOUR HEART BE TOUCHED... [HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
[HIP HOP MUSIC]
THIS IS DJ W-SQUARED, CALLING IT A NIGHT.
REMEMBER, THEY ARE AFTER YOU.
THEY DO WANT TO TAKE YOUR MONEY.
THEY ARE CONSPIRING AGAINST YOU,
BUT MUSIC IS WHERE FREEDOM LIVES.
IT FREES OUR MINDS AND SOOTHES OUR SOULS.
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE REAL MUSIC NEVER DIES.
SAMSARA, Y'ALL. PEACE!
HA HA HA!
SO THIS IS WHERE THE PARTY AT.
MUST HAVE LOST MY INVITATION.
LEO, THIS IS MY BOSS, BIG GLADE.
IF I'D BEEN LIVING IT UP IN HERE LIKE Y'ALL,
I WOULDN'T BE SO MAD
DJ W-SQUARED DROPPED ANOTHER J-STRYKE SONG TONIGHT.
HE SAY HE GONNA DROP ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW.
EACH ONE OF THEM COSTS ME WHAT, ATHENA?
A MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE.
THAT'S $2 MILLION. MY MATH GOOD ON THAT, 2 MILLION?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS CALLING YOU FOR.
BUT YOU SEEM TO BE TOO BUSY TO ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE.
I'M LEO KNOX. WELCOME TO MY PLACE.
WHAT YOU GOT HERE IS A DUMP.
THING IS, THE LAW SAYS I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE.
SEE MY FACE?
I'M GUESSING THIS IS YOUR REFUSING-SERVICES FACE.
BUT HERE'S THE THING:
I GOT PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE ME DOWN,
STEALING MY TRACKS, COSTING ME MONEY.
AND Y'ALL ACTING LIKE THIS IS A JOKE.
YOU EITHER USE THAT GUN...
OR PUT IT AWAY.
OK. UM...
UM, LET'S GO, GLADE.
Man on video: WHAT'S UP, J?
YO, WHAT UP? WHAT UP? WHAT UP?
HOW WE LIVING, BROTHER?
I'M GOOD, BABY. I'M LIVING LARGE.
HEY, LISTEN, MAN. BY THE TIME I'M DONE,
AIN'T NO RAPPER GONNA HAVE NOTHING ON ME.
I'M GONNA HAVE MORE HITS, MORE MONEY,
AND MORE DIME PIECES.
LADIES GONNA LOVE J-STRYKE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
STRAIGHT UP, BRO.
Walter: "WHERE POP MUSIC ALWAYS LIVES."
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE REAL MUSIC NEVER DIES.
SAMSARA, Y'ALL. PEACE!
THIS IS DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL ISABEL ZAMBADA.
PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE.
[BEEP]
ISABEL, I NEED A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
TO UPHOLD JUSTICE IN A CRUEL WORLD.
Woman: WNKW, HOLD PLEASE.
WHAT DO YOU NEED ME TO DO?
JUST STAND UP STRAIGHT AND LOOK FEDERAL.
HELLO. LOOKING FOR A YOUNG MAN--
SLIGHT, NO FRIENDS, INSECURE, HARD WORKER,
PARENTS IMMIGRATED FROM INDIA.
HE'S EITHER A PART-TIME STUDENT AT SBU OR A DROPOUT.
LOVES THE WORLD, HATES HIMSELF,
SO SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF A SMOKING VEGETARIAN
AND A SURPRISINGLY GOOD DANCER.
GOT ANYONE HERE LIKE THAT?
COME ON, GUYS. I GOT A SHOW TO DO.
AND BESIDES, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE U.S. MARSHALS
WOULD WANT TO TALK TO ME.
REALLY?
[BEEP]
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE REAL MUSIC NEVER DIES.
SAMSARA, Y'ALL. PEACE!
WELL, YOU SAID "SAMSARA" PERFECTLY,
SO I KNOW YOUR PARENTS ARE INDIAN.
MY PARENTS ARE KASHMIRI.
WE HAVE VOICE-OVER ANALYSIS PROVING
THAT YOU ARE DJ W-SQUARED.
MY NAME IS KARIM RYAZ,
AND SINCE WHEN DO THE U.S. MARSHALS
HAVE JURISDICTION OVER INTERNET BROADCASTS?
THE FIRST THING WE'LL TELL YOUR BOSS
IS THAT YOU'RE USING THIS FACILITY WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.
CAN YOU LIVE ON YOUR PODCAST?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?
WHERE'S J-STRYKE?
6 FEET UNDER, DEAD. READ A PAPER.
THE TRACKS YOU'RE PLAYING ARE NEW.
WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM?
I GET A CALL. I PICK UP THE TRACKS AT A DROP SITE.
ON THE INTERNET?
NO, AN ACTUAL PLACE.
THE PLAYGROUND WHERE J-STRYKE GOT GUNNED DOWN.
I DON'T GET WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO.
I MEAN, YOU'RE A BRILLIANT GUY.
ROUTING YOUR WEB BROADCAST
THROUGH THE SOUTH BEACH UNIVERSITY NETWORK?
WHAT I DO IS GOOD. I BRING MUSIC TO THE PEOPLE.
IT'S FREE OF CORPORATE CONSTRAINT AND TAINT.
IT'S PURE.
PLEASE. YOU SIT IN A DARK ROOM,
AND YOU RANT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
AND YOU PLAY MUSIC.
GET A JOB.
HATE TO BREAK UP THE CAREER COUNSELING SESSION,
BUT WHERE'S THE PICKUP?
IT'S USB DRIVE WITH ONE TRACK
TAPED TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT YELLOW HORSE.
WHY HERE?
SYMBOLIC?
WHAT'S SYMBOLIC ABOUT A YELLOW HORSE?
I MEAN, IT'S ALMOST THE EXACT SPOT
WHERE J-STRYKE GOT KILLED, WALTER.
EXACTLY. YOU KNOW HOW WE KNOW THAT?
J-STRYKE.
[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
WHAT DO YOU THINK, BIG GLADE?
OBVIOUSLY FOLLOWED US.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS VEHICLE IS STEALTHY.
IT'S VERY ROOMY.
COME ON, WE'RE LOSING HIM.
THIS IS A TERRIBLE CHASE VEHICLE. COME ON.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU DON'T LIKE MY VAN?
GONE. WE LOST HIM.
JUST SLOW DOWN BEFORE THIS RUST BUCKET IMPLODES.
YOU KNOW--
[THUD]
Walter: FOUND HIM.
AH, HE DOESN'T LOOK SO GOOD.
YOU USUALLY GET ME OUT OF THESE SORT OF SITUATIONS.
I'M AN OFF-DUTY FEDERAL AGENT
INVOLVED IN WHATEVER THE HELL THIS IS.
IT'S OUT OF MY JURISDICTION.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LOCAL COPS TO PLAY IT BY THE BOOK.
I HOPE YOU PACKED YOUR TOOTHBRUSH,
BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA BE IN HERE FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS.
ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE FREE TO GO.
TERRIFIC!
MEET LEO'S BOO, ATHENA. SHE'S A LAWYER.
HI. HI.
WAIT A MINUTE. HOW'S KARIM?
THE PIRATE DJ IS OK.
HE'S GOT A BROKEN ARM, BONK ON THE HEAD.
HUH. TERRIFIC.
WAIT A MINUTE.
HOW'D YOU SPRING US?
I TOLD THE POLICE THAT MY CLIENTS WERE TRAUMATIZED
BY THE ASSAULT ON KARIM RYAZ
AND WERE DENIED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING,
WHICH COULD IMPAIR THEM IRREPARABLY.
SO IF ANYONE ASKS, YOUR REPEATED REQUESTS FOR COUNSELING
FELL ON DEAF EARS.
GOT IT.
NO. I WILL NOT SLANDER FELLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
FINE. STAY.
DID YOU GET THE J-STRYKE TRACKS FROM THE PIRATE?
- NO. DID YOU? - I BEG YOUR PARDON?
OH, COME ON. IT'S OBVIOUS IT WAS YOUR BOSS
WHO KIDNAPPED THE GUY, THREW HIM OFF THE OVERPASS.
NO, INCORRECT.
BIG GLADE IS ALL NOISE AND SHOW.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT THIS.
J-STRYKE'S HOMICIDE FILE.
I WAS GONNA GET THIS FOR YOU.
IT'S PRETTY THIN. J-STRYKE'S LITTLE BROTHER WAS WITH HIM,
DRIVE-BY SITUATION.
J-STRYKE TOOK ONE ROUND TO THE LEG.
BAD LUCK-- HIT THE FEMORAL ARTERY.
ANYWAY, YOU ARE FREE TO GO.
I'M OFF TO DINNER WITH LEO.
GOD, I HATE HER FOR LEO.
WHAT GANG WAS J-STRYKE AFFILIATED WITH?
HE WASN'T.
WELL, DID HE KNUCKLE UP WITH SOME OTHER RAPPER
WHO WAS GANG-BANGING?
J-STRYKE'S LYRICS WERE MOSTLY INSPIRATIONAL.
DID J-STRYKE GANK HIS LINES FROM ANOTHER RAPPER OR G HIS WOMAN?
WALTER, DON'T TALK HIP-HOP.
IT HARMS BOTH YOU AND HIP-HOP.
J-STRYKE DIED IN HIS BROTHER'S ARMS.
WHAT WERE HIS LAST WORDS?
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LAST WORDS.
A RAPPER BLEEDING TO DEATH SLOWLY DOESN'T HAVE LAST WORDS?
MAYBE HE WAS IN SHOCK. ONE THING'S FOR SURE.
HE GETS MURDERED, IT MAKES HIM FAMOUS,
AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.
GET SHOT, GO PLATINUM.
BA DONKA DONK.
"BA DONKA DONK"? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
OH, IT'S A COMPLIMENT.
OH.
DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T MISS THE COURTROOM.
MOST OF MY WORK WAS DONE IN BACK ROOMS,
AND I DO NOT MISS IT.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR WARDROBE?
I KNOW YOU MISS YOUR WARDROBE.
HEH HEH!
OK, YOU GOT ME.
THANKS FOR DINNER.
YOU DON'T WANT ME TO COME IN?
I GOT TO CHECK ON WILLA.
I THINK THAT I ENJOYED THAT A LOT MORE THAN YOU DID.
BUT...I UNDERSTAND.
LEO, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT
COMING BACK TO THE REAL WORLD WITH ME.
HIDING OUT HERE, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE IN EXILE.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WE COULD START OUR OWN FIRM TOGETHER.
I'VE ALREADY DONE THAT ONCE IN MY LIFE.
YES, VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
COME ON, JOIN ME IN BUSINESS.
YOU COULD--YOU COULD BUY THIS WHOLE ISLAND IN A YEAR.
THINK ABOUT THE WARDROBE.
I'VE CHANGED A LOT, ATHENA,
AND YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL.
HA HA HA!
SEE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MAKES YOU THE PERFECT MAN.
YOU DO ALL THE CHANGING.
YOU'RE LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE, LEO.
Boy: * SEE, I'M A TEAM PLAYER
* I DO IT ALL FOR THE FAMILY
* I TELL YOU LIKE SWEET
* AND NOW I'M SPONSORING CANDY
* I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE PLATINUM *
* I'M WALKING OFF WITH A GRAMMY *
[PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE SCRATCHES]
MAN, WRITE. WHAT'S UP?
* THE CHILDREN, THEY LOOK UP TO ME LIKE A ORPHAN TO ANNIE *
* 'CAUSE I'M THE MAN
* GOT A LOT AND NOW THEY TRY [INDISTINCT] *
* SO I'VE GOT TO GET IT AND TAKE THIS ALL TO THE PROMISED LAND *
* WANT TO BE
[PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE SKIPS]
WRITE, MAN! WRITE!
* WANT TO BE A FIGHTER
* I REEL THEM IN AND BACK THEM DOWN *
* I FEEL LIKE A MAYWEATHER
* AND I THINK I'M PACQUIAO
* I GO WHERE I WANT
* SECURITY DON'T EVEN PAT ME DOWN *
* PEOPLE USED TO SLEEP
* BUT I DON'T LET IT GET ME DOWN *
* 'CAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS
* I'M A, I'M A, I'M A MONSTER *
[MUSIC FADES]
I KNEW IT. J-STRYKE'S ALIVE.
J-Stryke: AIN'T NO RAPPER GONNA HAVE NOTHING ON ME.
I'M GONNA HAVE MORE HITS, MORE MONEY...
HEY, MAN, J-STRYKE IS DEEP.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS SHALLOW BRAGGART
IS THE GUY THAT WROTE THAT GREAT POETRY.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ARTIST IS DENIED HIS VOICE?
GIVE ME MY LIFE FOR ALL LIES.
GIVE ME ALL THE PAIN OF EVERYONE.
I'M GONNA TURN IT INTO HOPE.
WELL, SO THEY DIE?
SLOW OR FAST, YEAH, THEY DIE.
WE'RE NOT OPEN YET.
J-Stryke: WHAT'S THE USE OF LIVING WHEN YOU'RE LIVING DEAD?
FORGIVENESS ELUDES YOU EVEN IN YOUR OWN HEAD.
THAT'S MY BROTHER,
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, HE'S ALREADY DEAD.
ONLY HALF-DEAD, REALLY.
YOU'RE THE OTHER HALF NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT.
THE HALF THAT READS NERUDA AND GIL SCOTT-HERON.
YOU WROTE ALL J-STRYKE'S LYRICS.
YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAVE THE SAME VOCAL QUALITIES.
YOU RECORDED THE NEW TRACKS,
AND THEN YOU LEAKED THEM TO THE PIRATE.
THEN...
YOU DROPPED THEM OFF HERE.
LOOK. FOR A COUPLE YEARS AFTER MY BROTHER DIED,
HE WAS HUGE.
BUT 10 YEARS ON, HE'S MOSTLY FORGOTTEN.
YOU LEAKED ALL THOSE TRACKS
TO KEEP YOUR BROTHER'S MEMORY ALIVE?
ALL HE WANTED WAS IMMORTALITY.
I TRIED TO GIVE HIM THAT. THAT'S ALL.
WHAT WERE YOUR BROTHER'S LAST WORDS?
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY.
WHY? BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WRITE THEM FOR HIM?
OR BECAUSE YOU WERE THE ONE THAT SHOT HIM?
AH. YOU'RE THE BRAINS. HE'S THE FACE.
JEALOUSY, CAIN AND ABEL.
YOU GOT IN AN ARGUMENT, AND YOU KILLED HIM.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY HE DRINKS. IT'S GUILT.
THAT IT, TREY?
YOU LIVING A LIFE OF PENANCE?
YOU DON'T TELL US THE TRUTH,
I'M GONNA TELL ON YOU TO YOUR MOTHER.
AND THAT WILL KILL HER.
DO YOU EVEN CARE?
YOUR CHOICE.
YEAH.
I KILLED MY OWN BROTHER.
BUT I DID NOT MURDER MY BROTHER.
STOP PLAYING AROUND.
IT AIN'T FUNNY. I'M NOT DOING IT.
JUST--JUST-- JUST TAKE IT, TREY.
STOP ACTING LIKE A PUNK. IT'S JUST A GUN, MAN.
HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
DO IT. SHOOT ME IN THE LEG.
I NEVER KNEW WHERE HE GOT THE GUN.
I JUST TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A STUPID IDEA.
AND HE TOLD ME...
SACK UP, BOY!
STOP BEING SO WEAK, MAN. GET SOME COURAGE.
I CAN'T DO IT.
LISTEN. LISTEN. LISTEN, BABY BOY.
JUST SHOOT ME IN THE LEG.
IT'LL BE A FLESH WOUND, NOTHING TO IT.
ALL RIGHT?
HE SAID HE'D WALK WITH A CANE,
SHOW OFF HIS SCAR TO WOMEN,
GET HIS STREET CRED.
SALES WOULD SKYROCKET.
MY BROTHER WAS ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT STREET CRED.
HE WORE ME DOWN.
I CAN'T. DO IT, TREY. DO IT!
AAH!
UNH!
OH, J. J.
Trey, voice-over: HE BLED SO MUCH,
AND I COULDN'T STOP THE BLEEDING.
WE BOTH KNEW HE WAS DYING.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE GUN?
I WIPED IT,
AND I BURIED IT UNDER THAT HORSE AS FAR AS I COULD.
TOLD THE COPS IT WAS A DRIVE-BY.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK FOR THE GUN.
WHAT WERE HIS LAST WORDS?
"THIS IS NOT OUR FAULT, TREY."
"YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT OUR FAULT."
BUT IT WAS MY FAULT.
KILLING YOUR OWN BROTHER? CAIN AND ABEL?
EVEN GOD DOESN'T FORGIVE THAT ONE.
THERE'S ALL THE TRACKS.
TAKE THEM.
I'M SICK OF IT ALL.
SON, CAIN LIED ABOUT KILLING HIS BROTHER.
THAT'S WHY GOD PUT THE MARK ON HIM.
IF YOU WANT FORGIVENESS,
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT WHAT YOU DONE.
SINCE TREY IS THE SOURCE OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
KNOWN AS J-STRYKE,
IT COULD BE TIED UP IN THE COURTS FOR YEARS.
THAT'S FULL-ON LAWYER MODE.
THAT'S WHAT ATHENA LIKES, RIGHT?
ASK WHAT YOU WANT TO ASK.
IS THIS GOING SOMEWHERE? ROMANCE REKINDLED?
DID YOU TAKE THIS CASE SO I COULD HOOK UP WITH ATHENA?
SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL, SMART WOMAN.
YOU'VE HAD FEELINGS FOR HER IN THE PAST.
I DON'T LIKE TO SEE YOU LONELY, OK?
I'M NOT LONELY.
YOU'RE THE LONELIEST MAN I EVER MET.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN.
I FELT LIKE YOU WERE GIVING SOMETHING UP BECAUSE OF ME.
I CHOOSE MY OWN LIFE.
HOW I LIVE ISN'T YOUR FAULT.
J-STRYKE'S LAST WORDS WERE, "IT WASN'T OUR FAULT."
BEING KIND TO HIS BROTHER.
NO, NOT "IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT," LIKE YOU JUST SAID.
"IT WASN'T OUR FAULT."
IT WASN'T J-STRYKE'S IDEA TO GET HIMSELF SHOT IN THE LEG.
NO.
WHO'D MAKE THE KIND OF PROMISE THAT WOULD TEMPT
A BOY LIKE THAT?
GOT WHAT'S MINE?
OOH, HOLD ON A SECOND THERE. AHEM.
OK. YOU WANT TO NEGOTIATE THE PRICE?
THAT'S FINE. WE'LL CALL IT A FINDER'S FEE.
6%. 3.
THAT'S MY LAWYER. SHE'S TOUGH.
THERE ARE SOME OUTSTANDING EXPENSES.
WHAT EXPENSES?
THEY DENTED MY VAN.
WHAT YOU MEAN, WE DENTED YOUR VAN?
HOW COULD YOU EVEN TELL?
WHEN YOU THREW KARIM RYAZ OFF THE OVERPASS ONTO MY VAN,
THERE WAS DAMAGE. ALSO TO KARIM.
WE'LL BE TACKING ON COMPENSATION FOR HIM, TOO.
WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
YOU'D WANT TO SHUT UP NOW, GLADE.
LET THE GROWN-UPS TALK.
SHE WANTED TO MAKE US THINK THAT YOU DID IT.
MAN, I AIN'T THROWN NO INDIAN PEEPS OFF NO OVERPASS.
ANYTHING ELSE?
MMM... RUINING TREY'S LIFE.
RUINING IT HOW?
BY TALKING HIS BROTHER INTO TAKING A SHOT IN THE LEG.
AND MAKING YOU A MILLIONAIRE.
OH, BABY, THAT'S COLD.
OK, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOR YOU
TO BE WAVING YOUR GUN AROUND.
CALL YOUR BOYS AND GET YOUR PROPERTY BACK.
TOLD YOU SHE WAS THE ONE THAT CALLED ALL THE SHOTS.
BABY, YOU HEADING DOWN A ROAD I AIN'T HEADING DOWN.
YOU CROSSING LINES I AIN'T CROSSING.
GIVE ME THE HARD DRIVE, LEO.
I'M SERIOUS, AND YOU KNOW I MEAN IT.
YEAH, I KNOW YOU DO.
COME ON, LEO.
BE THE MAN YOU ONCE WERE.
GIVE ME THAT HARD DRIVE.
[WHISPERING] PSST. WATCH OUT.
SHE'S TRYING TO DARTH VADER YOU.
IF REDEMPTION WAS REVERSIBLE,
IT WOULDN'T BE REDEMPTION.
OH, SNAP!
YOU JUST GOT SKYWALKERED, LADY.
HELL, NOW, THAT'S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE,
HOOKING UP WITH YOU.
GANGSTA GLADE WAS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC.
YOU WOULD LOVE FOR ME TO DO SOMETHING STUPID WITH THIS GUN.
BUT I'M SMARTER THAN THAT.
I'M SMARTER THAN ALL OF YOU.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
BOOKER AND TREY TOGETHER MADE THAT MUSIC.
I GOT A GOOD EAR, AND I COULDN'T HEAR IT.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TELL YOU, MOM.
BOOKER WOULDN'T LET YOU. I KNOW.
AS A LAWYER, I BELIEVE YOUR SMARTEST MOVE
IS TO STAY IN BUSINESS WITH GANGSTA GLADE.
EXCUSE ME?
ONCE A LONG TIME AGO, I WAS A PRETTY GOOD MUSIC MAN.
IT'S HOW I FOUND YOUR BOYS, AND WHAT I HEARD WAS GENIUS.
IT STILL IS.
TREY'S NOT A PERFORMER, NEVER WAS,
BUT HE'S A HELL OF A POET.
PEOPLE CHANGE. SOMETIMES IT'S FOR THE BETTER.
USUALLY THAT CHANGE INVOLVES FACING SOME KIND OF HARD TRUTH.
VERY HARD TRUTHS.
WHAT HARD TRUTH?
I NEED TO BE ALONE WITH MY MOTHER.
[MAN SINGING HIP-HOP]
MELODY IS THE COMBINATION OF PITCH AND RHYTHM.
BEAT--THAT'S ONLY RHYTHM, SO NO CONTEST.
BEAT IS YOUR HEART.
IT'S WHAT MAKES THE WORLD TURN
AND HOLDS UP THE SKY.
DON'T TELL ME, NO CONTEST.
I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING.
I GUESS YOU GUYS DON'T MIND TALKING ABOUT STUFF
THAT ISN'T YOUR MAIN BUSINESS.
WELL, EVENTUALLY, EVERYTHING BECOMES OUR MAIN BUSINESS.
TREY, YOU LOOK GOOD.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH?
NOT LOOKING FOR A DRINK, I HOPE.
WALTER.
I'M COMING UP ON A MONTH SOBER.
I, UH, GOT AN ADVANCE ON MY ROYALTIES,
AND SO I JUST CAME TO PAY WHAT I OWE.
GANGSTA GLADE RECORDS WAS OUR CLIENT.
THEY PAID UP ALREADY. YOU DON'T OWE US ANYTHING.
WELL, WALTER SAID OTHERWISE.
EH. THAT'S WHY I DON'T HANDLE THE MONEY.
KARIM! OH, YOU LOOK GOOD.
WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH?
YOU WERE GONNA INTRODUCE ME TO THE ARTIST BEHIND J-STRYKE.
KARIM, MEET TREY, FACE TO FACE.
I'M A HUGE FAN.
I KNOW THAT ALREADY.
THAT'S WHY I CHOSE YOU TO PLAY MY STUFF.
NOW, YOU KNOW KARIM JUST GRADUATED IN MUSIC MANAGEMENT.
NO KIDDING?
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A MANAGER.
HAVE A SEAT. I'LL BRING YOU SOME LUNCH.
DON'T EVER TELL ME YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT CLIENTS.
I DON'T, NOT ONE BIT.
BUT I ASKED MYSELF, "WHAT'D MADE LEO HAPPY AT THE END OF THIS CASE?"
BECAUSE I TRIED TO SET YOU UP WITH AN EVIL WOMAN.
DO ME A FAVOR. STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME HAPPY.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN, PAL,
BECAUSE IF THE BIG MAN AIN'T HAPPY,
AIN'T NOBODY HAPPY.
[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
WHAT'S THAT MEAN?