V. ch. 2: uptown taking over the world

[Prokopis Prokopidis]

Hi,

V., chapter 2. We are at the party in Mixolydian's appartment and ...

> Stencil shrugged irritably, rose from the sink and found his coat. On the way out he touched a knot of six: Raoul, Slab, Melvin and three girls.
> "Man," said Raoul.
> "Scene," said Slab, waving his arm to indicate the unwinding party.
> "Later," Stencil said and moved on out the door.
> The girls stood silent. They were camp followers of a sort and expendable. Or at least could be replaced.
> "Oh yes," said Melvin.
> "Uptown," Slab said, "is taking over the world."
> "Ha, ha," said one of the girls.

Can someone provide some context to Slab's "joke"? Why is it that uptown
is assuming control of the world? And why does this make Esther laugh?

P.