The Get Down (2016) s01e05 Episode Script
You Have Wings, Learn To Fly
1 [Jackie pants.]
[mumbles.]
You know, uh, My Mylene, um Uh I, um I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I got nothing, I got nothing.
I don't got nothing.
You got nothing, huh? I gave you $40,000 and you got fucking nothing? [Ramon.]
Pedro, ¿cómo está? ¿Está bien? It's so good to see you at church on Sunday morning.
- Hola.
- [woman.]
How are you? [Lydia gasps.]
Mylene? [voice echoing.]
Do mustard and onions mean anything to you? [normal voice.]
I said, do mustard and onions mean anything to you? [Cassettes.]
Get up.
I like it on my hotdog, DJ Kool Herc, sir.
Ma, can you get the little man one with mustard and onions? - Sure thing.
- No sauerkraut? No.
No sauerkraut.
My man.
Now, see, this is a family affair.
Right, Dad? Ever since we hooked up my sound system and co-DJ'ed your first party.
And we started these parties to have a place to play music and have fun and stay out of all that static out there in the street.
Now you wanna bring the street into this castle I built? I'm sorry, but he It was [mother.]
I prefer eating vegetarian food.
But if you must eat meat, make sure them kosher.
- You hear me, now? - Yeah.
That's all beef, right there.
Now give me this.
Tell me, Pedro, how'd you get involved in all this, man? They were trying to bootleg a show.
I was telling them to stop.
- What? Hey, no, this dude.
This dude.
- Hey, Shao, Shao, Shao.
- That's the King of Cassettes.
- Shao.
Cool it, man, cool it.
Now you accusing Pedro of being the King of Cassettes? Hell, yeah.
How dare you.
Pedro's our brother.
Now, y'all disrespecting my family.
Pedro's our top sound guy, he wouldn't do nothing like that.
- Then what's this? - It's gotta be one of their bootlegs.
Yo, Herc.
This is that kook from around Flash's way.
They the ones using them bootleg Flash tapes, faking like they DJs and whatnot.
How long we known each other? You think I'll do you like that? They phonies.
- We ain't no phonies.
- [Carlito.]
You ain't telling the truth.
[Dizzee.]
That's a lie.
- We ain't no phonies.
- How do you explain this shit here? - [man.]
What's that? - Hm? - Oh, man.
- [Cage.]
What the fuck is this? Customized to hook straight into your system.
Herc.
They been bootlegging you, so they can fake like they you.
- I've been trying to stop them.
- Except this stuff doesn't belong to us.
It's nice to see you again, Jackie Moreno.
I remember you from that day.
The day of Mylene's miracle.
I don't suppose you had anything to do with that dress she was wearing.
Or was it you, Francisco? Or maybe you and my wife, huh? - Oh, Lydia had nothing to do with this.
- Nothing to do with it, but you did.
- It was my choice.
- Cállate la boca.
- Ramon.
- No, the Lord has laws.
He decrees that you shall not raise your voice but in praise of him.
¿Entiendes? And you, mi hermano.
You don't have a family of your own, so you interfere with mine.
[soft groan.]
- You know, if I wasn't a man of God - [chuckles.]
Man of God.
You forget that you became a man of God in prison, right, bro? - Cisco? - What did Fuerte just say? - [Francisco speaks Spanish softly.]
- He said shit is about to get real.
Come preach here all you want, but to me you're still gonna be that little pendejo that got two girls pregnant back in PR.
- [Mylene.]
Is that true? - Diablo.
- Diab No, that's you.
- Cisco, don't.
You ever wonder what happened to those kids you abandoned to come over here and party in the land of milk and honey and cocaÃna? - Silence.
- [Francisco.]
Then when you get here, you almost kill a man and his kid with your car.
But you forgot that, right? You blacked out.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Who are you to judge anyone? That was in the past.
But, papi, ¿es la verdad? [Ramon.]
I'm sorry, Mylene.
We all have sins.
- That's me, too.
- All of us are searching for forgiveness.
Amen! Hallelujah, I'm a sinner too, pastor.
I'm in search of forgiveness.
I battle my demons daily.
I don't go to church.
- Shut the fuck up, Jackie.
- But listen, listen.
It's like, you know, people like me, we find salvation in songs.
But disco's like a mantra, it's a prayer, it's a message.
Our discos even have names like The Sanctuary and The Church.
Your discos are full of drugs and homosexuality.
Pero we gotta reach the sinners where they lay, no? 'Cause, like we were reached.
No.
There's no place for the word of God in your disco.
No.
Hey, the people in the discos, they want they wanna feel raised up, they want God, they want the light, that's what we've been working on night and day.
Like a song about forgiveness and resurrection.
A Latino, Pentecostal, communal Puerto Rican disco hymn record, right? - Right, Mylene? - Right.
Because Mylene Cruz is gonna be the world's first boricua Pentecostal disco star.
You know that beautiful hymn, "Set Me Free"? Does it not say that a man who says he's in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness? Oh, Lord, I know That you love me I know your light Will set me free My Lord will judge Who judges me He takes my pain He rescues me You know, what I do here, it's about peace.
It's about unity and respect.
But if you disrespect me, we gonna air it out.
Out in the street.
[snaps.]
Get 'em outta here.
- Yo, come on, look.
Cool Herc! - [man.]
Hold up, hold up.
You trying to do something positive here, right, man? Right? Let him through.
We about that.
Peace, unity.
So, I'm gonna tell y'all the truth about my crew and me.
We made a mistake.
But let me get a fly drum break.
And I'll prove to all y'all the Get Down Brothers are far from fake.
Yo, 'cause usually, Shaolin drops the record Then I drop the rhyme He says tell the story Y'all ready for story time? - [playing soft melody.]
- So what we've done, we've taken a hymn we've added a little disco beat [raises tempo.]
[humming.]
And a little Latin funk, right, Luis? One, two, three, four.
[band playing upbeat music.]
And what we're gonna do, pastor, with your permission, is record in your church.
Because that church has an acoustical quality that Jesús himself must have sent as a blessing! Oh, we could use the church choir, too.
[choir vocalizing.]
[Jackie.]
Oh, can you see it? Oh, it's gonna be divine.
Mylene! Please! Let the Lord's words ring.
These chains on me Won't let me be You've got the keys Come rescue me That skinny guy'll play piano.
- Won't let me be - [Jackie.]
I like that guy.
You've got the keys And she'll need backup.
Girls.
Regina, Yolanda! - Hold up, us? - Just go with it.
Not since the Ronettes have I heard such celestial harmonies.
[vocalizing.]
Won't you come down and Come and shine a light on - Come shine a light on - Me Come and set me Everybody'll be invited to God's party, no one will be excluded from his light.
Because ours is a community effort.
Come and set me Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me Once upon a time Not long ago Shao wrote graffiti But he wrote solo Fought when we met With jabs and hooks But liked how I rhymed And named me Books Ten shots fired Up at Inferno Too quick to get hit Too fast to be slow Showed us the man Who wears the crown Grandmaster Flash And the big Get Down Whoever says he's in the light And hates his brother Is still in darkness Still in darkness through the night Above all we've gotta love Each other deeply 'Cause love, love, love Covers a multitude of sins We threw a jam Cold drank the Kool-Aid Put on a Flash tape Swore it homemade Fakin' the funk To one and all Flash threw the pass We dropped the ball Flash is the man With the master plan And from that day on He said we was banned So we headed over here To this place To punch that bootlegger In his face Yo, check his pocket.
My lips will shout for joy When I sing praise of you When I can feel you inside of me And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself Like the most high Came here to find The real-deal faker The sell-out, the bum The fake tape maker All respect to the founder And his crew But the Judas is here And his name is you And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself And make myself Like the most high [crowd clapping.]
Phony, huh? Herc, please.
What do we have here? - Herc.
- Air him out.
Out there.
Herc, how you gonna do me like that? Herc.
Herc! Come on, man.
Come on.
Herc! When I came up, there was a time When we rumbled with knuckles instead of rhymes We made zip guns in shop class It was all about Who could bust that ass We created a thing That we called the rock It got us respect around the block They came from the Skulls And the Spades Just to hear the joints That Kool Herc played We made a spot for the young sprouts To come see if they could bust it out If you could rock, B-boy or be an MC, Kool Herc party is the place to be But y'all wanna rumble like it's the old days Instead of riding around in a fly OJ You got one shot, get it on the humble Make your battle a DJ rumble - [words echoing.]
- [crowd cheering and clapping.]
[softly.]
Yo, what's a DJ rumble? [into mic.]
Be cool, y'all.
[echoes.]
In two weeks' time, your two crews will battle with your systems, your records, and your rhymes.
Whichever army gets the B-boys to rock is the army that comes out on top.
[crowd cheering and clapping.]
- Right, Ma? - Right, child.
Now, ladies [echoing.]
don't Herc nobody.
[scattered chuckles.]
Rock on.
['70s groove music plays.]
- [music continues.]
- [inaudible dialogue.]
Y'all must think y'all Charles Bronson in Death Wish coming back over here.
We got something for Flash that y'all dummies couldn't get.
[Flash.]
Hey.
Let him in.
[Shaolin.]
It belonged to the King of Cassettes.
We tracked him down and took it off him.
Osu.
And we got the tape back, the final bootleg tape.
It's my honor to present them both to you, Grandmaster.
Here.
Everybody leave.
You deaf? Go on, go.
Hey.
You stay.
Sit down.
What's your purpose here? For real.
I wanted to show you how serious we took that bootlegging shit.
No, forget tapes.
And I wanted to make things right.
And you got a battle coming up, right? - So you heard about that.
- Come on, I hear about everything.
So, I was gonna ask you if we can battle.
Notorious Three.
Well, them Herc boys, they got fans, they got experience, they got speakers so fucking loud they crack concrete.
What you got? - I'm gonna find something.
- No, but you already did.
Universal DJ rule 17, Grasshopper.
In order to fly, a DJ must trust his wings.
And you better.
'Cause you lose, you lost for both of us, and the ban is reinstated.
- You're like a mentor to me.
And - Forget me.
What is your purpose, Grasshopper? - I just like to spin records, man.
- Okay, but why? When I'm spinning records, everything else just falls out.
It's about music, man.
- I know.
- No, you don't know.
Music is the only reason.
It'll it'll move you forward and open up doors that everyone says are shut, Shao.
It'll give you the whole fucking world for free if you just love it and hold back nothing.
If the shit really is your life, if the shit really does have your heart - It does.
- then where were you when your wings found that tape? You the DJ, ain't you? That's your crew, right? You supposed to lead.
Conduct, control the crowd, move the crowd.
Know time.
Administer joy.
I don't know what else you caught up in and I do not need to know, but I know there's no faking that hell-born fire.
That shit beats your heart for you.
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
You hear it? You hear it? - I hear it.
- How it sound? Sound like victory.
Osu.
And Grasshopper.
If you wanna be a true DJ, conquer your street.
Conquer your park.
Conquer your neighborhood, conquer your borough.
Conquer your city.
And the world is yours.
So, battle.
Notorious Three, get ready, we going to battle, baby.
Whoo! - Yeah? - But once we find our new dojo, - we gonna be dropping bombs.
- Where we gonna practice? - I know a secret spot.
- Secret? A mansion.
[all whooping, laughing.]
I just see the saddest life A savage life Snakes and thieves Everyman has his price There's hell below Who will or won't sell his soul What's my goal, go to jail or fail Hell no In the streets, there's a few ways out 'Cause face it, time is short Think fast, while I resort To a life of crime and fast cash, nah I'm destined to be king Staying on the right path All my nights and all my days I've been trying To run away [clock bell tolling.]
Oh, shit.
Oh, shit, my internship.
I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world My life's surviving at night I'm riding Smoking, hoping, dreaming Speeding, white lightning Scheming, streets trifling I keep writing, it gets deeper My brother's keeper, are we dividing I'm deciding to keep rising, yeah [Flash.]
You have wings.
Learn to fly.
New York, New York the irrefutable I'm a black man in a white world The city if you make it out here Is beautiful I'm a black man in a white world And the streets Can deceive you when times are hard I'm a black man in a white world And the pressure leaves your mind, Body and soul so scarred All my nights and all my days Yeah I've been trying to run away - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah - I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah Everything I had We need to wisen up - And I'm not angry - We rising up - And I'm not mad - These times is rough - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - Temple of Shaolin.
- I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah - I'm a black man in a white world - [shouts.]
- Black man - [fighting grunts.]
- In a white world, yeah - I've been told all my life Mr.
Gunns is in committee meetings for the remainder of the day.
So, I'm sorry, but you've missed your window of opportunity, Mr.
Figuero.
- Nothing left to say - Rise, yeah Rise, yeah - [shouts.]
- Let's rise - Yeah, let's rise - I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah, come on, let's rise - I'm a black man in a white world Yeah, come on y'all Yeah So, you were late because you were out late at a party.
I said I was sorry.
I don't think he knows how silly he sounds.
At a party? Nursery rhyming? It's not nursery rhyming.
What is it, then? - You wouldn't understand.
- Try me.
Go on.
It's like, when I get up on stage and say what I gotta say, I know who I am, and right now y'all are pushing me to be who you want me to be and nobody's asking what I wanna be.
I mean, who says I even wanna go to college? [scoffs.]
Hold up.
Was it you who told Papa Fuerte you wanted the internship? - Yeah.
- And was it you who said you were gonna be on time for this internship? - Yeah.
- But it was also you who, on your own, showed up late.
- Yeah.
But it - So, fucking decide, Ezekiel.
It's up to you but make the choice.
Most of the kids in your class, and you know this, live with a slave mentality.
You know what I'm talking about.
The idea that if you smart and educated that somehow you ain't down or cool, or God forbid, you ain't even black.
But if you remain ignorant and running the streets, then you real.
It's the same reason you didn't get in front of the class and read your essay.
Because you are afraid of being smart.
You are afraid of your own God-given gift.
- Says you.
- Yeah, I say.
You gotta decide whether you wanna be more than just some field nigga running the streets.
You gotta decide who you wanna be, Ezekiel.
Sister, I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries here.
Por favor, hermana.
Right on, power to the people.
Mm-hm.
You drinking that Mad Dog 20/20, boy.
And, um [clears throat.]
I never met your mother but I can be damn sure that the future she dreamed for you did not look like this.
- Leon.
- No, no, ain't nothing wrong with me now.
Just circumstances and principalities, you dig? But my mama didn't teach me no piano.
Never made me read no book a week.
And as it happens no one ever offered me no opportunities like they offering you.
See now right now you got a comfort zone.
But your mama wasn't preparing you for comfort.
She was preparing you to be a man.
To blaze your own path without anybody with you.
Where are you going? [Annie.]
"Grand Imperial Force MCs.
" "Hypnotizing Five.
" "Fearless Four.
" "Invincible Three.
" - You know anything about this? - No, ma'am.
All of a sudden, niggas out here calling themselves "Bionic Space Cowboys" and shit.
You know we got robbed? - A thousand dollar sound system.
- Yo, that's fucked up.
[Annie.]
My son seems to think you had something to do with it.
[Shaolin.]
I don't know nothing about that.
Good.
Any word on our little friend Napoleon? Yeah, he's still hiding out in Poughkeepsie.
I got my people on it.
[chuckles.]
Maybe I should send Shaolin up to get him.
Shit.
You see or hear shit, you let us know.
Dig? Dig.
I would like to see Mr.
Gunns, please.
I'm sorry, Mr? Figuero.
Mr.
Gunns is not available.
I've been low - It's okay.
I'll wait.
- I've been high I've been told all my lies I've got nothing left to pray I've got nothing left to say I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world [Flash.]
Conquer your street.
Conquer your park.
[hip hop music playing over speakers.]
Your borough and your city.
[Shaolin.]
In order to fly, a DJ must trust his wings.
I feel like I've been here before I feel that knocking on my door [Flash.]
Conquer your street.
Conquer your park.
Conquer your neighborhood, your borough.
Conquer your city.
And hold back nothing.
And the world is yours.
Universal DJ rule 17, Grasshopper.
Because them Herc boys the Notorious Three they got fans, they got experience, they got speakers so fucking loud they crack concrete.
What you got? I don't know what else you're caught up in in these streets.
And I do not need to know.
Free yourself from negativity, and be king.
- Good night, Janet.
- Good evening, Mr.
G I had this nightmare, and now I'm bugging out, Ra.
Notorious Three got Herc's Echoplex and Bertha speakers.
And them Herculoids is like Hulk, Gigantor and every other freak of nature that you don't want messing with you all rolled up in one.
What did you say? I said we need some sort of secret weapon I ain't thought of yet.
For the battle, I ain't scared of nothing.
But them Berthas scare the shit out of me.
I thought that's what you said.
My friend Fear.
It is a rational evolutionary response to danger.
But it's also clear to me through extensive reading that the only other rational evolutionary response to danger is superpowers.
Your rational response is "get some superpowers"? But superpowers alone ain't enough.
Some dangers are just too great to fight alone.
So, that's when you gotta combine your superpowers into one big one.
What the fuck are you talking about, Ra? - Look, I'm talking about superheroes - No, no.
superheroes with the unity of purpose.
There's no X-Man in X-Men.
Acting alone, neither Wolverine nor Cyclops could defeat the Herculoids.
But acting together, if every man in the Get Down Brothers rhymes, - with our rhymes combined - You can't rhyme.
I can.
If Zeke writes them.
Zeke's gonna write rhymes for all of us.
Ra, a DJ battle's about records, not words.
Plus Zeke's busy.
No, he could do it.
If he could fit us into his schedule.
Mr.
Gunns, I'm Ezekiel Figuero.
You missed your appointment.
- Look, I'm not here to kiss your ass.
- Excuse me? Or apologize for missing my appointment.
That was a stupid mistake.
Fatal, in fact.
But I gave some thought to what you'd get out of this internship.
A minority ghetto mascot who looks good for community relations, right? What exactly are you implying, son? Balzac said, "Behind every great fortune there's a crime.
" And I know upstanding families like the Kennedys and the Rockefellers didn't make their names without the right alliances.
So, I offer you the chance to ally with me.
I'm smart, and I'm ambitious, and I will be successful.
I want to be a leader for my community like Mr.
Cruz and you.
So, I'm giving you, smart businessman that you are, an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
You're Mr.
Cruz's choice, huh? That's right, Papa Fuerte.
[elevator dings.]
Why don't you come to dinner Saturday night? Ask Janet to schedule it.
But remember, leaders lead, so don't be late.
[Yolanda.]
At least if you get kicked out of your house again, - you know where to come.
- [Mylene.]
I'm gonna miss you all.
Girl, I can't believe you're going home.
I'm gonna miss having you here all the time.
I've been living with three stupid boys all my life.
It was nice to have a sister for a minute.
I'm gonna miss wearing all your clothes.
[laughs.]
We're gonna see each other all the time, you know.
Now that we're a girl group.
- This is real big, right? - Mm-hm.
Like, our lives maybe could change and shit.
- I almost don't believe it.
- Why? We've been singing together all our lives.
Yeah, but that was just for fun.
I just never thought this could happen to someone like me.
Yolanda.
Your voice is on point.
You foxy as hell.
And you're the coolest person I know.
Ain't nobody better for this than you.
We're about to get everything we wanted, girl.
But is this definitely what you want? Singing the holy music again? [sighs.]
Look, the way I see it, Jackie's created something new.
You know, a song like ours doesn't exist, that's gonna count for something.
Yeah, I guess you right.
[Mylene.]
And my parents are happy.
They're accepting me, letting me come home.
And I'm happy because I get to sing, and that's all I wanted.
And I'm happy because you about to make us all famous.
No.
We're doing that together.
[Ra-Ra.]
The Notorious Three are gonna have size and strength.
So, we're gonna need coordination.
Like Flash said, "Being in unison.
" No disarray.
So, I said, "Maybe you could write rhymes for all of us.
" And I said, "It's not a rhyme battle.
It's a DJ battle.
" I'm the DJ, meaning I'm in charge.
I'm the conductor.
- I mean, it's just a suggestion.
- I like it.
- Me too.
- Me too.
- Really? - Yeah.
Shao, you still gonna be the conductor.
We just gonna be your instruments.
You know, like, I'm a tuba, Boo-Boo's a cymbal, Ra-Ra's a violin and Dizzee's a triangle.
I'm partial to the piccolo flute.
What you think? You know, I could write something for you, you know.
Something special for the conductor.
[Shaolin thinking.]
In order to fly, a DJ must trust his wings.
- You gotta write fast.
- Yeah.
- [Boo-Boo.]
All right! Whoo-hoo! - We only got a week.
And we gotta rehearse.
Can't have the orchestra fucking up the main event.
- You dig? - [Ezekiel.]
All right.
Then I'll see you first thing in the morning.
[Shaolin.]
Where you going? He gonna play piano for his girl.
[Ezekiel.]
Don't give me that look.
I blew Mylene off to get that Flash tape.
So, I owe this to her.
I'm gonna have those rhymes though.
I'm gonna have the rhymes.
[Shaolin.]
Yeah, I'm trusting you, Books.
Make 'em good! [Ezekiel.]
A rhyme for Dizzee.
My brother said to me Go by the name of Pretty Dizzee D With Krylon in my hand Almost all the time I'm a writer on the walls And on the rhymes [band playing "Set Me Free".]
- Come rescue me - Oh - Come set me free - Oh - Come set me free - Oh You've got the keys [over headphones.]
Come rescue me - Whoever says he's in the light - Hey, more five K on the strings.
Is still in darkness Still in darkness through the night Above all We gotta love each other deeply 'Cause love, love, love Covers a multitude of sins My lips will shout for joy When I sing praise of you And I can feel you inside me And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself like the most High [choir vocalizing.]
Come rescue me Come rescue me Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys - Come rescue me - Oh - Come set me free - Oh Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself And make myself Like the most high [people whooping and cheering.]
- [Ramon.]
Lord heavenly father - Ramon.
Mr.
Moreno here, he brought peace to our family and reunited us in our home.
Perhaps he should give the blessing? My wife, as always, is correct.
Mr.
Moreno, please.
[Francisco.]
Oye, pero Make it fast.
- Less is more.
- Yeah, oh, sure.
This one is from when I grew up poor on Arthur Avenue the guinea section of the Bronx.
Dear Lord, bless this food as the porridge thickens.
But give us more, Lord, because we're skinnier than them Puerto Ricans.
[laughing.]
- To Jackie Moreno.
- To my brother.
For seeing the light.
And to Mylene for coming home.
- Cheers.
- [Francisco.]
Cheers.
And I would just like to say to my beautiful daughter and to all of you we all have flaws we all wrestle with demons But, uh [chuckles.]
I But God he loves us anyway.
And he [chuckles.]
And as much as God loves you all, I love you more.
Mami, you sound drunk.
I think what your mother's trying to say is that um we all fall down.
And we all deserve second chances.
And it's true.
Just ask the piano man right there.
Hm? A chance to be a future leader.
He blew his big shot.
But then he just picked himself right up.
And he said, "I'm not giving up.
Pick me.
I'm a leader.
" So, here's to him.
Go get that internship.
['70s groove music playing.]
[Crash.]
Yo, Rumi.
- What's up, Crash? - You just missed that whole car you did.
- Yeah? Was impressive enough? - Fucking jay right it was.
You seen Thor? We were supposed to meet here at the bench.
No.
I ain't seen him since you brought him around the other day.
- Man, once a phantom, always a phantom.
- Hell yeah.
[Dizzee.]
If you see him, tell him I was here.
[man.]
You're never gonna see that dude again, bro.
[Crash.]
Yo, check the tunnel.
I hear he's working on a new piece there.
[man.]
Later, Rumi.
- Yo, that last burner was amazing.
- Aight.
[Wolf.]
Fuck you doing, nigga? Just looking for some records for my brother.
That so? These records is pretty obscure.
Know what "obscure" means? It means "hard to replace" like any sound system.
You a DJ? DJs be needing sound systems, right? You're a smart little nigga.
I peep your game.
Bet you seen what was in that car.
Some kid with a hole burnt through him.
That's why I'm gonna offer you a deal.
I'm gonna act like I ain't seen you in here grabbing records for your brother.
So, you gonna owe me one.
You see that Napoleon, bring him to me first.
And don't tell your Miss Annie.
Keep a rhino hide and a concrete soul, young blood.
And don't lie about family.
You just a little black bastard.
And I'm the closest thing to a brother you got.
[door closes.]
[Ezekiel.]
All right, Dizzee, I wrote this rhyme for you.
Boo, you take that rhyme.
This is my verse.
And Ra, this verse's for you.
- [scratching.]
- [hip hop rhythm on speakers.]
[Shaolin.]
Yo, Dizz is up first.
Best hope he rhymes as good as he paints.
When I first came out My brothers said to me Go by the name of Pretty Dizzee D The name was too long For the goddamn song But I made it sound so differently Yo, Pretty Dizzee D became my title To the ladies I'm a lover To the men I'm a idol Krylon in my hand almost all the time I'm a writer on the walls And on the rhymes So, I'm down with my crew My Get Down Brothers Our DJ cuts like no other He goes by the name Shaolin Fantastic He comes from the heart And is never ever plastic - I'm out.
- [Ezekiel.]
Whoo! - That's good.
That's good.
- [Boo-Boo.]
That's tight.
- Yo, I like that.
- [Boo-Boo.]
That was crazy.
Who's next? [hip hop rhythm on speakers.]
From From the apple to the From the From the apple to the orange The peach to the pear I'm MC Ra - Yo, get on the one.
- The truth to [Ra-Ra.]
From the apple Apple From the apple - From the apple - Yo.
- [music stops.]
- I don't think we can use you, Ra.
You stutter like that against the Notorious Three, we getting rolled up, lit up and smoked out.
[hip hop music playing over speakers.]
[Cage.]
Little triple And a whole lot of bass We're Notorious Three We about to rock this place We're the Notorious Three And you can decide [hip hop music playing over speakers.]
Said I like your figure I'm good at math I'd like you even better In a bubble bath I'm good at fighting 'Cause I like the action And when I sing, girl Call me Michael Jackson Stop, the love you save May be your own Darling, take it slow Or someday you'll be all alone You better stop The love you save be your own Darling, look both ways Before you cross me You're headed for the danger zone [music stops.]
What'd I do? Singing, right? [stammers.]
I know.
All right, I won't do it no more.
Boo.
You're the missing link.
- I'm not no missing link.
- [Shaolin.]
No, bro.
You got what we need.
Some shit like that we might just have a chance against the Notorious Three.
- [excited chatter.]
- Hundred percent, bro.
- [hip hop rhythm on speakers.]
- From the From From he apple to the orange The peach to the pear I'm MC Ra - Look, we can't We can't - [music stops.]
We can't use you, Ra.
Look, man, I been here before you ever came around.
This is my idea.
- And? - I'm part of this.
[Dizzee.]
Yo, Ra, your mind's just flying too fast.
That's the only problem.
Shao, can you drop a beat that he can double-time to or something? You're good.
You're good.
[slower hip hop rhythm playing over speakers.]
Um From the apple to the orange To the peach to the pear I'm MC Ra, the truth to your dare Peach to the pear, I make it with a plum You do it real fluid then you gimme some You come in the door You ask for more Put your back into it What you waiting for? - [Dizzee.]
Whoo-hoo! Yeah! - Oh, shit! - Yeah! - Oh, damn! - That's it.
That's what I'm talking about.
- [Ezekiel.]
Get it.
I was wrong.
That shit, it's a serious joint.
- Wait, wait, hold up.
It needs something.
- My bad.
Yeah, something for the conductor.
For when I'm switching records, you know? Keep the hype on the star.
I'm a bad motherfucker.
Shaolin's the DJ Who we call conductor 'Cause Shaolin Fantastic's A bad motherfucker - [Dizzee.]
Yeah.
- Whoa, whoa.
- Hey, hey, hey.
Hold on, hold on.
- [Dizzee.]
That's tight.
- Y'all just can't say "motherfucker.
" - Why? It's a curse, bro.
Say "muddafuckee," like the Puerto Ricans do.
Puerto Ricans don't say "muddafuckee.
" Then how they say it? - You sound Chinese.
- How they say it? Oh, oh, oh.
Say it like you Bruce Lee.
Motherfucker! - Y'all are stupid.
- And you're smart.
Look.
But, seriously, y'all can't curse.
Does Cowboy curse in his rhymes? - I'm not Cowboy.
- All right, say "mother plucker.
" Hey.
Boo-Boo, you're not helping.
Books, come here.
Say that again.
All right.
Shaolin's the DJ Who we call conductor 'Cause Shaolin Fantastic's A bad mother - [scratching.]
- [hip hop rhythm playing.]
- Okay.
- Oh, okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Shaolin's the DJ Who we call conductor 'Cause Shaolin Fantastic's A bad mother - [record scratching.]
- [all whooping.]
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
["Set Me Free" playing.]
[Mylene.]
And I will ascend Above the highest of the clouds And make myself And make myself like the most high - Yo, we sound like the joint! - [girls laughing.]
It sounded so professional.
Papi did you like it? I think he likes it.
[voice trembles.]
It's, uh It's beautiful.
You're beautiful.
I'm so proud of you.
Okay, okay, Jackie.
So, let's get this on the radio.
Pronto, bro.
Don't work like that no more, you know? The radio don't sell disco records.
What makes a hit a hit is if it proves itself on the dance floor where the sinners are.
And it ain't gonna be on the dance floor unless it gets into the hands of the top DJs in the city.
Then we gotta do that then, come on.
Mr.
Moreno, Little Wolf knows a gang of DJs.
I doubt he knows the DJs we need.
- I know people who spin records, come on.
- I doubt you know who we need.
Look, the fact is, and Mr.
and Mrs.
Cruz, you may wanna close your ears for a second, but the top DJs, the real tastemakers, are all by and large homosexuals.
Really? - ¿Maricones? - [Jackie.]
SÃ.
You know, but they got the independent spirit.
The je ne sais quoi, you know.
They're rebels.
They're cutting edge.
You can't get into their clubs without knowing somebody.
So, what do we do? - We're gonna go to the record pool.
- What's that? The record pool is where they distribute all the latest singles to the DJs.
And most of these singles are rejects from the record companies because the record companies don't know beans.
But Leslie Lesgold knows beans.
And knows hits, too.
Who's this Leslie Lesgold? Yes, and is he a homosexual? Because if so Leslie Lesgold is a nice Jewish girl.
I respect the Jewish faith.
We got an appointment with her tomorrow night.
[in unison.]
Oh, snap! [squealing.]
Congratulations, girls.
[Mylene.]
We gotta play it for Zeke.
You've got the keys Come set me free Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me It is definitely different.
It's not commercial, but it's good anyway.
Come here.
Let me set you free.
Yo, this is the Get Down Brothers time.
This is the whack shit.
He's so wrong, Mylene.
This song's gonna set so many people free.
It speaks to planets and galaxies that already know what we're learning down here.
Freedom is everything, and that's why this song is so important.
- This song is so beautiful.
- Yo, this shit is garbage! Don't listen to him.
Everyone deserves to hear this song.
- Dizzee, man, just sit down.
- Thank you, Dizzee.
Here, for you.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- What do you think, Zeke? - It's amazing.
Yo.
We ain't got time for this.
We got a battle to prepare for.
[Ezekiel.]
Wait, Shao, listen.
The get down.
You hear that get down part? [rhythmic beat on recording.]
- It's crazy.
- [Shaolin.]
Oh, fuck.
Oh! - Oh, shit! - What? [Shaolin.]
This break beat could be our secret weapon.
Oh-ho-hoo! This is the serious joint right here.
We need this.
The part without us singing.
Exactly.
Look, we take this into battle, the B-boys are gonna lose their minds.
We get the B-boys involved, the Notorious Three are done.
So, can we please get another one of your records? Why? Please.
No.
- Hey! - Hey! - [Ezekiel.]
Yo, hey.
- [Mylene.]
Hey! [Regina.]
Yo, he's got his dirty hands all over it.
Cool it.
It's okay.
[music skipping.]
- [scratching.]
- Whoo! [hip hop rhythm playing.]
Yo, he's scratching the record! [Regina.]
Give back the record, man! - Yo, Mylene - Hey, look.
I'm not hurting the record! [Ezekiel.]
Hey! Okay.
- This is a serious joint.
- [Ezekiel.]
It's okay.
- It's good.
- I'm not hurting the record.
Mylene! Mylene.
- The breakdown is the serious joint.
- [Ezekiel.]
It's serious.
Mylene, come on.
- Books, please get that record.
- Mylene! What you think I'm doing? Little nigga doesn't even know anything about music.
- Trying to tell me.
- Look at this fucking garbage.
- Yo! - Es basura.
Hey, hold up a second, y'all.
Mylene.
Mylene.
You let him take my record and scratch it all up.
- It ain't like that.
- You didn't say anything.
Well, maybe I didn't say anything because there was nothing to say.
- You saw what he was doing.
- Listen to me.
What he was doing, that's what we do, okay? We do it to all great records.
It doesn't hurt them.
He was scratching it.
That's the art.
We know how to scratch it without scratching the record.
I would never let anyone hurt your beautiful record, Mylene.
- You really liked it? - More than liked it.
I need another copy so I can play it again and again and again.
No, you need another copy so you scratch it all over.
That, too.
But I do wanna play it over and over and over.
Why you being so sexy right now? You tell me.
What's happening to you? I'm just trying to keep up with you.
I gotta get back in and practice.
Can I please get that record? Sure.
For a kiss.
[chuckling.]
Go in there and practice, my little gigolo.
Hey! Not for nothing but, Zeke was kind of sexy the way he was talking to you.
I know, right? All manly and shit.
[hip hop music playing over speakers.]
[boys trading off lyrics.]
- Float like - A butterfly - Sting like - A bee - His hands - Can't hit - What his eyes - Can't see - Float like a butterfly - Sting like a bee - His hands can't hit - What his eyes can't see - Float like - A butterfly - Sting like - A bee - His hands - Can't hit - What his eyes - Can't see - Float like - A butterfly - Sting like - A bee - His hands - Can't hit - What his eyes - Can't see Whoo! [Shaolin.]
That's that Muhammad Ali shit.
- Get Down Brothers for life.
- That's what I'm talking about.
That's some rumble in the jungle.
The Notorious Three is getting knocked the fuck out.
Thor.
Who's Thor? Just this white boy.
He got styles.
Yeah, he does.
[Mylene.]
We're doing it, right? [Ezekiel.]
Yup.
You're definitely doing it.
I'm gonna walk in that record pool with Jackie and the girls tomorrow and show the hottest, most fashionable disco DJs in New York that I'm the one they've been looking for.
Hell yeah, you are.
And you're gonna do the same as me at Mr.
Gunns' house, and impress the shit out of him, right? Yeah, maybe.
No, you better.
Because of I get out of the Bronx and you find a way out too then we can be together forever.
Because I'm gonna be there with you the whole time.
Just pin it right there.
Just over your heart.
Thanks.
We're gonna set ourselves free, Zeke.
Tomorrow night's the night that's gonna change everything.
Yeah? And we still got our plan, right? To be free? Free together till the end of time, right? Right.
[accented.]
Shaolin.
You do tiger style, defeat the Notorious Three.
[Shaolin.]
Whoo! Tiger style defeats Notorious eagle claw every time, Boo.
[normal voice.]
Oh! I hope that hit somebody.
Probably did.
I gotta go take a leak.
Go all the way to the other side.
[Boo-Boo.]
Gonna piss on your heads.
[Shaolin.]
Hey, little Grasshopper.
Let me see your iron fist.
Hey, why you throwing cans at him, man? - Take a piss.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's my little brother.
Now shut up.
What do we have here? All we find all we keep.
[Ra-Ra.]
Used to stick us for our lunch money.
- [Shaolin.]
Sure it's him? - [Boo-Boo.]
Yeah, it's him.
[Shaolin.]
Yeah.
Rise and shine, Napoleon.
The fuck you doing on our turf, punk, huh? [War's "Slippin' Into Darkness" playing.]
[mumbles.]
You know, uh, My Mylene, um Uh I, um I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I got nothing, I got nothing.
I don't got nothing.
You got nothing, huh? I gave you $40,000 and you got fucking nothing? [Ramon.]
Pedro, ¿cómo está? ¿Está bien? It's so good to see you at church on Sunday morning.
- Hola.
- [woman.]
How are you? [Lydia gasps.]
Mylene? [voice echoing.]
Do mustard and onions mean anything to you? [normal voice.]
I said, do mustard and onions mean anything to you? [Cassettes.]
Get up.
I like it on my hotdog, DJ Kool Herc, sir.
Ma, can you get the little man one with mustard and onions? - Sure thing.
- No sauerkraut? No.
No sauerkraut.
My man.
Now, see, this is a family affair.
Right, Dad? Ever since we hooked up my sound system and co-DJ'ed your first party.
And we started these parties to have a place to play music and have fun and stay out of all that static out there in the street.
Now you wanna bring the street into this castle I built? I'm sorry, but he It was [mother.]
I prefer eating vegetarian food.
But if you must eat meat, make sure them kosher.
- You hear me, now? - Yeah.
That's all beef, right there.
Now give me this.
Tell me, Pedro, how'd you get involved in all this, man? They were trying to bootleg a show.
I was telling them to stop.
- What? Hey, no, this dude.
This dude.
- Hey, Shao, Shao, Shao.
- That's the King of Cassettes.
- Shao.
Cool it, man, cool it.
Now you accusing Pedro of being the King of Cassettes? Hell, yeah.
How dare you.
Pedro's our brother.
Now, y'all disrespecting my family.
Pedro's our top sound guy, he wouldn't do nothing like that.
- Then what's this? - It's gotta be one of their bootlegs.
Yo, Herc.
This is that kook from around Flash's way.
They the ones using them bootleg Flash tapes, faking like they DJs and whatnot.
How long we known each other? You think I'll do you like that? They phonies.
- We ain't no phonies.
- [Carlito.]
You ain't telling the truth.
[Dizzee.]
That's a lie.
- We ain't no phonies.
- How do you explain this shit here? - [man.]
What's that? - Hm? - Oh, man.
- [Cage.]
What the fuck is this? Customized to hook straight into your system.
Herc.
They been bootlegging you, so they can fake like they you.
- I've been trying to stop them.
- Except this stuff doesn't belong to us.
It's nice to see you again, Jackie Moreno.
I remember you from that day.
The day of Mylene's miracle.
I don't suppose you had anything to do with that dress she was wearing.
Or was it you, Francisco? Or maybe you and my wife, huh? - Oh, Lydia had nothing to do with this.
- Nothing to do with it, but you did.
- It was my choice.
- Cállate la boca.
- Ramon.
- No, the Lord has laws.
He decrees that you shall not raise your voice but in praise of him.
¿Entiendes? And you, mi hermano.
You don't have a family of your own, so you interfere with mine.
[soft groan.]
- You know, if I wasn't a man of God - [chuckles.]
Man of God.
You forget that you became a man of God in prison, right, bro? - Cisco? - What did Fuerte just say? - [Francisco speaks Spanish softly.]
- He said shit is about to get real.
Come preach here all you want, but to me you're still gonna be that little pendejo that got two girls pregnant back in PR.
- [Mylene.]
Is that true? - Diablo.
- Diab No, that's you.
- Cisco, don't.
You ever wonder what happened to those kids you abandoned to come over here and party in the land of milk and honey and cocaÃna? - Silence.
- [Francisco.]
Then when you get here, you almost kill a man and his kid with your car.
But you forgot that, right? You blacked out.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Who are you to judge anyone? That was in the past.
But, papi, ¿es la verdad? [Ramon.]
I'm sorry, Mylene.
We all have sins.
- That's me, too.
- All of us are searching for forgiveness.
Amen! Hallelujah, I'm a sinner too, pastor.
I'm in search of forgiveness.
I battle my demons daily.
I don't go to church.
- Shut the fuck up, Jackie.
- But listen, listen.
It's like, you know, people like me, we find salvation in songs.
But disco's like a mantra, it's a prayer, it's a message.
Our discos even have names like The Sanctuary and The Church.
Your discos are full of drugs and homosexuality.
Pero we gotta reach the sinners where they lay, no? 'Cause, like we were reached.
No.
There's no place for the word of God in your disco.
No.
Hey, the people in the discos, they want they wanna feel raised up, they want God, they want the light, that's what we've been working on night and day.
Like a song about forgiveness and resurrection.
A Latino, Pentecostal, communal Puerto Rican disco hymn record, right? - Right, Mylene? - Right.
Because Mylene Cruz is gonna be the world's first boricua Pentecostal disco star.
You know that beautiful hymn, "Set Me Free"? Does it not say that a man who says he's in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness? Oh, Lord, I know That you love me I know your light Will set me free My Lord will judge Who judges me He takes my pain He rescues me You know, what I do here, it's about peace.
It's about unity and respect.
But if you disrespect me, we gonna air it out.
Out in the street.
[snaps.]
Get 'em outta here.
- Yo, come on, look.
Cool Herc! - [man.]
Hold up, hold up.
You trying to do something positive here, right, man? Right? Let him through.
We about that.
Peace, unity.
So, I'm gonna tell y'all the truth about my crew and me.
We made a mistake.
But let me get a fly drum break.
And I'll prove to all y'all the Get Down Brothers are far from fake.
Yo, 'cause usually, Shaolin drops the record Then I drop the rhyme He says tell the story Y'all ready for story time? - [playing soft melody.]
- So what we've done, we've taken a hymn we've added a little disco beat [raises tempo.]
[humming.]
And a little Latin funk, right, Luis? One, two, three, four.
[band playing upbeat music.]
And what we're gonna do, pastor, with your permission, is record in your church.
Because that church has an acoustical quality that Jesús himself must have sent as a blessing! Oh, we could use the church choir, too.
[choir vocalizing.]
[Jackie.]
Oh, can you see it? Oh, it's gonna be divine.
Mylene! Please! Let the Lord's words ring.
These chains on me Won't let me be You've got the keys Come rescue me That skinny guy'll play piano.
- Won't let me be - [Jackie.]
I like that guy.
You've got the keys And she'll need backup.
Girls.
Regina, Yolanda! - Hold up, us? - Just go with it.
Not since the Ronettes have I heard such celestial harmonies.
[vocalizing.]
Won't you come down and Come and shine a light on - Come shine a light on - Me Come and set me Everybody'll be invited to God's party, no one will be excluded from his light.
Because ours is a community effort.
Come and set me Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me Once upon a time Not long ago Shao wrote graffiti But he wrote solo Fought when we met With jabs and hooks But liked how I rhymed And named me Books Ten shots fired Up at Inferno Too quick to get hit Too fast to be slow Showed us the man Who wears the crown Grandmaster Flash And the big Get Down Whoever says he's in the light And hates his brother Is still in darkness Still in darkness through the night Above all we've gotta love Each other deeply 'Cause love, love, love Covers a multitude of sins We threw a jam Cold drank the Kool-Aid Put on a Flash tape Swore it homemade Fakin' the funk To one and all Flash threw the pass We dropped the ball Flash is the man With the master plan And from that day on He said we was banned So we headed over here To this place To punch that bootlegger In his face Yo, check his pocket.
My lips will shout for joy When I sing praise of you When I can feel you inside of me And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself Like the most high Came here to find The real-deal faker The sell-out, the bum The fake tape maker All respect to the founder And his crew But the Judas is here And his name is you And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself And make myself Like the most high [crowd clapping.]
Phony, huh? Herc, please.
What do we have here? - Herc.
- Air him out.
Out there.
Herc, how you gonna do me like that? Herc.
Herc! Come on, man.
Come on.
Herc! When I came up, there was a time When we rumbled with knuckles instead of rhymes We made zip guns in shop class It was all about Who could bust that ass We created a thing That we called the rock It got us respect around the block They came from the Skulls And the Spades Just to hear the joints That Kool Herc played We made a spot for the young sprouts To come see if they could bust it out If you could rock, B-boy or be an MC, Kool Herc party is the place to be But y'all wanna rumble like it's the old days Instead of riding around in a fly OJ You got one shot, get it on the humble Make your battle a DJ rumble - [words echoing.]
- [crowd cheering and clapping.]
[softly.]
Yo, what's a DJ rumble? [into mic.]
Be cool, y'all.
[echoes.]
In two weeks' time, your two crews will battle with your systems, your records, and your rhymes.
Whichever army gets the B-boys to rock is the army that comes out on top.
[crowd cheering and clapping.]
- Right, Ma? - Right, child.
Now, ladies [echoing.]
don't Herc nobody.
[scattered chuckles.]
Rock on.
['70s groove music plays.]
- [music continues.]
- [inaudible dialogue.]
Y'all must think y'all Charles Bronson in Death Wish coming back over here.
We got something for Flash that y'all dummies couldn't get.
[Flash.]
Hey.
Let him in.
[Shaolin.]
It belonged to the King of Cassettes.
We tracked him down and took it off him.
Osu.
And we got the tape back, the final bootleg tape.
It's my honor to present them both to you, Grandmaster.
Here.
Everybody leave.
You deaf? Go on, go.
Hey.
You stay.
Sit down.
What's your purpose here? For real.
I wanted to show you how serious we took that bootlegging shit.
No, forget tapes.
And I wanted to make things right.
And you got a battle coming up, right? - So you heard about that.
- Come on, I hear about everything.
So, I was gonna ask you if we can battle.
Notorious Three.
Well, them Herc boys, they got fans, they got experience, they got speakers so fucking loud they crack concrete.
What you got? - I'm gonna find something.
- No, but you already did.
Universal DJ rule 17, Grasshopper.
In order to fly, a DJ must trust his wings.
And you better.
'Cause you lose, you lost for both of us, and the ban is reinstated.
- You're like a mentor to me.
And - Forget me.
What is your purpose, Grasshopper? - I just like to spin records, man.
- Okay, but why? When I'm spinning records, everything else just falls out.
It's about music, man.
- I know.
- No, you don't know.
Music is the only reason.
It'll it'll move you forward and open up doors that everyone says are shut, Shao.
It'll give you the whole fucking world for free if you just love it and hold back nothing.
If the shit really is your life, if the shit really does have your heart - It does.
- then where were you when your wings found that tape? You the DJ, ain't you? That's your crew, right? You supposed to lead.
Conduct, control the crowd, move the crowd.
Know time.
Administer joy.
I don't know what else you caught up in and I do not need to know, but I know there's no faking that hell-born fire.
That shit beats your heart for you.
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
You hear it? You hear it? - I hear it.
- How it sound? Sound like victory.
Osu.
And Grasshopper.
If you wanna be a true DJ, conquer your street.
Conquer your park.
Conquer your neighborhood, conquer your borough.
Conquer your city.
And the world is yours.
So, battle.
Notorious Three, get ready, we going to battle, baby.
Whoo! - Yeah? - But once we find our new dojo, - we gonna be dropping bombs.
- Where we gonna practice? - I know a secret spot.
- Secret? A mansion.
[all whooping, laughing.]
I just see the saddest life A savage life Snakes and thieves Everyman has his price There's hell below Who will or won't sell his soul What's my goal, go to jail or fail Hell no In the streets, there's a few ways out 'Cause face it, time is short Think fast, while I resort To a life of crime and fast cash, nah I'm destined to be king Staying on the right path All my nights and all my days I've been trying To run away [clock bell tolling.]
Oh, shit.
Oh, shit, my internship.
I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world My life's surviving at night I'm riding Smoking, hoping, dreaming Speeding, white lightning Scheming, streets trifling I keep writing, it gets deeper My brother's keeper, are we dividing I'm deciding to keep rising, yeah [Flash.]
You have wings.
Learn to fly.
New York, New York the irrefutable I'm a black man in a white world The city if you make it out here Is beautiful I'm a black man in a white world And the streets Can deceive you when times are hard I'm a black man in a white world And the pressure leaves your mind, Body and soul so scarred All my nights and all my days Yeah I've been trying to run away - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah - I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah Everything I had We need to wisen up - And I'm not angry - We rising up - And I'm not mad - These times is rough - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - For real - I'm a black man in a white world - Temple of Shaolin.
- I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah - I'm a black man in a white world - [shouts.]
- Black man - [fighting grunts.]
- In a white world, yeah - I've been told all my life Mr.
Gunns is in committee meetings for the remainder of the day.
So, I'm sorry, but you've missed your window of opportunity, Mr.
Figuero.
- Nothing left to say - Rise, yeah Rise, yeah - [shouts.]
- Let's rise - Yeah, let's rise - I'm a black man in a white world - Yeah, come on, let's rise - I'm a black man in a white world Yeah, come on y'all Yeah So, you were late because you were out late at a party.
I said I was sorry.
I don't think he knows how silly he sounds.
At a party? Nursery rhyming? It's not nursery rhyming.
What is it, then? - You wouldn't understand.
- Try me.
Go on.
It's like, when I get up on stage and say what I gotta say, I know who I am, and right now y'all are pushing me to be who you want me to be and nobody's asking what I wanna be.
I mean, who says I even wanna go to college? [scoffs.]
Hold up.
Was it you who told Papa Fuerte you wanted the internship? - Yeah.
- And was it you who said you were gonna be on time for this internship? - Yeah.
- But it was also you who, on your own, showed up late.
- Yeah.
But it - So, fucking decide, Ezekiel.
It's up to you but make the choice.
Most of the kids in your class, and you know this, live with a slave mentality.
You know what I'm talking about.
The idea that if you smart and educated that somehow you ain't down or cool, or God forbid, you ain't even black.
But if you remain ignorant and running the streets, then you real.
It's the same reason you didn't get in front of the class and read your essay.
Because you are afraid of being smart.
You are afraid of your own God-given gift.
- Says you.
- Yeah, I say.
You gotta decide whether you wanna be more than just some field nigga running the streets.
You gotta decide who you wanna be, Ezekiel.
Sister, I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries here.
Por favor, hermana.
Right on, power to the people.
Mm-hm.
You drinking that Mad Dog 20/20, boy.
And, um [clears throat.]
I never met your mother but I can be damn sure that the future she dreamed for you did not look like this.
- Leon.
- No, no, ain't nothing wrong with me now.
Just circumstances and principalities, you dig? But my mama didn't teach me no piano.
Never made me read no book a week.
And as it happens no one ever offered me no opportunities like they offering you.
See now right now you got a comfort zone.
But your mama wasn't preparing you for comfort.
She was preparing you to be a man.
To blaze your own path without anybody with you.
Where are you going? [Annie.]
"Grand Imperial Force MCs.
" "Hypnotizing Five.
" "Fearless Four.
" "Invincible Three.
" - You know anything about this? - No, ma'am.
All of a sudden, niggas out here calling themselves "Bionic Space Cowboys" and shit.
You know we got robbed? - A thousand dollar sound system.
- Yo, that's fucked up.
[Annie.]
My son seems to think you had something to do with it.
[Shaolin.]
I don't know nothing about that.
Good.
Any word on our little friend Napoleon? Yeah, he's still hiding out in Poughkeepsie.
I got my people on it.
[chuckles.]
Maybe I should send Shaolin up to get him.
Shit.
You see or hear shit, you let us know.
Dig? Dig.
I would like to see Mr.
Gunns, please.
I'm sorry, Mr? Figuero.
Mr.
Gunns is not available.
I've been low - It's okay.
I'll wait.
- I've been high I've been told all my lies I've got nothing left to pray I've got nothing left to say I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world I'm a black man in a white world [Flash.]
Conquer your street.
Conquer your park.
[hip hop music playing over speakers.]
Your borough and your city.
[Shaolin.]
In order to fly, a DJ must trust his wings.
I feel like I've been here before I feel that knocking on my door [Flash.]
Conquer your street.
Conquer your park.
Conquer your neighborhood, your borough.
Conquer your city.
And hold back nothing.
And the world is yours.
Universal DJ rule 17, Grasshopper.
Because them Herc boys the Notorious Three they got fans, they got experience, they got speakers so fucking loud they crack concrete.
What you got? I don't know what else you're caught up in in these streets.
And I do not need to know.
Free yourself from negativity, and be king.
- Good night, Janet.
- Good evening, Mr.
G I had this nightmare, and now I'm bugging out, Ra.
Notorious Three got Herc's Echoplex and Bertha speakers.
And them Herculoids is like Hulk, Gigantor and every other freak of nature that you don't want messing with you all rolled up in one.
What did you say? I said we need some sort of secret weapon I ain't thought of yet.
For the battle, I ain't scared of nothing.
But them Berthas scare the shit out of me.
I thought that's what you said.
My friend Fear.
It is a rational evolutionary response to danger.
But it's also clear to me through extensive reading that the only other rational evolutionary response to danger is superpowers.
Your rational response is "get some superpowers"? But superpowers alone ain't enough.
Some dangers are just too great to fight alone.
So, that's when you gotta combine your superpowers into one big one.
What the fuck are you talking about, Ra? - Look, I'm talking about superheroes - No, no.
superheroes with the unity of purpose.
There's no X-Man in X-Men.
Acting alone, neither Wolverine nor Cyclops could defeat the Herculoids.
But acting together, if every man in the Get Down Brothers rhymes, - with our rhymes combined - You can't rhyme.
I can.
If Zeke writes them.
Zeke's gonna write rhymes for all of us.
Ra, a DJ battle's about records, not words.
Plus Zeke's busy.
No, he could do it.
If he could fit us into his schedule.
Mr.
Gunns, I'm Ezekiel Figuero.
You missed your appointment.
- Look, I'm not here to kiss your ass.
- Excuse me? Or apologize for missing my appointment.
That was a stupid mistake.
Fatal, in fact.
But I gave some thought to what you'd get out of this internship.
A minority ghetto mascot who looks good for community relations, right? What exactly are you implying, son? Balzac said, "Behind every great fortune there's a crime.
" And I know upstanding families like the Kennedys and the Rockefellers didn't make their names without the right alliances.
So, I offer you the chance to ally with me.
I'm smart, and I'm ambitious, and I will be successful.
I want to be a leader for my community like Mr.
Cruz and you.
So, I'm giving you, smart businessman that you are, an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
You're Mr.
Cruz's choice, huh? That's right, Papa Fuerte.
[elevator dings.]
Why don't you come to dinner Saturday night? Ask Janet to schedule it.
But remember, leaders lead, so don't be late.
[Yolanda.]
At least if you get kicked out of your house again, - you know where to come.
- [Mylene.]
I'm gonna miss you all.
Girl, I can't believe you're going home.
I'm gonna miss having you here all the time.
I've been living with three stupid boys all my life.
It was nice to have a sister for a minute.
I'm gonna miss wearing all your clothes.
[laughs.]
We're gonna see each other all the time, you know.
Now that we're a girl group.
- This is real big, right? - Mm-hm.
Like, our lives maybe could change and shit.
- I almost don't believe it.
- Why? We've been singing together all our lives.
Yeah, but that was just for fun.
I just never thought this could happen to someone like me.
Yolanda.
Your voice is on point.
You foxy as hell.
And you're the coolest person I know.
Ain't nobody better for this than you.
We're about to get everything we wanted, girl.
But is this definitely what you want? Singing the holy music again? [sighs.]
Look, the way I see it, Jackie's created something new.
You know, a song like ours doesn't exist, that's gonna count for something.
Yeah, I guess you right.
[Mylene.]
And my parents are happy.
They're accepting me, letting me come home.
And I'm happy because I get to sing, and that's all I wanted.
And I'm happy because you about to make us all famous.
No.
We're doing that together.
[Ra-Ra.]
The Notorious Three are gonna have size and strength.
So, we're gonna need coordination.
Like Flash said, "Being in unison.
" No disarray.
So, I said, "Maybe you could write rhymes for all of us.
" And I said, "It's not a rhyme battle.
It's a DJ battle.
" I'm the DJ, meaning I'm in charge.
I'm the conductor.
- I mean, it's just a suggestion.
- I like it.
- Me too.
- Me too.
- Really? - Yeah.
Shao, you still gonna be the conductor.
We just gonna be your instruments.
You know, like, I'm a tuba, Boo-Boo's a cymbal, Ra-Ra's a violin and Dizzee's a triangle.
I'm partial to the piccolo flute.
What you think? You know, I could write something for you, you know.
Something special for the conductor.
[Shaolin thinking.]
In order to fly, a DJ must trust his wings.
- You gotta write fast.
- Yeah.
- [Boo-Boo.]
All right! Whoo-hoo! - We only got a week.
And we gotta rehearse.
Can't have the orchestra fucking up the main event.
- You dig? - [Ezekiel.]
All right.
Then I'll see you first thing in the morning.
[Shaolin.]
Where you going? He gonna play piano for his girl.
[Ezekiel.]
Don't give me that look.
I blew Mylene off to get that Flash tape.
So, I owe this to her.
I'm gonna have those rhymes though.
I'm gonna have the rhymes.
[Shaolin.]
Yeah, I'm trusting you, Books.
Make 'em good! [Ezekiel.]
A rhyme for Dizzee.
My brother said to me Go by the name of Pretty Dizzee D With Krylon in my hand Almost all the time I'm a writer on the walls And on the rhymes [band playing "Set Me Free".]
- Come rescue me - Oh - Come set me free - Oh - Come set me free - Oh You've got the keys [over headphones.]
Come rescue me - Whoever says he's in the light - Hey, more five K on the strings.
Is still in darkness Still in darkness through the night Above all We gotta love each other deeply 'Cause love, love, love Covers a multitude of sins My lips will shout for joy When I sing praise of you And I can feel you inside me And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself like the most High [choir vocalizing.]
Come rescue me Come rescue me Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys - Come rescue me - Oh - Come set me free - Oh Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me And I will ascend above The highest of the clouds And make myself And make myself Like the most high [people whooping and cheering.]
- [Ramon.]
Lord heavenly father - Ramon.
Mr.
Moreno here, he brought peace to our family and reunited us in our home.
Perhaps he should give the blessing? My wife, as always, is correct.
Mr.
Moreno, please.
[Francisco.]
Oye, pero Make it fast.
- Less is more.
- Yeah, oh, sure.
This one is from when I grew up poor on Arthur Avenue the guinea section of the Bronx.
Dear Lord, bless this food as the porridge thickens.
But give us more, Lord, because we're skinnier than them Puerto Ricans.
[laughing.]
- To Jackie Moreno.
- To my brother.
For seeing the light.
And to Mylene for coming home.
- Cheers.
- [Francisco.]
Cheers.
And I would just like to say to my beautiful daughter and to all of you we all have flaws we all wrestle with demons But, uh [chuckles.]
I But God he loves us anyway.
And he [chuckles.]
And as much as God loves you all, I love you more.
Mami, you sound drunk.
I think what your mother's trying to say is that um we all fall down.
And we all deserve second chances.
And it's true.
Just ask the piano man right there.
Hm? A chance to be a future leader.
He blew his big shot.
But then he just picked himself right up.
And he said, "I'm not giving up.
Pick me.
I'm a leader.
" So, here's to him.
Go get that internship.
['70s groove music playing.]
[Crash.]
Yo, Rumi.
- What's up, Crash? - You just missed that whole car you did.
- Yeah? Was impressive enough? - Fucking jay right it was.
You seen Thor? We were supposed to meet here at the bench.
No.
I ain't seen him since you brought him around the other day.
- Man, once a phantom, always a phantom.
- Hell yeah.
[Dizzee.]
If you see him, tell him I was here.
[man.]
You're never gonna see that dude again, bro.
[Crash.]
Yo, check the tunnel.
I hear he's working on a new piece there.
[man.]
Later, Rumi.
- Yo, that last burner was amazing.
- Aight.
[Wolf.]
Fuck you doing, nigga? Just looking for some records for my brother.
That so? These records is pretty obscure.
Know what "obscure" means? It means "hard to replace" like any sound system.
You a DJ? DJs be needing sound systems, right? You're a smart little nigga.
I peep your game.
Bet you seen what was in that car.
Some kid with a hole burnt through him.
That's why I'm gonna offer you a deal.
I'm gonna act like I ain't seen you in here grabbing records for your brother.
So, you gonna owe me one.
You see that Napoleon, bring him to me first.
And don't tell your Miss Annie.
Keep a rhino hide and a concrete soul, young blood.
And don't lie about family.
You just a little black bastard.
And I'm the closest thing to a brother you got.
[door closes.]
[Ezekiel.]
All right, Dizzee, I wrote this rhyme for you.
Boo, you take that rhyme.
This is my verse.
And Ra, this verse's for you.
- [scratching.]
- [hip hop rhythm on speakers.]
[Shaolin.]
Yo, Dizz is up first.
Best hope he rhymes as good as he paints.
When I first came out My brothers said to me Go by the name of Pretty Dizzee D The name was too long For the goddamn song But I made it sound so differently Yo, Pretty Dizzee D became my title To the ladies I'm a lover To the men I'm a idol Krylon in my hand almost all the time I'm a writer on the walls And on the rhymes So, I'm down with my crew My Get Down Brothers Our DJ cuts like no other He goes by the name Shaolin Fantastic He comes from the heart And is never ever plastic - I'm out.
- [Ezekiel.]
Whoo! - That's good.
That's good.
- [Boo-Boo.]
That's tight.
- Yo, I like that.
- [Boo-Boo.]
That was crazy.
Who's next? [hip hop rhythm on speakers.]
From From the apple to the From the From the apple to the orange The peach to the pear I'm MC Ra - Yo, get on the one.
- The truth to [Ra-Ra.]
From the apple Apple From the apple - From the apple - Yo.
- [music stops.]
- I don't think we can use you, Ra.
You stutter like that against the Notorious Three, we getting rolled up, lit up and smoked out.
[hip hop music playing over speakers.]
[Cage.]
Little triple And a whole lot of bass We're Notorious Three We about to rock this place We're the Notorious Three And you can decide [hip hop music playing over speakers.]
Said I like your figure I'm good at math I'd like you even better In a bubble bath I'm good at fighting 'Cause I like the action And when I sing, girl Call me Michael Jackson Stop, the love you save May be your own Darling, take it slow Or someday you'll be all alone You better stop The love you save be your own Darling, look both ways Before you cross me You're headed for the danger zone [music stops.]
What'd I do? Singing, right? [stammers.]
I know.
All right, I won't do it no more.
Boo.
You're the missing link.
- I'm not no missing link.
- [Shaolin.]
No, bro.
You got what we need.
Some shit like that we might just have a chance against the Notorious Three.
- [excited chatter.]
- Hundred percent, bro.
- [hip hop rhythm on speakers.]
- From the From From he apple to the orange The peach to the pear I'm MC Ra - Look, we can't We can't - [music stops.]
We can't use you, Ra.
Look, man, I been here before you ever came around.
This is my idea.
- And? - I'm part of this.
[Dizzee.]
Yo, Ra, your mind's just flying too fast.
That's the only problem.
Shao, can you drop a beat that he can double-time to or something? You're good.
You're good.
[slower hip hop rhythm playing over speakers.]
Um From the apple to the orange To the peach to the pear I'm MC Ra, the truth to your dare Peach to the pear, I make it with a plum You do it real fluid then you gimme some You come in the door You ask for more Put your back into it What you waiting for? - [Dizzee.]
Whoo-hoo! Yeah! - Oh, shit! - Yeah! - Oh, damn! - That's it.
That's what I'm talking about.
- [Ezekiel.]
Get it.
I was wrong.
That shit, it's a serious joint.
- Wait, wait, hold up.
It needs something.
- My bad.
Yeah, something for the conductor.
For when I'm switching records, you know? Keep the hype on the star.
I'm a bad motherfucker.
Shaolin's the DJ Who we call conductor 'Cause Shaolin Fantastic's A bad motherfucker - [Dizzee.]
Yeah.
- Whoa, whoa.
- Hey, hey, hey.
Hold on, hold on.
- [Dizzee.]
That's tight.
- Y'all just can't say "motherfucker.
" - Why? It's a curse, bro.
Say "muddafuckee," like the Puerto Ricans do.
Puerto Ricans don't say "muddafuckee.
" Then how they say it? - You sound Chinese.
- How they say it? Oh, oh, oh.
Say it like you Bruce Lee.
Motherfucker! - Y'all are stupid.
- And you're smart.
Look.
But, seriously, y'all can't curse.
Does Cowboy curse in his rhymes? - I'm not Cowboy.
- All right, say "mother plucker.
" Hey.
Boo-Boo, you're not helping.
Books, come here.
Say that again.
All right.
Shaolin's the DJ Who we call conductor 'Cause Shaolin Fantastic's A bad mother - [scratching.]
- [hip hop rhythm playing.]
- Okay.
- Oh, okay.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Shaolin's the DJ Who we call conductor 'Cause Shaolin Fantastic's A bad mother - [record scratching.]
- [all whooping.]
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
["Set Me Free" playing.]
[Mylene.]
And I will ascend Above the highest of the clouds And make myself And make myself like the most high - Yo, we sound like the joint! - [girls laughing.]
It sounded so professional.
Papi did you like it? I think he likes it.
[voice trembles.]
It's, uh It's beautiful.
You're beautiful.
I'm so proud of you.
Okay, okay, Jackie.
So, let's get this on the radio.
Pronto, bro.
Don't work like that no more, you know? The radio don't sell disco records.
What makes a hit a hit is if it proves itself on the dance floor where the sinners are.
And it ain't gonna be on the dance floor unless it gets into the hands of the top DJs in the city.
Then we gotta do that then, come on.
Mr.
Moreno, Little Wolf knows a gang of DJs.
I doubt he knows the DJs we need.
- I know people who spin records, come on.
- I doubt you know who we need.
Look, the fact is, and Mr.
and Mrs.
Cruz, you may wanna close your ears for a second, but the top DJs, the real tastemakers, are all by and large homosexuals.
Really? - ¿Maricones? - [Jackie.]
SÃ.
You know, but they got the independent spirit.
The je ne sais quoi, you know.
They're rebels.
They're cutting edge.
You can't get into their clubs without knowing somebody.
So, what do we do? - We're gonna go to the record pool.
- What's that? The record pool is where they distribute all the latest singles to the DJs.
And most of these singles are rejects from the record companies because the record companies don't know beans.
But Leslie Lesgold knows beans.
And knows hits, too.
Who's this Leslie Lesgold? Yes, and is he a homosexual? Because if so Leslie Lesgold is a nice Jewish girl.
I respect the Jewish faith.
We got an appointment with her tomorrow night.
[in unison.]
Oh, snap! [squealing.]
Congratulations, girls.
[Mylene.]
We gotta play it for Zeke.
You've got the keys Come set me free Come set me free Come set me free You've got the keys Come rescue me It is definitely different.
It's not commercial, but it's good anyway.
Come here.
Let me set you free.
Yo, this is the Get Down Brothers time.
This is the whack shit.
He's so wrong, Mylene.
This song's gonna set so many people free.
It speaks to planets and galaxies that already know what we're learning down here.
Freedom is everything, and that's why this song is so important.
- This song is so beautiful.
- Yo, this shit is garbage! Don't listen to him.
Everyone deserves to hear this song.
- Dizzee, man, just sit down.
- Thank you, Dizzee.
Here, for you.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- What do you think, Zeke? - It's amazing.
Yo.
We ain't got time for this.
We got a battle to prepare for.
[Ezekiel.]
Wait, Shao, listen.
The get down.
You hear that get down part? [rhythmic beat on recording.]
- It's crazy.
- [Shaolin.]
Oh, fuck.
Oh! - Oh, shit! - What? [Shaolin.]
This break beat could be our secret weapon.
Oh-ho-hoo! This is the serious joint right here.
We need this.
The part without us singing.
Exactly.
Look, we take this into battle, the B-boys are gonna lose their minds.
We get the B-boys involved, the Notorious Three are done.
So, can we please get another one of your records? Why? Please.
No.
- Hey! - Hey! - [Ezekiel.]
Yo, hey.
- [Mylene.]
Hey! [Regina.]
Yo, he's got his dirty hands all over it.
Cool it.
It's okay.
[music skipping.]
- [scratching.]
- Whoo! [hip hop rhythm playing.]
Yo, he's scratching the record! [Regina.]
Give back the record, man! - Yo, Mylene - Hey, look.
I'm not hurting the record! [Ezekiel.]
Hey! Okay.
- This is a serious joint.
- [Ezekiel.]
It's okay.
- It's good.
- I'm not hurting the record.
Mylene! Mylene.
- The breakdown is the serious joint.
- [Ezekiel.]
It's serious.
Mylene, come on.
- Books, please get that record.
- Mylene! What you think I'm doing? Little nigga doesn't even know anything about music.
- Trying to tell me.
- Look at this fucking garbage.
- Yo! - Es basura.
Hey, hold up a second, y'all.
Mylene.
Mylene.
You let him take my record and scratch it all up.
- It ain't like that.
- You didn't say anything.
Well, maybe I didn't say anything because there was nothing to say.
- You saw what he was doing.
- Listen to me.
What he was doing, that's what we do, okay? We do it to all great records.
It doesn't hurt them.
He was scratching it.
That's the art.
We know how to scratch it without scratching the record.
I would never let anyone hurt your beautiful record, Mylene.
- You really liked it? - More than liked it.
I need another copy so I can play it again and again and again.
No, you need another copy so you scratch it all over.
That, too.
But I do wanna play it over and over and over.
Why you being so sexy right now? You tell me.
What's happening to you? I'm just trying to keep up with you.
I gotta get back in and practice.
Can I please get that record? Sure.
For a kiss.
[chuckling.]
Go in there and practice, my little gigolo.
Hey! Not for nothing but, Zeke was kind of sexy the way he was talking to you.
I know, right? All manly and shit.
[hip hop music playing over speakers.]
[boys trading off lyrics.]
- Float like - A butterfly - Sting like - A bee - His hands - Can't hit - What his eyes - Can't see - Float like a butterfly - Sting like a bee - His hands can't hit - What his eyes can't see - Float like - A butterfly - Sting like - A bee - His hands - Can't hit - What his eyes - Can't see - Float like - A butterfly - Sting like - A bee - His hands - Can't hit - What his eyes - Can't see Whoo! [Shaolin.]
That's that Muhammad Ali shit.
- Get Down Brothers for life.
- That's what I'm talking about.
That's some rumble in the jungle.
The Notorious Three is getting knocked the fuck out.
Thor.
Who's Thor? Just this white boy.
He got styles.
Yeah, he does.
[Mylene.]
We're doing it, right? [Ezekiel.]
Yup.
You're definitely doing it.
I'm gonna walk in that record pool with Jackie and the girls tomorrow and show the hottest, most fashionable disco DJs in New York that I'm the one they've been looking for.
Hell yeah, you are.
And you're gonna do the same as me at Mr.
Gunns' house, and impress the shit out of him, right? Yeah, maybe.
No, you better.
Because of I get out of the Bronx and you find a way out too then we can be together forever.
Because I'm gonna be there with you the whole time.
Just pin it right there.
Just over your heart.
Thanks.
We're gonna set ourselves free, Zeke.
Tomorrow night's the night that's gonna change everything.
Yeah? And we still got our plan, right? To be free? Free together till the end of time, right? Right.
[accented.]
Shaolin.
You do tiger style, defeat the Notorious Three.
[Shaolin.]
Whoo! Tiger style defeats Notorious eagle claw every time, Boo.
[normal voice.]
Oh! I hope that hit somebody.
Probably did.
I gotta go take a leak.
Go all the way to the other side.
[Boo-Boo.]
Gonna piss on your heads.
[Shaolin.]
Hey, little Grasshopper.
Let me see your iron fist.
Hey, why you throwing cans at him, man? - Take a piss.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's my little brother.
Now shut up.
What do we have here? All we find all we keep.
[Ra-Ra.]
Used to stick us for our lunch money.
- [Shaolin.]
Sure it's him? - [Boo-Boo.]
Yeah, it's him.
[Shaolin.]
Yeah.
Rise and shine, Napoleon.
The fuck you doing on our turf, punk, huh? [War's "Slippin' Into Darkness" playing.]