Original subtitles

[dance music plays]

[hip-hop plays] ♪ You straight ballin' man ♪

♪ You straight ballin' yo ♪

♪ Droppin' dollars Countin' money 24♪

Uh-uh-uh!

Come on, Poppy.

You can't be workin' here

if you're gonna be dozing off on me.

-Sorry, Mama. -I want you working

just as hard for me as you do for dancin'.

I want the Sage treatment. I'm the one puttin' the roof

-over your head, not him. -Yes, ma'am.

Hold up. If you work for Sage, what you doing here?

Because Sage pays them doo-doo.

-[both laugh] -Mom, I told you.

It will get better once the tour starts.

Yeah, well, I hope y'all are leavin' soon,

because if you don't have my rent money, fuck the tour.

You just gonna be hittin' the road.

-[laughter] -I won't be late.

Mm-hmm. I been tellin' her to leave that dance mess alone.

It's plenty money in dance.

You just dancin' for the wrong team.

-Thanks, but I'm good. -Ooh!

You see how spoiled Rigo's got her?

Must be nice to have a man supportin' you.

Rigo doesn't support me, Mama.

Then shit, then you must be doing something wrong.

[laughter]

Rigo...

[women laughing, chattering]

♪ Roamin' in the morning ♪

♪ Eatin' breakfast at the Waffle House ♪

♪ Roamin' in the morning ♪

♪ Countin' paper in the trapper house ♪

♪ Do that Oh, man ♪

♪ Do that, throw that Do that-- ♪

[laughs] Damn, so it's like that, huh?

-Like what? -Those courtesy nods.

-Come on. -Oh, okay, I'm sorry. Someone getting sensitive

-about their craft? -Funny.

All right, look, the song is good.

But I've already got the dance and party turf covered

with Sage and all the other boring crap that's at the label.

You guys wanna be a part of what I'm really trying to do,

he's gonna have to come a lot harder than that.

Nine, look, I'm telling you, kid can flow.

Yeah, he can, but what is he saying?

What is he about? What's his story?

Where is he from?

I wanna work with people who make me feel something.

-He can give you all of that. -Yeah? Then show me.

That's how you get to the bag.

Oh, really? What you know about that bag?

Well, bring me what I want,

and I'll show you.

So you absolutely 100 percent sure it was Matty?

Yeah.

Look, the watch went missing when the house got tossed,

but it wasn't Twelve. It was Uncle Matty the whole time.

He's the one who robbed us and then straight up lied to my face.

He's always been a fucking clown.

That's why East always kept him at bay.

Can't even promote him 'cause you can't trust him.

It's cool, though. We gotta get your shit back.

Look, between me and you...

Uncle Matty told me he wanted to get rid of you.

-Get rid of me? -Yeah, he said he wanted you gone.

-Gone like what? -Matty told me...

[knocking on door]

Oh, shit!

-[knocking on door] -Poppy, I am so sorry.

Really?! Fifty dollars on a Lyft.

I just said I'm sorry. Damn, I'll pay you back.

Rigo, you know it's not about the money.

You said that you was gonna pick me--

You know what? I am so good.

Yo, give me a minute, all right?

I gotta handle this. Poppy, come here, wait!

So I'm like, "Dude, I know this is your one-thousand-and-fiftieth tour,

but it's only my first, so how about you give me a second."

-Forty-two inches. Remember that, okay? -Mm-hm.

He's always like trying to upstage everybody.

But you can't say anything because he's all buddy-buddy with the choreographer.

-What did I say remember? -Remember what?

Look, I just mean I know I'm not supposed to let Zo get in my head,

but he's driving me nuts. So what do you think?

-I think I'm gonna put the flat-screen right here. -Huh?

Yeah, right above the Jacuzzi. Then I'm gonna have the fish tank right there.

So I'm sitting there in the Jacuzzi looking at the fish tank.

What are you talking about? I'm trying to talk to you.

What I'm talking about is the future. Okay?

With Janelle in college and you going on tour,

I'm gonna make this the bachelor pad I always wanted.

You didn't listen to a word I just said, did you?

Sounds like you got a bullying problem.

This guy Zo, there's only one way to take care of a bully.

And that's a two-piece with extra spicy sauce.

-Pow! -What? That's not really...

Look, whenever you wanna slide on them gloves, boy, let me know.

We can go in the back yard, we can get it in.

I've been serving fools way before I had a restaurant.

You see...

A koi pond.

-Baby, come here. -Are you crazy?

-What? -Sex is for people who don't

leave me on the corner at two in the morning, Rigo.

All right. How many times I gotta apologize?

Seriously, what is wrong with you? It's like I don't even know you anymore.

[sighs] Baby, look.

You know this stuff with my dad got me trippin'.

You know I'd never do anything to hurt you.

Not intentionally at least, right?

-I know it's got to be hard for you. -Mm-hm. So hard.

-[both laugh] -Don't start. You know I have rehearsal.

So what? How about a quick little 68,

and you ain't even gotta owe me one,

unless you're feeling generous.

[laughs] No. And besides,

this is weird in your dad's room.

I mean... I'm sorry.

Well, now you definitely owe me one.

-Come here. Come on. -[knock on door]

-[Marquise] Yo, we gotta roll. -Damn! What, man?

-Give me a minute! -Oh, absolutely not.

Baby, I'll be quick, come on.

I thought I told you to get rid of him.

I am trying to, but it's complicated.

See? That's why you're gonna let Matty handle it.

Baby, please don't go down this road. I'm not doing this with you.

I'm not asking you to. All right?

-[Marquise] Come on! -Oh! Damn it, Marquise!

Oh!

-Bring your ass! -Goddamn, dawg!

Knocking on the door like you trying to join the party!

[hip-hop plays]

♪ Big house on the hills Leather seats as my throne ♪

♪ Yeah we started from the bottom ♪

♪ But my team, we young We young, we young ♪

♪ We young, we young We young, we young ♪

♪ Tell my people We young ♪

♪ They say I'd never be nothin' ♪

♪ Boy, were they wrong ♪

♪ Got my city on my back... ♪

Hey, everything cool?

Yeah. I'm just worn out.

Yeah, I'm feeling you on that.

All right. Let's line it up, everybody.

Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the other night. You know?

-I should've never put you in that situation. -You didn't.

Yeah... but it's still weird, you know?

-Can't believe we almost... -But we didn't.

Yeah, right.

Thanks for checking, though.

All right, come on, everybody. Let's shake the BS off.

All right? Shake it off, for real. Shake it off.

It's a beautiful day, your bills are paid,

and we dance for a living, y'all.

So let's get to work. All right?

Five, six, seven, eight!

One and two and three, four.

Five and six, seven, eight.

One and two and three, four.

Five and six, seven, eight.

One and two and three and four!

And five and six and seven and eight!

One and two and three and four!

-And five and six... -Five and six, and what the fuck? Stop!

Stop! Everybody stop.

Wow! What am I looking at?

Greyhound, blind to the marks, clearly,

'cause you're missing them every single fucking time.

Poppy, literally doing the shit backwards.

It's toe then heel, not the other way around.

And Zo, brother, I can smell the alcohol

coming off you from out there.

You smell like festivities, brother. What's that fragrance,

hooker in the desert? I am not a fan.

What the fuck am I looking at, y'all?

What could possibly be wrong?

Could it be that instead of staying your ass

out the club and getting some rest like I told you to do,

y'all are out having fucking luaus and shit!

Yeah, as the faces change, mm-hm.

Colorful shirts and floral skirts and looking fucking nuts.

You know what? It's no wonder Odalie is whupping y'all ass in here.

She's the only person here giving this shit the respect it deserves.

You know what? Since we wanna act like we don't understand

what "cease and desist" means, buddy Trevor.

-Trevor, you are fired. -[quiet murmuring]

Yeah, you're fired. Go ahead and shake it on out the door, brother.

Everybody say bye, Trevor. Say bye, Trevor.

We'll talk. Sage, what the hell is wrong with you?

They're getting too comfortable, okay? Everybody.

-Especially the newbies. -We're eight weeks out.

And I'm 80 steps ahead, okay?

Don't worry, I wouldn't make a move like this

unless I had a plan. Did y'all notice

how easy that was for me?

Trevor is now unemployed,

and I'm gonna sleep like a fucking baby tonight.

You wanna know why? 'Cause I didn't get Trevor fired.

Y'all did. That's on y'all.

'Cause y'all didn't wanna listen to the rules.

I have said it so many times.

I'm gonna get some motherfucking t-shirts made. Yep.

I'm gonna use them as parting gifts

when I send your ass home.

Anybody can get it at any given point!

Trevor's getting one.

It's time to tighten this shit up.

-[door opens] -Oh.

As my special guest arrives right on cue.

-[laughter] -I can tell by your faces that some of you

know who this man is. We are talking Beyoncé's Coachella performance,

Beyoncé's "Single Ladies," we are talking N.E.R.D.'s "Lemon."

This man has given you some of the most iconic dance moments of the last ten years.

And he is here to do one of two things for me.

Get y'all to the next level, or confirm for me who needs to join Trevor.

Without further ado, JaQuel Knight. They are yours.

All right, enough is enough.

Here we go, let's get right to it.

One, two, a three and a four.

Five, six, seven, here we go. We have a one,

two, and a three and four. Harder! Six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, and four. From the four you have a five,

six, seven, and a eight. Connect that from the top.

Five, six, seven, here we go.

One, two, three, a four.

Five, six, seven, a eight.

No, we're actually gonna do the interview here

at his school. It's perfect.

No, of course it's fine, I mean, it's his school.

Water and a green juice, please.

-Oh. Declined. -What?

You might wanna check it. You know how sometimes the cards be rubbin' together.

Um, could you hurry up, please?

-Shorty got a weak strip. -I'm sorry, I don't know what's going on.

Try that one.

Oh! Did Odalie forget to bring Ashley's card?

-Sorry, this declined too. -Girl...

Look, just put hers with mine and keep the change.

-Thanks, Poppy. -It's all good.

Oh, and seriously, next time try cash.

It's real.

Bye, Ashley.

The first competitor on the floor...

Give it up for my man Tal!

Look like it was fun. You know, if your pops wasn't my pastor

back in the day, I would've fired your ass. You are aware of that?

I ain't been to church in a minute, so I'ma use this as credit.

I'm sorry.

You sorry. Listen, fuck your sorry.

I'm looking right at you, you not sorry.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

You on some self-destructive, Iyanla need to come fix some shit?

No.

Then why are you complicating easy shit?

You already got Trevor fired.

Who else you gonna fuck this up for? Huh?

One of your other friends in there? Poppy? She on the chopping block next?

Get your shit together before you run out of favor.

Hey, I've been trying to get a hold of you.

Phone was off. Is everything okay?

-I think we've been kicked out. -What?

Our stuff was in the hallway.

And there's a lock on the door and everything, so yeah.

Damn it. It's my dad, he's trying to prove a point.

-I'll talk to him. -Okay. Fine, whatever.

But I got a job interview in an hour.

What am I supposed to do with Justin?

-Leave him with me. -You can't have a kid at rehearsal.

And you can't have one at a job interview. I'll take care of it.

-Just go make it happen. -All right.

Be good for me, okay?

-See you later. -Yeah.

Hey, buddy. What's up?

-[hip-hop plays] -♪ I be fucking bitches in and out of every state ♪

♪ Different city Different cars Different license plates ♪

♪ Canary bitches with the diamonds all up in they face ♪

-Nigga. -[music stops]

-What? -No! Look, Nine's trying to put us on in a real way, man.

-But you gotta start spitting some realer shit! -What do you mean, realer shit?

Like... saying what's on your mind, speaking from your heart.

You talking about that, like, positive rapping and all that?

Bruh, look at what you're going through right now.

Police showing up to your crib, Family members robbing you,

dope boys lurking, your girl's worried. And why?

Because you're the surviving son of one of the most respected hustlers this city's ever seen.

I'm not sayin' exploit it, but damn.

Gotta make you feel some kind of way.

[Marquise] Sure got me thinking.

We can't let this Matty thing ride.

[sighs] King, give us a quick minute, all right?

Real quick.

We need to hurry up and deal with Matty.

The longer we take, the weaker we look.

Look, I know, man, but shit. What you want me to do?

I got homies with eyes on him right now.

Trust me to take care of it.

It's like I told you when your dad died,

you let me take care of business and business is gonna take care of you.

So let me do what it is I do best,

and you keep doing what you do best.

You gonna be a star, man. I'm committed to that.

And I was also thinking. Your dad's death.

For all we know, Matty probably did that shit too.

So what's it gonna be?

You gonna let me handle it my way or what?

Whatever you wanna do, man.

Yo, King, let's go.

[hip-hop plays]

Five, six, seven, eight!

♪ Dance with the beast mode ♪

♪ I can tell in the heat throws ♪

♪ And it's obvious he knows ♪

Let's go!

Pick up!

Clap!

Keep it up!

♪ You got your eyes clean Can you see? ♪

♪ Or do you need Visine? ♪

♪ I'm makin' them all go crazy ♪

-What the fuck, man?! -Hold it! Hold it!

-What's happening here? -Just Bambi steppin' on toes.

-You know how new booty can be. -Fuck you.

Okay, calm down. Zo, I thought you left that foolishness at the Silverdome.

Oh, my God, the Silverdome? That show was crazy.

Y'all remember I was on the eight count and my thong popped out? It was like...

-[laughter] -[JaQuel] A fucking mess.

-[Zo] That show... -[JaQuel] Okay. Enough is enough. Here we go.

Let's take it from the top and put our game faces on.

-Cut that shit out. -Okay, okay, okay.

-Enough with the hee-haw. -[music plays]

Here we go. Five, six, seven, eight!

Yo. Yo, what the hell is your problem?

-I'm sorry, what? -Why are you always fucking with me?

Someone thinks really highly of themselves.

-Then what the hell do you call that? -I call that a favor.

-What? -Look, you're nothing but a rookie ass art school dancer

who needs to learn his fucking place.

I'm trying to teach you. You're welcome.

On second thought...

I mean, you are kind of cute.

Maybe if you learn to talk less,

I might let you hit.

All right, bruh. Expert opinion, am I wasting my time,

or is this group gonna pan out? Analytics. Let's go.

-Well, I love me some Poppy. -Don't we all? But...

It's time she bring the sexy to the grown folks' table.

Time to elevate. I was thinking the same thing. We love the booty,

but it's gotta be more than just the booty. What else you got?

-Odalie, incredible dancer. -Fantastic fucking dancer.

But she lacks a bit of realness.

-That's 'cause she thinks she 42 different people. -[laughs]

She crazy. White people crazy, you know white people crazy.

Anyway, Dondre, what do you see?

Bro, you either wanna be here or not.

One foot in, one foot out, can you figure out your fucking life?

-Okay, what else? -Brings us to your boy.

-[both] The Greyhound. -Somethin' special about this dude.

There's something there, but until he believes it...

It'll never click.

Right.

Okay. Make whatever adjustments you deem necessary, man.

All right, man. I got you.

-Davis... Jimenez? -Jimenez.

It says "J" here, not "H." You got a typo here.

The "J" is... it's like Jose. It sounds like...

-No worries. -Hm.

Um...

Do you know the difference between a Remy

-and a Relaxed Natural? -A Remy?

Mm... Quick.

Three steps to applying a lace-front wig?

-Uh... -I'm sorry, son. Listen, man.

This is Al's Wigs and Wings. I need somebody that's a Renaissance man.

I need somebody versatile, like swoop and swap.

-Know what I'm saying? This is not an easy gig. -[phone rings]

Juicy! Do not call me and tell me you gonna be late

when you already 40 minutes late! Listen.

I can't watch the grill and watch the store at the same time, Juicy! Huh?

[sighs]

Juicy, get here when you can.

Mr. Al, you said you need somebody on the grill, right?

I've been grilling since I was nine. Okay, just let me show you.

I may not be the best at interviews, I know that.

But I know how to audition.

Can you do the boogaloo too?

-Come on, man. -Thank you. Thank you.

Normally, this is where the hot wings go.

[JaQuel] Okay, okay, let's switch this thing up a bit.

Odalie, let me actually move you up to the front. Let me switch you two out.

Tal, let me move you to the back.

Dondre, let me bring you up.

We don't have all day.

Um, Tal switch again for me. Right here.

Okay, let's see what this bad boy look like. Here we go.

Five, six, seven, and... Come on.

[imitates drums] And a... crack-crack-a-boom-crack.

And a... tap-tap-ta-boom-pop. And a... boom.

Bop-da-da-dum-crack. And a...

Pop-pop-ba-boom-pop. And a...

Tick-tock-da-dock-boom-pop. And a...

Hold up, hold up, hold up!

-Whose child is this? -Justin!

I am so sorry. I had to bring him. I promise it won't happen again.

Uh-uh! Not Miss Professionalism?

Girl, is this rehearsal or a daycare?

Yeah, like, seriously, Ash, get it together.

[laughs] Gotta work on that, baby girl.

-I'm sorry. -Okay, don't be sorry. Just don't do it again.

From the top. Five, six, seven, and...

Boom-bop-bop-ba-boom-bop.

And a... crack-crack-da-boom-crack. And a...

[music plays] ♪ You look like you been cornbread fed ♪

♪ But you all have been... ♪

I'll get you some corn bread. What can I get for you guys?

You want some collard greens?

You got the job!

-I got the job. -Congratulations, baby.

-Thanks. -Good job.

-I know it's not much, but... -No, it's huge.

Yeah? Here. Take this. We'll just be a second.

So what's going on? You talk to your dad?

No, and I'm not going to either.

[scoffs] And why is that?

Because I did nothing wrong.

So you wanna be stubborn

and waste money on a hotel tonight?

Can't. He cut the credit cards too.

Shit.

-Odalie, you know we're screwed, right? -I'm sorry, but he has to learn

that I'm an adult who can't be controlled with money anymore.

Look, I get it, okay?

You're not just some rich girl living off your dad,

but if we got nowhere to go...

-[woman] What are y'all doing? -Shit.

Look, I gotta get back to work, okay?

Just pick me up from Tal's tonight.

[sighs] Look, we'll figure this out. All right?

We always do. Just in the meantime, talk to your dad.

Got you right here, buddy.

Thank you, man, appreciate it.

[indistinct chatter]

Hey. What is all this?

Oh, I pulled a few strings

and got 37 Questions to film here at High Water.

-But I never signed off on that. -Because I never needed you to.

-I'm sorry, what? -Okay, for clarity, I'm replacing Johnny-One.

I'm handling all things media for Sage,

and I'm going to do whatever I need to do

to make sure that his tour is a success.

So from now on, you can start looking at me as an adult

with more important things to do than come check in with the school principal.

-[Sage] Coming to America. -[woman] Venue?

-Oh, Hollywood Bowl. -Musical inspirations?

Oh, the greats, the greats. You know? The Jacksons,

Michael, Janet, Mahalia.

Uh, also I like The Beatles. Gotta mix it up now and again.

-When did you realize you were a star? -[laughs]

-You humble me. -And cut.

Great stuff, Sage. Let's set up the next shot in the cafe.

Cool. Let's make this quick. I got shit to do.

-How was that? -[all] Good.

I sound smart? I was tryin' to sound smart.

You all wanna know the real reason I started singing,

-though, for real for real? -[all] Yeah.

Bad skin, worst teeth, and a fade that wouldn't

quite fade on the left side. Like brush that thing and it's just not going down.

Life was terrible until I realized

girls would give you some if you could sing Color Me Bad songs.

-[all] Ooh! -You know, I was in that cafeteria,

every morning talking about... ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Girl, you know it feels real good ♪

-[girls] ♪ Ooh ♪ -Come on, background.

♪ We can do it till we both wake up ♪

-[girls] ♪ Ooh ♪ -Hey!

♪ Girl, you know I'm hooked on you ♪

-[girls] ♪ Ooh ♪ -♪ And this is what I'll do ♪

-Sing it! -[all] ♪ I wanna sex you up ♪

Hey! What y'all know about this song?

♪ Girl, you make me feel... ♪

-♪ I want to sex you up ♪ -That's what I'm talking about!

[all chattering]

Old souls in here!

[engine revving]

[sighs]

-So what's this? -Told you I had eyes on 'em.

Yo, what the hell are you doing?

Motherfucker said he wanna take me out like I'm not gonna pull up?

I wanna see about it.

You fuckin' crazy? We are not about to do this shit!

-Nigga, everybody will see! -I don't give a fuck!

They need to see!

We said we doing it my way.

So when he creep this bitch-ass out the diner, call that motherfucker!

I'm not calling shit right now. You fucking crazy, dog, no!

-I'm not fucking with you. -Oh, shit!

-What up, boss? -[exhales sharply]

-Dondre, what up? -Chilling.

Just grabbin' a bite to eat with Ohio. What about y'all?

Y'all comin' or goin'?

I guess I should say congratulations.

Thanks.

-Something wrong? -Yeah. I mean, no.

It's just... [sighs]

Actually, things kind of really suck at the moment, man.

But whatever, we'll figure something out, right?

What the hell's going on?

Odalie's dad kicked us out of the apartment this morning.

-Oh, shit. Are you serious? -Yeah. She's trying to fix things with him,

but I mean, that still leaves me and Justin without a spot tonight.

Why don't you stay at our place?

Real talk, y'all should come out this Thursday.

Got a crazy venue for the next jump-off.

-It's gonna be a classy one too. -Yeah.

-I don't know, Tal, I just met the guy today. -Believe me,

-you just saved his ass too. -Dude, this could be longer than you think.

It'll be fine. Okay? I'm pretty sure Al would love to have an omnipresent grill guy.

-Dude, you're a lifesaver, man. Thank you. -No problem.

[Tal] For real, you should hit me up.

Yeah, yeah. We definitely gonna check that out.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Shouldn't you be in there with your girlfriend?

What?

-What's that supposed to mean? -Yeah, Dondre, don't even...

You know what? You got it.

Rigo, hit me up.

We should talk.

There he is. Call him. Call him.

-Just... -Call him! Rigo, call him!

-Marquise... -Call him! Rigo, right now!

Fucking call him!

So let me get this straight. You just move a guy in here without my consent,

without asking me, to my house?

Look, it's just a temporary thing, all right? Until he gets back on his feet.

Oh, it's just a temporary thing? You think I'm Boo-Boo the Fool?

No, I just thought that since Janelle's gone, her room is free, and...

it wouldn't be such a big deal.

It's not about the room. Tal, this is still my house.

I call the... all this is my shit.

See that light? That's my shit. See that? It's my shit!

-All yours. -I still call the shots!

-Okay? -Okay. And I really am sorry.

Okay? But I never would have done anything like this unless he really needed help.

And he really needed help.

You're pushing it.

But I guess it would be kind of cool

knowing that my grill guy has a nice place to stay.

Exactly. [laughs]

And also if you get the late night inspiration,

he could even journal for you.

Don't do that again. It's my house.

-First and last. -This my shit.

This my shit!

[hip-hop plays]

-That's that hit, right? -Nice.

Just wait till Rigo gets on it.

I'm tellin' you, this is gonna be it.

Yeah? Well, you better hurry up with that,

because I'm getting new artists in every day.

-I mean, yesterday... -Beats on wheels! [laughs]

Oh, you too good to laugh, huh?

Lighten up, pimpin'. We gettin' money now.

Drinks on me.

[Uncle Matty laughs]

Who the hell was that?

Don't even worry about it.

Hey. How'd things go with your dad?

What's up, papi? Why don't you go to the kitchen and get a drink of water. Okay?

You didn't talk to your dad, did you?

It's not that simple, Davis.

My relationship with my dad's different.

Hey, so I was thinking, you still know how to sneak into High Water, right?

-Maybe... -No.

-[laughs] Let me finish. -No.

All right? If something goes wrong, then I'm committing a crime.

You know I can't take that chance with Justin.

Okay. Then we'll sleep in the car tonight

and I'll ask Sage for an advance in the morning.

He's been kind of a dick about the money, but I know he likes me.

We can just tell Justin we're camping.

No. I'm not gonna have Justin sleep in the car.

Okay, and I'm definitely not taking him to a homeless shelter either.

I see you've already made a plan.

I gotta put him first, Odalie.

I can't believe you didn't tell me.

What am I sup--

What am I supposed to do, huh?

The social worker is on my ass every day.

They find out about this, Justin's gone!

You've got a place to go. We don't.

Look, I know this is hard for you,

but just go home.

Babe.

What the hell were you thinking, man?!

Don't you ever put me in no situation like that!

Who the fuck are you talking to like that?! You ain't East-O!

Motherfucker, you ain't either!

Watch your mouth. I don't care how bad he is,

he's still my family, we ain't killin' nobody!

We'll find another way to handle this shit, man.

[phone rings]

-What's up? -Yo, guess who's at Velvet City tossing your money?

All right, we on the way.

-What's going on? -He's at Velvet City.

-Oh, shit. Let's get it. -No.

This time we doing this my way, aight?

We just gonna talk to him. Nothing more, nothing less.

Nigga, please. Come on.

I'm serious, man.

Aight. No guns, no violence, just talk to him.

-[line ringing] -What's that?

You said no violence, that's cool.

But I ain't stupid.

Yo, meet me at Velvet City, ASAP.

[hip-hop plays] ♪ Push the limit ♪

♪ Only gettin' what you willin' to put in it ♪

♪ Lookin' up and I don't even see you... ♪

Where he at?

♪ Every second, every hour Every minute ♪

♪ I push the limit ♪

♪ Too for the loose now ♪

♪ Way too for the look down ♪

♪ Some of 'em gotta lit a fuse now ♪

♪ Only one to fill his shoes I got no excuse ♪

♪ I'ma push the limit Push the limit ♪

Hey. I was really tryin' to rock with you,

and you was lying to me the whole fucking time!

Better sit your little ass down. You know who I am?

-Tryin' to get fame off my name. -Fame?

-Fuck all this talkin', man. -Yo, chill out.

Look, just give me the money you stole, and the watch,

-you'll never hear from us again. -Listen, boy.

I didn't take your money. And even if I did, so what?

Ain't nothing you or your punk-ass bodyguard

gonna do about it, so keep it pushed.

That's right. You ain't half the man your daddy was.

Both of y'all some bitches.

Tell me this. How in the hell a OG like East-O

have two sons both turned hoes?

Oh, shit. Look at 'em.

They didn't know they brothers.

Probably because one's a damn throwaway kid,

and the other's too busy doing what dancing faggots do!

-Shit! -[hip-hop plays]

♪ Don't you be runnin' away ♪

♪ Bein' the person that's [indistinct] ♪

♪ Goin' the hardest [indistinct] ♪

♪ This is a story of victory I'm makin' history ♪

♪ This ain't no coming of age ♪

[grunting]

♪ Gotta believe ♪

♪ Part of my sleeve And comin' to see ♪

[Dana] Now that's a man taking care of his business.

That's what I'm talking about.

-Fuck. -Give me that track.

♪ Only gettin' what you willin' to put in it ♪

[grunting]

♪ Every second, every hour Every minute ♪

♪ I push the limit ♪

[Uncle Matty grunting]

Me and my pops got another thing in common.

-We both don't like bitch-ass niggas! -[grunts]

Yo, get him the fuck up out of here!

Don't come back again, or next time I'm gonna kill you my goddamn self!

On my daddy, bitch!

Hey, Rigo. Stage, get on stage! Get on stage! Go! Go!

[music starts]

♪ Picked the wrong fight Picked the wrong night ♪

♪ And I ain't gonna be here for none of that pretty boy shit any street life ♪

♪ Got one eye on this Keeping one eye on my blood ♪

♪ Enemies on the stretcher Down there breaking they necks on the floor ♪

♪ Bully set the trap Got the family in my grunt ♪

♪ Got my name up in they mouth I'ma have to shut 'em up ♪

♪ I'm on a whole 'nother level Standing up under the pressure ♪

♪ Doing it better than veterans I'ma take this grunt ♪

♪ Coming for the top I'ma be that King Kong ♪

♪ Can't nobody stop Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

♪ Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

♪ I'ma take the throne Coming for the streets ♪

♪ Got it in my blood This a living legacy ♪

♪ Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

♪ Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

♪ I'ma take the throne ♪

Rigo!

-Rigo, come on! -Poppy, come on! What are you doing?

-I'm not going with you, Rigo. -What?!

I told you I'm not doing this.

Poppy, it's a street thing, you don't get it!

I get it. The streets was your daddy's thing.

It was never supposed to be yours. I'm done.

-Are you serious right now? I don't have time for this! -Just go!

-[siren wailing] -This may be your new life, but it ain't mine.

-[Marquise] Come on, Rigo! -You talking crazy.

Leave!

Fuck, man! Go, go, go! Come on, go!

-Hey! -What?

-I wanted to make you breakfast. -Look at this!

[laughs] I just... I wanted to say I'm sorry about Davis,

-and I didn't mean any disrespect. -None taken.

-So how'd that thing work out with you and the guy? -What guy?

The bully. Did you put hands and feet on him?

What bully? Oh, you mean Zo?

No, it's...

-Who's this? -I'm Justin, and I'm hungry.

[Davis] Justin!

Okay, um... I can explain.

This is my little brother.

-We're kind of a package deal. -Mm-hm.

Right. It's his little brother.

Package deal.

I'm really sorry, Uncle Al.

-Is there anybody else? -I meant to tell you...

There's no sisters? No cousins?

This is the package?

We'll talk later.

You want... you want this?

I'm gonna take this.

This one.

What is this?

Oh. You can thank me later.

This isn't funny. There's a strategy

behind everything we do based on actual data

which music novices like you would know nothing about.

Yeah, and seven million people disagree.

I don't give a damn if it got "This Is America" clicks.

With the exception of the High Water Newsletter,

do not ever post anything Sage-related again.

Unless you wanna make the front page of that newsletter,

you should probably get the hell out of my office.

-Do you understand? -[knock on door]

Yo! Seven million views?

We on a humble, we weren't even trying!

Clearly the boy still got it.

So what's going on with this Zo guy?

You got a problem, let me know because I still owe you one.

No, it's not that kind of bullying. It's just..

It's just stupid dance beef, you know.

Yeah. To think I used to hate dance beefs.

Hey, man, I'm sorry. That was stupid of me.

-I wasn't thinking. -No, man. No worries. I'm over it.

Look, man, I've seen you dance.

What makes you so dope is your focus.

It's like you got this natural ability to just lock in

and kill it every time.

You do every time you dance.

Thanks, man. I appreciate that.

Just make sure you don't focus on him.

Don't worry about it. Y'all are just breakin' up to make up like you always do.

-He'll be back in no time. -No, it's for real this time.

-And I'ma see to it. -Well, be careful what you ask for.

It's hard out here for a woman on her own.

Especially a grown woman still chasing a fantasy.

Thanks, Mom. I know you're just trying to help.

See you tonight.

[Sage] All right, all right.

I know what this man is capable of, which means

if this still sucks, I blame you!

It's time to see who elevated and who is joining Trevor on a permanent vacation.

-Let's get it going. -Here we go, give it your all, guys.

This is showtime. Five, six, seven, and...

[hip-hop plays]

♪ Dance with the beast mode ♪

♪ I can tell the heat rose ♪

♪ And it's obvious he know ♪

♪ Why? I can tell 'cause his feet cold ♪

♪ I'm an animal You know what I mean ♪

♪ I can shut the club down This is my scene ♪

♪ I hope you got your eyes clean ♪

♪ Can you see me? Or do you need Visine? ♪

♪ Maybe I'm makin' 'em all go crazy ♪

♪ I'm makin' 'em all go crazy ♪

♪ Contain 'em look like the eighties ♪

♪ And I'm slick in the black Mercedes ♪

♪ I'm hotter than sauna I'm hotter than Hades ♪

♪ All of the ladies are looney and zany ♪

♪ Tellin' me I should be callin' them baby ♪

♪ Tellin' me I should be havin' they baby ♪

♪ Boom That's what it sound like ♪

♪ Some animals out of the cage, right ♪

♪ Too scary, then exit the stage, right ♪

♪ 'Cause we 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Animals out of the cage right ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Boom That's what it sound like ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ W-w-w-wild night [echoes] ♪

♪ W-wild night [echoes] ♪

♪ Persian, Malaysians African, even Jamaicans ♪

♪ Dominican, Spanish Croatians ♪

♪ German, Italian Asians ♪

♪ Need 'em from all of the nations ♪

♪ Pick 'em from different places ♪

♪ You woulda thought I was racist ♪

♪ 'Cause we havin' a object occasion ♪

♪ It'll be loads of dudes ♪

♪ But it'll be tons of girls ♪

♪ Let's make it dark in the room ♪

♪ Have it lookin' like Underworld ♪

♪ Got 'em all goin' crazy, crazy ♪

♪ Got 'em all goin' insane ♪

♪ Animalistic in this game ♪

♪ That's just the way that we get made ♪

♪ Boom That's what it sound like ♪

♪ Some animals out of the cage, right ♪

♪ Too scary, then exit the stage, right ♪

♪ 'Cause we 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Animals out of the cage, right ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Boom That's what it sound like ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Animals out of the cage, right ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Boom That's what it sound like ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

♪ Night [echoes] ♪

♪ Boom That's what it sound like ♪

♪ We 'bout to have us a wild night ♪

[applause]

You cleaned up my shit sandwich.

-I did the best I could, brother. -I cannot thank you enough.

-[JaQuel] Y'all take five. -[cheering]

-Any extra jewels for me? -They're a pretty good bunch.

-You should be good to go. -[Sage] Okay, one last thing.

If you had to bet the farm on one dancer,

-who you rocking with? -Odalie.

Thought so, right? One last adjustment. Let's...

-Let's put Greyhound back in front. -Got it.

-My man. -I got you, brother.

There's a smile on my face!

I know you don't see it often.

Take a picture. You ain't gonna see a lot of them.

-However, good job. -[cheering]

-[laughs, screams] -We killed that shit, yo!

-Yo! We killed that shit! -[cheering]

-Right? -Ah!

-It was lit. -Felt good, right?

I mean, like, damn, we 'bout to kill this tour.

-I know, right? -Yeah.

-I can't wait. -Me neither.

Oh... you can't what?

-Huh? -Okay, I guess I really am looking forward to it.

Uh-huh, uh-huh. I gotta say,

Dre, I didn't think you could do this.

-What? -High Water, the tour. It's a lot of hard work.

-But... I'm impressed. -Hm...

I'll give you something more to be impressed about.

What you gonna do?

Hey, it's Dondre.

I was just calling to see if it wasn't too late

to get my deposit back. I wanted to cancel for tomorrow night.

Damn, it is?

Okay, that's cool, I still want to cancel.

-Yeah. Thanks. -So what was that?

Um... I think I'm done with the party business for a minute.

I'm not messing this up for me or you.

That's very thoughtful.

Actually, I'm being selfish as fuck.

-Oh. -Okay.

[both laugh]

You wanna go somewhere... together?

Yeah. Yeah.

I think I'd like that very much.

[hip-hop plays]

♪ Picked the wrong fight Picked the wrong night ♪

♪ And I ain't gonna be here for none of that pretty boy shit any street life ♪

♪ Got one eye on this Keeping one eye on my blood ♪

♪ Enemies on the stretcher Down there breaking they necks to look up ♪

♪ This type of trap Got the family in my grunt ♪

♪ Got my name up in they mouth I'ma have to shut 'em up ♪

♪ I'm on a whole 'nother level Standing up under the pressure ♪

♪ Doing it better than veterans I'ma take the throne ♪

♪ Coming for the top I'ma be that King Kong ♪

♪ Can't nobody stop Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

♪ Hey hey, Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

You sure this okay? You know we both work for Sage, right?

Sage doesn't have to know about it.

Good shit like this? The next big thing?

This is my drug. This is what I live for.

♪ Hey hey ♪

♪ I'ma take the throne ♪

♪ Pops passed me this torch Gave me this fire Got me this horse ♪

♪ My fist clenched and I'm Superman in this high tower ♪

♪ I'ma run this business like a track star Olympic Golden chains... ♪

Raise the treble up a little bit.

Yeah.

♪ Show me a castle I crumble it Quick on my feet ♪

♪ And you're stumbling fumbling, over the shit ♪

♪ That I do in my sleep and I'm ready to rumble it ♪

♪ I keep seeing all this money in the air ♪

♪ With my name printed on it Y'all are suckers up in here ♪

♪ Y'all don't think I'm gonna come for the bag ♪

♪ Take over for Dad Pick up where he left off ♪

♪ And that's on my life I'ma take the throne ♪

♪ Coming for the top I'ma be the King Kong ♪

♪ Can't nobody stop Y'all ain't ready for me ♪

♪ Hey hey ♪

♪ Y'all ain't ready for me, Hey hey ♪

♪ I'ma take the throne ♪

-[fingers snapping] -[Sage] This tour is not supposed

to be just a performance, people.

I need y'all to make me feel something.

-[music playing] -Do not embarrass yourself!

Do not embarrass me!

Ooh-wee!

[Uncle Al] Let's go!

[music playing]

[Zo] The shit that happens in that studio--

sometimes you win... and sometimes you lose.

And sometimes... you get lucky.

-Are we interrupting something? -[clears throat]

-Five, six, seven, eight! -[music playing]

I don't know what his problem is, but I don't like having beef with anybody.

Oh, my God!

What am I lookin' at? This shit a joke?

Just try to be you, you know? Makin' shit up as I go.

I didn't make this up. I live this. This is my life.

I'm going to do whatever I need to do to make sure that his tour is a success.

I never signed off on that.

Because I never needed you to.

[music playing]

[King] Look at what you're going through now.

Police showing up to your crib. Family members robbing you. Dope-boys lurkin'.

-What the hell's wrong with you? -He's what's wrong with me!

Odalie's dad kicked us out of the apartment this morning.

Get your shit together before you run out of favor.

Please don't go down this road. I'm not doing this with you.

You ain't half the man your daddy was.

[Sage] I need y'all right now...

more than I ever have before.

Ya'll are artists.

Show 'em who you are and what you really want. Let's get it.

[cheering]

[man] Made in Georgia.

[blows]

♪ Dat da dup da dup dat ♪