Previously on "The Breaks"...
Yo, Chuck. You got DeeVee's tape?
Sorry, sis, it's in my ride,
but my dumbass cousin got it stolen in Jersey.
Ladies and gentlemen,
you are listening to the sounds
of the one, the only...
Ahm!
And super producer DJ DeeVee!
So you're a middle man, not the label.
I negotiate with the label on behalf of the artist.
Thanks for your time.
Name was Tina.
She crossed paths with your friend Ahmed Harris,
and someone else you might know goes by Scooby.
I need you to call your man, the hookup.
You don't have anybody else that you can call?
Orson, you should really license my Bob James masters.
Okay, 600,000.
Peter Piper beat on this, right?
Nah, that's Bob James, too.
Bring me an artist worth signing and we'll talk
about a future for you here at EBJ.
Like to bring you onboard EBJ.
Keep playing games with my artists,
I'ma play games with you.
You do that, Barry.
I'm goin' after Vanilla Ice.
David's gone and he's not coming back!
You don't wanna deal with that, then fine.
Whoa, whoa, hey! Wait a minute!
I didn't do anything, Dad!
You need to do this
so you can get out of this hood.
Yo.
Niggas tried to roll on me.
Yeah.
Nah, tell the boys.
Meet me here.
Police! Hands up!
I'm clean. Get your hands up!
Turn and face the wall.
I said turn and face the wall.
Put your hands behind your back.
Your other hand.
You knew I was on you.
How come you ain't move?
Where I'ma go?
Yeah, we got an unexpected break in the case.
I was dying to get up to JB's before we did all this,
but... you know. First thing's first.
You still go up there?
Nah. Too bad, got quite the rap.
But as luck would have it,
I get this call the other day
about this fucked up Saab in Jersey.
So I'm scratching my head.
I'm homicide.
Fuck they callin' me about a stolen car in Jersey, right?
Then I remember my man Chuck asked me
to keep my ear out when his ride got swiped.
So I go to meet him at the impound.
I'm thinkin' he's amped
'cause he's gettin' his shit back.
He's way more excited,
'cause this is in the tape deck.
That's your break in the case?
Nah, we got something way better than that.
This just good music.
Hey, yo, Ahm, that's that shit I'm talkin' 'bout, man.
That's that new flavor right there, son!
That's that new shit, huh?
Straight into the '90s!
Imani, you know what kills most new record companies?
Hits. Without financing,
a small label can't keep up with demand.
They cant afford to press records,
distributors don't pay them back for months,
the label can't afford promoters,
they can't pay their artists.
Now, when guys like Foray realize this,
you know who they turn to?
Wait, but just two seconds ago
you said that Fouray was the best place for me to go.
And now I'm saying EBJ is.
You need a label with experience,
not someone that's just trying to figure it out as they go.
Shake my hand, you'll be in the studio today.
(Vanilla Ice, on TV
I told you our boy was a star.
And I hear what they're already saying about Ice,
calling him the Elvis of Rap.
But trust me when I tell you, Tommy and I both think
this guy is the real deal. And when someone like Fouray
wants to put his name behind him,
everybody else is gonna think he's the real deal too.
Is 100 grand real enough for you?
'Cause we can make the deal happen right now.
You could bring him to my showcase tonight.
Atlantic is offering 250.
What about credibility?
I imagine we could buy some of that.
I'll match it. Wh-- no, B--
I'll match it.
Like, meet me back here in a couple of hours.
I'll have the money here for you.
I'll see you in a few.
All right.
Cancel the showcase. What?
Even if you had the money to match Atlantic's offer,
which you don't, there's no way
you could have him on stage by tonight.
I ain't canceling shit.
Everybody wants this kid.
You need to call your man.
No, no. B, we talked about this yesterday.
Yeah, yesterday, when my father's money was enough.
Now it's not. Call him.
You don't even like Vanilla Ice!
I don't have to like him.
These little white girls are going to love him!
Call your guy! Listen, B,
that is not the way we wanna go about this.
You listen.
Elvis, Ray.
Elvis.
Fine.
I'll call him.
I understand you are charged with first degree murder
in the killing of Brian Lesley,
also known as Geronimo. Prosecution?
Your Honor, the prosecution will present an eye witness
who will state in this court
that he saw Mr. Harris kill Mr. Lesley.
Your Honor, this witness has no credibility.
I move to dismiss on lack of evidence.
Your Honor, I request that bail be denied.
This man is the head of a continuing criminal enterprise.
I hear you, counselor.
Mr. Harris...
For the record, what do you do for a living?
I'm a rapper.
Motion to dismiss denied.
You want to bring him back for a RICO charge,
make the complaint. Bail is set at 300,000.
Next case. Docket number 1ZA7956.
Darryl van Putten Jr.,
charged with obstruction of justice.
State your name for the court.
Darryl Van Putten Jr.
Okay, Mr. Van Putten, am I to understand
that you are an alibi witness to Mr. Harris?
Yes, Ma'am.
You dragged this kid in here for obstruction of justice?
Your Honor, Mr. van Putten has--
Has done nothing. Get him out of here.
Mr. Van Putten, I expect to see you
in this court at trial.
Next.
So I don't even know why I'm doing this thing any more.
My wife hates me for it.
It's not like suing for Ray is gonna bring him back.
So drop it. Move on.
Listen, if there's anything
I can do for you, just ask. Anything.
For starters, I'd like to square away
this Bob James deal with you.
Bob James deal? Our greatest hits CD.
I got the early stuff, remember?
You were gonna buy my masters for 600 grand.
I didn't say that.
Bob James, he's great, but... who cares?
Orson, at the poker game.
You looked me right in the eye,
you said we had a deal.
That? I was fucking with you.
Juggy, come on, Bob James?
Listen, you've been through a lot.
It's time to just let it go.
Let it all go.
Move on. You've done your time.
I gotta go.
Whose song is this? Who's singing it?
Why isn't she just singing the hook?
Why's she singing the whole song?
'Cause it's her song. Teddy Riley wrote it
for Jody Watley, but now Imani gets to do it.
But she's not a singer, she's a rapper.
A rapper writes their own stuff.
Imani doesn't need to be in a box.
Boy, what the hell, you... what?
Ella, would you like a minute to consult with your client?
Nikki, a word.
You can't be serious. Of course I'm serious.
Have you heard the girl's voice?
She came here to rap.
We'll roll her out as a rap artist...
Nobody will take her seriously if you do that. ...in her second album.
You only have one chance to break an artist.
You don't need to explain that to me, Nikki.
Now I appreciate that you're protective, that's good.
Any A&R worth a damn is.
But you have to trust me on this.
She has too much talent to waste
on what could be a very short-lived career
as a female MC. Don't you agree?
I mean, I-- I'm not saying that she won't rap,
just not yet.
And it's better that EBJ makes its first push into rap
with an artist that has a better chance
of doing it for the long haul,
like the rapper you played for me earlier.
Ahm. Uh, you heard his song on the radio.
Everybody heard his song on the radio.
Can you get to him?
Yeah.
I promise I won't make him sing.
It's Maisha, yo.
Bruce and them shot up her crib last night.
What?
She a'ight? She a'ight.
Fuck, man.
We should go knock their heads off right now, nah mean?
Teach these niggas a lesson.
Nah. Call Bruce. Set up a meeting.
The fuck you talking about? A meeting?
Yeah, nigga, a meeting.
We're gonna end this shit today, man.
Where Maisha? She at your crib.
Teddy watching the door.
You for real, nigga? A meeting?
You a'ight? You good?
No, I am not.
Where's CJ? Mama house.
She was watching him, thank God.
Now will you tell them to let me go?
Scooby all whack ass, gonna lock me in here
like I'm some fucking prisoner. Maisha, relax.
You're better off here, for your own protection.
Protection? Yeah.
Ain't no protection here.
Ain't no protection nowhere in this game.
Ain't you figured that out by now?
Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do,
but as long as you out here in these streets,
you ain't no safer than Smoke.
She good.
Couldn't find you at your place.
I figured I'd try you here.
I watch it now, here.
I feel like he's still here, I guess; I don't know.
To see what he loved so much.
It's pretty good.
Let me play you something.
Me and Ray go way back.
So I'm not anticipating any bullshit.
Yo...
Well, uh-- we good.
So I can let my folks know you cool with the terms?
Absolutely. Yeah.
I mean, we're sitting on a goldmine here.
And you know what?
I'ma get this money back straight to you.
Trust me.
We do, Mr. Fouray. We most certainly do.
You hear that internal rhyme?
The alliteration, the metaphor?
No.
Look, you didn't come all the way out here
to teach an old dog new tricks.
I brought Mattie Taylor an artist.
She offered me a job.
Mazel tov.
Yeah, well, she doesn't know a thing about hip hop
and she's already fucking it up.
Now she wants me to bring her Ahm.
The MC that was working with DeeVee.
Anyway...
I think I made a big mistake.
And I'm running out of bridges to burn.
That's funny.
Lately I've been thinking the same thing about myself.
Well, what do you think I should do?
Juggy?
God damn...
Who is it?
DeeVee.
Why you knock like that?
Uh, I thought that was the only way
you answered the door.
We need to talk.
Thought you wasn't fucking with me no more.
I'm not.
So? What do we gotta talk about?
I'm thinkin' about leaving town.
Don't want you to do that.
I don't wanna do that. That's the thing.
If I don't leave,
do I gotta keep looking over my shoulder?
It's New York City, man.
You always gotta look over your shoulder.
You know what I mean. No, I don't.
If I stay,
and I don't sign the affidavit...
do I have anything to worry about?
What you think?
I don't know. You tell me.
I guess you want your equipment back.
Yeah.
All right, people!
It's six hours and counting, okay?
Have we heard from Ernesto yet?
For the umpteenth time, not yet.
And why are you yellin'?
Because this is the biggest night of my career,
and it's game time, baby.
Yo, what's this I hear about you
trying to get Imani on Music Box?
Yeah, that's right.
And I want to be reimbursed for all my out of pocket.
Oh, so you haven't heard?
Oh, she's over at EBJ now.
Yeah, with Mattie Taylor, and Nikki took her there.
What?! Oh, yeah.
So you need to call Ralph right now,
and no, you can't play the video.
Wait, but I-- No wait, no but, no none of that.
You either with me or against me, Josie.
What's the deal?
I-- All right. Thank you.
Yo, so I just got word
Vanilla Ice has 12 dancers for tonight.
But the stage I ordered from Cirque
can only hold four, max.
Then you need a bigger stage.
A bigger stage is double the money, B.
Double the profit.
Double the money, double the profit.
That sound good to me.
Yo, what is that I'm hearing right now?
Yo, my man! What's that you listening to?
Who is that?
Oh, it's that cat Ahm.
My boy, he taped it off the radio last night.
The shit's dope. Oh, shit.
Ahm, yeah? Is he signed?
Oh, uh, I-- I don't know.
You know, Nikki was the one who had the line on this guy.
Yeah, fuck Nikki. She don't have shit.
She don't have a line on nothin'.
Fucking Judas.
Barry. It's Ernesto.
Oh, shit, it's Ernesto, Ernesto.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Gimme that.
Yo, what's up, playboy?
Yeah, shit, I got what you need.
What you mean? Y'all ready for tonight?
Man, what?
Ah, nah, nah. A'ight, man, I understand.
It's business. Yeah.
Nah, nah, nah. That's okay, man.
Good luck to y'all, man.
Damn. What?
Vanilla Ice just signed over at SBK.
325,000. Shit.
I know.
So... what happens now?
Now...
Now we go get Ahm.
Good afternoon, Nikki Jones.
Lovely seeing you again.
Thank you.
Expecting trouble?
Nah. What's up?
Everybody's talking about that song you did with DeeVee.
I heard something about that.
We wanna get you in the studio.
I'm working with Mattie Taylor over at--
You not with Fouray no more?
No, I'm at EBJ.
They're new to rap, but--
Pardon me, but...
Why I wanna fuck with somebody that's brand-new to rap?
If I do this shit, I want it done right.
Then EBJ is the place for you.
Mattie Taylor's been creating stars for years.
You won't find somebody
who'll take better care of you.
Yeah, what else?
What else you want?
I want DeeVee as part of my deal.
No problem.
A'ight.
Y'all do that... we can talk.
All right. Cool.
A'ight.
Oh, sorry, sorry.
Ahh.
Yo, a'ight.
Young buck.
I know you know who Ahm is. I do.
What guarantee do you have that this dude's
not gonna come back on you?
I don't.
I just can't keep running the rest of my life, Pop.
I mean, you didn't.
The fuck are you talkin' about?
Why you think I got the hell out of Fort Greene? Hmm?
We're not finished.
Maybe you can talk some sense into the boy.
I guess you felt like wasting your money.
What's the problem, DeeVee?
You act like I did something to you.
What do you want?
I want my friend back.
That's why I've been calling you.
Really? 'Cause it seems like
there's only one thing that you care about...
and it ain't your friends.
How could you say something like that to me?
How many times have I looked out for you?
I was the one who helped you hang up
all those little chicken shit flyers
when you first started spinning back at G-Dubb.
That was a long time ago, Nikki.
So that's it?
You just gonna walk away
from four years of friendship just like that?
That's how you walked away from David, right?
Jesus Christ, DeeVee.
So now you're blaming me for David's death.
You think I knew he was gonna die?
You don't think I regret every day
breaking up with him?
Fuck you.
Fuck you, and fuck your friendship.
Nikki, wait.
What?
Look, I-- I'm sorry, okay?
I just... I'm sorry.
Do you know how much that hurts me?
Yes, I do. And I'm sorry.
Look, you wanna go inside?
I think Dad got some Nutter Butters hidden somewhere.
I'm okay.
I think I got you a deal.
What?
You and Ahm, signed as a single act.
A-are you kidding?
Mattie Taylor heard your song on the radio.
She wants to sign you. No.
Everybody wants to sign you. No, no.
I'm not signing with Ahm.
What? Why? I thought that was your boy.
Yeah, but my boy might have killed someone.
But he might not have!
Okay, well, great.
Then, if he doesn't go to jail,
after I testify that I wasn't recording with him
that entire night, then I'll sign.
Okay, so you're willing to just walk away
from everything you have ever dreamed about
because of something that might be a trumped up charge?
Did Ahm put you up to this?
What? Ahm.
Did he put you up to this?
So what if he did?
Nikki, he's just trying to get me
to shore up his alibi.
So? So?
Are you kidding me?
You come in here, heartbroken
that we're not friends anymore--
"Oh, boo-hoo David"--
and it's just business!
It's always just fucking business!
It is not just business, DeeVee.
Do you know how many people would give
their left nut for an opportunity like this;
how many people spend their entire miserable lives
wishing for a chance at greatness;
a chance to say something that's gonna be heard;
something that's worth hearing?
That's not business. That's your fucking dream.
And I for one am willing to do
whatever I need to to make that happen.
Yeah, like get in bed with a murderer.
You knew he wasn't no Gandhi when you met him, DeeVee.
Come on, you don't get a scar like that from eatin' pussy.
I don't know what he did or what he didn't do.
All I know is, he's been through a lot.
And I think he's trying to change.
So you can judge him...
or you can help him.
Last time we talked,
you told me to come back to you
when I got my label. I got my label now.
Good for you.
And I-I wanna put you out.
Period.
No fly shit. None of that.
I'm serious.
So let's say I fuck with you.
How would that shit work out?
I'm gonna be straight up with you.
Please. I got the money to do it.
I had the money
when I talked to you the first time.
I just needed distribution to come around
so I could put your shit out.
Uh-huh. Now that lane is clear.
Got a showcase tonight for the distributors,
so they can see where their money is going.
I want them to see you, on the stage, live,
mic in hand, you know what I'm sayin',
doin' what you do best.
Then what? You kill it...
you sign with me,
and you ain't livin' like this no more.
So what you wanna do?
Yo.
I'm not doin' this bullshit!
Oh, no?
Who you cussin' at, little girl?
My manager! Imani, listen,
all you have to do
is do the run one more time.
You're this close.
Close to what?
I don't want no Teddy Riley song!
I look like Guy to you?
Actually...
And you-- you said this one was supposed to be a dope moment.
I ain't no fucking singer!
You hear my voice?
I spit! I rhyme!
Yo, I'm out!
Don't worry. I'll handle this.
The genius in artists is often also their demon.
She's right, you know.
I don't like repeated conversations.
Didn't I ask you to do something?
Done.
Ahm will sign with EBJ.
That's great. That's good.
That's great.
One catch.
He wants to sign with his producer, DeeVee,
as a duo. No.
Ahm gets a deal,
producer gets a straight fee like everyone else.
If it wasn't for DeeVee nobody would know who Ahm is.
Signing two people means twice the accommodation,
twice the insurance handlers.
No. It's his one condition.
Jesus Christ, fuck.
Fine, tell him fine.
I'll have the kid sign the paperwork
for the songs that he produces.
He'll never know the difference.
Congratulations, Nikki.
Barry, I'm sorry.
Give me a minute.
Nice outfit.
Who the fuck do you think you is, coming into my office--
My office. Get the -- out.
I want the office. Are you on crack?
What are you talkin' about?
You have an artist showcase starting in a couple of hours,
and you don't have any artists.
But I on the other hand, have the hottest act in town.
No you don't. I got Ahm and DeeVee.
So if you want to sign them to Fouray records,
you will make me Vice President,
I will get this office, and...
My salary.
Uh-uh, $75,000 is completely unreasonable.
I know. You can leave.
So you would have your showcase tank just to spite me.
Ahm didn't say anything about talking to you today.
You talked to Ahm? Of course.
How else am I supposed to sign him?
What'd he say?
Well, why don't you wait for him to get here and find out?
He's on his way here? Yep. To sign.
He won't sign without DeeVee.
Oh, I'm definitely gonna-- I'm signing DeeVee, too.
I'm definitely gonna sign DeeVee.
Well, DeeVee's my best friend
and he won't sign without my blessing.
Well, we gonna find out about that.
Hey, Tamika.
Yeah.
Give me Happy, please.
VP, this office, 60,000.
Half of that, no office...
and you can have VP.
Deal.
Not bad, Ms. Jones.
It's okay.
Is he really on his way down here?
Why don't you call him and find out?
Date there.
How them coins?
Dangerous. Yours?
Same.
I ain't gotta tell you all this gun play and copying
ain't good for business.
But fucking with civilians, that's outta bounds, yo.
I know you know that.
So this shit gotta end now.
No doubt.
What's the deal?
Them two blocks off murdering the playground,
that's you.
Them three startin' the Kennedys, that's me.
Everybody can get back to gettin' this money.
You good with that?
Yeah, I fucks with it, but...
Somebody gotta pay for Tina.
That was my nigga Dice's chick. She was a civilian.
What the fuck you talkin' about? What the fuck, man!
What? I told you to leave her alone, right?
I ain't do that shit. Yeah, you did, nigga!
What the fuck is wrong with you, huh?
Who you talkin' to, nigga? I'm talkin' to you, mother fucker!
Oh, shit!
Oh, fuck, man!
We good?
Yeah, we, uh...
We good.
Yo, for real, my nigga?
We out.
How y'all doin'?
Sound good, sound good.
Aw, man!
Thank you so much for y'all patience.
I'll be right back, and we'll get the show started.
Where the hell is he?
I wish Damita wasn't persona non grata around here.
She would have loved to see this.
So what's up? He still ain't here yet?
Well, he-- Aw, see I knew it!
You talk a big game, Nikki Jones,
but hustling is about backing it up.
Damn!
Hey. A'ight.
Let's do it.
My man. That's what I'm talkin' about.
All right. Whew!
Let's go get it.
I wanna thank y'all for coming out,
joining us to celebrate the launch of Fouray Records.
Give it up.
Any way, with no further ado,
I'm gonna bring to the stage a special artist,
emcee, DJ.
Give it up for Ahm and DeeVee!
Put your hands up! Everybody put your hands up!
Hands up! Hands up!
Hey!
Ladies and gentlemen,
you are now listening to the sounds of Ahm,
and super producer DJ DeeVee!
Word, peace to my man David, man.
We miss you.
We're gonna do this one for you.
Uh-huh. Hey, yo, Ahm.
Talk to the people. Hey!
Ahm. Listen.
One time for your mind, this nigga's Ahm.
I'm DeeVee, what's up?
Listen.
Hey, yo, Ahm, we gotta take it back.
We gotta show 'em how we do. Yeah, listen.
Rebel!
Rhythm!
Ahm. Listen.
His name is Ahm, my name is DeeVee.
Let's do this thing!
One! One!
Louder, louder!
One! One!
One, one!
Listen. Hey yo, Dee.
Smoke, R.I.P. It's Ahm, Ahm.
Yeah. Ahm, Ahm.
Yeah!
It's Fouray Records, like I said, right?
Yo, give it up for my man Ahm, right here.
I love this kid. I love this kid.
Give it up for my man right here, DJ DeeVee.
On the wax right here. On the wheels of steel.
Thank y'all, man, so much.
It feel good to have y'all out here.
You know, so many people counted me out.
You know, when shit got dark. You know what I'm saying?
But we here now, right?
Yeah!
We here, right?
Right!
Yep, fuck it, and we family, right?
Tonight, Fouray Records struck a distribution deal...
with Bainbridge Music.
That's a serious deal. Give it up!
Yo, matter of fact,
Orson Bainbridge is in the house, y'all.
Come to the stage and speak to the people right here.
Give it up, y'all. Orson Bainbridge.
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.
Deep, I mean that sincerely.
You know, I, uh--
I've been in this business a long time.
And, uh...
I think we got something real good right here.
You know, this roster, Fouray at the helm,
his Vice President Lil Ray Washington is number two.
We are going to make history.
We're gonna make history, you know?
And I've seen history made and it feels like this.
You know? It feels like this.
Nikki! How about another song?
Nikki! Nikki!
I should have known. Look, it's not like that.
It's just that this Bainbridge, I'm a new label,
and he wants an experienced number two.
So you just went right along, huh?
A boss has to be tough,
and to make some tough decisions.
But look, I see what you do for me, Nikki.
I do.
So I'm axed out. No.
I wouldn't do you like that.
Take the office. Head of A&R.
Take the 60.
I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a liar, Nikki Jones.
We gotta show 'em how we do it.
I need to think about it.
Okay.
Ahm!
And Fouray signed DeeVee and the kid who's on this tape?
Yep.
And Bainbridge is backin' 'em.
Yeah.
Well, you've got a big decision to make, huh?
Two jobs. One with EBJ, one with Fouray.
Assistant to A&R in less than two months.
Proud of you, kid.
You know what you wanna do?
I'm in agony over here.
Barry or Mattie, who's it gonna be?
You.
I want to start a new label with you.
What do you say?
I got a better idea.
You hear that?
That's the sample from Ahm's record.
That's right. And I own it.
What do you say we start ourselves a label,
and we destroy your old boss at the same time?