The night ‘SLAM’ poets beat back donald & diddy
April 29, 2024
A photograph of the 2 NYC "bad boy billionaires" Donald and Diddy, who tried to disrupt the 1998 SLAM party until poets stood strong and demanded they "Get Back, Get Out!" Can America do the same now?It was in the fall of 1998 when Donald Trump and Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy aka Diddy came to the Life Nightclub on Bleeker Street in the Village to join the celebration for the opening of the award-winning indie film 'SLAM'. But things went bad quickly.
What happened that fateful night was revealed in a Q&A following the re-release of the new 4K restored version of 'SLAM' by distributor, Kino Lorber, this past weekend at The Roxy Cinema.
Back in 1998 Trump entered with a small entourage and almost immediately got into an altercation with the Director of 'SLAM', Marc Levin, and Marc's father — filmmaker/journalist, Al Levin. Al Levin had done an exposé on Trump back in 1990 after his Atlantic City bankruptcy, 'TRUMP: WHAT'S THE DEAL?' Al's documentary was financed by the wealthy businessman Leonard Stern. Trump threatened to sue Stern and the documentary was not released — until it finally came out in 2016.
Trump, never one to forget a slight, recognized Al Levin, "Aren't you the schmuck that tried to make that bullshit film?"
Al Levin, a man known for his heart and humor, took offense and stood up to Trump.
"This is my son's party. Why don't you get the fuck out?!"
They were face to face on the verge of a physical confrontation when the club's security guard came over to separate them...
A pic of the SLAM panel at the Roxy Cinema - Bonz Malone, Sonja Sohn, Marc Levin, Liza Jessie Peterson, Bob HolmanMeanwhile, on the nightclub's small stage — another confrontation seemed to spill out from the green room. The stars of 'SLAM' were preparing to perform alongside rappers from Puff Daddy's record label, Bad Boy. Diddy's crew insisted that Black Rob (Bad Boy's rapper who had done the closing title song in 'SLAM', "I Dare You") was the headliner and star of the night. The actual stars of 'SLAM' — Saul Williams, Sonja Sohn and Bonz Malone — all felt insulted and made it immediately clear that 'SLAM' was their film and this was their show. Heated words were exchanged that escalated to threats and then the flashing of a gun.
Sonja Sohn took the stage and Diddy's crew started chanting "Bad Boy, Bad Boy, Bad Boy," trying to disrupt her performance — hoping they could take control of the scene. Saul Williams then jumped onto the stage with a group of poets to defend Sonja, and challenged the Bad Boy crew. Yet, instead of erupting into a violent confrontation, Williams (much like his character Ray in 'SLAM') used his rhymes to defuse the conflict — ending with a long soulful, "OOOOHHHHMMM."
The crowd made it clear which side they were on and the billionaire bad boys, Diddy and Donald, retreated and soon left. It became known as the night the poets beat the bad boy billionaires. Slam director Marc Levin, whose new film 'An American Bombing' is currently on HBO and Max, recalled, "Here we are 26 years later and Trump is on trial for paying hush money to a porn star only blocks from this theater. And now Diddy is also embroiled in a sex scandal. On that night the artists stood up to these billionaire bullies and demanded they get back and get out.
I guess the question tonight is...
"Can America do the same?"‘SLAM’ Director Marc Levin (left) and his long time collaborator Actor/Writer Bonz Malone (right) at the reception after the re-release of the new 4K restored version of ‘SLAM’. For more information on ‘SLAM’ release dates contact distributor Kino Lorber.