My dad, he was twofaced, too.
He shot himself.
That story about your father...
truth or no?
No.
(muffled screaming)
Yo, what you want me to do with her?
Let her go. The fuck you mean?
Let her go!
Run, bitch!
(gunshot firing)
Multiple eyewitnesses says your client,
Rex Boogie, fired the gun,
inciting the stampede that left four dead.
(Juggy) They killed my boy.
David's gone.
(Rex) Last Friday at the Whitman Ballroom,
I was... fooling around with my gun,
and I-- I shot it in the air.
(Josie) Nikki, Nikki, Nikki!
(Anders) It's the "Village Voice."
I thought Damita was your homey.
I didn't know she was gonna be
a backstabbing little bitch.
Yo, Damita, let me holler at you.
Yeah, what do you-- (grunting)
Did we really meet at the New Music Seminar?
No. You're fired.
(birds chirping)
**
(sighing)
(woman) I'm just calling it like I see it.
Don't shoot the messenger.
Excuse me if I'm happy to have my one and only baby
back home, instead of that hellhole of a city
that took her father and her boyfriend.
Back is fine.
But what is she gonna do?
'Cause all I know is that yesterday
that one and only child of yours
was rummaging around,
looking for her daddy's Grammy.
She was?
Why you still got to let that girl
go around thinking Nate earned that trophy
when you know he won it in a card game?
What about my dad's Grammy?
Oh, hey, baby.
No, Aunt Ida was just saying she never thought
"No Mystery" was a good album.
Never did.
We've been arguing about it
for the last 14 years. Mm-hmm.
Come on, baby, I made you some breakfast.
Let's go down.
Come on, Ida. I'm coming.
**
* It's Ahm in the zone rocking microphones *
* I stand alone yes I am the one *
* It's Ahm in the zone rocking microphones *
* I stand alone yes I am the one *
* It's Ahm in the zone rocking microphones *
* I stand alone yes I-- **
Yo, this shit ain't working, man.
Fuck that.
The hook wack.
You came up with it.
So what you wanna do? Eat.
Hell yes.
Yo, can I use your phone? Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
(sniffling)
(Damita on answering machine) Hi, you've reached Damita's voicemail.
Please leave a message after the beep.
(answering machine beeping) Hey, Damita.
It's DeeVee.
Uh, I should be done with this session a little later,
so, uh... if you wanna go to the movies,
maybe go see "Mo' Better Blues"
or something...
Page me back.
Peace.
Ready?
Yeah, we out. All right.
**
(birds chirping)
Thank you, baby.
So... top in your class.
Girl, you know, I have been wondering
what possessed you to tear up
that scholarship from Harvard?
You know, I'm so glad to see you eat.
You can't afford to get any skinnier.
Uh, I forgot the bacon.
So, Nikki...
now that you're home-- and we sure are glad
that you back-- what's your plan?
Uh, I--
You know what, they're having a job fair at my office today.
You should swing by.
It might surprise you.
Mom, I don't--
4:00.
I've got the perfect outfit for you.
(horn honking)
(knocking)
Come in.
(Josie) Hey.
Hey, Josie.
What's that?
It's Imani's new video.
When did you start shooting videos?
Just trying it out.
What you think?
It's good.
Yeah? Yeah.
Has Barry seen it yet?
Ah, with everything going on--
With everything going on,
I think it would be nice to get Barry back
working on music.
You know what, you're right.
I'm gonna show him. Yeah.
(Anders) Palmer, Terrell.
That's you?
Yup, sign here.
Oh no!
See, y'all playing with me.
Where's the rest of my money?
First of all, where's your inside voice?
This is an office, dear.
Listen, this is cash.
No taxes, no FICA.
No shit.
This is temporary, all right?
Until then, cheer up.
It's tax free.
But this the same amount of money I get after taxes.
Yes, exactly.
Where's Barry?
(sniffing)
Whoo, uh...
And it ain't gonna be like priority.
This is Fouray Records.
And we gonna be solid,
just completely solid like a family,
you know what I'm saying?
And so with a family, that mean we gonna stick together,
and we gonna do it this time.
For sure, we're gonna stick together this time for sure.
That way-- that way when we get to the top...
then we get so much respect because we stayed... Fouray!
What's up, man?
Do I look like the kind of guy that likes wasting his time?
Nah, nigga.
You look like the type of motherfucker to have a...
a polo shirt on without the logo.
(laughing)
And why is Anders cancelling my vendors?
(chuckling)
No, I mean, I-- listen, I put him in charge.
You're gonna have to talk to him about that.
Listen, downstairs, that's Fouray Management.
You upstairs.
Up here... you're in the future, baby.
The future.
Tell him to stop cancelling my shit.
**
(man on TV) I mean, I flew all the way out here,
the San Francisco Bay area,
to hang out with Humpty and Shock G,
and say we've been looking forward--
Oh my God, I'm sorry. (knocking)
I heard MTV was in town.
They told me I need to...
(knocking)
(knocking continues)
(woman) Nikki! (man) Hey, what up?
Hey, what's going on? What's up?
I missed you.
Wait.
Who told-- wait.
What are y'all doing here?
How did y'all know I was home?
Girl, please, everybody knows.
Wow.
And, yo, I heard about Dave too.
I'm so-- Shh!
We gonna kick it like old times.
Come on, we partying. Hey!
That's what I'm talking about.
I don't know if she can still hang with us, though.
What are y'all talking about?
You know, you've been hanging--
Oh!
Uh, nah, this is--
Yo, my mom--
I don't live here.
Y'all know my mama.
I've got a job interview today.
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.
Hook a sister up. Could you give me a minute?
Goddang!
Oh, thank you.
Get some glasses.
Did you park the car? Yeah.
(Nikki) I can't believe we're talking around my mom's coffee table.
I know.
How is your mom?
Good.
Girl!
What?
What's up with your hair?
You need to let me get up in there.
What?
It's not-- really?
Really.
Okay, but just 'cause it's you.
Girl, you know I'm gonna take care of you.
Okay.
So good to see you. You too.
(laughing)
(Purdell) For the last time,
are you sure?
Yes!
How many times I gotta say it?
They covered my head!
I didn't see nobody.
All I remember is that goddamn tattoo.
The one on his right hand shaped like a country.
Right, right.
And you ain't seen nothing else?
They just said "run" and you heard the shots.
All right.
Tell me if you see anything.
Here.
This is the one.
**
Are you sure?
Yeah.
Well, Africa ain't a country, sweetheart.
You sure about this? * Do you know what time it is? *
* Do you, do you know? *
* Do you know what time it is? *
I-- you said I need a change.
It's gonna be a big change.
(laughing)
But I trust you.
Okay, girl.
Let's do it.
* Do you know what time it is? *
* Check the clock *
**
Can't go back now.
* Put your Gucci watch on and synchronize the time *
* And let's rock **
(police radio chatter)
Come on, relax, relax, relax. Come on, man!
So who do we got here?
Y'all can't wait to lock a nigga up, right?
What you doing?
So what, is my tattoo illegal or some shit like--
get the fuck out of here!
It depends on what you did with it.
Besides mind my own damn business
before your flunkies got in my fucking face!
What the fuck did I do?
You slipped up.
Unlike your boy, Ahmed Harris.
**
I owe you one, fellas. Hey.
You're a motherfucker! Fuck you!
(grunting)
(beeping)
Thank you.
Yo, so I meant to ask you, right...
... how'd you start rapping?
I was in juvie.
Locked up.
Start writing lyrics on the low.
Niggas thought I was writing letters home,
but there wasn't nobody to write to.
Not your fam?
Nah, B... nah.
My man Smoke was doing a bid
at the same time.
He read my lyrics...
... decides to spit them shits.
So you started battling in juvie?
Yeah.
Smoke pushed a nigga.
Said it would remind me what it felt like when I was out.
Well, did it?
Yeah.
(phone ringing)
Mr. Jacobs can see you now.
(man) Oh, you know, answering phones.
Maybe some shorthand every once in awhile.
And then there's filing
by last name always.
Is there any other way?
Thank you.
Your mom speaks very highly of you.
I think you would do very well here, Nikki.
The job's yours if you want it.
Oh, oh!
Great! Wow, thanks!
My pleasure.
**
I already told you on the phone
we're not gonna settle the suit,
but feel free to order some eggs if you want.
Oh, nah.
Eggs don't suit me.
I was actually thinking of an order of...
$50,000 a family
to withdraw from the suit immediately,
with a side of "I can have those checks to you tomorrow."
You mean the insurance company
can have those checks cut tomorrow.
Look, the fact of the matter is,
we're ready to settle.
50,000, huh?
50,000 tomorrow.
(sighing)
I'll see you in court, Counselor.
* Call it what you want I'm making those beats *
* My rhymes are like a knife through your arteries... *
(sniffing)
* 'Cause they never could... *
Fouray, you're not even watching.
I worked hard on this.
Watching? Watching?
You ain't doing shit.
I don't see shit to watch.
Why don't you do some shit where you telling a story
and you using fucking movement?
Like things are moving.
Yelling at me about watching some shit
that ain't even fucking there!
What you want me to do?
Showing... fucking still shots of people all over the place
and wasting my money.
You couldn't have pulled me aside for that?
For what?
Bad's bad in private too.
Do it matter? Fuck you, Barry!
Whoa!
Like that? Are you serious? Yeah, it's like that.
It's bad, it's true.
Goddamn!
No!
That's my marketing.
What's this motherfucker talking about?
What Mr. Anders and his client, Barry Fouray,
fail to understand is that this is not about money.
This is about parents protecting their children
from opportunists disguised as businessmen.
If we lose the civil suit,
you know the insurance ain't gonna cover that.
That's terrible.
That'll be fucking terrible.
Yo, it's-- it's Josie.
Your mom let me in.
I'm looking for Nikki.
Is she here?
It's just that Barry's being such an ass,
and after what he did to her,
I wanna make sure she's okay.
She's not here and now's not a good time.
Whoa, hold up.
Who-- who did this to you?
I don't really wanna get into it
and I don't need people making a fuss.
You don't have to tell me.
But can I at least help you with that?
Does that hurt? (wincing)
I've been hit before too.
Yeah, when I was 11,
I got beat up by this boy a year older.
Ken.
I hated that kid.
He called me a chink the whole time
he was pounding on me.
I had to ask what that word meant.
And the fact that he was using a slur
for Chinese people just made it worse.
But he didn't know any better.
My mom was pissed when I told her.
So what happened?
She told me to keep quiet.
Say I fell off the jungle gym.
I know she wanted to protect me but...
to me, it felt like she wanted to protect herself.
I mean...
we weren't even citizens yet,
we were about to open the store,
and she didn't wanna make waves.
So why didn't you fight back?
'Cause I was scared.
And I needed somebody to tell me
it was okay to fight.
It's okay to fight.
You don't get it.
If I go to the police, I'm a snitch.
You can't be a snitch and make it in hip-hop.
Yeah... I know.
You ready?
(sighing) Yeah.
Starting from the right, step forward,
say, "Run, bitch."
Run, you bitch.
(man snickering)
Yo, stupid, it's, "Run, bitch."
You got me confused with somebody
who gives an actual fuck. Why are you mad at me--
Knock it off!
Number two.
Run, bitch.
Number three.
Run, bitch.
**
You want him to say it again?
No.
It ain't him. Excuse me?!
I said it ain't him.
It ain't none of them.
So that's not the Africa tattoo
you saw that night?
I'm sorry, okay?
I'm sorry for wasting your time.
(sighing)
You heard her.
Let 'em go.
(door closing)
**
Oh, so you gonna act like you don't see me.
Okay... whatever.
Sweet and sour chicken and shrimp fried rice.
You good?
Yeah.
It's just this girl I'm feeling, right?
I've been calling all day.
She ain't answering none of my calls.
She's not calling back.
It's not like she's not feeling me back, you know?
It...
I don't know, it's just weird, man.
Hey... you mind running me over there real fast?
Let's go.
**
* Get up *
* Yeah **
(sniffing)
Baby, you need to slow down. I do?
You don't even know what's going on--
I know exactly what's going on.
What do you mean? Move!
This is what the fuck is going on.
Lisa...
Lisa, this is you, Lisa.
Look... that's you.
This is what's the fuck going on!
You gotta start large to get large.
Y'all know that?
Motherfuckers gotta start large to get large.
I'm not doing a press release.
Everybody do that.
I'm sick of doing everything everybody fucking do!
Fouray Records ain't doing that!
When Fouray Records come in the motherfucking house,
they just gonna turn this shit over on its ear!
It's gonna be lovely. (man) Man, you should do a showcase.
What? You should do a showcase.
Who said that? Me, I said that.
Oh, my man.
The fuck, finally!
It's the motherfucker I fuck with
who got my back.
Thank you!
You know what, nigga?
Nigga...
I'm gonna make you VP of marketing, nigga.
You're the VP of marketing.
Lisa, what you doing over there?
Get over here!
Barry, you need to sit down. Get his name!
Are you pulling me? And some water.
Are you pulling me?
I'm asking you to get his name.
Who got a pen... who got a pen?
Select press, for sure, invite only.
Imani X, D-Rome, J-Mic.
We need break dancers there
and I want the motherfuckers from Harlem.
Make sure you write that down.
We need money people there.
(sniffing)
I need Orson Deep--
Yo, I need Orson Deep Pockets Banbridge! Barry!
Barry, stop, Barry, stop, you're acting crazy.
What?
What the fuck you know about me?
What the fuck do you really know?!
What do you do, huh?!
Why the fuck are you even here?!
You actually never here!
And you know what you did?
You fucking quit on me
and now you trying to stop me
and try to tell me shit.
Really?
You fucking quit on me.
So know what I want you to do,
sit your fucking ass down,
continue to be pretty
before I change my mind.
Hey... you gonna be back. (door slamming)
(sniffing)
Ahh!
(sniffing)
Mmm... ahh!
(clearing throat)
(sniffing continues)
Connect me-- hello?
Ahh...
Connect me to, um, to Banbridge Music.
Yeah, this is Barry Fouray.
Um, I'm calling to-- to invite, uh, Orson Banbridge.
It's our party.
I wanna-- I wanna invite him as my personal guest too
of the debut of Fouray Records.
Our debut.
Oh, yes, I will be honored to have you.
Yes, yes.
You're saying that?
All right.
(sniffing continues)
Honeys look like aliens.
(crowd gasping)
(woman screaming) (man) Yo, yo, yo!
(man) What's going on, what's going on? (woman) He's on the floor and he's shaking!
Who's on the floor? Barry!
(coughing)
Everybody out, everybody out!
Barry!
Barry... Barry, come on.
Barry...
Come on, Barry, come on, Barry!
Come on, baby. Barry!
Tamika-- Barry! What?
Take this number and call this guy.
Tell him to get here now. Okay.
Come on, B, come on, B.
(sighing)
Come on, Damita, I came all this way.
(Damita) I didn't ask you to.
I just wanna make sure you're all right.
I'm fine... thank you.
Bye.
Look, I don't know what you got going on
with you right now, but I wanna help, okay?
But I can't if you don't let me in.
Please?
Don't make this into like a thing.
Okay, can you-- can you do that?
Okay, fine, whatever.
Anything.
Just open the door.
(sighing)
What happened?
He freaked out at me because of the article.
Who?
Gordy.
**
You all right?
Yeah.
I'll be back.
DeeVee, don't do anything stupid!
**
(Gordy) * Backstage *
* Under age adolescent *
* How ya doin'? *
* Fine she replied *
* I sighed I like to do the wild thing *
* Action took place *
* Hey kinda wet don't forget **
Yo, Gordy.
Hey, big-time producer.
Have a seat, man!
We'll get you all set up!
(groaning)
(coughing)
(coughing continues)
It takes a real tough motherfucker
to hit a lady, right?!
Try that shit again and see what happens!
(grunting)
You act like a bitch, you get treated like a bitch!
Stay right there!
(groaning)
Yeah, you know what?
You came all this way... Oh, hell no, man!
... and didn't even try my mama's mac and cheese.
Huh?!
Don't you come around here no more.
Go get your girl before I call the police.
**
(man) Two gin and tonics.
(Nikki) Here we go.
I cannot believe you!
Walk into that office and land a job like...
I mean...
This calls for another round.
Another round?
Ahh...
Hey, so you-- you went all the way up to New York
to come back home?
Boy, get out of my face.
Here.
I'm gonna go meet up with the band.
All right.
Cheers.
Ooh!
My little brother Mikey grew up?
Mm-mm, not that much.
(laughing) Little bit.
He's still your little brother, girl.
(laughing continues)
Girl, so what is up with the salon?
Girl, I just need money to get started, you know?
It's hard getting things off the ground.
Girl, I can't believe you're back.
We gonna kick it every weekend.
The clubs!
All right, yeah.
Yeah, this place is dope, it's dope.
(man) This crowd out here tonight.
There are some sexy ladies up in here.
Yo, we about to get down, but before we do,
I got one thing to ask y'all.
Huh, you ready?
* Tell me where y'all from now *
* North east *
* Tell me where y'all from *
* North east *
* Tell me where y'all from baby *
* North east *
* Tell me where y'all from *
* North east *
Man, come on now!
Hey, yeah!
All the ladies in the back come over to the front, baby.
I need y'all in the front row right here
to help me out.
Special dedication going out to the JYV!
DC in the house!
Let me hear you say, "Yeah!"
* Sardines *
* Hey and pork and beans *
* I eat sardines *
* And pork and beans *
* We eat sardines *
* Hey and pork and beans *
* We eat sardines *
* Hey and pork and beans **
You sure you wanna keep working?
Yeah.
Fuck that fat, fake
Dapper Dan-wearing motherfucker.
Peter Piper beat on this, right?
No, that's Bob James "Two."
(groaning)
**
Not exactly what I would've picked to play but...
Pick something else.
No, wait.
(grunting)
**
We keeping this.
(doorbell buzzing)
**
Who is it?
I told you to run, bitch.
* It's Ahm in the zone rocking microphones *
* I stand alone yes I am the one, one *
* DeeVee on the track like this like that *
* So step back yes he is the *
* One, one *
* Listen whether you're wrong or right *
* Go and live your life... * What you think?
* 'Cause you only getting one, one *
It's missing something.
What?
We got the hook.
I know, and it's dope,
it's just...
I don't know, I'm not feeling something
that I wanna feel in this.
Good.
You wanna feel good.
What are you talking about?
Before I just did this shit,
you know, 'cause I missed that feeling.
Battles, I'd relax that way.
Something changed when... with that first song.
I started to feel all right again.
But I don't no more.
So rap about that.
All right.
What you gonna do?
His heart rate and blood pressure
have been stabilized.
The benzodiazepines contained the seizure.
He just needs some rest.
And of course no more cocaine.
Got ya.
Call me when he comes to, all right? Mm-hmm.
Thanks, Doc. Anytime, man.
I'll walk you out.
"I will give you back your health
and heal your wounds," said the Lord.
"For you are called an outcast--
'Jerusalem for whom no one cares.'"
**
(David on recording) Ladies and gentlemen,
you are listening to the sounds
of the one, the only...
(DeeVee) Ahm...
... and super producer DJ DeeVee!
Yeah, rest in peace.
That's your man?
Yeah, God bless.
(sighing)
I'm telling you, man.
Do this a couple more times,
you got an album.
You really think it's dope.
Dope?
Man, this is the greatest thing that I've ever created.
This blows the first record out of the water.
People gotta hear this, man.
I guess.
So we can put it out?
Yeah, rest in peace.
As long as the law know how dope we was a few weeks back,
when we was here, recording all day,
else there ain't no "we."
Wait...
But, wait, I...
I thought this was about feeling good, man.
I feel good right now.
* Head of the class on changing the course *
* New syllabus, new diligence... *
Album will be dope.
* No more letting off for the thrill of it *
* 'Cause it feels... used to cook raw *
* Now I'm in the kitchen with DeeVee *
* Cooking some iller shit for the people **
Uh, I was gonna do that.
You cut your hair?
You like it?
It's kind of late, ain't it?
I was with Vanessa, she brought Mike.
Oh, those two.
Well, I hope you got your rest.
Tomorrow's your first day.
I'll be fine, Mom.
What else I need to know?
Mr. Jacobs likes alphabetical, numerical order.
Bullet points on your memos is always a good idea.
How come you didn't tell me Dad stole his Grammy?
He didn't steal it.
He won it... in a card game.
But I saw him play.
He was good.
He was a better gambler.
That's all you're gonna say?
Mom, why didn't you tell me?
(sighing)
That was up to him when he was with us.
And after...
after...
... I didn't wanna take that from you too.
I know how much you looked up to him.
So he wasn't good?
He wanted to be.
Oh, Nate wanted to be in the light so bad.
It just...
it never felt right for him.
Said he just didn't have the chops.
But Daddy had an ear, though.
He would sit in on everybody's session
and tell 'em what was right or wrong
with their music.
You know, some bands, they wouldn't even gig
without the Nate Jones stamp.
But it wasn't enough.
No.
It wasn't.
Mr. Jacobs?
Oh, yeah, right.
Mr. Jacob prefers black pens,
so always keep the drawer fully stocked.
Except when there are markups.
Then he likes red pens.
And when he has to sign something,
he prefers blue.
So never give him anything to sign
with a black pen.
Black pens to write.
Right.
Blue pens to sign.
That's my girl.
Mom.
I was seeing like all kinds of shit,
like... all kinds of shit.
You feel me, my nigga? Gonna get your ass laced.
What you talking about, son?
What up?
Mm-hmm.
The count's straight.
Even though Screw Ass overslept again.
You know that nigga bought a new polo.
He should've got an alarm clock.
You know what I mean?
That's it?
Yeah.
You know, alternate side parking tomorrow.
Right, right.
All right.
Alternate side parking?
Either I'm deaf or you got amnesia.
Look, man...
from now on, my business is on a need-to-know basis.
All right?
And weak-ass niggas don't need to know.
You feel me?
What?
My nigga.
**
* When I was just a little girl *
* I asked my mother *
* What will I be? *
* Will I be pretty? *
* Will I be rich? *
* Here's what she said to me *
* Que sera *
* Sera *
(Gordy) Oh, what?
What, you wanna get your ass beat too?
* Will be, will be *
Hey.
Hey, come on, man... all right?
It-- it-- it ain't even got to be
like that, all right?
Your man hit me first, man.
(grunting)
(grunting continues)
* Que sera *
(coughing)
* When I grew up and fell in love *
* I asked my... **
(coughing)
* Imani X in effect feel the fire *
(Nikki) Next time on "The Breaks"...
I'd like to inquire about a possible position.
Bring me an artist worth signing
and we'll talk about a future for you here at EBJ.
Yo, you need to get back with Fouray.
I need you to call your man.
Hop in.
No, I can make my--
Come on, man.
So are we gonna talk about what happened or what?
You gotta watch this one.
She kind of slippery.
Ahm's boy is still outside waiting for me.
You need to do this so you can get out of this hood!