03x03 - Sanctuary

[bunniefuu]

I just don't think
we can live together.

Wow, this sounds like a,
you know, I pay for your life,

but I ain't in it type sh*t.

You want a break?

You got it.

[upbeat music plays]

Excuse me, Lucille.

Maurice?

This is my friend
Dr. Montclair.

We went
to high school together.

Let me take you to lunch.

We can catch up without
all these interruptions.

I searched my mind,
trying to figure out

why my stubborn-ass father
would call me in.

I hear you've been
trying to expand.

I'm sending you someone.

Put him to work
in your organisation.

Uh, I decide
who works for me.

Let me know how he does.

That VIP is over there,
calling your name, sweetheart.

[person] Damn, who the
f*ck is that that?

That is Angel.

So why you ask me here?

I need a name,
and I know you know it.

n*gga, I am not
the yellow pages.

[Angel] Santiago Dominguez.

Ask around
for the Havana House.

-Are you Santiago?
-No, no, estoy loco.

So you came looking
for me to be my plug.

[laughs]
f*ck yeah, man, f*ck yeah.

[dramatic music plays]

♪ ♪

[upbeat music plays]

♪ ♪

Stop, Meech, stop.

Come on, Pops.
You mad at my skills?

No, no, no.

Making noise like that ain't
a skill to be proud of, boy.

A drummer's job
ain't to showboat.

Look.

In a band...

[snapping fingers]

Everyone plays their position.

A good percussionist makes
the rest of the band feel safe.

See, he's the rock
because he lays the foundation.

So kind of like how you
are for our family, huh?

[chuckles]
Show me something now.

[Meech] All right.

[Charles] Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

[bluesy music plays]

[Meech] It's human nature
to seek out sanctuary.

Some of us find it
in family or religion.

But for Pops and me,
it was always with music.

They could take away our heat,
our water, our dignity,

but never our expression.

♪ ♪

[dog barking]

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

-[grunting]
-[person] Come on!

[Stacks]
m*therf*ckers robbed us!

-The money's gone, Meech.
-[Meech] f*ck.

[Older Meech] The thing about
sanctuaries is that you got

to fight to protect 'em.

The same sh*t that
gives us peace of mind

is what we wage wars over.

I guess that's why they say,
no rest for the f*cking weary.

[Charlie] ♪ I got everything
On the line ♪

♪ Out here
I'm on the grind ♪

♪ Trying to get mine ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ A n*gga move the weight ♪

♪ Trying to get the cake ♪

♪ I'm in and out of state ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ I don't go hand to hand ♪

♪ It go gram after gram ♪

♪ Yeah, holla at me, man ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

[50 Cent]
♪ The D's ain't that good ♪

♪ These n*gg*s is ratting ♪

♪ They tell them
What's going on ♪

♪ That's how they know
What's happening ♪

♪ I'm riding
With the top down ♪

♪ Trunk full of yola ♪

♪ Ghetto pharmaceutical ♪

♪ I move that Coca-Cola ♪

♪ Thousand grams of pure ♪

♪ Though I f*ck
With the weirdos ♪

♪ They snort away the pain ♪

♪ Bang their dope
In their vein ♪

♪ Shorty crying
Christmas ain't coming ♪

♪ Her pop's locked up ♪

♪ When it hurts the worst ♪

♪ Your ace find out
She knocked up ♪

♪ Welfare ain't an option ♪

♪ When the Feds
Come knocking ♪

♪ It's all f*cked up
So wish me luck ♪

[Charlie] ♪ At least
You could wish me luck ♪

♪ A n*gga move the weight ♪

♪ Trying to get the cake ♪

♪ I'm in and out of state ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ I don't go hand to hand ♪

♪ It go gram after gram ♪

♪ Yeah, holla at me, man ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Wish me luck ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, wish me luck ♪

♪ Wish me luck ♪

♪ All you got to do
Is wish me luck, yeah ♪

[hip-hop music plays]

♪ ♪

[Meech] You dimed me out, huh?

[Angel] What you talking about?

The MKs blindsided me
at that plug meeting

you helped set up.

You think I'm f*cking stupid?

And then my crib gets jacked?

Look, I'm sorry all
that happened to you,

but I ain't say sh*t
to nobody about nothing.

Now if you'll excuse me,
time is money.

And it's Jack the Rapper
weekend, so--

[Greeny clears throat]
Everything good?

-Uh, yeah, yeah, we cool.
-[Meech] Mm-hmm.

[Greeny]
Puffy's calling for you, yes?

Go on straight, go, go.
There you go.

Little kickstart,
that's all you need.

Speaking of money, we make
a good team, you and me.

Got that next green
for me to clean?

I had a minor setback,
so it's gon' be a minute.

-[Greeny] Mm-hmm.
-Let me ask you something.

Who the f*ck
is Jack the Rapper?

[laughs]

You got a whole lot
to learn, youngblood.

Jack the Rapper is a Black
radio music convention.

sh*t take over
the whole g*dd*mn city

when it roll through.

It's where cats come
to learn a little something

about the music game,
elevate their hustle

by rubbing elbows
with the upper echelon,

you know what
I'm talking about?

Yeah.

Like the boys over there?

♪ ♪

Mm-hmm, I'll tell you
something, Detroit.

If I was a blind man,
I could smell money.

♪ ♪

[upbeat music plays]

Hey, where the hell Roland at?

I don't know.

[Terry]
His girl just had a baby.

Roland got a little
Rollie-roll now.

[Sterl] Oh, sh*t.

Yo, the freezer's back up.

What was it y'all
needed to rap about?

We sold out of the
whipped work, right?

[Tee] Okay.

And you know how Lops
on the north end

been getting all antsy.

So I called them and told them
we got more weight coming in.

But the bull dagger bitch
got to him first,

and stole a couple
of our other clients too.

And Dizz.

-Even Dizz?
-Yeah.

Oh, f*ck.

Man, I known that n*gga
since Little League.

So what you want to do?

[phone rings]

[phone beeps]

[Markisha] Hey, I've
been thinking about you.

I miss you.

[Terry] That's nice.

Uh, I've been busy
with the family,

Terry Jr. and stuff like that,

since that's what
we doing now.

Oh, come on.
Don't be salty, Tee.

You know I want to be with you.

I just had to pump
the brakes for a second.

That Saint sh*t
really f*cked me up.

No, I'm not- I'm not salty
at all.

Between Terry Jr.--
he's-he's sick--

and LaWanda's pregnancy,

you really just
doing me a favour.

Why don't you come over and we
can talk about it in person?

My kids are with my parents,

and I don't have
any panties on.

She misses you.

Nah, you-you know what,
I'm-I'm busy.

I'm still moving
into an apartment.

I got sh*t to do.

[soft music plays]

[scoffs]

♪ ♪

[upbeat hip-hop music plays]

♪ You always gotta work, work ♪

[Tina] I'm just saying,
Remi's right-hand

Claude usually be
in the store tiptoeing

around in cheap sh*t.

Now he all draped out
in designer threads

after your crib get hit?

[Meech] At least we know
it wasn't the MKs.

[Duffy]
Nah, they just ambush us.

Glock out here
Batmanning and sh*t.

I'm trying to find Bruce Wayne,
so I can clip

that m*therf*cker's wings.

[Stacks]
Man, f*ck all that sh*t.

Yo, chill.
What's the problem, Stacks?

Your ass the one
that got caught up, right?

Nah, been told Meech,
first Remi capped Ty.

Now m*therf*ckers think
they got the green light

to Rodney King me?

What up, Meech?

We gon' get this sh*t right?

We gon' ride for Ty
when the time is right,

and Remi gon' get what's
coming to him for sure.

But right now,
we need to be focused

on feeding our f*cking family.

[Rip] But how we gon' eat
in the meantime?

[Meech]
sh*t, I pawned my Rolexes,

so I got something
to break y'all off with.

[Lazuli] Damn.

Good looks, Meech.

[Meech]
Yeah, I take care of my people.

And I just talked to my plug.

We're back in regular rotation,
which gon' make up

for the losses in no time.

We gon' build
more pipelines in the A,

but we need more manpower.

That's why we going
to Jack the Rapper.

-Ey.
-Hell yeah.

-Ey.
-Hell yeah.

And we gon' to show the MKs
and the Atlanta crews,

no matter what
they throw at us,

we ain't skippin'
a m*therf*cking b*at.

That's solid.

Dealers from all over
the country be at Jack.

[Stacks] Look, man, you come
in here acting like Moses,

but me and mine, we ain't
wandering around the desert

with your ass no more.

[soft music plays]

Well, you gon' die of thirst
without me then, partner.

We'll see, n*gga.

♪ ♪

You ain't never
pawned sh*t for us.

♪ ♪

Well, go ahead on.

You know I'm Atlanta.

I'm riding with Meech, yo.

♪ ♪

Man, crazy.

[Meech]
Rip, better bring your mixtape.

[Rip] You already know.

[Duffy]
Yo, forget Stacks, man.

We better off without him.

Yo, and since
your crib got hit,

if you need a place to lay
your head, feel free to crash.

Appreciate it, Duff.

But those mansions up the
block, in the gated community?

They're more my style.

It is greater in Decatur.

[chuckles]
And it's also safer

to do business over there.

Yeah. Look, them HOAs?

They like the mafia themselves.

I mean, someone legit gonna
have to sign for it.

♪ ♪

[Terry] BMF was built
on loyalty and brotherhood.

With these two things,

we got
a bright future ahead of us.

We just can't let
outsiders get in the way.

[Guttah] Outsiders?

Your biggest thr*at
is the cyclops in the mirror.

Yeah, man, since Meech left,

your new regime
is rigid as f*ck.

Yeah, and we sick of being
dinged for late payments,

or being a few bucks short.

Our loyalty was to Meech,

not his penny-pinching
baby backup.

You right.
I'm not my brother.

I'm running sh*t my way.

Now, what's up
with the rest of you?

[Lop] Man, f*ck all that, man.

Where's the product, Tee?

I've been waiting
on that sh*t like it's

my f*cking kidney, man.

-[Terry] It's coming.
-When?

Soon.

[Lops] Hey, look.
We've been wanting to bounce.

And now that we
got other options?

Deuces.

Hey, Dizz. Yo, hold up,
hold up man, hold up.

[bell chimes]

[exhales sharply]

Remember when you ran
the register at Watkins,

and we would come over
and eat all the leftovers

when your shift was done?

You ate all
the leftovers, Tee.

Surprised you didn't turn
all Fat Albert on us.

Look, the gist is,
I put you on.

You really gonna
play me like that?

All right, fine.

I guess I can cancel
my order with Henri.

Your Hamburglar ass happy?

No.

Don't cancel sh*t.

I need to know Henri's
every f*cking move,

and you're
in position to get them.

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

Appreciate you, cuzzo.

Hey.

For what it's worth,
I don't give two soiled shits

about what your pop's saying.

You've been
m*therf*cking ready, OK?

Managing to get
that pure weight from them

r*cist-ass Chaldeans
proved that sh*t.

[Tuan] BMF may have
the soldiers, but they're

dropping like dominoes.

It's only a matter
of time before the board

clears for a new regime.

[door clicks]

m*therf*ckers don't
knock in Ecorse?

I could knock your skinny
ass out, if you're curious.

[laughs] All right,
all right, all right.

At ease, Tuan.

Ah.
Somebody in need of a cavalry.

Mm.

Just 'cause my father vouched
for you don't make you it.

I'm the swinging d*ck
running this show.

So if you need something,
I'ma need to start

hearing some feet a-tapping.

Look here.

Any tap dancing
I do is on the necks

of m*therf*ckers in my way.

Now, I am here
for my son's protection.

So why don't you just tell me
what the f*ck I got to do,

and let's get on with it.

[clicks tongue]

You could escort
a shipment I got coming.

If you want your flight
to land smoothly,

you need to find a ship
that can hide in plain sight.

In other words,
there are just some vehicles

that cops don't f*ck with.

[upbeat music plays]

♪ ♪

-Pops!
-[Charles] Come here, son.

[Meech]
Man, I missed you, Pops.

How was first class?

[Charles] I can get used to
five-star treatment like that.

You know how we get down.

I'ma stop you
by the mall real quick,

get some new threads.

You know you like
to show out in style.

[Charles]
Yeah, that sounds nice,

but when we seeing this house
you thinking about buying?

You said you want me
look at the foundation?

And I want to show you my
boy Duffy's recording studio.

It's k*ller, huh?

-All right, this you?
-This me, baby.

Ooh.

Asymmetrical walls,
high ceilings.

Bet the acoustics
here are nice, huh?

[Duffy] Yes, sir, yes, sir.

You know, music is a passion
for me, Mr. Flenory.

And Meech here
said that you know

how to get our bars sounding
crisp as damn cr*cker Trax.

Yeah, I tried building
a basement studio back home.

I just never had
the funds to finish.

Whoa, snap.

Family Affair this weekend?

Hey, Duffy, why don't you show
Pops the sound quality?

[Duffy] Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Meech] Pops, let me know what
you think, all right?

[Charles] All right.

Hey, ghost these passes, dawg.

I can't have my dad
at no drug dealer palooza.

For sure.

[Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy
Me [The Ecology]" playing]

♪ ♪

How it sound, Pops?

[Charles] Oh, man, whoo.

Them speakers got some range.

[laughs]

I knew you would like it.

[Charles] Oh, now, that song
takes me back, boy.

Look at you.

Mm!

Estelle, thank you so much
for filling in for Nicole.

I guess she just wanted
to be with her friends.

[Estelle] I'm happy to help.

Besides, church is a great
place to meet single men.

I'm praying the Lord
giveth me a three-six,

six-pack, 6 feet, six figures.

You know what,
I can't take you nowhere.

I know you right about that

'cause I honestly have
no idea what I'm doing.

Because the cake
batter is too loose.

The church ain't even
gonna accept this.

Hmm.

Speaking of cakes--

Mm-hmm.

When you gonna let
the good doctor accept yours?

If you don't lower
your voice up in here.

I do not want these church
folks all up in my business.

You got to get
back out there, cuz.

Look, I'm not
even divorced yet.

And just because Charles
couldn't keep it in his pants

does not give me a green light
to ungodly behaviours, so--

You think that stopped me
after I kicked

lazy Leebird to the curb?

Girl, life is too short
to waste time.

Maurice is still so fine.

[Estelle squeals]

-[both laughing]
-Stop it!

And he's so kind.

And he's, like--
he's successful.

And Charles is in Atlanta.

You owe it to yourself
to go see if something

is still there.

OK, you know what they say.

[Lucille] Hmm?

A good man is hard to find.

But a hard man is good to find.

If you don't cut this--

girl!

[Sterl] If your customers don't
get their orders from Henri,

they'll come running
back to you, hat in hand.

That's cool.

We'll raise the rent
on those ungrateful fucks.

Gonna have to move quick.

'Etta's home delivery
coming tonight.

Oh, yeah?

How do you know that,
Sherlock Hood?

Had to kiss the ring on
that lumberjack-looking bitch.

Uh-huh.

While there,
I peeped her whole crew

retrofitting an ambulance
with Brighton stickers.

[Terry] Hmm.

Damn, on all my car ride runs,

I ain't never seen an ambulance
truck get searched.

That's how she's
moving her weight.

[exhales sharply]
That's smart.

-As f*ck.
-Damn.

So from Brighton,
that amber wagon gon' be riding

dirty all the way down I-96.

Mm-mm, you're gonna risk
the Jeffries getting jammed.

Smart move is Grand River.

Hoop, you gonna
have to run point.

Take my top sh**t,
Kutz, with you.

And whatever you do,
make sure

that ambulance
don't make its drop.

[soft music plays]

♪ ♪

[camera shutter clicking]

You ever been
in a g*n battle?

Not yet.

[laughs]
So you're a virgin.

I'm going to pop
your firefight cherry.

I promise I will be gentle.

I'm not afraid of dying.

When I OD'd, I saw the light.

And it was the most beautiful,

peaceful thing I've ever seen.

My sister was beaten to death.

That sh*t still haunts me.

I hope she saw what you saw.

[Charles laughs]
Whew.

It's the same kind
of house your mom and I

dreamt of moving into one day.

[Stephanie] Well,
the papers are all filled out.

All you got to do is sign.

[Meech]
Can you give us a minute?

-[Stephanie] Of course.
-[Meech] Thank you.

[Charles] It's got
a nice foundation, son.

The only thing is, I don't
got legitimate income.

I was thinking maybe you
could sign off on it for me.

You know, I still don't
agree with what you do.

But I respect how
hard you work at it.

Let's see.

Wait, what?

Well, wait a minute.

This is a mistake.

An engineer?

Oh yeah, Pops, I had
to stretch some of the info.

Good thing is, the realtor,
she down with me.

So don't even trip by it.

[Charles] You know, Meech,
this is not my salary.

And these for damn sure
ain't my paystubs.

I'm paying everything
up front, all right?

The money is not an issue.

The issue is it's illegal.

[Meech] So is boosting
the neighbour's cable

when electricity goes out
and tampering with the meter.

Come on now.
Don't do this to me, man.

Boy, I had a family to support.

Everything I did
was for survival.

And so is this.

I was just staying at a crib
that got broken into.

I'm trying to be at a spot
I don't have to keep

looking over my shoulder.

I thought you wanted me
to be safe.

That's all I ever
wanted for you, Meech.

Which is why I asked you
to end this nonsense.

And now you're asking me
to be complicit?

Oh, no, you know what,

I need to sleep on this,
so why don't you call me

a cab back to the hotel?

I'll be outside.

[tense music plays]

[radio chatter]

You sure we ain't going
to run into any one-time?

I mean, can you even
make that sh*t out?

Just shut the f*ck up
and keep us between the lines.

[g*nsh*t]

[tires squealing]

[gasping]

Let's finish this n*gga.

Hey.

♪ ♪

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[police sirens wailing]

Police!
Drop your weapons!

[person]
Let's get the f*ck out of here.

[Amberson]
Stop right now!

Get your hands up
where I can see them!

♪ ♪

[g*nsh*t]

f*ck!

♪ ♪

[g*nshots]

♪ ♪

[gasping]

[g*nsh*t]

sh*t.

[Henrietta]
Hiding in plain sight, my ass!

This is why I don't take
recs from my father.

He sends me limp d*ck
ex-cops who can't

get the g*dd*mn job right.

Somebody fetch me Tuan!

I need to know what
the f*ck happened.

Well, you gonna be sending
your errand boy to hell, yeah?

Because that's where
that n*gga done

took up permanent residence.

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

Tuan?

Yo, that was
my f*cking blood, man!

[g*nshots]

[screams]

Sorry for your loss.

But BMF knew when, where,
and what to look for.

So if you're looking for a
place to channel that anger--

[Henrietta scoffs]

Tell me everything
you know about Tee.

[knocking]

Who's coming
to my house this early?

Can I help you?

I'm Lisa Murray from
Child Protective Services.

Oh, sh*t.

I'm here
about Terry Flenory Jr.

Are you the parents?

[Terry] Yeah, yeah.
But what's-what's going on?

We received a call regarding
Terry Jr.'s well-being.

I'm here to ensure
he's in a safe environment.

But TJ is fine.

[baby coughing]

Does this child
of a history of asthma?

No.

Has he even been checked out?

Wait, hold on.
Ma'am-ma'am, whoa.

Look, we're responsible
parents, all right?

TJ just has a simple cold.

You know,
what you're investigating

is a completely false
and unwarranted claim.

Smoking is a health hazard
for children,

even more so if there's
marijuana involved.

Wait, wait, wait.
We are a drug-free family here.

[Terry] Look, lady--ma'am.

Whoever called is probably
just, uh, they're just joking.

Or they're just full of sh*t.
It's probably a prank.

Can you just please
give us a name?

You'll be privy to the details

of the investigation
in 30 days,

once it goes to the judge.

[both] Judge?

[Terry]
Hey, hey, look, look, hey.

Hey.
I'm gonna fix this.

I promise you I'm going
to fix this, LaWanda.

Terry, this got
that cradle-robbing

ass bitch's name all over it.

She's mad 'cause you with me
and not her sorry ass no more.

I don't--I don't think Markisha
would do some sh*t like this.

You better talk to that bitch

'cause if you don't get her
to back the f*ck up, I will.

All right?

[baby cooing]

[singer] ♪ Here they come, yo
Here they come ♪

[Meech] Mayor Hartsfield
envisioned Atlanta

as the entertainment
capital of the South.

So when DJ pioneer Jack Gibson
threw the biggest urban radio

music convention
in the country,

Hotlanta was the perfect host.

[singer] ♪ Come on
Who's the black sheep? ♪

♪ What's the black sheep? ♪

♪ Know not who I am or when
I'm coming, so you sleep ♪

♪ Wasn't in my realm
or wasn't in your sphere ♪

♪ Knew not who I was
But listen here ♪

♪ Dres, D-R-E-S, yes
I guess I can start... ♪

[Jack] Without b*ating
around the bush,

we're glad that you're hanging
out with the sugar-sugar man,

Jack the Rapper.

Ow!

[Meech]
Gospel, funk, R&B, jazz--

Family Affair was home
to everyone in Black music.

Then hip-hop burst
onto the scene.

Sponsors warned old mellow
yellow rappers would ruin

the party with their drama,
but he invited them anyway,

embracing Black cultural
freedom in all its forms.

Like the charts,
hip-hop dominated the event.

And in honor
of its fast-talking founder,

the streets rechristened
that sh*t Jack the Rapper.

[singer]
♪ You can get with this ♪

♪ Or you can get with that ♪

♪ I think I'll get with this
'Cause this is where it's at ♪

♪ You can get with this
Or you can get with that ♪

[Rip] Got that heat.
Five bones.

Holla at me.

[Caesar] Oh, sh*t, they got
those iggity diggity jiggity

n*gg*s over there.

Damn, they got everybody
and they mama in this bitch.

I might have to break me
off a big bite.

This my type of party for sure.

Look like it's your old man's
type of party too.

[hip-hop music plays]

Pops?

Hey, Meech.

Ah!

You know your mama love
her some Clark Sisters.

You're supposed
to be at the hotel.

Boy, I'm grown.

And I've dreamed
of coming to Family Affair

since Tee was in trainers.

You standing in history, son.

White folks would never
give us the time of day,

so we had to create our own.

That sound good, Pops,
but just look around.

Does this look like
the same event to you?

I admit, the vibe is different.

♪ ♪

Is there anything left decent
you boys won't poison?

Pops, that's why
you gots to go.

And what am I supposed
to tell Mama

if something happened to you?

Oh, so now you're
thinking about my well-being?

Let me live, boy.

[chuckles]

♪ ♪

[Terry] Markisha!

Markisha, girl,
where the hell you--

yo, Kish.

What you doing, busting
up in my house like that?

First of all,
this is my house.

Hey, yo, did you call CPS
on LaWanda and my kid?

n*gga, excuse you?

If you did, just tell me.

Tee, I'm a mother.

I know what calling
the authorities

could do to people like us.

And how dare you accuse me of
some f*cked-up sh*t like that?

[sighs]
Damn.

Look, I--you're right.

I'm sorry.

Tee, I love you.

I'm only gonna lift you up.

I'm not gonna
tear you down ever.

I know, I know.

It's just--you know,
there's just been a lot.

My head is a little twisted.

They talking about pulling
up my police reports,

school records, medical files.

If they find any sh*t
they don't like, it's a wrap.

My family's destroyed.

Damn.
That's f*cked up, Tee.

[upbeat music plays]

[Meech] Back in the day,
hip-hop heads

couldn't catch a cold
over the airwaves,

let alone radio play.

So they used Jack the Rapper
to get on with the DJs.

Especially Uncle Luke.

That n*gga threw the livest
suite parties at Jack.

Liquor was loose,
but the women were looser.

Next thing you know,

Luke's jams were bumping
coast to coast.

♪ ♪

I'd go on to use
the same networking strategy.

You treat m*therf*ckers right,

they never gonna forget you.

[person] Hey.

That pimp Greeny
over at Platinum

comped our party favours.

Said we had that rattail
m*therf*cker to thank.

Yeah, that's no sweat, dawg.
Just trying to spread the love.

Big Meech, Motor City.

J-Pusha, Hustle City.

I dabble in a little
bit of everything.

You know, uh, fish fries,
beepers, birds.

Before my little brother
right here go pro,

I wanted to, you know,
give him a little taste

of what to expect.

Matter of fact, given all
the opportunity in this room,

figured I'll make
it a two-for-one.

So it seems like y'all
know a lot about a lot.

I'm actually trying to expand
my pipeline down to St. Louis.

My brother jammin', man.

I'm talking about to lock down
the biggest PJ in the Lou.

So if you really
got that work, sh*t.

He sure as hell got them pipes.

[chuckles]

Oh, yeah?
See, that's what's up.

But you know, a lot
of m*therf*ckers like to sh*t

from their mouth
more than their assh*le,

so I need to come
down to St. Louis

and check y'all
out myself before I can

make any commitments.

♪ ♪

[both laughing]

You know what,
if I didn't know any better,

I would swear that these
were the popcorn balls

from Euclid Park in Cleveland.

Do you remember that?

Girl, you thought
I could forget?

I remember we used
to take our shoes off,

walk down the beach
when there were full moons.

Oh, my goodness.

Can I tell you
a secret, though?

Hm?

These are the popcorn balls
from Euclid Park.

What? How?

They closed decades ago.

Mm-mm.
They're a candy company now.

Hmm.

I had them shipped here,

so you'd have
a little pop of home.

How did you know
I would even call you?

Truth is--

Hmm?

I didn't.

But if there was just
the slightest of chances,

I was gonna be ready.

Got something else for you.

Oh, my goodness.

This is for your church.

I heard about the bake sale
you spearheaded.

This is--

listen, I-I-I did not expect you
to do anything like this.

I--that was not my--

Lucille.

Letting you walk away

is one of my biggest regrets.

And if this lets me
be a part of your life

even just a little,

then it's a blessing.

[soft music plays]

♪ ♪

Thank you...

'Reece.

[both laugh]

I haven't heard that
in a long time.

[upbeat music plays]

[singer] ♪ You are buggin' if
You're playing with my head ♪

♪ 'Cause I ain't falling
For the same mistakes again ♪

♪ 'Cause I spent
Long enough, yeah ♪

[person] You know,
my people have a saying.

[speaking Creole]

Knowing how to read
doesn't make you intelligent.

Just like having a fancy title
doesn't mean that your audio

isn't dog sh*t.

[laughs]

You know, truth is, I'm just
getting back in the game.

So, to a old head like me,
every little bit helps.

Wisly Solomon,
Colonial Records.

Now, I must warn you,
we are small-time,

but our breakthrough
is on the horizon.

What is your name?

Charles Flenory.

You know what, Charles,

in the spirit
of the Family Affair,

maybe we should fellowship, hm?

Who knows?

Who knows,
maybe you are the breakthrough

that we're looking for.

[singer] ♪ You know real
Recognise real ♪

♪ And give me honesty ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[Meech] God damn, n*gga.
They letting us blaze in here?

Hell no.

This Cali kush was burning
a hole in my pocket, so...

here.

[Meech]
Let me hit that m*therf*cker.

♪ ♪

[Tupac] It's that sh*t.

Damn, n*gga,
I got to be getting

my weed from the wrong coast.

Yeah.

♪ ♪

What that's about, though?

That goofy-looking
m*therf*cker?

[Meech] Mm-hmm.

[Tupac]
That's Luke's Miami folk.

They still popping off.

That's exactly why I roll deep.

Why I got family
everywhere I go.

You know what's crazy?

I used to think hip-hop
heads ain't have beef.

sh*t, I'm thinking
that's only my line of work.

[chuckles]
n*gga, it's the same sh*t.

Just a different hustle.

Look, everybody
in the hip-hop game

either trying to get out
or avoid it.

Ain't this rap sh*t
a m*therf*cker, though?

Like, they used to throw the
book at our ass for the sh*t

we go through.

Now look at them,
bending over backwards

for our f*cking stories,
noses all the way open.

That's 'cause y'all
make that cheese, you know.

"America's Most Wanted,"
for real.

[laughs]

n*gga, not just America.

They love them
some Pac overseas.

Pac be loving they
ass right back.

Like Jack the Rapper,
taking this m*therf*cker over.

Yeah, maybe I'll be right
there with you one day.

[bell chimes]

[Terry] We're gonna get
a menu out to you.

You're gonna--

Tee, we got a problem
with our f*cking delivery.

Oh, yo, uh, our shipment--
um, our beef shipment.

Can you guys give me a second?
I'm sorry.

Bro, let's talk. Come on.

[tense music plays]

Yo, what the f*ck is
wrong with you, Hoop?

I been blowing up your phone.
Where the f*ck is Kutz?

Man, I lost my f*cking phone.

I just walked all the way
here from Novi, n*gga.

Novi.

And Kutz got f*cking pinched.

Wait, what?

The f*cking cops got involved?

Yes.

We must have
been f*cking tailed

because as soon
as sh*t went down,

it was raining f*cking five-oh.

Listen, Kutz
a real one, all right?

You ain't got
to worry about him.

Get this, Bryant was there.

And this m*therf*cker is
flying Henri's colours now.

You got to respect
Henri's gangster.

I'm just saying, having
somebody hip to both sides

of the law comes in handy,

especially now
that Kutz's bagged up.

Maybe our organisation
should get on that.

I should have f*ckin'
k*lled that bitch.

♪ ♪

[singer]
♪ It's that south side ♪

♪ South side, south side ♪

Yo, yo.

This man Solomon here
gave me some gems.

Now, what do you all think

about vinyl sound barriers
for the studio?

I like that.

Yeah, yeah.

Do you see that pendant
old dude wearing?

-Mm-hmm.
-That's some voodoo sh*t.

Them Haitians from Miami
be wearing them in my shop.

Meech, that's a Miami Killa.

♪ ♪

Hey, Pops.

Spike Lee having a screening
in Ballroom C.

Come check it out.

No, man.
I'm having fun right here.

[Solomon] You know, you should
do the right thing, Charles.

[chuckles]

You should listen to your son.

What, y'all know each other?

[Meech]
Yo, get him out of here.

Man, get your hands
off me, man!

Yo, Meech, who is this guy?

I am the man that this ti vole

has been trying to steal from.

I was trying
to smoke your bitch ass

from out the shadows.

But I see
you must feel threatened

since you've been hellbent
on trying to merk me.

[Duffy] Yo, hold up.

This old ooga-booga
m*therf*cker is Glock?

Typical American n*gro.

Half a decade late
and a dollar short,

yet you still think you deserve

to have a free pass in my city?

[laughs]

[speaking Creole]

Yo, I thought
security was beefed up.

[Solomon speaking Creole]

I own security.

Just like I own the pimp
who cleans your money.

[person] Suck my d*ck,
Miami m*therf*cker!

[crowd exclaiming]

Watch out, Pops!

[person] f*cking sh*t, man.

[dramatic music plays]

♪ ♪

f*ck!

-Hey, you all right, you good?
-Yeah, yeah, I'm good.

[people shouting] Red Dogs!

[Charles] Meech, Meech!

-[person] Come on!
-[Charles] Meech!

[person] Gotta go!

♪ ♪

[person] Get him out of here,
man!

[Terry]
I'm still getting settled in.

You know, it's starting
to feel like home.

You living big-time now, huh?

[both laugh]

It is so nice.

Thanks. Trying.

I got you
a housewarming gift.

What you got?

You ready?

-[both laugh]
-Oh, sh*t.

Oh, my God.

Yo, I thought
I really was gonna

impress you with this, and
you shut my ass down so quick.

Wow.

Well, I'm glad
you didn't give up.

Me too.

I missed you.

[Terry] I missed you too.

[soft music plays]

♪ ♪

[knocking]

[person] Terry?

[Terry] Oh, sh*t.
Damn, it's my mom.

[Markisha] Go, go, go.

[Terry] Uh--uh, I'm coming!

[Markisha] Wait, wait, wait.
My shirt, my shirt, my shirt.

[door clicks]

[Terry] Hey.

Hi, Mrs. Flenory.

I need to talk to my son.

Yeah.

OK.

I will see you at dinner.

All right.

I talked to LaWanda's mother,
and she told me

what's happening with CPS.

So I'ma need you to get your
head out of that cougar's ass

and take this seriously.

That's exactly what I'm doing.

Why do you think I fast-tracked
getting this place decorated?

So they can see that Terry Jr.
has a nice place,

instead of that damn chimney.

Desiree said
the accusations are bogus.

Those three-letter folks,
they have a track record

for ruining Black families.

The few years that I was
in the foster care system,

they were the most
traumatic years of my life.

It makes you feel less-than.

Like there's no ground
underneath your feet.

Like you are unworthy.

Please, Mom,
don't cry, don't cry.

I promise you, Terry Jr.
is gonna stay put, Ma.

[Meech] All good, Duff?

All right, I'm just making
sure the homies straight.

And keep me posted.

All right.

[phone beeps]

Pops, you good?

Pops.

You know, this whole state
was a house of bondage.

Even now, our brightest
stars get treated

like studio session hands.

That's why they started Family
Affair in the first place,

to shine a light on our music,
to force the whole world

to take notice.

I know how much that
event meant to you, Pops.

And I'm sorry it didn't turn
out the way you wanted it to.

Son, if you knew
what was gonna happen,

why did you go
in the first place?

Because I have to take care
of my family, Pops.

And it ain't going exactly
how I wanted it to go.

Now you see why I need
that roof over my head.

To be safe from all
the sh*t we just dealt with.

Boy, you got
a roof back home.

Just hit the highway
and head north.

Pops, you don't get it.

You're not getting it.

You left the house because
you gave up on your dreams.

I left the house
because I'm still chasing mine.

Meech, you have no idea
what I had to sacrifice.

Pops, I know everything
you've given up

because I've watched
you my entire life.

[sighs]
Now, listen.

I know the world didn't
exactly give you a choice.

But I have a choice, Pops.

I know what you think
of what I do.

I know I didn't exactly
turn out the way you wanted.

But I'm the first Flenory
who can actually

control they destiny.

You know how badly I wanted that

and how heavy that weight is

because when you were my age,
you felt the same too.

Pops, I need you
to sign that paper for me.

Please.

[soft music plays]

♪ ♪

You got them keys for me, baby?

[Stephanie]
Mm-hmm, here you go.

-[Meech] Thank you.
-[Stephanie] You're welcome.

Congratulations
on your new home.

I'm sure you'll
put it to good use.

Yes, we will.
Thank you.

Admit it, Pops,

you're already thinking
about all

the renovations you could do.

[chuckles]

No, I'm just admiring
the craftsmanship.

You got everything you need.

[car horn honks]

-That's my ride.
-[Meech] Hey, Pops, hold on.

I just want
to let you know,

I'ma take care
of you and Mama,

just how you did your family.

[hip-hop music plays]

[snorting]

♪ ♪

[snorts, coughs]

Yo, you've been hitting
that white girl pretty hard.

Pull back.

[Tyson]
You're one to f*cking talk.

Tuan is pushing up daisies,

and all I can f*cking
think about is how

it should have been me.

Listen.

Uh, cuzzo needs
to forget his sorrows too.

Why don't you go over there and
put those pretty little lips

to work?

But if I wanted d*ck,
I'd go back to my boyfriend.

[chuckles]

You're either a useful bitch
or a dead one.

On your f*cking knees.

♪ ♪

Love you, cuzzo.

Which is why I'm gonna
make this right.

Every m*therf*cker responsible
for Tuan's death

is gonna find themselves
on the wrong side of the dirt.

[Greeny] These m*therf*cking
ball players and rappers

got y'all boosted up.

You know what, you a fine piece
of ass and all that,

but I will cut your ass like
some m*therf*cking grass.

And then what?
You ain't sh*t without me.

Say it.

I ain't sh*t without you.

Say it again.

I ain't sh*t without you.

That's m*therf*cking right.

And don't you ever forget
your place, all right?

I run the show, you hear me?

I run the m*therf*cking show.
What the f*ck?

The f*cking--

[Meech] You f*cking snake!

[Angel] Stop! What y'all doing?

You f*cking set me up.

You thought
I wouldn't find out?

-[Greeny grunts]
-Meech, please stop!

[Greeny coughing]

Your greasy ass don't
deserve to clean my money.

I'ma cut
your f*cking water off.

And you double-cross me again,

I'm cut something else
off too, bitch.

[Angel] Meech!

This f*cking sh*t-stain, man.
Why wait?

[Greeny screaming]

Oh, sh*t!

-[Duffy laughs]
-[Greeny] Oh, sh*t!

[Greeny screaming]

If you think this sh*t is over,
m*therf*cker,

you will pay for this sh*t.

You hear me,
you Lite-Brite bitch?

Both of y'all!

Oh, my God, you scared me.

I didn't--I forgot you
were coming back tonight.

Oh, you know I couldn't
stay away too long.

[laughs]

Lucille, baby. What's wrong?

Somebody called
Child Protective Services

and fraudulently claimed
that Terry and LaWanda

were unfit parents.

CPS could take everything,
even the unborn baby,

if they see fit.

-They won't do that.
-This is a government agency.

They can do whatever
the hell they want to do.

I'm going to bed.

[somber music plays]

♪ ♪

[clicks tongue]

[chuckles]

[door clicks]

What?

What happened?

[guard] Stop.
Hands on the table.

Kevin, you gon' be OK.

I got the best lawyer,
and you won't have

any more problems in here.

Uh...

hey, Bruiser has allies now.

Help is on the way,
you understand?

Look, I'll stay tonight,
but I got to go back.

I know Greeny's not perfect,
but he's right.

I ain't sh*t without him.

[Meech] Man, the way
you pack that club out

night after night,

he ain't sh*t without you.

He protects
and provides for me.

Angel, you have to start
taking back your power.

My mom always taught me,
a woman's worth

is in her mind and her heart.

And I got you. Believe that.

You're safe here.

[Older Meech] The real of it is,

there ain't no sanctuary in the
drug game.

That false sense of security
can get you k*lled,

a lesson I had
to learn the hard way.

And once I did, I didn't
get a good night's rest

until I was sleeping
in a jail cell.

[Terry] So how's
my little man Kev doing?

[sighs]
You got 90 seconds.

[laughs]

Look, I figure
you must be desperate to be

rolling around
with that crazy bitch Henri.

There's always a job
for a man willing to work.

Look, if you gon' be back
in the streets again,

you might as well roll
with the top dogs

like you were with Meech.

[chuckles]
So uh, this a job interview?

I understand
you got to do what you

got to do
to protect your family,

and we can help each other out.

We could pool
our resources together

and fix both our problems.

Yeah, how we gon' fix it
when y'all are my problem?

Look here, you and Meech
are the ones should

be on the inside, not my son.

Well, buddy, we're free.

And from the looks of it,
the world is my f*cking oyster.

So you either get on board,
or get ran the f*ck over.

[Bryant] Hey.

I choose to get
run the f*ck over.

[tense music plays]

[Older Terry] I stayed in the D
'cause I couldn't bear

the thought of losing
the ones I cared about.

But sometimes, you hold on
to loved ones so close,

you push them away.

With my enemies coming
from all angles,

my sanctuary was
becoming my nightmare.

And without my brother,
the only one who could

wake me out of it was me.

♪ ♪

[singer] ♪ You ask for a favor
And showed up on that paper ♪

♪ Get hit with the razor
Your life is in danger ♪

♪ They blowing up my pager
I watch for the neighbors ♪

♪ The reverend can't save you
Your life is in danger ♪

♪ You ask for a favor
And showed up on that paper ♪

♪ Get hit with a razor
Your life is in danger ♪

♪ They blowing up my pager
Watch for the neighbors ♪

♪ The reverend can't save you
Your life is in danger ♪

♪ Yo, yo, get stabbed
With a sharp blade ♪

♪ Blood stains on the arcade
It's all over ♪

♪ Now my hands filled
With residue ♪

♪ Your man in the ICU
He a vegetable ♪

♪ You pull your back up
Get the backhand ♪

♪ I eat you to eat your ghost
Like I'm Pacman ♪

♪ Here's the proof I got
The juice ♪

♪ Don't care if you want Q
I'm bishop on the roof ♪

♪ It's hard as hell for a
Black man ♪

♪ It's either 187
Or a cr*ck den ♪

♪ And I'm committing both
Colombian connect ♪

♪ Make it stretch
I get the dough ♪

♪ And all my cuzzes
They trust me ♪

♪ But I'm on a lookout
This 38 rusty ♪

♪ Know they blowing up
My pager ♪

♪ If you act up
Know your life is in danger ♪

[dramatic hip-hop
music playing]

♪ ♪