Original subtitles

Aight now.

Come on with it.

Wanda got him a record deal. He signed a contract.

This place is in trouble. All of their bands are crashing.

Be careful with Jenny.

Jenny's emptying daddy's coffers to make me richer.

Fuck I look like, fucking up the game?

This artist is a gangbanger who taunts the police on every track,

which is why we should put every chip we have into grunge.

Cops ain't gonna disappear a nigga with a record deal.

So get your head right.

Extortion a part of the game, but... Money or war. Can't be both.

All this for your little girlfriend.

He my ex.

You got the winning hand. Just finish the mix for "Rydah," all right?

Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it, and I was finishing it right now,

but I want to play you something new first.

No surprise songs, Wanda.

"Rydah" is the single.

If I can't choose the songs people hear, what is the point of making music?

I can't stand seeing my wife like this. I'm telling you, James.

I hear you, but this ain't Lamar's fault, sir.

No? Then whose is it?

Who got her falling apart if it ain't that precious boy of hers?

She doing it to herself.

Not Mar, not Wanda.

That's all her.

You asked me to protect Lamar.

I can't do that if he doesn't know the truth about Mom.

Don't you put this on her.

You're the one that let him and Wanda go out there

and start playing with a time bomb.

Okay, fine. It goes both ways.

You know I want to make you proud, right?

Big Daddy, we got to bring this thing to a head.

No. You are poking at what happened to our daughter, boy.

Your mother.

And when that bomb stop ticking, then what?

Well?

Look, Mama G, we...

We gotta tell you something.

This...

Wanda and Lamar, they ain't listen to you.

They're still working with the music label.

Yeah, I knew she'd snake me.

I've been able to read her since she was a child.

This is your fault. You favor her too much.

Now, baby, I don't favor nobody but you.

Oh, don't. Just...

Lamar's a man now.

Babe, he ain't never wanted nothing but music.

Mama G. Look, I...

If it means anything, I think that Lamar is just as special as she was, but just...

you just gotta hear what they...

Mama...

I told you.

This a Wanda and Lamar problem.

Fuck, man.

Jenny's radio team needs a ass-whupping.

This interview was supposed to start an hour ago.

You wanna push your new song.

But "Rydah" is about to be a hit

on the radio!

Smile, Cuz. This is huge.

Smile, Cuz. This is huge. How do you do it?

How do you do it?

You fuck me over and then move on as if nothing ever happened?

You're mad now, but when you hear your song over them airwaves...

But what is taking so long?

Artillery is liable to get one of these snow bunnies pregnant

by the time they play your song.

Hey.

Rebecca, is it?

Jenny's gonna be pissed.

Ask me if I give a shit.

You just had Artillery yanked off the fucking radio?

I made myself clear, Jen.

And you spent the money anyway.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Rap is not our focus.

Instead of yelling at me, take it up with your label.

- They're not the one pulling our song. - Yes, they are.

Someone from Macroscope legal called and literally told us not to play it.

What the fuck?

Wow.

Once again, crackers gonna hit us with the woo-wop.

Lamar, I'll talk to Jenny and DG.

I'm sure I can get to the bottom of this, find out what happened.

- Maybe somebody... - By pulling our song,

you've just undercut the only thing in this building that had momentum.

Just stop.

Ignoring my orders is not how this works. Not anymore.

What are you gonna do? Fire me from my own company?

No. You'll keep your title.

But, effective immediately, all new artist initiatives...

report to Cal.

Hey. Sometimes checkers beats chess, homey.

If you really want Cal gone, let me throw his cracker ass in the trunk.

Come on, D. You know you're here to balance out them Bloods

and that nigga Leon in case he gets scrappy...

not kidnap white people, nigga.

We gotta gut out Cal so that Jenny's father turns on him.

We in a white man's house.

So if we can't beat them at they own fucking game, nigga, we done.

I may have something on Cal.

Big enough to get Jenny back in?

Pressure point, but let me just land this plane,

and then we can celebrate. Jesus Christ.

What the fuck happened?

Macroscope pulled us off the radio?

Cal went behind Jenny's back.

Why the fuck can't they see this is it?

The old man wants to sell the label, and Cal's got them thinking

that none of the big buyers wanna touch our dirty jungle music.

Okay, then fuck that. I got a play too.

We go to the other labels with "Back to the Hood." That shit is hard as fuck.

- Macroscope owns it. - I got a list of pe...

Nah. Jenny hasn't even heard it yet. She don't know it exists.

They own it.

They own everything y'all fucking do.

We signed you to a production deal

with options on anything that you can fucking imagine.

- "We"? - Stop, Wanda.

We are in the same fucking boat.

I can't sit on my hands.

I can't sit on my hands. Lamar fucking hates me, Darryl.

Lamar fucking hates me, Darryl.

- What, because of the masters? - Yes.

Okay, just come clean then.

What?

That shit is inconceivable to you?

Please. Wanda.

Do not do anything fucking stupid.

We are in a very dangerous position,

and if we don't make the right fucking move, this run is over.

And if that's the case,

your cousin was probably gonna hate your ass anyway.

Deon.

Keep on walking.

Gospel song the boy playing

became a staple at funerals back in the day.

Yeah, but also they played it at altar calls

and some of the reflective moments in the church services.

- I ain't looking for no argument. - And I ain't giving you one.

What are you talking then?

I thought I'd find you here.

Hungry?

You fucked up our trust, Wanda.

I'll make it up to you.

You're not hearing me.

You were always the one when we were kids that got me.

Like, really...

I don't know, got me, you know?

And now we're, like, doing this music business stuff, and...

What is it about this contract that made you turn on me?

I mean, if this is how it's gonna be, why are we doing it at all?

I lied. I'm sorry.

But you lied too. So if we're gonna go back and forth about...

Look, if you're gonna try to spin this on me, I can't beat you at that.

But don't bullshit me.

- At least come clean. - Fuck.

You got to understand what I've been through.

Game is how I survived.

Game kept me alive. It kept me...

high.

What I'm saying is, I'll probably lie again.

But I'll never betray you, and I didn't.

I only told DG 'cause I thought you were wrong.

How could you hear that song and not hear a new level?

You're right, okay? Shit.

You are growing up.

Even had your first squabble.

I just want to decide if people hear my music.

I got ideas on how to get your music heard.

Meet me at my apartment tomorrow.

And don't forget.

You and me, Cousin. We gonna make it happen.

Hello? Did I disturb you?

I didn't mean to take up too much of your time, but...

Just thought I'd give you a ring and see how you was doing.

- What you want? - I have a opportunity for you.

- At midnight? - Just hear me out.

You know how hard I've been working to get Lamar's song on the radio, right?

Nah.

Okay...

Look, Lee, Jenny's fired. I lost my deal.

I need help to get things moving.

You need the money.

- I need you to invest. - A couple G's.

Once you hear my ideas, you're gonna love 'em.

Wanda, fucking stop, all right?

I done settled shit with DG and Dara. I done bailed your cousins out.

What the fuck else you want from me?

This why we can't be together.

Really?

Whatever. Ignore me.

Ignore my dreams while you sit here reliving the old days.

And that's why we can't be together.

You ain't been right since we lost the baby.

Fuck you, Leon. You're drunk. I should fuck you up.

There it is.

That monster that came out when you was down bad is times ten now.

And what about you?

Sitting in this house, drinking with ghosts, dreaming about the past.

See, there... there you go.

Say something vicious instead of getting real.

Say something.

Fuck this.

- Drunk ass. - Fuck you going?

I know where you keep your money.

- Wanda. - Fucking... I'll show your ass.

Wanda.

Where is it, Lee?

You moved it?

- Shit. - Out your mind?

You moved it?

You move it?

You cool with keeping money in random places so niggas can rob you,

but you can't invest in Lamar and Art and me?

Are you out your mind? You need to stop.

You don't know what I need, nigga.

Why the fuck would I invest in this? Look how you acting.

'Cause we supposed to be family.

I know you like to block out the past.

But that ain't how I address you.

What's your play?

Bless me with some cash, and I'll double you up.

I'ma pay you back.

Just do something with it.

I lost her too, Leon.

- Hey. - What's up?

For printing tapes.

- We about to push "Back to the Hood." - How?

When I was running with Leon and Franklin,

I had a front-row seat to how they changed the game.

Their suppliers didn't define their market, they did.

Macroscope ain't no different than the ones who sent the dope.

They only know what we show them.

We know our customers 'cause we are customers.

We know where to find them. We know the music they like.

Shit.

All we need is more people who know the streets.

I got product coming.

It's just a start, but all we gotta do is move it.

Which makes y'all the runners.

So how much we charging?

We do exactly what Leon did.

The first hit's for free.

I love it. We gonna stay broke.

How the fuck are we supposed to make money like that, Wanda?

If the product is good, it'll sell itself on the re-up.

Trust me.

We start where we know we'll get the most play.

All you gotta do is hand it to 'em.

What do I get?

Why you always gotta want something, cuz?

Play it over the store speakers.

If anybody asks, sell it to them and keep the money.

All right, but I definitely don't need no two damn boxes.

Just keep the damn boxes, nigga.

Oh. Hey...

How you doing, cuz?

Where you from?

I'm good...

My brother sent me. James Kinsey.

Y'all know Jay Loco, right?

They hit neighborhood spots. Red. Blue.

Anywhere people can bump this shit.

Hey, check this out right here.

Including places nobody wants to go.

So y'all just want me to let y'all hand these out around here for free?

What if that shit bunk?

What? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This shit is dope.

I'll let you hear it if you want.

Damn, Dara, what color your eyes is?

What color are yours?

And how you gonna call Artillery bunk?

You right.

He definitely is the hardest Blood rapper.

All I'm saying is, if you just let me fuck once,

for sure fucking twice, and I need coochie now.

See, now you're doing too much.

Come on. I never fucked nobody as fine as you.

Bless me, baby.

Hey, you should probably know she trying to fuck Leon now.

Back in the day...

We don't like that nigga now.

You gonna help me or what?

Yeah, all right.

But you gotta let me, you know, spladow on that tadow.

Yeah.

Take both those boxes, fool.

What the fuck you handing me the boxes for, blood? Hand it to him.

Do it look like I carry boxes?

- Yeah, I told you. - You got that, right?

I'm sorry, "Back to the Hood" is sold out.

You trippin'.

Did you just say that y'all sold out all 250 copies?

Boy, we moved that batch in four days. Had to copy extras.

- Y'all got something special. - They sellin' too.

Yeah.

The proceeds.

Where's your cuz?

Is she here?

Yeah, she in the kitchen.

Yeah. But regardless, you all right with me.

Mama G? You wanted to talk?

You didn't?

Should I...

You gonna hang up?

...

Well, I... I was wrong to go behind your back.

But I promise you I'ma make it up to you.

Copping a plea. That's what she doing.

Please, Mama G, let's just talk.

...

He was always gonna end up in music. You knew that.

I genuinely regret letting you back into our family.

Yeah. Looking sick, girl, like she don't bite from both ends.

You really believe this wasn't gonna happen regardless?

I believe if what happened to my daughter happens to him...

that's on you.

Yeah, I said it to her face.

Yeah. You should see her, pudding, just standing here,

looking at me like I'm in the wrong for telling her the truth.

Oh, this is 'cause you're scared to tell that boy the truth about his mama.

Wanda.

Wanda.

Wanda, Wanda.

Thank you for coming.

Big Daddy tell you me and Mama G got into it?

Yeah.

Lee, it got ugly.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

- The other night, at the house, I... - Look, I was wrong too.

I shouldn't have dropped that shit on you about...

You know.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You straight?

Just had a run-in with some little niggas today.

You remember when we was in Ghana, we had dinner with those musicians?

I set it up.

Remember they was talking to us about Liberia,

and they told us about how the freed slaves moved back to Africa

and brought back the white man's sickness.

Started enslaving other Africans.

Yeah. That night was heavy.

Well, I'm helping James Sr. With the gang interventions and the kids,

and all I could think about is Liberia.

And it's, like, these kids don't know the difference

between war with a man or killing a woman or even killing a child.

And I thought I'd be able to connect with them,

but it's like I don't even speak their language.

You do it with music.

Music is a universal language, Lee.

It's healing, the truth and everything in between.

That's how you speak to them kids.

But how?

I saw Crips out there buying music with a Blood on the mic.

And soon Bloods will be bobbing their heads to a Crip on the mic.

Something is happening, Lee.

And I'm at the front of it. I just gotta scale up.

I know a manufacturer who can mass produce for me.

They pressed Toddy Tee's "Batterram."

It's worth a shot if you want in.

I'll fund your next step.

I'll even give you a play on how to scale up.

I got people who can move stuff wholesale.

Watch the left.

That's right. Keep it coming.

Right, right, right. Come on, come on.

All right, all right.

Aight. Let's do this.

Hey, I'll take one of them.

I told you, Lee.

All right, y'all, we done. Let's pack up them boxes.

You right, Cousin.

"Back to the Hood" is connecting.

Told you.

Didn't I tell your ass not to do anything stupid?

I spent bank to get dirt on Cal.

Oh, my God. Lee?

This shit is so fucking embarrassing.

In the middle of Jenny's meeting, Macroscope says,

"Wanda's in the street selling our music like motherfucking Mexican popcorn."

Shit.

So I hope you like slinging tapes in the motherfucking streets.

'Cause your days in the music biz are over, believe that.

- Darryl, don't... - No, don't "Darryl" me.

Don't do me like that.

What if she just gave you the money?

- Fuck... - What?

As a gesture.

Oh, now you mad after stealing my product?

Give it to him.

Blow that on a bitch, man.

It's still a win.

"Back to the Hood" is a hit.

- Shit, "Back to the Hood" is the truth. - I know.

But that was our money.

It's just one bag. Don't trip.

Hey, I ain't gonna lie.

I thought this shit was retarded.

But y'all song got motherfuckers hooked.

Hey, let's celebrate. Last Kings?

Last Kings.

Last Kings.

You know, I can't keep playing referee with you and her.

Since you can't put your foot down on this,

- I'm doing it for you. - She's our family.

- It... It ain't right or Christlike. - You've got the nerve.

Don't bring Jesus Christ into this.

Dude, dude, dude, dude, dude, dude, dude, dude.

I'm famous. I'm fucking famous, bro.

Like "strangers asking for my autograph" famous.

It was crazy out there.

I mean, I... I know that this might be, like, as good as it gets,

but I'm just so fucking happy that I got to experience it for once, you know.

Leave me alone.

- We going out to celebrate. - I'm tired of this.

Go lay down if you're so tired of this.

What?

- What's up? - I lost Rochelle too.

You willing to keep Wanda around Lamar

until the same thing happens to him?

You creating things in your head.

She stood in our kitchen that day knowing she was gonna defy me.

- I'm done talking about this. - Come with us, man.

You're gonna make me late, Senior.

- I'm not gonna be late. - See, there you go.

Please?

Look, I'ma chill, Bro.

But you go ahead.

Tell me how I'm supposed to feel after watching it all happen again.

You're still silent.

It's been almost 20 years, and you're still just silent.

That's our song.

That's our song.

That was one of Mom's songs?

Yeah.

Just popped in my head. I remember it from that night.

Go along, Bro.

You should go ahead and bounce before they come out, man.

Go, Mar.

Go have fun with your homeys.

You look good.

You ain't so bad either.

At last, the mecca.

You straight?

Yeah, I guess I just feel like James should be here, you know?

Let's just enjoy the night.

We need it.

- Exciting. He's right here. - The legendary Lamar.

Sorry. I don't know how this works.

I'm off the clock.

It works however you want.

All right, fellas. You been waiting for her.

Here she is. Give it up for Cinnamon!

That's right, fellas. The next 30 minutes, drink special... two for one.

Get it now.

This just the beginning, Lee.

I got so many ideas.

About time you used that big head for something useful.

Whatever.

You can't lie.

We did the damn thing with that music.

Yeah, that was impressive for some amateurs.

Always gotta play cool.

You know...

I'm unstoppable, baby.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more amped in here.

- Who that? - I see you, OG.

DJ Block.

He runs the mix show at KRZO.

I'm about to get us on the radio.

VIP is now open.

VIP. Now's your chance.

Yeah, let's go.

Damn, girl. Where they find you at?

Wanda Bell. Black Banner Music A&R.

Look, I'm not working tonight.

But I got some shit you're gonna love. You just need to hear my song.

Hey, like I told you, I'm not working tonight.

Okay.

I know you ain't come in here to get high.

- You trying to fight? - Excuse me?

Girl, I'm just fucking with you.

So what's up?

Y'all pick your songs, right?

Who wanna make some extra cash?

That's our song.

Art. Art, that's our song.

Artillery, that's our song. That's "Back to the Hood."

They're playing "Back to the Hood."

- Aw, hell, yeah. Come here, baby. - Shit. Shit!

- I know you said... - Yeah, right, Leon.

Everybody was dancing to my music, bro. Everybody.

I think I'm in love, Mar.

I think I found the one.

You a fool, homey. You know that?

I'm this close, Lee... this close to finally winning.

Thank you.

We're better as friends.

Right?

Is he your man or not?

I need a fucking gangster in my life, and I want you.

Y'all may be afraid to choose, but I'm not.

I'm putting my bid in.

And if you half the nigga I think you are,

I'll be every kind of woman you want me to be.

Every kind.

That's all I wanted to say.

Get in the back, fool.

What?

It's the man of the hour with the people who got the power,

DJ Block and the Block Party on the only station giving you hip-hop,

ANT 99.2.

Now for this next song, you know I heard it at the strip club.

Pour you a drink, grab the homeys, turn this mother up.

It's the debut track from the meanest spitter on the streets right now,

Artillery.

This is "Back to the Hood."

What you doing out here?

Just listening to this again.

It's gonna change everything for y'all.