Original subtitles

Previously on Raising Kanan...

The name of the group is Butta.

If they like what they see,

we'll be in a studio within two weeks.

If they don't like you,

Butta is just another baby that never should've been born.

- To Cafe Vous. - Cafe Vous.

We made that stage right there into a proving ground

for a new generation of artists.

Sometimes your boy Mo need a little extra convincing.

- You workin' with me now. - DJ Mo can roll with anyone.

Someone's clocking us.

That's Unique brother.

'Nique's plans bein' made by his dick.

He fucking the competition.

Look, you don't wanna wait on 'Nique.

Get up yourself. You know how it's done.

Ain't got funds.

If 'Nique's a problem, we can figure that out.

Problems always got solutions.

We're not interested.

Gimme what you got, nigga!

I miss our group, Marvin.

We could have our own shit, you know?

Keep each other correct and shit.

We're struggling with this Crown Camacho angle, Detective.

We know that he was payin' people off

to keep this shit quiet.

How's your son enjoying high school?

What you know about my son?

Did a little research on you.

If you violate the terms

put forth by the social worker,

most likely some sort of curfew,

you'll be sent to juvenile court.

They've agreed not to press charges.

Instead, they're going to let the ACS handle the situation.

I ain't taking your calls no more.

You gotta start figuring this shit out on your own.

Should've took her out back in the day.

Raq done, man.

I thought you was puttin' Ronnie on.

You know the type of thing Ronnie good for

is real specific.

The shit he bad for ain't specific at all.

That's right.

Nice ride.

I said nice ride.

When you in a spot a nigga want,

just know they steady watchin',

steady hatin',

steady schemin'.

They see what's yours as theirs,

tell themselves you done took some shit

that rightfully belongs to them.

Motherfuckers want what's theirs.

And they comin' for it.

They comin' for you.

Well, did you put the extra driver

near Washington Square?

It's mad deliveries near NYU.

And don't be on no sleepy shit neither, nigga.

When that answering service hits you,

you pick up the phone.

Missed calls is missed money, man.

Don't fuck this up, Fame.

What's Famous fuckin' up?

And what's all that?

Nothin'.

It don't look like nothin'.

What it look like?

You in my house, Kanan.

And you ain't goin' nowhere no time soon.

Now, how it all play out is up to you.

Could be good for you here.

Could be good for us.

Or not.

The fuck, man?

It's the middle of the night.

Shit new.

Real money.

This motherfucker come home behind a damn miracle,

and he out jackin' fools' rides.

I told you I got you, Ronnie.

Believe it when I see it, nigga.

'Cause I'm not tryin' to post up

with you and Pernessa no more.

I'm flippin' this shit to Early Tyler.

I really appreciate you doing this,

but I can't help but feel like I'm wasting your time.

I know you have better shit to do

than listen to my pathetic sob stories.

You know, listening don't cost me nothin', Gerald.

And I'm happy to do it. I'm happy to be here for you.

You and me both raisin' daughters on our own out here.

We got plenty to talk about.

I've told you all about my girls.

Tell me about, um...

Jukebox.

We call her Jukebox.

Real name's Laverne.

In fact, you need to write about her,

'cause she gon' matter.

Juke just got into this girl group.

Outsang, like, a thousand bitches--

well, young ladies-- for the spot.

- I'd love to meet her. - For real, I mean,

she might do you good

for your writing entertainment career.

I mean, you discovering new talent and shit.

How old your daughters again?

Five and seven.

You in the belly of the beast.

Them tough ages right there.

That's when they start thinkin' they know more than you.

And sometimes they do.

You're not wrong that your daughter

could be someone that readers might care about.

I mean, local girl from wrong side of the tracks

makes it big--that's a story.

I don't live near no tracks.

And me and Juke ain't on the wrong side of nothin'.

Of course not. Of course not.

I just know that parts of South Jamaica can be rough.

I mean, there was a fucking awful murder there

just the other day-- suspected drug dealer, I think.

Stabbed to death in his own home.

Police think that, um, his deaf grandmother

was in the next room the whole time,

didn't hear a thing.

You got a name?

It was unusual. Uh, Arabic.

Alumadeen Tippet.

Azumadeen.

Damn.

You knew him?

Everybody know Deen.

Did he sell drugs like the police are saying?

Because they're always quick to paint folks

with that brush.

Yo, I gotta bounce.

Okay.

Yo, I'll catch up with you later, G.

What happened here?

My old man was a commercial contractor,

did a bunch of work around the city.

Take it from me-- it's gonna cost a fortune

to fix these windows.

I got insurance.

You know, color me nosy, but I can't help but notice

you got an extensive list

of code violations on your hands here.

Sorry to say, we are obligated to share that with our friends

at the Department of Buildings.

Do what you gotta do.

Between us chickens, though, I mean,

the last thing we wanna do is get in the way

of an entrepreneur like yourself

who's breathing new life into the neighborhood.

We can certainly come around a little more,

keep an eye out,

make sure your windows stay where they're supposed to be.

Might even be able to make those violations go away.

We like to invest in folks

who are investing in the neighborhood.

But like any investment,

we expect to see some sort of return.

I'm good, Officers.

Thank you, though.

You let us know when you change your mind.

Until then, I'd keep your window guy on speed dial.

These vandals like to come back for more.

Jim Beam?

Seltzer.

Okay.

How many times you gon' play this record over?

Till I wear it out.

Don't have many other options on hand.

Over the years, most of my records've been

either stolen or scratched.

Not a lot of choices left.

I'll go grab some from my mom's.

She sure as hell ain't using them no more.

Mix it up a bit up in here.

You okay, Louis?

Maintainin',

stayin' focused.

Look, I'm gonna roll up on my radio connect,

see if I can get us some free promotion

for the hip-hop night.

Promotion. Oh.

It's been a while since Cafe Vous has had that.

It's a new day up in here, Shirley.

And this old lady needs a new day.

-I'll get at you later. -All right.

Come on.

A'ight, partner.

See ya.

Yo, five-O, five-O!

Oh, shit!!

Let's go!

Fuck!

- Get down. - I ain't do shit!

I ain't do shit!

Someone's flush.

Fuck all three of ya, huh?

Deen got put down.

Friend, works at a newspaper told me.

Since when you got friends at newspapers?

I got friends all over.

Somebody cut that nigga up in his own house

with his grandmother in the next room.

Well, streets talkin'?

Word just gettin' out now.

So far, nobody's sayin' nothin'.

This shit about to hurt my pocket.

Deen was breaking me off a lil' somethin'-somethin'

that I was movin' over in Manhattan.

Gotta fix your eyes somewhere else.

I ain't got nothin' for you.

I told you I'm out.

I'm straight.

I ain't askin' for help. I can take care of myself.

Well, I wish someone would take care of me.

Caught up in all this bullshit now.

Empty stores, chasin' rent,

dirty cops smashin' my windows so they can squeeze me.

This shit is worse than the corner.

Police did all this?

Yeah, and then they come around here

with they hands out for protection money.

It's more trouble than it's worth.

I tell you that, um, I fronted Lou a little money

for him to get some new shit goin' for that club downtown?

Guess I ain't the only sucker

throwin' good money after bad, then,

'cause ain't no such thing as frontin' Lou.

Once you give that nigga anything, it's gone for good.

He puttin' together a hip-hop night at his spot.

I'm tryin' to get the whole family

to come through and support.

You should be there.

I mean, that's our baby brother tryin' to do somethin'.

What, that make him special?

Because we all tryin' to do somethin', Marvin.

Fuck Lou.

Where Fame at?

Where the fuck is Famous at?

Got rolled the fuck up.

Five-O got Fame and the money.

And now Javon say he not fuckin' with none of this shit

no more 'cause the cops all on us.

This motherfucker Famous, man.

All right.

So this how this shit work:

fiends come in, ask for the special.

Richard and Sunny here serve that shit up,

and no one the wiser.

Clockwork, nigga.

In and out.

You trust these yellow motherfuckers?

I mean, they about they money,

just like us.

They ain't nothin' like me.

Check it out, man.

You see this whole operation here?

Under the radar.

Police ain't even thinkin' 'bout them.

No shit, ain't no business comin' through.

Shit new, Ronnie.

All we gotta do is tell motherfuckers we here.

Put that bug in they ear, so to speak.

I'm thinkin'...

this gonna be your spot.

Let you run this right here.

Fuck you.

You asked for work. I bring you work.

Nigga, ain't no work in there.

You hear about Deen, man?

Fuck Deen gotta do with your broke-ass business?

You're always focused on the wrong thing, 'Nique.

Raq took all we had

and left you with this bullshit.

And you smilin' 'cause you got your head stuck

between her legs.

She turned you out, nigga.

You my brother, and I got love for you.

So I ain't gonna check you like I would anybody

who would even think that shit about me.

Nobody check me, 'Nique.

I'ma tell you one last time, Ronnie--

Raq out the game.

She ain't involved here.

It's just us, man.

Lane wide fuckin' open.

I know you got other work.

Money gotta be comin' in some way.

This is it.

This is what we got.

This... ain't... shit.

Watch your spacing, girl.

You all over the place, Iesha.

Cut the track.

Cut the music.

Cut the music!

You keep fucking up the same shit.

I'm gonna get it.

I'm just a little dizzy, that's all.

You good?

Sounds like you sayin' you can't keep up.

No. I'm okay now.

I got this.

Dizzy don't got nothin' to do with stayin' out my way.

Krystal not wrong.

You stay messin' up the formation, Iesha.

It's still early.

Won't be nothin' to replace you.

Let's take it from the top, without music this time.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Freddy Williams.

I don't know him.

Well, you two went to the same school.

Yeah. He, like, a grade above me.

So you do know him.

Just 'cause I seen the nigga around?

I don't know him.

You ever been to Freddy's house?

I don't know where that nigga live.

Then tell me how we got this incident report

placing you there.

It's just a few days prior to the shooting.

Southside ain't even that big.

And a few days prior ain't even close

to being there on the day.

You know the area.

You frequent the neighborhood.

I don't frequent shit.

Ms. Thomas, I'm Laura Walsh, the county social worker.

I'm here for your and Kanan's home visit.

Kanan's not here yet.

Where is he?

Boy got a crew of friends I can hardly keep track of.

It's after his mandated curfew.

When do you expect him to be back?

Teenagers, you know how they do.

I'll wait until he returns, then.

Of course.

Come in.

If you get rolled on...

...toss your shit.

You can go back for the bag.

But if you get caught with nothin' on you,

they gotta cut you loose.

What if we don't have time to toss it?

Or what if they see that shit?

How 'bout just don't get caught, then, motherfucker?

Sound good?

A'ight man.

You Raq's boy?

It's Kanan.

Who put you on, Kanan?

Look, I ain't have time for this bullshit.

You workin' for 'Nique?

I work for me.

Ain't no lil' nigga like you movin' that heroin on his own.

Who guaranteein' your package?

Who said shit about heroin?

You better leave all that how you found it.

What are you lookin' for?

Got a new spot in Manhattan.

Lil' music café.

Need some records to play.

Music... ain't never done nothin' for your father.

I don't know how you think

it's gon' be any different for you.

You know, someone's gotta start thinkin' about me, Lou-Lou.

Your sister don't send nothin' my way no more,

your brother doin' whatever it is he does,

and you hell-bent on goin' broke.

Who gon' take care of your mother?

You gonna chase these pipe dreams to the grave

just like your father.

Music ain't what killed my father.

He never this late.

You know how boys are.

We just moved, and he just wanted to hang out

with his friends from the old neighborhood.

Kanan brought a firearm into his school.

Spending time with the same friends

that most likely encouraged his poor decision-making

in the past is the last thing your son should be doing now.

Kanan needs to make new friends closer to home.

This is a nice neighborhood with good schools.

We just gonna finish out the year at Arts & Science,

and then we're gonna get into all that.

I'm so sorry about today.

I don't know what he could be doin'.

Ms. Thomas, I understand you're experiencing

a lot of changes right now.

But we both have the same job to do here,

keeping your son safe and on the right path.

I'm gonna let this slide just this once.

But if your son isn't home for future visits,

he will be removed from your care

and your case'll be handed over to family court,

which is an altogether different kettle of fish.

He gon' be here next time.

No doubt.

Uh, when can we expect you back?

When my schedule permits.

This bitch is draggin' us down.

At a certain point,

this becomes a waste of my time, Iesha.

And I don't have time to waste.

Shit went rough.

How you feelin'?

Just tryin' to figure it out, you know?

I do.

Uh, if you want, I could help you out.

For real?

Thought you was hatin' on me like Krystal.

Tss, nah.

Not at all.

I need all the help I can get.

Thanks, Juke.

Dagos dropped all across South Jamaica.

Feds are looking for a reason why.

I thought this was all falling at the feet of the Camacho kid.

His name wasn't on that studio that got hit.

He sold his piece.

And they can't put him at Baisley

or the Forties in any real way.

You know how it goes. No one's talking.

No one saw anything.

This task force--

they're just throwing shit up against the wall right now,

pressin' hard against all the players

to see if anyone's story changes.

Which means I gotta deal with these bureau assholes

until something sticks.

I'll ask around, see if somebody talks.

Anything you can do.

Sooner these fed pricks go back

to their fuckin' sandbox, the better.

Felt like you had somethin' else to say to me

the other day.

Your feeling was wrong.

My cousin and I have nothing to say to you or your brother.

I ain't Unique.

You're his brother.

It's the same.

It's not.

We have bad history, Unique and me.

I don't respect him.

I don't trust him.

And there's nothing for us to talk about

as long as you're his brother.

Unique always gonna be my brother.

But that don't mean we the same.

I thought my husband was always going to be my husband.

But one day, he was gone.

Wasn't my husband anymore.

'Nique ain't goin' nowhere.

Maybe that's up to you.

My brother... ain't goin'... nowhere.

Yeah, I'ma have somebody in-- over in an second, man.

Yeah.

They just let you out just like that?

They was just fuckin' with me,

tryin' to shake a nigga down, see what he spill.

Usual shit.

A'ight, well, what about the money?

They holdin' that shit.

We ain't gettin' that back.

Knew I couldn't trust yo' ass with this shit, man.

Are you serious?

'Cause when shit went left with Jevon,

I see you was right there to bail that nigga out,

but not me.

We supposed to be brothers, K.

Cops come get me, you don't even check to see if I'm good.

You here, Fame.

So you good.

It was me that put Freddy down, K.

I was tryin' to roll on his--

I was tryin' to do what he do to everybody else to him.

And shit got real fuckin' stupid real fuckin' fast.

That's what the fuckin' cops was talkin' to me about.

That's why I was there.

You ain't say nothin'.

No.

But this shit got me shook, K.

Not the cops. Fuck them niggas.

It--what I did.

I mean, I killed the nigga, man.

Me. What the fuck was I thinkin'?

You thinkin' you never speak on that shit again, Fame--

not to me, not to nobody.

You bury this shit with you, nigga.

That's just how it gotta be.

Can't have your stupidness

fuckin' up my business right now, man

Fuck.

Mo Craze, my man.

Lou Thomas.

It's been a minute.

I need you to put that on the airwaves.

Get it bubblin' in these streets.

Course, my brother.

Anything you need.

Thought you'd say that.

Good lookin' out.

I got the hottest invitation in Manhattan.

And you know Mo Craze got your back.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Deen was a good brother.

I ain't see you in a lil' minute.

Almost forgot how good you look.

You even bringing that heat to a homegoin'.

There's too many ears around

for you to be talkin' like that.

Take a bold nigga to hit Deen.

I know just the nigga who bold enough.

Ronnie out here wilin'.

Damn bull in a china shop.

Somebody gonna have to pay

for all the shit he breakin', 'Nique.

Where 'Nique?

Ronnie, what you even doin' here?

Didn't your brother give you some work?

He probably out fuckin' Raq.

What?

What the fuck are you talkin' about?

Ronnie, what the fuck you just say to me?

Huh?

Ronnie, I'm talkin' to you.

Ronnie.

Ronnie, I'm fuckin' talking to you.

What did you just say?

Ronnie!

Couldn't find your way home last night?

The social worker came by.

You missed her.

You were supposed to be here.

She gonna come again.

And unless your ass wanna be in a boys' home,

you're gonna be in this house the next time she roll through.

Ignoring me ain't gonna go well for you, Kanan.

Promise you that.

What if Krystal right and I'm just

slowin' y'all down?

Fuck Krystal.

Don't let that girl get in your head.

Yeah, but I'm not dumb.

Like, I know I'm not like you or her.

I'm just regular.

You wouldn't be here if you was regular.

Yeah, but you heard N'Kiyah.

I'm the girl next door,

the ordinary girl,

the regular girl.

You and Krystal the special ones.

Special?

I'm the damn tomboy.

I walk around in Tims and Polo shirts.

Yeah, but you make all that look good.

And you got that voice, Juke.

I mean, you got talent that I don't have,

that I won't ever have.

Own it.

What?

You sound like my friend Nicole.

Well, if we both sayin' the same thing about you,

then it must be true.

A'ight, I'ma have to meet this Nicole

so we can talk some sense into you together.

She was my girlfriend.

So... y'all still together or...

Didn't work out.

You sneaky.

How we gonna go

from talkin' about you to talkin' about me?

Look, we ain't gonna get

any better just sittin' around.

- Let's do this. - All right.

Appreciate it, baby.

So it was Raq you fuckin'?

Fuck is you talkin' about?

Ronnie told me.

So that's why you ain't been around?

'Cause you laid up in Raq's bed?

You got everything you need around here, right?

You and Rome, y'all got everything you need, right?

What the fuck does that have to do with anything?

Everything you could have fuckin' asked for!

And you worried 'bout other fuckin' bitches?

Raq ain't other bitches, 'Nique.

She shot your shit with my baby in the car.

She the reason you almost went to jail

for shootin' a fuckin' cop!

'Nique, what is wrong with you?

How you put your dick in that, 'Nique?

Fuck is Ronnie?

Fuck.

Thanks again.

Just makin' sure you don't trip me up out there.

You just make sure you keep

them big-ass boots up out my way.

Uh, I'm hittin' up this thing at my uncle's new club tonight.

Open mic or somethin'. You should come through.

So your uncle got a club?

He does.

That's cool.

You're not embarrassed I'ma trip and fall

down the stairs or somethin' like that?

Stairs everywhere.

At least I'll be there to catch you when you fall tonight.

A'ight, well, just hit me later with the details,

and I'll see you then.

Later.

Word.

Your girl don't need a ride?

She good.

I-I mean, 'cause there's plenty of room up in here,

and gas don't cost that much.

She a dime, though, Juke.

You got your good taste from me.

It ain't even like that.

It's cool. I mean, you don't gotta

hide nothin' from me.

- We just friends. - Friends. Right.

I mean...

Shut up.

Whatever you say.

Camacho kid was always runnin' the halls at Baisley,

spreadin' money around to everybody.

Was he alone?

Seen him with a few white boys here and there.

And did you ever witness him selling narcotics

or around other individuals selling narcotics?

Seriously? You ever been to Baisley?

Ain't nobody ever see or hear shit up in there.

That's how we stay alive, man.

Only reason why I'm talkin' to y'all

is 'cause I owe Howard for gettin' me

out of some shit back in the day.

And what about Raquel Thomas?

It's our understanding

that she was part of the record label

that Mr. Camacho owned for a while.

Did you ever see them together?

What the fuck Raq gotta do with Baisley?

Raq.

Is-is-is that what people call her?

Look, I told y'all all I'ma tell you.

You motherfuckers gonna have to do

the rest of the work your damn self.

Excuse me for a moment.

I wanna circle back on this Raquel Thomas.

I thought we ruled her out.

I wanna talk to her myself,

make sure we didn't miss something.

Get me her initial statement

and the notes on that record label and studio.

Here I thought this place was just like me,

past its prime.

You've given both of us a second life.

Hey. Two Jim Beams.

Coming right up.

Here you go, hon.

To the new Cafe Vous.

You know what?

Think I'ma chill tonight.

I'm proud of you, Louis.

Shit.

Think I'm proud of me too.

Raquel Thomas. Special Agent Preston Tanner.

I'm in charge of the federal task force

investigating the recent mob-related shootings

in South Jamaica,

one of which took place at your home.

I'd like you to come in for a conversation.

Right now?

No better time than the present.

I mean, I was about to meet my family.

I think it'll be best for everyone involved

if we get this out of the way now.

And to be clear, I don't have a warrant,

so I can't compel you to join me,

but I do think it's in your best interest

to acquiesce to this request.

I'm gonna have to call my lawyer.

Sure. Whatever you need to do.

She can fuckin' rap.

I'ma hit the stage.

I'ma catch you.

What's goin' on with you and your boy?

Nothin'. Chillin'.

- Iesha, this my cousin. - Kanan.

Iesha.

It's nice to meet you, Iesha.

Nice to meet you too.

Hey, Juke, let me, let me talk to you real quick?

Be right back.

That you or what?

She a nice girl, though.

Not like these old-ass hood rats

you been messin' with.

Why you gonna go and talk about Corrine like that?

I'm talkin' about Corrine's moms.

Don't be a dick to this girl.

She a friend.

And we in this group together.

I got you.

All you.

What's up?

- Chillin'. How 'bout you? - Chillin'.

You makin' fun of me?

Not makin' fun of you.

Where the fuck you at?

Shit dope.

Congratulations, brother.

You know, I couldn't have made it happen without you.

- Appreciate it. - Always.

Raq here yet?

She said she wanted to, uh, come through.

Don't need Raq here.

Yo, she just wanted to support.

Don't need her support.

Don't need shit from her.

Just wanna be left the fuck alone, Marvin.

So tell me about this studio and record label.

- You're part owner? - Silent partner.

I put in some money to help out my brother.

You own a majority stake.

Where are you going with this, Agent Tanner?

Sizable pieces of the business passed through multiple hands

in a relatively brief period of time.

Ultimately, the greater part of the company

ended up in yours.

I'm trying to understand

what happened exactly.

Business is what happened.

There was an opportunity to increase my stake,

so that's what I did.

For me and my brother.

We invested as a family.

Unless you have my client here

for something more than investment strategy,

I think she's gonna continue on with her business elsewhere.

They think they smell something,

but they're realizing it's just their own stench.

There's no there there, and they know it.

Feel very confident that you won't have to worry

about the FBI or this so-called task force anymore.

This dog simply don't hunt.

This my life you fuckin' with, man.

My world, Ronnie!

And you fuckin' pissin' over it

like some puppy who ain't been broke yet.

I'm the big dog, nigga.

That's what you don't get.

Takin' out Deen

and runnin' your fuckin' mouth to Pernessa

ain't no big-dog shit.

That's bitch shit.

You soft, 'Nique.

You all right losin' everything I left you

long as you think you lookin' pretty doin' it.

You a damn clown.

What?

Sometimes when there ain't shit left to say,

you gotta let your hands talk for you.

'Cause ain't nothin' get confused

when you speakin' in them left and rights.

And pretty soon,

it take on its own life.

I'm the big dog now!

And don't you ever fuckin' forget it.

You forget all about who you beefin' with

in the first place,

and you don't even recognize

who eatin' all them punches across from you.

Thing is, though, once you throw that shit,

ain't no takin' it back.

Get to a point where you ain't fightin'

about nothin' but who gonna be standin' at the end.

And that's when shit gets dangerous.

That's when friend turn on friend.

Family turn on family.

Brother turn on brother.

My man. Hey, what's happenin'?

That's when kings fall.