JOHNSON: That movie never came out like how the script reads. Belly is probably one of the illest scripts, profound at that, because the message they were sending was crazy. If Belly got shot the way it was supposed to, couldn’t nothing touch that. No American Gangster, no Wire episode. Nothing in this generation, or in our lifetime, would be able to top that. It was supposed to be implemented earlier in the film why X decided not to [kill the minister]. The way it is now, it’s like, all of a sudden he caught a heart?
BODDEN: The idea of [not killing Rev. Saviour] came from Farrakhan himself. He was like, “Absolutely not. No way can you do that. You need positive role models.†Hype had met with Farrakhan out of respect, and he gave Hype some insight and wisdom. Hype decided to go with the minister’s words.
LITTLE X (VISUAL CONSULTANT): The real story is about this guy who’s lived this violent life joining a Nation of Islam–type organization, under direction from the government to get at the leader and kill [him]. That’s the story. When DMX got arrested, that should have been in the first 30 minutes.
Read More: Belly Oral History |
Belly Oral History