["Love Don't Live Here Anymore" playing]
You abandoned me You abandoned me You abandoned me
- [Shaolin]
"My college essay"
- [Ezekiel]
My college essay
- by Ezekiel Figuero.
- "by Ezekiel Figuero.
" [Ezekiel]
To grow up in the ghetto is to wrestle daily with dichotomy and duality.
For example, I'm an orphan.
I kept my word I never left I saw the future I saw they used to Hang on your every word You ain't lived what you preach You are the streets I never trusted the streets [Ezekiel]
My best friend Shao is a drug dealer, and I'm his wordsmith.
I love my best friend, but hate his hustle.
[Mr.
Books]
I did what you told me I'm grateful you showed me How to be on top I hated the top, it's so lonely Shao, you told me stay loyal To one thing, the music [Ezekiel]
But I don't wanna live in a place where every opportunity come with strings attached, and I think it might be different at Yale.
[Mr.
Books]
You had your road I had my road, I'm drivin' through it And now I struggle with thoughts Like, did I betray you? You taught me values, Shaolin I could never play you [Ezekiel]
I ought to tell him, warn him that my ship will set sail.
'Cause I'm not just Bronx, I'm Manhattan also, see? [Mr.
Books]
In fact, I can only Thank you for what I become Supposed to have been one for all And all for one [Ezekiel]
But I can't say what I ought to say.
[Mr.
Books]
One hand wash the other Each one teach one We was the Get Down Brothers [Ezekiel]
That's the story, Yale.
- That's my tale.
- [Shaolin]
"That's my tale.
" [Ezekiel]
My life is dichotomy and both my lives are true.
Part scholar who could go far
- and, yeah, part budding ghetto superstar.
- [Shaolin]
"superstar.
" [Ezekiel]
But if you accept me [Boo
-Boo]
Yo, you here alone? Boo, why you creepin' around like that? Yo, Shao.
I wanna be down.
Down with what? You know.
Wanna make that money.
And not that bullshit rocking the mic change like Zeke and my brothers.
Real bank.
Yeah, and I saw that envelope.
You got money to spend on girls and that's all I need to know.
- So, what you want? I'll buy it.
- I don't want you to buy me sh*t.
I'm not no kid.
I'm willing to work for it.
Nah.
Nah, that's out.
- Why?
- You f*cking stupid? You got a good family.
I don't got that.
I live on my own.
I been on my own.
That's my reason for being in this sh*t.
What's your reason?
- A girl.
- A girl? Boo.
Man, you asked me.
Who's this girl? What's her name?
- Carmelita.
- Carmelita.
What's she about? Finer things.
Gucci, Fiorucci, champagne, caviar.
So, you gonna be her trick? No, I wanna be her man.
- Man, you gonna put me on or not?
- Not.
Never.
No.
Chino and them said they gonna put me down.
But if I'm gonna be out scrambling, I'd rather scramble for you.
Chino, first off, is a crazy f*cking 'Rican.
You f*ck up, he's gonna s*ab your ass, and I can't save you from them.
I know what I'm doing.
- Yo, you a f*cking dummy.
- Man, I'm not like my brothers.
I hate school.
I like the streets.
I'm loyal and I won't drop a dime.
Shao, Zeke and them, they gonna leave us, man.
But I ain't got no college to go to.
All right.
I'll give you a trial run.
But stay clear of Chino and all of them n*gg*s.
And don't tell a soul what we doing here, Boo.
["Far, Far Away" playing]
Take me out of myself again Out of myself Help me lose control [radio DJ]
Yeah, ain't that a classic? The Pakoussa remix of Misty Holloway's "Far, Far Away.
" Speaking of Misty, just days after dumping longtime lover and disco CEO Roy Asheton, Misty has been spotted getting cozy with the co
-star of her upcoming film, Gone With the Solar Wind.
What's your guess? Will there be a future for Misty at Marrakesh? ["Toy Box" playing over speakers]
It's a hit, baby.
Me and Stigwood locked Starship in the studio for 96 straight hours until they composed this funkafied orgasmic perfection.
When this film drops, the population is gonna increase.
- That's how sexy this soundtrack will be.
- [music stops]
This debuts at number one, Roy.
This was a focus group favorite.
It's sensual, celestial.
- It's powerful.
It's dangerous.
- Clear the room.
- Excuse me?
- Everybody, get the f*ck out of my office.
Get this hooker out of my face.
Go on.
Get her out of here.
I ought to f*cking fire you, man.
- Fire me? Why?
- These the lyrics?
- Yeah.
- Every time I think you're a genius, you go Jerry's kids on me like a f*cking ret*rd.
Educate me, Roy.
My ex is too old for this one.
- She's 30.
- You have a number one sexy hit here.
Congratulations.
But you know what? You need number one sexy tits.
- Mylene Cruz's tits, have you seen them?
- They're hard not to see.
So, tell Misty she's out for this one, get Mylene in, and let's make a million f*cking bucks already.
You're 100% right, Roy, but Gone With the Solar Wind is gonna be a sexy movie.
Mylene's family will never agree to this.
She's a religious singer.
To brainless immigrant morons with no vision, yeah,
- she's a religious singer.
- Roy, I just have to ask.
Is this 'cause Misty's f*cking her co
-star? No, Shane, it's good business.
You're right.
But the uncle, he won't go quietly.
Read the paper, Shane, if you wanna get ahead in this company ever.
- Roy
- Just this morning, buried on page 12, fascinating little piece of investigative journalism.
"Epidemic of flame.
Bronx pol Papa questioned in arson investigation.
" Have a look.
Then call Rupert up at the Post.
What's the saying? "Where there's smoke, there's fire?" [sirens wailing]
- ["Concrete Reservation" playing]
- Ooh Ooh Here Is just a bad situation Call it what you want to It's just a concrete reservation How serious is Books about this college thing? He ever talk to you about it? I mean, me? Not really.
But I do think he's pretty serious, 'cause Mylene told my sister he's meeting tomorrow with the dean or something.
At a social club for some fancy school in Connecticut.
- Connecticut?
- That's how you can tell he's serious.
Yo, it's one thing to have a a fake, non
-paying downtown job but It's not gonna be non
-paying for long.
He get the legit Connecticut paper degree he's gonna be stacking real paper after that.
Like a lot? A lot more than what we was arguing over the other night.
That's for sure.
So, he's doing this whole college thing for the money.
Yeah, for the money.
Brother's got no vision.
My humble opinion? We all need to see the get down against the wider tapestry of human history.
I'm talking human history cultural and human history financial.
The get down is the next great American musical genre.
No doubt.
f*ck college.
I'm talking Rolling Stones money.
Led Zeppelin money.
Meat Loaf money, man.
Meat Loaf money in the get down? I would even go so far as to predict that one day even white boys in the burbs is gonna be rippin' this off.
Like Like how they got ahold of the blues, renamed it rock 'n' roll and then said Elvis invented it.
That's true.
That's America.
So, you'll feel me in 31 flavors when I say it is not a matter of if the get down is gonna be very f*cking profitable it is a simple matter of when.
Yo, you're f*cking crazy, man.
Like, for real, you a funny m*therf*cker.
The only way the get down can be as big as jazz or the blues or rock 'n' roll or f*cking Meat Loaf or Rock opera, man.
Whatever the f*ck kind of music, you gotta be able to sell a record, which means you gotta make a record.
Can't make a record if you gotta use other people's records in order to make your record.
Be very illegal.
But I do know if Zeke go to college to get that money, ain't gonna be no more Get Down Brothers.
So, here's what we're gonna do.
We're gonna go over Little Wolf's head, 'cause f*ck that n*gga.
Then we're gonna get a raise.
Take our music from minor to major league.
- Exactly.
- By going directly to Annie.
- Wait, what?
- And you're coming with me.
You got the vision, Ra.
It's your superpower.
[gospel music playing]
Yo.
[Mylene]
Oh, hi.
I like the new sign.
I like the old one.
You sounded great in there, though.
Better than Misty Holloway, no doubt.
Yeah, except Misty's not stuck singin' in her father's church.
- Thanks.
- Gracias.
Where were you last night, Zeke? I'm, uh sorry for standing you up at the Tiger b*at thing.
What happened? You mad at me or something? I was looking for you.
Let me make it up to you.
- You free tonight?
- Maybe.
Depends on what we're doin'.
Dinner and a movie? You heard of The Wiz? [rap music playing]
Yo, you know what this is? 'Course.
Who you think I am?
- What is it?
- Big bag o' weed.
It's mint leaves.
And when they dip it in the zooty chemicals, it turns to angel dust.
And to you, it's $200.
That's a lot of bank for a little booty bandit like you.
[scoffs]
I ain't no booty bandit.
I get more ladies than you.
- Yeah? Like who?
- All the "itas.
" Lolita, Onita and Carmelita.
Man, you ain't never had Carmelita.
- Carmelita is one fine mamacita.
- [Boo
-Boo]
Yeah, I did.
- And she kissed me on the lip.
- Okay, okay, big man.
Focus.
Bring back the leaves while they still wet with chemical and you graduate from singin' and dancin', make you some real money.
You need me to carry this? Yeah, I need you to take these to a n*gga named Popeye.
He gonna dip this sh*t.
Then I need you to bring back the zooty bang.
- You dig?
- Cool.
Who's Popeye? He a Vietnam vet.
They say he know ten ways to k*ll a man with his pinky.
[Boo
-Boo]
Somebody comin' with me?
- You goin' by your lonesome.
- [boys laugh]
Sometimes a little n*gga gotta prove he got big balls.
And, yo, remember.
Get Down Brothers can't know nothing 'bout this.
Dig.
Dig.
- ["Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" playing]
- Oh, yes sir I can boogie But I need a certain song [Francisco]
Okay, well, I got a Master's degree, but, heh, somebody's gonna have to explain these numbers to me.
If I may.
Page one comes from Accounting.
It breaks down everything to do with Mylene's second single.
It entered the charts at number 43, which is probably where it will peak.
- Then you got the gross, net
- Shane.
Tell him about page two.
Page two.
This page right here, this is the really exciting part.
Basically, the numbers on page two, they represent a predictive, statistical and marketing analysis that Mylene Shane's computer is just saying what I've been saying for the last month.
We believe Mylene can become the number one disco artist in the country.
She brought down the house on Platinum Boogie, so we are willing to commit the resources and spare no expense for Mylene to record her first full album on Marrakesh Star Records.
[Francisco and Shane laugh]
- An album.
Oh, this is great news then.
- It's good business.
Mylene is worth the risk.
Singles exist to sell albums.
That's where the money is.
[Shane]
And the money, Cisco.
We're talking about the possibility of seven or eight figures.
And that's per album.
And this would just be the first of many.
Come here.
I get a little emotional.
- [Francisco]
Thank you.
- [chuckles]
Here's the thing.
Mylene's two little disco hymns were hits, but no way can we do a full album of religious music.
This ain't Utah.
We ain't Mormons.
Mylene, she's Pentecostal.
My grandma's a Sufi mystic.
I'm not trying to take her to number one.
So, what exactly are you saying? I'm saying this religious stuff, it's it's nice, but it don't cr*ck the top 40.
It's like this "Muskrat Love" or Alvin and the f*ckin' Chipmunks.
- It's a gimmick.
- So, what exactly are you suggesting? Sex.
It's ageless, it's timeless and it sells.
Roy is just sayin' maybe we can get Mylene
- out of the fringes, into the main
- Mylene's a good girl.
So's Donna Summer.
Donna's very religious.
But she plays a role.
We always keep it clean and she's got six albums now.
[Roy]
A serious artist.
Not a novelty act.
And as a result, Donna's children's children's children most likely be set for life.
Mylene, honestly, she's like a daughter to me.
We're not looking at this as some kind of quick payday off of her.
I'm talking about long
-term financial growth.
Don't say anything.
Think about it for a minute.
Okay, okay, okay.
I I hear you.
I hear both of you.
[Ezekiel]
Hey, well, listen.
- You know how Leon got a sister?
- [Mylene]
That lives on Long Island? Yeah.
Well, she just had a baby and Leon and Wanda went to visit for a few days.
So, the apartment is empty.
- I was thinking
- Zeke.
Why didn't you come to my Tiger b*at sh**t? [sighs]
Truth is, I was feeling bad about the whole thing at the restaurant.
Bad like I was f*cking pissed.
So, I wound up working late at the office with this girl.
- This girl?
- Yeah, my coworker.
She pretty? She's okay, but But you got down with her.
No.
No.
She did try to kiss me, though.
But it was for a second and I stopped it and I got the hell out of there fast.
I just wanted to be honest with you.
I'm sorry.
Mylene.
- Mylene.
- You know what? I should be honest, too.
The night of my photo sh**t, Shane drove me home and I was upset.
I mean, I've been upset with everyone wanting things from me, so I got emotional and we smoked a joint together so I could calm down.
Wait, you smoked weed with somebody else? You kissed somebody else.
She kissed me.
You kissed back.
Are you in love with him?
- Are you in love with him?
- What? Hell, no, Zeke, I told you he got a wife and he ain't you.
Remember when we promised, all we gotta do is love each other? Of course.
I think we both I mean maybe we forgot that a bit recently.
I don't want us to go out like that.
'Cause I still love you no matter what, Mylene Cruz.
What about 'Cause you Light up my life You give me hope To carry on You light up my days And fill my nights With song sh*t.
I'm rarely speechless.
I mean, you can really carry a tune there, Fuerte, but, uh, we don't do much adult contemporary.
Coño, pero esta gente son brutos Not for me, for Mylene.
It's a wholesome song.
It was a big hit, too.
Hey, Mr.
Fuerte's right.
Debby Boone held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for that love ballad.
Ballad.
Eso, boleros.
An An album full of love ballads.
[Shane]
Jackie's great at writing ballads.
You gotta meet us here in the middle.
Roy, come on.
It ain't religious, but it ain't trampy either.
I'm gonna go back to my people, I'm gonna go talk to them.
I'm gonna get 'em on our side.
What do you say? I'm gonna be honest.
I don't like religion.
Religion divides But love unites.
Maybe.
Sometimes.
I don't know.
I live by my instincts.
My instincts tell me we should cut Mylene loose.
[Shane]
Roy, come on.
That being said I believe in her.
I believe she should have an album.
And so get your family in line, Cisco.
We'll try love ballads.
You will not regret this, Roy Asheton.
I don't believe in regret.
Have we got a deal here or what? We got a deal.
[Francisco]
Salud.
["Ease On Down the Road" playing]
Ease on down, ease on down the road Come on Ease on down, ease on down the road Don't you carry nothing That might be a load Come on, ease on down Ease on down, down the road Come on Ease on down, ease on down the road Baby, it's the middle of the movie.
["Love to Love You Baby" playing]
I love to love you, baby I love to love you, baby I love to love you, baby
- I love to love you, baby
- [both giggling]
- [Ezekiel]
Do you love me?
- Mm
-hmm.
I love to love you, baby Do it to me again and again You put me in such an awful spin In a spin [rap music playing]
No clothes, no fly No dr*gs, no high No carton girl and no TV No one, no nothing If you ain't got me I'm Mr.
B
-I
-L
-L What's that spell, girl? Mr.
Bill [man]
Check little man out.
Your first dust run.
Look at all that fresh Red Devil.
Dust heads gonna be feelin' lovely at your next show, a'ight? Bet you never got paid like this rockin' mics.
[Boo
-Boo]
You got that right.
You wanna fly? No, man.
Not right now.
- [Carmelita]
Hey.
Oh, sh*t.
- Hmm.
What's up? Carmelita.
You light up my life You give me hope [Mylene]
"And so, if you accept me to Yale, I'll never look back, because I know it's what my mom and dad would want for their son.
And Mylene, too.
They don't want to live in a place where corruption and crime are wrapped up in getting ahead.
Where every opportunity in life comes with strings attached, where I'm always fighting like hell to hang on to the things I love.
I think it might be different at Yale.
Right?" [chuckles]
Zeke, it's so good.
Yeah, let's hope that's what the dean says today.
You might forget me around those smart college girls.
You ain't got nothing to worry about.
[Mylene on TV]
Our mayor has a message for all you graffiti vandals.
Make your mark in society,
- not on society.
- So, you think graffiti's cool?
- You're wrong.
It's rude.
- [Mylene]
Oh, no.
Is that you? And it's harmful to the community.
[Koch]
That's why we have a new anti
-graffiti task force.
New York belongs to New Yorkers, not criminals.
[Mylene]
You wanna be cool? Then be a success, don't make a mess.
You never win with graffiti.
[man]
This message sponsored by Mayor Koch and Francisco Cruz.
Dizzee's gonna be pissed.
- It's so embarrassing.
- Whose idea was that? That's exactly what I'm talking about.
Another thing I had to do that I didn't wanna do, this time for Tio.
I just, I don't wanna be Debby Boone.
I mean, I know Tio's fighting for my career, but love ballads? They made a decision, and it had nothing to do with me.
- So, what you gonna do about it?
- I don't know.
Well, do like I'm doin' at my internship.
- How's that?
- Keep playin' that long game, dig? 'Cause the Mylene Cruz I know performed a disco song in her father's church in front of a full congregation.
Which impressed the sh*t out of a hotshot record producer who has Grammys and worked with the Supremes and whatnot.
And today, she's gonna sing the sh*t out of that ballad
- and land her first full
-length album.
- You talk good.
It ain't talk when it's true.
["Love to Love You Baby" playing]
I love to love you, baby [Mylene]
Yo, our sex this morning, it, like, changed me.
Now I get it, you know? Why people like it so much.
- Yo, do you think you
- What? You know, an orgasm? Oh, my God.
I think I did.
- Zeke turned you out.
- Regina.
Yo, did you cry? I bet you f*ckin' cried.
- No, I did not cry.
- Zeke probably cried.
No, but it was crazy, though.
I can't wait to have a orgasm.
With someone else, I mean.
I can get the job done like [snaps]
Yo, do not get started on that when we get serious business here.
Roy needs to love Jackie's ballad today and your dad needs to not f*ck it up again.
Believe that.
[Mylene]
I'm gonna do my best to impress them.
No, do your very f*cking best, 'cause we got an album on the line.
["I'll Keep My Light In My Window" playing]
[Regina]
They're playing our song again.
[Yolanda]
I talked to Maurice from the label.
He said our second single could make, like, 20 on the charts.
Yo, do do we get a raise if that happens? 'Cause I'm looking to increase my spending abilities ASAP.
["Disco Biscuit" playing]
[Annie giggling]
This is jive, man.
Yo, Ma, this track gonna turn High Voltage around.
- I don't know, baby.
- Two, three.
Almost got it, Ma.
Come on, this track ain't bad.
- Come on.
- I need a break, Baby Boy.
[laughs]
Oh, no.
No, you don't.
Come on.
Come on.
- [Annie panting]
Ooh!
- [doors open]
Hey, don't come barging in here like you run sh*t.
[Shaolin]
Yeah, we know.
You been scrambling and strangling n*gg*s with coat hangers
- since we been sippin' Similac.
- This better be about you handing me money or this sh*t right here ain't gonna end well.
Well, you're half right.
It's about the money, but it's about us n*gg*s at our spot getting our fair share.
Cadillac, pour me a Myers and pineapple directly.
And who's this delicate little thing with you, Shao? Uh, this is one of my MCs.
His name is Ra.
Look, Annie, we're not leaving here until we come to a renegotiation.
- A what now?
- See, we pack the club every night.
We're turning people away.
I'm talking lines around the corner.
- Mm
-hm.
- We're doing lovely by you, but we're getting the short end of the money.
You got a problem with your envelope? Nah, this is about my group's pay as performers who pack the joint.
Who bring you mucho dinero at no risk.
We need a raise or we're gonna have to move on.
Let me do him, Ma.
- Annie, can you please just
- [cocks, fires]
[stutters]
Miss Fatty.
[groans, stammers]
I I mean I mean, Miss Fat Annie.
I I mean, Miss Annie.
- Maybe just Annie?
- [g*n cocks]
Look Look, for real, we were just about, just about to break out.
- Right, Shao?
- Yo, yo, Ra.
- What's Hey.
- [stammers rapidly]
I got a math test.
[Shaolin]
Do you want Zeke to see a future in this music or not? What would you say if I told you I know for a fact we can make you more money?
- Like, a boatload of money.
- Speak.
See, Shao's right.
We pack 150 people a night and turn away another 150.
Sometimes more.
Sometimes a lot more.
So, if you gave us your slowest, most wack night at the Inferno, we could have 700 people up in here, easy.
And I'm talking admission, plus bar, you know You out of your mind.
This is a disco.
Grown folks' party.
And you could be our host.
Mr.
Cadillac.
- Host with the most.
- Over my dead body.
We'll try y'all out on Mondays, but if you don't deliver, you'll have to work at the other joint for free.
Wait, free?
- What are we talking about right now?
- Wait.
It's a deal.
But if we do deliver? Then you will be rewarded accordingly.
All right, bet.
Wasn't too bad, huh?
- Thanks.
- [chuckles]
We'll see you next Monday.
Next Monday? No, baby.
Today is Monday.
So I'll see you and your peoples here tonight.
Or else no deal.
All right.
Tonight.
[cackling]
Scared, ain't you? [a capella group singing "The Whiffenpoof Song"]
We are poor little lambs Who have lost our way Baa, baa, baa We are little black sheep Who have gone astray Baa, baa, baa Gentlemen songsters off on a spree [waiter]
Pigs in a blanket?
- Uh
- They're just little hot dogs, son.
Thank you very much.
Have mercy on such as we Baa, baa, baa [applause]
- Ezekiel, you made it.
- Hey, Mr.
Gunns.
Sorry.
- You sang great.
You too, sir.
- Thank you.
This is the Dean of Specialized Studies, Dr.
Campbell Grant, also known as Crazy Legs from our days on the lacrosse field.
- Honored to meet you, Dean Grant.
- Pleasure.
Cam, I asked Ezekiel here to bring his college essay with him so he could hand it to you personally.
Yes.
It's right here.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, Ezekiel.
Herbie here has been singing your and Francisco Cruz's praises to me non
-stop.
I understand you're an orphan and come from the poorest congressional district in the United States.
I mean, uh, I live with my aunt Cam and I, we went from freshmen on old campus to Skull and Bones together.
[Campbell]
Ah.
Class of '47.
And hopefully, young man, we'll be welcoming you into the class of '83.
I would love the opportunity.
So, these folks, these are They're my competition, right? Oh, no.
No, no, uh, don't be silly.
Come walk with us.
Ain't no way in hell we gonna fill Les Inferno by tonight.
It's just It's just not possible! Look up at the sky, Ra.
Sun god, what you see? I don't know.
Clouds?
- Pollution?
- Know what I see? I see the almighty gods of the shadow samurai warriors of the get down smiling down at us, decreeing: [together]
"Osu, Get Down Brothers, your destiny has arrived.
" "It's time to get it.
It's time to grab it.
Your time is now.
"
- Yeah!
- Yeah.
Yeah! So, what do you want me to do? Gather the crew.
All right? Spread the m*therf*cking word to every Bronx B
-boy, MC, DJ, and all the fans by any means necessary.
- And what are you gonna do?
- Go retrieve Books from White Boy Land.
Do what needs doing.
Get down! [Shaolin]
Get Down Brothers! Get Down Brothers! Get money, money! Make money, money, money! Get money, money! Make money, money, money! ["Rocky" theme playing]
[man]
Shaolin Fantastic! Adventures in White Boy Land.
[Shaolin whooping]
- Now, you better fill that club, bro!
- No sweat.
- I got this.
- [Cadillac]
Hey.
You string bean m*therf*cker.
I declare w*r on your ass.
[both]
I just gotta build an army.
Wait, how am I gonna do that? [school bell ringing]
Trust your wings, grasshoppers.
[principal]
Afternoon, sweathogs! It's afternoon announcement time.
Yo, Dizz, yo, Boo, you ready? [Ra
-Ra]
Listen up For this historic occasion Because the Get Down Brothers Got a special invitation Yeah, Dizzee D says to stay in school [Boo
-Boo]
But after come see us Drop some musical jewels Tonight I'm live You better get in line Want my fellas looking fly Plus your ladies looking fine So, we succeed to a total invasion This crowd getting turned up On a get down nation Gotta put them disco ducks In their place Just come along Just hum along and just dance Oh, I'm building a Disco Dirty Dozen, y'all.
Bell
-Bottom Ben will concuss a man with his hitch kicks.
Freddie Fawcett, he real pretty.
Willie Estrada, king of the Latin hustle.
Also my partner Olympia "Watch Your Wallet" Charlemagne.
Get your hand out of my pocket, girl! I'ma arm 'em, train 'em, cocaine 'em and set 'em loose on those dirty kids.
[Get Down Brothers]
The B
-boys invasion Taking over the spot I said the Get Down Brothers Y'all, making it hot Tonight Inferno be rocking Disco music we mocking Got the Monday night spot No, we can't be stopped
- I don't know, but I've been told
- Southern Galaxy will go gold! And I don't know, but it's been said The Get Down Brothers Are f*cking dead!
- Sound off
- Disco!
- Come on, louder!
- [all]
Inferno! [overlapping chatter]
Now, here's your competition.
Something the matter? No, sir.
I just thought this was a regular event for all prospective students, not Not what? Nothing.
Who were the people in the room we left? Well, current students, faculty, distinguished alumni.
You see, Ezekiel, for years, Yale has been focused on recruiting minority students.
And even with the California v.
Bakke decision, our enthusiasm for diversity has not wavered one iota.
I marched with King.
- Wow, that's
- I did, too.
Mm
-hmm.
And, if we could, we would admit every promising young person in this room, because we understand that diversity is an essential component of our ability to offer the best possible education to our students.
So, what you need to do is mix and mingle.
Talk to the representatives of Yale.
And just be yourself.
In fact, um Ezekiel Figuero
- Catch you later.
Hey.
- meet Tate Poindexter, class of '78.
Tate, uh, show Ezekiel around, make sure he meets all of our folks.
You two are practically neighbors, by the way.
- You're from the Bronx?
- Scarsdale.
Here, come on.
I'll show you around.
Have fun, boys.
Hey.
- [man]
Pleasure to meet you.
- [Ezekiel]
Nice to meet you.
[soft melody on piano]
So I'm packing my bags I'm gonna leave it all behind I wanna open up my eyes When he stops singing get me the f*ck out of here.
I'll see you on the other side There's no place like home But I've gotta go [both]
Somewhere far, far away Beyond the crowds and city lights Out of the darkness we can shine So, I'm packing my bags I'm gonna leave it all behind I wanna open up my eyes Don't cry I know we will be fine [Mylene]
Remember I'll see you on the other side [Francisco whooping]
My, my, my.
First single of the album, am I right? Hey, Roy, it's lucky I didn't have this kid sh*t when he was into us for 25 large at the poker table.
- It's a gorgeous song, Jackie.
- Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
- And it's a hit!
- [chuckles]
Ramon, loco, considering that you took out a loan for a quarter of a million from the bank to buy this cathedral, you better hope this thing is a hit.
Wait.
What? Papi, you You bought this?
- How are you gonna pay for it?
- Nina, last week, we were approved by the National Pentecostal Board to expand our presence in the Bronx.
This is our sacred mission.
My brother isn't the only one with a vision.
Now, Jackie, this song of yours, uh I have concerns.
This, these lyrics "I want to open my eyes and see you on the other side.
" To whom is Mylene referring? Because it sounds like she's running away with a lover.
Oh, no, it's She's referring to Jesus, on the other side, in heaven.
Ah.
Well, this needs to be clearer.
Oye, hermano.
Tranquilo.
It's very clear, Ramon.
Okay, well, unfortunately Roy and I are running late, so please let us know whatever you decide.
Nice song, Jackie.
Uh, but, Roy, Tio said if you like it we could talk about the album.
Something's come up, Mylene.
Problem in the studio.
We'll reschedule soon.
- Okay.
- Gentlemen, before you go, I would like you to know that all of your efforts on behalf of my daughter, they are greatly appreciated.
It's our pleasure.
Thank you.
But also, know this: Given the incredible undertaking that we are embarking on with this new church Mylene must be present in the church and she must sing more for the church to fill the Lord's seats and the parishioners' hearts with love, faith and generosity.
And she will have her career, too.
The will of Jehovah is first, and then her family and then the church and its parishioners and only after that, her career.
- Are we clear?
- Crystal.
And we appreciate your candor, Pastor Cruz.
Bye.
[stammers]
I'll be waiting on your call.
All right.
[Roy]
First he kills the Tiger b*at cover, now this f*cking douchebag pastor, f*cking sanctimonious prick.
f*ck yeah, man.
So, when should I reschedule with Mylene? Don't reschedule.
Don't call her.
Don't give her a call back if she calls you.
Give it about a week.
She'll go into a panic that we've forgotten her.
After that she'll do and sing whatever the f*ck we say.
"Toy Box" and Stigwood's f*cking movie, and f*ck Misty Holloway, too.
[Shane]
Genius, Roy.
Feel like a burger? Let me ask you straight up, and don't take this the wrong way, but why Yale? I mean, if you got the grades, why not go to one of those Ivy League black schools down South? Um Here you are, sir.
Because I'm not just black.
So, then what are you? A Jew like Tate here? What does it matter?
- What are you?
- Excuse me? He's black and Puerto Rican, Strawbridge.
[speaking in accent]
Puerto Rican.
- I should've guessed by your shoes.
- His shoes? [in normal voice]
Yeah, don't you know why all Puerto Ricans got pointy shoes? [with accent]
So they can k*ll all the cockroaches in the corners.
[laughs]
Yale men can drink.
- Can you drink?
- What you got? Bartender, some sh*ts.
Line 'em up.
Yes, sir.
You can handle some friendly ribbing.
Let's see if you can handle your liquor.
- ["Hum Along and Dance" playing]
- This might be our last night The wolf's at the door [Deity Kool Herc]
What if the Wordsmith don't wanna leave White Boy Land? Herc, ain't we supposed to smile down on the DJ? Oh, we are.
One more chance You need to hum along And just hum along And now dance [man 1]
Man, I heard that.
[laughs]
- [man 2]
Get outta here.
- [man 1]
Mm
-hm.
He showed up dead.
Yo.
- I'm just here for my shift.
- [cook]
Mm
-hm.
[crowd]
Drink, drink, drink! Drink, drink, drink! Drink, drink, drink!
- Drink, drink, drink!
- Whoo! Hey, not bad for an Afro
-headed skinny Puerto Rican.
Not bad for an Ofay, Mayflower Pilgrim
-f*cking Wonder Bread m*therf*cker! Hey, what did you score on the SAT? I see affirmative action leads to lower standards.
I scored a 1590.
[both laugh]
He got 1590.
- What an assh*le.
- Yes, I know.
You played it just right, Ezekiel.
- If you had punched him
- I wasn't gonna.
Yes, but if you had, the report would be "Poor Angry Black Kid Punches Fifth Generation Legacy.
" Strawbridge's great
-great
-grandfather's musket from the Revolutionary w*r is hanging in our cathedral of knowledge.
The f*cking thing even has a name.
It's "Old Stanislaus.
" Well, if I get into Yale, I'm gonna steal that stupid musket.
- I'm gonna give it to you, Mr.
Gunns.
- [Tate and Mr.
Gunns laugh]
I like this side of you.
He's got spunk.
Right, Tate? Yes, sir.
He sure does.
[Shaolin]
Cheerio, my n*gg*s.
- Care for some shrimp?
- Shaolin?
- What the?
- Yeah
- Ezekiel, do you know this boy?
- Yes.
This is my friend.
Uh, sorry.
- Can you excuse me?
- This is fancy shrimp.
What's wrong with you, boy Hey.
Look, I read your college essay, man.
About how I'm a drug dealer and you need to find a way to get yours.
- What the f*ck are you doing here?
- Look, I got us a gig at Les Inferno.
- Les Inferno.
- Yeah, that real money, Books.
That real money.
Biggest show ever played for the most money ever paid, man.
- It's tonight, so we gotta go.
- Sorry.
Sorry.
Shao, this isn't the time.
You can't be here.
- You hear me?
- Do you hear me, n*gga? Les Inferno! You don't need this h*nky bullshit no more, man.
This is my future, man.
You know it is.
- No! No! Hey! Oh, the f*cking blow!
- Get out of here, man.
Go.
Get the black one, the waiter.
Don't put your hands on me.
I ain't no damn waiter.
Hey, you.
Attendant.
Go fetch security.
We can clear this up.
We're guests of Yale.
We were just leaving.
That is 500 dollars' worth of coke that you just sent flying through the air! Tell the police you were doing blow.
See what the f*ck they got to say.
We don't need police.
We settle matters internally.
Yeah, this is a private club, private rules.
- I settle things internally, too.
- Shao, Shao, Shao.
Come on, you holding? What? Man, f*ck these n*gg*s, Books.
Come on, come on.
This is my future.
Hey, just let us go, okay? We'll replace it.
My friend's gonna hook you up.
My apologies, gentlemen.
You're part of that minority thing.
Francisco Cruz's protégé, right? Herbert Gunn's next patsy.
My dad told me Herbie only promised that dumb spic that housing thing to get Koch elected.
You know, they're gonna dump his ass any day.
Stool pigeon.
Yeah, yeah.
It's your lucky f*cking day.
All right? We'll be on our way.
Come on.
No, what is this? n*gga coke? [Ezekiel]
Shao! [shouting and grunting]
Hey, get off.
Get off of him.
- No, no, no.
No, no, no!
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
n*gga what?
- Sorry!
- n*gga what?
- Sorry!
- Say n*gga one more time.
- I'm so sorry!
- No! These the m*therf*ckers you wanna trade your brothers for? Shaolin, let's get out of here.
Come on! No, no, we ain't gonna run.
We ain't gonna run.
What we running for? Calm down.
Let's walk.
Let's walk.
Kings don't run.
Kings walk.
What's going on, brother?
- That's my brother.
Give it to me.
Mm
-hm.
- [Waiter]
All right.
Now you heard what they said about Fuerte.
Books, there's always some strings attached.
Especially when white people involved.
You wanna get played or build your own kingdom? You my brother, so don't take this the wrong way, but I told you.
This college sh*t, it ain't for you, man.
Yeah, maybe.
You could be the smartest dude at that school.
They ain't never gonna see you as equal.
Like Fuerte about to learn.
As long as you owe them, they'll own you.
Don't nobody own this music sh*t, dig? Only got one question for you, Shao.
What's that? What's Cadillac gonna think about the Get Down Brothers invading his disco? Got no clue.
All I know, Shaolin Fantastic DJing, MC Books rhyming, the Get Down Brothers will be exactly what Flash said.
Alexander the Great.
Two kings leading our army to victory.
[engine revs]
[Deity Kool Herc]
Hit the lights, Flash.
And let's rock on.
It's disco D
-Day, y'all, and we will defend our castle whatever the cost.
Hustling on those beaches and on those landing grounds.
And, oh, we shall hustle in them sexy fields and in them sexy streets.
And never surrender, beaming out that positive message to all womenkind but with that subtext.
- [Shaolin]
Watch out now!
- What in the f*ck?
- [Ezekiel]
Yeah!
- Now, Get Down Brothers about to party! We suaving full out, baby! [yelps]
[all]
Get Down Brothers! Get Down Brothers! Get Down Brothers! Hey, m*therf*cker, I ain't Put me down! Put me down! Motherf Hey! [record scratches]
Yeah! Put your hands up! Put your hands up! Say Get Down Brothers! Get off the wall If you came to rock We're the Get Down Brothers Who you paid to rock B
-boy invasion takin' over the spot Say "Get Down Brothers Y'all making it hot!" [crowd]
Get Down Brothers Y'all making it hot! Say "Get Down Brothers Y'all making it hot" Disco ducks challenge And get pressed to the mat Got the B on my chest And the X on my back South Bronx, North Bronx East Bronx, West Bronx We couldn't get down without your help Let's rock, lend me your voice Represent our borough proud, sing along BX, we all gonna fly now [crowd cheers]
Get your hands up All gonna fly now BX gonna fly now Get your hands up! It's because we gonna fly now Fly now! Yeah! Put your hands up Big shout
-out to Annie.
Thanks to her for letting us rock.
Get Down Brothers in a disco spot.
Yeah, Les Inferno.
[all]
Go, Bronx! We see you, Annie.
This sh*t is beyond ridiculous.
Don't be jealous.
These boys are putting on a damn good show.
How about a group hug It's a service you're using So, how about some couth? Bunch of amateurs.
Diving on the floor, getting their clothes dirty.
All they're doing is recycling other records.
Ain't real music.
They all wanna know who is he
- Reminiscent of a Super Fly
- TNT
- I'll be a Get Down Brother till my
- E
-N
-D Boo might be the youngest But I got a way of mackin' honeys Could it be that they love the way I stack hundreds Spark them Then I simply discard them Then I school them like It's the education of Sonny Carson Twice the pleasure 'Cause we're rocking in two clubs Get Down Brothers Be the sound of the future These boys, they got something going on, no doubt.
We all gonna fly now Yeah, whatever.
Come on, y'all.
Let's show these suckers why disco will always reign supreme.
BX gonna fly now Gonna see them wings Gonna see those wings 'Cause we gonna fly now
- Cut that sh*t.
- [confused chatter]
What the f*ck are you doing, man? You best put on some real man music, because I'm about to school these young bloods.
You know what it is? "Rock Steady," n*gga.
Yo, give me the record.
Yeah.
Sucka.
["Rock Steady" playing]
[woman]
Hey, Cadillac.
Rock steady, baby [whoops]
That's what I feel now Just call the song exactly what it is It's a funky and lowdown feeling Move your hips from left to right What it is Is I might be doin' This funky dance all night Mm, yeah.
Mm, yeah.
Oh, that be a solid man, baby.
- That's what it is, that's what it is
- [crowd cheers]
Rock steady Disco magic, baby! [man on record]
Shaolin Fantastic.
[whooping]
- ["Rock Steady" remix playing]
- Rock
- Steady
- Go! Go! Go! Rock Rock Rock Steady Rock Steady [man on record]
His dragon fist is immune to almost any w*apon.
[crowd cheers]
[remix continues]
[man on record]
There are none who can match him.
[laughs]
[Get Down Brothers]
All gonna fly now [Ezekiel]
Put your hands up! All gonna fly now Everybody! BX gonna fly now [Ezekiel]
People in the back! Hands up.
All gonna fly now [Ezekiel]
People in the back, let's party! BX gonna fly now It's 'cause we're gonna fly now [cheering]
That's business.
- ["Flashlight" playing]
- [Boo
-Boo]
Yo, Shao.
You see the look on Cadillac punk
-ass face? [Ezekiel]
Yo, I think he was gonna cry.
[Shaolin]
Why? 'Cause we took his kingdom?
- Because we m*therf*cking kings!
- And did you see after the b
-boy battle? His beard fell off his face, like
- Get in the car!
- You saw Annie, right? She was loving that sh*t.
Yo, Humphrey, don't be bogarting.
Yo, E, all these refreshments and sh*t.
Are they free with the ride? Tonight and every night.
I'm telling you, since I started playing Get Down Brothers' custom mixtape on my custom auto sound, I'm the number one OJ in the Bronx.
[all]
Hey! Hey, hey! All the more reason to put us on, E.
Stop f*cking around.
You about to burn my seat, m*therf*cker.
Hey, hey, y'all.
Hey, yo, listen up, man.
Hey, look.
I did the math.
All right? With the new raise at 10
-51, plus us getting a piece of the door on Mondays in Inferno
- [Dizzee]
Uh
-huh.
- fellas, yo, we banking $200 a week.
[whoops]
Each!
- [Dizzee]
Each?
- [Ra
-Ra]
Each!
- [Dizzee]
You say each?
- Each! That's as much as Dad make! [Ra
-Ra]
Well, exactly.
That's crazy.
[all laugh]
[Shaolin]
Hey, because the Get Down Brothers make money, money, make money, money, money! [all]
Make money, money, make money, money, money! [all whooping]
Everybody out there say yeah Everybody put your hands in the air Get Down Brothers forever we swear 'Cause we are as As one We had to break the locks We fought our way up to the top We had to break the locks We fought our way up to the top We had to break the locks We fought our way up to the top Yeah! You can't, can't, can't stop us You can't, can't, can't stop us [Mr.
Gunns]
First this little arson article, Francisco, and now, after I put Ezekiel on stage with the mayor at your recommendation, he and his friend pull a g*n on the son of a major donor to Ed's campaign? Of course it affects your housing plans.
Heads must roll, and it's either yours or Ezekiel's or this hoodlum's.
So, find those boys.
[Ezekiel]
We're here We're here forever [all]
We're here forever We're here forever We're here forever We're here forever We're here forever We're here forever [Boo
-Boo]
No, no!
- Hey, my comic.
- Dad!
- He found my stash.
- What's going on?
- Ronald! Marcus! Miles!
- Hey! Anybody ain't up these f*cking stairs and in this house by the time I count five, I'm gonna b*at the black off you.
[Boo
-Boo]
This is your fault.
Until it grows back and b*at if off you again twice! No, that's a special edition.
Ah!
- Are you a drug dealer?
- What the f?
- Are you a g*dd*mn drug dealer?
- [Ezekiel]
No! What? Found your stash box, that's right.
And you high right now, ain't you? Looking like Charlie Chan's Puerto Rican half
-breed love child.
- I'm not high and I'm not a drug dealer.
- Empty your pockets.
No, what? After everything we've been through with your no
-good father! Apple never fall far from the tree.
Where did you get this from?
- Don't lie to me!
- I'm an MC.
I'm a performer.
We make music.
You know that.
Hey.
Princess Mylene.
Um Books ain't here if that's who you're looking for.
[Adele]
What is this? Reefer.
Spray paint.
Markers.
[Adele]
More reefer.
A condom.
Cigarettes.
- My grandfather's switchblade?
- And more reefer.
- [Adele]
Oh, no.
- What? What's this? [Winston]
Where's the cocaine, Marcus?
- Cocaine?
- Don't lie to me, son.
All that, I know you selling dr*gs.
You got your brothers slinging too?
- No, Dad.
- It's not true.
It's not true.
We got the money from the music.
We're trying to build a business, like you and Mom with the shop.
- Yeah, sure.
- [Wanda]
So, tell me this.
Where's the g*n? g*n? What? I don't got no g*n.
- What g*n?
- Ditched it in the river, probably.
Your teacher came here tonight with that Francisco Cruz.
They said you pulled a g*n on some white people
- at that college event today.
- It wasn't me.
- Who was it?
- It wasn't nobody.
Must've been somebody, because they fired you from that internship.
You can kiss that college scholarship goodbye.
Crashing Ezekiel's college event with a g*n? Ruining his chance of going to Yale?
- My tio told me.
- Take a chill pill, all right? You need to go back to whatever sewer hole you came from.
Ezekiel has a future, a real future, and you You can't stand it, can you? So, you sell him on this bullshit hippity hoppity fake
-ass dream so you can watch him sink to your level.
And I suppose this paint you got stashed is because you got a commission from the Rockefellers
- to redesign the city hall.
- I paint the club we perform at.
I told you this.
A truancy officer came by this evening and said that Boo
-Boo cut school.
I told him he must be mistaken until he showed me the summons.
They didn't call my name for attendance.
Got some 411 for your uppity ass.
Our music is a reality.
Ain't no f*cking dream.
Your music is a joke! It's not even music, Shao.
You f*cking take songs, real songs, and you you make noise over it and say a bunch of rhymes a ten
-year
-old can make up in their sleep.
That's your opinion.
But I'll tell you something else: Your disco music is f*ckin' wack.
sh*t won't last.
It's all commercialized and spoon
-fed for some dummies or some sh*t.
Just like you.
Street performance doesn't make this kind of money.
We play at clubs now.
Les Inferno, 10
-51.
- Les Inferno?
- Drug dens.
- Both of them.
- We just perform.
Tia, I swear.
You can ask Mrs.
Kipling.
You know how strict she is with her kids.
Four rules.
That's all I ever asked.
Stay in school, no dr*gs, no gangs and no graffiti.
Y'all flying colors now, too? All we're doing is trying to make music, I swear! We let you do the music because we trusted you! How are we supposed to trust you now? Stay the f*ck away or you might get hurt.
[funk music playing]
And who's gonna hurt little old me, huh?
- You?
- My tio, Papa Fuerte, okay? He can take you out like that.
- So, don't test me, Shao!
- Yeah, you know what I heard today? That n*gga old, he done for.
- Good.
Keep thinking that.
- Mylene, I got backups here but I'm not gonna need them to protect myself from some old, nobody spic like your f*gg*t
-ass uncle.
Sabrina Rodriguez told me that you can't even get it up, puto maricon, and the way you be all up in Ezekiel's business,
- maybe you got the hots for my boyfriend.
- [stops music]
- I ain't no f*gg*t.
- Get your own man.
Miss Green and Francisco Cruz spoke out for you today and they begged Mr.
Gunns to give you a second chance.
- Okay.
- Tomorrow you're gonna go meet him.
That's great.
Okay.
- You better fix it.
- I will.
I promise.
[Shaolin]
And, hey, you got an okay voice but you can't shake no booty.
You know why? You're an uptight, frigid, Bible
-ass bitch.
Excuse me? Donna Summers? Sexy.
Tina Turner's sexy.
Because they all woman.
But you a child.
Nothing between your legs and nothing between your ears.
You ain't about to be no f*cking disco queen.
Honkies ain't stupid.
They can smell a pretender.
- I'm not a pretender.
- Yes, you are.
Be gone, bitch.
You gotta swing them hips a little harder, make that ass bounce.
I expected trouble from Dizzee.
He come out the womb like Hannibal sacking Rome, but the three of you all at once? Your mother and I break our asses to provide and then y'all making mutiny? Well, now, no more music.
- Period.
- Dad, this is our life.
[Winston]
Sit your ass down.
- Man.
- And no more going out.
After school, y'all come straight home.
You do your homework, your chores, you eat your dinner, brush your teeth, wash your ass and go the f*ck to sleep! What?
- This is jive.
- [Ra
-Ra]
Okay, okay, okay.
Dad, Dad, Dad.
Listen, listen.
None of this matters, man.
Don't start with me.
Here we go with the negotiations.
You ain't Monty Hall, son, and this ain't Let's Make a Deal.
You know what? You're right, Dad.
Everything you said is exactly right.
Totally.
I'm sorry for letting you down.
[Winston]
No more music.
We're We're all sorry.
I'm not.
Shut up, Diz.
I love you.
I'm sorry.
I promise I'll fix it.
And now you have a curfew.
[Wanda]
And no more music.
["Love Don't Live Here Anymore" playing]
01x08 - The b*at Says, This Is the Way
Watch/Buy Amazon
Series is set in the 1970s in the Bronx borough of New York City and follows the rise of hip-hop and disco music through the eyes of a group of teenagers.
Series is set in the 1970s in the Bronx borough of New York City and follows the rise of hip-hop and disco music through the eyes of a group of teenagers.