Shit. Fuck I care about a Cipha?
Better yet, should say "siphon."
Hey, yo, stop suckin' off my raps,
lying about you're killin' cops.
Nigga, loofah the dead skin off of your career.
Yeah yeah, I know. I know, your whole life ain't been your year.
You feel me?
Shit. Man, I'm the first, the now and the evermore.
I'm the pasha of verb and the king of metaphor.
I'm the shadow of Ciphas past lurking at your door,
looming large,
invading your space.
I'm the motherfuckin' unholy ghost
touching your dome,
slaying you and your motherfuckin' spirit.
Shh.
Be quiet, nigga.
I just killed your whole career.
Can't you hear it?
Yeah, baby,
I'm about to take this whole rap shit and put it on smash.
I might deal with some of my new shit. You feel me?
No, what-- fuck off!
Wait, no!
I pap up like sunshine, 6:00 in the morning
Smack a nigga while he yawning
Before he piss or brush his teeth
I'm coming with breakfast, I'm bringing the beef
There's gonna be a lot of blood
- On the sheets - Ward
There's gonna be a toe tag
- On your feet. - Whoo!
- Yeah! - Yo yo, that was hot.
Of course that shit was hot, son.
Yo, let's lay down that hook, a'right?
Yo, hold up, man, I gotta pay this water bill first.
This Henny is running right through me, man.
Hurry up, man. We've got to get this done by tonight, a'right?
Hey hey, relax, a'right?
Let's not forget who's paying who, a'right?
Whoo, man.
I feel 10 pounds lighter, you feel me? Whoo.
Ahhh!
You!
What the hell is taking him so long?
Can somebody please go and tell him to hurry his ass up?
I'll go.
Oh, I'll bet you will.
Yo, light this up, woman.
Cipha, you in here, baby?
Ahhh!
What the hell is this?
Some kind of damn rap rivalry gone bad?
Detective Johnson?
Who wants to know?
Uh, Joseph Francelli, Gang Intel.
It's a pleasure to finally meet you.
Let's just kill the small talk, okay?
Sorry about that, buddy.
Right right.
Down to business.
Same shit, different day. Right, guys?
- You getting anything? - Nothing.
It's like they cleaned this place up with Mr. Clean or something.
Well, give me the bag.
I think I see another note.
Here we go.
"The rap industry, modern slavery.
You sell your soul and play your role,
lie and kill to get a record deal.
Slave to the headmaster, another slave dead, master."
Shit don't make sense to me.
Yeah, it wouldn't.
You think this is the same handwriting as the last note?
Yeah, looks the same,
but till the analyst checks it out, we won't know for sure.
Keep it close.
High-profile
And each time the killer leaves behind a little fortune cookie for us.
You think it's the same guy?
Same profile.
You don't think it's as simple as a beef between rival rappers?
Happens all the time.
'Pac, Big, Nas, Jay-Z, Game and 50 now.
Yeah, it's more than that.
Think we got a-- tsk tsk tsk-- sicko on our hands?
Yeah, maybe.
Yeah, but these guys are always beefing with each other.
You know, they're always writing these songs, dissing each other.
You know what I mean?
"Beef in', dissin"'?
You want to try talking like a cop?
Detective, I'm just trying to help.
Captain said to play nice so I'm trying to play nice.
I know this is your show. I know you're calling the shots.
- Remember that. - I'll try and stay out of your way.
Mr. Thompson, we just need a few minutes of your time.
Sure.
What are you so nervous about?
You got something to hide?
Excuse me if I seem a little shaken,
but my man was just murdered, okay?
We're just trying to find out what happened.
I don't know what happened.
We were in the studio working on a new song.
He goes to the bathroom to take a piss;
he never comes back.
And the next thing you know, he's dead?
Why would I do anything to him?
- Any enemies? - Of course.
There's always gonna be haters out there.
- You know what I'm sayin'? - Yeah, we know what you're saying.
No one ever made good on their threats,
I guess until now.
Did you see anyone leave the room after he left?
No, I don't think so.
Did you see anybody leave the bathroom before you went in?
No, sir, I didn't. Is he really dead?
As a doornail.
It's hard to just say it's the lyrics.
I think there's a psycho out there. That's just me.
But who knows? I mean, that's the whole point.
Nobody knows. The cops-- they claim they're close to solving the case.
I don't believe they're close to solving it.
Somebody is coming after these rappers.
I don't understand why; I don't understand where...
You know better than to sit at that table with your hat on, boy.
Somebody's coming for them.
As I reported earlier,
a second rapper has been murdered.
Ma, could you turn that up?
It's loud enough as it is.
You're lucky I'm letting you listen to the radio
at the breakfast table at all.
This is the second murder in the last week
in what is quickly becoming known as the hip-hop homicides.
Now the police won't comment on whether the two incidents are linked,
but they claim they're close to solving the case.
Yeah, right, don't hold your breath...
Dad, do you know anything about Ciph's murder?
Who?
Cipha the rapper.
You never heard about Cipha, Pops? His shit is hot.
- Excuse me? - Are you crazy?
Boy, don't make me have to snatch you--
I mean he's like the hottest rapper out.
You know I can't talk about cases I'm working on.
Oh, so you are working the case. That's what's up.
His album was supposed to drop this week.
So, like, is he dead for real, for real?
See, you need to worry less about who's got a new album coming out
or a new music video and start worrying about them grades.
Calm down, baby. Let me fix you a plate.
No, I'm already late.
You work on my last nerve, boy.
So where's this great detective I've heard so much about?
He'll be here. And I don't appreciate
you sending one of your special-division guys
in here to babysit one of my guys.
Johnson's the best there is and this is his case.
It was never his case.
Sorry I'm late, Captain.
Nice of you to join us.
- This place is crawling with reporters. - You see this?
I'm starting to feel like we're getting
secondhand information here.
Are these freakin' reporters better detectives than we are?
Of course not, Captain.
Then what are we doing wrong?
This is Lieutenant Jeff Harrington with Special Divisions.
He's here to help out on the investigation.
And you already met Francelli, one of his lead detectives.
We've met.
No prints, no murder weapon, no suspects, no nothing.
Well, we've got a handwriting analyst
working on the note left at the scene.
We're going through the studio security tapes--
Sounds real good, Detective.
Trying telling that to the horde of fans
calling this station with cries of conspiracy.
There's even talk of a link between these killings
and the murders of Tupac Shakur,
uh, the Notorious-- what? Biggedy Big,
and Jam Master what's his name?
Jam Master Jay.
The-- the killer is trying to make a statement.
These notes that he's leaving behind are--
So what do we think?
We think we've got a serial killer on our hands?
We got, what, some whacko out there killing rappers? What?
Captain, these murders are premeditated, well-thought-out.
Hold up. There's a simple beef
between rival rap crews that's gotten out of hand.
And everybody's a tough guy these days-- "My dick is bigger than yours."
This is strictly a case of retaliation--
"You hit me, then I hit you."
Is that it, Captain?
No. We also heard from our boys downstairs
that Marcus Malone might be the next target.
- The boys downstairs? - Manchild.
- The boys downstairs? - You've heard of him?
- Yeah. - Well, this may be nothing,
but he's going to be appearing on a popular music-video program
tonight at 8:00.
I need for you guys to be there and keep an eye on him,
just keep him alive until we can find out who's hitting these guys.
- No problem. - Also, pay a visit to Maurice Murray.
He's the music editor for this "Hip Hype" magazine.
Did an extensive article on rappers and rivalries;
may be able to give us some insight on who's got a beef with who and why.
All right.
Late last night at Chung King Studios,
a popular recording studio for such hip-hop luminaries
as P-Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent,
gangster rapper Cipha was found murdered.
This is the second rap star murdered
in the last week.
Is this the result of a rap rivalry,
a rap war, if you will?
Cipha was said to have talked about putting slugs
in any rapper who stood in his way.
And only hours before the murder,
another popular rapper named M.C. Manchild
released a song entitled "The Big Payback."
It is rumored that he was referring to none other than Cipha
when he recited the lyrics:
It's your time, your life's on the line
Get ready to die and tell God I said hi.
Sources close to law enforcement have also reported
that M.C. Manchild could possibly be the next target.
Hello?
You're fuckin' dead soon.
What? Who the fuck is this?
I said you dead, motherfucker.
Hello? Hello?
Yo, D., this shit ain't funny, man!
- Hello? - Hello? Who this?
It's your sister, stupid.
What's up?
You all right?
Yeah, just some stupid-ass crank caller.
Bitch, is you crazy? What the fuck is wrong with you?
What? I thought we had a good time?
What is wrong? What the hell? Are you crazy?
- Well, what about being in the video? - What about it?
Have you lost your mind?
Sorry about that. I'm back.
What was that all about? Who was that?
Nobody important. And stop being so damn nosy all the time.
- Did you see the news? - Yeah, I saw the news.
- You're not worried? - Worried about what?
The killer.
They said you might be next.
Look, you shouldn't believe everything you hear.
Look, Marcus, you know what? I think you need to just leave.
You need to just get out of here.
I mean, you have enough money.
You could retire like Mase or Jay-Z.
I mean, they didn't really retire, but you know what I mean.
You need to-- you need to leave the game before it's game over.
Is this what you called me for?
No. Mommy said you haven't called her
in like three weeks.
- I know, I know. - Call Mommy.
- Look, I gotta go. - Call Mommy.
Bye.
- Here they come! - Lieutenant!
- One at a time. One at a time. - Do you have any suspects?
I ain't giving any detailed information
'cause it might jeopardize the integrity of the investigation,
but I will tell you this case will be coming to a close very shortly.
We've got our best detectives on the case.
Is the result of a rap war between rival rap gangs?
It is not the result of a rap war.
- Thank you. - One more question! Lieutenant!
Mm, yeah, yeah...
- Yeah? - Did you listen to the album?
- Huh? - The album.
You get a chance to listen to it yet?
Oh. Uh, yes.
Yes, I did.
And, uh... I'm sorry, man,
I can't seem to find my poetry book.
Poetry?
Yeah. Don't-- don't ask.
What's up? What'd you think? Shit was hot, right?
Oh, yeah, no doubt. It's-- it's--
Yeah, I think Manchild's on his way
to having another classic on his hands, you know?
Thanks, M. Dot.
You're always in my corner, man. That's why I like you.
Don't forget about the album release party this Friday, Crash Mansion.
You know that shit's going to be off the chain.
Yeah, don't worry about that, B. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
No, fuck the world. We are the world.
You feel me? Hey, but good luck, a'right?
No doubt. I'll see you in a minute, man.
A'right, later.
Damn, you just lovin' a brother, ain't you?
Welcome to "Hip Hype" magazine. Can I help you fellas?
Yes, Maurice Murray.
- Sure, he's straight back. - Thanks.
I am so sorry.
Thank you.
Can I help you?
Uh...
I'm Detective Johnson.
- I see you've met Detective Francelli. - Hi.
We're looking for Maurice Murray's office.
Oh, I'll show you where it is.
Whew.
Murray, the police are here to see you.
Really?
I wonder what you did this time.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
- How you doing? - Good, thanks.
I'm Detective Johnson. This is Detective Francelli.
Okay.
What can I do for New York's finest?
You can start by telling me who that young lady was.
We were hoping you could give us a little insight
into the recent murders.
- Ah, Cipha and A.D.? - Yeah.
Uh, well, I don't know what help I can be to you, Detective.
You recently did an interview with Cipha,
the last rapper slain.
You talked about him fearing for his life.
Every rapper fears for his or her life, Detective.
Well, at least they want to make people think that they fear for their lives.
It's called street credibility.
Did he ever confide in you about anyone in particular
that he feared or had a problem with?
Uh, well, he said Rob Ski threatened him.
Rob Ski?
Anybody have a normal name any more, like Reggie?
Rob Ski is like an old-school rapper,
- way back, early '90s. - Whatever.
Yeah. Cipha said that they had a run-in a few weeks ago.
What kind of run-in?
I don't know. You'd have to ask him.
He's recording over at Ground-Up Studios on 23rd Street.
All right.
Yeah, well, thank you.
Mmm.
Tell me, what does it feel like
to be the last person
to interview both victims before they died?
I wasn't aware that I was.
You sold a lot of magazines
when those articles hit the stands, huh?
Well, you know what they say.
"You're nobody till somebody kills you."
- Okay. - All right.
How'd you let such an important detail slip your mind?
- What are you talkin' about? - How'd you know Murray
was the last person to interview the victims?
I read it somewhere.
I'm just trying to rattle his cage.
Yo, I actually think it's a serial killer.
I said this from the day Tupac and Biggie was killed.
And now look at Manchild. They kill Manchild yet?
Manchild, Manchild.
Poison-- poisoning the youth...
Who the fuck said that? I'm not poisoning the youth.
You're poisoning the fuckin' youth.
- Ain't no gangster... - I ain't gotta pay to be a gangster.
I don't need to be a gangster. That shit is played out.
Killed hip-hop...
I did what? I killed hip-hop, man?
That's why Manchild is possibly the next target.
Fuck that!
- You're next... - Kill me, motherfucker.
What's crack-a-lackin'? I need a drink, dawg.
Make me one too.
Aw, shit.
Unreal.
What's that?
Somebody left it outside your front door.
I guess you got yourself a secret admirer.
So what's u p?
You look like shit, that's what's up.
- I'm fine. - Tell the rest of you you're fine,
'cause you look like shit.
You get any sleep last night?
Had another one of your little freaky-deaky nights
out with the ladies?
Come on, dawg, how long have I known you?
- I said I'm fine.
Don't tell me you're scared.
The infamous Manechild,
the baddest motherfucker on wax,
- is scared of the boogeyman? - You're buggin'.
Get the fuck out of here. Come on, dawg.
Don't tell me you're scared of this sicko fan
that's just trying to get his 15 minutes of fame?
'Cause that's all it is, baby.
That's all it is.
Now reach down there and grab them shits and man up.
You have all the answers now, don't you?
You damn right I've got all the answers.
I'm your manager. I'm supposed to.
Yeah, okay.
Come on, baby, we've got a busy week ahead of us, dawg.
You need to focus. I mean, whatever it is you need to do to work it out--
meditate, yoga, chant, "yamney yo kara"--
whatever the fuck you gotta do.
You feel me? You gotta work it out, baby.
This old other bullshit.
It's an everyday struggle...
You see that? That's what I'm talking about.
That's your world, baby.
I'm just trying to make it out the struggle, man...
That's the shit I'm talking-- So scary...
It's an everyday struggle, man
In my hood, your hood, we still struggling
I'm just trying to make it out the struggle, man.
That right there is the new one from Manchild.
It's off his new album, "Manchild of the Promised Land."
And speaking of Manchild, they're saying
he's the next rapper to get axed.
Ouch. Glad I'm not a rapper right now,
you know what I'm saying?
Turn it up.
Turn it up a little bit more.
Ah ah! I wanted this to be special
Something raw, than any other rhyme you heard me spit before
D-0-U-G E. Fresh
Top of the line, son, Can't see less...
- Hey. - Hey, what's up?
- How you doin'? - All right.
- Detective Johnson. - How you doin'?
- Detective Francelli. - It is a pleasure to meet you.
I've still got all your old albums.
I appreciate that.
We just want to ask you a few questions.
About?
The murders.
Pfff. Everybody heard about 'em,
and anything going on in hip-hop, you know I know.
- I know you know. - Yeah.
- So you knew Cipha. - Met him once,
but nah, I never really knew him.
Hmm.
So where were you between 11:00 and 2:00 a.m.?
Come on.
Y'all think I killed Cipha?
Relax. We're just trying to find out what happened.
That's crazy, though, man, that y'all in here for this.
Work with me.
Okay, I was in here making the classics like I do.
And that's it.
Did you know anybody that wasn't in here making classics
- that might want to hurt him? - Nah.
Nobody in our crew, no.
Oh, but you guys have beef, though. Everybody knows that.
No no no no no. Me and Cipha never had beef.
We just had real talk one time, and that was it.
One of the people talking is dead.
Ain't that a bitch?
I don't know what's up.
Okay, we'll keep in touch.
Okay.
I don't give a flying fuck what kind of deal you had
with your last record label.
This here is how we do business around here.
And you take it or you can join the unemployment line
with the rest of the has-beens.
Yo! We go through this every day.
Why you always stressin' me, man?
I have to wear the same shit every day.
- What is it, man? - You see the papers?
Poetic justice, huh?
Cipha leaves the label. Two weeks later he's dead.
What the fuck you tryin' to say?
Nothing, it's just kind of ironical, you know?
You finished?
Uh, no, actually Bliss needs an extension on his album.
- So... - What?
Well, you know Bliss, man. He's--
I heard you, motherfucker.
I gave his sorry ass two extra weeks already.
Hey.
You tell that trick motherfucker
I need to start making some money on my investment
or his sorry ass is going to be living on the street.
- You feel me? - I do, yeah.
Now get the fuck out of my face.
Honestly, I would want it to be a serial killer
over some beef nonsense, 'cause I would hope that we're past that.
But either way, this person needs to get caught.
You know what I'm saying? I mean, knocking off rappers?
Why?
Rob Ski, man. I can't believe that.
His early stuff is only on vinyl.
His first two albums are only vinyl. I mean, you can only--
Look look, if you're holding something back, Francelli, just spill it.
I'm not holding anything back.
'Cause I'll pull myself off the case.
Hey, I'm retiring in a few days anyway
and you can handle this all by yourself.
You seem to have all the answers.
Okay okay.
I've been keeping a few minor details--
- Oh, minor details? - --from you.
- Why don't I just show you? - What-- what is it, Francelli?
I don't have time for your bullshit.
You want to know what I know, right?
What is this?
This is a little visual we put together.
No, I mean all this.
It's kind of like an experiment.
- Is that what you call it? - Yeah.
But this-- this is my art piece.
Victim #1, Anfernee Douglas, also known as A.D.;
victim #2, James Bernard, also known as Cipha.
Now this connects each one of the slain rappers
with rappers that they've had beef with,
whether it was in person or on wax.
We're also tracking what we call high-risk rappers.
These are rappers who have felony records
or who hold acquaintance with other felons.
So when were you going to tell me all this?
Well, I'm telling you now.
Truth is, I figured you already knew about it.
Our investigation's been ongoing for the past three years.
So who's this guy?
He's like an information gatherer;
a researcher-- he reads articles, he listens to albums,
he cross-references the information.
He keeps tabs on the rappers and their associates,
kind of like COINTELPRO, but for rappers.
We examine expense accounts, financial records;
we monitor concerts; we run license plates-- you name it.
So what the hell am I doing here?
You guys seem to have it all under control.
You're one of the best homicide detectives on the force.
And I don't think that these murders
are the result of a simple beef.
That's one thing we agree on.
Yeah. Yeah.
I mean, we can solve this shit
a hell of a lot faster if we both work together.
What do you say? One more.
One more for the road.
Okay, but we do it my way.
Great. You're the man.
Now we've broken up the rappers into generations,
the first generation being Kool Herc,
Cold Crush Brothers, Treacherous Three,
Grandmaster Flash, Furious Five.
The second generation being Run-D.M.C.,
Fat Boys, Whodini,
Public Enemy, EPMD, Eric B. & Rakim.
We're at, like, generation eight now--
50 Cent, Eminem...
Is there a point to all this?
Well, if the killer has a taste
for rappers and rap music,
pick your poison.
If they didn't find the killers now,
I don't think they're going to find them anytime soon.
Some other black men dead. They really don't care.
Yeah! Ha!
What up, niggas? Shut up, niggas
I'm smack in the touch, tryin' to smack buttocks, niggas
In my lap is...
Seems like every one of these rappers has a criminal record.
Yeah, it's like-- it's like a badge of honor these days.
Look at this guy-- armed robbery.
I saw him last week on "Entertainment Tonight."
The world's gone crazy. Up is down and down is up.
Good means bad; bad means good;
gangster's the new chic.
Maybe we should knock over a couple of gas stations
and get us a record deal.
Say the word.
I'm, um, sorry about giving you such a hard time.
Forget about it.
I'm just not too good with the whole partner thing.
So we're partners?
Don't push it.
Okay.
We'd better get going.
I've got this planet in my hands
You know I'll waste it if I can
Come on, let's give it a twist
And if it all turns to shit...
So why don't you tell me a little more
about this experimental division you guys got?
Ah, it's kind of like a hybrid
between the neighborhood initiative to combat growing gang activity
and our own street-crime unit, Gang Intel.
We found a direct correlation between gang members,
drug and firearm sales and the hip-hop murders.
So we started cross-referencing the crimes and the names
and the tour dates in various cities.
The rappers are making more and more references
to gangs and specific crimes.
You cannot deny the fact that the two have a history.
You said so yourself-- a lot of these dudes, they got records.
Yeah, but if they all came from the same neighborhood,
of course they're going to know each other.
That doesn't mean they're all criminals.
I thought you don't give a shit about rappers.
I don't give a shit about rappers,
but if your theory is flawed, it's flawed.
Just 'cause it's got flaws doesn't mean it ain't so.
Ah, Da Bomb, baby,
makes me want to get my freak on.
Da Bomb, baby-- 125...
I wish them niggas would try to roll up on you like that, son.
I'm telling you right now, nigga--
it's gonna be a motherfuckin' problem, yo.
Motherfuckers get popped early!
- You know what I'm sayin'? - Hell yeah.
That's just how we do, son.
'Cause I'm always carryin' heat, nigga.
Black Ops Special Forces out this bitch, yo. What!
Hey, yo, D., when the fuck we goin' on tour, nigga?
...But you gotta do it today.
You see this mofo?
This nigga always on the phone.
Wh at?
You deaf, motherfucker? When the fuck we goin' on tour?
First of all, jackass, I don't work for you.
So I don't have to answer to you.
Ho ho ho!
Yo, D.,
we got some tour dates set up?
Of course we do, baby. Promo tour starts in two weeks.
Yo, man, you a smooth, sensitive-ass,
sugary melon-ball shit, man.
You know what I mean? I'm just trying to go back on tour.
That Tokyo tour! You know what I'm talkin' about?
- Yeah! - Shorty smashin' with that geisha ass
on my konichiwa!
That means hello, you fuckin' retard.
Dumbass.
Big news in the hip-hop homicides.
A source close to law-enforcement officials
states that the popular rapper Manchild
could be the killer's next target.
Manchild is known to have a long-standing feud
with both slain rappers Cipha and A.D.
Yo, dawg,
that was you.
I mean, the killer coming after you next, B.
- Wait, what the fuck is you sayin'? - Just--
Think about what you sayin', man.
Look, man, you focus, remember?
I'm good.
Look, all I'm saying is all these guys now--
all they do is they rap about bitches and hoes
and making paper and murder.
What are you, some kind of rap music connoisseur or something?
No, I'm just a fan of the culture,
which is why I wanted to be part of this special division.
White people listen to rap music, you know?
You ever heard of Beastie Boys or Paul Wall or Eminem?
Why do white folks always have to play the great-white-hype card?
What, now Eminem is going to save rap music
like Elvis saved rock and roll and Kenny G. saved jazz?
Look, all I'm saying is that white people listen to rap music.
- Why are you getting so sensitive? - I'm not so sensitive.
I'm not saying that Eminem is going to save rap music
by any means, or that he's even the best rapper.
Look, why are we even having this conversation?
Read my lips-- I don't care.
You can have rap music for all I care.
We don't want rap music.
Neither do I. Jeez.
When did white people get so black?
The revolution was televised.
I like Eminem. I just like-- I don't know.
I like his lyrics. I like-- he talks about his life
and that's just-- I don't know, I just kind of relate to him sometimes.
I'll listen to Dre, Snoop, I think occasionally. I put on--
I don't know, Justin Timberlake is one of my favorite rappers.
He likes to rap on some of his tracks, so...
I feel-- feel pretty good about that.
They killed 'Pac,
Big, Big L.,
Scott La Rock,
Mac Dre,
Soulja Slim--
- Camoflauge-- - All right, motherfuckers!
I'm just sayin', man. They killed all these motherfuckers
and they ain't found shit out yet, yo.
And you would think with all this new technology they got--
the D.N.A., forensics--
you can't even breathe on a motherfucker too hard
without leaving some D.N.A. behind.
Yo, can we just drop this shit?
Yo, what's that shit that come on Court TV? I love that shit.
Oh oh, you talkin' about "Cold Case."
- Oh, hell yeah! - Yeah.
What the fuck ever, nigga.
Why you even wastin' your breath watching that shit, man?
Like in the movies-- like, it's always some type of formula
- with these serial killers. - Man, shut the fuck up, yo.
- It's a fuckin' movie. - What?
That shit's got to be based on something.
What they always say? Everybody's a suspect.
- Manchild? - Shit.
You on in five minutes, baby.
All right, thanks.
Man, you fuckin' us up with that bullshit, man.
Whoa whoa whoa, no autographs, chief.
None of that shit tonight.
Yo, man, why 5-0 always harassing us, man? Dang!
Which one of you gentlemen is Marcus Malone?
Manchild. My name is Manchild.
Okay, Manchild, can we get a word with you?
- I got a show to do. - The show can wait.
We think somebody's trying to kill you.
Tell me something I don't know.
Go on, Marcus. We'll clean up the mess later.
Whatever.
You're not scaring me.
All right, y'all, he's back.
The man, the myth.
Give it up for my man and yours, Manchild, yo!
It's an everyday struggle, man
In my hood, your hood, we still struggling
I'm just trying to make it out the struggle, man
This be the reason why I'm hustling
It's an everyday struggle, man
In my hood, your hood, we still struggling
I'm just trying to make it out the struggle, man
This be the reason why I'm hustling...
Who's this guy? Hey, you, come here!
Stop, help! Help!
- Yo, what the fuck was that about? - Nothin'.
So why the fuck we leave out of there like that?
'Cause I wanted to leave. I don't have to ask
a motherfucker when I can leave. I just fuckin' leave.
Man, you on some prima-donna bullshit.
- Shut up. - It's bullshit, man.
Oh, shit! Drive!
We've got shots fired. Officers requesting backup.
We're in pursuit of a dark blue sedan right behind Manchild.
Get a black and white to tail him.
This just in--
sources have confirmed there was a shooting
outside Video Vibration C.D. Studio.
It was reported that Manchild was the intended target.
Yo, this violence has to stop, y'all.
Manchild, be safe out there, baby.
I think we lost 'em.
Fuck!
Shit.
God damn it.
It's right here. Let me park the car.
It's hot.
You guys see anybody come out of this car?
None of you guys?
This is how we do!
Yeah, I'm bringing to the stage the legend-- the legend,
B.D. Kane-- Big Daddy Kane.
My man! Right now! He's nice and smooth.
Come on, y'all, put your hands together.
Put your hands together.
Yeah
Great, uh, great
Oh oh ah...
Fuck!
- Yo, you think we lost them? - Who?
Snap, Crackle and Pop, stupid! The cops!
- Oh, yeah, we lost them. - You think we hit one of them, man?
I think I might have hit one of them.
I know I hit one of them.
I'm a sharpshooter out this bitch, mother--
Yo, Manchild's going to get his.
I know he had something to do with Cipha's murder.
Don't worry about that shit, man.
Manchild's going to get what's coming to him, yo.
Slide to the right so you shift it back
You and I tryin' to hide while I sip it back
Honey, flow 'cause you want me to twist it back
I'm the don, fuck it, it's just a fact
See me floss, shit is major, most are just haters
I'm large with the paper, plus the dawg spits the flavor...
Is Brooklyn in the house?
Put your hands up.
Hey, yo! Yo, what part of the game is this?
Police. Back the fuck up.
Yo yo, Big Daddy Kane, what's up? What's good?
When'd you get back to Brooklyn?
Yeah, I didn't know New York's finest was part of the show.
Yeah, tell you what-- you don't want to be in here right now.
I'm in Brooklyn. You don't want to be in here.
Is that the guy?
Is that the kid? Is that a shooter?
Get in the car.
You gonna tell me what's going on?
That's my son,
the knucklehead.
Nice to meet you, knucklehead.
- I'm Francelli. - Dad, let me explain--
I don't want to hear it.
What the hell were you thinking?
You weren't thinking, right?
Look, Big Daddy Kane and Greg Nice was there.
I just wanted to see them perform.
I can't believe Big Daddy Kane was there.
Francelli, please.
Miles, the mere fact the rappers are winding up in body bags
should tell you something.
I'm sorry.
10-85, Gang Intel, 507 Waverly.
I'm sorry. I know it's late.
Can I come in?
Come on.
Well, what's going on with you?
I've never seen you like this before.
- I've never been shot at before. - What?
I know you heard about the murders, right?
Of course. Who hasn't?
Well, I think the killer came after me tonight.
They pulled up right next to our truck and started shooting.
We were lucky the cops was following us.
I haven't heard from you in over a year.
A year!
And then you just want to show up on my doorstep
and you expect to get some sympathy.
What can I say, all right? I fucked up--
- You're damn right! - This rap shit going to my head.
But come on, Kiki!
Come on, Kiki.
You know I wanted to be a rapper ever since I was 10.
And now people are getting hurt, dying.
I got into hip-hop to get away from the streets and all this bullshit.
And now...
Times have changed.
Yeah.
Hell yeah, rappers should be fearful for their lives, yo.
Somebody is coming after these rappers.
I don't understand why; I don't understand where.
But yeah, they need to look over their shoulders
'cause somebody's coming for them.
Yes, sir, we're doing the best we can.
We-- we absolutely--
Are you guys just trying to kill my career--
Captain, I don't think those guys were our killers.
Excuse me, if someone tries to kill someone,
that defines them as a killer.
Now I do not care what you have to do--
you find Manchild before this killer or killers do.
Didn't fit the killers' profile.
The other killings were intimate, private, hidden.
This was a loud, public, sloppy attempt on Manchild's life.
What?
Captain, there's a Marcel Mann here to see you.
- Marcel Mann. - Who's Marcel Mann?
Oh, only the biggest, most notorious rap mogul in the industry.
You know that's a nasty habit.
One of many.
And it's illegal to smoke in a public building.
Ahem.
Do you have any pertinent information you'd like to share with us?
No.
I figured you guys would be knocking on my door sooner or later,
so I figured I'd save you a trip.
That's pretty gracious of him.
Maybe that's 'cause you always seem
to get yourself involved in all this illegal shit.
No offense.
You know, I like to watch old movies--
Humphrey Bogart,
James Cagney,
Edward G. Robinson.
And in all those movies,
they always refer to you detectives
as dicks.
Why is that?
Do you know anything about the murders?
Only what I read in the papers.
I've been in this business for over 10 years,
so I knew them.
They were great M.C.s, but that's as far as it went.
What-- what about the fact that Cipha was on your label?
What about the fact that Cipha took you to court
to get out of that contract?
That didn't, I don't know, piss you off?
No no, man.
I'm a businessman.
Cipha, that was--
that was a wise business decision.
I can't be mad at a man for that.
So we're supposed to believe that you marched in here
of your own accord because you're, what? A nice guy?
I don't give a fuck what you believe.
I know what people think about me on the streets,
in the business.
But I'm here to just make good music, man. That's all.
And Cipha?
Even though he left, he will always be part of the family.
53313 We anybody
fuckin' with the family.
Well, some of your family
had lyrical beefs with the deceased.
Don't you know that families have beefs all the time?
All the time, man.
But my family, my artists,
they had nothing to do with any of the murders.
And how, can I ask, do you know that for certain?
Because if they did,
they'd know they would have to answer to me.
Do you understand?
Step aside, homicide.
It's not Manchild.
- The plot thickens. - What do we have here?
His name is Earl Johnson, AKA Eno Brown.
- Another rapper? - Another rapper.
The cleaning lady found him.
She see anybody leaving the room?
Nothing.
- How many holes we got? - Just one.
Thanks, man.
You mind if I join you?
Do I know you?
Oh, I met you-- well, I ran into you yesterday
at "Hip Hype" magazine-- literally.
- I'm the detective. - Right.
Are you following me?
- No, I-- - I'm joking.
May I?
Sure.
Do you come here often?
Is that the best pick-up line that you have?
Unfortunately, yes.
Being a detective must be really exciting.
Yeah, it has its perks.
You meet all kinds of interesting people.
But you-- I bet you meet celebrities and--
Mmm, sometimes,
but most of them are assholes.
Rich assholes.
I bet you've heard some pretty good pick-up lines, though.
Why were you staring at me before?
I was-- I wasn't. I was.
I wouldn't have noticed you looking if I wasn't looking.
Is that so?
I've always had a thing for cops--
something about a gun and a badge
that, well, you know.
Would you like another drink?
It is getting late, and I do have a job to go to tomorrow.
Can I-- could I see you again sometime?
Could I take you out to dinner?
- That sounds nice. - Yeah.
Okay. "Terrell."
Nice to see you again.
Turn it up one more time.
A'right.
Vince, look out!
Ah!
Man, pick up the phone. I know you're there.
Man, stop fucking around and pick up the damn phone.
Shake that shit off, baby.
Manchild?
Fuck.
Listen, Mark, I need that done in less than two hours.
It's not a problem, Tony.
Sorry about that. My 10:00 ran over.
Good to see you, Dennis. What can I do for you?
I'm worried about Manchild.
Yeah, I heard about what happened the other night. Is he all right?
He's fine.
I think we're going to need to get some real security for him.
I was under the impression that he had real security.
No, not his goofy-ass homeboys from his old neighborhood.
I'm talking about real, certified security.
You can get any security you want.
It's coming out of your budget, your pocket,
'cause I'm not footing the bill for any of this.
Tony, we made a lot of money for this record company.
We could easily go somewhere else and make a lot of money too.
Dennis, of course we care about the well-being of all of our artists.
The industry is not what it used to be,
with the downsizing, the illegal downloading,
the mergers, all this other crap--
no pun intended, but we're fuckin' getting killed here.
We're barely making a profit.
Man , turn the--
this is your marquee artist we're talking about.
I mean, need I remind you-- three platinum albums? Three.
And a fourth that'll go platinum in a week.
And we appreciate all the success we've shared together.
But the bottom line is we're not the only ones
- making money here. - Don't even fucking go there.
I know I've added many zeros to your bank account.
We're not talking about my bank account.
We're talking about his life here.
Don't get all broken up and teary-eyed on me.
You know as well as I do that because of this shit happening,
record sales are going through the fucking roof when this album drops.
It's a win-win situation, Dennis.
- Don't you see it? - What?
The fans-- they're being drawn back in.
The murders have brought the fans back in.
We're selling albums again.
They love the blood.
Fucking wow.
When it's time to renew his contract next year,
don't expect a call from me.
You're gonna be a rich man, Dennis.
Sit back and enjoy it.
You burn in hell. Enjoy that.
Right after I burn this Cohiba.
I think it's bad, you know what I'm sayin'?
But at the same time, people makin' money.
You know, they gettin' street cred which is gonna sell more records,
you know, and amp 'em up. So I mean, it's the--
you know, catch-22.
I'm sorry I'm late.
Bad way to start a first date.
Won't happen again.
That implies we're going out again.
We're not?
I like a man with confidence.
Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
Never mind.
You look fantastic.
Thank you.
Do you want to come in?
Uh, I don't know if that's
- such a good idea. - Why not?
I wouldn't want anything to, you know, happen.
Um, that would imply that I would want something to happen.
- I didn't mean that. - Come in.
- Oh. - Come in.
Make yourself at home.
Okay.
Do you, um, want a drink?
Sure.
Okay.
This is a nice place.
Thank you.
Is this Maurice Murray?
Yeah.
We-- we were in Jamaica.
We dated for a few months before we decided
to keep it strictly business.
Is there something bothering you?
You look a little troubled.
No.
Does it bother you that I dated my boss?
Absolutely
Scrapbook?
Some research for an article I'm working on.
I work for a hip-hop magazine, remember?
Yeah, I remember.
Did you-- did you know any of the rappers?
Why do you ask?
Oh, just curious.
Not really.
I, um... hmm.
I worked on a rap music video with one of them,
like, years ago.
It just wasn't for me. I really didn't like it.
Guys trying to feel up on you every minute,
and they make you wear some of the skimpiest outfits.
Do you guys have any suspects?
No, not yet.
But we're gonna get 'em.
Really? Cheers for that.
Mmm.
Ah.
I gotta go. I gotta--
It's getting late.
I had a really nice time.
So did I.
Maybe we can do it again sometime.
Yeah.
Bye.
If you're a rapper, you're done.
Like KRS-One said--
If you want to get away with murder, kill a rapper.
I don't think somebody just decided
to destroy the hip-hop, no way.
What are you still doing here?
I'm just trying to finish up.
Oh, what a busy little bee.
God, you hear this song?
It's amazing.
It's poetic.
I know, Maurice, I know.
Only truly civilized men can appreciate classical music.
You're not going to the party?
No no no.
I hate industry parties.
You know, rappers are walking contradictions.
They're the personification of everything that is wrong with us.
And here you are working for a hip-hop magazine.
How ironic.
No, you want to hear something ironic? Look at Flavor Flav.
He was a part of the mast politically influential group
in hip-hop, and now here he is
being a-- well...
His behavior, there are no words.
But we still love him. That's ironic.
Maurice?
Mmm?
I really need to finish up.
Oh.
Well, I was going to go for Chinese. You want?
You got a hot date?
No. I'm just trying to finish up
so I can go home and get some rest.
All right.
Maybe next time.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
You ever think about having kids?
Gotta get a wife first.
I've got bad luck with women, you know?
I just pick the wrong ones.
So what's the plan, Stan?
I say we go in there, we bust the bad guy,
and we save the day.
And then what?
I got this job lined up with a security firm.
What'd make you want to do that?
He's gotta go to college...
I hope.
So this is what it's all about?
Hell yeah. How come you don't have this shit yet?
You like living how you used to live, dawg?
I used to live in this little cramped-ass apartment
above this nasty-ass bodega.
Ain't no way in hell I'm going back to living like that.
Look around you, dawg. Look at this shit.
This shit is the life.
Let me ask you a question.
Do you like Manchild living
or would you rather go back to being Marcus?
Me?
I like this here.
Now to answer the burning question again,
hell yeah, this is what it's all about.
Now bring your scared ass home, dawg.
Your fans await you, man. Let's go.
Yeah! Whoa.
What the hell you doin', man? Get the fuck off me, man.
This is my demo.
I wanted to give Manchild a copy.
- Shit. - It was your demo.
Damn, broke the shit and everything, man.
- Sorry about that. - Some superstar bullshit.
What's up, fellas?
Damn, this-- oh shit!
Ladies, ladies, ladies, ladies, ladies.
Check this shit, bro.
- What's wrong now? - Nothin'.
Nothing? Do you need a hug?
Come on, dawg, we're at your album-release party.
All these people, they came here to see you.
They don't give a fuck about me.
You know, you need to get off that bullshit.
You know how many motherfuckers would kill to be in your shoes?
Not like that. You know what I mean.
You're the hottest rapper out right now, baby.
So that's what's important to you?
I almost got killed the other night.
You need to get your priorities straight, nigga.
No, you need to get your priorities straight
before one of these young hungry M.C.s come up in here
Yeah, then I'll be managing them.
- Yeah, whatever. - Yeah, it's whatever.
You gotta be fuckin' kidding me.
Have a drink. What the fuck?
It's just that I'm really worried about him.
Please. He's a big boy. He gonna be all right.
So what's u p?
Y'all seeing each other again?
- No. - Mmm.
No, it's like I told you, you know?
He-- he just showed up on my doorstep
after all this time like nothing ever happened.
I mean, I know he's your brother,
but he's got some nerve.
You know y'all still in love. You need to stop playing,
both of y'all.
Whatever.
Hey.
Oh, hey.
What you want?
- Mind your business. - Whatever, Marcus.
Girl, I'm going to the party.
- Yeah, you do that. - Excuse me.
Wow, you guys still act like you're 10 years old.
She gets on my nerves.
Whatever.
I didn't know you were coming.
Yeah, at the last minute, I decided to.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
I'm glad you did.
Me too.
Hello?
Yo, Manchild, this is the Marcel Mann.
- What's up, man? - I love your work, brother.
Thanks. It means a lot coming from you.
Maybe we'll get a chance to work together sometime in the future.
- Oh, for sure. - That's right, for sure.
It's your night, baby.
If you was on my label,
nobody would even think of fuckin' with you.
You get down with me if you want to live.
It's all I want
Some things are worth dying for
It's all I want
Tell me, what are you fighting for?
It's all I want want want want...
Go talk to her.
Go show her your gun.
You want a drink?
I'm just kidding. I'm kidding over here.
The music's starting to give me a headache.
I'm gonna go outside and get some fresh air.
- Keep an eye out for-- - All right. I got it.
Go get some fresh air.
Get your response, it ain't safe
I'll keep it in the safe so you ain't safe
Heart of a slave, kill the owner
First it was Watts, now it's Arizona
We riot for what we love...
Oh my God, Maurice.
Oh, you nearly gave me a heart attack.
What are you doing here?
I need to talk to you.
- Can it wait till Monday because-- - It can't.
I was on my way out.
I want another chance.
Maurice, don't do this.
- No no no. Wait wait. Terrell, Terrell. - Um...
Wait wait, come on.
Come here. We had a good thing.
See?
Maurice!
Come on.
We through
And you said you were fine with it.
Yeah? Well, okay, I'm not.
Can't take seeing you being with another man.
What man?
Your new boyfriend, the cop.
He's not my boyfriend. We went out once.
Have you been spying on me?
After all I did for you.
- What are you talking about? - You like him.
Maurice, I think you should leave.
Not until you talk to me.
If you don't leave, I'm gonna call the police.
Go ahead, call them.
And you can tell them what you know about the murders.
What are you talking about?
"What are you talking about?"
So now all of a sudden
you get a case of amnesia?
Did you forget what you told me?
I don't know if it's worth it any more.
You know, everything in this life
that's worth having comes at a price.
You know, but if you're happy
and you love what you do,
then that's all that really matters.
Sometimes I-- I just want to walk away from all this
and start over,
start a new life.
If that's what you want to do,
then maybe you should do it.
Rap will survive without Manchild.
There'll-- there'll be another rapper.
You know, there'll be 1,000 other rappers
just waiting in line to take your place.
But, um...
there's only one Marcus Malone.
Uh, you havin' fun?
It's showtime, baby. Gotta go.
Right.
- I'll be right back. - Okay.
- Don't go anywhere. - I won't.
What up, y'all? What up, y'all? Yeah!
What's up? You know what I'm sayin'?
Welcome here tonight.
My name is Jazz Lovin', baby. You already know what it is.
We gonna get this shit poppin' crazy up in here tonight.
All the ladies in the house, all the ladies.
Hey hey.
- Everything okay? - Everything's great.
He's over there talking to his girl.
Where is he?
He's right there.
Say "ho"!
- Fuck. - You're fuckin' around, right?
You're joking, right?
How the hell did you take your eyes off him?
He was right there talkin' to his girl.
I step out of here for two seconds.
He's gotta be around here.
Excuse me. Sorry to bother you,
but we're looking for your boyfriend Manchild.
He's not my boyfriend.
We're the detectives assigned to protect him.
He just left with Dennis, his manager.
I think he's about to perform.
Y'all give it up for Manchild!
It's an everyday struggle, man
In my hood, your hood, we still struggling
I'm just trying to make it out the struggle, man
This be the reason why I'm hustling...
I find it interesting
that you have a connection to all three
of the M.C.s that were murdered.
Hmm?
- Come on. - Ah.
This is how you do me after I tried to help you?
Is that what you're calling this?
Who was there for you?
Who saved you from those animals?
- Hmm. - I believed in you
when you didn't have nothing.
I get it! I should have never confided in you.
But you did.
Did you do it?
You're gonna get caught.
Maurice, wait.
I did it. I did it.
- Ah! - I'm sorry.
- This-- - I had to.
- I had to do it! - Ahh!
'Cause they deserved it for what they did to me,
for what they're doing to all of us.
See, you tried to kill me,
like you killed those rappers,
but I got the knife from you
and I stabbed you first.
Now I'm gonna call the police.
He's trying to kill me.
413 Main Street, second floor.
Please come-- no no, I can't calm down!
I hope you don't mind, I borrowed some of your poems from your little book.
I left them as a calling card.
Some of them were actually pretty good.
Don't worry, I'll make sure you get all the credit.
You always wanted to be famous.
Now you'll be infamous.
Men are such easy targets,
probably because their brains are in their pants.
You!
Are you ready?
It's showtime.
Every time I turn around, always getting kicked out of something
Gettin' stolen out the house so I flipped out
Dropped out of school, hit the streets like an animal
Now I'm making moves on this corner, I can handle it
See these dudes flossing all they money, they some amateurs
I guess I need to get locked up and get scandalous
Before I start over, I be with folks who give a shit
Trapped in the streets, gettin' money to the peeps
I'm'a run from this border life, peace
It's an everyday struggle, man
In my hood, your hood, we still struggling
I'm just trying to make it out the struggle, man
This be the reason why I'm hustling
It's an everyday struggle, man...
About time. You guys almost missed the boat.
They were too busy over there partying with Puff Daddy.
You guys are gonna tell me you couldn't see this coming?
Hey, Captain?
I think this is the same notebook the other notes come from.
He always talked about wanting to be a rapper
and how all the other rappers were in the way of his dream.
He-- he came towards me with a knife...
and-- and I tried to talk some sense into him.
But all he kept saying was--
I'm gonna save hip-hop from itself,
even if it means I have to sacrifice
a few rappers in the process.
And that no one could stop him.
And you can't stop me!
And--
Oh!
I want your report on my desk Monday morning.
Don't worry about anything, miss. You did a good thing.
Maybe you could go to a friend's
or something for a few days?
Maybe a hotel?
Don't worry about the tab. It's on the department.
Detective Francelli here will take you to the hotel of your choice.
- Captain? - Thank you, Francelli.
Goodbye. Detective Johnson will take it from here.
Thanks for driving me.
Just doing my job.
The marriott on Seventh okay?
That's okay. Thank you.
You okay?
I'm okay.
Why'd you do it?
Do what?
Why'd you kill him?
I had to kill him.
He was going to kill me.
He was crazy.
What about the others?
- What are you talking about? - You know what I'm talking about.
Is there something you want to ask me, Detective?
You know I had you pegged from the first moment I saw you.
I think you mean you wanted to fuck me
from the moment you saw me.
Why don't you just come clean?
Everybody thinks Maurice did it.
You won, fair and square.
I just can't figure out why.
I think you need to get some rest, Detective.
It's been a long case
and you're getting delusional.
All the articles on the table.
Research.
Yeah, the music video.
I was an aspiring model.
Right. The notebook.
Why are you torturing yourself? It's done.
It's finally over.
IS it?
You know what I think?
I think-- I think--
I think it was your first day on a big set
and I think that they asked you to come back to the trailer.
And you felt special...
excited, young, naive
and ambitious.
Okay.
All right.
- Damn, girl, you beautiful. - Thank you.
- Here, drink. - Thank you.
That's good.
And I think maybe they got a little rough with you.
- Stop. - Lay back!
And you tried to stop them and you screamed
and you fought, but they were too strong for you.
Come on, bitch! Come on, come on!
Fuckin' bitch.
- And I think-- - Let me get on that shit.
I think maybe they ganged up on you
and forced themselves on you. Maybe one of them hit you.
Get on there, big dog. That's all you.
Maybe they took turns raping you.
What? That wasn't rape.
I wasn't raped.
Okay.
Can you just drop me off, please?
- Let me out here. - We're pulling over right now.
You know what, Francelli? You're good.
But even if all that were true,
it doesn't prove I killed anybody.
Thanks for the ride
and the fairy tale. It was... entertaining.
You know, one of the rappers was murdered in this hotel.
- Really? - Yeah.
I guess I should keep my door locked then.
I hope you can sleep.
Oh, I'm gonna sleep like a baby.
Thanks again for all your help.
Hey.
I'll see you around.
Welcome back, ma'am.
Nice to see you again.
Thank you.
I always had a thing for cops.
Do you guys have any suspects?
But even if all that were true,
it doesn't prove I killed anybody.
Good morning, listeners.
Just got word that New York's finest
have issued a statement.
They're reporting that they have indeed caught
the serial killer.
So we can all rest easy...
I hope.
I've got this planet in my hands
You know I'll waste it if I can
Come on, let's give it a twist
And if it all turns to shit
Oh, wait, let's try that again
My life's too short to have a plan
Here, let me help you understand
First take this drink and this pill
Relax your mind and be still
Let's find out who I am
'Cause I
Stupid American trash
Wait, let's try that again
I've got this planet in my hands
I'll try to save it if I can
I'm satisfied with myself
Don't care for anyone else
I'm so united when I stand
I get my facts from the TV
Believe in everything I read
It's such an ignorant bliss
When the whole fucking world wants to be like me
I've got this planet in my hands
You know I'll waste it if I can
Come on, let's give it a twist
And if it all turns to shit
Oh, wait, let's try that again.