“Highest 2 Lowest” showcases Washington’s surprising rap skills as he faces off against A$AP Rocky, creating an unforgettable generational showdown in Spike Lee’s Kurosawa-inspired thriller.
“Highest 2 Lowest”: Spike Lee’s fifth collaboration with Hollywood icon Denzel Washington reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 police thriller “High and Low,” with the acclaimed director and Kurosawa superfan expecting nothing less than stellar, award-worthy acting. What he didn’t expect was Washington’s remarkable ability to deliver rhymes like a seasoned hip-hop veteran, earning him the nickname “MC Microphone Checka” among the crew.
Challenge Academy Award winner Denzel Washington to a lyrical showdown at your own risk – you might end up on the receiving end of a verbal beatdown.
Even more impressive was Washington’s ability to go toe-to-toe with chart-topping rapper A$AP Rocky, creating a cultural touchstone that reflects the changing entertainment industry.
Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival, 2018
Photo credit: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
“Real recognizes real,” Lee remarks. “You’ve got the seasoned veteran facing off against the young gun. It creates this fascinating generational dynamic.”
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Set against a gritty music industry backdrop, “Highest 2 Lowest” features Washington as David King, a wealthy record executive whose label Stackin’ Hits Records is, as Lee describes, “struggling to live up to its past glory of producing No. 1 records.” As King attempts to maintain financial control of his label and prevent a corporate merger, he receives a devastating call: his son Trey (Aubrey Joseph) has been kidnapped with a $17.5 million ransom demand. However, in a cruel twist, it’s actually Kyle – the son of King’s longtime colleague Paul (Jeffrey Wright) – who’s been taken. King collaborates with law enforcement to deliver the ransom and secure the boy’s release.
Behind this elaborate scheme is rising star and former convict Yung Felon (Rocky), who leads King and the authorities on an intense pursuit through the Bronx before successfully securing the ransom money. While King becomes a community hero – with headlines declaring him “Da Black Panther of Da Bronx” – he still faces the challenge of recovering the stolen millions.
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Thanks to his legendary “golden ears,” King eventually connects the dots between the kidnapper’s voice and a track featuring Felon on his son’s playlist. Following street intel with Paul, they locate Felon’s girlfriend and young son, ultimately tracking him to a concealed recording studio. In their confrontation, Felon reveals his long-standing admiration for King and his dream of working with him. In an unexpected turn, King offers him an opportunity, challenging him to “step up” and “make a statement.”
Washington, revealing himself as a closet rapper, deviated from the script, initiating an unplanned lyrical showdown that caught everyone off guard, according to Lee. “During the shoot preparation, something unexpected happened. Denzel had been immersing himself in research, and suddenly he started flowing with verses from Nas’ ‘Illmatic’ album.” Washington put his own spin on “Represent,” delivering the lines: “I used to sport Bally’s in Cazals with black frames, now I’m into new chicks, texts and Beck’s.”
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Rocky fired back with his response: “I gotta feed the streets, my lady and a newborn kid, and I ain’t tryin’ to go back and do another bid, you dig?”
“We were fortunate to have Rocky there because neither of us anticipated Denzel’s improvisation,” Lee explains. “When Rocky realized Denzel was in battle rapper mode, his competitive spirit kicked in – after all, that’s his territory!”
“Denzel’s transition into battle rapper mode brought out the best in Rocky. That’s what makes Denzel a genius,” Lee continues. “When performers elevate a scene together, they’re enhancing the entire film. This moment became a classic showdown, like ‘High Noon’ – two heavyweights going head-to-head. The movie just soars from there.”
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How does ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ end?
The story concludes with King instructing Felon to “handle his business,” but the young artist attempts to flee, only to be apprehended by King on the 4 train. Their final encounter takes place in prison, where Felon, now serving a 25-year sentence, has become a streaming sensation. Despite his incarceration, Felon proposes a partnership to capitalize on his newfound fame, but King declines, revealing he’s launched a smaller, more focused family label and emphasizing to Felon that life encompasses more than financial success.
“The veterans, they’ve lived this life,” Lee reflects on the ending. “They speak from a place of wisdom and experience, while the younger generation, like Felon, are still learning life’s important lessons in this changing entertainment industry.”
Source:
Brian Truitt (September 5, 2025). How Denzel Washington’s ‘genius’ led to ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ rap battle. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/09/05/highest-2-lowest-denzel-washington-rap-battle/85924482007/
Header Image: Spike Lee at the Cannes Film Festival, 2018 Photo credit: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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