How to Make It in America

* I need a dollar dollar *

- * a dollar, that's what I need * - * hey hey *

* well, I need a dollar dollar *

- * a dollar, that's what I need * - * hey hey *

* said I need a dollar dollar *

* a dollar, that's what I need *

* and if I share with you my story *

* would you share your dollar with me? *

* well, I don't know if I'm walking on solid ground *

* and all I want is *

* for someone to help me *

* I need a dollar dollar *

* a dollar, that's what I need *

* and if I share with you my story *

* would you share your dollar with me? *

"crisp." check my pants!

- Money! - Okay!

Booby!

Fuck.

Yo, sorry about that, domingo,

- But I've gotta bounce. - Don't let me stop you, dude.

It's all good. - Hey, thank celine for letting me crash here, okay?

you're welcome.

Do you want to have a snuggle with us, ben?

A little snuggle. Aww.

No, I can't, no. But that was fun last night.

Then you must come by freemans later on this evening.

We're having a little get-together for my friend carole.

She just booked the j. Crew campaign.

Don't you ever take a night off?

Never. I might miss something.

Ah. I'll be there.

Yo, dude, I kind of have to say

I like seeing you up early,

You know, taking care of your denim business shit.

It's awesome. - Hey, you still like the name, right?

Crisp? Hell yeah.

Simple, understated--

Kind of like you.

I try. Hey, get some sleep.

Oh, yeah, I will...

After that. Boom!

* back on the journey again, tool is the pad and pen *

* cool is the fan as the wind, soothing you after I send *

* true inner-vision risen and driven while giving you my *

* isms of intuition while niggaz is living a lie *

* syllables spill and I fly, high as the pinnacle rhyme *

* not to belittle a fool, but try to get into you my *

* lyrics inherited from awareness somewhere in the sky *

* clearly you've given merit and cherish 'em better with time... *

You're not in here, okay?

The problem is that's somebody else.

I want to see you, work on you, okay?

- Next week? All right. - Thank you.

Professor fresconi.

Dan epstein.

- Ben. Ben epstein. - Ben epstein.

God, in an f.I.T. Classroom no less.

You remember. How are you? - I'm good.

I'm good. So what you got?

Actually I stopped by to pick your brain about something.

- I'm starting a denim line. - Oh, boy.

- It's called crisp... - Mm-hmm.

...And it's inspired by 1970s new york city.

So you've got the birth of hip-hop

And the birth of punk rock, you know?

Not bell-bottoms? - No no, just the spirit of the '70s.

No. Were you even alive in the '70s?

- No. - The place was a dump.

I mean central park was a war zone.

Times square was full of hookers.

You know, what's not to love, right?

Anyways, I was hoping you could hook me up with a good manufacturer.

Wow. You're back 30 seconds,

You already want the keys to the kingdom.

I'll settle for a recommendation.

All the good denim guys I know are in downtown l.A.

Yeah, that's what I heard, but you don't know anybody still in new york city?

Uh, yeah, I'd be happy to make some calls,

But I've gotta tell you-- people are a little funky about sharing their sources.

- I'll see what I find out. - Yeah?

- Yeah. - I appreciate it. Thanks.

You know, I always thought you had talent.

It's just... Your follow-through wasn't there.

- Wow. - Mmm.

I'm honest with all my students, ben,

Even the drop-outs.

It's gonna be high-end premium denim.

We're gonna call it crisp. What you think?

You say crisp, I think bacon.

Yeah, whatever. What you know about fashion?

Just hurry up with my sandwiches.

yo, how'd it go?

- Ben: I don't know, man. - Did you get us a manufacturer?

Fresconi told me to go to l.A.

You believe that? - No. Fuck that and fuck l.A.

What does fresconi know? He's only a teacher.

He's a teacher that sold his apparel company for $8 million.

Oh, for real? - Yeah, he knows the business.

Well, so do I. Hey, listen.

Meet me at 14th street at the jean shop in 20 minutes.

Why? - 'cause that's where our denim was headed

Before we got it. They must have somebody local who makes their jeans.

Think about it. - And why would they share that with us?

Just let me do what I do.

Meet me there in 20 minutes and I've got your egg sandwich.

All right.

Bubba, you want to know the secret to selling jeans?

- Cool pockets. - There you go.

yeah. I'll see you later.

- Rene. - Oh. Danny.

Father.

hey, it's nice to have you back with us.

hey, it's nice to be on the outside

And not the inside, if you know what I mean. - I understand.

I led the congregation up in fishkill.

It's no place for a man to live.

Yeah, tell me about it.

I spent my life going in and out of there

Just to learn that very lesson.

- But you learned the lesson. - Oh, I have.

Crime doesn't pay and that's all behind me now.

- I'm never going back inside. - I'm happy to hear that.

- Yeah. - Good news.

You don't have to do it alone.

- No? - No.

Jesus christ will help you.

Like he helped me find my way,

He'll help guide you so you stay with us from now on.

Well, I'll tell you- he's doing a pretty good job.

I've got my own legitimate business.

In fact, if you're ever looking for a partner for bingo night,

My company, rasta monsta,

Would love to sponsor it.

Our lady of sorrow's rasta monsta bingo night--

- It has a certain ring to it. - Yeah yeah. No no, I'm serious.

I'll set it all up, I'll run the whole thing,

Pride all the beverages.

- Okay? - All right.

I'll pitch it to the fathers. Sounds good.

He's gonna be a good boy now, father dan.

No more prison for him, huh?

No. That's my promise to you, grandma.

- Huh. - All right.

- All right. - See you later.

You like this stuff, right?

It's fresh.

That's our most popular cut.

It's made from japanese selvage denim.

Cool. - Now let me ask you a question:

Are these jeans made in america?

'cause I'm only buying domestic right now.

Yeah, all of our jeans are made locally.

- Seriously? - Mm-hmm.

That's awesome. Isn't that awesome?

Yeah, that's definitely awesome.

- So you make 'em in new york? - Yeah, in the bronx.

B.X.! That's where I'm from.

Born and raised. What part?

Uh, I'm not sure.

I can ask the owner. He's in the back.

You'd be the man if you could do that.

Okay.

Is the kid smooth or what?

Whatever.

Hello.

- Hey. - Ben: Hey, what's up?

Um, am I catching you at a bad time?

- No. No. - Okay, good.

Listen, I was wondering if...

You wanted to get together later,

Maybe, to just get a drink or something.

Really? - Yeah, I think we should talk about

What happened the other night.

What night is that?

The under- the-window night, ben.

Right. Yeah.

Well, how about--

How about that sake spot over on 2nd avenue?

- Okay, sounds good. 8:00? - I'll be there.

- All right. Bye. - Bye.

My grandfather was a tailor in a factory on fordham road

And I was wondering if that's where you guys make these.

Fordham road? Nah.

Oh, really.

It seems like the kind of work they'd do.

What factory do you guys use?

Yeah, we found a gem out in hunts point--

38 minada avenue.

Oh yeah, I know that spot.

- Yeah, they're the best. - Yeah yeah yeah. Oh, cool.

Anything else I can help you out with?

- I think we're good. - Yeah, thanks, man.

- Thanks. - Thanks, guys.

* don't sweat the technique. *

The boogie down bronx.

It just don't got the same flavor like the lower east side.

Could you keep your voice down and not get us killed up here, please?

Yo, relax. I've got peoples in every borough.

Yo, as a matter of fact, we ought to hit this cuban spot after this.