1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:02,961 --> 00:00:08,133           [crowd cheering]           3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 4 00:00:08,299 --> 00:00:13,388     [crowd chanting]                     Beastie Boys, Beastie Boys!      5 00:00:19,352 --> 00:00:23,148              [cheering]              6 00:00:29,988 --> 00:00:31,865          [cheering] Ricky!           7 00:00:37,829 --> 00:00:40,081              [cheering]              8 00:00:48,590 --> 00:00:51,051              [cheering]              9 00:01:05,982 --> 00:01:08,860              [cheering]              10 00:01:15,492 --> 00:01:17,786              [cheering]              11 00:01:17,827 --> 00:01:21,206  [man VO] Could you explain to       me what is the meaning of life?    12 00:01:22,832 --> 00:01:26,127        Could you break down the              understanding of life?         13 00:01:28,379 --> 00:01:29,923  I'm trying to figure                it out myself, man.                14 00:01:29,964 --> 00:01:30,840    You're trying to figure it out?  15 00:01:30,882 --> 00:01:32,092                   Look around you.  16 00:01:32,133 --> 00:01:34,094           Can you see clearly now?  17 00:01:34,135 --> 00:01:36,012        [glitching and static]        18 00:01:36,054 --> 00:01:38,014  [man on radio] News time, 4:23.    19 00:01:38,056 --> 00:01:40,016    The Bridge and Tunnel update.     20 00:01:40,058 --> 00:01:41,684    [man on radio] We have delays        in the outbound Lincoln and       21 00:01:41,726 --> 00:01:43,686         Holland Tunnels at                   30 minutes a piece,          22 00:01:43,728 --> 00:01:46,856  we have delays on the West Side     from the 70s up through the 140s  23 00:01:46,898 --> 00:01:48,483     and up to the outbound GWB.      24 00:01:48,525 --> 00:01:51,194  The East Side delay's 40s on up     through 96th street and again      25 00:01:51,236 --> 00:01:53,113      from the 140s to the GWB.       26 00:01:53,154 --> 00:01:56,032    New Jersey Transit, limited          service between New Brunswick     27 00:01:56,074 --> 00:01:57,826         and Trenton, but n--         28 00:01:57,867 --> 00:01:59,536           [Ricky] Shut up.           29 00:01:59,577 --> 00:02:04,374      "Ain't No Love in the Heart          of the City" by Bobby Bland     30 00:02:11,214 --> 00:02:16,261          Ain't no love in the                 heart of the city           31 00:02:17,512 --> 00:02:22,267           Ain't no love in                     the heart of town          32 00:02:23,518 --> 00:02:28,273         Ain't no love, and                   it's sure 'nuff a pity       33 00:02:29,357 --> 00:02:34,195        Ain't no love                        'cause you ain't around       34 00:02:38,116 --> 00:02:43,163        When you were mine, oh,              I was feeling so good         35 00:02:43,830 --> 00:02:49,002        'Cause your love lit up              this old neighborhood         36 00:02:50,295 --> 00:02:52,839       But now that you're gone      37 00:02:52,881 --> 00:02:56,009            You know the                         sun don't shine           38 00:02:56,050 --> 00:03:01,139           From the city hall                   to the county line         39 00:03:01,181 --> 00:03:02,473         And that's why I said       40 00:03:02,515 --> 00:03:07,437          Ain't no love in the                 heart of the city           41 00:03:08,730 --> 00:03:13,484           Ain't no love in                     the heart of town          42 00:03:14,736 --> 00:03:17,906          Ain't no love, and                   it sure is a pity...        43 00:03:17,947 --> 00:03:20,408      [Ricky VO] I'm really just a          fucking regular Joe jerk-off     44 00:03:20,450 --> 00:03:22,160         from the neighborhood.        45 00:03:22,202 --> 00:03:27,248             uptempo music           46 00:03:28,625 --> 00:03:30,752  And like, I'm a bummy-ass           motherfucker but my photography    47 00:03:30,793 --> 00:03:33,421     happens to be highfalutin.'      48 00:03:33,463 --> 00:03:35,423          [Kaves VO] Legendary                  Ricky Powell, right?         49 00:03:35,465 --> 00:03:38,843        The unfiltered                        camera, unfiltered mouth.      50 00:03:38,885 --> 00:03:41,221        You don't get it                      purer than Ricky Powell.       51 00:03:41,262 --> 00:03:43,640    Whatever comes through that          point-n-click is that straight    52 00:03:43,681 --> 00:03:45,391            New York shit.            53 00:03:46,434 --> 00:03:48,811       Ricky caught that                      last great essence,          54 00:03:48,853 --> 00:03:52,398    that last great period of that       realness flowing up and down      55 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:53,483            those streets.            56 00:03:53,524 --> 00:03:55,485          [Ricky] Oh, shit,                    posse, wassup?!             57 00:03:55,526 --> 00:03:58,112       [LL VO] The downtown                  scene and the uptown scene.     58 00:03:58,154 --> 00:04:00,156           The hip-hop scene                     and the art world.          59 00:04:00,198 --> 00:04:02,116          He was part of                       what was going on.          60 00:04:02,158 --> 00:04:03,826         He captured an era.          61 00:04:03,868 --> 00:04:07,747        He's crazy as a                       fuck, but he's a genius.       62 00:04:08,081 --> 00:04:11,292          Ricky made us look                   like hip-hop gods,          63 00:04:11,334 --> 00:04:14,295         all in a [snaps]                     natural, quick snap.         64 00:04:14,337 --> 00:04:17,715        [Mike VO] Ricky did have              this incredible access.        65 00:04:18,091 --> 00:04:20,468      I'll rock the house                  with my speeches tonight.       66 00:04:20,510 --> 00:04:23,388          That is beautiful!          67 00:04:23,805 --> 00:04:24,305              [giggling]              68 00:04:24,347 --> 00:04:25,807                          [man] Oh!  69 00:04:25,848 --> 00:04:27,475         [Bobbito VO] He rolls                 with the Beastie Boys,        70 00:04:27,517 --> 00:04:29,060            Run DMC, Def Jam.          71 00:04:29,102 --> 00:04:30,812      Yo, this dude is prolific!      72 00:04:30,853 --> 00:04:32,313       [LL VO] He understood the             culture, he understood the      73 00:04:32,355 --> 00:04:33,564                language.              74 00:04:33,606 --> 00:04:36,234         He caught the beauty                  in what we were doing.        75 00:04:36,276 --> 00:04:38,820  I was like, "Fuck, I wanna          fucking do that in front of the    76 00:04:38,861 --> 00:04:40,905            Eiffel Tower."            77 00:04:42,782 --> 00:04:45,576        He had a finger on                   the pulse of culture.         78 00:04:45,618 --> 00:04:47,120         [Ricky] Vin Diesel!          79 00:04:47,161 --> 00:04:49,038      -[man VO] And his TV show...        -What up, what up, baby pop?      80 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,207      Rappin' with the Rickster!      81 00:04:51,249 --> 00:04:52,542       Compton's in the house.        82 00:04:52,583 --> 00:04:54,877        Ricky's show. [laughs]        83 00:04:54,919 --> 00:04:56,170          [Ricky] Ah, yeah!           84 00:04:56,212 --> 00:04:57,171           [Laurence VO] You'd                   see him everywhere.         85 00:04:57,213 --> 00:04:58,673           He was a fuckin'                     shutterbug, man.           86 00:04:58,715 --> 00:05:00,508     He needed to take pictures.      87 00:05:00,550 --> 00:05:02,051     He's got an amazing archive.     88 00:05:02,093 --> 00:05:05,888  I mean, that's quintessential       fucking peak Laurence Fishburne.  89 00:05:06,180 --> 00:05:08,516  How is this one guy around all      these different people that were  90 00:05:08,558 --> 00:05:10,518     all doing incredible things?     91 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,354  [man VO] Futura, Kenny              Scharf, Keith Haring, Madonna.     92 00:05:13,396 --> 00:05:14,689         That picture                         with me and Ad-Rock,         93 00:05:14,731 --> 00:05:16,524      with me standing there               with that leather jacket.       94 00:05:16,566 --> 00:05:18,359         He sees compassion,                  he sees urbanness,           95 00:05:18,401 --> 00:05:19,944           he sees detail.            96 00:05:19,986 --> 00:05:21,529    You know, he bumps into Warhol       and Basquiat on the street and    97 00:05:21,571 --> 00:05:24,949      takes a snap that turns              out to be an iconic snap.       98 00:05:25,199 --> 00:05:26,868      It's good to be the king.       99 00:05:26,909 --> 00:05:30,371         [man] Go Ricky,                      go Ricky, go Ricky!          100 00:05:30,413 --> 00:05:33,541              [laughter]              101 00:05:33,875 --> 00:05:36,210     You wanna talk about                 real artists, like, come on.     102 00:05:36,252 --> 00:05:38,796          It ain't always gonna                 be sweet and gentle.         103 00:05:39,589 --> 00:05:42,884  There's the dark side that comes   with true greatness and madness.  104 00:05:42,925 --> 00:05:45,303        It all goes hand-in-hand.      105 00:05:45,803 --> 00:05:49,223      [Freddy VO] Sometimes, he           would go off of the deep end.     106 00:05:49,265 --> 00:05:51,142         And I'd be like, "Rick,               you better be careful.        107 00:05:51,184 --> 00:05:53,644          Don't go too far                     over that edge...           108 00:05:53,686 --> 00:05:56,397      that you don't come back."      109 00:06:00,943 --> 00:06:05,948          mellow jazzy music         110 00:06:08,659 --> 00:06:10,244                   I'm kind of a...  111 00:06:10,286 --> 00:06:12,455                      a famous bum.  112 00:06:12,955 --> 00:06:13,915             Ooh, sorry.              113 00:06:13,956 --> 00:06:16,042           -You all right?                      -No problem.               114 00:06:17,543 --> 00:06:20,254  [Natasha VO] There is one word      that can describe Ricky Powell     115 00:06:20,296 --> 00:06:21,756           and it's "unique."          116 00:06:21,798 --> 00:06:23,758         [Darryl VO] I've never                met anybody like him.         117 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,636         He's his own entity,                 his own personality.         118 00:06:26,677 --> 00:06:28,179          [Natasha VO]                          Always up to antics.         119 00:06:28,221 --> 00:06:30,598  I don't know if music is playing   when he's walking around,          120 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,600         but in my mind, when                 I think back to it,          121 00:06:32,642 --> 00:06:34,852          there's music on.           122 00:06:36,312 --> 00:06:38,940      Man, they got a lot of               characters out here today.      123 00:06:38,981 --> 00:06:40,691                Whoo!                 124 00:06:40,942 --> 00:06:44,195          Where are these                      fucking squirrels?          125 00:06:44,445 --> 00:06:46,531      [Zephyr VO] He's just a very          strange creature, you know?      126 00:06:46,572 --> 00:06:50,785     He seems very dysfunctional          and yet highly functional.       127 00:06:53,329 --> 00:06:56,541         He's kinda like the                  Dude-- [laughs] in,          128 00:06:56,582 --> 00:06:58,918        um,   The Big Lebowski.         129 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:03,631        He's simply living in                his own private Idaho.        130 00:07:03,673 --> 00:07:05,967     [Ricky] Check out this song.     131 00:07:06,008 --> 00:07:08,469           Oh, shit, ready?           132 00:07:08,511 --> 00:07:12,807          upbeat jazzy music         133 00:07:12,849 --> 00:07:16,310          [Ricky VO] I'm known                  as the lazy hustler,         134 00:07:16,352 --> 00:07:21,357       the illy funkster,                    Uncle Doinky, Uncle Slappy,     135 00:07:21,649 --> 00:07:24,152            Porkmaster Funk.           136 00:07:24,193 --> 00:07:26,487         I'm uncategorizable.         137 00:07:26,529 --> 00:07:27,655                Whoo!                 138 00:07:27,697 --> 00:07:30,199        He's that crazy                      hip-hop Oscar Madison,        139 00:07:30,241 --> 00:07:32,994    the hood Hugh Hefner, he's the       guy that's coming to the party    140 00:07:33,035 --> 00:07:35,496        with the party favors.        141 00:07:35,538 --> 00:07:38,332       He's a mad scientist...        142 00:07:38,791 --> 00:07:43,838         fueled by some                       otherworldly forces.         143 00:07:46,549 --> 00:07:49,927  Ricky's a whole 'nother level       from a whole 'nother generation,  144 00:07:49,969 --> 00:07:53,514      a whole 'nother universe,            a whole 'nother dimension.      145 00:07:53,556 --> 00:07:56,851  Like, real characters do exist.    146 00:07:56,893 --> 00:07:59,187           [groaning] Ohh.            147 00:08:02,690 --> 00:08:05,318      [Chuck VO] Number one,                Ricky Powell's New York City.    148 00:08:05,359 --> 00:08:09,030  Totally, thorough New York City.  149 00:08:09,322 --> 00:08:11,699       Manhattanite white kid.        150 00:08:11,741 --> 00:08:14,076      [Ricky] First of all,                you're in my neighborhood.      151 00:08:14,118 --> 00:08:15,369          It ain't your                        neighborhood, man.          152 00:08:15,411 --> 00:08:17,038    [Ricky] Yeah, I grew up here.     153 00:08:17,079 --> 00:08:19,373         Yo, I used to play                   here when I was 10.          154 00:08:19,415 --> 00:08:21,209  This guy doesn't know what's up.  155 00:08:21,250 --> 00:08:22,376         [man] You a hustler.         156 00:08:22,418 --> 00:08:24,504       I spy motherfucker, man.       157 00:08:24,837 --> 00:08:29,926    Ricky's a village kid, and           that's a very specific thing.     158 00:08:30,968 --> 00:08:33,054          [Ricky VO] Growing                    up with a single mom,        159 00:08:33,095 --> 00:08:37,600      we moved down to the village          -- Union Square -- in 1968.      160 00:08:38,726 --> 00:08:40,436            I was, you know,                      a little rascal.           161 00:08:40,478 --> 00:08:43,898  I was the only child, so my mom     brought me up by herself and she  162 00:08:43,940 --> 00:08:46,651           was very eccentric.         163 00:08:47,735 --> 00:08:51,322         She was a beatnik                     hippy hipster swinger.        164 00:08:51,614 --> 00:08:54,825      I called her by her first name       as soon as I can remember --     165 00:08:54,867 --> 00:08:56,744                  Ruth.                166 00:08:57,078 --> 00:09:00,039           She lived her                         life, I lived mine.         167 00:09:00,081 --> 00:09:04,043  I constantly went out by myself,   playing in Union Square Park,      168 00:09:04,085 --> 00:09:06,921           playing catch with                    junkies and pimps,          169 00:09:06,963 --> 00:09:09,549  riding my bike around the block.  170 00:09:09,590 --> 00:09:13,928      I liked going on my own,              and I really liked that area.    171 00:09:14,303 --> 00:09:17,139      My mother, she was a                  schoolteacher in the daytime;    172 00:09:17,181 --> 00:09:20,434        at night, she hung out at             the bars and the clubs.        173 00:09:20,476 --> 00:09:22,937        She used to go to Max's               Kansas City all the time,      174 00:09:22,979 --> 00:09:25,940  and she would drag me along         and sit me next to the jukebox.    175 00:09:25,982 --> 00:09:29,151          She hung out with all                 these fuckin' kooks.         176 00:09:29,443 --> 00:09:32,822      I'd just sit there by myself          and look at the freakshow.       177 00:09:35,992 --> 00:09:37,618         I grew up quick, dude.        178 00:09:37,660 --> 00:09:39,495                  Fast.                179 00:09:39,787 --> 00:09:42,456      People would say to me,               "Oh, yo, your mom is so cool,"  180 00:09:42,498 --> 00:09:45,126        and I was like, "Yeah,                you don't live with her."      181 00:09:45,167 --> 00:09:47,128          She would cook,                       like, steak and rice,        182 00:09:47,169 --> 00:09:50,298       chicken and rice, all                 these dishes for her dogs,      183 00:09:50,339 --> 00:09:51,799          and she'd give me                     two dollars and say,         184 00:09:51,841 --> 00:09:54,051      you know, "Go to Blimpie's."     185 00:09:55,136 --> 00:09:57,138           Yeah, they were                       living like kings.          186 00:09:57,179 --> 00:10:00,308      They always stayed in my room,       [laughing] all the stray dogs,  187 00:10:00,349 --> 00:10:03,728         so I was, like, living                kind of in the jungle.        188 00:10:03,978 --> 00:10:07,982  I don't mean to be shitting, but   I think my mom just got pregnant  189 00:10:08,024 --> 00:10:09,984        with me and just                     manned up and had me.         190 00:10:10,026 --> 00:10:13,487      I could've been                      easily aborted, I believe.      191 00:10:16,782 --> 00:10:18,326         Whenever me and                      Ricky get together,          192 00:10:18,367 --> 00:10:21,162  there's always a point where we     talk about New York back in the    193 00:10:21,203 --> 00:10:24,999        days or how it used                  to be on 14th Street.         194 00:10:29,003 --> 00:10:32,381      [Debi VO] New York had a very         different energy in the '70s.    195 00:10:32,423 --> 00:10:34,634       Everybody was out,                    people were in the streets,     196 00:10:34,675 --> 00:10:37,637       there were sex clubs, porn.     197 00:10:38,012 --> 00:10:40,556          [Freddy VO] You had                   a much more textured,        198 00:10:40,598 --> 00:10:44,477         a more real, a much                   more complex New York.        199 00:10:44,518 --> 00:10:48,230     8th Avenue was a disaster,           9th Avenue was all hookers.      200 00:10:48,272 --> 00:10:52,151          The old gangs, the                    old graffiti writers.        201 00:10:52,401 --> 00:10:56,280  And it was the coolest period       in New York because it was raw.    202 00:10:56,322 --> 00:10:58,366        [Ricky VO] I loved                    that time period anyway.       203 00:10:58,407 --> 00:11:00,201    Just everything was cool, man.    204 00:11:00,242 --> 00:11:02,286         The Knicks were cool...       205 00:11:02,328 --> 00:11:03,788             music, culture.           206 00:11:03,829 --> 00:11:05,873       I remember getting up on              Saturday mornings to watch      207 00:11:05,915 --> 00:11:07,375               Soul Train.             208 00:11:07,416 --> 00:11:10,461           [sighs] So dope.           209 00:11:11,587 --> 00:11:13,798             [Ricky] Oh!              210 00:11:14,173 --> 00:11:15,383                Whoo!                 211 00:11:15,424 --> 00:11:17,218                Sick!                 212 00:11:17,259 --> 00:11:19,303               My man!                213 00:11:22,765 --> 00:11:24,225       -How are you?                        -Good, how are you, man?       214 00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:25,976            [Ricky] Good!             215 00:11:27,603 --> 00:11:30,022  You know, a lot of people, they     don't get to see where they grew  216 00:11:30,064 --> 00:11:31,232                 up.                  217 00:11:31,273 --> 00:11:32,858       Like, they move away and             they never see it again.       218 00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:35,069         I see it every day.          219 00:11:35,695 --> 00:11:39,699        Here we are at one of                the places I grew up.         220 00:11:39,740 --> 00:11:43,786  I lived here the second half of     the '70s and the first half of     221 00:11:43,828 --> 00:11:45,287              the '80s.               222 00:11:45,329 --> 00:11:46,789      That was a good time, man.      223 00:11:46,831 --> 00:11:48,290          Between me, you,                     and the lamppost,           224 00:11:48,332 --> 00:11:51,961      this is where I discovered           discreet older ladies.          225 00:11:52,002 --> 00:11:54,714    They used to give me the             goo-goo eyes in the elevator,     226 00:11:54,755 --> 00:11:56,632      and I noticed when the               elevator hit their floor,       227 00:11:56,674 --> 00:12:00,469    they'd look at me and I'd            just follow them out the door.    228 00:12:02,638 --> 00:12:05,182      [Ricky VO] I was a hot monkey.  229 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:09,937       I actually was kinda                 Black, the way I walked,       230 00:12:09,979 --> 00:12:12,440           talked, dressed.           231 00:12:12,481 --> 00:12:14,775       [LL VO] I was never                   sure that Ricky was white.      232 00:12:14,817 --> 00:12:16,944        He had shades on, he                 had his hat backwards,        233 00:12:16,986 --> 00:12:18,446        he was movin' around.         234 00:12:18,487 --> 00:12:21,782        I wasn't sure if he was a             light-skinned Black guy.       235 00:12:22,950 --> 00:12:24,076           [Ricky VO] I had a                    little, you know,           236 00:12:24,118 --> 00:12:26,454           Blackness in my                       game on the court.          237 00:12:26,495 --> 00:12:28,205               I was nice.             238 00:12:28,706 --> 00:12:31,208  I remember one time, I was          playing ball at Thompson Street    239 00:12:31,250 --> 00:12:34,128  Park and the Italians said, "Yo,   you play like you're fuckin'       240 00:12:34,170 --> 00:12:37,882          Black," and I was                    like, "Jealous?"            241 00:12:38,174 --> 00:12:40,342           I went to LaGuardia                   Community College,          242 00:12:40,384 --> 00:12:43,512  I got an AA in Liberal Arts, and   then I went to Hunter College      243 00:12:43,554 --> 00:12:44,680              for Phys Ed.             244 00:12:44,722 --> 00:12:46,932      I was gonna be a gym teacher.    245 00:12:47,558 --> 00:12:49,643                So...                 246 00:12:51,061 --> 00:12:54,190  I'm in the phys ed department,        I'm minding my own business.      247 00:12:54,231 --> 00:12:56,525           You know, I'd come                    in with a hangover,         248 00:12:56,567 --> 00:12:59,653           sloppy food stains                    on my sweatpants.           249 00:12:59,695 --> 00:13:03,032    A lot of teachers thought I          was a fuckin' lazy bum and the    250 00:13:03,073 --> 00:13:04,533           triathlon came.            251 00:13:04,575 --> 00:13:06,660     I said, "Oh, okay, let me--          let me check this shit out,"     252 00:13:06,702 --> 00:13:08,662          'cause I was in                      pretty good shape.          253 00:13:08,704 --> 00:13:11,749         I rocked it, I won,                  it was a big upset,          254 00:13:11,791 --> 00:13:13,834        you know, people                     were like, "Oh, shit,         255 00:13:13,876 --> 00:13:15,002           that dude won?"            256 00:13:15,044 --> 00:13:16,670         I was like, "Yeah,                   that's right, bitch.         257 00:13:16,712 --> 00:13:18,506             Fall back."              258 00:13:20,466 --> 00:13:23,511           Two days later,                       it was my birthday.         259 00:13:23,969 --> 00:13:28,182         So that night, I                     had some champipple,         260 00:13:28,224 --> 00:13:32,520         had a little toot,                   a little cocaine...          261 00:13:32,561 --> 00:13:35,439         and some quaaludes.          262 00:13:35,689 --> 00:13:39,693  And I went                          nightclub-hopping on my bicycle.  263 00:13:39,735 --> 00:13:40,945            [Ricky] Whoo!             264 00:13:40,986 --> 00:13:43,614         [Ricky VO] I loved                    gettin' nice; it's fun!       265 00:13:44,698 --> 00:13:48,494  And I was getting to                Danceteria and I hit the curb...  266 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:55,167  flew over the handlebars,           smacked my face on the sidewalk    267 00:13:55,417 --> 00:13:57,711        in front of everybody.        268 00:13:57,753 --> 00:14:00,047     It was like a Friday night.      269 00:14:00,089 --> 00:14:01,715          [Ricky] Ah, fuck!           270 00:14:01,757 --> 00:14:04,885           [Ricky VO] Two days                   later, on the 22nd,         271 00:14:04,927 --> 00:14:08,097      I got my picture taken for            the Hunter College newspaper.    272 00:14:08,138 --> 00:14:10,891          I got, like, all,                     like, black and blue,        273 00:14:10,933 --> 00:14:13,561      stitches, and it looks                like it happened in the race,    274 00:14:13,602 --> 00:14:16,230  but it actually happened from...  275 00:14:16,272 --> 00:14:18,065             you know...              276 00:14:18,107 --> 00:14:20,401         gettin' buck-nutty.          277 00:14:20,776 --> 00:14:23,153       [Freddy VO] I actually knew           Ricky before he became a        278 00:14:23,195 --> 00:14:24,238              photographer.            279 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,407         He was this cool                     guy hanging around,          280 00:14:26,448 --> 00:14:28,033          great personality.          281 00:14:28,075 --> 00:14:30,244  He was always on the sidelines,     kinda grooving with his little     282 00:14:30,286 --> 00:14:31,078                 hat.                 283 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,705          "Yo, Deb, what's up?"        284 00:14:32,746 --> 00:14:36,834  Ricky is one of many that made      New York so special in the early  285 00:14:36,876 --> 00:14:38,377                '80s.                 286 00:14:38,419 --> 00:14:41,589    Hip-hop was new, graffiti was        coming off of the trains and      287 00:14:41,630 --> 00:14:43,173         into the galleries.          288 00:14:43,215 --> 00:14:45,926    It's the arrival of                  different cultures meeting up.    289 00:14:45,968 --> 00:14:47,761     [Debi VO] Art was exploding.     290 00:14:47,803 --> 00:14:51,807  [Vin VO] Madonna was discovered,   Run DMC had just hit.              291 00:14:51,849 --> 00:14:56,395  Ricky was present at a critical     time when music and culture was    292 00:14:56,437 --> 00:14:57,897              changing.               293 00:14:57,938 --> 00:15:01,609  [Lyor VO] We're talking about       a club scene that is unrivaled.    294 00:15:01,650 --> 00:15:05,779    Encore, the Roxy, Danceteria.     295 00:15:05,821 --> 00:15:09,617     Roxy's on a Friday night             was the fuckin' place to go.     296 00:15:09,658 --> 00:15:11,952       And if you wanted to                 know what was going on,        297 00:15:11,994 --> 00:15:13,787         you could always go,                 "Rick, what's up?"           298 00:15:13,829 --> 00:15:16,123  And he'd be like, "Oh, have you     heard about blah blah blah blah    299 00:15:16,165 --> 00:15:17,791           blah blah blah?"           300 00:15:17,833 --> 00:15:20,586         And for sure, it                     would always be hip.         301 00:15:21,170 --> 00:15:22,504                 Ah.                  302 00:15:23,505 --> 00:15:26,467           The fuck's wrong                     with this thing?           303 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,220    Damn, bitch, it won't forward!    304 00:15:32,014 --> 00:15:34,308    [Ricky VO] I never had an            interest in taking pictures or    305 00:15:34,350 --> 00:15:37,227       anything with cameras or             photography or nothing.        306 00:15:37,269 --> 00:15:38,228            [camera snaps]            307 00:15:38,270 --> 00:15:39,313          [Ricky] Beautiful.          308 00:15:39,355 --> 00:15:42,483     That's the crew right there.     309 00:15:42,816 --> 00:15:45,819  [Ricky VO] Until this one day,      I met this fucking freakazoid at  310 00:15:45,861 --> 00:15:48,072             Danceteria.              311 00:15:48,322 --> 00:15:50,074       She was a artist, dude.        312 00:15:50,115 --> 00:15:51,408                Kook.                 313 00:15:51,450 --> 00:15:53,327       A real kook, out-there.        314 00:15:53,369 --> 00:15:57,706     Painting, film,                      everything you can imagine.      315 00:15:57,748 --> 00:16:01,168       And Ricky, he was like               an authentic street kid,       316 00:16:01,210 --> 00:16:03,003       you know, with the                   sneakers, with the walk,       317 00:16:03,045 --> 00:16:04,171       with the way, the talk.        318 00:16:04,213 --> 00:16:06,173         Like, he's charming,                 he's super charming,         319 00:16:06,215 --> 00:16:09,218          and we were just                     kinda inseparable.          320 00:16:09,635 --> 00:16:12,680     [Ricky VO] She'd bring her           little cameras with her and,     321 00:16:12,721 --> 00:16:16,725         you know, I had no                   artistic ambitions.          322 00:16:17,226 --> 00:16:19,895      [Ricky] Ooh, can I                   take a picture of you two?      323 00:16:19,937 --> 00:16:21,689               Aw, man!               324 00:16:21,730 --> 00:16:23,190                Nice.                 325 00:16:23,232 --> 00:16:24,566         One time, we were                    at Roxy's and I say,         326 00:16:24,608 --> 00:16:27,528  "Yo, can I borrow the               camera and can I try shooting...  327 00:16:27,569 --> 00:16:29,863    some of these pe-- these-- I         like some of these couples in     328 00:16:29,905 --> 00:16:31,031             the booths."             329 00:16:31,073 --> 00:16:33,033         She goes, "Okay,"                    so I go over, "Hey,          330 00:16:33,075 --> 00:16:34,201  you mind if I take your picture?  331 00:16:34,243 --> 00:16:35,869    You look like a nice couple."     332 00:16:35,911 --> 00:16:37,371              And pshh.               333 00:16:37,413 --> 00:16:40,457     I remember, like, I loved            that feeling of it -- pshh.      334 00:16:40,499 --> 00:16:42,793            [camera snaps]            335 00:16:46,088 --> 00:16:48,215            [camera snaps]            336 00:16:49,258 --> 00:16:50,801          [Amie VO] He was                     really into, like,          337 00:16:50,843 --> 00:16:55,139  who was famous and he could         recognize people on the street.    338 00:16:57,433 --> 00:16:58,934      I was in love with Ricky.       339 00:16:58,976 --> 00:17:01,020  Like, I used to tell him we were   gonna get married and all kinds    340 00:17:01,061 --> 00:17:02,896              of things.              341 00:17:04,523 --> 00:17:06,608  [female announcer] The L train      will depart in approximately...    342 00:17:06,650 --> 00:17:08,736          [Ricky VO] We went                   out for two years.          343 00:17:08,777 --> 00:17:11,739     She ditched me for this dude         with tie-dye yoga pants and      344 00:17:11,780 --> 00:17:14,700     crystals and all this shit.      345 00:17:15,951 --> 00:17:19,413     I did kind of just                   switch boyfriends. [laughs]      346 00:17:19,455 --> 00:17:23,083          And, um, I think                     it was-- it was...          347 00:17:23,125 --> 00:17:26,462  pretty damaging for-- for Ricky.  348 00:17:26,503 --> 00:17:29,923          smooth jazzy music         349 00:17:29,965 --> 00:17:33,135      [Ricky VO] Just                      kinda, like, discarded me.      350 00:17:34,136 --> 00:17:35,596        And I was like, "Damn.        351 00:17:35,637 --> 00:17:36,764         Oh, it's like that?          352 00:17:36,805 --> 00:17:38,682             All right."              353 00:17:39,058 --> 00:17:43,771    So, I'm cleaning my room and I       find a bag with some clothes,     354 00:17:43,812 --> 00:17:46,106       and I recognize, "Oh,                it's some of her shit."        355 00:17:46,148 --> 00:17:48,108          And I see a little                   camera in there.            356 00:17:48,150 --> 00:17:51,445     And I took it and I said...      357 00:17:51,487 --> 00:17:54,948  "I'm gonna make this bitch sorry   she did me like a fuckin' soggy    358 00:17:54,990 --> 00:17:56,867               cannoli.               359 00:17:57,242 --> 00:18:01,080  I'm gonna fuckin' use this          instrument and become something    360 00:18:01,121 --> 00:18:02,289              with it."               361 00:18:02,331 --> 00:18:06,794         And came into                        this fuckin' light.          362 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,963         Photography was                      just perfect for me.         363 00:18:10,005 --> 00:18:11,965       I was exploring with it.       364 00:18:12,007 --> 00:18:13,175          Boom, boom, boom.           365 00:18:13,217 --> 00:18:16,178  Everything just fucking clicked.  366 00:18:16,553 --> 00:18:18,806  [Freddy VO] He was just like a      homie that had a camera who was    367 00:18:18,847 --> 00:18:20,390             in the mix.              368 00:18:20,432 --> 00:18:23,644  He was the guy that we knew that   seemed to just be taking a photo  369 00:18:23,685 --> 00:18:25,687           here and there.            370 00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:29,024        [Ricky VO] I was a fan               of interesting people.        371 00:18:29,066 --> 00:18:30,526         Just went all over                   the place, you know,         372 00:18:30,567 --> 00:18:34,154        art gallery openings,                Keith Haring openings.        373 00:18:34,196 --> 00:18:36,323       Yo, everyone showed up.        374 00:18:36,365 --> 00:18:39,326     And nightclubs,                      everyone showed up at those.     375 00:18:39,368 --> 00:18:43,997  The Fun Gallery, that was the       fuckin' Museum of Modern Art of    376 00:18:44,039 --> 00:18:45,916              graffiti.               377 00:18:46,291 --> 00:18:50,170    The paparazzi-type guy didn't        really exist in that scene,       378 00:18:50,212 --> 00:18:52,756     and if it did, it was Rick.      379 00:18:52,798 --> 00:18:56,093    [Laurence VO] He had a serious       presence all over the city.       380 00:18:56,135 --> 00:18:58,137         He was not an                        outsider looking in.         381 00:18:58,178 --> 00:19:00,681     You know, he wasn't like             some anthropological thief;      382 00:19:00,722 --> 00:19:03,767        he was a part of what                was happening here.           383 00:19:04,101 --> 00:19:06,311        And he was smart                     enough to document it,        384 00:19:06,353 --> 00:19:10,315    capturing gorgeous photography       not from a learned standpoint,    385 00:19:10,357 --> 00:19:11,984          but just from a...          386 00:19:12,025 --> 00:19:13,485              an access.              387 00:19:13,527 --> 00:19:15,821  These kind of seminal shots         that you don't even realize are    388 00:19:15,863 --> 00:19:18,866  kind of woven into the fabric       of sort of how we see especially  389 00:19:18,907 --> 00:19:20,200           "New York cool."           390 00:19:20,242 --> 00:19:23,537      I'm telling you, that                camera and my personality,      391 00:19:23,579 --> 00:19:25,873    together, we made moves, dude.    392 00:19:25,914 --> 00:19:29,042       I went from Joe                      Shnook to "the Rickster,       393 00:19:29,084 --> 00:19:33,088    downtown                             photographer extraordinaire."     394 00:19:33,922 --> 00:19:38,927          upbeat funky music         395 00:19:39,970 --> 00:19:44,266       I knew graffiti artists,             I knew some big-timers.        396 00:19:45,642 --> 00:19:46,560          [Ricky] What's up?          397 00:19:46,602 --> 00:19:48,061        What's up, Rickyrack?         398 00:19:48,103 --> 00:19:51,732          [Ricky VO] Don                       D, Zephyr, Revolt,          399 00:19:51,773 --> 00:19:53,400               Seen...                400 00:19:53,442 --> 00:19:55,402        they were like stars.         401 00:19:55,444 --> 00:19:56,904           There's your hat                     there, Rickster.           402 00:19:56,945 --> 00:19:59,072          [Ricky] Seen,                        you are the mango.          403 00:19:59,114 --> 00:20:00,324                Okay!                 404 00:20:00,365 --> 00:20:02,743        [Ricky VO]                           Futura was like a god.        405 00:20:02,784 --> 00:20:06,830     Graffiti writer, legend,             artist, down with the Clash,     406 00:20:06,872 --> 00:20:09,833          just crazy style.           407 00:20:11,084 --> 00:20:14,588      He was down with                     everything that was cool.       408 00:20:14,630 --> 00:20:18,091  And that summer of '85, invited     me to be on his neighborhood       409 00:20:18,133 --> 00:20:22,095      softball team, The                   East Village [inaudible].       410 00:20:22,137 --> 00:20:23,972       [Futura VO] I was really             impressed with Rick.           411 00:20:24,014 --> 00:20:27,309    We was always ar-- you               know, Ricky was always around,    412 00:20:27,351 --> 00:20:29,728         so he could kinda--                  he was dependable.           413 00:20:29,770 --> 00:20:32,231         He wasn't the best                   player on the squad.         414 00:20:32,272 --> 00:20:34,316       [Ricky VO] Matt                      Dillon was on the team,        415 00:20:34,358 --> 00:20:39,071  Fab 5 Freddy, so it was a           really interesting concoction of  416 00:20:39,112 --> 00:20:40,822         colorful characters.         417 00:20:40,864 --> 00:20:42,324      [Freddy VO] We didn't                have the greatest record,       418 00:20:42,366 --> 00:20:45,494  but we were the hottest, coolest   softball team, bar none.           419 00:20:45,535 --> 00:20:47,079               [laughs]               420 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:50,332  You know, our rival teams hated     us because their girlfriends       421 00:20:50,374 --> 00:20:53,752     would be clamoring to get a          better look at Matt Dillon.      422 00:20:53,794 --> 00:20:56,338     One of the guys on the               team also was this guy David     423 00:20:56,380 --> 00:21:00,467    Hershkovitz who just started         this magazine called "Paper."     424 00:21:00,509 --> 00:21:02,094         You know, they say,                  "Hey, why don't you,         425 00:21:02,135 --> 00:21:05,305    you know, shoot pictures for         our 'cultural sushi' section?"    426 00:21:05,347 --> 00:21:07,057          And that's the                       nightclub section.          427 00:21:07,099 --> 00:21:09,142          [camera snapping]           428 00:21:09,184 --> 00:21:12,479  Ricky was a perfect match for       what   Paper   was doing because we    429 00:21:12,521 --> 00:21:14,982        were like a community                paper for downtown,           430 00:21:15,023 --> 00:21:17,985       which was a much smaller             world than it is today,        431 00:21:18,026 --> 00:21:21,405  and he was of that world, so he     was kind of like the local paper  432 00:21:21,446 --> 00:21:22,739            photographer.             433 00:21:22,781 --> 00:21:25,492     He's in the magazine                 himself, he was in the ads,      434 00:21:25,534 --> 00:21:28,245     he was just one of our guys.     435 00:21:28,620 --> 00:21:30,956       For me, it was                       always about potential,        436 00:21:30,998 --> 00:21:33,208       not really looking for               the fully-polished work,       437 00:21:33,250 --> 00:21:36,378       more for, like, the raw              energy and snapshots.          438 00:21:36,420 --> 00:21:39,214     Our whole thing was like if          you're covering a culture,       439 00:21:39,256 --> 00:21:42,634      you send someone to cover            it who's in that culture.       440 00:21:42,676 --> 00:21:47,306  And Rickster, he just had, like,   a cool crowd around him always.    441 00:21:48,765 --> 00:21:51,059  Send him up to the South Bronx        and he would hang with hip-hop    442 00:21:51,101 --> 00:21:53,145               people.                443 00:21:53,895 --> 00:21:56,064        Parties on the street.        444 00:21:56,106 --> 00:21:59,359     Whatever he was into, then           we would let him shoot that.     445 00:21:59,401 --> 00:22:00,360          [Ricky] What's up?          446 00:22:00,402 --> 00:22:02,696              Yo, Ricky!              447 00:22:02,738 --> 00:22:05,449              [laughter]              448 00:22:05,490 --> 00:22:07,200     Oh, here we go, here we go.      449 00:22:07,242 --> 00:22:09,536              [laughter]              450 00:22:09,578 --> 00:22:12,372    [Freddy VO] He'd create a kind       of a very warm rapport very       451 00:22:12,414 --> 00:22:13,457              instantly.              452 00:22:13,498 --> 00:22:14,708          You didn't see                       him as, like, "Oh,          453 00:22:14,750 --> 00:22:17,961        this guy's heavy-duty,               serious photographer."        454 00:22:18,003 --> 00:22:19,212         With camera in-hand.         455 00:22:19,254 --> 00:22:21,381       [man] That was some                  funny shit right there!        456 00:22:21,423 --> 00:22:22,716        [Ricky] You know what?        457 00:22:22,758 --> 00:22:24,551    Yo, can you all go                   back-to-back like in a circle?    458 00:22:24,593 --> 00:22:26,219          Uh, you know what?          459 00:22:26,261 --> 00:22:27,637      You have the biggest hair.      460 00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:28,889          Could you get over                   there on the left?          461 00:22:28,930 --> 00:22:30,390           [man] Yes, I do.           462 00:22:30,432 --> 00:22:33,894     [Freddy VO] Ricky has a              very engaging yet humorous,      463 00:22:33,935 --> 00:22:36,396      slightly                             pranksterish personality.       464 00:22:36,438 --> 00:22:38,023          [man] Ricky, get                     off your own dick.          465 00:22:38,065 --> 00:22:39,941      There are no [inaudible].       466 00:22:39,983 --> 00:22:42,944    And he was like wise guy,            he was like making you laugh.     467 00:22:42,986 --> 00:22:45,113           [all] Rickster!            468 00:22:45,155 --> 00:22:47,574    [Ricky] That's me, that's me.     469 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,870    Ricky was a boy with a camera,       and he had a cool way of just     470 00:22:51,912 --> 00:22:54,373         getting the picture.         471 00:22:54,664 --> 00:22:55,540          [Ricky] I like it.          472 00:22:55,582 --> 00:22:57,376       Okay, let me rock this.        473 00:22:57,417 --> 00:23:00,712           [man] That's the                     35mm with flash.           474 00:23:01,463 --> 00:23:04,800  I've been one of Ricky's muses.    475 00:23:05,050 --> 00:23:09,930  And Ricky captured me as the        quintessential downtown New York  476 00:23:09,971 --> 00:23:11,973                girl.                 477 00:23:12,641 --> 00:23:16,186        With style, with edge.        478 00:23:16,228 --> 00:23:18,772       We were just kids, we                were New York City kids,       479 00:23:18,814 --> 00:23:20,440          we've been to the                    clubs together,             480 00:23:20,482 --> 00:23:22,109          we've roamed the                     village together,           481 00:23:22,150 --> 00:23:25,612    we've rode bicycles together,        we've smoked joints together.     482 00:23:25,654 --> 00:23:27,114        I could call him at                  midnight and be like,         483 00:23:27,155 --> 00:23:29,783    "I'm breaking up with a              boyfriend" or whatever and he     484 00:23:29,825 --> 00:23:32,035  would always, like, come out of     his apartment -- which I never     485 00:23:32,077 --> 00:23:34,204     went inside [laughs]                 'cause Ricky's always been,      486 00:23:34,246 --> 00:23:36,540         like, a little bit                   secretive about it.          487 00:23:36,581 --> 00:23:38,792    I didn't bring too many              people over 'cause my mom was,    488 00:23:38,834 --> 00:23:42,796  like, so fuckin' crazed, like, I   was embarrassed to bring anyone    489 00:23:42,838 --> 00:23:44,089                over.                 490 00:23:44,131 --> 00:23:45,257        So I was always kind                 of, like, amazed that,        491 00:23:45,298 --> 00:23:47,509         like, this, like,                    young, like, kinda,          492 00:23:47,551 --> 00:23:50,011     like, rough-around-the-edges         white boy,                       493 00:23:50,053 --> 00:23:52,681          his mother lived                     on 5th, lower 5th.          494 00:23:52,722 --> 00:23:57,769             bluesy guitar           495 00:24:01,690 --> 00:24:03,859     [sighs] Dude, I don't-- I            don't-- I have no idea what,     496 00:24:03,900 --> 00:24:05,819               like...                497 00:24:05,861 --> 00:24:09,114      I don't know anything                about their relationship.       498 00:24:09,656 --> 00:24:11,324          Yeah, I knew Ruth.          499 00:24:11,366 --> 00:24:14,703          Like, I don't know                   that Ruth knew me.          500 00:24:14,953 --> 00:24:18,832  I just remember her with, like,     these big sunglasses that would    501 00:24:18,874 --> 00:24:23,253        be, like, perched,                   kinda defying physics.        502 00:24:23,503 --> 00:24:28,341  It was definitely not a             normal upbringing to be with...    503 00:24:28,383 --> 00:24:30,427                um...                 504 00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:33,680  [sighs] I don't even know           [laughing] how to describe this.  505 00:24:33,722 --> 00:24:36,266      She was pretty out-of-it.       506 00:24:36,558 --> 00:24:38,351  [Kim VO] She would, like, be        walking down the street talking    507 00:24:38,393 --> 00:24:39,978             to herself.              508 00:24:40,020 --> 00:24:41,855    You could see, she was, like--       she wasn't a homeless person,     509 00:24:41,897 --> 00:24:45,192        but you see almost                   she could become one.         510 00:24:45,650 --> 00:24:49,196  So it'd always been kind of a       mystery around his father and we  511 00:24:49,237 --> 00:24:51,907      heard that he was Mexican.      512 00:24:51,948 --> 00:24:56,995                                      513 00:24:57,370 --> 00:25:02,083      [Ricky VO] I have no                 recollection of my father.      514 00:25:03,585 --> 00:25:07,422         I have no idea if                    he's alive or dead.          515 00:25:09,007 --> 00:25:12,385  I remember meeting some family      in a nice house in Mexico City.    516 00:25:12,427 --> 00:25:15,430     That's all I remember; I             don't remember meeting him.      517 00:25:15,472 --> 00:25:17,015          I was, like, six.           518 00:25:17,057 --> 00:25:20,769    I just have this one picture         of me and my first dog, Chico.    519 00:25:21,144 --> 00:25:23,230      We never talked about him.      520 00:25:23,271 --> 00:25:26,525         She ran the shit and                 that's how it went.          521 00:25:33,114 --> 00:25:36,743     I mean, who knows what kinda         aspirations she had for me,      522 00:25:36,785 --> 00:25:39,246         but she came to a                    couple of my shows.          523 00:25:39,287 --> 00:25:43,166    I mean, she liked going out          anyway and checking the scene.    524 00:25:44,417 --> 00:25:45,585       [man] I didn't know that             was your mom over there.       525 00:25:45,627 --> 00:25:46,753     [Ricky] Yeah, that's my mom.     526 00:25:46,795 --> 00:25:49,256        You recognize her                    from the neighborhood?        527 00:25:49,297 --> 00:25:51,591    [Ricky VO] But I always would        hope that she wouldn't fuckin'    528 00:25:51,633 --> 00:25:54,177           come in a crazy,                     outlandish look,           529 00:25:54,219 --> 00:25:57,973     just come properly-attired,          so I could be like...            530 00:25:58,014 --> 00:25:59,015               [sighs]                531 00:25:59,057 --> 00:26:01,142         'Cause my mom                        used to dress crazy,         532 00:26:01,184 --> 00:26:03,103  like be all disheveled and shit.  533 00:26:03,144 --> 00:26:05,981          That's why I'd be                    so embarrassed.             534 00:26:10,026 --> 00:26:13,655  I consider my look comfortable.    535 00:26:14,406 --> 00:26:17,993       Um, I'm not disheveled.        536 00:26:20,161 --> 00:26:22,664         These pants, though!         537 00:26:23,498 --> 00:26:26,126      These pants are terrible!       538 00:26:26,167 --> 00:26:28,670       I broke the top button.        539 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:30,630      Oh no, I didn't break it.       540 00:26:30,672 --> 00:26:32,215       [groans] They don't fit.       541 00:26:32,257 --> 00:26:35,719         I use these straps,                  these built-in...            542 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:37,804         but they don't work.         543 00:26:37,846 --> 00:26:42,809             upbeat music            544 00:26:42,851 --> 00:26:45,812    [Ricky VO] The Frozade job was       my first job after I finished     545 00:26:45,854 --> 00:26:49,649      college, 'cause I                    cannot work a regular job.      546 00:26:49,691 --> 00:26:52,902           I can't; I can't                     be a caged lion.           547 00:26:54,029 --> 00:26:56,906        I brought my radio                   with the double deck,         548 00:26:56,948 --> 00:26:59,784  had a bottle of rum in case         someone wanted a shot of rum in    549 00:26:59,826 --> 00:27:02,787        their Frozade;                       it'd be another buck.         550 00:27:02,829 --> 00:27:04,998       And then, I, you know,               had the camera with me,        551 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,628     so that was part of the              experience: taking pictures.     552 00:27:10,003 --> 00:27:13,506    Which I put in a category of         mine of like dope shots I shot    553 00:27:13,548 --> 00:27:16,009       while I was                          working a bullshit job,        554 00:27:16,051 --> 00:27:19,387       such as bike messenger,              afterschool recreation         555 00:27:19,429 --> 00:27:23,683        counselor, substitute                teacher, dog walker,          556 00:27:23,725 --> 00:27:26,519    and I took some of my most           famous shots from the Frozade     557 00:27:26,561 --> 00:27:27,729                stand.                558 00:27:29,230 --> 00:27:32,233         That's where I shot                  the Basquiat photo.          559 00:27:32,275 --> 00:27:33,860          He was a big deal.          560 00:27:33,902 --> 00:27:35,737         Superstar art world.         561 00:27:35,779 --> 00:27:37,906        He came up to my                     cart and he'd be like,        562 00:27:37,947 --> 00:27:38,990           "Hey, what's up?           563 00:27:39,032 --> 00:27:41,034          I'd be like, "Yo,                    what up, Gene?!"            564 00:27:41,076 --> 00:27:42,702      And he always used to                roll his eyes and be like,      565 00:27:42,744 --> 00:27:44,120            "It's 'Jean.'"            566 00:27:44,162 --> 00:27:45,455    I was like, "Oh, sorry, Duke.     567 00:27:45,497 --> 00:27:48,041     I'm bad with exotic names."      568 00:27:48,083 --> 00:27:49,709     So he goes, "Can I get one?"     569 00:27:49,751 --> 00:27:50,835            I go, "Yeah."             570 00:27:50,877 --> 00:27:52,212         He gives me a                        hundred dollar bill,         571 00:27:52,253 --> 00:27:53,797        and I'm like,                        "Pshh, come on, Dukes.        572 00:27:53,838 --> 00:27:55,465         You ain't got                        something smaller?"          573 00:27:55,507 --> 00:27:57,384       So when he's                         reaching in his pocket,        574 00:27:57,425 --> 00:27:59,511    I take the one picture of him.    575 00:27:59,552 --> 00:28:01,513         So I called that                     one "Loose Change."          576 00:28:01,554 --> 00:28:04,849  And then, I asked him to look       at me for one shot if he would,    577 00:28:04,891 --> 00:28:07,727  and he gave me an intense look.    578 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,235        [laughter and chatter]        579 00:28:15,276 --> 00:28:16,695          It wasn't like a                     big thing to him,           580 00:28:16,736 --> 00:28:19,906     it was just like, "Hey,              man, mind if I get a flick?"     581 00:28:19,948 --> 00:28:21,574            [Ricky] Whoo!             582 00:28:21,616 --> 00:28:23,618              Get naked!              583 00:28:23,868 --> 00:28:25,578          [blows raspberry]           584 00:28:25,620 --> 00:28:27,288     [Cheryl VO] He is a                  participatory photographer,      585 00:28:27,330 --> 00:28:28,957       he's about having a day.       586 00:28:28,998 --> 00:28:30,291          [Ricky] Hey, Ray!           587 00:28:30,333 --> 00:28:31,584          It's great to see                    you, brother...             588 00:28:31,626 --> 00:28:32,794      [Cheryl VO] The                      photograph is this, like,       589 00:28:32,836 --> 00:28:34,587     sneak attack that comes in,      590 00:28:34,629 --> 00:28:36,923    but it's really the experience       that he's having with this        591 00:28:36,965 --> 00:28:38,633               person.                592 00:28:40,218 --> 00:28:44,097    You can't will yourself to be        a good street photographer,       593 00:28:44,139 --> 00:28:47,142      you just have to be there.      594 00:28:47,559 --> 00:28:52,272  And it's luck, it's                 timing, but you gotta be there.    595 00:28:52,313 --> 00:28:57,360          smooth hip-hop beat        596 00:28:57,986 --> 00:28:59,320                [beep]                597 00:28:59,362 --> 00:29:00,780     [Revolt on recording] Yo yo          yo, what's up, Rickster?         598 00:29:00,822 --> 00:29:01,906         Dr. Revolt calling.          599 00:29:01,948 --> 00:29:03,616  It's about 1:30, I'm in my crib.  600 00:29:03,658 --> 00:29:05,869     What's the deal for tonight?     601 00:29:06,870 --> 00:29:08,246          Guess, uh, I'll                      talk to you later.          602 00:29:08,288 --> 00:29:10,457             Peace, bye.              603 00:29:10,498 --> 00:29:14,794                                      604 00:29:14,836 --> 00:29:16,337          [Zephyr VO] In                       September of 1985,          605 00:29:16,379 --> 00:29:20,133    Tony Shafrazi Gallery in Soho        exhibited the extraordinary       606 00:29:20,175 --> 00:29:25,180  collaboration between Andy          Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.  607 00:29:29,392 --> 00:29:32,812  One of the most historic art        collaborations in the history of  608 00:29:32,854 --> 00:29:35,023             modern art.              609 00:29:36,858 --> 00:29:39,652           That day, Revolt                     and I and Ricky,           610 00:29:39,694 --> 00:29:43,823    we were hanging out across the       street from Shafrazi Gallery.     611 00:29:43,865 --> 00:29:47,035    Zephyr and Revolt, to me, that       combo felt like I was hanging     612 00:29:47,076 --> 00:29:48,661          out with graffiti                    royalty when I was          613 00:29:48,703 --> 00:29:50,121        hanging out with them.        614 00:29:50,163 --> 00:29:52,248     So I just took a couple of           casual shots of them on the      615 00:29:52,290 --> 00:29:53,792                stoop.                616 00:29:53,833 --> 00:29:56,503    It was the opening, and so           you had these people that were    617 00:29:56,544 --> 00:30:00,340       already in Shafrazi,                 but Warhol and Basquiat,       618 00:30:00,381 --> 00:30:02,926    they came out of a cab               together with no entourage at     619 00:30:02,967 --> 00:30:04,844      all, just the two of them.      620 00:30:04,886 --> 00:30:06,513     And I was like, "Oh, shit."      621 00:30:06,554 --> 00:30:10,433  And I scooted diagonally across     the street and plopped myself in  622 00:30:10,475 --> 00:30:12,519    front of Basquiat and Warhol.     623 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,021       I was like, "Hey, Gene!"       624 00:30:15,772 --> 00:30:19,359  And Warhol's looking at me like,   "Who in tarnations is this guy?"  625 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:20,944               [laughs]               626 00:30:20,985 --> 00:30:24,697       Jean said, "He's cool,"              and they paused for me.        627 00:30:24,739 --> 00:30:27,492      [woman VO] It's so direct            and it's so captivating,        628 00:30:27,534 --> 00:30:29,994     the way they're just                 standing there very static.      629 00:30:30,036 --> 00:30:34,749  It's so powerful because the two   guys in it are really engaged in  630 00:30:34,791 --> 00:30:38,670     the picture, and there's an          emotional reaction there.        631 00:30:38,711 --> 00:30:41,339  [Cheryl VO] That is the             quintessential incredible street  632 00:30:41,381 --> 00:30:43,091                photo.                633 00:30:43,132 --> 00:30:44,759          Just instinct;                       not even thinking,          634 00:30:44,801 --> 00:30:45,927          just like-- pshh.           635 00:30:45,969 --> 00:30:47,595        Just like the                        camera is just, like,         636 00:30:47,637 --> 00:30:50,098     part of his right hand -- if         he's a righty; I'm not sure.     637 00:30:50,139 --> 00:30:55,186    You know, like, instinctual,         physical street fuckin' dance.    638 00:30:57,313 --> 00:30:59,232    [Ricky VO] That was kinda like       hitting a grand slam in your      639 00:30:59,274 --> 00:31:01,985          first at-bat in                      the major leagues.          640 00:31:03,444 --> 00:31:06,489      Yeah, I was good, I guess.      641 00:31:10,285 --> 00:31:11,244             [Ricky] Yo!              642 00:31:11,286 --> 00:31:13,913              Oh, whoa!               643 00:31:13,955 --> 00:31:16,082              Rickster!               644 00:31:16,124 --> 00:31:18,501       [applause and whistling]             What's up, Rick?!              645 00:31:21,129 --> 00:31:22,422       [Ricky] What's up, man?        646 00:31:22,463 --> 00:31:23,590            How you doin'?            647 00:31:23,631 --> 00:31:26,009       [man] It's the Rickster!       648 00:31:26,634 --> 00:31:29,512                 Ah!                  649 00:31:31,139 --> 00:31:33,391     [Ricky] Yo, what's up, bro?      650 00:31:33,433 --> 00:31:35,310     -[MCA] How's it going, bro?          -[Ricky] How you feelin'?        651 00:31:35,351 --> 00:31:37,729    All right, we're just watching       Saturday Night Fever, man.        652 00:31:37,770 --> 00:31:40,273         What's up with                       these shades, Rick?          653 00:31:43,943 --> 00:31:45,737    [man] Rick, watch the traffic.    654 00:31:45,778 --> 00:31:47,155                 Yo!                  655 00:31:47,196 --> 00:31:49,157           [Ricky] Whoa...            656 00:31:49,198 --> 00:31:53,953          smooth lounge music        657 00:31:53,995 --> 00:31:55,580              Yo, taxi!               658 00:31:55,622 --> 00:31:57,248                Taxi!                 659 00:32:04,172 --> 00:32:08,635    [Cey] The Beasties had a crew        of people in their entourage.     660 00:32:08,676 --> 00:32:11,220    I was one of those people and        Ricky Powell was one of those     661 00:32:11,262 --> 00:32:12,472               people.                662 00:32:12,513 --> 00:32:14,807       It wasn't so much about              what he was there to do,       663 00:32:14,849 --> 00:32:17,810         he was just a                        part of their crew.          664 00:32:18,978 --> 00:32:21,147         What are you wasting                 the film on me for?          665 00:32:21,189 --> 00:32:23,566             Funky karma.             666 00:32:24,525 --> 00:32:26,319          [Ricky] Aw, shit!           667 00:32:26,361 --> 00:32:28,237       Well, I thought he was               one of the Beastie Boys.       668 00:32:28,279 --> 00:32:30,239               [laughs]               669 00:32:30,907 --> 00:32:34,410  Ricky had that swagger a lot of     the white dudes started to have    670 00:32:34,452 --> 00:32:37,497     when they started to                 really know and follow rap.      671 00:32:37,538 --> 00:32:39,874     But it was natural, though.      672 00:32:39,916 --> 00:32:43,711    And Ricky was one of the first       to actually freeze the moment,    673 00:32:43,753 --> 00:32:47,715      capturing that essence               of hip-hop and rap music.       674 00:32:47,757 --> 00:32:52,804           cool hip-hop beat         675 00:32:55,765 --> 00:32:58,726    And that was significant, man.    676 00:32:58,768 --> 00:33:00,061      [LL VO] He understood the            culture, he understood the      677 00:33:00,103 --> 00:33:02,355           language, and he                     was bi-cultural.           678 00:33:02,397 --> 00:33:04,399     You know, Ricky was the              right guy at the right time.     679 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,235    This white kid who's, like,          deeply steeped in hip-hop when    680 00:33:07,276 --> 00:33:09,237      hip-hop is in its infancy.      681 00:33:09,278 --> 00:33:11,531     [Mike VO] Run DMC,                     Raising Hell,   Public Enemy,     682 00:33:11,572 --> 00:33:13,032           Nation of Millions.         683 00:33:13,074 --> 00:33:16,035  He managed to capture really        incredible moments in time that    684 00:33:16,077 --> 00:33:19,038    are gonna, like, be important        cultural moments forever.         685 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,207         It was almost like                   this whole hip-hop,          686 00:33:21,249 --> 00:33:25,211      Run DMC, Beastie Boy                 thing was created for him,      687 00:33:25,253 --> 00:33:28,965     not for us, which is crazy.      688 00:33:29,007 --> 00:33:31,801      How the hell did he end              up with the Beastie Boys?       689 00:33:34,762 --> 00:33:36,055     Yo, let me tell you, though.     690 00:33:36,097 --> 00:33:38,641    Wait, don't tape this, though.    691 00:33:38,683 --> 00:33:40,059     -Stop!                               -[man] All right, I'll stop.     692 00:33:40,101 --> 00:33:42,061     [Ricky VO] So, check it:             you know how the whole thing     693 00:33:42,103 --> 00:33:43,730               started.               694 00:33:43,771 --> 00:33:48,026    I had known Ad-Rock growing up       in the schoolyard of PS 41 in     695 00:33:48,067 --> 00:33:49,193              the '70s.               696 00:33:49,235 --> 00:33:50,361            [Ricky] Adam!             697 00:33:50,403 --> 00:33:51,863          Made a new friend?          698 00:33:51,904 --> 00:33:53,239         I used to look at                    him from afar, like,         699 00:33:53,281 --> 00:33:56,451      "Yo, that kid has got                some funky fresh flavor."       700 00:33:56,492 --> 00:33:57,702           This guy, he's                       got everything--           701 00:33:57,744 --> 00:33:59,120        I had that, I                        don't have it anymore.        702 00:33:59,162 --> 00:34:01,414  He only has like four               records in his whole collection.  703 00:34:01,456 --> 00:34:02,540     He doesn't have any records.     704 00:34:02,582 --> 00:34:03,958        I had that, I                        don't have it anymore.        705 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:05,793     [Ricky VO] So                        September of '85 and I say,      706 00:34:05,835 --> 00:34:08,087        "Let me go check out                 this kid Adam's band,         707 00:34:08,129 --> 00:34:10,631          the Beastie Boys."          708 00:34:10,882 --> 00:34:13,593          So I go to the Cat                   Club; it's packed.          709 00:34:13,634 --> 00:34:15,428       [cheering and applause]        710 00:34:15,470 --> 00:34:20,099  And then, I'll never forget, the   fuckin' 808 bass drum sound --     711 00:34:20,141 --> 00:34:22,935        the Def Jam                          signature -- dropped.         712 00:34:22,977 --> 00:34:24,520                Boom!                 713 00:34:24,562 --> 00:34:29,609          Beastie boys music         714 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:35,448        I was just like, "Wow.        715 00:34:35,490 --> 00:34:37,784        They're magnificent."         716 00:34:37,825 --> 00:34:39,952      So I went                            backstage and I was like,       717 00:34:39,994 --> 00:34:41,788  "Yo, Adam, that shit was dope."    718 00:34:41,829 --> 00:34:42,955          He was like, "Oh,                    shit," you know,            719 00:34:42,997 --> 00:34:44,082           "What up, Rick?            720 00:34:44,123 --> 00:34:45,708         Let me introduce                     you to the fellas."          721 00:34:45,750 --> 00:34:47,960  And I don't know, I just started   hanging out with them that fall    722 00:34:48,002 --> 00:34:52,715     of '85 and                           recording it with a camera.      723 00:34:53,966 --> 00:34:55,676         They started                         bringing me to gigs,         724 00:34:55,718 --> 00:34:59,305      like saying, "Oh, yo, we             got a gig in DC or Boston.      725 00:34:59,347 --> 00:35:01,474       You wanna come with us?"       726 00:35:01,516 --> 00:35:03,142                [beep]                727 00:35:03,184 --> 00:35:04,644      [Mike on recording] Ricky!      728 00:35:04,685 --> 00:35:06,145         It's Adam and Mike.          729 00:35:06,187 --> 00:35:07,480       [Adam on                             recording] Hello, Rick.        730 00:35:07,522 --> 00:35:08,815         It's your boy, Adam.         731 00:35:08,856 --> 00:35:11,984        You've got to come by                because you know...           732 00:35:12,026 --> 00:35:14,153    When you're 19 and you're            stoned and you're making this     733 00:35:14,195 --> 00:35:17,156     new album and you think,             like, "Aw, this shit's dope.     734 00:35:17,198 --> 00:35:19,200          We need somebody                     to take pictures."          735 00:35:19,242 --> 00:35:22,328       Ricky was just                       documenting everything.        736 00:35:22,370 --> 00:35:26,082    And the guys were very excited       about Ricky because he was a      737 00:35:26,124 --> 00:35:27,166              character.              738 00:35:27,208 --> 00:35:28,000       [Ricky] The new flavor!        739 00:35:28,042 --> 00:35:29,669            Come on, Cey!             740 00:35:29,710 --> 00:35:31,254           Did you hear me?           741 00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:33,339    [Cey VO] He was one of those         guys that would just charm the    742 00:35:33,381 --> 00:35:35,174          pants off of you.           743 00:35:35,216 --> 00:35:36,843      [Ricky] Hey, ya hooligan.       744 00:35:36,884 --> 00:35:38,511       [Mike VO] We were                    comfortable around him.        745 00:35:38,553 --> 00:35:40,179  You wanna say something on your     show about how your brakes don't  746 00:35:40,221 --> 00:35:41,013                work?                 747 00:35:41,055 --> 00:35:42,598         [Ricky] I fixed it!          748 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:43,683  -Check the right front brake, G!   -[kid] You fixed it yourself?      749 00:35:43,724 --> 00:35:45,852       [Mike VO] He had                     this innate positivity.        750 00:35:45,893 --> 00:35:48,855      His, like, kind of saying            or mantra for the time was      751 00:35:48,896 --> 00:35:52,024          something like "If                   it's nice outside,          752 00:35:52,066 --> 00:35:55,528         be happy, and if                     it's not, light up."         753 00:35:55,570 --> 00:35:56,779        [man on recording]                   Yo, Ricky, what's up?!        754 00:35:56,821 --> 00:35:58,197  It's your friend, the Beasties.    755 00:35:58,239 --> 00:35:59,532         What's up? [laughs]          756 00:35:59,574 --> 00:36:01,659         We're at the studio.         757 00:36:07,456 --> 00:36:12,503          smooth hip-hop beat        758 00:36:17,091 --> 00:36:18,259      [man on recording] Here's            pianist and composer,           759 00:36:18,301 --> 00:36:20,219             [inaudible].             760 00:36:20,261 --> 00:36:22,889       This is so embarrassing.       761 00:36:22,930 --> 00:36:25,558            Hey, hey, hey!            762 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:28,728    Old hippy chicks, they dig me.    763 00:36:28,769 --> 00:36:31,397     Okay, you see this lamppost?     764 00:36:31,439 --> 00:36:34,066      This is where I did my               first official band shoot.      765 00:36:34,108 --> 00:36:36,569    This actually became the             cover for the   East Village Eye    766 00:36:36,611 --> 00:36:38,654              magazine.               767 00:36:41,115 --> 00:36:43,326             Right here.              768 00:36:45,286 --> 00:36:48,831  Well, to tell you the truth, if     we didn't know that he already     769 00:36:48,873 --> 00:36:50,583        had a connection                     with the Beastie Boys,        770 00:36:50,625 --> 00:36:52,752         we would have                        used somebody else.          771 00:36:52,793 --> 00:36:55,087  I took a chance on Ricky 'cause     that was a very important story    772 00:36:55,129 --> 00:36:57,006               for us.                773 00:36:58,049 --> 00:37:01,260       This one, I call "The                Charles Street Shuffle."       774 00:37:01,928 --> 00:37:03,095         They were like this.         775 00:37:03,137 --> 00:37:05,056            [camera snaps]            776 00:37:05,097 --> 00:37:06,432            [camera snaps]            777 00:37:06,474 --> 00:37:08,267          Shot one roll and                    said, "You know,            778 00:37:08,309 --> 00:37:10,102    just stand here, stand there."    779 00:37:10,144 --> 00:37:12,146      It took about a half-hour.      780 00:37:12,188 --> 00:37:14,148      You know, had some laughs.      781 00:37:14,190 --> 00:37:17,109    They had this-- this                 rapport with the photographer,    782 00:37:17,151 --> 00:37:20,988       with the camera, and you             see it in the pictures.        783 00:37:21,364 --> 00:37:24,450          East Village                         Eye, Paper Magazine,          784 00:37:24,492 --> 00:37:27,954  those were the publications that   we read that meant stuff on our    785 00:37:27,995 --> 00:37:29,538                scene.                786 00:37:29,580 --> 00:37:32,959  But his breakout moment is when     he goes on tour and you saw the    787 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:36,837        classic combination of               early hip-hop stars.          788 00:37:37,213 --> 00:37:39,298       And you go, "Dawg,                   you is really doing it.        789 00:37:39,340 --> 00:37:40,383     I see what you were saying.      790 00:37:40,424 --> 00:37:42,885      This is important stuff."       791 00:37:44,262 --> 00:37:46,138           [slide advances]           792 00:37:46,180 --> 00:37:48,057     [Ricky] Oh, I love this one!     793 00:37:48,099 --> 00:37:51,143      You got, uh,                         Russell and the Beasties;       794 00:37:51,185 --> 00:37:53,813      the manager and the group.      795 00:37:53,854 --> 00:37:55,273           [slide advances]           796 00:37:55,314 --> 00:37:59,151  Oh, that's a good one;              Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen.    797 00:37:59,193 --> 00:38:01,612        Russell was in charge                of Def Jam Records,           798 00:38:01,654 --> 00:38:04,448     Lyor Cohen was in                    charge of Rush Productions,      799 00:38:04,490 --> 00:38:06,659        which was management.         800 00:38:06,701 --> 00:38:10,162    I was very fortunate that Def        Jam brought me into the fam.      801 00:38:10,204 --> 00:38:13,499      They were like the coolest           record label of hip-hop.        802 00:38:13,541 --> 00:38:16,168           [slide advances]           803 00:38:16,210 --> 00:38:17,503           [slide advances]           804 00:38:17,545 --> 00:38:19,547     Wow, these are great images.     805 00:38:19,588 --> 00:38:22,842      Will Smith was coming to             Rush to get a record deal,      806 00:38:22,883 --> 00:38:26,053          and Daddy-O was                      just hanging out.           807 00:38:26,095 --> 00:38:29,348  Yeah, this is a good example of     me putting people together for     808 00:38:29,390 --> 00:38:31,350              pictures.               809 00:38:31,392 --> 00:38:34,061       I was very good at that.       810 00:38:36,939 --> 00:38:39,734        Ah, I haven't seen                   this shot in a while.         811 00:38:39,775 --> 00:38:44,822      Chuck D, very cool dude,             1988 on the Def Jam tour.       812 00:38:46,073 --> 00:38:49,201          That's a very, uh,                   fashionable look.           813 00:38:49,243 --> 00:38:50,369                Next!                 814 00:38:50,411 --> 00:38:51,537           [slide advances]           815 00:38:51,579 --> 00:38:53,039                What?!                816 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:55,374               Oh, dip!               817 00:38:55,416 --> 00:38:57,877          That's me on the                     Raising Hell tour.          818 00:38:57,918 --> 00:39:01,005         That was a wild day.         819 00:39:01,047 --> 00:39:02,840              Oh, shit.               820 00:39:02,882 --> 00:39:05,217    Can I tell you what happened?     821 00:39:05,843 --> 00:39:08,512       It was summer of '86.          822 00:39:08,554 --> 00:39:13,517     I'm working my Frozade shift         and it is fucking hot out.       823 00:39:13,559 --> 00:39:15,895            Nobody's out.             824 00:39:16,270 --> 00:39:20,399    So I get a copy of   USA Today,        I open up to the entertainment    825 00:39:20,441 --> 00:39:24,070     section and it's a double            spread: "Raising Hell Tour!      826 00:39:24,111 --> 00:39:25,071               Run DMC!               827 00:39:25,112 --> 00:39:26,238            Beastie Boys!             828 00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:28,407             LL Cool J!"              829 00:39:28,449 --> 00:39:30,117          And I looked at it                   and I'm just like,          830 00:39:30,159 --> 00:39:31,744       "Yo, I need to be there.       831 00:39:31,786 --> 00:39:34,288         Yo, fuck this job."          832 00:39:34,580 --> 00:39:38,125           I rolled my cart                     to the garage...           833 00:39:38,626 --> 00:39:40,920       call somebody and say,               "Where they at tonight?"       834 00:39:40,961 --> 00:39:43,255     They said, "St. Petersburg."     835 00:39:43,297 --> 00:39:46,258      I get a bag                          together, got on a plane,       836 00:39:46,300 --> 00:39:48,886        and I flew down there.        837 00:39:50,638 --> 00:39:54,183     Now, I'm in St. Petersburg,          there's nothing going on,        838 00:39:54,225 --> 00:39:57,103  I'm asking people, "Yo, where's     the arena where the Run DMC show  839 00:39:57,144 --> 00:39:58,396                 is?"                 840 00:39:58,437 --> 00:39:59,939        Someone says, "It's in               Tampa," and I'm like,         841 00:39:59,980 --> 00:40:03,275          "Oh, my God, it's                    not around here."           842 00:40:03,317 --> 00:40:05,027        So I go into this bar.        843 00:40:05,069 --> 00:40:08,614         It's like all these                  fucking hillbillies.         844 00:40:08,656 --> 00:40:11,117           [record scratch]           845 00:40:11,158 --> 00:40:14,203          Everyone stopped                     and looked at me.           846 00:40:14,578 --> 00:40:17,873     And I threw all my money on          the bar -- mostly change,        847 00:40:17,915 --> 00:40:19,458              like $20.               848 00:40:19,500 --> 00:40:23,379      I was like, "Can someone             give me a lift to Tampa?"       849 00:40:24,630 --> 00:40:28,175     So these two dudes, who had          checkered shirts and beards,     850 00:40:28,217 --> 00:40:31,262          they say, "We'll                     give you a lift."           851 00:40:31,929 --> 00:40:35,433      Took me into their pickup            and I sit in the middle,        852 00:40:35,474 --> 00:40:37,518          and we're driving                    on the highway.             853 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:42,606             upbeat music            854 00:40:43,899 --> 00:40:46,193        Then, they veer off                  and take a dirt road,         855 00:40:46,235 --> 00:40:48,195      and I was like, "Yo, what?      856 00:40:48,237 --> 00:40:51,532         What the fuck have I                 gotten myself into?"         857 00:40:51,574 --> 00:40:53,701       And I start thinking of              the movie   Deliverance.         858 00:40:53,742 --> 00:40:55,953           [pig squealing]            859 00:40:55,995 --> 00:40:58,706         Just when I start to                 fuckin' get panicky,         860 00:40:58,747 --> 00:41:02,334      I see in the distance                the top of the Tampa Dome.      861 00:41:02,376 --> 00:41:04,920      They actually brought me.       862 00:41:05,212 --> 00:41:09,008     They drop me off, I'm                like, "Yo, thanks, fellas!"      863 00:41:09,049 --> 00:41:13,345    I go to the back entrance and        a security guard comes out?       864 00:41:13,387 --> 00:41:14,013                "Yeah?                865 00:41:14,054 --> 00:41:15,514           What you want?"            866 00:41:15,556 --> 00:41:18,017     "Yo, tell Ad-Rock from the           Beasties the Rickster's out      867 00:41:18,058 --> 00:41:19,935                here."                868 00:41:20,311 --> 00:41:22,021        Five minutes                        later, Adam comes out.         869 00:41:22,062 --> 00:41:23,856        He's like, "Oh, shit!         870 00:41:23,898 --> 00:41:25,024                 Yo!                  871 00:41:25,065 --> 00:41:26,317    What are you doin' out here?"     872 00:41:26,358 --> 00:41:29,528        I'm like, "Ah, I was                 in the neighborhood."         873 00:41:31,155 --> 00:41:32,865           Let's go, Ricky!           874 00:41:32,907 --> 00:41:34,074            Let's go, man!            875 00:41:34,116 --> 00:41:35,201          [Ricky VO] And                       then the Beasties,          876 00:41:35,242 --> 00:41:37,912        they gave me a                       bunk on the tour bus.         877 00:41:37,953 --> 00:41:40,331             It was sick.             878 00:41:40,789 --> 00:41:42,166                Sick!                 879 00:41:43,375 --> 00:41:45,085           [Ricky] Yee-haw!           880 00:41:45,127 --> 00:41:48,255    [Ricky VO] I was experiencing        the lifestyle, you know?          881 00:41:48,297 --> 00:41:49,757         I thought to                         myself, "Oh, my God,         882 00:41:49,798 --> 00:41:51,258        this is the Big Time."        883 00:41:51,300 --> 00:41:54,345            [honking] Hey!            884 00:41:54,386 --> 00:41:57,097  First of all, it was baptism        by fire performing with Run DMC    885 00:41:57,139 --> 00:41:58,224             every night.             886 00:41:58,265 --> 00:41:59,558       They were at the                     height of their powers,        887 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,770     and I mean they were                 just bombing on everything.      888 00:42:05,481 --> 00:42:08,901         When I met Ricky, I                  remember him saying,         889 00:42:08,943 --> 00:42:12,738    "Don't mind me, I'ma be taking       a couple of flickeroonis."        890 00:42:12,780 --> 00:42:14,073            [camera snaps]            891 00:42:14,114 --> 00:42:15,824            [camera snaps]            892 00:42:16,492 --> 00:42:19,078  [Ricky VO] This is, like, my        second day being on the Raising    893 00:42:19,119 --> 00:42:20,579              Hell tour.              894 00:42:20,621 --> 00:42:24,583      Tallahasee, Florida, the             Beasties with Lyor Cohen.       895 00:42:24,625 --> 00:42:28,504  That was the first motel            that we were able to afford that  896 00:42:28,546 --> 00:42:30,422         actually had a pool.         897 00:42:30,464 --> 00:42:34,593  We felt like we had arrived, and   for him to have captured that      898 00:42:34,635 --> 00:42:38,681    photo -- I don't ever remember       having Speedos -- it's kind of    899 00:42:38,722 --> 00:42:41,475      embarrassing but it's like           looking back in memories;       900 00:42:41,517 --> 00:42:43,310           it's beautiful.            901 00:42:43,352 --> 00:42:44,478          [Ricky] Oh, shit!           902 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:49,316    LL Cool J, New Orleans, 1986.     903 00:42:49,358 --> 00:42:51,235             It's crazy.              904 00:42:51,277 --> 00:42:52,486                Yo...                 905 00:42:52,528 --> 00:42:55,155         man, it's the                        chunky dookie ropes,         906 00:42:55,197 --> 00:42:58,742         it's the chains, the                 Kangols, the vibes.          907 00:42:59,118 --> 00:43:01,120    [Hurricane] He'd take a              picture without you noticing.     908 00:43:01,161 --> 00:43:02,955  You would be sitting here and       Ricky was sitting there taking a  909 00:43:02,997 --> 00:43:04,123               picture.               910 00:43:04,164 --> 00:43:05,291         You're like, "Ricky,                 what are you doing?"         911 00:43:05,332 --> 00:43:06,292           Hey, you hiding                      something there?           912 00:43:06,333 --> 00:43:07,376        You hiding something?         913 00:43:07,418 --> 00:43:08,502         I've always seen                     Ricky doing this...          914 00:43:08,544 --> 00:43:09,503         [whispering] Click.          915 00:43:09,545 --> 00:43:10,963                Click.                916 00:43:11,005 --> 00:43:12,298                Click.                917 00:43:12,339 --> 00:43:13,799                Click.                918 00:43:13,841 --> 00:43:14,967        "Oh, yo yo yo, let's                 get a shot real quick,        919 00:43:15,009 --> 00:43:16,302    come on, we gotta get a shot!"    920 00:43:16,343 --> 00:43:17,136      And you'd just turn                  around to take the shot...      921 00:43:17,177 --> 00:43:19,054            and he's off.             922 00:43:20,306 --> 00:43:24,059       [Darryl VO] He caught                everything in real time.       923 00:43:25,019 --> 00:43:25,894               "Cane!"                924 00:43:25,936 --> 00:43:26,478        And you'd turn around.        925 00:43:26,520 --> 00:43:27,813            Click, click!             926 00:43:27,855 --> 00:43:29,315      By the time you turned               around, he's clickin' it.       927 00:43:29,356 --> 00:43:31,150    And that's what made him             different than everybody else:    928 00:43:31,191 --> 00:43:32,776           he just did it.            929 00:43:32,818 --> 00:43:34,987    I remember one time, he was          trying to take a picture and I    930 00:43:35,029 --> 00:43:35,904       was kicking Ricky to go.       931 00:43:35,946 --> 00:43:36,739           "Go, get back!"            932 00:43:36,780 --> 00:43:38,407       He still had the camera.       933 00:43:38,449 --> 00:43:39,908          "Get back, Ricky!"          934 00:43:39,950 --> 00:43:41,160  And I'm kicking him, he's still     trying to take the picture.        935 00:43:41,201 --> 00:43:44,913        I'm like, "Oh,                       this guy won't stop."         936 00:43:45,289 --> 00:43:46,832       [Ricky VO] I liked                   being part of the crew,        937 00:43:46,874 --> 00:43:49,043        just hanging, you                    know, the "entourage,"        938 00:43:49,084 --> 00:43:50,336               per se.                939 00:43:50,377 --> 00:43:54,506       But also taking relevant             pictures simultaneously.       940 00:43:54,965 --> 00:43:58,719    And I think you have to get a      degree in humanistic behaviors     941 00:43:58,761 --> 00:44:02,556       before you can                       master the two together.       942 00:44:05,601 --> 00:44:08,187    So Ricky, you think moving           around a lot'll make me digest    943 00:44:08,228 --> 00:44:10,522       faster or I should just              chill out 'til the show?       944 00:44:10,564 --> 00:44:12,191         [Ricky] Yeah, try                    to chill out before.         945 00:44:12,232 --> 00:44:14,860  You don't want the Hersey           squirts when you're performing.    946 00:44:14,902 --> 00:44:16,195    Nah, that's not a good thing.     947 00:44:16,236 --> 00:44:17,529    Yo, the light's not on, Rick.     948 00:44:17,571 --> 00:44:20,074    It's not-- it's not recording.    949 00:44:20,574 --> 00:44:22,701  Back then, it was like              nobody had cameras all the time,  950 00:44:22,743 --> 00:44:24,453      they didn't have the                 phones and all that stuff,      951 00:44:24,495 --> 00:44:26,705     so somebody doing something          goofy or stupid and then,        952 00:44:26,747 --> 00:44:28,123          he'd be the first                    one to, like, "Oh,          953 00:44:28,165 --> 00:44:29,875     hold it, hold it, hold it!"      954 00:44:29,917 --> 00:44:32,461         And, you know,                       "Lemme get a snap!"          955 00:44:33,921 --> 00:44:35,381          [LL VO] There can                    be photographers,           956 00:44:35,422 --> 00:44:37,549       they feel like the                   tag on your undershirt.        957 00:44:37,591 --> 00:44:39,718  There's a little bit of that...     [makes rubbing sound]              958 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:40,719        You just wanna...                    [makes tearing sound]         959 00:44:40,761 --> 00:44:41,553        You know what I mean?         960 00:44:41,595 --> 00:44:44,473     But not Rick; Rick was cool.     961 00:44:44,848 --> 00:44:48,227  The personal relationship with      the photographers was important,  962 00:44:48,268 --> 00:44:50,396    'cause number one, I                 don't really like being seen;     963 00:44:50,437 --> 00:44:52,481         I like being heard.          964 00:44:52,523 --> 00:44:54,608       I'm like, "Yo, you                   got five seconds, dude."       965 00:44:54,650 --> 00:44:55,609                [beep]                966 00:44:55,651 --> 00:44:56,610                [beep]                967 00:44:56,652 --> 00:44:57,611                [beep]                968 00:44:57,653 --> 00:44:58,612                [beep]                969 00:44:58,654 --> 00:44:59,947                [beep]                970 00:44:59,988 --> 00:45:01,782     Ricky says, "Lemme get               that five seconds" and boom,     971 00:45:01,824 --> 00:45:04,410       boom, boom, and then you             felt that it was cool,         972 00:45:04,451 --> 00:45:06,245         I can give him more.         973 00:45:06,286 --> 00:45:08,747        He's capturing that                  moment of permission,         974 00:45:08,789 --> 00:45:09,915      you know what I'm saying?       975 00:45:09,957 --> 00:45:12,626         He worked in that                    area of permission.          976 00:45:12,668 --> 00:45:14,795         License to Ill tour.         977 00:45:18,173 --> 00:45:21,468    [LL VO] I mean, we were              doing it on every level, man.     978 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:24,304     Yeah, yeah, that's my Benz.      979 00:45:24,346 --> 00:45:25,097          That was my Benz.           980 00:45:25,139 --> 00:45:26,765           Lemme see that?            981 00:45:26,807 --> 00:45:30,310         Yeah, yeah, that's                   crazy, that's crazy.         982 00:45:32,479 --> 00:45:34,857    [woman over speaker] We will         be taxiing for a few moments.     983 00:45:41,155 --> 00:45:44,867        [Ricky] You see, this                is what I do: luggage.        984 00:45:45,159 --> 00:45:48,287    I'm in charge of the luggage.     985 00:45:49,455 --> 00:45:53,709  I'm integral to the                     Beastie Boys organization.      986 00:45:53,959 --> 00:45:55,627          Whether it was                       the United States,          987 00:45:55,669 --> 00:45:58,964  whether it was Europe, Ricky        went everywhere with us and the    988 00:45:59,006 --> 00:45:59,923              Beasties.               989 00:45:59,965 --> 00:46:01,633            [Ricky] Uh-oh.            990 00:46:01,675 --> 00:46:03,844     This guy is gettin' pissed.      991 00:46:04,678 --> 00:46:06,138        Fellas, how you doing?        992 00:46:06,180 --> 00:46:08,515           We're all okay?            993 00:46:11,018 --> 00:46:15,689  So imagine that; imagine the        guy that was there as a homeboy.  994 00:46:15,731 --> 00:46:20,152    He got to see everything in a        way that nobody else could.       995 00:46:20,194 --> 00:46:24,656          upbeat hip-hop beat        996 00:46:24,698 --> 00:46:27,326           Ricky's work had                     a certain, uh...           997 00:46:27,367 --> 00:46:30,037    you know, capturing-the-moment       look to it that was different     998 00:46:30,078 --> 00:46:32,372      from other photographers.       999 00:46:33,874 --> 00:46:37,085  [Sue VO] They were very             human, kind of loving pictures.    1000 00:46:37,127 --> 00:46:39,004        To me, you know, these               images were amazing,          1001 00:46:39,046 --> 00:46:42,257  like the photo of Jam Master        Jay with the Pan Am plane behind  1002 00:46:42,299 --> 00:46:43,801                 him.                 1003 00:46:43,842 --> 00:46:45,344    You knew Ricky was there, but        you didn't really feel like       1004 00:46:45,385 --> 00:46:47,012  there was a person there; there     was just this image as if you      1005 00:46:47,054 --> 00:46:48,639             were there.              1006 00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:49,848  [Janette VO] One of my favorite     images that he ever took was Run  1007 00:46:49,890 --> 00:46:52,851         DMC and the Beastie                  Boys on a tour bus.          1008 00:46:52,893 --> 00:46:55,521      It's not a posed                     photo, it's very unposed,       1009 00:46:55,562 --> 00:46:57,189       and I love that                      about Ricky's pictures;        1010 00:46:57,231 --> 00:46:59,191       they're very casual and              they're very backstage,        1011 00:46:59,233 --> 00:47:01,360          behind-the-sceney.          1012 00:47:04,029 --> 00:47:06,532    He's not a photographer that's       gonna sit there and take a        1013 00:47:06,573 --> 00:47:07,825           static portrait.           1014 00:47:07,866 --> 00:47:11,370       He really shows you the              energy and the emotion,        1015 00:47:11,411 --> 00:47:14,081       and you wanna be there.        1016 00:47:14,122 --> 00:47:16,208      It was just always                   those spur-of-the-moment,       1017 00:47:16,250 --> 00:47:20,045          not typical, not                     the usual mundane,          1018 00:47:20,087 --> 00:47:21,880        ordinary photoshoots.         1019 00:47:21,922 --> 00:47:25,217     But the most iconic pictures         of us by Ricky is the Paris      1020 00:47:25,259 --> 00:47:28,053      pictures with the                    Eiffel Tower in the back,       1021 00:47:28,095 --> 00:47:29,388          'cause that                          showed the world,           1022 00:47:29,429 --> 00:47:31,223           "Yo, we global."           1023 00:47:31,265 --> 00:47:33,725       Like, everybody global               now, we've been global.        1024 00:47:33,767 --> 00:47:36,395        They look like, wow,                 they're hip-hop gods,         1025 00:47:36,436 --> 00:47:38,063        man, in this picture.         1026 00:47:38,105 --> 00:47:39,731            They are gods!            1027 00:47:39,773 --> 00:47:42,067      [LL VO] It was like                  "Look how far we've come."      1028 00:47:42,109 --> 00:47:45,320     It wasn't just a picture in          front of the Eiffel Tower,       1029 00:47:45,362 --> 00:47:48,240  it was guys that were standing      on the corner drinking 40 ounces  1030 00:47:48,282 --> 00:47:50,492          of Old English...           1031 00:47:50,534 --> 00:47:53,579     with the same outfits on             that they wore in the hood,      1032 00:47:53,620 --> 00:47:56,915      but now, they're in                  front of the Eiffel Tower.      1033 00:47:56,957 --> 00:47:59,251          That's a big deal.          1034 00:48:00,085 --> 00:48:02,921      That's a really big deal.       1035 00:48:04,965 --> 00:48:07,259           That's special.            1036 00:48:07,926 --> 00:48:09,219            What up, man?             1037 00:48:09,261 --> 00:48:11,930       [cheering and hollering]       1038 00:48:11,972 --> 00:48:14,099           What up, Ricky?!           1039 00:48:16,518 --> 00:48:18,478                Kinky!                1040 00:48:19,980 --> 00:48:22,608              [snorting]              1041 00:48:22,649 --> 00:48:23,942         [Ricky] Hey, what's                  going on in here?!           1042 00:48:23,984 --> 00:48:25,444              Hey, hey!               1043 00:48:25,485 --> 00:48:28,488         [laughs] Fantastic!          1044 00:48:31,992 --> 00:48:34,494       [Max] Let me outta here!       1045 00:48:34,536 --> 00:48:35,996            [Ricky] What?             1046 00:48:36,038 --> 00:48:37,623              [Max] Hey!              1047 00:48:37,664 --> 00:48:39,124          Let me outta here!          1048 00:48:39,166 --> 00:48:40,626       We need to present you.        1049 00:48:40,667 --> 00:48:43,670      All right, ladies and                gentlemen, introducing...       1050 00:48:43,712 --> 00:48:45,339                 Max!                 1051 00:48:46,506 --> 00:48:49,176          [laughs] Oh, shit!          1052 00:48:57,851 --> 00:48:59,645                Maxie!                1053 00:48:59,686 --> 00:49:01,605      I love this fuckin' shot.       1054 00:49:01,647 --> 00:49:04,483      It's my man, Max Perlich.       1055 00:49:04,650 --> 00:49:09,279  Max, I met through the Beasties     in LA and just was very cordial    1056 00:49:09,321 --> 00:49:12,282      and accommodating and open           right from the jump-off.        1057 00:49:12,324 --> 00:49:13,951        [Max] What's up, Rick?        1058 00:49:13,992 --> 00:49:14,952                 Ah!                  1059 00:49:14,993 --> 00:49:16,620            [Max] [laughs]            1060 00:49:16,662 --> 00:49:18,205           Come on, bitch!            1061 00:49:18,246 --> 00:49:20,290    [Max VO] Ricky really was part       of the fabric of the Beastie      1062 00:49:20,332 --> 00:49:23,335     Boys' identity, their look.      1063 00:49:23,627 --> 00:49:28,674  I was intrigued by the              energy -- this uncontrollable...  1064 00:49:28,715 --> 00:49:32,010      like you could get hurt              or you could get an award,      1065 00:49:32,052 --> 00:49:33,470              you know?               1066 00:49:33,512 --> 00:49:36,890     For-- for-- for just being           a part of the-- the troupe.      1067 00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:40,519          These guys all had                   that sort of draw;          1068 00:49:40,560 --> 00:49:43,230     Ricky was part of their act.     1069 00:49:45,232 --> 00:49:47,526         He was like the--                    the-- the hype man.          1070 00:49:47,567 --> 00:49:48,694          [Ricky] Okay, go.           1071 00:49:48,735 --> 00:49:49,861                Whoo!                 1072 00:49:49,903 --> 00:49:50,862                Whoo!                 1073 00:49:50,904 --> 00:49:52,072                Whoo!                 1074 00:49:52,114 --> 00:49:54,533       [Max VO] The guy that                was there egging 'em on.       1075 00:49:54,574 --> 00:49:55,534            [bulb bursts]             1076 00:49:55,575 --> 00:49:56,535           [man] Oh, shit!            1077 00:49:56,576 --> 00:49:58,370              Oh, shit!               1078 00:49:58,412 --> 00:50:00,205     [Ricky]                              [laughing] Oh, shit, sorry.      1079 00:50:00,247 --> 00:50:01,373            You all right?            1080 00:50:01,415 --> 00:50:02,958             [screaming]              1081 00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:04,710        [Max VO] The guy that                would cause trouble.          1082 00:50:04,751 --> 00:50:06,211     What are you doin', Ricky?!      1083 00:50:06,253 --> 00:50:08,714     What are you doin', Ricky?!      1084 00:50:08,755 --> 00:50:11,216    And you needed him. [chuckles]    1085 00:50:11,258 --> 00:50:13,385  [Cey VO] Ricky and I were           roommates on the License to Ill    1086 00:50:13,427 --> 00:50:15,887       tour; that's how I                   really got to know him.        1087 00:50:15,929 --> 00:50:19,391  And you learn a lot about people   when you share a room with them.  1088 00:50:19,433 --> 00:50:24,396         Do it, do it, do it                  'til you're satisfied        1089 00:50:24,438 --> 00:50:26,064         You know, that's                     staying right there.         1090 00:50:26,106 --> 00:50:28,400  I'm not going one more line in.    1091 00:50:28,442 --> 00:50:30,027               [laughs]               1092 00:50:30,068 --> 00:50:34,281       Do it, do it 'til you're             satisfied (Whatever it is)     1093 00:50:34,322 --> 00:50:38,118          Do it, do it 'til                    you're satisfied...         1094 00:50:38,160 --> 00:50:40,454      [man] Do you like parties?      1095 00:50:40,495 --> 00:50:42,039                Yeah.                 1096 00:50:42,080 --> 00:50:45,542    [man] We can invite all our          friends and have soda and pie!    1097 00:50:45,584 --> 00:50:47,544                Yeah!                 1098 00:50:49,504 --> 00:50:50,297                Ricky!                1099 00:50:50,338 --> 00:50:51,298         Yo, this is a orgy!          1100 00:50:51,339 --> 00:50:53,759              Fuck yeah!              1101 00:50:58,013 --> 00:50:59,806         [firework whistling]         1102 00:50:59,848 --> 00:51:01,641              [man] Oh!               1103 00:51:04,978 --> 00:51:06,938          Oh, I'm gonna                        fuck this dude up!          1104 00:51:06,980 --> 00:51:09,357            [all shouting]            1105 00:51:10,233 --> 00:51:12,444  [Ricky] Can we get fucking busy?  1106 00:51:12,486 --> 00:51:14,946           [crowd cheering]           1107 00:51:15,280 --> 00:51:19,117         Everybody knows                      what they'd like to do       1108 00:51:19,159 --> 00:51:23,538       Whatever it is, do it,               as long as it pleases you      1109 00:51:23,580 --> 00:51:28,543          Just take some time                  and relax your mind         1110 00:51:28,794 --> 00:51:33,548        And do it, do it, do                 it 'til you're satisfied      1111 00:51:34,466 --> 00:51:36,510    [man] Ricky Powell, represent!    1112 00:51:36,551 --> 00:51:38,929        -Are you Ricky Powell?               -[Ricky] Yes, ma'am.          1113 00:51:41,389 --> 00:51:43,934        -Everybody get Ricky!                -No!                          1114 00:51:43,975 --> 00:51:46,269         Everybody get Ricky!         1115 00:51:46,311 --> 00:51:51,274         I'm shrooming and                    just having a goof.          1116 00:51:51,316 --> 00:51:53,860          Let's get stupid!           1117 00:51:53,902 --> 00:51:57,030           [crowd cheering]           1118 00:51:57,072 --> 00:52:01,993           guitar solo                          playing from radio         1119 00:52:02,035 --> 00:52:04,037                Pshh.                 1120 00:52:04,454 --> 00:52:07,833     Everything that you could            imagine in the life of sex,      1121 00:52:07,874 --> 00:52:12,087     drugs, and rock n' roll, I           saw it manifest with Ricky,      1122 00:52:12,129 --> 00:52:13,255      you know what I'm saying?       1123 00:52:13,296 --> 00:52:16,258       We had our groupies,                 Ricky had his groupies.        1124 00:52:16,633 --> 00:52:19,010      [Hurricane] Ricky, he was            supposed to be the roadie,      1125 00:52:19,052 --> 00:52:21,847    supposed to do roadie things,        but he wasn't doing the roadie    1126 00:52:21,888 --> 00:52:23,348                stuff.                1127 00:52:23,557 --> 00:52:25,100    You know, he was just supposed       to be getting the bags and        1128 00:52:25,142 --> 00:52:27,185        bringing them                        upstairs to the room,         1129 00:52:27,227 --> 00:52:30,522        but Rick is just                     like-- he's doing him.        1130 00:52:30,564 --> 00:52:35,527      "Car Thief" by Beastie Boys    1131 00:52:35,569 --> 00:52:38,029      Homeboy, throw in the towel    1132 00:52:38,071 --> 00:52:40,866        [crowd] Your girl got                dicked by Ricky Powell!       1133 00:52:40,907 --> 00:52:43,410       The Godfather of Soul is             in the belly of the beast      1134 00:52:43,451 --> 00:52:45,912       Smoking that dust                    at St. Anthony's Feast...      1135 00:52:45,954 --> 00:52:48,748     And somehow, with the joint          hanging off the side of his      1136 00:52:48,790 --> 00:52:52,252        mouth and, like, the                 drink almost spilling,        1137 00:52:52,294 --> 00:52:57,257  he managed to capture this frame   and get these real moments.        1138 00:52:57,299 --> 00:53:01,553          smooth jazzy music         1139 00:53:01,595 --> 00:53:05,056      [Lynn VO] Rickster was               giving away his pictures.       1140 00:53:05,098 --> 00:53:09,895    He was making them out of love       and sharing them out of love.     1141 00:53:09,936 --> 00:53:13,231        Yet it costs money to                buy food, pay rent,           1142 00:53:13,273 --> 00:53:15,400     pay for film and processing.     1143 00:53:15,442 --> 00:53:18,904  There's a lot of costs involved.  1144 00:53:18,945 --> 00:53:22,073     You can't just give it away.     1145 00:53:22,115 --> 00:53:25,911    Lynn Goldsmith, she taught me        everything in the photography     1146 00:53:25,952 --> 00:53:28,163          business, and she                    was no-nonsense,            1147 00:53:28,205 --> 00:53:31,249        servicing pictures                   to all the magazines.         1148 00:53:31,291 --> 00:53:34,252          Lynn taught me the                   art of the hustle,          1149 00:53:34,294 --> 00:53:37,422        which she doesn't like               me saying -- "hustle."        1150 00:53:37,464 --> 00:53:39,758       She's very fucking anal.       1151 00:53:39,799 --> 00:53:42,677        I'm Jewish and bossy.         1152 00:53:43,762 --> 00:53:45,764        You know, she liked                  me right off the bat,         1153 00:53:45,805 --> 00:53:48,099       loved that I was                     down with the Beasties,        1154 00:53:48,141 --> 00:53:51,561       loved saying "Rickster!"       1155 00:53:51,603 --> 00:53:54,481  [Lynn VO] When I saw Rickster's     pictures -- I saw some             1156 00:53:54,522 --> 00:53:59,569     underwater pictures -- I             felt he had such potential.      1157 00:54:01,821 --> 00:54:06,826     However, his pictures --             many of them were not good.      1158 00:54:07,494 --> 00:54:09,454          They were sloppy.           1159 00:54:09,496 --> 00:54:14,501  And he took my criticism and        tightened up those photo skills.  1160 00:54:17,003 --> 00:54:19,005          She got in my face                   a couple of times.          1161 00:54:19,047 --> 00:54:20,632            She was tough.            1162 00:54:20,674 --> 00:54:24,970      Ricky wanted to be around            the people who were really      1163 00:54:25,011 --> 00:54:29,140    interesting to him, and it           didn't have to be the hip-hop     1164 00:54:29,182 --> 00:54:30,892                world.                1165 00:54:32,102 --> 00:54:37,148                                      1166 00:54:43,196 --> 00:54:46,241      [Patrick VO] As a                    photographer, he's on it.       1167 00:54:48,368 --> 00:54:53,581         I appreciate the                     artistry of access,          1168 00:54:53,623 --> 00:54:56,001     the artistry of getting it.      1169 00:54:56,042 --> 00:54:58,295  Like there's a great picture he     has of Cindy Crawford where she    1170 00:54:58,336 --> 00:54:59,963         looks a little                       bit like, you know,          1171 00:55:00,005 --> 00:55:03,300         not disheveled but                   there's a realness.          1172 00:55:03,550 --> 00:55:06,219    You expect that he's gonna           have the ill photo of Run DMC,    1173 00:55:06,261 --> 00:55:09,180     the ill photo of the                 Beasties, but when you see,      1174 00:55:09,222 --> 00:55:12,350    like, Andy Warhol and                Cindy Crawford that he's just     1175 00:55:12,392 --> 00:55:13,685          capturing like...           1176 00:55:13,727 --> 00:55:16,521       this ain't a photoshoot,             he wasn't commissioned,        1177 00:55:16,563 --> 00:55:19,024  he's just like, "Yo, I got you."  1178 00:55:19,065 --> 00:55:20,358                Boom.                 1179 00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:25,405          upbeat hip-hop beat        1180 00:55:25,947 --> 00:55:31,119  Celebrity or some sense of          celebrity is so important to any  1181 00:55:31,161 --> 00:55:34,205    photographer's work because          that's the kind of stuff that     1182 00:55:34,247 --> 00:55:36,207         people go, "Oh, wow!         1183 00:55:36,249 --> 00:55:38,960    Is that Laurence Fishburne?!"     1184 00:55:40,420 --> 00:55:42,547         [Laurence VO]                        It's pretty badass.          1185 00:55:42,589 --> 00:55:45,050         [laughing] It's a                    pretty badass photo.         1186 00:55:45,091 --> 00:55:48,386    It captures me in a way              that only people that know me,    1187 00:55:48,428 --> 00:55:50,221        that hung out with me,               that grew up with me,         1188 00:55:50,263 --> 00:55:52,307       like, they know,                     "Oh, yeah, that's Fish,        1189 00:55:52,349 --> 00:55:53,892            that's Fish."             1190 00:55:53,933 --> 00:55:57,062     [Kaves VO] Those photographs         are time capsules, man.          1191 00:55:57,103 --> 00:55:58,730  You wish you were him, you know?  1192 00:55:58,772 --> 00:56:01,191    You wish you were hanging out        with Sofia Coppola but that--     1193 00:56:01,232 --> 00:56:04,486      that cocksucker's hanging            out with Sofia Coppola.         1194 00:56:07,113 --> 00:56:08,948        That shot of Sandra                  Bernhard, Debi Mazar,         1195 00:56:08,990 --> 00:56:10,909        and Madonna                          together, you're like,        1196 00:56:10,950 --> 00:56:12,619             "Holy shit."             1197 00:56:12,994 --> 00:56:15,580  You're wrapped into what it         really felt like to be there in    1198 00:56:15,622 --> 00:56:18,249  a way that's just significantly     cooler because of the kind of      1199 00:56:18,291 --> 00:56:21,795     person he is and the kind of         eye that he therefore has.       1200 00:56:26,299 --> 00:56:29,260     I think it's that he always          seems a little bit absent.       1201 00:56:29,302 --> 00:56:31,930  You know, I'm not sure of, like,   what he's up to that's creating    1202 00:56:31,971 --> 00:56:36,518  that sensation, but it makes        you think that it's not really a  1203 00:56:36,559 --> 00:56:38,603        witness you should                   be too worried about,         1204 00:56:38,645 --> 00:56:40,105        you know what I mean?         1205 00:56:40,146 --> 00:56:41,606     'Cause maybe the picture's           not even gonna be in focus,      1206 00:56:41,648 --> 00:56:44,275          and therein lies                     the great sort of,          1207 00:56:44,317 --> 00:56:47,445       uh, wisdom and                       artform of Ricky Powell,       1208 00:56:47,487 --> 00:56:51,866  which is "Oh, you better believe   that shit's deep in focus."        1209 00:56:52,659 --> 00:56:54,536         [Ricky] What a day.          1210 00:56:54,786 --> 00:56:57,956       Okay, special guest                  today: the one and only,       1211 00:56:57,997 --> 00:57:00,291    the beautiful Sandra Bernhard.    1212 00:57:00,333 --> 00:57:01,251                 Hi.                  1213 00:57:01,292 --> 00:57:02,752            Hi, you guys.             1214 00:57:02,794 --> 00:57:04,254            We're hangin.'            1215 00:57:04,295 --> 00:57:06,756      Hangin' with the homeboy.       1216 00:57:06,798 --> 00:57:07,924         All right, let's                     go take some flicks.         1217 00:57:07,966 --> 00:57:09,426                -Okay.                               -Dope.                1218 00:57:09,467 --> 00:57:10,677              Oh, shit.               1219 00:57:10,718 --> 00:57:11,636          Getting some sun.           1220 00:57:11,678 --> 00:57:14,347  [Ricky] Yes, absorb those rays.    1221 00:57:16,182 --> 00:57:18,143     [Cheryl VO] The fisheye lens         was Ricky Powell's signature     1222 00:57:18,184 --> 00:57:18,977                style.                1223 00:57:19,018 --> 00:57:20,603      I mean, it was undeniable.      1224 00:57:20,645 --> 00:57:23,648  You saw a picture like that, you   knew that Ricky Powell took it.    1225 00:57:23,690 --> 00:57:27,652  Ricky was able to use something     like the fisheye lens and kinda    1226 00:57:27,694 --> 00:57:29,696           define a moment.           1227 00:57:29,737 --> 00:57:34,325  You know, it's very distinctive,   has a more arty feel to it.        1228 00:57:34,367 --> 00:57:36,619        [Cheryl VO] It was                   just fun and playful.         1229 00:57:43,376 --> 00:57:45,170         The fisheye lens was                 a big thing for us,          1230 00:57:45,211 --> 00:57:48,006  'cause we grew up as kids, like,   reading these skate magazines      1231 00:57:48,047 --> 00:57:52,594          where the fisheye                    lens was a staple.          1232 00:57:52,886 --> 00:57:55,930      All those   Check Your                   Head   fisheye shots just,       1233 00:57:55,972 --> 00:57:58,183    like, instantly come to mind.     1234 00:57:58,224 --> 00:58:00,351  They, like, brought you into a      whole different world and I was    1235 00:58:00,393 --> 00:58:02,854         totally transfixed.          1236 00:58:04,522 --> 00:58:07,150       [Cheryl VO]                          Portraiture in fisheye,        1237 00:58:07,192 --> 00:58:10,028     it's so associated with him.     1238 00:58:13,364 --> 00:58:18,369          mellow jazzy music         1239 00:58:22,415 --> 00:58:24,375      [Ricky] I've got a lot of            classic slides just laying      1240 00:58:24,417 --> 00:58:25,960         around [laughs]                      and it's ridiculous.         1241 00:58:26,002 --> 00:58:28,421    I've got shots from Check Your       Head tour just layin' around      1242 00:58:28,463 --> 00:58:29,923                here.                 1243 00:58:30,215 --> 00:58:34,177      It's amazing how my shit             is just around the place.       1244 00:58:35,428 --> 00:58:38,765  Oh, my God, shocking, isn't it?    1245 00:58:43,144 --> 00:58:44,854             [cat meows]              1246 00:58:46,481 --> 00:58:48,608            [Ricky] Okay.             1247 00:58:48,858 --> 00:58:50,568         Does he still                        live on that block,          1248 00:58:50,610 --> 00:58:54,155      the house that's cluttered           with-- like-- like he's a       1249 00:58:54,197 --> 00:58:55,490               hoarder?               1250 00:58:55,532 --> 00:58:57,408      He's still in that place?       1251 00:58:57,617 --> 00:59:00,245       [Ricky] This is gonna                be fun unearthing shit.        1252 00:59:00,286 --> 00:59:02,539        Oh, man, I've been                   looking for this shot!        1253 00:59:02,580 --> 00:59:04,040                Damn!                 1254 00:59:04,082 --> 00:59:06,042       I'm gonna make a little              necklace out of this,          1255 00:59:06,084 --> 00:59:08,545         a pendant -- the                     old New York token.          1256 00:59:08,586 --> 00:59:11,381        These are my Peggy                   Guggenheim sunglasses.        1257 00:59:11,422 --> 00:59:13,383         Oh, I found my pipe!         1258 00:59:13,424 --> 00:59:15,718      Two of the legs broke off.      1259 00:59:15,760 --> 00:59:16,553              [inhales]               1260 00:59:16,594 --> 00:59:17,971              It works.               1261 00:59:18,012 --> 00:59:20,390      [Freddy VO] He kept his              apartment in this historic      1262 00:59:20,431 --> 00:59:21,933               context.               1263 00:59:21,975 --> 00:59:23,935    There's a certain aesthetic          where it's like anything goes,    1264 00:59:23,977 --> 00:59:26,604      just throw shit                      anywhere, it's everywhere,      1265 00:59:26,646 --> 00:59:28,147         it's all scattered.          1266 00:59:28,189 --> 00:59:31,317  It becomes like a human collage,   which could also be translated     1267 00:59:31,359 --> 00:59:34,487          as a lot of junk                     scattered around.           1268 00:59:35,488 --> 00:59:38,116      Oh, there goes John Sacks.      1269 00:59:38,157 --> 00:59:39,951       I gotta bring him back.        1270 00:59:39,993 --> 00:59:42,120    You could maybe use the              bathroom there or roll a joint    1271 00:59:42,161 --> 00:59:43,621       there, but, like, you                don't want to actually,        1272 00:59:43,663 --> 00:59:47,625      like, put any of your                bare skin on any surfaces.      1273 00:59:47,667 --> 00:59:49,294       Is that a little harsh?        1274 00:59:49,335 --> 00:59:53,172     Oh, look what I just found:          my old Pistol Pete jersey.       1275 00:59:53,548 --> 00:59:56,843      I don't know how he even             walked around that place.       1276 00:59:56,884 --> 00:59:58,720        I couldn't believe he                was living in there.          1277 00:59:58,761 --> 01:00:01,431      I felt sorry when I left.       1278 01:00:01,472 --> 01:00:04,475       [Bobbito] I mean, he's               got such rare archives!        1279 01:00:04,517 --> 01:00:07,061      I'd be like, "Yo,                    Ricky, I need this photo."      1280 01:00:07,103 --> 01:00:09,897      And it's like, oh, man...       1281 01:00:10,940 --> 01:00:12,483       came to the wrong place.       1282 01:00:12,525 --> 01:00:14,902            "Yo, Bobbito!             1283 01:00:14,944 --> 01:00:17,655       Yo, yo, I got you, kid.        1284 01:00:17,697 --> 01:00:21,409     Yo, but yo, I got this, um--         I got this transistor radio.     1285 01:00:21,451 --> 01:00:22,994       Yo, you wanna hear it?"        1286 01:00:23,036 --> 01:00:25,163          [Ricky]   humming           1287 01:00:25,204 --> 01:00:27,415    How dope do I look right now?     1288 01:00:27,457 --> 01:00:30,001     "Yo, Ricky, so you think you         got that photo of the kid?"      1289 01:00:30,043 --> 01:00:32,211              Whoo-wee!               1290 01:00:32,253 --> 01:00:37,300       "Yeah, yo, I think-- I               think it's s--" [laughs]       1291 01:00:38,259 --> 01:00:39,802       I don't smoke weed, yo.        1292 01:00:39,844 --> 01:00:41,387        So going to                          Ricky's crib is like,         1293 01:00:41,429 --> 01:00:43,389        fuck, it's everywhere.        1294 01:00:43,431 --> 01:00:46,309        This dude had so much                weed, and I was like,         1295 01:00:46,351 --> 01:00:48,728     "Yo, the motherfucking cops          can smell this sh-- like,        1296 01:00:48,770 --> 01:00:49,729      what the hell you doing?"       1297 01:00:49,771 --> 01:00:50,563            But "Yeah..."             1298 01:00:50,605 --> 01:00:52,148      You know, he didn't care.       1299 01:00:52,190 --> 01:00:55,234  Ricky had the best weed before      people even knew what good weed    1300 01:00:55,276 --> 01:00:57,153                 was.                 1301 01:00:58,946 --> 01:01:02,367  Ricky had the chronic               before Dr. Dre made   The Chronic.  1302 01:01:02,408 --> 01:01:04,202              [exhales]               1303 01:01:04,243 --> 01:01:09,457     Ricky had the skunk before           anybody knew what skunk was.     1304 01:01:09,499 --> 01:01:10,958         Everybody wanted it.         1305 01:01:11,000 --> 01:01:13,795    Everybody wanted Rick's weed.     1306 01:01:14,212 --> 01:01:17,382     [Ricky] You never know               what you could find in here.     1307 01:01:17,423 --> 01:01:20,802      This is 27 years of stuff.      1308 01:01:20,843 --> 01:01:23,554     Anyway, right now, my place          is bad as it's ever been,        1309 01:01:23,596 --> 01:01:26,474          but we're gonna                      bring it up again.          1310 01:01:27,934 --> 01:01:32,146      And, um, I think I'm gonna           have some new revelations.      1311 01:01:32,522 --> 01:01:35,650      Yeah, you know, maybe I              could revive my talkshow,       1312 01:01:35,692 --> 01:01:37,944       Rappin' with the Rickster.      1313 01:01:37,985 --> 01:01:39,696                Ugh...                1314 01:01:40,321 --> 01:01:41,948      [Ricky] All right, fellas!      1315 01:01:41,989 --> 01:01:43,449           Are we filming?            1316 01:01:43,491 --> 01:01:47,203         [indistinct chatter]         1317 01:01:47,245 --> 01:01:48,621           Dude, what's up?           1318 01:01:48,663 --> 01:01:52,291       Um, I'm just doing a                 photoshoot with Run DMC.       1319 01:01:52,333 --> 01:01:53,960              And, uh...              1320 01:01:54,001 --> 01:01:56,462    this is what it's always like.    1321 01:01:56,504 --> 01:02:00,216         Dude, let's-- let's                  come rap over here.          1322 01:02:00,508 --> 01:02:03,261  I'm being the first one in          history to do a photoshoot and a  1323 01:02:03,302 --> 01:02:06,264    talk show at the same                time, and you're a part of it.    1324 01:02:06,305 --> 01:02:09,934  I believe that this man is a        complete dick with a television    1325 01:02:09,976 --> 01:02:11,269                show.                 1326 01:02:11,310 --> 01:02:13,271             Oh, my God.              1327 01:02:14,272 --> 01:02:16,858         Rappin' with the                     Rickster, what's up?         1328 01:02:16,899 --> 01:02:18,526       Hangin' in                           Washington Square Park,        1329 01:02:18,568 --> 01:02:20,778      you know, smokin' a bowl.       1330 01:02:20,820 --> 01:02:22,947        I can remember                       just turning on my TV,        1331 01:02:22,989 --> 01:02:25,783    man, and clicking around the         dial and there's   Rappin' with     1332 01:02:25,825 --> 01:02:27,285            the Rickster,   and                   I'd be like, "Yo,           1333 01:02:27,326 --> 01:02:30,037         that's my boy Ricky                  Powell right there."         1334 01:02:31,330 --> 01:02:32,457          Can you get that?           1335 01:02:32,498 --> 01:02:34,625    What a han-- what a cool dog.     1336 01:02:34,667 --> 01:02:38,629       I think channel 1                    was like public access,        1337 01:02:38,671 --> 01:02:43,718     and Ricky was able to segue          himself into the lineup of       1338 01:02:44,135 --> 01:02:47,680       [laughing]                           bizarre handmade shows.        1339 01:02:47,722 --> 01:02:50,683     Welcome back to                        Rappin' with the Rickster.      1340 01:02:50,725 --> 01:02:54,437    How he hustled a public              access show just blew my mind,    1341 01:02:54,479 --> 01:02:57,106     really, 'cause I was like...     1342 01:02:57,356 --> 01:02:58,775      "How do you hustle that?"       1343 01:02:58,816 --> 01:03:00,193     I mean, I would've                   loved to have hustled that.      1344 01:03:00,234 --> 01:03:01,319         [Ricky] Vin Diesel!          1345 01:03:01,360 --> 01:03:02,320            What's up, G?             1346 01:03:02,361 --> 01:03:03,154       -Chillin'?                           -[Ricky] How you doin'?        1347 01:03:03,196 --> 01:03:04,655            Chillin', man.            1348 01:03:04,697 --> 01:03:05,823      What's up, you're                    catching me while I'm...?       1349 01:03:05,865 --> 01:03:07,325          [Ricky] Yeah,                        yo, you're on, uh,          1350 01:03:07,366 --> 01:03:08,367       Rappin' with the Rickster.      1351 01:03:08,409 --> 01:03:09,452              Oh, word?               1352 01:03:09,494 --> 01:03:10,661         [Ricky] You got                      any jams comin' up?          1353 01:03:10,703 --> 01:03:11,996         Not yet, I was just                  thinking about that.         1354 01:03:12,038 --> 01:03:13,331          I just got back                      from Florida, man.          1355 01:03:13,372 --> 01:03:15,708      I need to make some cash.       1356 01:03:15,750 --> 01:03:17,835  [Laurence VO] This is where we      were all sort of growing up and    1357 01:03:17,877 --> 01:03:19,003          making our bones.           1358 01:03:19,045 --> 01:03:20,671       [Ricky] What up, Spike?        1359 01:03:20,713 --> 01:03:22,298       -What's up?                          -[Ricky] How you doin'?        1360 01:03:22,340 --> 01:03:25,343  He had a sense of what he was       in the middle of and that there    1361 01:03:25,384 --> 01:03:28,846  was something worth documenting,   something worth preserving.        1362 01:03:28,888 --> 01:03:31,516        I have the expertise,                I have the know-how,          1363 01:03:31,557 --> 01:03:33,267       all I lack is the money.       1364 01:03:33,309 --> 01:03:34,936          -But I have heart.                   -[laughs]                   1365 01:03:34,977 --> 01:03:37,021         It's very important                  to have heart, see.          1366 01:03:37,063 --> 01:03:38,356  -So I have the heart, so there.     -[Ricky] I hear you.               1367 01:03:38,397 --> 01:03:40,191         That and a token                     will get you places.         1368 01:03:40,233 --> 01:03:41,359       You see what I'm sayin'?       1369 01:03:41,400 --> 01:03:42,985              [laughter]              1370 01:03:43,027 --> 01:03:44,612  [Darryl VO] Clearly an extension   of his photography and the fact    1371 01:03:44,654 --> 01:03:48,199  that he's got a broad palate and   broad tastes in different stuff.  1372 01:03:48,241 --> 01:03:52,745       Oh snap, it's Ariane                 and my man Futura 2000!        1373 01:03:52,787 --> 01:03:54,247          Yo, yo, what's up?          1374 01:03:54,288 --> 01:03:58,084  This is Faith Evans and I'm         chillin' right here with my man,  1375 01:03:58,125 --> 01:03:59,335            the Rickster!             1376 01:03:59,377 --> 01:04:01,712              [cheering]              1377 01:04:01,754 --> 01:04:03,548        [Ricky] Excuse me, can               I ask you a question?         1378 01:04:03,589 --> 01:04:04,841                Yeah.                 1379 01:04:04,882 --> 01:04:05,883      [Ricky] Are you the                  legendary Bill Cunningham?      1380 01:04:05,925 --> 01:04:07,218              Oh, Jesus.              1381 01:04:07,260 --> 01:04:09,053      My name's Bill Cunningham            but I'm not legendary.          1382 01:04:09,095 --> 01:04:10,054      [Ricky] You're legendary.       1383 01:04:10,096 --> 01:04:11,472             No, baloney!             1384 01:04:11,514 --> 01:04:13,891  [Ricky] I've seen you on            57th and 5th since I was a kid.    1385 01:04:13,933 --> 01:04:18,062              [drumming]              1386 01:04:18,104 --> 01:04:19,730    I was like, "Wow, the                Beastie Boys are playing these    1387 01:04:19,772 --> 01:04:21,399       instruments, they're                 playing these funk jams,       1388 01:04:21,440 --> 01:04:24,235  this is fucking cool, and, like,   who's this guy talking to them?"  1389 01:04:24,277 --> 01:04:28,447     Like, everything about it            was so underground and raw.      1390 01:04:30,116 --> 01:04:33,828  [Mike VO] I still have VHS tapes   of   Rappin' with the Rickster.      1391 01:04:33,870 --> 01:04:36,247  That was maybe peak Ricky           Powell in a certain way, right?    1392 01:04:36,289 --> 01:04:38,749    Because he had all this access       from people that are making       1393 01:04:38,791 --> 01:04:41,919  really important rap records        and hip-hop records and put that  1394 01:04:41,961 --> 01:04:44,255         together in a                        show that was very,          1395 01:04:44,297 --> 01:04:45,715         like, Ricky Powell.          1396 01:04:45,756 --> 01:04:47,592    So Mike D is our guest               filmmaker today on the back of    1397 01:04:47,633 --> 01:04:48,926         the bike, so                         we'll see what's up.         1398 01:04:48,968 --> 01:04:50,511         My hands aren't                      very steady, though.         1399 01:04:50,553 --> 01:04:52,597         You know, I had                      years of abuse so...         1400 01:04:52,638 --> 01:04:53,598              [laughter]              1401 01:04:53,639 --> 01:04:56,684       [screaming and laughter]       1402 01:04:56,726 --> 01:04:58,811         Eazy, check it                       out, check this out.         1403 01:04:58,853 --> 01:05:00,229        Here, hold that there.        1404 01:05:00,271 --> 01:05:01,772           Check that out.            1405 01:05:01,814 --> 01:05:06,777    I'm in Midtown with a special        guest from the West Coast.        1406 01:05:06,819 --> 01:05:08,779         His name is Eazy-E.          1407 01:05:08,821 --> 01:05:10,114           -Throwin' down.                      -What's up?                1408 01:05:10,156 --> 01:05:11,115         Ah, let me put on                    my [inaudible], man.         1409 01:05:11,157 --> 01:05:12,283           [Ricky] [laughs]           1410 01:05:12,325 --> 01:05:13,618       You caught me                        without the [inaudible].       1411 01:05:13,659 --> 01:05:14,285             [Ricky] Ahh.             1412 01:05:14,327 --> 01:05:15,620            Yo, what's up?            1413 01:05:15,661 --> 01:05:17,496       Compton's in the house.        1414 01:05:21,167 --> 01:05:22,293          [Ricky] What's up?          1415 01:05:22,335 --> 01:05:24,962    Oh, my goodness, what is this?    1416 01:05:25,004 --> 01:05:26,797       Yo, is this                          chocolate rolling paper?       1417 01:05:26,839 --> 01:05:28,132    [Eazy] That's licorice paper.     1418 01:05:28,174 --> 01:05:29,300                 Ahh!                 1419 01:05:29,342 --> 01:05:31,302         Yo, this is such an                  incredible honor.            1420 01:05:31,344 --> 01:05:34,597        I don't know what to                 say, I'm overwhelmed.         1421 01:05:35,348 --> 01:05:38,726     Stay tuned for the Rickster.     1422 01:05:39,518 --> 01:05:40,978            He'll be back.            1423 01:05:41,020 --> 01:05:45,566          smooth hip-hop beat        1424 01:05:45,608 --> 01:05:46,484             I loved it.              1425 01:05:46,525 --> 01:05:47,652        What's up, my mellow?         1426 01:05:47,693 --> 01:05:48,986            How you been?             1427 01:05:49,028 --> 01:05:50,488       Oh, I know I'm getting               paid for this. [laughs]        1428 01:05:50,529 --> 01:05:52,073                What?                 1429 01:05:52,114 --> 01:05:53,658    [Sue VO] I just loved how it         recorded his wanderings around    1430 01:05:53,699 --> 01:05:54,492                town.                 1431 01:05:54,533 --> 01:05:55,785      [Ricky] Excuse me, ladies?      1432 01:05:55,826 --> 01:05:57,161     It seemed like a                     natural progression for him.     1433 01:05:57,203 --> 01:06:00,498    What do you think of                 Vanilla Ice versus MC Hammer?     1434 01:06:00,539 --> 01:06:02,333                Good.                 1435 01:06:02,375 --> 01:06:03,292         [Ricky VO]   Rappin'                     with the Rickster,          1436 01:06:03,334 --> 01:06:05,711     those were some good years.      1437 01:06:05,753 --> 01:06:09,507     Yeah, kinda killed it, if I          may pontificate slightly.        1438 01:06:09,548 --> 01:06:10,841          [Ricky] Don't                        you know who I am?          1439 01:06:10,883 --> 01:06:13,511    The raparazzo of the village?     1440 01:06:13,552 --> 01:06:15,388                 Nah.                 1441 01:06:15,429 --> 01:06:17,348              All right.              1442 01:06:17,390 --> 01:06:21,519              [cheering]              1443 01:06:21,560 --> 01:06:25,022       [man] To the 17                      videos that Ricky shot!        1444 01:06:25,064 --> 01:06:27,400      Yeah, I'll drink to that!       1445 01:06:28,943 --> 01:06:30,861    [Ricky VO] I mean, it doesn't        get any better than that.         1446 01:06:30,903 --> 01:06:32,071     Thanks a lot for having me.      1447 01:06:32,113 --> 01:06:33,906        Dude, no, the                        pleasure was all mine.        1448 01:06:33,948 --> 01:06:35,533            No, thank you.            1449 01:06:35,574 --> 01:06:36,701          Really, Rickster.           1450 01:06:36,742 --> 01:06:37,910         Hey, look, you wanna                 throw down or what?          1451 01:06:37,952 --> 01:06:39,537       Yo, my mellow, it ain't              even like that, man.           1452 01:06:39,578 --> 01:06:40,871      I'ma step off, all right?       1453 01:06:40,913 --> 01:06:42,123              All right.              1454 01:06:42,164 --> 01:06:44,375            I-- I just...             1455 01:06:44,417 --> 01:06:46,877  I guess I was living the dream.    1456 01:06:46,919 --> 01:06:49,130       [Ricky] Thank you, Mike.       1457 01:06:49,380 --> 01:06:51,465           Thank you guys.            1458 01:06:51,507 --> 01:06:53,050         Get one three of us.         1459 01:06:53,092 --> 01:06:54,719       [Ricky] Thank you guys.        1460 01:06:54,760 --> 01:06:59,807        bittersweet piano music      1461 01:07:02,893 --> 01:07:05,312               [sighs]                1462 01:07:11,736 --> 01:07:14,739     As time goes on,                     relationships, they change,      1463 01:07:14,780 --> 01:07:16,407           people change...           1464 01:07:16,449 --> 01:07:20,453          indistinct singing         1465 01:07:21,620 --> 01:07:24,957       [Ricky VO] You                       know, MCA got spiritual.       1466 01:07:26,042 --> 01:07:29,920  It wasn't like                          License to Ill, for sure.       1467 01:07:29,962 --> 01:07:32,715            It got mature.            1468 01:07:33,340 --> 01:07:37,595     So they did what they                did, but I still stayed me,      1469 01:07:37,636 --> 01:07:39,889           had a good time.           1470 01:07:41,057 --> 01:07:45,436  And it kinda ran its                    course after the '95 tour.      1471 01:07:45,478 --> 01:07:48,105      And that was the last                tour I went on with them.       1472 01:07:48,147 --> 01:07:50,524       There was a bit of more              consciousness on things,       1473 01:07:50,566 --> 01:07:52,443          especially after                     the Tibetan thing,          1474 01:07:52,485 --> 01:07:55,112       and it didn't seem quite             as appropriate to have,        1475 01:07:55,154 --> 01:07:57,698  you know, Ricky dickin' around.    1476 01:07:57,740 --> 01:08:02,703                                      1477 01:08:05,956 --> 01:08:09,794  [Mike VO] Well, it's basically      people growing up and maturing.    1478 01:08:11,462 --> 01:08:14,590      You know, as a band,                 we, in a lot of ways, did.      1479 01:08:14,632 --> 01:08:18,260    That doesn't mean that Ricky's       necessarily gonna be in-step,     1480 01:08:18,302 --> 01:08:20,971         uh, with that, and                   fair enough, right?          1481 01:08:21,013 --> 01:08:23,182          Why should he be?           1482 01:08:24,391 --> 01:08:26,310        [Ricky VO] I know                    nothing lasts forever,        1483 01:08:26,352 --> 01:08:31,273       and regardless, I have               a lot of fond memories.        1484 01:08:32,358 --> 01:08:34,652               Oh, dip!               1485 01:08:34,693 --> 01:08:37,196         I forgot about that.         1486 01:08:37,696 --> 01:08:39,865          Oh, shit, this is                    a heavy picture.            1487 01:08:39,907 --> 01:08:44,328    This is, uh, after a recording       session for   Paul's Boutique,      1488 01:08:44,370 --> 01:08:46,997          1988, Los Angeles.          1489 01:08:47,039 --> 01:08:48,999           MCA afterwards.            1490 01:08:49,041 --> 01:08:51,377           Beautiful soul.            1491 01:08:51,627 --> 01:08:55,506     What they were doing for             music could be visually had,     1492 01:08:55,548 --> 01:08:59,927  and I think what he did for         them was give a aspect that was,  1493 01:08:59,969 --> 01:09:01,303  you know, beyond all the noise.    1494 01:09:01,345 --> 01:09:04,849         It just-- it was a                   silent, like, image.         1495 01:09:05,099 --> 01:09:08,144  When he stopped documenting it,     it stopped happening through his  1496 01:09:08,185 --> 01:09:09,770                eyes.                 1497 01:09:10,521 --> 01:09:13,023      That perspective was lost.      1498 01:09:13,190 --> 01:09:15,359            So that died.             1499 01:09:16,694 --> 01:09:19,363        And part of him dies.         1500 01:09:19,530 --> 01:09:21,866             [crow caws]              1501 01:09:21,907 --> 01:09:26,954           melancholy music          1502 01:09:28,581 --> 01:09:32,334     Suddenly, he's having to             wake up in a different time.     1503 01:09:32,543 --> 01:09:35,254          And, like, gaining                   a bunch of weight.          1504 01:09:35,296 --> 01:09:38,215          Losing some hair.           1505 01:09:38,257 --> 01:09:40,593      Being more reflective and            doubting his confidence,        1506 01:09:40,634 --> 01:09:43,762         which you never see                  out of Ricky Powell.         1507 01:09:46,473 --> 01:09:50,394     [Ricky VO] I was disgusted           with how things turned out.      1508 01:09:50,436 --> 01:09:52,730          Disenchanted with                    shit, you know,             1509 01:09:52,771 --> 01:09:55,733  life is changing, the               complexion of the neighborhoods,  1510 01:09:55,774 --> 01:09:57,401  the people, the gentrification.    1511 01:09:57,443 --> 01:10:00,404  I was just like, "Yo, what          the fuck has become of New York    1512 01:10:00,446 --> 01:10:02,156       City, my neighborhood?"        1513 01:10:02,198 --> 01:10:05,409  All these fuckin' New Jack          jerk-offs comin' in here and...    1514 01:10:05,451 --> 01:10:07,912    "I got an 8:30 res at Dorsea.     1515 01:10:07,953 --> 01:10:10,664         Sea urchin ceviche."         1516 01:10:10,706 --> 01:10:12,750                 Ugh!                 1517 01:10:12,791 --> 01:10:15,502       I started hearing all                kinds of shit about me,        1518 01:10:15,544 --> 01:10:17,588         getting funny looks.         1519 01:10:17,630 --> 01:10:22,176     Bullshit perpetrators said           I sponged off the Beasties.      1520 01:10:23,427 --> 01:10:25,596    And I was like, "Fuck you, who       do you fuckin' think you are      1521 01:10:25,638 --> 01:10:28,182         fuckin' judging me?"         1522 01:10:28,557 --> 01:10:32,269  So I was kinda getting spanked      on the back end of all the good    1523 01:10:32,311 --> 01:10:37,358    shit, and that was kinda like        the dark side of everything.      1524 01:10:38,525 --> 01:10:40,319     And I kinda became a hermit.     1525 01:10:40,361 --> 01:10:43,739  I didn't really go out as much,     started getting into ordering      1526 01:10:43,781 --> 01:10:47,326       escorts out of the back              of the   Village Voice.          1527 01:10:47,368 --> 01:10:51,330    We don't have intercourse, we        get zooted in the nude and we     1528 01:10:51,372 --> 01:10:52,790                talk.                 1529 01:10:52,831 --> 01:10:56,502     And this one chick broke             out this glass contraption,      1530 01:10:56,543 --> 01:11:00,089       and I was like, "What                in tarnations is that?"        1531 01:11:00,130 --> 01:11:01,131               [exhale]               1532 01:11:01,173 --> 01:11:03,634         And she said,                        "Oh, this is candy."         1533 01:11:03,676 --> 01:11:07,471          And I took a hit                     and I was like...           1534 01:11:07,513 --> 01:11:09,223                "Wow."                1535 01:11:09,265 --> 01:11:14,311           [trippy sounds]            1536 01:11:15,354 --> 01:11:16,647               [sighs]                1537 01:11:16,689 --> 01:11:20,317       Uh, just, I guess, then,             it got out of control.         1538 01:11:20,359 --> 01:11:23,654  I was like, I really liked it       and I was spending all my money    1539 01:11:23,696 --> 01:11:25,489             on it and...             1540 01:11:25,531 --> 01:11:28,158     the girls that came with it,         and it just became a little,     1541 01:11:28,200 --> 01:11:29,827                uh...                 1542 01:11:29,868 --> 01:11:32,496          I became a little                    consumed with it,           1543 01:11:32,538 --> 01:11:35,082         and I lost control.          1544 01:11:35,124 --> 01:11:39,003        [eerie trippy sounds]         1545 01:11:39,044 --> 01:11:42,214  [Freddy VO] He would talk about     going on a bender on some rather  1546 01:11:42,256 --> 01:11:44,133             hard drugs.              1547 01:11:44,633 --> 01:11:46,552      I'd be like, "All right,             baby, watch yourself now.       1548 01:11:46,593 --> 01:11:48,178     You know, don't go too far."     1549 01:11:48,220 --> 01:11:50,222    But then, after a period, I          heard it was getting a little     1550 01:11:50,264 --> 01:11:52,641         more hectic for him.         1551 01:11:53,892 --> 01:11:56,061     [Futura VO] You would see            Ricky trashed at stuff and,      1552 01:11:56,103 --> 01:11:59,690        you know, that's                     been an ongoing story.        1553 01:11:59,732 --> 01:12:01,692        It never makes me                    feel good, obviously,         1554 01:12:01,734 --> 01:12:04,987      because, you know, these             are people you care about.      1555 01:12:05,738 --> 01:12:10,200  I would run into Ricky at a         function and he would act like a  1556 01:12:10,242 --> 01:12:14,371       total asshole after he's             already donated a piece,       1557 01:12:14,413 --> 01:12:18,042          insulting people,                    starting fights.            1558 01:12:18,083 --> 01:12:20,044        [indistinct slurring]         1559 01:12:20,085 --> 01:12:21,712  [Cey VO] And then, they'd have      to whisk him out of there before  1560 01:12:21,754 --> 01:12:24,131         he gets thrown out.          1561 01:12:26,342 --> 01:12:27,718         [Max VO] He changed.         1562 01:12:27,760 --> 01:12:30,054  In a way, he got resentful          towards people that he had once    1563 01:12:30,095 --> 01:12:31,889            been fond of.             1564 01:12:31,930 --> 01:12:33,515        I would call Rick up.         1565 01:12:33,557 --> 01:12:35,642  It was like, "Yo, we wanna use a   picture for something that..."     1566 01:12:35,684 --> 01:12:37,895      He always-- you know, he'd           wanna play stick-up games,      1567 01:12:37,936 --> 01:12:40,230        he wants to charge                   me a zillion dollars,         1568 01:12:40,272 --> 01:12:44,234         he's not available,                  it's not happening.          1569 01:12:44,276 --> 01:12:45,652        You know, he pissed                  me off, he told me to,        1570 01:12:45,694 --> 01:12:46,945             you know...              1571 01:12:46,987 --> 01:12:48,447         He told me to kiss                   his ass a few times,         1572 01:12:48,489 --> 01:12:50,866        and I didn't love it.         1573 01:12:53,660 --> 01:12:57,623    [Ricky VO] I was wilding so          much that my perceptions were     1574 01:12:57,664 --> 01:13:00,376            not fully on.             1575 01:13:02,294 --> 01:13:07,299              [coughing]              1576 01:13:11,136 --> 01:13:12,888               Smooth.                1577 01:13:13,972 --> 01:13:15,265                [beep]                1578 01:13:15,307 --> 01:13:16,308        [man on recording]                   Yo, Ricky, what's up?         1579 01:13:16,350 --> 01:13:17,518            This is Reed.             1580 01:13:17,559 --> 01:13:19,520       Called you once today,               phone just kept ringing.       1581 01:13:19,561 --> 01:13:21,271      [man on                              recording] Rickster, mon.       1582 01:13:21,313 --> 01:13:23,107            Wake up, mon.             1583 01:13:23,148 --> 01:13:24,942        Are yous asleep, mon?         1584 01:13:24,983 --> 01:13:26,944                [beep]                1585 01:13:26,985 --> 01:13:28,278     [man on recording] Rickster.     1586 01:13:28,320 --> 01:13:29,363                Ricky.                1587 01:13:29,405 --> 01:13:30,614             Rick, Rick.              1588 01:13:30,656 --> 01:13:31,782      [woman on recording]                 You are being such a dick!      1589 01:13:31,824 --> 01:13:32,950       [man on                              recording] Where you at?       1590 01:13:32,991 --> 01:13:33,867     [woman on                            recording] Fuckin' asshole.      1591 01:13:33,909 --> 01:13:36,203                [beep]                1592 01:13:36,245 --> 01:13:38,122    [Freddy] "Ricky, I was trying        to reach you for the past week    1593 01:13:38,163 --> 01:13:38,956         or two weeks or so.          1594 01:13:38,997 --> 01:13:40,541           What happened?"            1595 01:13:40,582 --> 01:13:43,794    And, uh, you'd get concerned         sometimes because you've seen     1596 01:13:43,836 --> 01:13:48,882      friends that are gone and            you will never see again.       1597 01:13:50,676 --> 01:13:52,136  [Futura] Merry Christmas, Rick.    1598 01:13:52,177 --> 01:13:55,013     [Ricky] Yo, say "Happy               holidays from Futura 2000."      1599 01:13:55,055 --> 01:13:57,433          Happy holidays                       from Futura 2000.           1600 01:13:57,474 --> 01:13:59,101    Oh, this one's fuckin' ripped.    1601 01:13:59,143 --> 01:14:01,979  If someone were to call me up       one day or you get an email from  1602 01:14:02,020 --> 01:14:04,815     a friend that says, "Oh,             man, did you hear the news?"     1603 01:14:04,857 --> 01:14:07,317          and something bad                    happened to Ricky,          1604 01:14:07,359 --> 01:14:09,820  it'd be another one of those        type people that you wouldn't be  1605 01:14:09,862 --> 01:14:12,114            too surprised.            1606 01:14:13,323 --> 01:14:18,120  This is Ricky Powell, reporting     from the Waldorf Astoria.          1607 01:14:18,871 --> 01:14:19,872        How you doing, Ricky?         1608 01:14:19,913 --> 01:14:21,373        [Ricky] All                          right, how you doin'?         1609 01:14:21,415 --> 01:14:21,999     -Good, good to see you, man.         -[Ricky] Good to see you.        1610 01:14:22,040 --> 01:14:23,083             Doin' great.             1611 01:14:23,125 --> 01:14:24,334         He would call                        me; at his deepest,          1612 01:14:24,376 --> 01:14:27,045  darkest hour, he would call me.    1613 01:14:27,963 --> 01:14:29,339    I'm like, "Are you all right?"    1614 01:14:29,381 --> 01:14:32,676     Oh shit, people are                  probably looking at us, man.     1615 01:14:32,718 --> 01:14:34,845           He said, "Max...           1616 01:14:34,887 --> 01:14:37,347         don't listen to                      what they're saying.         1617 01:14:37,389 --> 01:14:42,436         Am I-- am I fucked                   up because I'm sad?"         1618 01:14:44,062 --> 01:14:46,690    [Ricky VO] In certain ways, I        sometimes think I'm played out    1619 01:14:46,732 --> 01:14:50,194         or people don't                      care for me anymore.         1620 01:14:50,235 --> 01:14:51,862       When you're in a                     delicate state of mind,        1621 01:14:51,904 --> 01:14:54,198            it hits hard.             1622 01:14:54,656 --> 01:14:56,533        I've done shit                       that just made me go,         1623 01:14:56,575 --> 01:14:58,452               like...                1624 01:14:58,494 --> 01:15:03,207         "Duke, what the fuck                 is wrong with you?"          1625 01:15:05,083 --> 01:15:08,378     Yeah, one time, I breezed            through like 75,000 in like      1626 01:15:08,420 --> 01:15:13,383      three months, ordering               in girls and drugs and...       1627 01:15:13,425 --> 01:15:16,261         just kept doing                      it; I couldn't stop.         1628 01:15:17,596 --> 01:15:21,099        Ricky is like kind                   of like a hardship...         1629 01:15:21,141 --> 01:15:22,643                dude.                 1630 01:15:22,684 --> 01:15:25,938  Like, he hasn't always had his      life together and the community    1631 01:15:25,979 --> 01:15:28,565          has held him down                    whenever we can...          1632 01:15:28,607 --> 01:15:29,733            My man, Ricky.            1633 01:15:29,775 --> 01:15:31,151          [Bobbito VO] And                     whenever he needs.          1634 01:15:31,193 --> 01:15:35,906  You know, it's-- it's               difficult to see Ricky struggle.  1635 01:15:35,948 --> 01:15:37,241           [Ricky] [groans]           1636 01:15:37,282 --> 01:15:38,742          [Ricky VO] Yeah,                     it's my own fault.          1637 01:15:38,784 --> 01:15:40,244                Whoo.                 1638 01:15:40,285 --> 01:15:42,829          I hate that shit.           1639 01:15:42,871 --> 01:15:45,916     It unbelievable to me that           I spent money the way I did,     1640 01:15:45,958 --> 01:15:48,001              have done.              1641 01:15:48,043 --> 01:15:50,087            Unbelievable.             1642 01:15:50,128 --> 01:15:53,090  You know, that's the worst part.  1643 01:15:53,131 --> 01:15:54,424         After I-- you know,                  'cause sometimes,            1644 01:15:54,466 --> 01:15:56,677         you're wilding, you                  can't-- you know,            1645 01:15:56,718 --> 01:15:58,762         you can't stop, you                  wanna keep it going,         1646 01:15:58,804 --> 01:16:01,098  and you spend more money and...    1647 01:16:01,139 --> 01:16:03,725       then, when it's                      finished, then-- oh man,       1648 01:16:03,767 --> 01:16:08,438        then the fucking guilt               kicks in, the shame.          1649 01:16:08,480 --> 01:16:12,985     You know, "Oh, my God, how           can I replenish that money?"     1650 01:16:13,026 --> 01:16:16,280         And it's horribe,                    dude, it's terrible.         1651 01:16:16,321 --> 01:16:19,449       It's a nightmare,                    it's a living nightmare.       1652 01:16:19,491 --> 01:16:24,496    You know, you just feel              like a fuckin' piece of shit.     1653 01:16:27,332 --> 01:16:32,337          mellow jazzy music         1654 01:16:36,883 --> 01:16:41,930    New York has been home to many       an intense creative that has      1655 01:16:43,015 --> 01:16:45,475          danced and flirted                   close to the edge.          1656 01:16:45,517 --> 01:16:49,146     It's just                            synonymous with underground,     1657 01:16:49,187 --> 01:16:51,481        cutting-edge culture.         1658 01:16:51,523 --> 01:16:53,817          We don't want him                    to die and then,            1659 01:16:53,859 --> 01:16:58,155        we say, "Yo, he's                    magn-- he's a artist!         1660 01:16:58,196 --> 01:17:00,073          He's a art-tist."           1661 01:17:00,115 --> 01:17:04,119       Ricky's identity, that               whole "Rickster" thing,        1662 01:17:04,161 --> 01:17:09,166        that's how he sees                   himself: as a hustler.        1663 01:17:10,083 --> 01:17:14,755  And a hustler lives on the edge.  1664 01:17:15,130 --> 01:17:17,174     [Cey VO] When you meet him           and you spend time with him,     1665 01:17:17,215 --> 01:17:19,509      you fall in love with him.      1666 01:17:19,551 --> 01:17:22,179      It's happened with all               these people present-day,       1667 01:17:22,220 --> 01:17:25,682  they just don't have another        version of him to compare it to.  1668 01:17:25,724 --> 01:17:28,894     I have another version, and          it's that guy from the '80s.     1669 01:17:28,935 --> 01:17:33,982     I'm here with my                     brother, soul brother, Cey.      1670 01:17:34,191 --> 01:17:37,027    I never say things about what        people should've done or what     1671 01:17:37,069 --> 01:17:39,905        they could've                        done, their potential,        1672 01:17:39,946 --> 01:17:41,531       they could've been this,             they could've been that.       1673 01:17:41,573 --> 01:17:43,033        Life is not that way.         1674 01:17:43,075 --> 01:17:46,203       Listen, it hits me hard              'cause I love the guy.         1675 01:17:46,244 --> 01:17:50,540  And, uh, I think addiction is an   illness and I think people with    1676 01:17:50,582 --> 01:17:53,293     these monkeys on their backs         should try to deal with it.      1677 01:17:53,335 --> 01:17:55,045          [Ricky] [coughing]          1678 01:17:55,087 --> 01:17:56,380         [Kaves VO] We're all                 human beings, right?         1679 01:17:56,421 --> 01:17:59,049      And we got-- we got flaws.      1680 01:17:59,091 --> 01:18:01,843    There's ups and downs and            there-- there are dark periods    1681 01:18:01,885 --> 01:18:02,844      and there are dark times.       1682 01:18:02,886 --> 01:18:05,555     I mean, what artist doesn't?     1683 01:18:06,223 --> 01:18:08,517     It's also sort of a                  lonely man's journey where,      1684 01:18:08,558 --> 01:18:10,394        like, "Is it real that               I'm feeling this way,         1685 01:18:10,435 --> 01:18:12,229      like I don't know how to             participate in my own life      1686 01:18:12,270 --> 01:18:13,230               anymore?               1687 01:18:13,271 --> 01:18:15,399       What's happening to me?"       1688 01:18:20,237 --> 01:18:22,739      [Ricky VO] Honestly, I was           just kinda done with life.      1689 01:18:22,781 --> 01:18:25,075          I had a good run                     but shit is whack;          1690 01:18:25,117 --> 01:18:27,953  I'm not enjoying this-- this...    1691 01:18:27,994 --> 01:18:29,746             how life is.             1692 01:18:29,788 --> 01:18:34,793          mellow jazzy music         1693 01:18:37,129 --> 01:18:41,425    I thought about                      stepping in front of a bus...     1694 01:18:41,466 --> 01:18:45,595  or I would smoke so much drugs      that I was hoping I'd fucking go  1695 01:18:45,637 --> 01:18:48,140           out in a blaze.            1696 01:18:49,474 --> 01:18:51,601          And there was a                      night I just did,           1697 01:18:51,643 --> 01:18:55,439  like, a three-day binge             wilding out and this pain came,    1698 01:18:55,480 --> 01:18:58,191      and I was like, "Oh, shit.      1699 01:18:59,651 --> 01:19:02,904    I don't think Asprin's               gonna fucking help this shit."    1700 01:19:02,946 --> 01:19:07,242        I figured I'd just                   drop dead right there.        1701 01:19:07,284 --> 01:19:10,078               [sirens]               1702 01:19:10,120 --> 01:19:11,455         When I heard Rick                    had a heart attack,          1703 01:19:11,496 --> 01:19:13,749       the first thing I asked              was, "Yo, is he okay?"         1704 01:19:13,790 --> 01:19:14,624      You know what I'm saying?       1705 01:19:14,666 --> 01:19:16,251     A heart attack's not a joke.     1706 01:19:16,293 --> 01:19:18,420       And they said,                       "Yeah, yeah, he's okay,        1707 01:19:18,462 --> 01:19:20,088    he's not really doing great."     1708 01:19:20,130 --> 01:19:22,632          [groans] Oh, man.           1709 01:19:23,717 --> 01:19:28,221      I mean, well, it was                 not profoundly surprising.      1710 01:19:29,264 --> 01:19:30,807        Psh, if you                          didn't see it coming,         1711 01:19:30,849 --> 01:19:32,642     then you don't-- you                 weren't in touch with Ricky.     1712 01:19:32,684 --> 01:19:34,311          Ricky's fuckin'...          1713 01:19:34,352 --> 01:19:36,480         asking for that                      shit, dying for it,          1714 01:19:36,521 --> 01:19:38,023        begging for this shit.        1715 01:19:38,064 --> 01:19:41,193          "Please, hello?!"           1716 01:19:44,863 --> 01:19:46,490  [Ricky VO] Was I afraid to die?    1717 01:19:46,531 --> 01:19:48,116                 No.                  1718 01:19:48,325 --> 01:19:51,495  I was, like, ready for whatever.  1719 01:19:51,536 --> 01:19:56,541                                      1720 01:20:02,547 --> 01:20:03,840       [man] I hear a little                bit of phlegm in there.        1721 01:20:03,882 --> 01:20:05,592               Uh-huh.                1722 01:20:08,386 --> 01:20:10,764     Take some deep                       breaths from an open mouth.      1723 01:20:10,806 --> 01:20:13,016           [exhales deeply]           1724 01:20:13,058 --> 01:20:15,185         He's a grown-up and                  I'm not his father,          1725 01:20:15,227 --> 01:20:18,021      but I am his friend, and             we all, in New York City,       1726 01:20:18,063 --> 01:20:21,358       lost too many                        friends from that shit.        1727 01:20:21,399 --> 01:20:23,527          And I don't wanna                    lose another one.           1728 01:20:23,568 --> 01:20:26,279           [sniffles] I...            1729 01:20:26,738 --> 01:20:27,531                 See?                 1730 01:20:27,572 --> 01:20:28,698        I'm getting emotional.        1731 01:20:28,740 --> 01:20:29,699               I know.                1732 01:20:29,741 --> 01:20:31,368          There's a fuse...           1733 01:20:31,409 --> 01:20:35,121       and eventually, it                   burns out and blows up.        1734 01:20:36,623 --> 01:20:38,500              [sniffles]              1735 01:20:40,877 --> 01:20:45,882          mellow lounge music        1736 01:21:12,784 --> 01:21:14,578        Look how cute that is.        1737 01:21:14,619 --> 01:21:16,746           [clicks tongue]            1738 01:21:16,788 --> 01:21:20,333       I think I'm turning into             one of those old kooks,        1739 01:21:20,375 --> 01:21:21,585          but I don't mind.           1740 01:21:21,626 --> 01:21:23,086             GT, come on.             1741 01:21:23,128 --> 01:21:25,505           [clicks tongue]            1742 01:21:27,132 --> 01:21:32,345    I fear that someone like             him will end up really alone,     1743 01:21:32,387 --> 01:21:34,931          and I think you                      can see his, like,          1744 01:21:34,973 --> 01:21:37,183              hurt soul.              1745 01:21:37,684 --> 01:21:40,937    I don't know how to explain          it, but I've always felt that     1746 01:21:40,979 --> 01:21:46,026     there's another Ricky in             there, wanting to be loved.      1747 01:21:48,528 --> 01:21:51,323    [Ricky VO] Has it been               hard not having a real family?    1748 01:21:51,364 --> 01:21:53,241        Perhaps, I don't know.        1749 01:21:53,283 --> 01:21:55,827    My shit was crazy, that's all.    1750 01:21:55,869 --> 01:21:58,163          It is what it was.          1751 01:21:58,204 --> 01:22:01,791     I had girlfriends where              their families embraced me,      1752 01:22:01,833 --> 01:22:04,294     so I had these short-term...     1753 01:22:04,336 --> 01:22:05,837            step-families.            1754 01:22:05,879 --> 01:22:08,131         And also, yeah,                      when I was on tour,          1755 01:22:08,173 --> 01:22:10,508          that was a family.          1756 01:22:10,550 --> 01:22:11,760          [Ricky] See this?           1757 01:22:11,801 --> 01:22:13,678      This is where they                   named a burrito after me.       1758 01:22:13,720 --> 01:22:16,139    [Ricky VO] The best thing is         to be around people that are a    1759 01:22:16,181 --> 01:22:18,308         positive force that                  you get along with.          1760 01:22:18,350 --> 01:22:19,726      [Ricky] What's up, Dukes?       1761 01:22:19,768 --> 01:22:21,478        If you wanna call                    those people "family,"        1762 01:22:21,519 --> 01:22:23,063                fine.                 1763 01:22:23,438 --> 01:22:26,232         [Ricky] Hey,                         fellas, how are you?         1764 01:22:27,859 --> 01:22:29,819    [Max VO] I didn't know Ricky's       family situation 'til I met       1765 01:22:29,861 --> 01:22:31,321                Ruth.                 1766 01:22:31,363 --> 01:22:33,323     Ruth was not like the mother         that most of us had that was     1767 01:22:33,365 --> 01:22:35,659         like, "Hey, did you                  get enough to eat?"          1768 01:22:35,700 --> 01:22:37,577       No, she was the kind of              mom that would be like,        1769 01:22:37,619 --> 01:22:39,663          "Don't contact me                    for a few months,"          1770 01:22:39,704 --> 01:22:42,832         and like, you know,                  "You owe me $15."            1771 01:22:42,874 --> 01:22:47,921             upbeat music            1772 01:22:59,933 --> 01:23:04,479        You're always hollerin'              'bout where I've been         1773 01:23:05,730 --> 01:23:07,732           Thank you, sir.            1774 01:23:07,774 --> 01:23:12,737        You're always screamin'              'bout the money I spend       1775 01:23:15,407 --> 01:23:16,366          What's buggin' you?        1776 01:23:16,408 --> 01:23:18,201            [can tab pops]            1777 01:23:18,243 --> 01:23:22,205    Ah, seltzer: Jewish champagne.    1778 01:23:22,247 --> 01:23:23,873               Love it.               1779 01:23:23,915 --> 01:23:28,962                                      1780 01:23:38,847 --> 01:23:40,223                Sorry.                1781 01:23:46,271 --> 01:23:48,231              Oh, shit.               1782 01:23:48,273 --> 01:23:49,733             Oh, my God.              1783 01:23:49,774 --> 01:23:52,235      My mother just walked in.       1784 01:23:52,277 --> 01:23:55,488       No, you can go film it!        1785 01:23:56,489 --> 01:23:59,367     No, I don't wanna be there.      1786 01:23:59,409 --> 01:24:02,120      She's gonna hate me, dude!      1787 01:24:02,787 --> 01:24:03,747                Ugh...                1788 01:24:03,788 --> 01:24:04,789      [man] Did she not see you?      1789 01:24:04,831 --> 01:24:06,416       No, I saw her                        coming in, I was like--        1790 01:24:06,458 --> 01:24:08,084            [man] Kismet.             1791 01:24:08,126 --> 01:24:10,253         Ricky, things                        happen for a reason.         1792 01:24:10,295 --> 01:24:12,630        What are the chances?         1793 01:24:13,631 --> 01:24:16,885          [sighs] All right.          1794 01:24:19,637 --> 01:24:22,640             Ugh, fff...              1795 01:24:26,811 --> 01:24:29,064           Yup, that's her.           1796 01:24:31,983 --> 01:24:36,029  I can see she's just                waiting for her take-out order.    1797 01:24:38,406 --> 01:24:40,784         [Ricky VO] Well,                     as you know already,         1798 01:24:40,825 --> 01:24:42,952      it's very unconventional.       1799 01:24:42,994 --> 01:24:47,791  We've been on-and-off for years,   and we're off again right now.     1800 01:24:47,832 --> 01:24:49,709                Yeah.                 1801 01:24:49,959 --> 01:24:52,128          Just, you know...           1802 01:24:52,170 --> 01:24:54,214            it's not good.            1803 01:24:56,341 --> 01:25:00,553      She thinks, you know,                she doesn't like how I am.      1804 01:25:01,262 --> 01:25:02,222            Whatever, man.            1805 01:25:02,263 --> 01:25:03,306          She just thinks                      I'm irresponsible;          1806 01:25:03,348 --> 01:25:05,850      she's always thought that.      1807 01:25:06,267 --> 01:25:08,144     It's very complicated, dude.     1808 01:25:08,186 --> 01:25:10,021          You know, I've                       got issues myself.          1809 01:25:10,063 --> 01:25:11,815         I had a really                       bugged-out childhood         1810 01:25:11,856 --> 01:25:15,026     being a only child with her.     1811 01:25:16,361 --> 01:25:17,529            See this dude?            1812 01:25:17,570 --> 01:25:20,365       He's probably walking                with his mom right here.       1813 01:25:20,406 --> 01:25:21,825         Whenever I see                       that kind of thing,          1814 01:25:21,866 --> 01:25:23,326      it makes me think,                   like, "What am I gonna do,      1815 01:25:23,368 --> 01:25:25,161        just let her live out                her years, she dies,          1816 01:25:25,203 --> 01:25:27,372           and that's it?"            1817 01:25:31,042 --> 01:25:33,545               [sighs]                1818 01:25:44,472 --> 01:25:46,182                 Oh.                  1819 01:25:49,394 --> 01:25:50,520                Ruth!                 1820 01:25:50,562 --> 01:25:52,355                Ruth!                 1821 01:25:52,397 --> 01:25:54,524                Ruth!                 1822 01:25:55,233 --> 01:25:57,443                Ruth.                 1823 01:25:58,153 --> 01:25:59,529                Ruth.                 1824 01:25:59,571 --> 01:26:02,073         I wanna talk to you.         1825 01:26:03,032 --> 01:26:05,201                Ruth.                 1826 01:26:06,870 --> 01:26:09,038                Ruth!                 1827 01:26:11,916 --> 01:26:15,837          Oh, man, she gave                    me the death look.          1828 01:26:16,921 --> 01:26:19,257            Well, I tried.            1829 01:26:19,632 --> 01:26:24,429  I'm not endearing to                everybody, including my mother,    1830 01:26:24,470 --> 01:26:27,390      and that's, uh, so be it.       1831 01:26:27,432 --> 01:26:29,559      [Ricky VO] It's just the             way she looks at me, dude.      1832 01:26:29,601 --> 01:26:32,270           I hate the look.           1833 01:26:39,611 --> 01:26:41,905    You know, maybe she's                happy without me in her life,     1834 01:26:41,946 --> 01:26:44,574       so if she's happy, good.       1835 01:26:46,951 --> 01:26:49,662  It doesn't matter at this point.  1836 01:26:51,623 --> 01:26:54,584    It's just not pleasant for me.    1837 01:26:55,126 --> 01:26:58,087       She makes me miserable.        1838 01:26:58,129 --> 01:27:03,092          mellow groovy music        1839 01:27:35,166 --> 01:27:38,628  We all have to, at some point,      make peace with the boogymen of    1840 01:27:38,670 --> 01:27:43,132    our own psyches, let go of the       old shit that's just causing      1841 01:27:43,174 --> 01:27:47,136  suffering to kind of figure         out what round two is gonna look  1842 01:27:47,178 --> 01:27:48,513                like.                 1843 01:27:50,515 --> 01:27:54,394  [Ricky VO] You know, I had a        lot of looking in the mirror...    1844 01:27:55,520 --> 01:27:58,982       I was just like,                     "Ugh," I was disgusted.        1845 01:28:00,191 --> 01:28:02,151      One day, I just                      fuckin' had it and I said,      1846 01:28:02,193 --> 01:28:04,487          "All right, I'm                      changing shit up."          1847 01:28:05,655 --> 01:28:07,073                [pop]                 1848 01:28:09,659 --> 01:28:12,412              [exhales]               1849 01:28:13,329 --> 01:28:18,334          upbeat funky music         1850 01:28:22,255 --> 01:28:23,172               Change.                1851 01:28:23,214 --> 01:28:25,133          Reinvent yourself.          1852 01:28:25,883 --> 01:28:27,677             Sick, bitch!             1853 01:28:27,719 --> 01:28:31,222       Be all you can, you                  know, be your potential.       1854 01:28:41,566 --> 01:28:42,900       This is it, this is it.        1855 01:28:42,942 --> 01:28:45,361     If I don't do it now,                that's it, and I know that,      1856 01:28:45,403 --> 01:28:46,362      and I don't wanna go back.      1857 01:28:46,404 --> 01:28:48,072               I don't.               1858 01:28:54,746 --> 01:28:58,124  I feel fortunate that I'm here,     been through what I've been        1859 01:28:58,166 --> 01:29:01,210          through, my head                     is nice and clear.          1860 01:29:01,252 --> 01:29:02,712          You look gorgeous.          1861 01:29:02,754 --> 01:29:05,006     That's why I kinda feel like         a survivor in a certain way;     1862 01:29:05,048 --> 01:29:08,176  I've been through all that shit,   now I just feel like I'm ready     1863 01:29:08,217 --> 01:29:09,677            to fuckin'...             1864 01:29:09,719 --> 01:29:12,388      Like I have a clean slate.      1865 01:29:14,265 --> 01:29:15,808                Sick!                 1866 01:29:19,896 --> 01:29:21,064                Whoo!                 1867 01:29:21,105 --> 01:29:21,898                Whoo.                 1868 01:29:21,939 --> 01:29:22,732                You...                1869 01:29:22,774 --> 01:29:24,192                da...                 1870 01:29:24,233 --> 01:29:26,194             man, Gringo.             1871 01:29:26,235 --> 01:29:27,695           Yeah, hell yeah.           1872 01:29:27,737 --> 01:29:29,906     [Ricky] I coined that term.      1873 01:29:29,947 --> 01:29:34,952          mellow jazzy music         1874 01:29:39,457 --> 01:29:43,795      [Ricky VO] Tono is a                 big part of my resurgence.      1875 01:29:44,045 --> 01:29:46,422       I call him "the                      quiet guy on the side."        1876 01:29:46,464 --> 01:29:50,593  He's very talented in many          ways, and he's such a great guy.  1877 01:29:50,635 --> 01:29:54,972       He's a great, great--                he's great for my soul.        1878 01:29:55,223 --> 01:29:57,767  [Tono VO] A lot of people think     I'm the manager or I'm this,       1879 01:29:57,809 --> 01:29:59,018              I'm that.               1880 01:29:59,060 --> 01:30:01,145  Really, I'm just                    somebody that works with Ricky.    1881 01:30:01,187 --> 01:30:03,022     The title is not important.      1882 01:30:03,064 --> 01:30:05,525      If I have to fill a                  manager's shoes for a day,      1883 01:30:05,566 --> 01:30:07,110       then that's what it is.        1884 01:30:07,151 --> 01:30:09,779     You know, I'm a professional         photography assistant.           1885 01:30:09,821 --> 01:30:12,698          I have been for                      many, many years.           1886 01:30:14,158 --> 01:30:17,787     It's a ying-yang situation,          and in every ying-yang,          1887 01:30:17,829 --> 01:30:20,039      there needs to be balance.      1888 01:30:22,750 --> 01:30:25,294  And I feel like I bring             that-- a lot of that for Ricky.    1889 01:30:25,336 --> 01:30:26,629            [Ricky] Whoo!             1890 01:30:26,671 --> 01:30:28,631               [coughs]               1891 01:30:28,673 --> 01:30:31,384        humming along to radio       1892 01:30:33,094 --> 01:30:34,887                 Ooh.                 1893 01:30:35,346 --> 01:30:36,347             That's hot.              1894 01:30:36,389 --> 01:30:38,599      [Tono] A lot of negatives.      1895 01:30:38,850 --> 01:30:40,685      So Ricky, we're gonna                move this shelf in there?       1896 01:30:40,726 --> 01:30:41,853       Is that the--                        that's the deal, right?        1897 01:30:41,894 --> 01:30:42,812            [Ricky] Well--            1898 01:30:42,854 --> 01:30:44,021    [Tono] I think it is the move.    1899 01:30:44,063 --> 01:30:45,648          [Ricky] I do too.           1900 01:30:45,690 --> 01:30:47,358  We're just gonna have to find a     way to find shit for that clump    1901 01:30:47,400 --> 01:30:48,526        -of shit right there.                -[Tono] Right.                1902 01:30:48,568 --> 01:30:50,027       Can you do it                        yourself or you need me?       1903 01:30:50,069 --> 01:30:51,362    I think I'm gonna just do it.     1904 01:30:51,404 --> 01:30:52,947       I'm gonna just                       bulldog this right here.       1905 01:30:52,989 --> 01:30:54,198           Okay, bulldoze.            1906 01:30:54,240 --> 01:30:55,366             [Tono] Okay.             1907 01:30:55,408 --> 01:30:57,118              Thank you.              1908 01:30:57,702 --> 01:30:59,537          I appreciate you.           1909 01:30:59,579 --> 01:31:00,705           [Tono] Yes, sir.           1910 01:31:00,746 --> 01:31:02,039  [Ricky] I don't know how you do                    it.                  1911 01:31:02,081 --> 01:31:03,416        [Tono] The fun begins.        1912 01:31:03,458 --> 01:31:06,169      [Tono VO] Working with any           artist can be challenging.      1913 01:31:06,210 --> 01:31:10,882       Working with Ricky, uh,              has its own challenges.        1914 01:31:11,299 --> 01:31:14,260         [Tono] That real                     estate you got here.         1915 01:31:14,302 --> 01:31:15,845               Ay yai yai.             1916 01:31:15,887 --> 01:31:17,513    [Tono VO] I realized there was       a lot of repair that needed to    1917 01:31:17,555 --> 01:31:19,348               be done.               1918 01:31:19,390 --> 01:31:21,350               [groans]               1919 01:31:21,392 --> 01:31:23,269       [Tono VO] There were                 deals that fell through,       1920 01:31:23,311 --> 01:31:26,105       there were apologies                 that needed to be made.        1921 01:31:26,355 --> 01:31:29,025         Can I get this                       guy in another head,         1922 01:31:29,066 --> 01:31:30,526          in another place?           1923 01:31:30,568 --> 01:31:34,197  All right, so we got that,          there's a pile of clothing here.  1924 01:31:34,238 --> 01:31:38,034    I don't know, he saw things in       me where he felt he could come    1925 01:31:38,075 --> 01:31:40,870         in and, uh, help me                  out and, you know,           1926 01:31:40,912 --> 01:31:44,749    maybe we could, uh, make             some beautiful music together.    1927 01:31:44,790 --> 01:31:47,084          He's the perfect                     compliment to me.           1928 01:31:47,126 --> 01:31:49,837     He likes cleaning and he             likes going through my shit,     1929 01:31:49,879 --> 01:31:52,757    but most of all, he likes            helping me keep the apartment     1930 01:31:52,798 --> 01:31:55,092         clean for my spirit.         1931 01:31:55,134 --> 01:31:58,262      I'm just a fuckin'                   lazy, sloppy motherfucker.      1932 01:31:58,304 --> 01:31:59,597          I will not clean.           1933 01:31:59,639 --> 01:32:01,682        I don't know what                    it-- it's despicable.         1934 01:32:01,724 --> 01:32:03,893    [Tono] Just trying to                keep the environment healthy,     1935 01:32:03,935 --> 01:32:05,061               really.                1936 01:32:05,102 --> 01:32:06,562      [Ricky] You're                       fucking out of your mind.       1937 01:32:06,604 --> 01:32:09,357      I love it, but it's weird.      1938 01:32:09,565 --> 01:32:11,400       [Tono VO] Ricky came                 to me one day and said,        1939 01:32:11,442 --> 01:32:13,402        "Tono, I need a book."        1940 01:32:13,444 --> 01:32:16,906    And I noticed that there were        slides and negatives all over     1941 01:32:16,948 --> 01:32:18,407            the apartment.            1942 01:32:18,449 --> 01:32:19,825                Doink.                1943 01:32:19,867 --> 01:32:21,410      Thank you, man, thank you            for unearthing that one.        1944 01:32:21,452 --> 01:32:23,996      [Tono VO] I systematically           just started organizing,        1945 01:32:24,038 --> 01:32:26,249         gathering photos                     from under his bed,          1946 01:32:26,290 --> 01:32:29,252       from in the corners,                 and there's a lot more.        1947 01:32:29,293 --> 01:32:31,170          It's almost like                     urban archaeology.          1948 01:32:31,212 --> 01:32:33,673    I'm breaking the surface here.    1949 01:32:34,799 --> 01:32:36,676       [Ricky VO] He took                   time to scan everything,       1950 01:32:36,717 --> 01:32:39,428          design the book,                     design the cover.           1951 01:32:39,470 --> 01:32:42,682    [Ricky] This is a decent             picture of Don D but too dark.    1952 01:32:43,307 --> 01:32:45,101       Oh, shit, Bobby Byrd.          1953 01:32:45,142 --> 01:32:46,435        I love most of these.         1954 01:32:46,477 --> 01:32:47,937              Love them.              1955 01:32:47,979 --> 01:32:49,647     [Tono VO] He wants to live           with this book and feel good     1956 01:32:49,689 --> 01:32:50,731              about it.               1957 01:32:50,773 --> 01:32:52,275         He's not difficult.          1958 01:32:52,316 --> 01:32:54,902  For me, it's just a rhythm that     you have to get in with somebody  1959 01:32:54,944 --> 01:32:55,903           who's different.           1960 01:32:55,945 --> 01:32:57,446       Lady Pink, I like that.        1961 01:32:57,488 --> 01:33:00,616     [Tono VO] We can be creative         together and it's very easy.     1962 01:33:04,662 --> 01:33:06,497            [Ricky] Whoo!             1963 01:33:14,672 --> 01:33:19,677            suspenseful                          electronic tones          1964 01:33:43,868 --> 01:33:45,578           [button clicks]            1965 01:33:45,745 --> 01:33:46,829      [Ruth on recording] Hello.      1966 01:33:46,871 --> 01:33:51,000  If this is Ricky, this is Ruth.    1967 01:33:51,042 --> 01:33:55,171  Uh, I would appreciate it if you   would try to get in touch with     1968 01:33:55,212 --> 01:33:56,922                 me.                  1969 01:33:57,465 --> 01:34:02,553  I would really appreciate           hearing from you or seeing you.    1970 01:34:03,429 --> 01:34:05,389                Okay?                 1971 01:34:06,557 --> 01:34:11,562          Here's hoping you                    will contact me.            1972 01:34:15,399 --> 01:34:20,071    Okay, hoping to see you, bye.     1973 01:34:20,738 --> 01:34:23,032                 Wew.                 1974 01:34:23,074 --> 01:34:26,744          Wew, that's heavy.          1975 01:34:26,911 --> 01:34:29,038          I never heard her                    sound like that.            1976 01:34:29,080 --> 01:34:30,539           [clears throat]            1977 01:34:30,581 --> 01:34:33,042              She, uh...              1978 01:34:33,084 --> 01:34:36,629    Wow, sounds like she's, um...     1979 01:34:37,046 --> 01:34:39,131              going out.              1980 01:34:39,632 --> 01:34:44,553          She sounds, uh,                      weak, frail, yeah.          1981 01:34:44,595 --> 01:34:47,390       I'm gonna call her                   today-- [clears throat]        1982 01:34:47,431 --> 01:34:49,558          I'm gonna call                       her today and, uh,          1983 01:34:49,600 --> 01:34:53,979  I'll go see her tomorrow 'cause     I'm not feeling well today.        1984 01:35:01,862 --> 01:35:05,574       [Ricky VO] Crazy how                 life unfolds day by day.       1985 01:35:05,616 --> 01:35:07,410          I'm gonna try to                     keep it short and,          1986 01:35:07,451 --> 01:35:09,245         uh, show good will.          1987 01:35:09,286 --> 01:35:12,415        I don't like dramatic,               big, long anythings.          1988 01:35:12,456 --> 01:35:17,461           languid saxophone         1989 01:35:26,971 --> 01:35:31,308       [Ruth VO] I was                      never big on mothering.        1990 01:35:31,726 --> 01:35:36,897     It was bothersome because            it put a lot of limits on my     1991 01:35:38,566 --> 01:35:40,693             activities.              1992 01:35:41,902 --> 01:35:45,948         But I reached out to                 tell him, you know,          1993 01:35:45,990 --> 01:35:49,785        "We have to be in                    touch with each other,        1994 01:35:49,827 --> 01:35:52,872       that I care about you."        1995 01:35:57,001 --> 01:35:59,378           [Ricky] [groans]           1996 01:36:00,504 --> 01:36:03,924       [Ruth VO] I regret                   almost everything I did,       1997 01:36:03,966 --> 01:36:07,595  I regret not showing affection.    1998 01:36:07,636 --> 01:36:11,348      My life was all                      involved with the animals.      1999 01:36:11,390 --> 01:36:14,518    Everything was about animals.     2000 01:36:14,560 --> 01:36:19,356       I cared more about                   the animals than Ricky.        2001 01:36:19,523 --> 01:36:21,609             It was true.             2002 01:36:21,817 --> 01:36:23,319          [Ricky] Hey, Ruth!          2003 01:36:23,360 --> 01:36:24,987             How are you?             2004 01:36:25,029 --> 01:36:25,821             How are you?             2005 01:36:25,863 --> 01:36:27,782            Looking good.             2006 01:36:29,366 --> 01:36:31,786               [sighs]                2007 01:36:35,873 --> 01:36:38,375               Oh, wow.               2008 01:36:38,626 --> 01:36:40,336      Where do you like to sit?       2009 01:36:40,377 --> 01:36:41,837            [Ruth] There.             2010 01:36:41,879 --> 01:36:43,714            [Ricky] Okay.             2011 01:36:44,006 --> 01:36:47,009    Wew, this used to be my room.     2012 01:36:47,051 --> 01:36:49,595          My bed was here...          2013 01:36:49,845 --> 01:36:54,934           uh, desk, TV...            2014 01:36:55,559 --> 01:36:58,270              whatevers.              2015 01:36:58,312 --> 01:37:02,107          Ugh, shoo, so the                    place looks good.           2016 01:37:02,149 --> 01:37:04,193           -You look good.                      -Thank you.                2017 01:37:04,235 --> 01:37:06,487           -You look good.                      -Thank you.                2018 01:37:06,529 --> 01:37:07,822          You look the same.          2019 01:37:07,863 --> 01:37:08,364                Yeah?                 2020 01:37:08,405 --> 01:37:10,032             Except this.             2021 01:37:10,074 --> 01:37:11,158                -This?                               -Yeah.                2022 01:37:11,200 --> 01:37:14,829          Yeah, this is my                     Isaac Asimov look.          2023 01:37:14,870 --> 01:37:15,663              Your what?              2024 01:37:15,704 --> 01:37:17,248            Isaac Asimov.             2025 01:37:17,289 --> 01:37:19,250             Oh. [laughs]             2026 01:37:19,291 --> 01:37:20,376         You don't like this?         2027 01:37:20,417 --> 01:37:21,210                 -No.                                 -No?                 2028 01:37:21,252 --> 01:37:22,711      It makes you look too old.      2029 01:37:22,753 --> 01:37:24,922               -Really?                             -Yeah.                 2030 01:37:26,090 --> 01:37:28,050       Yeah, I don't like that.       2031 01:37:28,092 --> 01:37:29,760       That doesn't look good.        2032 01:37:29,802 --> 01:37:31,720              Oof, okay.              2033 01:37:31,762 --> 01:37:36,767  [Ruth VO] I never told him how      much I cared about him and loved  2034 01:37:37,101 --> 01:37:38,185                 him.                 2035 01:37:38,227 --> 01:37:41,897          I should have, but                   I never said that.          2036 01:37:41,939 --> 01:37:46,235       I'm thrilled to see you.       2037 01:37:46,277 --> 01:37:47,903             Okay, good.              2038 01:37:47,945 --> 01:37:49,071              -Yeah.                               -Likewise.              2039 01:37:49,113 --> 01:37:52,575     Anything you need or want...     2040 01:37:52,616 --> 01:37:53,993    Thank you, I appreciate that.     2041 01:37:54,034 --> 01:37:56,579         I'm-- I'm good, I'm                  good, but thank you.         2042 01:37:56,620 --> 01:37:58,747             Yeah, yeah.              2043 01:37:58,789 --> 01:38:00,749         I'm good, I'm good.          2044 01:38:00,791 --> 01:38:02,251     I'm glad you got to see me.      2045 01:38:02,293 --> 01:38:04,044      I'm glad I got to see you.      2046 01:38:04,086 --> 01:38:05,588             Yeah, good.              2047 01:38:05,629 --> 01:38:09,884  [Ruth VO] If I had a chance to      make up for everything I missed,  2048 01:38:09,925 --> 01:38:11,552            I would do it.            2049 01:38:11,594 --> 01:38:16,599      I regret putting the blame           on him instead of myself.       2050 01:38:17,766 --> 01:38:22,062        It was my own                        fault, not his fault.         2051 01:38:22,104 --> 01:38:24,273     [Ricky VO] She's, you know,          looking forward to a fresh       2052 01:38:24,315 --> 01:38:25,774                start.                2053 01:38:25,816 --> 01:38:28,611  All these things I never thought   I'd hear from her. [laughs]        2054 01:38:28,652 --> 01:38:30,279           Good to see you.           2055 01:38:30,321 --> 01:38:31,322          Anything you need.          2056 01:38:31,363 --> 01:38:33,741          I know, thank you.          2057 01:38:34,074 --> 01:38:34,992           Thank you.                 2058 01:38:35,034 --> 01:38:36,285           Get rid of this.           2059 01:38:36,327 --> 01:38:37,453           I will. [laughs]           2060 01:38:37,494 --> 01:38:39,163                Okay.                 2061 01:38:39,204 --> 01:38:41,832         See you soon, Ruth!          2062 01:38:47,338 --> 01:38:51,634             upbeat beats            2063 01:38:51,675 --> 01:38:54,303       [Ricky VO] You know,                 listen, I'm a lone wolf,       2064 01:38:54,345 --> 01:38:57,890       I like how I live, I got             my nice little studio.         2065 01:38:57,932 --> 01:39:01,644          Got my futon, got                    my big color TV.            2066 01:39:01,685 --> 01:39:04,313        Now, I have cable TV.         2067 01:39:04,355 --> 01:39:06,565            I got it made.            2068 01:39:07,983 --> 01:39:09,401           Hey, what's up?            2069 01:39:09,443 --> 01:39:11,111    [Ricky VO] Yo, listen,               there's no guarantees in life.    2070 01:39:11,153 --> 01:39:13,489         I've seen lots of                    people come and go,          2071 01:39:13,530 --> 01:39:15,783          and here I am, all                   these years later,          2072 01:39:15,824 --> 01:39:19,995        looking very handsome,               if I may, very sharp.         2073 01:39:20,037 --> 01:39:23,332  I'm fucking thriving right now.    2074 01:39:26,001 --> 01:39:27,795                 Yo.                  2075 01:39:27,836 --> 01:39:29,505         Stick with me, baby.         2076 01:39:29,546 --> 01:39:31,674       No more of this                      struggling artist shit.        2077 01:39:31,715 --> 01:39:33,509           It's played out.           2078 01:39:33,550 --> 01:39:35,678          My time has come!           2079 01:39:35,719 --> 01:39:39,348          [people cheering]           2080 01:39:39,390 --> 01:39:42,226    The book has been incredible.     2081 01:39:42,267 --> 01:39:46,897     My work speaks for                   itself, and gigs come at me.     2082 01:39:50,234 --> 01:39:51,860     [man over mic] Ricky Powell!     2083 01:39:51,902 --> 01:39:54,697     His work is iconic, and I            think to see him out there,      2084 01:39:54,738 --> 01:39:57,241        showing his                          artwork, doing shows,         2085 01:39:57,282 --> 01:40:00,160      he's got so much to give.       2086 01:40:02,955 --> 01:40:04,957          [Ricky VO] I do                      my live slideshow,          2087 01:40:04,999 --> 01:40:07,626      where I tell                         anecdotes of the pictures.      2088 01:40:07,668 --> 01:40:09,712          This is where it                     all started, baby.          2089 01:40:09,753 --> 01:40:11,296         Yo, dude was like...                 [laughter]                   2090 01:40:11,338 --> 01:40:13,549      [Ricky VO] There's no one            else that does it like me.      2091 01:40:13,590 --> 01:40:15,884          I did Italy and                      Sweden this year,           2092 01:40:15,926 --> 01:40:18,387    Dublin, San Francisco, Japan.     2093 01:40:18,429 --> 01:40:21,557       It's the Japanese                    Ricky Powell right here.       2094 01:40:23,600 --> 01:40:26,812  He's an important documentarian     of an important time in this       2095 01:40:26,854 --> 01:40:28,397                town.                 2096 01:40:29,940 --> 01:40:33,235    And that we can look at these        pictures of early LL Cool J,      2097 01:40:33,277 --> 01:40:35,404         of early Run DMC,                    of early everybody.          2098 01:40:35,446 --> 01:40:36,905          Now, that's the                      photograph for me.          2099 01:40:36,947 --> 01:40:38,574         Yo, this is famous.          2100 01:40:38,615 --> 01:40:42,453    To make yourself available to        everything that's going on...     2101 01:40:42,494 --> 01:40:43,912              [laughter]              2102 01:40:43,954 --> 01:40:46,540     Gives you kind of an edge            that most people don't have.     2103 01:40:46,582 --> 01:40:47,458                Whoo!                 2104 01:40:47,499 --> 01:40:48,375                What?                 2105 01:40:48,417 --> 01:40:50,794               [laughs]               2106 01:40:50,836 --> 01:40:53,213         I feel very                          priviledged and, uh,         2107 01:40:53,255 --> 01:40:54,548              fortunate.              2108 01:40:54,590 --> 01:40:56,050              Thank you.              2109 01:40:56,091 --> 01:40:59,970     I cannot put it into words,          as Ottis Redding would say,      2110 01:41:00,012 --> 01:41:04,308      how much love I feel and I           want to transcend it back.      2111 01:41:04,808 --> 01:41:09,313     [Chuck VO] Ricky Powell is a         god in his artistry himself.     2112 01:41:09,688 --> 01:41:12,274        He is just as                       important as the art,          2113 01:41:12,316 --> 01:41:14,943      as the artist,                       because he is the artist.       2114 01:41:14,985 --> 01:41:18,781     He had this talent for going         into your world and capture      2115 01:41:18,822 --> 01:41:20,616        those genuine moments.        2116 01:41:20,657 --> 01:41:22,117        [Kaves VO] Those                     photos are everything.        2117 01:41:22,159 --> 01:41:25,287      Those are my heroes,                 those are my superheroes.       2118 01:41:25,329 --> 01:41:26,288       [whistling and cheering]       2119 01:41:26,330 --> 01:41:27,790        Happy birthday, Ricky!        2120 01:41:27,831 --> 01:41:28,707              [cheering]              2121 01:41:28,749 --> 01:41:30,042  [LL VO] He's an OG in the game.    2122 01:41:30,084 --> 01:41:31,960  He really was there, it's true.    2123 01:41:32,002 --> 01:41:33,796      It's definitely official.       2124 01:41:33,837 --> 01:41:37,466  Ricky's body of work speaks         to what the streets of New York    2125 01:41:37,508 --> 01:41:38,967                 are.                 2126 01:41:39,009 --> 01:41:40,636     It is those celebrities, it          is the bum on the street,        2127 01:41:40,677 --> 01:41:42,971      it is the crazy lady with            the birds on her shoulder,      2128 01:41:43,013 --> 01:41:44,890           it's everything.           2129 01:41:46,892 --> 01:41:50,270        [Hurricane VO] Ricky's               still License to Ill.         2130 01:41:50,312 --> 01:41:51,855         Like, you can see                    Ricky and say, "Man,         2131 01:41:51,897 --> 01:41:54,441     Ricky ain't changed a bit."      2132 01:41:57,486 --> 01:41:59,530        I feel like I'm                      tripping on mushrooms.        2133 01:41:59,571 --> 01:42:02,366          I'm just bugging                     out on mushrooms.           2134 01:42:02,407 --> 01:42:05,494  It's not like he was a showbiz      pop star that was a constructed    2135 01:42:05,536 --> 01:42:09,164  idea; he's very much, you know,     what you see is what you get.      2136 01:42:09,206 --> 01:42:11,834    [Darryl VO] He's one of              the greatest photographers in     2137 01:42:11,875 --> 01:42:15,003        history that                         should be celebrated,         2138 01:42:15,045 --> 01:42:18,382        is a one-of-a-kind,                  he's in his own lane.         2139 01:42:20,968 --> 01:42:24,179      He's fuckin' Ricky Powell.      2140 01:42:29,393 --> 01:42:34,439        gentle uplifting music       2141 01:43:35,959 --> 01:43:37,753       [Ricky VO] There has                 to be a movie about me,        2142 01:43:37,794 --> 01:43:39,254              seriously.              2143 01:43:39,296 --> 01:43:42,507         The essence of bummy                 sophisticatedness.           2144 01:43:49,806 --> 01:43:51,767              Oh, fuck!               2145 01:43:53,560 --> 01:43:54,937                What?                 2146 01:43:54,978 --> 01:43:56,855        What, who wants some?         2147 01:44:04,154 --> 01:44:05,781              Oh, fuck.               2148 01:44:05,822 --> 01:44:09,159               [laughs]               2149 01:44:09,451 --> 01:44:12,120      No, don't tell me you f--       2150 01:44:12,162 --> 01:44:15,165              [laughter]              2151 01:44:17,668 --> 01:44:20,170             Oh, my God.              2152 01:44:21,171 --> 01:44:22,923          I still look dope.          2153 01:44:24,508 --> 01:44:27,803  Unemployment at a record high    2154 01:44:27,844 --> 01:44:32,140       People coming, people                going, people born to die      2155 01:44:32,182 --> 01:44:35,477        Don't ask me,                        because I don't know why      2156 01:44:35,519 --> 01:44:40,148        But it's like that,                  and that's the way it is      2157 01:44:40,190 --> 01:44:43,652         People in the world                  try to make ends meet        2158 01:44:43,694 --> 01:44:47,322          You try to ride car,                 train, bus, or feet         2159 01:44:47,364 --> 01:44:51,493        I said you got to work               hard to want to compete       2160 01:44:51,535 --> 01:44:55,831          It's like that, and                  that's the way it is        2161 01:44:55,872 --> 01:44:57,249                 Huh!                2162 01:45:03,839 --> 01:45:07,509          Money is the key                     to end all your woes        2163 01:45:07,551 --> 01:45:11,346        Your ups and your downs,             your highs and your lows      2164 01:45:11,388 --> 01:45:15,225      Won't you tell me last time          that love bought you clothes?  2165 01:45:15,267 --> 01:45:19,688          It's like that, and                  that's the way it is        2166 01:45:19,730 --> 01:45:23,692      Bills fly higher every day     2167 01:45:23,734 --> 01:45:27,195       We receive much lower pay     2168 01:45:27,237 --> 01:45:31,033         I'd rather stay                      young, go out and play       2169 01:45:31,074 --> 01:45:35,412          It's like that, and                  that's the way it is        2170 01:45:35,454 --> 01:45:36,830                 Huh!                2171 01:45:39,583 --> 01:45:43,045  War's going on across the sea    2172 01:45:43,086 --> 01:45:47,049          Street soldiers                      killing the elderly         2173 01:45:47,090 --> 01:45:50,886      What ever happened to unity?  2174 01:45:50,927 --> 01:45:55,307       It's like that, and                  that that's the way it is      2175 01:45:55,349 --> 01:46:01,604      Disillusion is the word...