1 00:00:02,314 --> 00:00:05,674 This programme contains strong and discriminatory language. 2 00:00:05,674 --> 00:00:08,794 I got a new toy to show you, Louis. Wow, interesting. What's that doing there? 3 00:00:08,794 --> 00:00:11,134 Protecting and serving, my guy. Why would you need that? 4 00:00:11,134 --> 00:00:12,894 What do you mean, why I would I need that? 5 00:00:12,894 --> 00:00:14,894 I'm in Florida. Let me see that. 6 00:00:14,894 --> 00:00:16,084 I'm in Florida. I need it. 7 00:00:16,084 --> 00:00:19,124 You know, there's very strict protocols for the BBC 8 00:00:19,124 --> 00:00:23,184 to do with guns and gun safety. 9 00:00:23,184 --> 00:00:25,644 Would you be able to do a little performance? 10 00:00:25,644 --> 00:00:27,244 Yeah, of course. 11 00:00:27,244 --> 00:00:29,254 DRUMBEAT MACHINE 12 00:00:39,724 --> 00:00:43,254 I was exploring one of America's most creative 13 00:00:43,254 --> 00:00:45,694 and controversial music scenes. 14 00:00:45,694 --> 00:00:47,054 Why do you have that? 15 00:00:47,054 --> 00:00:49,334 My friends are famous. They're rappers. 16 00:00:49,334 --> 00:00:51,714 They gotta be protected at all times. 17 00:00:53,754 --> 00:00:56,984 In Florida, rap is a multimillion dollar industry, 18 00:00:56,984 --> 00:01:00,964 giving unvarnished expression to a host of social ills. 19 00:01:00,964 --> 00:01:03,804 In that video, he was not sober, though, correct? 20 00:01:03,804 --> 00:01:06,475 Yeah, no, none of us were. It was fun then, 21 00:01:06,475 --> 00:01:09,544 and then it got to the point where we weren't doing it for fun, 22 00:01:09,544 --> 00:01:12,644 we were just doing it to not feel bad, you know? 23 00:01:12,644 --> 00:01:16,284 But some of its biggest artists stand accused of participating in 24 00:01:16,284 --> 00:01:18,605 the lawlessness their music describes... 25 00:01:18,605 --> 00:01:20,534 Shots going to start going off. 26 00:01:20,534 --> 00:01:22,694 Boop, boop, boop! 27 00:01:22,694 --> 00:01:27,444 ...in lives that play out in front of fans on social media... 28 00:01:27,444 --> 00:01:32,264 These are violent criminals involved in gang activity. 29 00:01:32,264 --> 00:01:37,495 ...in a world where the stakes are stardom, incarceration, and death. 30 00:01:37,495 --> 00:01:40,574 Just your being here could lead to something? 31 00:01:53,424 --> 00:01:54,964 MAN LAUGHS 32 00:01:54,964 --> 00:01:56,314 I love this shit. 33 00:01:56,314 --> 00:01:58,404 Welcome home, kid. 34 00:01:58,404 --> 00:02:00,194 HE LAUGHS 35 00:02:02,234 --> 00:02:05,214 Outside a jail on the outskirts of Orlando, 36 00:02:05,214 --> 00:02:09,294 I was part of the welcoming committee for Darrin Robinson. 37 00:02:09,294 --> 00:02:12,754 An aspiring rapper under the name Peso Lucianno, 38 00:02:12,754 --> 00:02:16,704 he'd just been released after a four-year term for burglary. 39 00:02:16,704 --> 00:02:17,884 How you feeling? 40 00:02:17,884 --> 00:02:19,204 I'm free, Bitch! 41 00:02:19,204 --> 00:02:21,264 LAUGHTER Yes! 42 00:02:21,264 --> 00:02:24,894 With me was a rising rap mogul, Andrew Lambert, 43 00:02:24,894 --> 00:02:28,294 better known by his industry moniker Drew Filmed It. 44 00:02:28,294 --> 00:02:30,615 Drew, do you want to quickly fill us in what's going on? 45 00:02:30,615 --> 00:02:31,884 OK, OK, yeah. 46 00:02:35,934 --> 00:02:37,524 Wow. Yeah. 47 00:02:37,524 --> 00:02:39,284 And now he's out. And what's the plan? 48 00:02:41,524 --> 00:02:42,974 You're going to help him blow up? 49 00:02:42,974 --> 00:02:44,884 Yeah. He's gonna do his thing. So Peso raps? 50 00:02:44,884 --> 00:02:46,094 Yeah, he make music. 51 00:02:55,864 --> 00:02:57,864 How's it going? How you feeling? 52 00:02:57,864 --> 00:03:00,495 Shit, you tell me how I'm feeling. 53 00:03:00,495 --> 00:03:02,064 How you feeling? 54 00:03:02,064 --> 00:03:05,054 I feel good. All right, well, shit, likewise. Ditto, my boy. 55 00:03:05,054 --> 00:03:07,624 I think this is a bigger day for you than it is for me, though. 56 00:03:07,624 --> 00:03:09,964 No shit. You here - that's a big day for you too. 57 00:03:09,964 --> 00:03:12,794 Is it? Yeah, you meet a superstar. 58 00:03:12,794 --> 00:03:15,365 Drew, you've got some of the biggest artists in Florida 59 00:03:15,365 --> 00:03:16,844 right now on your books, right? 60 00:03:16,844 --> 00:03:19,074 Yeah. How does Peso fit into all of that? 61 00:03:19,074 --> 00:03:21,004 I'm next. That's what it is. Yeah. 62 00:03:21,004 --> 00:03:23,274 That's what you want him to say. I'll tell you. 63 00:03:23,274 --> 00:03:25,074 I'm next. I'm on my way! 64 00:03:25,074 --> 00:03:27,314 LAUGHTER 65 00:03:35,694 --> 00:03:37,854 Drew's company, 100k, 66 00:03:37,854 --> 00:03:41,034 is one of the biggest rap management firms in Florida. 67 00:03:41,034 --> 00:03:42,894 Here he is. How you doing? Louis. 68 00:03:42,894 --> 00:03:45,784 Most of its music is in the genre known as trap, 69 00:03:45,784 --> 00:03:49,984 from the southern slang "“trap house", meaning drug house. 70 00:03:49,984 --> 00:03:52,864 These are all the artists that are with 100k right now. 71 00:03:52,864 --> 00:03:54,495 Um, we got about 20. 72 00:03:54,495 --> 00:03:55,974 So talk me through a few of these. 73 00:03:55,974 --> 00:03:57,375 We've got Melly at the top there. 74 00:03:57,375 --> 00:03:58,554 And then Von, 75 00:03:58,554 --> 00:04:01,504 then we got Hotboii, BSlime... 76 00:04:01,504 --> 00:04:05,584 Damn near everyone that you could think of right now. 77 00:04:05,584 --> 00:04:07,754 So Deep Grimeyy, Slatt... 78 00:04:07,754 --> 00:04:09,485 Slatt zy. Zy... 79 00:04:09,485 --> 00:04:10,794 Cee Murdaa. 80 00:04:10,794 --> 00:04:12,334 Cee Murdaa. 81 00:04:12,334 --> 00:04:15,004 Who's your biggest artist? Melly? 82 00:04:15,004 --> 00:04:16,434 Melly, Von... Von. 83 00:04:16,434 --> 00:04:18,274 And Hotboii's catching up to them right now. 84 00:04:18,274 --> 00:04:19,754 And Melly's behind bars... Yep. 85 00:04:19,754 --> 00:04:21,404 ...and Von's dead. Yep. 86 00:04:21,404 --> 00:04:22,764 So Hotboii's... 87 00:04:22,764 --> 00:04:25,314 Yeah, Hotboii doing his thing. 88 00:04:25,314 --> 00:04:26,514 Tell me about your teeth. 89 00:04:26,514 --> 00:04:27,564 Is it diamonds? 90 00:04:27,564 --> 00:04:28,634 Yeah, they're diamonds. 91 00:04:28,634 --> 00:04:29,844 Yeah, yeah. Flawless. 92 00:04:29,844 --> 00:04:30,944 Flawless, gang. 93 00:04:30,944 --> 00:04:33,554 So let a dawg join a club, you know what I'm saying? 94 00:04:33,554 --> 00:04:34,924 Woo! 95 00:04:34,924 --> 00:04:37,514 Must've been weird to get used to having them in? 96 00:04:37,514 --> 00:04:39,004 Yup. Eating with them? 97 00:04:39,004 --> 00:04:40,924 Um, I had a lisp for about a week 98 00:04:40,924 --> 00:04:42,404 and it hurt a little bit to eat. 99 00:04:42,404 --> 00:04:43,764 How much did it cost? 100 00:04:43,764 --> 00:04:45,044 25 to 30. 101 00:04:45,044 --> 00:04:46,304 25,000 to 30,0007 102 00:04:46,304 --> 00:04:47,834 Yeah. So that's just... 103 00:04:47,834 --> 00:04:50,064 It's just a costly process. HE LAUGHS 104 00:04:50,064 --> 00:04:51,874 Should we look at a couple of videos? 105 00:04:51,874 --> 00:04:53,644 Yeah. There's one called Don't Need Time? 106 00:04:53,644 --> 00:04:55,554 Yeah, Don't Need Time. Can we look at that? Yup. 107 00:04:55,554 --> 00:04:57,734 It was actually shot at a funeral, is that right? 108 00:04:57,734 --> 00:05:00,974 Yeah. And it was a funeral of Hotboii's friend Wolph. 109 00:05:00,974 --> 00:05:03,464 Is that right? Wolph, yup, yup. That had passed away. 110 00:05:03,464 --> 00:05:05,564 That had been shot and died. Yeah. 111 00:05:06,634 --> 00:05:09,734 MUSIC: Don't Need Time by Hotboii 112 00:05:15,644 --> 00:05:18,274 Hotboii's friend, Wolph Luma, had been shot and killed 113 00:05:18,274 --> 00:05:20,954 last year at a house party. 114 00:05:20,954 --> 00:05:23,454 heaven, I know it 115 00:05:23,454 --> 00:05:25,874 tell him how it's going... 116 00:05:25,874 --> 00:05:29,594 The video for Don't Need Time is both a lament about his loss 117 00:05:29,594 --> 00:05:33,434 and also a display of high-calibre gun ownership. 118 00:05:33,434 --> 00:05:37,074 Are the guns, just to ask a naive question, are they real? 119 00:05:37,074 --> 00:05:38,564 I don't know. They weren't mine. 120 00:05:38,564 --> 00:05:40,924 As far as you know, you had no reason to believe otherwise? 121 00:05:40,924 --> 00:05:42,124 Yeah, I don't know. 122 00:05:42,124 --> 00:05:45,954 To someone who sees that and says, "Well, you know, it's kind of 123 00:05:45,954 --> 00:05:48,954 "slightly glamourising the thug life"? 124 00:05:48,954 --> 00:05:50,314 He's acting. Yeah. 125 00:05:50,314 --> 00:05:51,485 That's the way I look at it. 126 00:05:51,485 --> 00:05:53,004 We're just making a movie. 127 00:05:53,004 --> 00:05:55,714 There's movies all day, doing the same thing, 128 00:05:55,714 --> 00:05:58,485 so that's how I think about it. 129 00:05:58,485 --> 00:06:00,764 What time's Hotboii going to be here, do we think? 130 00:06:00,764 --> 00:06:03,204 Let me call him. Is he usually pretty punctual? 131 00:06:03,204 --> 00:06:06,355 Ah... Ah, sometimes. It depends. 132 00:06:06,355 --> 00:06:08,485 I call it rapper time. Rapper time. 133 00:06:08,485 --> 00:06:10,724 Yo. Where you at? 134 00:06:10,724 --> 00:06:11,924 On the way. 135 00:06:11,924 --> 00:06:14,355 Are you gonna come to the office or are we going to the studio? 136 00:06:14,355 --> 00:06:15,954 Studio... I think he said studio. 137 00:06:15,954 --> 00:06:17,324 All right, yeah, we'll be there. 138 00:06:17,324 --> 00:06:19,124 All right. All right, gang. 139 00:06:19,124 --> 00:06:20,644 So he's on his way there now? 140 00:06:20,644 --> 00:06:22,924 Yeah, so we should probably go over there, but he's cool. 141 00:06:22,924 --> 00:06:24,314 He's in the studio. If not... 142 00:06:24,314 --> 00:06:26,724 If we're late, he'll record, you know? Yeah. 143 00:06:32,654 --> 00:06:36,235 You've been involved in this for how many years, would you say? 144 00:06:36,235 --> 00:06:38,794 Music total, probably 2016, 145 00:06:38,794 --> 00:06:41,284 so four and a half, I would say. 146 00:06:41,284 --> 00:06:42,434 How old are you now? 147 00:06:42,434 --> 00:06:43,714 I'm 20. 207 148 00:06:43,714 --> 00:06:44,804 Yeah, 20. 149 00:06:44,804 --> 00:06:46,714 You're making a good living from what I can tell. 150 00:06:46,714 --> 00:06:48,235 Mm-hm. A millionaire? 151 00:06:48,235 --> 00:06:49,355 Oh, no, not yet. 152 00:06:49,355 --> 00:06:50,444 Almost. I'm good. 153 00:06:50,444 --> 00:06:52,164 You're getting there. I'm getting there. 154 00:06:52,164 --> 00:06:54,644 But I told myself this year I'm going to be one. Really? 155 00:06:54,644 --> 00:06:57,004 Yeah, that's what I told myself. That's my goal in life. 156 00:06:57,004 --> 00:06:59,804 You've seen artists come along and then blow up, right? 157 00:06:59,804 --> 00:07:02,524 So you know what the tactics are in terms of... Yeah. 158 00:07:02,524 --> 00:07:04,844 ...reaching people, promotion, 159 00:07:04,844 --> 00:07:06,844 connecting with your audience, right? 160 00:07:06,844 --> 00:07:08,634 How important is social media? 161 00:07:08,634 --> 00:07:12,204 It's really, really important. Very important, yeah. 162 00:07:12,204 --> 00:07:14,274 Just like TikTok. 163 00:07:14,274 --> 00:07:16,954 One year of being at TikTok, 164 00:07:16,954 --> 00:07:19,954 it got, like, 70 artist record deals. 165 00:07:19,954 --> 00:07:23,674 I always tell artists, "Post what you would want to see on there too. 166 00:07:23,674 --> 00:07:26,164 "Just don't post a post - post what you think is going to catch 167 00:07:26,164 --> 00:07:28,874 "somebody's eye scrolling down the timeline," cos a lot of the time 168 00:07:28,874 --> 00:07:30,245 I just scroll, scroll, scroll. 169 00:07:30,245 --> 00:07:32,674 I go, "Scroll up, right, OK, that just caught my attention." 170 00:07:32,674 --> 00:07:36,164 So just think of things like that to really, like, catch my eye 171 00:07:36,164 --> 00:07:39,524 or catch another person's eye to stop scrolling and really 172 00:07:39,524 --> 00:07:42,115 focus on what they want to watch or view. 173 00:07:44,674 --> 00:07:47,164 The man we were en route to see, Hotboii, 174 00:07:47,164 --> 00:07:51,524 born Javarri Walker, is a rising star of the Florida scene with over 175 00:07:51,524 --> 00:07:53,394 a million followers on Instagram. 176 00:07:53,394 --> 00:07:57,204 thing can heal me is the bag... 177 00:07:57,204 --> 00:07:59,804 But along with fame had come an alleged conflict 178 00:07:59,804 --> 00:08:02,284 with another of Orlando's biggest rappers, 9lokkNine. 179 00:08:02,284 --> 00:08:04,034 MUSIC: Crayola by 9lokkNine 180 00:08:04,034 --> 00:08:05,954 No Crayola, it get violent 181 00:08:05,954 --> 00:08:09,125 tip-toeing, move in silence... 182 00:08:09,125 --> 00:08:12,754 Authorities saw the feud as part of a wider dispute in Orlando 183 00:08:12,754 --> 00:08:15,934 between two rival gangs that had left four people dead 184 00:08:15,934 --> 00:08:20,004 and many more injured, though the rappers themselves have denied this. 185 00:08:24,804 --> 00:08:28,375 Much of the feuding had played out on social media. 186 00:08:28,375 --> 00:08:32,444 Encouraged by fans, 9lokkNine had insulted his rival on Instagram... 187 00:08:45,674 --> 00:08:50,564 ...while Hotboii had responded with rambling, off-the-cuff monologues. 188 00:08:50,564 --> 00:08:52,524 I went to jail, right? 189 00:08:52,524 --> 00:08:55,245 So niggas get their little chance to shine, right? 190 00:08:55,245 --> 00:08:57,394 So now when I get out, I take back over. 191 00:08:57,394 --> 00:08:59,674 I take back over when I get out. 192 00:08:59,674 --> 00:09:01,654 Now they hate me for that? 193 00:09:01,654 --> 00:09:03,964 What? HE LAUGHS 194 00:09:03,964 --> 00:09:05,444 What?! 195 00:09:07,044 --> 00:09:10,324 I was hoping that meeting Hotboii might be a chance to understand 196 00:09:10,324 --> 00:09:13,294 why violent feuds were so much a part of the lives 197 00:09:13,294 --> 00:09:14,964 of Florida rappers. 198 00:09:16,164 --> 00:09:18,754 MUSIC: Fuck Shit by Hotboii 199 00:09:32,674 --> 00:09:34,544 200 00:09:34,544 --> 00:09:37,594 too. 201 00:09:37,594 --> 00:09:38,964 Nice. 202 00:09:38,964 --> 00:09:40,844 "We be on that fuck shit too." 203 00:09:40,844 --> 00:09:42,644 What does it mean? 204 00:09:42,644 --> 00:09:46,154 We're gonna fuck shit, like, wilding out crazy. 205 00:09:46,154 --> 00:09:48,814 Just going crazy, having parties? Having fun? 206 00:09:48,814 --> 00:09:51,754 Yeah, like fuck shit, period, like, just anything, like... 207 00:09:51,754 --> 00:09:55,684 Yeah, having parties, turning up, 208 00:09:55,684 --> 00:09:58,554 doing crazy stuff. 209 00:09:58,554 --> 00:10:00,245 You feel me? Stuff like that. 210 00:10:00,245 --> 00:10:02,375 Yeah. 211 00:10:02,375 --> 00:10:03,804 So is that legal here? 212 00:10:03,804 --> 00:10:05,044 Weed's not really illegal. 213 00:10:05,044 --> 00:10:07,365 If you get caught with weed, you just get, like, a ticket. 214 00:10:07,365 --> 00:10:08,964 You can't go to jail for it no more. 215 00:10:08,964 --> 00:10:10,294 It'll get me right. 216 00:10:10,294 --> 00:10:12,684 I'm ready to start my day. 217 00:10:12,684 --> 00:10:14,414 LAUGHTER 218 00:10:14,414 --> 00:10:17,125 I know... Like, I've read up on you, and I've listened to your music, 219 00:10:17,125 --> 00:10:19,294 which I love. I've seen a few interviews online. 220 00:10:19,294 --> 00:10:20,814 I appreciate that, man. Yeah. 221 00:10:20,814 --> 00:10:23,314 I know that you came up, in some ways, the hard way. 222 00:10:23,314 --> 00:10:25,534 Like, your life was a struggle in some respects. Yeah. 223 00:10:25,534 --> 00:10:26,604 Is that fair to say that? 224 00:10:26,604 --> 00:10:30,034 Yeah. You had run-ins with the law. I read you used to grab iPhones? 225 00:10:30,034 --> 00:10:31,504 Yeah. How you knew that? 226 00:10:31,504 --> 00:10:33,265 I saw it online. 227 00:10:33,265 --> 00:10:34,724 You know, just needed money. 228 00:10:34,724 --> 00:10:36,125 Don't want to ask Mom for it, 229 00:10:36,125 --> 00:10:38,194 cos Mom needs that money to pay the bills. 230 00:10:38,194 --> 00:10:40,804 You felt that you didn't want to impose, like she needed money 231 00:10:40,804 --> 00:10:41,924 for other things? 232 00:10:41,924 --> 00:10:44,524 Yeah. For, like, my other siblings who were not old enough to 233 00:10:44,524 --> 00:10:46,294 go get money yet. How old were you? 234 00:10:46,294 --> 00:10:49,444 Like, 15. You got some time off it, and then... 235 00:10:49,444 --> 00:10:53,115 And then were you doing music before you went inside? 236 00:10:53,115 --> 00:10:56,564 Yeah, but I had only released, like... 237 00:10:56,564 --> 00:10:59,534 I'd say, like, four or five songs. 238 00:10:59,534 --> 00:11:03,284 And then when you came out you were hotter than ever, right? 239 00:11:03,284 --> 00:11:07,494 Cos you got 45 million streams of Don't Need Time, right? 240 00:11:07,494 --> 00:11:10,284 Oh, yeah. That's my highest one. 241 00:11:10,284 --> 00:11:11,694 I need more like that. 242 00:11:12,964 --> 00:11:15,524 You know, in knowing this world a little bit it's evident 243 00:11:15,524 --> 00:11:18,094 that a lot of the young rappers get caught up in different 244 00:11:18,094 --> 00:11:21,914 kinds of cases, even after they become somewhat successful. 245 00:11:21,914 --> 00:11:25,844 What do you think it is that is causing that to happen? 246 00:11:25,844 --> 00:11:27,634 People look at us, 247 00:11:27,634 --> 00:11:30,404 and they feel like if we got money, we got power, 248 00:11:30,404 --> 00:11:33,125 so they just... I don't know. They don't like stuff like that. 249 00:11:33,125 --> 00:11:34,764 Jealous people, haters, 250 00:11:34,764 --> 00:11:36,125 people you came up with. 251 00:11:36,125 --> 00:11:38,044 Yeah, that really be the main thing. 252 00:11:38,044 --> 00:11:40,324 You got it and they don't. 253 00:11:40,324 --> 00:11:42,404 You up higher than they are, something... 254 00:11:42,404 --> 00:11:45,194 It just be, like, petty stuff. 255 00:11:45,194 --> 00:11:48,974 So, just to get this out of the way, so... 256 00:11:48,974 --> 00:11:52,464 I saw a comment that you made on your Insta feed. 257 00:11:52,464 --> 00:11:55,255 It was reported that there was some kind of beef between 258 00:11:55,255 --> 00:11:56,894 you and 9lokkNine. 259 00:11:56,894 --> 00:11:59,484 Is there anything you want to put out about that? 260 00:11:59,484 --> 00:12:01,284 Nah. 261 00:12:01,284 --> 00:12:04,255 I don't even know what beef you're talking about. What? 262 00:12:06,454 --> 00:12:10,324 Would we go so far as to say that you have love for 9lokkNine? 263 00:12:14,464 --> 00:12:17,164 HE LAUGHS 264 00:12:19,694 --> 00:12:22,544 LAUGHTER 265 00:12:25,894 --> 00:12:27,894 Next question, gang. 266 00:12:27,894 --> 00:12:31,854 He's in prison. He can't touch you. 267 00:12:31,854 --> 00:12:35,005 I love everybody. I want to see everybody win. 268 00:12:35,005 --> 00:12:37,385 That's how it is. That's how I am. 269 00:12:37,385 --> 00:12:38,684 I want you to win. 270 00:12:38,684 --> 00:12:40,054 I love you. I don't even know you. 271 00:12:40,054 --> 00:12:41,094 Thank you. 272 00:12:41,094 --> 00:12:42,914 I love everybody! 273 00:12:42,914 --> 00:12:44,774 And you love 9lokkNine? 274 00:12:44,774 --> 00:12:46,774 Hey, you, I love you over there. 275 00:12:46,774 --> 00:12:48,294 Hey, Drew... 276 00:12:48,294 --> 00:12:49,995 Hey, Drew? 277 00:12:49,995 --> 00:12:52,005 I love you. 278 00:12:52,005 --> 00:12:53,324 Wait, what? I missed this. 279 00:12:53,324 --> 00:12:57,744 I was asking about alleged feuding with 9lokkNine, 280 00:12:57,744 --> 00:13:01,614 which has obviously been a big thing online. 281 00:13:01,614 --> 00:13:04,624 Hey, what's the next question, though? 282 00:13:04,624 --> 00:13:06,854 What I'm getting from you - correct me if I'm wrong - 283 00:13:06,854 --> 00:13:09,574 so are you trying in some way, like, put that behind you? 284 00:13:09,574 --> 00:13:12,204 Like, any cases you've caught, any mischief you've got into... 285 00:13:12,204 --> 00:13:14,774 Of course. ..you're trying to put that away? Why wouldn't I? 286 00:13:14,774 --> 00:13:17,125 Well, cos the songs sound like you're still... 287 00:13:17,125 --> 00:13:19,414 A lot of the songs are about still doing it. 288 00:13:20,984 --> 00:13:23,204 Nah. It don't be like that. 289 00:13:29,334 --> 00:13:31,844 And of course I want to put everything behind me. 290 00:13:31,844 --> 00:13:33,204 I want to make more money. 291 00:13:34,744 --> 00:13:36,344 You're asking me crazy shit. 292 00:13:36,344 --> 00:13:38,125 You're asking me stupid shit. 293 00:13:43,894 --> 00:13:45,364 Thanks, Hotboii. 294 00:13:55,044 --> 00:14:00,364 It was a slightly awkward end to an otherwise friendly interview, 295 00:14:00,364 --> 00:14:04,334 I left with the sense that, whatever had happened between him 296 00:14:04,334 --> 00:14:07,334 and 9lokkNine, Hotboii would prefer to put it behind him. 297 00:14:09,574 --> 00:14:13,194 The seriousness of the alleged feuding between the rival groups 298 00:14:13,194 --> 00:14:15,214 wasn't always easy to gauge, 299 00:14:15,214 --> 00:14:18,904 playing out in a mixture of inflammatory music videos 300 00:14:18,904 --> 00:14:24,334 and all-too-real grainy phone and CCTV footage on local news. 301 00:14:24,334 --> 00:14:26,135 SIRENS WAIL 302 00:14:26,135 --> 00:14:27,854 303 00:14:27,854 --> 00:14:29,364 304 00:14:29,364 --> 00:14:31,854 Another of those caught up in the violence was 305 00:14:31,854 --> 00:14:34,344 a third successful Orlando rapper, 306 00:14:34,344 --> 00:14:37,614 an associate of Hotboii's called LPB Poody. 307 00:14:37,614 --> 00:14:39,894 He too had fallen out with 9lokkNine 308 00:14:39,894 --> 00:14:42,614 and had released a beef track, Address It, 309 00:14:42,614 --> 00:14:44,694 widely assumed to be directed at Glokk. 310 00:14:56,054 --> 00:14:58,504 Not long after, he'd been shot. 311 00:14:58,504 --> 00:15:01,544 Poody now lives in Los Angeles, but I'd had a tip-off that he was 312 00:15:01,544 --> 00:15:03,644 back visiting his old neighbourhood. 313 00:15:03,644 --> 00:15:07,084 I was hoping he might shed some light on the violence plaguing 314 00:15:07,084 --> 00:15:08,454 the Orlando scene. 315 00:15:13,984 --> 00:15:15,094 Hi, Poody. 316 00:15:15,094 --> 00:15:16,444 How you doing? Nice to meet you. 317 00:15:16,444 --> 00:15:17,554 Nice to meet you too. 318 00:15:17,554 --> 00:15:19,504 Hey, thanks for speaking to us. Yeah, for sure. 319 00:15:19,504 --> 00:15:21,414 Do you want to introduce me to some of your guys? 320 00:15:21,414 --> 00:15:22,784 Yeah, yeah. I definitely can. 321 00:15:22,784 --> 00:15:24,294 Nice to meet you. Louis. 322 00:15:24,294 --> 00:15:25,704 What's your name? 323 00:15:25,704 --> 00:15:27,054 Gangster. Gangster? 324 00:15:27,054 --> 00:15:28,904 OK. 325 00:15:28,904 --> 00:15:29,934 And then? 326 00:15:29,934 --> 00:15:32,414 Steplight. Steplight? Yes. Louis. 327 00:15:32,414 --> 00:15:34,374 Rambo. Rambo? 328 00:15:34,374 --> 00:15:35,764 Let me show you something. 329 00:15:35,764 --> 00:15:37,814 My shit going crazy on... Look, Spotify. 330 00:15:37,814 --> 00:15:39,015 Look what it's at right now. 331 00:15:39,015 --> 00:15:41,255 34 million. That's been about a year. 332 00:15:41,255 --> 00:15:42,494 34 million. 333 00:15:42,494 --> 00:15:44,504 34 million. Address It. 334 00:15:44,504 --> 00:15:46,574 Address It is really a beef track, right? 335 00:15:46,574 --> 00:15:48,944 Yeah, like, I was addressing a situation. 336 00:15:48,944 --> 00:15:51,135 I had got some beef thrown at me by this other artist, 337 00:15:51,135 --> 00:15:52,344 you know what I'm saying? 338 00:15:52,344 --> 00:15:54,624 So I had to... A local artist? ..do some shots back. Yeah. 339 00:15:54,624 --> 00:15:55,744 You know what I'm saying? 340 00:15:55,744 --> 00:15:57,664 From Orlando. Y'all probably know him, but... 341 00:15:57,664 --> 00:15:59,294 You don't want to put his name out there? 342 00:15:59,294 --> 00:16:01,704 No, I don't want to talk about him. You know what I'm saying? 343 00:16:01,704 --> 00:16:03,984 He kept doing it. Why would they do that? 344 00:16:03,984 --> 00:16:05,844 I don't know but I feel like it's hate, 345 00:16:05,844 --> 00:16:07,204 you know what I'm saying? 346 00:16:07,204 --> 00:16:10,005 Then the streets looking like he punking them. 347 00:16:10,005 --> 00:16:13,734 The track is along the lines of, "If you want to take it there, 348 00:16:13,734 --> 00:16:15,774 "we can take it there." Type shit, yeah, exactly. 349 00:16:15,774 --> 00:16:18,374 You know what I'm saying? Right. Like, bro, I ain't offended... 350 00:16:18,374 --> 00:16:21,094 You know what I'm saying? It just like kept on going on, like you know 351 00:16:21,094 --> 00:16:24,094 how you keep on teasing something, teasing something, teasing something 352 00:16:24,094 --> 00:16:26,734 till you get tired of it? You know what I'm saying? It's like I lost 353 00:16:26,734 --> 00:16:29,284 my shit. Like, "If that's what you want to do then we can do that." 354 00:16:29,284 --> 00:16:30,654 At a certain point, you got shot. 355 00:16:30,654 --> 00:16:31,885 Yeah, I got shot last year. 356 00:16:31,885 --> 00:16:34,734 You and another guy, and the other guy, wasn't he shot and killed? 357 00:16:34,734 --> 00:16:37,054 Yeah. You know what I'm saying? It was... 358 00:16:37,054 --> 00:16:38,654 He was a kid that I grew up with. 359 00:16:38,654 --> 00:16:41,344 And he was an athlete... Yeah. 360 00:16:41,344 --> 00:16:43,704 ...and was looking to get out of the situation he was in. 361 00:16:43,704 --> 00:16:45,984 Yeah, he was gone. He was there, like, in two more weeks. 362 00:16:45,984 --> 00:16:48,444 I was just talking to him right before the shooting happened. 363 00:16:48,444 --> 00:16:50,864 He was telling me, he like, "Bro, we're the only two," like, 364 00:16:50,864 --> 00:16:53,634 you know what I'm saying, "that's going to take the hood out of here." 365 00:16:53,634 --> 00:16:55,064 You know what I'm saying? 366 00:16:55,064 --> 00:16:57,814 Then, later on, like a couple hours later, he ends up getting killed. 367 00:16:58,934 --> 00:17:00,364 Shit just happens. 368 00:17:04,574 --> 00:17:05,784 That's pretty sad. 369 00:17:05,784 --> 00:17:07,015 Yeah, it's tough. 370 00:17:07,015 --> 00:17:09,174 This was around the time when my music and everything 371 00:17:09,174 --> 00:17:11,454 was blowing up. Address It took off on TikTok. 372 00:17:11,454 --> 00:17:13,864 The track could have exacerbated a situation that was 373 00:17:13,864 --> 00:17:15,094 already tense, right? 374 00:17:15,094 --> 00:17:17,015 I mean, I don't know. 375 00:17:17,015 --> 00:17:20,054 However you want to put it, I guess. 376 00:17:20,054 --> 00:17:21,734 You think it was related? 377 00:17:21,734 --> 00:17:24,294 I can't say it was or not, but I mean... 378 00:17:24,294 --> 00:17:26,614 Mm... 379 00:17:26,614 --> 00:17:28,864 Definitely. 380 00:17:28,864 --> 00:17:30,984 Did they catch the person who shot you? 381 00:17:30,984 --> 00:17:34,234 Uh, I don't... No. It's been a year now. 382 00:17:34,234 --> 00:17:35,744 You kept that in the streets? 383 00:17:35,744 --> 00:17:38,454 Yeah. HE LAUGHS 384 00:17:38,454 --> 00:17:40,664 He cool with it, you know? 385 00:17:40,664 --> 00:17:42,025 For real, though, yeah. 386 00:17:42,025 --> 00:17:43,145 Did you? 387 00:17:43,145 --> 00:17:44,895 Yeah, I mean, hey. 388 00:17:44,895 --> 00:17:47,094 The object of the game is to stay alive. 389 00:17:47,094 --> 00:17:50,064 That's where I'm at. You know what I'm saying? 390 00:17:50,064 --> 00:17:51,574 In response to the violence, 391 00:17:51,574 --> 00:17:54,944 Poody had taken the unusual step of going on Instagram 392 00:17:54,944 --> 00:17:57,104 to disavow the feuding. 393 00:17:57,104 --> 00:17:59,895 I'm not part of no gang, I ain't beefing with nobody. 394 00:18:01,744 --> 00:18:04,734 All these bodies end up dead, missing and all that, 395 00:18:04,734 --> 00:18:06,944 I ain't got nothing to do with that, at all. 396 00:18:06,944 --> 00:18:08,584 Nah, Poody scared, he ain't vibing. 397 00:18:08,584 --> 00:18:10,504 I'm scared. I ain't vibing. I'm scared, y'all. 398 00:18:10,504 --> 00:18:13,304 I'm a rapper, bro. I'm a full-time rapper. 399 00:18:13,304 --> 00:18:17,064 Poody's move to LA had been in part an attempt to get away from 400 00:18:17,064 --> 00:18:20,064 the street politics of his home city. 401 00:18:20,064 --> 00:18:21,895 Sad to say, correct me if I'm wrong, 402 00:18:21,895 --> 00:18:25,974 the situation now is where just your being here could be construed 403 00:18:25,974 --> 00:18:29,514 as what? Like, that could lead potentially to something? 404 00:18:29,514 --> 00:18:31,895 Or... I don't know, man. ..you're just conscious of not... 405 00:18:31,895 --> 00:18:33,374 It, like... What is it? 406 00:18:33,374 --> 00:18:34,974 I don't know. You know what I'm saying? 407 00:18:34,974 --> 00:18:37,614 I might do be a target, but I don't know, cos I'm somebody now, 408 00:18:37,614 --> 00:18:40,025 you know what I'm saying? I'm rapping. I don't know who feel 409 00:18:40,025 --> 00:18:42,714 like they got any kind of animosity towards me. I don't know. 410 00:18:42,714 --> 00:18:45,094 It could be from anywhere. You ain't never know - it could be 411 00:18:45,094 --> 00:18:47,304 somebody close to you. They just don't like... 412 00:18:47,304 --> 00:18:49,254 Well, you think one of these guys might do you in? 413 00:18:49,254 --> 00:18:52,074 Nah, nah. HE LAUGHS 414 00:18:52,074 --> 00:18:54,744 You think there could be trouble right here right now? 415 00:18:54,744 --> 00:18:56,814 It could pop off at any minute, any second. 416 00:18:56,814 --> 00:18:58,814 Anything, man. You don't know. One of these... 417 00:18:58,814 --> 00:19:00,224 "It could pop off at any second"! 418 00:19:00,224 --> 00:19:01,576 Yeah, real spills! 419 00:19:01,576 --> 00:19:02,826 Nah, though. These my boys. 420 00:19:02,826 --> 00:19:04,963 No, these are your guys, right? They've got your back. 421 00:19:04,963 --> 00:19:06,874 Oh, yeah. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. 422 00:19:06,874 --> 00:19:10,413 My back, my front, my side. Left, right, up, down. 423 00:19:10,413 --> 00:19:11,953 They got everything! 424 00:19:11,953 --> 00:19:13,403 I'm good. 425 00:19:16,653 --> 00:19:20,763 With the feuding and it's cost in human life all too real, 426 00:19:20,763 --> 00:19:23,573 Poody struck me as someone caught up in a situation 427 00:19:23,573 --> 00:19:28,593 he neither wanted nor was able to fully put behind him, 428 00:19:28,593 --> 00:19:31,723 in a world where disagreements expressed in music 429 00:19:31,723 --> 00:19:35,563 and on social media could have lethal consequences. 430 00:19:46,443 --> 00:19:50,153 Away from the crime-plagued world of trap, there exists 431 00:19:50,153 --> 00:19:54,413 a related but distinct subgenre of rap known as SoundCloud. 432 00:19:54,413 --> 00:19:56,793 433 00:20:00,513 --> 00:20:02,413 Chronicled in cartoonish videos, 434 00:20:02,413 --> 00:20:05,203 with a more racially diverse cast of rappers, 435 00:20:05,203 --> 00:20:08,353 it too has been turbo-charged by social media... 436 00:20:08,353 --> 00:20:11,083 437 00:20:11,083 --> 00:20:13,653 ...with artists showing off their facial tattoos 438 00:20:13,653 --> 00:20:16,523 and large quantities of prescription drugs. 439 00:20:16,523 --> 00:20:18,363 SMASHING 440 00:20:20,493 --> 00:20:22,673 In a Cuban area of the Miami suburbs, 441 00:20:22,673 --> 00:20:25,823 I had an appointment with Fernando Estrada Jr, 442 00:20:25,823 --> 00:20:27,823 better known as Brokebaby. 443 00:20:29,223 --> 00:20:30,864 You record in here a little bit? 444 00:20:30,864 --> 00:20:32,023 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 445 00:20:32,023 --> 00:20:34,874 Because your mic's there, yeah, OK, so you do it from behind there. 446 00:20:34,874 --> 00:20:37,573 Yeah. Would you be able to do a little performance? 447 00:20:37,573 --> 00:20:39,114 Yeah, of course. 448 00:20:50,984 --> 00:20:52,903 That was good. It had... 449 00:20:52,903 --> 00:20:56,653 I liked that, that counterpoint of the trebly, slightly tinny, 450 00:20:56,653 --> 00:21:01,463 melodic sample, and then the thumping bass. 451 00:21:01,463 --> 00:21:04,864 Do you think if you just talk into it, like, you just start freestyling 452 00:21:04,864 --> 00:21:06,213 and it just happens? 453 00:21:06,213 --> 00:21:07,523 Shall I try? 454 00:21:07,523 --> 00:21:09,874 Go ahead. 455 00:21:09,874 --> 00:21:11,593 456 00:21:11,593 --> 00:21:13,373 we are talking 457 00:21:13,373 --> 00:21:15,143 and rocking... 458 00:21:15,143 --> 00:21:16,183 We're rocking. 459 00:21:16,183 --> 00:21:17,553 460 00:21:17,553 --> 00:21:19,273 OK. 461 00:21:19,273 --> 00:21:21,263 462 00:21:21,263 --> 00:21:23,573 463 00:21:23,573 --> 00:21:25,854 464 00:21:25,854 --> 00:21:29,293 and it be dope and it is sound. 465 00:21:29,293 --> 00:21:31,303 Oh! 466 00:21:31,303 --> 00:21:33,864 That's right there. He's from Florida. 467 00:21:33,864 --> 00:21:35,913 LAUGHTER 468 00:21:35,913 --> 00:21:37,013 Florida! 469 00:21:38,463 --> 00:21:40,013 Talk me through your tattoos. 470 00:21:40,013 --> 00:21:42,453 The common question everybody asks me is like, 471 00:21:42,453 --> 00:21:44,603 "Bro, were you high, were you drunk when you got them?" 472 00:21:44,603 --> 00:21:46,483 And it was like... What do they say? 473 00:21:46,483 --> 00:21:49,683 This is the Aquarius sign. 474 00:21:49,683 --> 00:21:51,573 Cos I'm an Aquarius. 475 00:21:51,573 --> 00:21:55,853 This one, I just went to a tattoo shop one day and, like, 476 00:21:55,853 --> 00:21:58,443 a little, like... A little sauced. 477 00:21:58,443 --> 00:21:59,923 And I just told my artist, 478 00:21:59,923 --> 00:22:02,733 "Oh, mess me up, man. Like, do whatever." 479 00:22:07,243 --> 00:22:09,283 Oh, my toes curling, boy. 480 00:22:10,653 --> 00:22:12,603 He actually gave me, like, an open wound. 481 00:22:12,603 --> 00:22:15,323 That's what the tattoo is. So he took it literal. 482 00:22:15,323 --> 00:22:18,093 Like, "Dude, I messed you up, like, I gave you an open wound." 483 00:22:18,093 --> 00:22:19,613 I'm like, "Oh, man." 484 00:22:19,613 --> 00:22:22,653 Did it feel like a big step when you got your facial tattoos? 485 00:22:22,653 --> 00:22:25,453 To be honest, nah. I was like, "I want to do music but 486 00:22:25,453 --> 00:22:28,323 "I want to dedicate myself, like, 1 don't want to half-ass it." 487 00:22:28,323 --> 00:22:29,653 You want to commit to it. 488 00:22:29,653 --> 00:22:32,093 Yeah, like, my face was marked up. "I have to do this." 489 00:22:32,093 --> 00:22:34,754 So whenever I look in the mirror, whenever I open my phone, 490 00:22:34,754 --> 00:22:37,323 I see my little black reflection, I see my face, I'm like, 491 00:22:37,323 --> 00:22:39,453 "All right, time to get on that microphone." 492 00:22:39,453 --> 00:22:41,683 One of your tracks is called Punk Baby. 493 00:22:41,683 --> 00:22:45,754 Yeah. And it's got lots of references to you taking 494 00:22:45,754 --> 00:22:47,383 large quantities of drugs. 495 00:22:47,383 --> 00:22:49,673 Yeah. Brother, you gotta do something that, like... 496 00:22:49,673 --> 00:22:51,463 Nobody wants to listen to gospel. 497 00:22:51,463 --> 00:22:53,744 Like, if you wanna listen to gospel, 498 00:22:53,744 --> 00:22:56,073 listen to, like, a reverend or something. 499 00:22:56,073 --> 00:23:00,433 I'm gonna just talk about ignorant stuff cos like it sounds good 500 00:23:00,433 --> 00:23:01,783 in the car. 501 00:23:01,783 --> 00:23:04,463 So you're saying that's just cos it sounds good and it feels good 502 00:23:04,463 --> 00:23:06,913 to play it and listen to it? Yeah, it's a party track. Yeah. 503 00:23:06,913 --> 00:23:09,103 You gotta portray the image you're trying to sell. 504 00:23:09,103 --> 00:23:10,943 Let's look at the video. 505 00:23:10,943 --> 00:23:12,103 Do you have your phone? 506 00:23:12,103 --> 00:23:13,273 Of course. 507 00:23:13,273 --> 00:23:14,913 MUSIC: Punk Baby by Brokebaby 508 00:23:14,913 --> 00:23:16,633 509 00:23:16,633 --> 00:23:18,373 510 00:23:18,373 --> 00:23:20,293 511 00:23:20,293 --> 00:23:21,533 512 00:23:21,533 --> 00:23:23,884 513 00:23:23,884 --> 00:23:25,913 514 00:23:25,913 --> 00:23:28,543 515 00:23:28,543 --> 00:23:31,293 Brokebaby's biggest hit had been his debut release, 516 00:23:31,293 --> 00:23:33,533 Punk Baby, dropped three years ago, 517 00:23:33,533 --> 00:23:36,393 featuring his best friend, Mikey $wah. 518 00:23:36,393 --> 00:23:39,593 Mikey had died in 2020 from a drug overdose. 519 00:23:39,593 --> 00:23:42,653 The video was an over-the-top celebration of 520 00:23:42,653 --> 00:23:44,603 prescription drug taking. 521 00:23:44,603 --> 00:23:45,874 "Bitch, I'm off my shit... 522 00:23:45,874 --> 00:23:47,183 "Poppin' Percocet. 523 00:23:47,183 --> 00:23:49,663 "Popping Percocet.” Percocet is a... "Xanny, be my friend." 524 00:23:49,663 --> 00:23:52,103 It's a prescription opiate. Yeah. 525 00:23:52,103 --> 00:23:54,583 "Xanny, be my...friend"? My friend, yeah. 526 00:23:54,583 --> 00:23:57,283 Xanax is my friend. Xanax is a... A benzo. 527 00:23:57,283 --> 00:23:59,744 It's a benzodiazepine. Yeah. Freestylin'. 528 00:23:59,744 --> 00:24:02,043 Nobody has ever said, "Xanny is my friend." 529 00:24:02,043 --> 00:24:04,373 How important is it to keep it real, though? 530 00:24:04,373 --> 00:24:06,483 You have to play your role. 531 00:24:06,483 --> 00:24:10,553 To promote a song, right, I could've just easily recorded me 532 00:24:10,553 --> 00:24:12,433 just singing along, right? 533 00:24:12,433 --> 00:24:16,933 Oh, just pretend to do a bump of cocaine in the beginning. 534 00:24:16,933 --> 00:24:20,453 So now people actually will listen to my snippet. 535 00:24:20,453 --> 00:24:22,583 But you weren't actually doing any cocaine? 536 00:24:22,583 --> 00:24:24,994 Yes, but they didn't show it. 537 00:24:24,994 --> 00:24:26,803 Wait, on that one we just saw... 538 00:24:26,803 --> 00:24:28,593 Yeah. ..you were doing cocaine? 539 00:24:28,593 --> 00:24:30,553 But did you see it? HE LAUGHS 540 00:24:34,313 --> 00:24:35,443 Oh, I just liked it. 541 00:24:35,443 --> 00:24:36,523 Sorry. 542 00:24:36,523 --> 00:24:37,953 I was trying to rewind. 543 00:24:39,273 --> 00:24:42,884 Would it be more embarrassing to be taking it or not taking it? 544 00:24:42,884 --> 00:24:44,754 What do the two scenarios imply? 545 00:24:44,754 --> 00:24:48,443 So it's like you rap about drugs but then you say you don't do them, 546 00:24:48,443 --> 00:24:50,373 you kind of look like a poser. 547 00:24:50,373 --> 00:24:54,014 To be real you had to live up to the lyrics and the image 548 00:24:54,014 --> 00:24:55,323 that you were portraying? 549 00:24:55,323 --> 00:24:58,233 Yeah, yeah, that was my mind-set at first. 550 00:24:58,233 --> 00:25:01,243 But then it's really self-destructive. 551 00:25:01,243 --> 00:25:03,923 I'm getting mixed messages on where you're at 552 00:25:03,923 --> 00:25:07,083 with respect to drugs in reality. 553 00:25:07,083 --> 00:25:09,563 I've been sober for over eight months, so... 554 00:25:09,563 --> 00:25:10,803 Have you? 555 00:25:10,803 --> 00:25:13,273 Yeah. If anything, I just smoke my weed. 556 00:25:13,273 --> 00:25:15,593 But you don't do hard drugs, is that right? 557 00:25:15,593 --> 00:25:17,004 No, no. There's no point. 558 00:25:17,004 --> 00:25:20,173 You're just... You're having fun for the moment. 559 00:25:20,173 --> 00:25:23,913 And you're not making the most out of the moment. 560 00:25:23,913 --> 00:25:26,163 I mean, it took my best friend's life. 561 00:25:26,163 --> 00:25:29,533 I was popping pills but, like, he was into, like, the heavy shit. 562 00:25:36,333 --> 00:25:39,323 Speaking to Broke, I'd been struck that in his world, 563 00:25:39,323 --> 00:25:43,323 as with the world of trap, a career that relied on provocations 564 00:25:43,323 --> 00:25:46,843 chronicled on social media also carried risks. 565 00:25:57,113 --> 00:26:00,553 you know there's no limit, yo 566 00:26:00,553 --> 00:26:02,913 you know there's no limit 567 00:26:02,913 --> 00:26:05,313 and he's standing on business... 568 00:26:05,313 --> 00:26:08,173 Since meeting Hotboii and Poody, I'd been thinking about the deaths 569 00:26:08,173 --> 00:26:09,393 plaguing the trap scene. 570 00:26:09,393 --> 00:26:10,913 571 00:26:10,913 --> 00:26:12,833 572 00:26:12,833 --> 00:26:14,123 On the northside of Miami, 573 00:26:14,123 --> 00:26:16,323 I'd made contact with another local figure... 574 00:26:16,323 --> 00:26:19,563 blockstar shit... 575 00:26:19,563 --> 00:26:23,553 Ratchet Roach straddles the worlds of SoundCloud and trap, 576 00:26:23,553 --> 00:26:26,163 but he is mainly known for his role as a security guy 577 00:26:26,163 --> 00:26:27,894 to other rappers. 578 00:26:27,894 --> 00:26:30,523 I was hoping he might help me understand the violence in 579 00:26:30,523 --> 00:26:32,603 the lives of so many artists. 580 00:26:32,603 --> 00:26:34,173 Let me hear that shit. 581 00:26:34,173 --> 00:26:35,923 When did you write that one, Ratchet? 582 00:26:35,923 --> 00:26:37,163 In the car on the way here. 583 00:26:37,163 --> 00:26:38,884 Really? What are you saying? 584 00:26:38,884 --> 00:26:41,133 What is it? I said... Yeah. What is the lyric? 585 00:26:41,133 --> 00:26:43,163 I said, I said... I say... What did I say? 586 00:26:43,163 --> 00:26:45,093 "There ain't no gimmicks with this." I said... 587 00:26:45,093 --> 00:26:46,483 588 00:26:46,483 --> 00:26:50,163 If you... 589 00:26:50,163 --> 00:26:52,353 then you'd know there's no limit, 590 00:26:52,353 --> 00:26:54,963 and he's standing on business... 591 00:26:54,963 --> 00:26:56,203 "Scrappy scrap?" 592 00:26:56,203 --> 00:26:58,453 Scrappy - that's like my home boy, my scrap - 593 00:26:58,453 --> 00:27:02,473 I said, "Scrappy strapped up and he's standing on business." 594 00:27:02,473 --> 00:27:04,644 What's "Scrappy scrapped up" mean? Like our scraps. 595 00:27:04,644 --> 00:27:06,123 Like my scraps, like my home boy. 596 00:27:06,123 --> 00:27:08,093 Scrappy strapped up like he got the scrap on him. 597 00:27:08,093 --> 00:27:09,884 Scrappy STRAPPED up? 598 00:27:09,884 --> 00:27:12,913 So basically you're saying, "I have a friend here, 599 00:27:12,913 --> 00:27:17,923 "he's got a gun and we are robbing and we are..." 600 00:27:17,923 --> 00:27:19,483 LAUGHTER 601 00:27:19,483 --> 00:27:20,803 Is that basically it? 602 00:27:20,803 --> 00:27:23,173 Got it. Like, "It ain't no gimmicks with this" be like, 603 00:27:23,173 --> 00:27:25,483 "It ain't no jokes with this. Like, this ain't no movie." 604 00:27:25,483 --> 00:27:28,283 Do you ever worry that you're glamourising it? 605 00:27:28,283 --> 00:27:31,083 No, cos it's like... It's already been altered in my life already. 606 00:27:31,083 --> 00:27:34,083 Let me tell you why he can't say it like that, cos then he'll be 607 00:27:34,083 --> 00:27:36,563 some of these other rappers that really just talk about... 608 00:27:36,563 --> 00:27:39,043 Like, they just telling a story. He ain't just telling a story. 609 00:27:39,043 --> 00:27:41,813 Yeah, I be really telling the truth. It's really his life. My life. 610 00:27:41,813 --> 00:27:44,884 You can make stuff up, but... But Scrappy's not strapped up here. 611 00:27:44,884 --> 00:27:46,533 LAUGHS: We ain't going to show you... 612 00:27:46,533 --> 00:27:48,073 You want me to...? You think you...? 613 00:27:48,073 --> 00:27:51,073 THEY LAUGH He's standing on business! 614 00:27:58,723 --> 00:28:01,173 For an education in the source of the music, 615 00:28:01,173 --> 00:28:03,894 Ratchet had offered to take me to one of his old neighbourhoods. 616 00:28:03,894 --> 00:28:05,973 Y'all in the trenches now! 617 00:28:10,283 --> 00:28:12,973 Deerfield Beach lies north of Miami, 618 00:28:12,973 --> 00:28:15,523 an area with off-the-charts unemployment 619 00:28:15,523 --> 00:28:18,563 and a homicide rate well above the national average. 620 00:28:21,483 --> 00:28:22,803 Do you rap as well? 621 00:28:22,803 --> 00:28:26,183 I'm Billy Glocks. I mean, I rap sometimes, but not really. 622 00:28:26,183 --> 00:28:28,644 MAN LAUGHS I'm really the background man. 623 00:28:28,644 --> 00:28:30,443 How do you fit in, Billy Glocks? 624 00:28:30,443 --> 00:28:33,603 Security. Are you? Do you have any Glocks? 625 00:28:33,603 --> 00:28:36,253 Not with me. I got something else, though. 626 00:28:36,253 --> 00:28:38,293 What's that? It's for real. This is an AR. 627 00:28:40,533 --> 00:28:42,693 Really... This is a submachine gun. 628 00:28:42,693 --> 00:28:45,083 Why do you have that? For protection! 629 00:28:45,083 --> 00:28:48,243 Against who? Against anybody. 630 00:28:48,243 --> 00:28:50,493 My friends are famous. They're rappers. 631 00:28:50,493 --> 00:28:52,693 They got to be protected at all times. 632 00:28:56,133 --> 00:28:57,644 This is where you grew up, Ratchet? 633 00:28:57,644 --> 00:28:59,894 I grew up in Coral Springs, and then I stayed in Pompano, 634 00:28:59,894 --> 00:29:01,183 which is on the other side. 635 00:29:01,183 --> 00:29:03,313 This a big part of Ratchet Roach. 636 00:29:03,313 --> 00:29:05,233 I ain't never forgetting where I come from. 637 00:29:05,233 --> 00:29:08,143 What's up? What y'all want to walk around there? 638 00:29:08,143 --> 00:29:10,793 You good, Louis? Yes. Stay by me, man. We got to... 639 00:29:10,793 --> 00:29:14,203 We got to protect Louis... Louis walking through the trenches, look. 640 00:29:14,203 --> 00:29:16,723 Why do you call it the trenches? It's treacherous. 641 00:29:16,723 --> 00:29:19,393 You're suggesting that this is a dangerous area? 642 00:29:19,393 --> 00:29:21,523 Anybody can't walk through the hood with a camera 643 00:29:21,523 --> 00:29:24,053 and all that jewellery on and all that, cos they'll get you. 644 00:29:24,053 --> 00:29:27,693 Why would... Why would they do that? You got to have a name and a face. 645 00:29:27,693 --> 00:29:31,744 I'm in the Deerfield. What happening? That Ratchet? 646 00:29:31,744 --> 00:29:33,053 Text me, text me. 647 00:29:34,933 --> 00:29:37,513 Louis. Nice to meet you. Yeah. Louis, man! 648 00:29:37,513 --> 00:29:40,063 Nice to meet you, Louis. You too. Multimillionaire in the hood! 649 00:29:40,063 --> 00:29:42,913 Stop playing! 650 00:29:42,913 --> 00:29:45,613 Present company excluded, who do the kids look up to 651 00:29:45,613 --> 00:29:47,894 and the people feel, in terms of rap? Over here? 652 00:29:47,894 --> 00:29:49,483 Yeah, in terms of, like, next level. 653 00:29:49,483 --> 00:29:54,203 Man, I'm... Truth. More factual pain music. Street poets. 654 00:29:54,203 --> 00:29:57,203 Yeah, but who? Like Hotboii? NFL Von. Himself. 655 00:29:57,203 --> 00:29:59,524 We know NFL Von, we know where we're from, 656 00:29:59,524 --> 00:30:01,283 we know what's going on around here, so... 657 00:30:01,283 --> 00:30:03,083 You ask anyone of these young boys out here, 658 00:30:03,083 --> 00:30:05,153 they're going to know a Von song. Wait, is Von here? 659 00:30:05,153 --> 00:30:07,093 Von on the porch. He can't... He on house arrest. 660 00:30:07,093 --> 00:30:09,083 He can't leave the porch. He can't leave the porch? 661 00:30:09,083 --> 00:30:10,524 But you just see how he just gave...? 662 00:30:10,524 --> 00:30:13,213 Did you see how he gave the green light to come over here, though? 663 00:30:13,213 --> 00:30:15,053 Who gave us the green light to come over here? 664 00:30:15,053 --> 00:30:16,883 Von was at the porch. You see me talking. 665 00:30:16,883 --> 00:30:19,093 He talk, then he said, "Go to the block." 666 00:30:19,093 --> 00:30:21,143 That means he gave us a green light to come out here 667 00:30:21,143 --> 00:30:22,693 and just be able to breathe, cos... 668 00:30:22,693 --> 00:30:24,413 So are we here under Von's protection? 669 00:30:24,413 --> 00:30:28,253 Yeah, you're under Von's protection right now, cos I protect myself. 670 00:30:28,253 --> 00:30:30,693 I'm not worried about me. Now I'm more worried about you. 671 00:30:30,693 --> 00:30:32,853 I tell you what, I'l put you under Von's protection. 672 00:30:32,853 --> 00:30:34,993 You got to understand... Look, these my niggas, right? 673 00:30:34,993 --> 00:30:36,983 Louis, I'm in the field. Your ass not in the field. 674 00:30:36,983 --> 00:30:39,093 I'm going to look after you, man. THEY LAUGH 675 00:30:39,093 --> 00:30:41,043 You look worried. 'Ll take care of you. 676 00:30:44,413 --> 00:30:46,423 Is this Von? That's NFL Von. 677 00:30:46,423 --> 00:30:48,873 At a house up the block, I had a chance to meet 678 00:30:48,873 --> 00:30:53,253 the neighbourhood's newest rap hope, NFL Von. 679 00:30:53,253 --> 00:30:56,413 That's a lot of money. I won't run away with it? May I? 680 00:30:56,413 --> 00:30:59,313 You can't, cos that's going to be a bad thing, Louis. 681 00:30:59,313 --> 00:31:01,553 And we're protecting you, Louis. Remember that. 682 00:31:01,553 --> 00:31:05,213 It's all 20s, 50s, 100s! 683 00:31:05,213 --> 00:31:07,493 That's a lot of money! You've got to understand, Louis. 684 00:31:07,493 --> 00:31:09,863 Do you really want to be walking around with that? 685 00:31:12,053 --> 00:31:13,093 Yeah. 686 00:31:14,283 --> 00:31:17,493 Why don't you put it in a bank? Let it earn some interest. 687 00:31:17,493 --> 00:31:19,423 But what if somebody scam me? 688 00:31:19,423 --> 00:31:20,933 Someone would scam you? 689 00:31:20,933 --> 00:31:24,343 Well, you've got to look at what the rates of interest are. 690 00:31:24,343 --> 00:31:26,693 Why is it important to you to show the money? 691 00:31:26,693 --> 00:31:28,793 Nah, it's just showing your wealth. 692 00:31:28,793 --> 00:31:30,423 Why, though? People want to know that. 693 00:31:30,423 --> 00:31:33,524 People want to interact with you. If people know you broke, 694 00:31:33,524 --> 00:31:35,453 they not going to pay attention to you. 695 00:31:35,453 --> 00:31:37,443 If they know you got money, they going to watch, 696 00:31:37,443 --> 00:31:38,883 they going to, like... 697 00:31:38,883 --> 00:31:44,193 It's important to...create an impression of material success. 698 00:31:44,193 --> 00:31:45,353 Are you doing shows? 699 00:31:45,353 --> 00:31:49,463 Nah. I got two more months on community patrol, like house arrest. 700 00:31:49,463 --> 00:31:51,343 I can't leave right here. 701 00:31:51,343 --> 00:31:53,754 How long were you inside for? 702 00:31:53,754 --> 00:31:55,673 Me? Inside the house? 703 00:31:55,673 --> 00:31:57,223 No, no, in jail? 704 00:31:57,223 --> 00:31:59,263 Oh, I did two and a half years, then I got out, 705 00:31:59,263 --> 00:32:01,514 and I went back in for like 30 days. 706 00:32:06,433 --> 00:32:10,003 Got to. Everybody trying to get out the 'jets. 707 00:32:10,003 --> 00:32:13,143 Get out the...? The 'jets. What's the jets? The hood. 708 00:32:13,143 --> 00:32:15,473 No, it's like project. Like, short for projects. 709 00:32:15,473 --> 00:32:17,583 Projects. All right. 710 00:32:17,583 --> 00:32:19,504 Is there a track you want to play? 711 00:32:19,504 --> 00:32:21,683 Yeah. OK, let's do it. 712 00:32:41,783 --> 00:32:43,953 Them boys stars! Them boys stars! LAUGHTER 713 00:32:52,213 --> 00:32:55,613 The visit to Deerfield Beach was a reminder of the appeal 714 00:32:55,613 --> 00:32:59,453 of those artists most closely connected with the streets 715 00:32:59,453 --> 00:33:01,863 and the urge of residents to hear music 716 00:33:01,863 --> 00:33:04,743 that reflected their real-life struggles. 717 00:33:05,963 --> 00:33:08,794 For many of those in areas of low opportunity, 718 00:33:08,794 --> 00:33:13,253 a rap career represents one of the few clear avenues to success. 719 00:33:33,373 --> 00:33:35,493 ON RADIO: Good Friday morning. I'm Sam Chapman. 720 00:33:35,493 --> 00:33:37,493 First, your morning headlines... 721 00:33:37,493 --> 00:33:41,413 It was now three months since I'd first arrived in Florida. 722 00:33:41,413 --> 00:33:44,503 Homicides in the state had been surging. 723 00:33:44,503 --> 00:33:48,093 According to the Department of Law Enforcement's annual crime report, 724 00:33:48,093 --> 00:33:49,803 murders rose nearly 15% 725 00:33:49,803 --> 00:33:53,613 and aggravated assaults increased by nearly 10%... 726 00:33:56,853 --> 00:34:00,303 News had come that the most controversial of Orlando's rappers, 727 00:34:00,303 --> 00:34:04,033 9lokkNine, who'd allegedly feuded with Hotboii and Poody, 728 00:34:04,033 --> 00:34:07,203 had been released from jail on bond while he awaited trial 729 00:34:07,203 --> 00:34:08,754 for attempted murder. 730 00:34:08,754 --> 00:34:12,943 I don't take this internet shit serious. I laugh at this shit. 731 00:34:12,943 --> 00:34:15,483 I'd contacted his lawyers, hoping to speak to him. 732 00:34:17,563 --> 00:34:19,383 While I was waiting to hear back, 733 00:34:19,383 --> 00:34:22,053 I received a video message from Brokebaby. 734 00:34:22,053 --> 00:34:24,963 Hey, man, Louis, you need to come back here, man, honestly. 735 00:34:24,963 --> 00:34:27,123 Got to talk again, for real. 736 00:34:27,123 --> 00:34:29,863 He revealed on the phone that the last time we'd spoken, 737 00:34:29,863 --> 00:34:33,383 he'd been high on Xanax, but now he was clean. 738 00:34:33,383 --> 00:34:35,443 Hey! What's up, my man? How you doing? 739 00:34:35,443 --> 00:34:39,123 It's good to see you. Chillin', chillin'. Can we come in? Of course. 740 00:34:39,123 --> 00:34:41,664 He'd offered to introduce me to his parents. 741 00:34:41,664 --> 00:34:44,103 Hi. How are you? Hola. Hello. 742 00:34:44,103 --> 00:34:45,713 Cuban coffee? 743 00:34:45,713 --> 00:34:48,953 Cuban coffee would be nice. Si. Por favor. 744 00:34:50,313 --> 00:34:54,383 Have you listened? Has escuchado la musica de Brokebaby? 745 00:34:54,383 --> 00:34:56,773 I like that. You like it? Yeah. 746 00:34:56,773 --> 00:35:01,593 Oh, my God! Tell Me First is... I'm loving it. 747 00:35:01,593 --> 00:35:05,203 And you're OK with the tattoos? The tattoos? 748 00:35:05,203 --> 00:35:07,363 Que es la palabra en espanol? 749 00:35:07,363 --> 00:35:09,394 Tattoos. Tattoos? Tattoos. 750 00:35:09,394 --> 00:35:11,883 No es un problema por la madre de Brokebaby? 751 00:35:11,883 --> 00:35:14,483 No, no, no. Para nada. Para nada. 752 00:35:14,483 --> 00:35:17,123 Adelante. Go ahead. 753 00:35:17,123 --> 00:35:20,283 And did you... Have you been open about substance issues 754 00:35:20,283 --> 00:35:22,953 that you've had in the past? Oh, yeah, they know about that. 755 00:35:22,953 --> 00:35:25,384 And they've helped me with it too, you know. Really? 756 00:35:25,384 --> 00:35:27,583 Yeah, going to, like, detoxes and all that. 757 00:35:29,163 --> 00:35:33,723 It's a complicated side to the music. Yeah. 758 00:35:35,644 --> 00:35:38,993 So they understand but they've helped me a lot with it. 759 00:35:38,993 --> 00:35:40,514 Have they? Yeah, yeah. 760 00:35:43,524 --> 00:35:46,293 We should look at some photos of you from back in the day. 761 00:35:49,473 --> 00:35:51,644 This is Baby. 762 00:35:51,644 --> 00:35:53,524 That's Brokebaby as a baby. 763 00:35:53,524 --> 00:35:55,404 Baby! 764 00:35:55,404 --> 00:35:57,853 Very cute. SHE LAUGHS 765 00:35:57,853 --> 00:35:59,473 This is him with long hair. 766 00:35:59,473 --> 00:36:03,723 GASPS: With long hair? That's you? Yes, sir. 767 00:36:03,723 --> 00:36:05,683 And who are you with? My girlfriend. 768 00:36:05,683 --> 00:36:08,404 I've been with her six, seven years. 769 00:36:08,404 --> 00:36:11,673 What's her name? Megan. She's already on her way over here. 770 00:36:11,673 --> 00:36:12,953 Is she? Yeah, yeah. 771 00:36:17,683 --> 00:36:18,923 I'm not sure. 772 00:36:20,833 --> 00:36:21,953 Should we have a look? 773 00:36:25,993 --> 00:36:29,593 Bro, you be speeding it! Thank you. This looks fire. 774 00:36:32,573 --> 00:36:34,003 All right, I'll let you know. 775 00:36:41,083 --> 00:36:44,193 With his mic still on, Brokebaby had what sounded like 776 00:36:44,193 --> 00:36:46,243 a drug deal with his friend. 777 00:36:49,723 --> 00:36:51,723 Finally! 778 00:36:51,723 --> 00:36:54,753 Everything OK? Yeah, I've been needing this for a minute. 779 00:36:54,753 --> 00:36:58,243 Was that Megan? Nah, that's her friend. That's her friend. 780 00:36:58,243 --> 00:36:59,833 Yeah, I'm cool with all her friends. 781 00:36:59,833 --> 00:37:02,033 I've been needing this one for a minute. Is she coming? 782 00:37:02,033 --> 00:37:04,723 Oh, so she's not coming in? Nah. Her? Nah. She... 783 00:37:04,723 --> 00:37:07,313 It was just to drop this off for me. OK. Yeah. 784 00:37:09,083 --> 00:37:11,723 Broke had wanted to take me to the site of a videoshoot 785 00:37:11,723 --> 00:37:13,644 for a track called You A Bitch 786 00:37:13,644 --> 00:37:16,524 by the friend of his who'd died, Mikey $wah. 787 00:37:16,524 --> 00:37:20,363 But with the recently conducted deal in mind, it was all slightly odd. 788 00:37:23,373 --> 00:37:25,404 Should we look at the Mikey $wah video? 789 00:37:25,404 --> 00:37:28,723 Yes, sir. His video's pretty dope too. 790 00:37:31,363 --> 00:37:34,283 Nigga, you a bitch 791 00:37:34,283 --> 00:37:36,753 Rest in piss 792 00:37:36,753 --> 00:37:40,083 I hear them hissing 793 00:37:40,083 --> 00:37:42,673 They ain't glistenin'... 794 00:37:42,673 --> 00:37:45,483 Why did he have "Fuck you" tattooed on his eye lids? 795 00:37:45,483 --> 00:37:47,043 Was he angry about something? 796 00:37:47,043 --> 00:37:50,093 No. That was just him. He took everything as a joke. 797 00:37:50,093 --> 00:37:52,654 It wasn't serious. He was like, "Yeah, when police stop me, 798 00:37:52,654 --> 00:37:54,913 "I'm just going to close my eyes." 799 00:37:54,913 --> 00:37:56,893 How did he die? 800 00:37:56,893 --> 00:38:00,033 It was, like, fentanyl. Somebody sold him some boof shit. 801 00:38:00,033 --> 00:38:04,123 He was sober for, like, almost a year, literally. 802 00:38:04,123 --> 00:38:07,043 In that video, he was not sober, though, correct? 803 00:38:07,043 --> 00:38:09,723 Yeah, nah, none of us were. It was fun then. 804 00:38:09,723 --> 00:38:12,534 And then it got to the point where we're not... 805 00:38:12,534 --> 00:38:13,753 We weren't doing it for fun, 806 00:38:13,753 --> 00:38:17,673 we were just doing it to not feel bad, you know? 807 00:38:17,673 --> 00:38:18,723 Shit was hard. 808 00:38:20,483 --> 00:38:24,033 Like, cos of that, it got me to get sober, you know? 809 00:38:24,033 --> 00:38:27,883 Like, I actually got sober and not just a month, two months 810 00:38:27,883 --> 00:38:31,893 and then relapsed. No. So I don't be touching nothing now. 811 00:38:31,893 --> 00:38:33,683 Cos I feel like it's kind of disrespectful 812 00:38:33,683 --> 00:38:36,193 doing whatever killed your best friend, you know? 813 00:38:45,813 --> 00:38:49,013 Back at his studio, I had a moment to level with Broke. 814 00:38:51,083 --> 00:38:53,453 So I wanted to bring something up, and I... I don't... 815 00:38:53,453 --> 00:38:57,093 I hope this isn't awkward, but when the car pulled up 816 00:38:57,093 --> 00:39:01,193 and the girl was in it, we could hear you, on the mic. Yeah. 817 00:39:01,193 --> 00:39:04,373 And so she was dropping off drugs, right? 818 00:39:04,373 --> 00:39:06,404 Nah, she was telling me that she was selling drugs. 819 00:39:06,404 --> 00:39:07,683 She's like "Oh, I got this," 820 00:39:07,683 --> 00:39:09,643 and I'm like, "Oh, for sure I'll let you know." 821 00:39:09,643 --> 00:39:12,253 I just got the charger, though. But she said, 822 00:39:12,253 --> 00:39:15,733 "Let me know if you like it. And I can get you more." 823 00:39:15,733 --> 00:39:17,733 Yeah, like, maybe you fuck with, like, the drugs 824 00:39:17,733 --> 00:39:20,493 that she was selling. Like, "If you like this drug, let me know..." 825 00:39:20,493 --> 00:39:21,843 "I can bring more over..." 826 00:39:21,843 --> 00:39:24,473 Right, so she was giving you some... And I'm not trying to, like... 827 00:39:24,473 --> 00:39:26,813 Nah, nah, nah, nah. She was showing me, like, "I got this." 828 00:39:26,813 --> 00:39:28,763 It was pills, and I'm like, "For sure." 829 00:39:28,763 --> 00:39:30,973 Like, "If you like that, I got more.” 830 00:39:30,973 --> 00:39:33,553 And I'm like, "Nah, I'm not trying to get that." 831 00:39:33,553 --> 00:39:36,123 I wasn't buying any drugs. 832 00:39:36,123 --> 00:39:40,923 What would be the problem with you saying she was dropping off drugs? 833 00:39:40,923 --> 00:39:43,773 I mean, nothing would be the problem. It's just... 834 00:39:43,773 --> 00:39:46,093 You know, I'm pretty straight up, but I'm like, "Nah." 835 00:39:46,093 --> 00:39:48,093 There wouldn't be a problem. 836 00:39:48,093 --> 00:39:50,963 You've been through, you know, difficult stuff in the past, right? 837 00:39:50,963 --> 00:39:54,553 Yeah. You've dealt with the death of a close friend. 838 00:39:54,553 --> 00:39:58,003 And you've had success, and then you've had, you know, 839 00:39:58,003 --> 00:40:02,643 a falling off a little bit, so it would be reasonable 840 00:40:02,643 --> 00:40:06,173 for you to feel like a little bit, you know... Yeah, down. 841 00:40:06,173 --> 00:40:08,813 Like, losing my friends. 842 00:40:08,813 --> 00:40:12,133 I just got the charger. But, yeah. 843 00:40:19,284 --> 00:40:23,093 Y'all good? Y'all want any water? No, I'm good. Thank you, though. 844 00:40:23,093 --> 00:40:26,563 I left Broke with a plan to meet at a future video shoot, 845 00:40:26,563 --> 00:40:29,893 though I had my doubts whether it would ever happen. 846 00:40:29,893 --> 00:40:32,713 Mainly, I was struck by his vulnerability. 847 00:40:32,713 --> 00:40:36,203 Understood properly, his music seemed an expression of pain 848 00:40:36,203 --> 00:40:39,414 in a world where the threats came in many forms. 849 00:40:50,333 --> 00:40:51,843 Since arriving in Florida, 850 00:40:51,843 --> 00:40:53,813 I'd wondered about the persistence of chaos 851 00:40:53,813 --> 00:40:56,843 in the lives of artists who were successful. 852 00:40:56,843 --> 00:40:58,534 Now hoping for an answer, 853 00:40:58,534 --> 00:41:02,923 I travelled 650 miles from Miami to Greensboro, Georgia, 854 00:41:02,923 --> 00:41:05,693 to speak to a rapper named Foogiano. 855 00:41:10,043 --> 00:41:14,053 In 2020, with more than 900,000 followers on Instagram 856 00:41:14,053 --> 00:41:16,933 and streams in the millions of his track Molly, 857 00:41:16,933 --> 00:41:21,173 he'd been signed to one of world's biggest labels, Atlantic Records. 858 00:41:21,173 --> 00:41:23,123 Well, bih, what it do? 859 00:41:23,123 --> 00:41:24,993 Where the proof? 860 00:41:24,993 --> 00:41:26,643 and we want the loot. 861 00:41:26,643 --> 00:41:28,563 I'ma leave you with no roof 862 00:41:28,563 --> 00:41:30,613 I got that juice... 863 00:41:30,613 --> 00:41:33,893 Soon after, he'd been sent to jail, when police found him in a car 864 00:41:33,893 --> 00:41:37,414 with a gun while on probation for an old burglary conviction. 865 00:41:39,534 --> 00:41:42,763 Foogiano now resided in county jail. 866 00:41:42,763 --> 00:41:46,843 I was hoping for some insight into his reversal of fortune. 867 00:41:46,843 --> 00:41:49,773 Just follow me... OK. ..and we'll go back. 868 00:41:49,773 --> 00:41:51,693 What was your name again, sir? Major Griffin. 869 00:41:51,693 --> 00:41:53,053 Major Griffin? Louis Theroux. 870 00:41:53,053 --> 00:41:55,524 Hey, nice to meet you, Louis. Nice to meet you, Major Griffin. 871 00:41:55,524 --> 00:41:57,773 So we're going to meet Foogiano? Yes. 872 00:41:57,773 --> 00:42:02,563 For you, he's not Foogiano. Kwame. Kwame. He's just another detainee? 873 00:42:02,563 --> 00:42:03,613 Yeah. 874 00:42:04,923 --> 00:42:08,133 Gentlemen, this is Louis. How you doing? Louis. Louis. 875 00:42:08,133 --> 00:42:10,483 Nice to meet you. 876 00:42:10,483 --> 00:42:12,343 Tell me about where we are. What's going on? 877 00:42:12,343 --> 00:42:14,493 This is your temporary place of residence. 878 00:42:14,493 --> 00:42:16,643 Yeah, this is my cell. You got your grills in here, 879 00:42:16,643 --> 00:42:19,173 I wasn't sure if they'd let you have them. They're permanent. 880 00:42:19,173 --> 00:42:21,343 Oh, they're permanent? Yeah, I can't take them out. 881 00:42:21,343 --> 00:42:24,563 Really? But that could make you a target, couldn't it? Yeah. 882 00:42:24,563 --> 00:42:26,813 If someone wanted... I mean, how much are they worth? 883 00:42:26,813 --> 00:42:30,893 About 100,000. 100,0007? So you got money in your mouth? 884 00:42:30,893 --> 00:42:34,613 Yeah. A lot of it. 885 00:42:34,613 --> 00:42:36,284 Are we close to where you grew up? 886 00:42:36,284 --> 00:42:38,653 This is where I grew up. Like, these are all my people. 887 00:42:38,653 --> 00:42:41,263 Really? These guards... I've been coming to this jail 888 00:42:41,263 --> 00:42:43,253 since I was a little boy. Are you serious? 889 00:42:43,253 --> 00:42:45,414 This the jail. This is where I'm from. 890 00:42:45,414 --> 00:42:47,083 Last year was a huge year for you. 891 00:42:47,083 --> 00:42:49,093 You dropped your debut album, right? Yeah. 892 00:42:49,093 --> 00:42:51,813 Literally the following month... Go to jail. 893 00:42:51,813 --> 00:42:54,333 For having a gun as a felon. Mm-hm. 894 00:42:54,333 --> 00:42:57,213 You were driving? No... No, I was in the backseat. You were in the back. 895 00:42:57,213 --> 00:42:59,133 So when it all happened, where was the gun? 896 00:42:59,133 --> 00:43:00,773 In the front seat, under the front seat. 897 00:43:00,773 --> 00:43:03,544 Right. Why did the police pull you over? 898 00:43:03,544 --> 00:43:07,613 Put it this way, I moved to a richer community, 899 00:43:07,613 --> 00:43:10,343 in the other city that I stayed in. Last year, you did? 900 00:43:10,343 --> 00:43:12,533 Yeah, and they knew who we were. 901 00:43:14,203 --> 00:43:16,923 So the police - the first chance they get, they're going to get me. 902 00:43:16,923 --> 00:43:18,083 You know what I'm saying? 903 00:43:18,083 --> 00:43:20,563 Cos they know we going to have a gun in the car cos I'm a rapper. 904 00:43:20,563 --> 00:43:23,493 I ain't going nowhere without somebody protecting me, 905 00:43:23,493 --> 00:43:26,013 with all the jewellery, my diamonds and all my money on me. 906 00:43:26,013 --> 00:43:28,653 You know, people, they're killing rappers. You know? So... 907 00:43:28,653 --> 00:43:30,733 Who's killing rappers? 908 00:43:30,733 --> 00:43:33,133 The streets. The streets? 909 00:43:33,133 --> 00:43:36,083 I ain't going like that. Jealous people? Jealous people. 910 00:43:36,083 --> 00:43:38,424 Haters? Haters. You said it right - 911 00:43:38,424 --> 00:43:41,373 people that don't got as much as we have. 912 00:43:41,373 --> 00:43:43,803 So, basically, you caught the case for the gun. Mm-hm. 913 00:43:43,803 --> 00:43:46,083 Then at some point, you cut your ankle monitor off. 914 00:43:46,083 --> 00:43:48,883 And at that point, you more or less went on the run? 915 00:43:48,883 --> 00:43:50,733 Mm-hm. Shit was building up. 916 00:43:50,733 --> 00:43:53,453 Everything was going good, and then - boom - that happened. 917 00:43:53,453 --> 00:43:55,453 That's a setback, cos I couldn't do shows. 918 00:43:55,453 --> 00:43:57,693 You could still do some shows. I did some. 919 00:43:57,693 --> 00:43:59,414 Under your own name? Yeah. 920 00:43:59,414 --> 00:44:02,623 But then... But you're on the run at this point. I didn't care. 921 00:44:02,623 --> 00:44:04,424 922 00:44:04,424 --> 00:44:07,973 dolla' phone... 923 00:44:07,973 --> 00:44:10,213 It's not keeping a low profile, is it? 924 00:44:10,213 --> 00:44:12,414 We're smart. I play chess, not checkers. 925 00:44:12,414 --> 00:44:14,143 Couldn't they come and get you on stage? 926 00:44:14,143 --> 00:44:16,693 The crowd ain't going to let them. I used to ask the crowd every time, 927 00:44:16,693 --> 00:44:19,414 "If the police come here to get me, y'all going to let them get me?"” "NO!" 928 00:44:19,414 --> 00:44:21,223 You used to say that as part of your show? Yeah! 929 00:44:21,223 --> 00:44:23,573 As soon as I get on stage. Everybody in the crowd say, "No!" 930 00:44:23,573 --> 00:44:26,174 I read an interview where you said you'd done about ten years... 931 00:44:26,174 --> 00:44:28,213 I have, altogether. ..behind bars. Altogether? 932 00:44:28,213 --> 00:44:31,933 Altogether, I've done ten years. From the age of, what, 13? 933 00:44:31,933 --> 00:44:33,703 12. 127 934 00:44:33,703 --> 00:44:35,424 Mm-hm. Age of 12. 935 00:44:35,424 --> 00:44:38,174 See, I found out my father wasn't my father cos I thought my stepdaddy 936 00:44:38,174 --> 00:44:40,133 was my daddy till I was 12. 937 00:44:40,133 --> 00:44:41,783 My uncle got out of prison when I was 12 938 00:44:41,783 --> 00:44:44,013 and he told me that my stepdaddy wasn't my daddy. 939 00:44:44,013 --> 00:44:46,223 So I was living in a house... why did your mum...? 940 00:44:46,223 --> 00:44:49,243 She didn't want me knowing my daddy cos my daddy ain't shit. 941 00:44:49,243 --> 00:44:52,503 That spun you out? At that point... Yeah. straight to the hood. 942 00:44:52,503 --> 00:44:54,133 On the streets, I'm bucking. 943 00:44:54,133 --> 00:44:57,294 I don't listen to nothing none of y'all say. I do what I want to do. 944 00:44:57,294 --> 00:44:59,443 Why? Why'd you all lie to me? 945 00:44:59,443 --> 00:45:00,893 You don't get to pick my life for me. 946 00:45:00,893 --> 00:45:02,773 Now I'm going to pick my own life. 947 00:45:02,773 --> 00:45:04,933 I ain't proud of everything that I did in the past, 948 00:45:04,933 --> 00:45:08,223 but it made me who I am, so I stand on it. OK. 949 00:45:10,063 --> 00:45:11,733 You've been listening to any of this? 950 00:45:11,733 --> 00:45:13,893 I've listened to a great deal of it. 951 00:45:13,893 --> 00:45:15,373 Do you have a perspective on, 952 00:45:15,373 --> 00:45:17,253 you know, from seeing him coming and going, 953 00:45:17,253 --> 00:45:19,573 what it was that was keeping him coming back 954 00:45:19,573 --> 00:45:21,213 or keeping him in the streets? 955 00:45:21,213 --> 00:45:23,603 Typically, the surroundings, 956 00:45:23,603 --> 00:45:26,973 most of the time the people that they hang around. 957 00:45:26,973 --> 00:45:30,093 Obviously, Kwame's very talented, intelligent - you know, 958 00:45:30,093 --> 00:45:32,164 he's got a lot of natural advantages - 959 00:45:32,164 --> 00:45:35,803 and yet he's been getting into trouble quite a bit. 960 00:45:35,803 --> 00:45:39,783 I think when he does his time, he'll be a regular, 961 00:45:39,783 --> 00:45:43,223 you know, celebrity, just like the ones we see now. 962 00:45:45,773 --> 00:45:48,143 How you doing? Louis. How you doing? I'm Savon. 963 00:45:48,143 --> 00:45:49,943 Savon, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too. 964 00:45:49,943 --> 00:45:51,813 Out in the main area of the jail, 965 00:45:51,813 --> 00:45:55,424 I met Foogiano's oldest friend, Savon. 966 00:45:55,424 --> 00:45:57,253 What we were talking about was the fact 967 00:45:57,253 --> 00:45:58,933 that Kwame was nationally famous. 968 00:45:58,933 --> 00:46:00,863 You know, he was having a lot of success, 969 00:46:00,863 --> 00:46:03,663 and the double blow of not just having this setback 970 00:46:03,663 --> 00:46:08,174 but at a time when he was poised to take it to the next level, right? 971 00:46:10,294 --> 00:46:11,503 Why? 972 00:46:22,213 --> 00:46:24,153 The problems happened then? 973 00:46:30,253 --> 00:46:32,424 A lot of my other partners used to be jealous about it, 974 00:46:32,424 --> 00:46:34,184 like, "Why I don't get to hold the money?" 975 00:46:34,184 --> 00:46:37,223 Jealousy, envy - you know, it be that. 976 00:46:37,223 --> 00:46:39,943 People ain't going to show it, but you can... you can tell it. 977 00:46:39,943 --> 00:46:42,453 So there's petty jealousies? It's petty jealousy. 978 00:46:42,453 --> 00:46:44,893 And that creates an ill feeling, 979 00:46:44,893 --> 00:46:47,073 if you feel like you're not getting enough. 980 00:46:51,174 --> 00:46:53,743 You got any advice to offer Kwame? 981 00:47:09,333 --> 00:47:13,143 Leaving Foogiano, I found myself reflecting on the chaos 982 00:47:13,143 --> 00:47:15,783 and jealousy that resulted when sudden success 983 00:47:15,783 --> 00:47:19,783 came to people in areas deprived of money and opportunity... 984 00:47:21,054 --> 00:47:25,223 ...and the strangeness of a world where stardom and incarceration 985 00:47:25,223 --> 00:47:27,253 could be so closely intertwined. 986 00:47:35,583 --> 00:47:39,044 It's intrinsic to the trap scene that its artists are often close 987 00:47:39,044 --> 00:47:41,453 to the high-risks behaviour they report on 988 00:47:41,453 --> 00:47:44,304 and can continue to get caught up in it. 989 00:47:46,023 --> 00:47:49,893 The ultimate example had been the Orlando artist 9lokkNine. 990 00:47:49,893 --> 00:47:52,463 Charged with five counts of attempted murder 991 00:47:52,463 --> 00:47:54,813 involving the family of an alleged rival 992 00:47:54,813 --> 00:47:57,853 and looking at a possible 100 years in jail, 993 00:47:57,853 --> 00:48:00,813 he was the rapper allegedly most closely linked to 994 00:48:00,813 --> 00:48:03,413 the gang politics of his city. 995 00:48:03,413 --> 00:48:07,963 Shots going to start going off. Boop, boop, boop! 996 00:48:11,333 --> 00:48:14,174 Now word came that he'd agreed to speak to me, 997 00:48:14,174 --> 00:48:15,983 in the company of his lawyers. 998 00:48:28,593 --> 00:48:33,543 There he is. Hey! How's it going? Good to see you. I'm good. 999 00:48:33,543 --> 00:48:35,723 Louis. How you doing? Nice to meet you, Glock. 1000 00:48:35,723 --> 00:48:36,953 I'm good. How's it going? 1001 00:48:36,953 --> 00:48:39,873 You OK sitting down there? That'd be good. 1002 00:48:39,873 --> 00:48:42,693 All right, just as a reminder, when we first spoke about this interview, 1003 00:48:42,693 --> 00:48:44,663 I told you what? 1004 00:48:44,663 --> 00:48:47,393 You said you don't want to...get nothing that's going to incriminate me. 1005 00:48:47,393 --> 00:48:49,243 I don't want you to say anything incriminating. 1006 00:48:49,243 --> 00:48:51,503 I didn't even want you to do the interview, right? Uh-huh. 1007 00:48:51,503 --> 00:48:54,313 You told me you wanted to do it anyway, right? Yeah. 1008 00:48:54,313 --> 00:48:56,313 We've been trying to catch up with you for a while, 1009 00:48:56,313 --> 00:48:58,983 so it's very nice to get a bit of time with you. 1010 00:48:58,983 --> 00:49:01,593 9lokkNine is your... My stage name. 1011 00:49:01,593 --> 00:49:04,304 What's your actual birth name? Jacquavius. 1012 00:49:04,304 --> 00:49:07,743 I mean, a Glock is a gun, right? Yeah. 1013 00:49:07,743 --> 00:49:11,383 Yeah. Could that prejudice a court? Is that an issue? 1014 00:49:11,383 --> 00:49:16,054 Well, I mean, I think so. You know, I'm... 1015 00:49:16,054 --> 00:49:18,593 I'm certain as we go into trial, they're probably 1016 00:49:18,593 --> 00:49:22,903 going to try to portray it not as a stage name but as reality. 1017 00:49:22,903 --> 00:49:27,314 Indicative of a kind of murderous, gun-toting mentality? 1018 00:49:27,314 --> 00:49:31,493 They're trying to suggest that life is now imitating art. 1019 00:49:31,493 --> 00:49:34,054 So Dan and I, what we need to do is we need to get them 1020 00:49:34,054 --> 00:49:36,453 to take the blinders off and look at all of the evidence. 1021 00:49:36,453 --> 00:49:41,033 And if you look at all the evidence, hopefully they'll see it as we do 1022 00:49:41,033 --> 00:49:44,023 and this guy here's a free man. 1023 00:49:44,023 --> 00:49:47,953 How many rappers it is with gun in their name? Tech. 1024 00:49:47,953 --> 00:49:50,253 Tech N9ne, mm-hm. Cee Murdaa - 1025 00:49:50,253 --> 00:49:52,383 I mean, imagine if you had murder in your name. Yeah. 1026 00:49:52,383 --> 00:49:53,903 I know who you talkin' about. 1027 00:49:53,903 --> 00:49:57,143 That would look bad in front of a jury. 1028 00:49:57,143 --> 00:49:58,953 So which was the song that really blew up? 1029 00:49:58,953 --> 00:50:01,383 Like, how did you kind of break through, would you say? 1030 00:50:01,383 --> 00:50:05,693 First it was Jet House Blues, but then I came back with Crayola. 1031 00:50:05,693 --> 00:50:07,873 It... Next level? Yeah. 1032 00:50:07,873 --> 00:50:10,463 Crayola's the one where the guy's got a bag over his head 1033 00:50:10,463 --> 00:50:12,343 and he gets shot? Yeah. 1034 00:50:12,343 --> 00:50:14,693 Should we look at the Crayola video now? 1035 00:50:14,693 --> 00:50:15,943 Yeah, we can look at it. 1036 00:50:15,943 --> 00:50:18,413 I swear I won't never fold, yeah 1037 00:50:18,413 --> 00:50:21,133 No Crayola, it get violent. 1038 00:50:21,133 --> 00:50:24,493 tip-toeing, move in silence 1039 00:50:24,493 --> 00:50:27,263 molly's eating up his body 1040 00:50:27,263 --> 00:50:30,103 Lil 30 spot him, pop him 1041 00:50:30,103 --> 00:50:33,054 No Crayola, it get violent... 1042 00:50:33,054 --> 00:50:35,813 Crayola is what? A fake gangster? 1043 00:50:35,813 --> 00:50:38,263 No. Crayola? That's crayons. 1044 00:50:38,263 --> 00:50:40,823 Right, but it's also a metaphor. 1045 00:50:40,823 --> 00:50:44,593 Nah. It was wordplay. "No Crayola, it get violent," 1046 00:50:44,593 --> 00:50:46,903 the colour violet. Mm-hm. 1047 00:50:48,103 --> 00:50:50,593 Instead of saying violet, I said violent. 1048 00:50:50,593 --> 00:50:53,023 The interpretation I made of it is Crayola is like someone 1049 00:50:53,023 --> 00:50:55,903 who wears the colours of a gang, but they don't... 1050 00:50:55,903 --> 00:50:57,673 They aren't really that. 1051 00:50:57,673 --> 00:51:00,473 Nah. It weren't that, nah. 1052 00:51:00,473 --> 00:51:02,913 Look me in the eyes and say that. Oh, nah, nah. Seriously? 1053 00:51:02,913 --> 00:51:06,673 No, I swear it weren't that. You did a rap song about crayons? 1054 00:51:06,673 --> 00:51:09,833 Cos it's the way I used it, though! Like, all right... 1055 00:51:09,833 --> 00:51:13,064 You're going to look at me and tell me you blew up with a rap song... 1056 00:51:13,064 --> 00:51:15,783 Yeah, it's really about. ..that was about colouring with crayons? 1057 00:51:15,783 --> 00:51:17,393 Yeah. I promise. 1058 00:51:17,393 --> 00:51:19,853 I'd be trying to use wordplay. Like, I be trying to make... 1059 00:51:19,853 --> 00:51:21,333 What is the lyric after that? 1060 00:51:23,143 --> 00:51:26,703 "He move or even look wrong, Lil' 30 spot him, pop him." 1061 00:51:26,703 --> 00:51:29,393 That's not about colouring, that bit. 1062 00:51:29,393 --> 00:51:33,753 Oh, no, no, no, the first... The first bar was about colouring. 1063 00:51:33,753 --> 00:51:37,064 But the next one, like the next couple of bars, 1064 00:51:37,064 --> 00:51:40,653 it wasn't about colouring. It was more about...? 1065 00:51:40,653 --> 00:51:44,373 Like, I ain't never really think about that, breaking the song down. 1066 00:51:48,103 --> 00:51:50,453 Is there a difference between you 1067 00:51:50,453 --> 00:51:55,343 and sort of the rap persona that you have? 1068 00:51:55,343 --> 00:51:56,833 I do both. 1069 00:51:56,833 --> 00:51:59,064 I talk about my life when it comes to, like, 1070 00:51:59,064 --> 00:52:01,263 the stuff I had to do to get to where I'm at, 1071 00:52:01,263 --> 00:52:04,603 but half of that stuff, I don't... I don't be doing. 1072 00:52:04,603 --> 00:52:07,403 I don't indulge in it. Where I'm from, that'll get you 1073 00:52:07,403 --> 00:52:09,653 a long amount of time in jail if you talk about that stuff, 1074 00:52:09,653 --> 00:52:10,813 so I don't... 1075 00:52:12,333 --> 00:52:15,253 I don't mix street with music. 1076 00:52:15,253 --> 00:52:18,934 I keep music...business, business and streets, streets. 1077 00:52:20,773 --> 00:52:22,693 Should we look at the video? If you'd like to. 1078 00:52:22,693 --> 00:52:23,903 So what are we looking at? 1079 00:52:23,903 --> 00:52:29,773 This is a video from a home security system of a home 1080 00:52:29,773 --> 00:52:33,463 that is diagonally across the street from the home 1081 00:52:33,463 --> 00:52:36,623 that they're accusing Glokk of being one of the shooters. 1082 00:52:36,623 --> 00:52:38,663 This was a house that was shot up, 1083 00:52:38,663 --> 00:52:41,184 and there was a woman and her daughter inside. 1084 00:52:41,184 --> 00:52:45,903 There was five people inside, a woman and four of her children. 1085 00:52:45,903 --> 00:52:49,343 So you can see that's the cars as they're pulling up. 1086 00:52:49,343 --> 00:52:53,402 Right over here, you're going to see some muzzle flashes in a second. 1087 00:52:53,402 --> 00:52:55,406 Those are the flashes. Yep. 1088 00:52:55,406 --> 00:52:58,126 It's almost like the noise makes the camera move. 1089 00:53:00,966 --> 00:53:03,276 And your contention - just to be clear - is you... 1090 00:53:03,276 --> 00:53:06,266 You were nowhere, you weren't there. At all. 1091 00:53:06,266 --> 00:53:07,896 At all? 1092 00:53:07,896 --> 00:53:11,057 The eyewitness places Glokk at the... At the scene? 1093 00:53:11,057 --> 00:53:12,686 Yes. 1094 00:53:12,686 --> 00:53:14,286 That's making you laugh. 1095 00:53:14,286 --> 00:53:19,486 Oh, nah. I was... Nah, I was looking at the video. But... 1096 00:53:19,486 --> 00:53:21,996 We're not... We're not going to talk about the video right now. 1097 00:53:21,996 --> 00:53:24,496 Nah, I wasn't... When I say "we", I mean you. 1098 00:53:24,496 --> 00:53:29,206 Nah, I wasn't saying nothing, though. I was just... It's funny. 1099 00:53:29,206 --> 00:53:33,376 And the state narrative is that there's a gang rivalry, 1100 00:53:33,376 --> 00:53:36,556 between the gang that you affiliate with 1101 00:53:36,556 --> 00:53:39,286 and another outfit which is affiliated with Hotboii, 1102 00:53:39,286 --> 00:53:41,206 and that there is, for whatever reason, 1103 00:53:41,206 --> 00:53:43,566 animosity, leading to conflict. 1104 00:53:43,566 --> 00:53:46,276 The police officers, they're trying to make it seem like 1105 00:53:46,276 --> 00:53:50,266 it's gang-related, to try to put the faces behind it - 1106 00:53:50,266 --> 00:53:53,566 cos they know me and Hotboii, like, we got status, we up there, 1107 00:53:53,566 --> 00:53:55,136 you feel me? 1108 00:53:55,136 --> 00:53:57,336 It's a whole bunch of other stuff that can cause stuff 1109 00:53:57,336 --> 00:54:00,126 other than just saying, like, gang feuds and stuff like that. 1110 00:54:00,126 --> 00:54:01,386 But from your knowledge, 1111 00:54:01,386 --> 00:54:05,006 being in the streets, from probably, what, 13 or so, 1112 00:54:05,006 --> 00:54:09,276 what can you say about what's behind the conflict that does exist? 1113 00:54:09,276 --> 00:54:13,106 Nowadays, it's like a teenager get that gun in their hand, 1114 00:54:13,106 --> 00:54:16,177 all they know is they want to shoot. 1115 00:54:16,177 --> 00:54:18,856 You never know who's coming to get you, who hate on you. 1116 00:54:20,486 --> 00:54:24,177 Out of what reason? Just hate, hating? That's why... 1117 00:54:24,177 --> 00:54:27,206 That's why I use the term "Loyalty kills love." 1118 00:54:28,616 --> 00:54:31,276 How, like, if you ain't loyal to me, you can't show me loyalty. 1119 00:54:31,276 --> 00:54:33,106 Loyalty beats love any day to me. 1120 00:54:34,696 --> 00:54:36,466 What does loyalty mean to you? 1121 00:54:38,057 --> 00:54:41,096 It's certain scenarios that, like... 1122 00:54:41,096 --> 00:54:42,696 I can't really explain it right now. 1123 00:54:44,187 --> 00:54:46,456 Say if somebody was to shoot, you'd stand in front 1124 00:54:46,456 --> 00:54:48,486 of that bullet right now for me - that's loyalty. 1125 00:54:50,057 --> 00:54:53,057 Do you have more to worry about in terms of the authorities 1126 00:54:53,057 --> 00:54:55,336 or in terms of the streets? 1127 00:54:55,336 --> 00:54:59,256 Ah... The police got my full attention right now. 1128 00:54:59,256 --> 00:55:01,366 You're not worried about street stuff? 1129 00:55:01,366 --> 00:55:04,016 I don't worry about the street stuff at all. 1130 00:55:04,016 --> 00:55:06,136 But that's how most rappers are dying when they die. 1131 00:55:06,136 --> 00:55:08,456 Like, rap... Those rappers who get shot, 1132 00:55:08,456 --> 00:55:13,726 nine times out of ten, it's from street business, right? 1133 00:55:13,726 --> 00:55:17,816 So why wouldn't that worry you? Nah... 1134 00:55:17,816 --> 00:55:19,846 Not the streets. Streets, nah. 1135 00:55:19,846 --> 00:55:22,976 Streets the last thing I worry about. 1136 00:55:33,536 --> 00:55:37,576 It was hard to square the image of the mild-seeming young man I'd met 1137 00:55:37,576 --> 00:55:41,696 with the criminal conduct outlined in the cases against him. 1138 00:55:43,706 --> 00:55:46,006 Only time would tell whether he would ever put 1139 00:55:46,006 --> 00:55:49,706 the cycle of incarceration behind him and be able to pursue 1140 00:55:49,706 --> 00:55:52,566 a long and successful career in music. 1141 00:56:00,856 --> 00:56:05,696 LAUGHS: I love this shit. Welcome home, kid! 1142 00:56:07,067 --> 00:56:11,546 I was back with the aspiring rapper Lucianno weight. 1143 00:56:11,546 --> 00:56:14,906 At a studio near Tampa, I joined him and Drew 1144 00:56:14,906 --> 00:56:18,446 and some of their friends for a recording session. 1145 00:56:18,446 --> 00:56:20,376 drivin' foreigns 1146 00:56:20,376 --> 00:56:21,906 1147 00:56:21,906 --> 00:56:25,057 That shit is not excitin' 1148 00:56:25,057 --> 00:56:28,226 I know you don't like me 1149 00:56:28,226 --> 00:56:31,266 you gonna try to ice me 1150 00:56:31,266 --> 00:56:33,376 all y'all bitches... 1151 00:56:33,376 --> 00:56:35,426 Peso is out. Mm-hm. 1152 00:56:35,426 --> 00:56:37,656 I mean, what's happening now? He's recording? 1153 00:56:37,656 --> 00:56:39,856 He's recording, he's going to get into the music zone. 1154 00:56:39,856 --> 00:56:41,546 Get in the music world. Mm-hm. 1155 00:56:41,546 --> 00:56:44,336 So, you know... He know what he got to do. 1156 00:56:44,336 --> 00:56:46,616 What does he...? What does he have to do? 1157 00:56:46,616 --> 00:56:50,626 Just stay focused. Stay focused. Treat it like a 9-5. 1158 00:56:50,626 --> 00:56:52,976 So if you grind, you're learning in the industry, 1159 00:56:52,976 --> 00:56:56,266 so you're going to continue to grow as an artist. 1160 00:56:56,266 --> 00:56:58,866 Record a bunch of music. And he's going to take care of his family, 1161 00:56:58,866 --> 00:57:01,336 his friends. People that he don't even know he could take care of, 1162 00:57:01,336 --> 00:57:03,526 he can take care of now, you know what I'm saying? Mm-hm. 1163 00:57:03,526 --> 00:57:06,067 So it's going to be... It's going to be a good thing. 1164 00:57:10,736 --> 00:57:14,696 The power of the rap art form comes from its authentic expression 1165 00:57:14,696 --> 00:57:19,817 of real struggles, its status - to use the words of Ratchet Roach - 1166 00:57:19,817 --> 00:57:22,067 as "factual pain music", 1167 00:57:22,067 --> 00:57:25,786 giving voice to those who come from areas of hardship. 1168 00:57:25,786 --> 00:57:28,136 SHOUTING AND LAUGHTER 1169 00:57:32,736 --> 00:57:35,067 In a world connected through social media, 1170 00:57:35,067 --> 00:57:38,006 where artists can reach thousands of fans directly, 1171 00:57:38,006 --> 00:57:42,376 its closeness to the conditions it chronicles carries its own risk. 1172 00:57:45,216 --> 00:57:48,176 But in leaving Florida, I was mainly struck by its power 1173 00:57:48,176 --> 00:57:52,786 to reflect real life, offering opportunities to progress, 1174 00:57:52,786 --> 00:57:58,456 laying bare the disenfranchisement of a generation with eloquent rage. 1175 00:57:58,456 --> 00:58:00,306 GUNSHOTS