Original subtitles

Hello ?

Hello !

Anybody home ?

Oh. Hello !

Hello !

I'm here to see Rick Rubin. To work on my album ?

I'm Benny Blanco's friend, Lil Dicky,

the rapper.

I am Orhan. The painter.

That's got a ring to it. That's better than my rap name.

Are you an artist or are you just in the physical space ?

Yes.

Multilayered white.

That'd be a good album title for me.

When a new artist arrives, we repaint.

It is important to create a pure environment, free of distraction,

to allow the muse to speak.

I hear that, I need a muse, man.

Is that...

Is that him out there ?

That's Rick.

I'm gonna go talk to Rick.

Hey Rick, I'm sorry to disturb you,

I'm a huge fan, I'm so honored to be here.

Thank you for having me. Excited to work.

I'm not Rick. I'm Biff Wiff.

Biff... Wiff ?

That's right... Did you just take a picture of me ?

I wear a watch that tells me when someone's taking my photograph.

I'm just kidding you, man !

That really took my heart for a...

You're a musician ?

Yeah, I'm a rapper.

- Rapper, really ? - Yeah.

Must be pretty good to be out here working with Rick.

If you ever need an actor for a music video or whatever...

Biff Wiff.

- Oh, you're an actor ? - Look me up on IMDB, I'm a real guy !

Lil Dicky !

We've been expecting you. Welcome to Shangri La.

Hi !

- Biff. Good to meet you, man. - You, too.

- Adams. - Adam. I'm Dave, nice to met you.

- No, Atoms. - Atoms !

And, you know, there'd be a large group of us,

and the rabbi would say, "Tekiyahhh," and you'd hear...

- And they'd blow on the ram's horn. - I didn't mean religious background.

Just, your general background, what brought you here.

Oh ! I don't know how much Benny told you guys,

but I've been working on my album for months and months and months.

I'm having a lot of difficulty with any output whatsoever.

I'll be honest, I'm desperate, I have no idea how to solve this problem.

I'm at a true personal and creative low point.

Do you read ?

I do. I can. I know how to.

- That's a good answer. - Thank you.

- What is Rick's process ? - His process is your process.

It's not the process that brought you to this place,

but really it's the process that you'll find together.

You'll see, Rick has no real skill set beyond his intuition.

I guess that's just you being a little humble.

The guy is a fucking legend.

99 Problems, all the Kanye stuff, Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys,

unbelievable what he's done.

Is it true Flea calls himself Flea because of Rick ? I love Flea.

Rick has a way of deconstructing the artist to his truest self.

It is my job to get you ready for him.

Tell me, Dave, where are we ?

I've got a feeling you don't mean literally.

I do mean that literally.

Oh. Well, we're on the left most part of America ?

I don't have the strongest inner compass.

I mean, where are we in the creative process. Where are you ?

So you didn't mean literally !

That's a thing I keep seeing people do.

They say literally and mean the exact opposite.

Tell me what you want.

I'm working on my debut album. And...

It feels like I've been doing that for my whole life. It's my debut.

I'm in a rare situation

where I occupy this hyperspecific niche in the musical archival.

I kinda have to inject comedic elements into ti.

But I also feel like I'm as real as I possibly can get.

But I'm a dick and fart joke man at the end of the day.

My struggle is I always feel like I'm saying way too much

yet nothing at all at the exact same time.

I feel like there's a deeper level of artistry to tap into.

You have a loathing for where you came from,

but a fear that it's all you have.

Yeah.

I'm gonna right that down. That's graceful.

That's Rick's diagnosis.

He knows a lot about you.

YouTube?

- Dave ? - Yeah.

- Wake up ! - Oh my God !

I'm awake, man.

I think we've made great progress.

I think tomorrow is the day. I'll let Rick know.

Tomorrow, what do you mean ?

We're not doing anything more today ?

- Hello. - Jesus !

Rick would like you to do an exercise in advance of tomorrow's session.

Please write down all your greatest fears

and bury the list somewhere on the property.

Greatest fears ? Is that serious ?

And do what to the list ?

- Bury it anywhere ? - Anywhere.

How is this guy gonna even know that I did it ?

He won't.

Rich !

Hey, before you go, what's the Wi-Fi password here ?

GoInward, all one word.

It's not working.

It's the full n-word ?

Inward. In.

- Inward ! - Yeah.

I was gonna say, it's so aggressive. Thank you !

Hey Chuck ! You making smashes with Mr. Rubin yet ?

I wish. I still haven't even met this fucking guy.

This is the weirdest place ever.

-- is a genius-- but if it--

- Entire existence-- - What ?

Chuck, you got bad service. Please go to-- fix your--

Go breast milk.

Fears. My fears.

What are my biggest fears ?

Parents dying.

What else ?

Accutane causing permanent dry eyes. That would suck.

Not being able to play Willie Wonka in a major motion picture.

No. I guess not.

Failure.

No...

Success. Yeah.

Success.

Spiders.

Flea ?

I gotta tell you, I woke up totally ready to get to work and record music.

I'm in a great space for that right now.

I'm gonna experiment vocally--

Did my manager reach out about the humidifier ?

For my throat. It can get pretty scratchy if it's not---

Oh, my God !

How should I refer to him ? What does he like to go by ?

As Biff. Biff Wiff ?

What is this, like a trick or something ?

I've just the thing for your throat.

I'm not a trick.

I'm... Yeah.

- I'm sorry. - Homemade Kambo. By Lavar.

What is this ? What does that mean, Homemade Kambo by Lavar ?

- Who's Lavar ? - Just try it.

Is this good for my throat ?

Okay.

Oh, Lavar !

It actually feels kinda like queso from Qdoba.

You guys ever heard of Qdoba ?

Does this have dairy in it ? Then I get bloated and I can't record at all.

You're not recording today. So that's okay.

That's the entire reason I'm here. Of course I'm recording today.

- You said today was the day... - And today is the day.

This is a flotation tank.

We would like you to disrobe and submerge.

It should get you into the right headspace.

Where is Rick Rubin ? Because

I feel like I came here to work with him

and all of this feels like a borderline waste of time unless I'm making music.

It would be a waste of time to record before you're fully ready.

A waste of Rick's time.

Okay. What is this thing ?

What am I supposed to do in this thing ?

Creativity is best when the sense of "self" falls away

and reveals what is deeper. But some artists,

have an ego that is making so much noise,

demands so much attention.

I should tell you guys right now,

I am not at all into, like, anything spiritual,

or like of the spirit-adjacent landscape.

You might be barking up the wrong tree with all this mumblar jumblar shit.

Okay, thank you for letting me know.

But that is what the tank is for. To destroy your ego.

Your first instinct is to make jokes.

In your life. In your work.

Everywhere you go. No ?

Rick thinks that you follow this instinct blindly.

What's past that ?

How can you know ? You can't stand more than ten seconds of silence.

Fuck it, I was trying to fart.

You think it would've proven your point, but it would've proven mine.

We'd be belly laughing, smacking the floor.

This is a crutch. This is pain. This is fear.

This is your ego trying to protect itself.

- But great work -- - Thank you.

Great work requires something more vulnerable.

Isn't that why you came ?

Rick thinks you're capable of being one of the greatest disrupters

of your generation.

- Love that. - But you need to quiet your ego.

For that artistry to emerge.

Trust us. Kanye West was the same way.

Kanye did this whole thing ? Fuck it.

- Thank you, Biff. - Alright.

So just disrobe and--

- Can I piss in this thing ? - We'd rather you didn't.

We'd like you to wear these shorts, please.

- Can you please wear these shorts ? - Oh yeah. Sorry about that.

Very well !

- Bonne chance ! - What ?

- Bonne chance ! - Aright, man.

Oh yeah, Kanye West, Kanye, Kanye West...

Music is...

Did they change the water since Kanye ?

So boring.

Fuck this shit.

Hello ?

What do you want ?

Here ?

Rick !

Why ?

Can we just make music ?

Fuck !

Stop !

No, no !

Dave !

Dan ?

Dan, what are you-- What are you doing here ?

Hey, I'm...

I am so sorry about everything.

I tried.

- Tried what ? - I tried eating it !

Thank god I had all those ketchup packets, am I right ?

Oh my god.

I pissed myself.

You think that's funny, right ?

You don't seem good. Let me get you water. Hold on, wait.

Yeah ! You like that ?!

LD !

Come here ! Hurry up !

- GaTa ? - Yeah, come on here, LD. Hurry up !

- Gata, what the fuck is going on ? - You're already behind.

Where-- what--

You know we gotta cook this shit up.

- What do you mean ? - Sprinkle the sauce how I taught you.

Like this ?

Isn't salt a little expected though ? It's kind of first-thought.

Of course, bro. Everybody loves salt. It's from the ocean.

Everybody love the ocean.

That's true.

What the fuck is going on with the food here ? I needed this shit yesterday.

- Is it ready, Dave ? - I'm working on it.

He got it, man. Relax, he's taking care of it.

You're this close to getting fired.

I'm going as fast as I--

There's nothing.

Yo ! You know what you're cooking, right ?

No. Will you help me ?

I'm working on my own shit.

Cool. Thanks !

Cook ! Cook !

What do you want me to cook ? There's nothing to cook.

Nothing to cook. I don't know what to do.

I don't know what the fuck is happening.

Cook me !

- What ? - Put me in this water, bake me.

You can throw me over here in a stirfry, chop me up Benihana style.

I'm not gonna cook you, GaTa. You're my friend !

Take this ! Take a slice of my arm.

You have no other options, man. You behind.

- I'm not doing it ! - Come on !

Just do it, bro ! What are you doing ? What's the problem ?

- Come on, you have no other option. - Okay, fine, man.

Fine ! You want that ?

- I'm gonna cut as smooth as butter. - Alright.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

What the fuck, man ? You said it was gonna be smooth.

- Should I stop ? - Keep going !

- Does it hurt ? - Of course, you're cutting my arm off.

Almost there.

Am I good ?

Am I good, though ?

You're incredible.

Hot plate coming through.

Okay. This is so funny !

Classic Lil Dicky...

This is like Kodak Black,

with a... hint of Young Dolph !

It's actually... GaTa.

Hey !

Y'all fuckin' with me though ?

Oh my god ! You're letting them eat Gata ?!

GaTa said to do that. And they were hungry, I don't know, stop filming !

I'm doing it, you're not stopping me.

More !

I... I miss you.

I know.

- And I love you so much. - Dave...

I can't.

I wish things could've been different.

But I know now that we're just not right for each other...

and it had to end sometime.

No, it didn't.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

David Andrew Burd.

I've been expecting you.

You like it ?

What, the music ?

It's good, right ?

- Who the fuck are you, man ? - I like it.

I prepared it for you. You wanna hear more ?

Yeah. Okay.

I never had a ménage. I'd rather get a fiancé.

Mom up my ass like a prostate.

She thinkin' forward like blockchain,

but I'm sitting thinking 'bout the 4th grade.

I was hitting on the Macarena, visualizing all the packed arenas,

I ain't had shit on my hands except Cheetos, that was the top.

Back when Dwayne was the Rock.

Back when jerking off used to be the motivation,

I would come home racing, tryna beat my momma

and then get naked then I'll go on maxim.com for the pictures,

put the shower on while I'm sticking the printouts to the shower wall

using steam then I put the shower head up on the massage setting--

What the fuck was that, how was I---

You know where it goes from here, but do you like it ?

I am obsessed with it.

Can I have that ? Can you send me those files ?

There's no need. I am you.

By the way, I got the surgery that clogs the second pee hole.

- You gotta do it. - This is a test. You are my ego.

I'm supposed to kill you.

I don't know how to-- do we choose weapons or ?

What did you say ? You're gonna kill me ?

So so... Look at me.

The way in which I would beat you to a pulp

it would be spellbinding.

But I'm not gonna do that today. Where is that coming from ?

It's coming from everything I saw.

I don't know what's fucking going on.

I had these visions and it seems as though they're portraying a selfish man

and I need to be a better person, to have balance in life, and then

I will be a more prosperous artist.

You're a fool !

I know that about you because we had to travel

through your idiot mind to even get to this level.

You literally ate a Black man. You ate GaTa.

How overt can you get ?

Overt ? I don't even get it.

I can't--

I really can't explain everything to you.

I can, but I don't want to. But I could.

I'm just not well-equipped to understand this type of... shit.

I didn't even understand Men in Black the first time.

- I get it now and it's... - Aren't you here to make better music?

I came to Rick Rubin's to make better music.

And now I-- what realm is-- I don't know, are you Rick Rubin ?

There he is !

Come here, my sweet little metaphor.

What the fuck is that ?

That's Double A ! The anteater !

You wouldn't know it, but the suck power on his snout...

tremendo.

Double A ? Wouldn't it be AE for anteater ?

- That's a typo. - Shut up !

Alright. Sorry.

Listen to me, I'm here to help you !

This could solve everything.

Look at this, look at everything I could be.

It's kinda hard to take any of this seriously.

Your fuckin' outfit's insane...

There's an anteater, you're talking about suck power.

All this is very humorous.

They were saying that's a crutch. That I rely on my humour and--

What do you mean humor as a crutch ?

You're a humoros guy. You like making jokes.

What's wrong with that ? I know you have the capability of being serious.

You made a song about your ex-girlfriend, how much you love her.

Wasn't that true, real, serious ? Also made a song about your dick sucking.

Funny, but true, real serious.

Don't change who you are. Who are these people telling you to do that ?

Stop worrying about being high-brow or low-brow !

Just be

no brow.

Okay, I hear that.

But wait. So you're saying

that your main message here is more or less for me to be myself ?

Because that is so basic.

- Going through all that for that... - You're basic.

But acknowledging that basicness is far from basic.

If I'm so aware of that basisity. That's what's happening right now.

Even my inner most thing is so... Maybe this is actually poignant.

- I'm sorry, everybody. - Saying that I have no substance--

I should be a better person. I don't wanna gloss over that.

I saw those things for a reason and if my innermost thoughts are telling me--

Yes ! Be a better person ! You needed to come here to realise that ?

Duh ! Be a good person !

But how on Earth is that gonna help you make better music ?

I don't see the parallel.

You wanna know what your real crutch is ?

Overanalyzing !

I'm looking at it right now.

You turn over stone after stone

you gotta get data, takes, variation.

It's just endless. You wonder why you don't get anywhere.

So they tell you, Don't be funny...

That's a joke. That's a joke.

Hahaha. They gettin' roast.

That's a hook right there, boom !

Stop ovethinking it !

And just

harness.

That is truly the best thing that I could ever--

I need that. That's everything I love. Please, can I have that ?

You already have it.

I am you.

I've been down here this whole time.

Waiting.

So I've been holding me down.

Exactly.

And you should be holding me down.

I'm sorry. I thought there was something--

And I get it.

But do you--

Because if--

- Fuck ! How long was he in there for ? - I thought you were getting him out !

His mouth is full of water ! He swallowed--

- How long did you have him in there ? - I thought you were supposed to--

- You were supposed to be here ! - Rick asked me to juggle four guys !

- You're okay, buddy. - Am I in the tank ?

Yeah, you are still in there. You are.

I thought there was an anteater.

- That's a joke, that's a joke. - You're okay.

- Relax ! - No !

- Wait ! - No, I have it !

He's a like a greased pig ! Wait !

That's a joke ! That's a joke !

Record right now, please. Go !

That's a joke ! That's a joke ! Hey !

Hahaha ! They getting roast, hey

These motherfuckers, they lost me Everything I'm doing lost me

I'm wearing it off like a softie I get grounded like coffee