[grand orchestral fanfare playing]
- [upbeat music playing] - [lively chatter]
[crowd cheering]
- CHOIR: ♪ Na-na-na-na-na, oh - FALLON: Whoo!
♪ Na-na-na-na-na, oh
- Yeah. Hey. - ♪ Na-na-na-na-na, oh
- Come on. ♪ Tell me are you - ♪ Blessed
- ♪ How you feeling? - ♪ Blessed
- ♪ How you moving? - ♪ Blessed
- ♪ How you doing? - ♪ Blessed
- ♪ Blessed
- ♪ How you living? - ♪ Blessed
♪ How you feeling? How you moving? ♪ - Blessed ♪
- ♪ Blessed - ♪ Blessed
♪ Just one thing I need to tell you ♪
♪ The God that I know won't fail you ♪
♪ Thought I could do it on my own ♪
♪ But I was so wrong
- ♪ Made me - ♪ Right when I went left
♪ Carried the load so I could rest... ♪
I'm not going the hockey puck out there.
[music and cheering continues]
My arrangement is classic. We don't have to do that trash.
[Jess groans]
[chuckles]
You guys, Miss Lucy's in the front row.
She loves everything I do.
Great, Only Fan is here.
- She doesn't count, Melissa. - Listen up.
My dad has invested way too much money
into this group for us to bail the first year of competition.
We're gonna go out there and show them what we are all about.
Some things are best left a mystery.
Ma'am, these fits
look like we're about to unveil the new iPad.
You ungrateful...
We're doing it.
- What? - We're doing it.
- ♪ Blessed, blessed, blessed - ♪ Blessed, blessed
- ♪ Blessed, so blessed - ♪ Blessed
♪ If you ever need a healer
♪ Call on God, there ain't none realer ♪
♪ If you're weak, he'll make you strong ♪
♪ There's no fight that he ain't won... ♪
[PG sighs]
I-I-I'm sorry. Excuse me, brother.
This is for the pastors only.
Bishop Headley, I'm--
Man, it is an honor to meet you.
Of course it is. [chuckles]
Um, James Goodman. This is my wife Natalie. -Sister, sister.
They-they call me PG.
I... I am a pastor.
Really?
Thought I knew all the preachers in this city.
[chuckles]
With those tattoos.
[chuckles]
Man, I tell you, uh, I-I didn't ever think
I was gonna be a pastor,
so I put my whole life story on the outside.
[chuckles] But thank God, his grace
able to cover up some of them chapters.
Know what I mean?
Yeah, his grace.
♪ I won't be defeated
- ♪ Oh, Lord - ♪ Blessed, blessed
- ♪ Yeah, I'm blessed - ♪ Blessed, blessed
- ♪ I'm blessed, whoo! - ♪ Blessed, blessed
♪ Blessed.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, welcome to the competition, children.
These outfits are giving.
So when does the new iPhone drop?
[laughter]
Move.
Big Love, what are we gonna do?
Jess, I been praying all night.
God gonna come through.
You can kind of rap, right?
I mean, I rap. I-I be rapping. I be rapping. I be rapping.
Okay. So if it all goes bad and the crowd turns on us,
just go for it. I'll back you up.
God willing. [chuckles]
♪ Father
♪ I stretch my hands to thee
[sighs]
- ♪ No other help - Okay, okay.
- We got this. - All right, all right.
♪ I know
MAN: Lord, have mercy.
- ♪ My Lord - [yawns]
[off-key]: ♪ My Lord
- WOMAN: What? - WOMAN 2: Is that a note?
[booing]
Ooh, that was the wrong note, chile.
[shouting in tongues]
♪ 'Cause you're the only power
- Oh! My people, my people! - ♪ That can save...
Whoo! Don't God make you feel so good? -[music stops]
He make me feel so good!
- What is he doing? - Can I get a "amen"
- in the church right now, baby? - WOMAN: Amen!
- CROWD: Amen! - PG and NATALIE: Amen.
- Amen! - [rapping]: ♪ He make me wanna
♪ Spread love to the new guy, uh ♪
♪ I used to question each day, but I knew why, ay ♪
Oh.
♪ God make me feel comfortable
♪ Mm, he make me wanna
♪ Help the people, I'm-a do right, uh ♪
♪ He make me wanna grab
- ♪ A fat ol' juicy, whoo! - [crowd groans, murmurs]
♪ You know the kind, double back, rewind ♪
♪ See that booty from behind, thank Jesus ♪
♪ I gotta smash, I gotta smash
♪ As I puff, puff, pass the grass... ♪
[muttering]: Get off the stage. Get off the stage.
♪ Damn, you blessed her with that ass ♪
- ♪ With that ass, whoo! - [music stops]
[booing]
Thank you, thank you. [clears throat]
[booing continues]
[off-key]: ♪ We fall down
All the way to hell. Bless you. [chuckles]
♪ But we get up
- ♪ We fall down - [booing continues]
♪ But we get up
- Stay down. Stay... stay down. - [chuckling]
♪ For a saint is
- ♪ Just a sinner - WOMAN: Go home!
- WOMAN 2: Who are you? - MAN: No! Stop singing!
- MAN 2: Ugh, it's the worst. - [weakly]: Who fell down.
- ♪ Down - [feedback buzzes]
[crowd gasps]
Don't get back up. Uh-uh. In Jesus' name. -[laughs]
I think Satan wanted you back, baby.
- [laughing] - Mm.
[crowd booing]
♪ And got up.
[booing continues]
MAN: Next team, please.
Sam?
Sam!
Look, I don't know if you think that you're driving me crazy
by not speaking to me all the way from L.A., but I'm good.
I'm doing the right thing by bringing you here.
You think your mother was the only one
who believed in you, but that's not true.
I'm your father.
I love you, and I want what's best for you,
even if it might not feel like...
SAM [over speakers]: ♪ Wish I had as many dollars
- ♪ As I got haters - [R instrumental playing]
♪ I'd add 'em all up
- [chuckles] - ♪ Calculator
♪ So when you see me...
Is that supposed to send me some kind of message, huh?
- [humming along] - ♪ Keep that same energy
♪ It makes me greater, watch me... ♪
Fine. You want me to drive you to your aunt and uncle's house
or take you directly to jail?
'Cause that's where you're headed in L.A.!
♪ I'm in my bag
♪ When you see me glow up, don't be mad ♪
♪ Watch me while I do this
[Sam sighs]
♪ Catch up 'cause I move quick
♪ Gone and take this "L," I'm in my bag ♪
♪ When you see me glow up, don't be mad ♪
♪ I am the blueprint
♪ Didn't you know I do this...
- [car door closes] - [song fades]
[sighs]
[chuckling]: Sam. Hey, baby.
- Oh. Oh. How are you? - Hey.
It's good to see you. It's been a while. -Thanks.
You, too, Larry. Thanks for doing this.
That's what family's for, right? -Mm-hmm.
- [whispers]: Yeah. - Just like my baby sister.
[laughter]
Hey. [chuckles]
[Sam chuckling outside]
[gasps] This is the best day of my life.
Everything's going to change.
My sister-cousin is here.
[squeals, exhales]
JESS [squeals]: Sam!
- [Liz and Jess chuckle] - [whispers]: Oh, boy.
Oh, my gosh. How was your drive?
[gasps] I love your style.
Where'd you get your jacket from?
- Is it vintage? - Hmm?
[gasps] It's happening. [chuckles] -What's happening?
Us. I've always wanted a sister, and here you are.
[sighs] Well, we're cousins, Jess.
Cousins, sisters. It's the South.
It doesn't even matter.
[gasps] Your boobs look amazing.
I'm a "C" now. What size are you?
I'm a "B."
Really? [gasps]
- They look like a "C." - Really?
[whispers]: It's the push-up.
I got to get one of those.
Are you going to Spelman? You applied, right?
Let's get this inside, ladies.
[Jess squeals]
I keep asking myself: What would her mother do about all this?
- I miss her. - Yeah, me, too.
It's been a year since she passed.
But, you know, you did the right thing getting Sam out of L.A.
But I can see she's a little tense about being here, too.
[scoffs]
But don't worry. I'm a psychologist.
It's what I do.
- Let a pro handle it. - [pats shoulder]
Careful with my floors. Just had 'em waxed.
[strained grunt]
[sighs] Okay.
Sam, why don't we discuss why you're here.
I would love to, Uncle Larry.
- I really would. - [sets sunglasses on table]
My dad right here thought it'd be a good idea
to kick me out of the house and drop me off in the middle
- of this backwards-ass... - [gasps]
Please forgive me, Auntie. The South.
- It's my life. - Oh, let's talk about her life.
Let's talk about it.
She told me that she wanted to take a gap year.
Now, do you know what that is?
'Cause I damn sure didn't know.
It's a year where you don't do shit.
SAM: Oh, here we go again.
I was working on my music. I was being productive. -Oh, no.
Promised me that she'd apply to colleges.
Showed me filled-out applications.
She never turned them in.
The devil's in the details.
Oh, yeah, and then she got arrested.
- It was a misdemeanor. - Oh, was it?
How many times do I have to tell you André is my music producer?
Oh, so the studio got raided for what, songs?
What, do you think that I'm stupid?
Yes, I do. It's written right there.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey. Time-out. - [arguing]
- Right there. - You better watch your mouth.
Hey, hey, hey. Time-out, time-out.
Why don't we just focus on the positive here, all right?
There's no positive here.
- We've come up with a plan. - LIZ: Mm-hmm.
- You want to tell them, baby? - Yeah, babe.
Right, so you know I work at Georgia State.
Well, I called in a few favors,
and they're willing to admit you in the spring.
- [chuckles] - [Larry and Liz chuckle]
- Oh, my goodness, really? - Yes.
I'm not going.
Well, [sighs] Sam, just think about it.
You'd be near Jess at Spelman.
Maybe you two could even get an apartment together.
Oh, no.
Jess could finally move out.
Put some of her masterpieces on her own walls.
Painting is how I process grief
from my beloved departed cat Cheddar.
Look, you are grown.
And I can't force you to stay.
Plus, I know you.
You gonna get your money up and do what you want to anyway.
But I'm telling you, L.A. is not for you right now, Sam.
Guess what.
You're not for me either.
Yeah.
- Sam, listen-- Sam. - Goodbye.
Whatever.
Um, where's my room?
It's upstairs. I'll show you. [chuckles]
I don't know why I did that.
Just go.
JESS: Sam, wait.
Welcome, welcome, sister-cousin.
This is my room,
but I want you to think of it as one communal safe space.
Oh.
[chuckles]
And the best part is we are connected.
[giggles]
Think of this as a canal,
giving birth to our cousin-sisterhood.
You play drums?
I'm sort of a multitalented artist.
Drums aren't really my strength.
So, this is your room.
[giggles]
I put out some fresh flowers.
And there's a picture of me and you with your mom
when we were kids. Remember?
[frustrated groan, muffled shout]
Oh.
- Okay, I guess you're tired. - [muffled grunt]
Okay, so I'll just go.
[groans]
[sighs]
[birds chirping]
Good morning!
I made you coffee.
[groans]
How many cups have you had?
One.
You know what? Three.
I'm getting better about my coffee shame. [chuckles]
So...
I unpacked your stuff.
And I organized all your clothes.
And all of your notebooks are on the table now, see? [giggles]
You are such a good writer.
You read my stuff?
Well, your notebooks were, like, right there
- after I unzipped your bags. - Huh?
So is that, like, songs or do you write poetry or--
It's so beautiful.
Hmm, thanks. I'm a singer.
I write my own stuff.
You know I sing, right?
- No, I didn't know that, Jess. - Three, two, one.
[off-key]: ♪ Un-break my heart
♪ Say you'll love me again
Are we really doing this right now?
- ♪ Un-cry these tears - Jess.
- ♪ I cried so many ni... - [dog howling outside]
[clears throat] Oh.
That's just a little snack.
You'll get a full meal at church today.
I'm on the praise team.
I don't do church.
- [grunts] - Sam.
Emotional support blanket.
[chuckles]
I get it.
Mom and Dad asked me to leave the room
when Uncle Darius called about you moving here,
so I left and listened from the hall.
You've done some thangs, huh? [chuckles]
Your testimony gonna be the GOAT, girl.
- Wait, what are you doing? - I'm going back to sleep, Jess.
- But it's Sunday. - And?
This is Atlanta.
Sunday means church.
Well, God hasn't been taking my requests,
so Sunday means nothing.
He's God, not Santa Claus.
Whatever.
- We're going to church. - Who you think you talking to?
- You. - Me?
"No weapon formed against me shall prosper."
- What weapon? - We are going to church.
- Now. - I don't have church clothes.
JESS: You can borrow some of mine.
LIZ: Here you go.
Auntie Liz, no, no, no, no, no.
Avocado toast is avocado and toast. No gravy.
That just don't seem right.
Let's go. We're late.
LARRY: You're not riding with us?
Gonna take Sam the scenic route.
Get her excited about living in the A.
- Oh. - [squeals]
Good morning, baby.
LIZ: Mm, morning.
Your dad said you're not answering his calls.
[scoffs] I have nothing to say to that man.
[car horn honking "Hallelujah" chorus]
Does it ever stop?
LIZ and LARRY: No.
Is that for me?
[music playing quietly over radio]
Is there a concert?
That's church.
Okay. [inhales sharply]
This is promising.
Whoo!
Where are you going?
Oh, that's Champion Life.
That's not our church. [scoffs] Girl, please.
[sighs] -RADIO DJ: Okay, okay, this next song
just went platinum, from Atlanta's own TY.
Ay, and, brother, hit me with an invitation to that party.
This is "Can't Help It."
- [rap music playing] - [singing along]: ♪ There was
♪ A time back when I wasn't doing this ♪
♪ I took a moment, realized I couldn't miss ♪
♪ Red bottoms to let you know I'm with the shits ♪
♪ They talking while we're just out here getting rich ♪
[both singing along]: ♪ Yeah, yeah, and the way I rock ♪
♪ You mortified
♪ Look in my eyes
♪ Ooh
♪ Ooh, I get avocado like I'm Rio, bitch, I'm guaping ♪
♪ Seven black Cadillacs at the light, we are not stopping ♪
♪ Yeah, you got a cute little story, but, man, the plot thin ♪
♪ Gave 'em a piece of my heart, call me Janis Joplin ♪
♪ Yeah, I feel it, though
♪ Y'all think that it's fun, but the realest don't ♪
♪ Man, I see the snakes hissing, [hisses] huh ♪
♪ When you cut the check, this what you seal it for ♪
♪ Man, how the hell I do it and how do y'all condone it? ♪
♪ Performance like a new lease and y'all don't really own it ♪
♪ The guy with the same story like shit don't get him going ♪
♪ In Atlanta now and the whole city know him ♪
♪ And I can hear 'em from the background ♪
♪ He from Atlanta, but, baby girl, this where he at now ♪
Ay! [chuckles] -♪ Enter the studio, it's a pat down... ♪
[song stops]
Jess, come on! That was the best part.
- We're in the zone. - What zone? Hmm?
There's a "no trap" rule five blocks out from church.
You don't think God heard it two blocks back?
I don't make the rules.
[sighs] TY's the only thing Atlanta has going for it.
You know I'm pulling up to his house, right?
[chuckles] Larry ain't letting you go to TY's house.
And that's on God.
Girl, I am grown.
Ain't nobody gonna be telling me what to do,
not even Uncle Larry.
Hmm.
♪
[sighs] -SAM: I thought we were going to church.
This is it.
It used to be a warehouse for an old oil factory,
- but it's our church now. - Hmm.
Look at us, twinsies.
Oh, let's just take this little thot knot out.
Oh, okay.
Body positivity. Love to see it.
You belong here.
- [lively chatter] - [rap music playing quietly]
So, this is our congregation.
Kind of small but mighty, as you can tell.
They look fun.
Oh, yes. That's the Party-Pulpit.
- SAM: Ah. - At the club on Saturday,
then turn up to church on Sunday to get right with the Lord.
[chuckles] It smells like D'USSEÉ and Black Milds over there.
Yeah. And who are they?
JESS: Our pastor, PG, lets them skate here
when we're not in service.
[gasps] And that's Jermaine. He's a fire starter.
Oh, so he be getting turnt, huh?
Yes, and also he sets things on fire and burns them down.
That was until PG stopped him.
Hey, PG.
Hey.
I am starting to feel the spirit.
Hmm.
And who's that?
JESS: Oh, that's Aaron.
He used to be a big, you know,
[whispers]: marijuana cigarette dealer here in Atlanta.
- Really? - Then he suddenly
and mysteriously stopped and gave his life to the Lord.
I'd leave that one alone.
Melissa, the daughter of our big donor,
swears he's her soulmate.
I'm not one to gossip,
but she only came to this church following him.
I don't know what he put on her,
but they call him Big Love in the streets.
Big Love, huh?
- JESS: Mm-hmm. - Hmm.
[gasps] That's her.
Hey, sis. God bless. [chuckles]
Hey, everyone.
This is my cousin-sister Sam.
She's from L.A., staying with me now.
Sam, this is Jackie and Jermaine.
BOTH: Hi, Sam. Nice to meet you.
[quietly]: The twins are oddly close,
- but they have a sixth sense. - Hmm.
And that's KiKi.
KiKi! My cousin-sister Sam.
Okay, dang, Jess, calm down.
Hey, Sam.
- Hey, KiKi. [chuckles] - [chuckles]
- What's up, Sam? - Hmm.
Welcome to our church. Welcome to Atlanta.
- It's nice to meet you. - [chuckles]
I'm Melissa, captain of the praise team.
- It's nice to meet you. - [chuckles]
So, uh, what's it like?
Praise team?
Come and find out.
Maybe I will.
Let's go.
Nice to meet you, Sam. Have a seat. Have several.
- Okay. - I know that b...
Don't worry about her. Just come and sit down.
Oh, I'm-a have a seat all right.
- If you love the Lord, say amen. - CONGREGATION: Amen. -[applause]
Can we make a joyful noise in here, please?
- [cheering] - Yes.
Presence of the Lord is here today. Amen?
- Amen. Yes. - WOMAN: Amen.
MAN: Amen.
PG: In a moment, we'll have a-a number from our praise team,
but we're excited.
Slap your neighbor and tell them you're excited.
CONGREGANTS: I'm excited.
[whispers]: I'm excited.
PG: We are excited...
- I'm excited. Okay. Oh. - [muttering]
PG: ...'cause our praise team is going to be performing
and competing at the national championships again this year.
[scattered applause]
[chuckles] You guys must've thought I lost faith
after what happened last year.
Not gonna lie.
I was shook.
But we're going back.
We have to.
We can't let fear have the victory.
[congregants murmuring in agreement]
Just no cussing or big ol' juicy metaphors, Aaron.
[clicks tongue] Won't do it.
And, Jess...
just try to stay conscious.
[chuckles softly]
Thank you, Pastor.
As team captain, I am excited to lead
and confident that God is going to anoint my arrangements...
[laughs mockingly]
Mm. [scoffs]
...and will bless us with victory.
Mm-hmm. Go ahead, girl.
[gospel music playing]
♪ What a fellowship
♪ What a joy divine
♪ Leaning on the everlasting arms ♪
♪ Oh, how bright the path
♪ Grows from day to day
♪ Leaning on the everlasting arms ♪
♪ Leaning
♪ Oh, I'm leaning
- ♪ Leaning - ♪ Leaning
- ♪ Safe and secure - ♪ Safe, secure
♪ From all alarms...
Sam, it was really great seeing you up there
with the praise team today. Right? -Yeah. Yeah, it was.
- Really? - Mm-hmm. -Yeah.
'Cause it wasn't that great being up there.
And that pastor, is he insane
to think that team is gonna take home anything?
[scoffs] I mean, I'm no prophet, but I can see the future,
and ain't no winning coming from that shitty building.
Well, I wouldn't be so sure.
You know, God works in some really shitty places.
You know, his son was actually born in a barn.
Yeah, that is pretty shitty. Them cows stank.
Um, Pastor Goodman, this is our niece Sam.
She's staying with us now.
- Sam, welcome. - Thank you.
And believe me, everything is possible, okay?
For every giant, there's a stone.
Hmm, amen.
- Hey, babe. - Uh, I-I should, I should go.
- The-the boss is calling me. - Ah.
- Good seeing you, Pastor. Yeah. - Sir. You as well. You as well.
Hope to see you around.
All right, we better head out.
We'll see you ladies at the house.
Sam, we got to run that again.
[chuckles] Not even if Jesus was on bass.
[sighs] We'll see. We'll see.
Hey, remember, Big Love got you.
BOTH: Bye, Big Love.
- The way he said, "I got you." - Mm-hmm.
Yeah, there's something there.
Oh, definitely the Holy Spirit.
No, Jess.
No? Oh.
Mm.
- LIZ: Ready for it? - LARRY: Oh, I am ready.
- LIZ: It's coming your way. - Okay.
- LIZ: Mmm. - [R music playing quietly]
LARRY: Keep it coming. Keep it coming.
- There she is. - [Liz laughs]
- Oh, that's so soft. - Oh, that's beautiful.
Look at that. Yeah?
Oh, baby, you're so good at that.
- [phone chimes] - LARRY: Ah, you know,
- I'm good at a lot of things. - Yeah, you are.
You're a popular girl tonight.
Mm.
I'm sorry. Um, it's a group text,
uh, about our praise team practice tonight.
Oh. I thought you didn't like singing with the team.
Oh, I actually-- I really do.
Yeah, it was, uh, something-- what's his name, PJ-- uh, PG--
PG. It was something he said to me.
It really changed me, you know? Like, deep, deep inside.
Oh, that's wonderful, Sam.
I know. [chuckles]
Jess, you didn't mention you had praise team practice tonight.
I, uh... [chuckles]
I've just been so busy with Sam
and getting her settled and stuff. -Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. And, Sam, you need to give
your dad a call back and let him know Atlanta's working out.
Yes, yes. It really is.
It really is.
[chuckles]
And speaking of working out, come here, baby. -Mm-hmm.
LIZ: Praise team practice.
LARRY: Mm-hmm.
- [chuckles] - You can imagine
what I'm gonna do to you.
- Y'all still here? - Oh, we're going.
[rap music playing quietly]
SAM: Okay, we're about to go up in there, about to do this.
I'm about to meet him. It's about to be great.
Lord, forgive me for what I'm about to do.
Jess, calm down. What do you think's gonna happen in there?
Look, things might get crazy tonight.
I am wonderfully and beautifully made.
And I didn't say that. The Book of Psalms did.
[chuckles] You know what I mean?
- No, I don't know what you mean. - You know what I mean.
Jess, just pull up and let me talk.
- Damn. - You know what I mean.
SAM: Jess, I don't know what you mean.
Stop talking with your little cat dress
and move forward, okay?
Hi.
- [chuckles] - Y'all from the club?
Yeah, uh, Juan told us to pull through.
Who's Juan?
Who your homegirl?
- [rap music playing over stereo] - SHANICE: Hey, yo.
- What's up, daddy? - What up?
[Shanice chuckles]
- Hey, Shanice. - What?
Oh, yeah, yeah, they're with us.
Mm-hmm. Look at God.
Mm, don't be weird.
There could be a room full of baddies.
You still gonna be a weirdo.
- [lively chatter] - [rap music playing]
[Jess gasps]
- SAM: Oh, my gosh. - [Jess squeals]
We did it. We pulled it off. This is it, girl.
- JESS: Wait. - Oh, my gosh.
[gasping excitedly]
It's him.
[both chattering excitedly, squealing]
[both laughing]
Okay. Oh, okay.
[rap music playing]
[elevator bell dings]
[Jess gasps]
Oh, my gosh.
Jess, welcome to my home.
Yes!
- Song of the Year-- I wrote it. - Yeah!
Featured Artist-- that's me. That's Featured...
Album of the Year-- that's mine. -Yes!
- Best Songwriter. - Yes, girl.
Yes, it's mine. [gasps]
Oh, my God.
[squealing]
Jess! [gasps]
[Sam clears throat]
Okay. [sighs]
First and foremost, I'd like to thank my fans
for helping me sell millions
and millions and millions of records.
- Yeah! - We did it.
- Yes, girl. - This one's for you.
Next, I would like to thank my cousin Jess...
- [gasps] - ...for being my ride or die
when I was at my brokest in Atlanta.
[chuckles] Giving God the glory is the center of my life.
When my dad forced me to go out there,
and I didn't want to go out there,
but he made me go out there against my free will,
- and here I am, but look at me. - Oh. Shh.
That's family business. We outside.
[sighs] And last but not least, this one's for you, Mom.
I love you and I miss you every day.
- [sighs, chuckles] - [rap instrumental playing]
TY: Run it back.
[rap instrumental continues]
Sam?
[indistinct muffled chatter]
TY: ♪ Yeah, yeah
♪ I'm out on 70...
We got this. [chuckles]
- Hi. Good to see you again. - Oh, my God.
- Shh. We in a session. - I'm the girl from the car.
- Jess. Jess. - We in a session. Be quiet.
- Good to see you. [shushes] - Go.
TY: ♪ I got it, I'm out on 70...
Hi. Oh, one chain.
Two chains.
All the chains. [chuckles]
It's like 2 Chainz but ten chains.
TY: Hey, hold on.
I can't catch it.
[whispering]: Oh, God, he sees us.
I'm pregnant.
All right, bet. Let's run it.
Jess, you can leave now.
Oh, I would, but I can't go home without you. [chuckles]
We're supposed to be at praise team practice, remember?
Girl, you better get on. I got it from here. -[roars]
[rap instrumental continues]
Girl, what the hell?
- [lively chatter] - [rap music playing]
- SAM: Cheers. - JESS: Cheers.
All right, let's do it.
Mmm. Ooh.
Wow.
The rhythm is, like, getting inside me or something.
It's like I'm becoming a woman.
- Hmm? Jess. - [exhales]
Jess, no.
♪ I'm the one like 11 with spaces... ♪
SAM: Ugh. No. Jess.
[grunting rhythmically]
[man whoops]
Come on!
- You're hooked. - Ooh. No.
Come on. Come on.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
♪ Who walking in with the substance? ♪
♪ Smoking on muffins
♪ Brodie came through with reluctance ♪
♪ Party got justice
♪ I'm-a go dumb on productions, taking abundance... ♪
No, no, no. No, no, no, no. Like this.
Like that.
Oh. Or like...
No, no.
Damn.
♪ That's how I'm-a deal with the pressure ♪
♪ Turn off the lights with maybes and mights ♪
♪ Tonight, we ain't doing lesser ♪
♪ I'm what they call a progressive ♪
- ♪ Yeah - ♪ Yeah
♪ Everybody been pushing the patience ♪
♪ On some you gon' be dead in the face shit ♪
♪ Let me teach you a lesson of greatness ♪
♪ Ah, yeah, spaceship, spaceship, up ♪
♪ Something but never the latest ♪
♪ Women love me, I'm petty and gracious... ♪
Hi. [chuckles]
[man grunts, coughs]
♪ Who walking in with the substance? ♪
♪ Smoking on muffins
♪ Brodie came through with reluctance ♪
♪ Party got justice
♪ I'm-a go dumb on productions... ♪
- [song fades] - ["Can't Help It" playing]
- Uh-huh. - Yes, sir.
- [excited chatter] - TY: What we doing?
Let's get it. We going up.
Platinum way.
♪ I get avocado like I'm Rio, bitch, I'm guaping ♪
♪ Seven black Cadillacs at the light, no, we not stopping ♪
♪ Yeah, you got a cute little story, we know the plot thin ♪
♪ Gave 'em a piece of my heart, call me Janis Joplin ♪
[singing along]: ♪ Do you feel me, though?
♪ You might think it's fun, but the real don't, mm ♪
♪ I see the snakes hissing
♪ Guess when you cut the check, this is what you seal it for ♪
♪ How the hell I do it
♪ And how do y'all condone it?
♪ Performance like a new lease... ♪
♪ And you don't really own it
♪ In Atlanta now...
♪ Oh, don't really know
♪ And I can hear 'em from the background ♪
♪ He from Atlanta, but, baby boy, this where he at now. ♪
- [excited chatter] - [song continues]
What you doing singing my song?
You know you like it.
I do.
Your voice is nice.
Thank you.
Why don't you come down to the studio?
We'll mess around.
- I will. - Hey. Police coming.
- 12! 12! - [people clamoring, music stops]
OFFICER TROY: All right, time to go, everybody!
We got to shut this down!
All right, all right.
Time to go home.
Party's over.
- We got to shut this down. - Jess. Jess.
Disturbing the peace call came over the radio.
Come on, man, you gonna shut down my platinum party?
You live in this old bougie neighborhood, young money.
[people murmuring]
Jess?
Jessica, I see you.
Come on. I'm gonna make sure you get home tonight.
Okay, Officer Troy,
I know it looks like I'm out here in these streets,
but really I'm out here on these highway and byways
doing the Lord's work.
I mean, I just saved two souls at the bar.
- Mm-hmm. - [sighs]
He caught us.
- Don't tell my dad. - Let's go.
[whimpers]
Uh, you, too, sparkles.
Hey, that's the singer's jacket or the weirdo?
Think it's the one with the voice.
Hey, appreciate it, Troy.
Thursday's session is on me, all right? -Cool.
I'm ready to feel all my feelings, man.
Hey, they're all valid.
- Be safe out there, all right? - All right.
- Be safe out there, Mr. Troy. - [door closes]
This all could have gone really bad if Troy wasn't there.
Maybe it was just God's plan, Mom. [chuckles]
[chuckles] It's just a raid. It's happened before.
- My misdemeanor, hello. - Shh. Not helping.
Okay.
You know how we feel about lying.
Yeah, we don't do that in this house.
True. But, you know, punishment is for the Lord.
Okay, that's Bible.
So maybe we should just let him handle it.
I mean, who amongst us has not sinned?
Everybody done sinned. Even I know that.
- Can I get a amen? - [chuckles]
BOTH: Amen. [laughing]
[chuckles] That's not funny.
See, we don't want any problems.
Neither do we.
Well, your actions speak otherwise.
LARRY: Since you lied about joining the praise team,
why don't we make it the truth, huh? -Mm.
- That was good, right? - That's good, babe.
That's some creative parenting right there.
What does that mean?
It means you're joining the praise team.
[laughing]
I don't think I understand.
I think you do.
I don't even know any gospel songs!
♪ Well, you better learn some.
- [laughs] - Hit that note, baby.
At least now you get to join the praise team...
Jess.
- But we get to be together. - Stop, stop, stop.
- Together forever. - Now is n-- Now is not the time.
Zip it.
AARON: Have you seen Sam?
I'm looking for her.
She said she'd never join our team. -I'm right here.
MELISSA: Gather around, children.
Here is my arrangement of "Break Every Chain."
It's top secret for local competition,
- so guard it with your life. - Damn.
KiKi, I just said it was top secret.
No posting.
Oh, Sam could help.
- She writes songs. - I could. It's easy.
How about you learn an actual gospel song first?
Let's take it from the top.
[playing gentle music]
[exhales slowly]
♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
♪ To break every chain
♪ Break every chain, break every chain ♪
♪ To break every chain
- ♪ Chain, chain - ♪ Break every chain
- ♪ Chain
MELISSA: KiKi, stop.
- You're doing too much. - ♪ There is pow...
I'm just trying to add some life up in here.
There's a lot of bondage with all the chains.
SAM: Yeah, the chorus is the strongest part of the song.
If we lose the rest and tie up the loose ends,
it could be really special.
Wait, lose the rest? Of a classic?
Where they do that at? Not here.
- It could be dope. - Fall back, KiKi.
Everyone knows you stay in the club.
- Wow. - Now...
every team has their lane.
And our lane is real church music.
Everyone remember what happened last year
when we tried to switch lanes?
Jess crashed her face.
But there's an anointing on my two front veneers. [chuckles]
- You didn't even know. - AARON: True.
SAM: Oh, wow. They look really real. -Personal space.
Nah, that was a dope face-plant, though.
Shut up. Take it from the top.
[piano playing gentle music]
I work later if y'all wanted to stop by the Painted Duck
and grab some food.
- I'm in. - [Aaron sighs]
What's a Painted Duck?
- [lively chatter, cheering] - [upbeat music playing]
DJ [over P.A.]: Ladies, you're looking good tonight
in the Painted Duck.
Ay, we're gonna get this lit,
'cause this is Atlanta's favorite place to be,
and I got the hits, y'all.
Wait, who that with that tight shirt on?
Boy, put on a bra.
Oh, I know who that is! Hey!
Hey, church boy. Hey, church boy.
What? What's up, man?
Oh, hey, I know you, now. Hey.
You can change your hair, but you can't change your past.
That was-- That's the old me, man. That's the old me.
DJ: How about, everybody,
y'all just cover y'all ears,
because this song right here is for the sinners.
It's about whatever we say it's about.
So, what that supposed to mean?
It means my cousin can flip any song you got for the Lord.
- Can you? - No.
So, I guess your cousin can turn water into wine, too.
If so, my red cup is running low of Henny.
Fine. Play whatever.
O-Okay, okay. Let me see what you got.
Hey, hey, hypocrite, come get this mic right quick.
Where you at? Hey, you got to tighten up your bra.
Hey, shut up, man. There's hoes in here.
I'm just letting you know I know...
I could freestyle, but I don't know anything
about the Bible past Sunday school with Mom.
Come on, Jess. You know this.
Just make it rhyme with "Jesus Christ," and you'll be fine.
No! No!
DJ: Okay, baby girl, let me see.
This what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna apply that pressure.
["Pressure" by Ari Lennox playing]
- [excited chatter] - ♪ Pressure
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
- ♪ Y'all know what this is - ♪ Said you better
♪ Keep your eyes on me, eyes on me ♪
- ♪ Apply that - ♪ Pressure
♪ Get it, don't be timid when you in it ♪
- ♪ Apply that - ♪ Pressure
♪ Love up on it, nibble...
- DJ: All right, all right, okay. - [music stops]
Now, you know how it go. Has you got it?
- SAM: Mm-hmm. - Okay.
["Pressure" instrumental playing]
♪ Pressure...
Oh. Yo, you-- Are you ready? It's your turn.
- Shit. -Whoa. - [music stops]
Church girl got a potty mouth, eh?
- [laughter] - Run it back.
Oh. Oh, one more time. Okay, yeah.
'Cause, you know, they don't let you in heaven that many times.
I'm letting you know. Let's go.
["Pressure" instrumental playing] -[Sam vocalizing]
- ♪ Pressure - Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
- ♪ Mm, yeah, yeah - ♪ Pressure
- ♪ Y'all know what this is - ♪ Said you better
♪ Give it to him, let him do it ♪
♪ Ain't no pressure
♪ Anything you might be going through ♪
♪ Don't let it press ya
♪ Pray on it, stay on it, ain't no pressure ♪
♪ God'll make a way
♪ And on the way if you believe it ♪
- [cheering] - ♪ So if God is for you
♪ Then why you even stressing?
♪ It's already yours, so won't you go and get your blessing ♪
♪ Eyes to the heavens
♪ You don't need to doubt
♪ With God on your side, you will never go without ♪
- ♪ Said you better - ♪ If God can make the trees
- ♪ Grow strong from a seed - AARON: I told you.
♪ He can do anything
♪ Having you praise him and thank him ♪
- ♪ And live in his love, ay. - [cheering]
DJ [chuckles]: Yeah, yeah. Okay, hey, okay. -[music stops]
That's enough, that's enough. Yeah, okay.
Calm down, calm down, calm down. Okay.
Uh, where you say you're from?
- I'm from L.A. - L.A.?
Yo, but this is Atlanta where it get dirty.
Yeah.
["Emotionally Scarred" by Lil Baby playing]
[cheering] -♪ A love letter came through the mail ♪
♪ It said, "I miss you," I ripped it up ♪
♪ And flushed with the tissue, try to forget you ♪
♪ I ain't got nothing against you, we human ♪
♪ We all got issues, but I'm tired ♪
[crowd singing along]: ♪ Of being tired of being tired ♪
♪ That part of me done died...
- [music stops] - [cheering, excited chatter]
All right, let's go, baby.
[exhales sharply]
["Emotionally Scarred" instrumental playing]
[vocalizes]
[crowd murmuring]
♪ I know the Lord can see my potential, I been working ♪
♪ I told him it's been up since I met you, pull the curtain ♪
♪ You always give the word I'm deserving, that's for certain ♪
♪ I was tired of being tired of being tired, yeah ♪
♪ You walk with me every day and you help me in every way ♪
♪ I'll meet you at heaven's gate ♪
♪ But for now I'm-a levitate
♪ I live by the Bible 'cause that's the way that I medicate ♪
♪ You know that I'm learning
♪ You said it's okay, at any rate, uh ♪
- Go, cousin! - [cheering continues]
♪ Sometimes I get down
♪ I get down and you know that
♪ I keep my hands up to God 'cause I'm in need right now ♪
♪ I need you, God
[crowd singing along]: ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh
[cheering]
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh.
- [music stops] - [cheering continues]
Okay, okay, okay. That's enough.
All right. Calm down, calm down, calm down.
Okay, that was Atlanta, but this Atlanta Atlanta,
'cause we know how to sang.
["Who Can I Run To" by Xscape playing]
[vocalizes]
[crowd exclaiming, laughing]
♪ As I stand here contemplating ♪
♪ On the right thing to decide
[crowd singing along]: ♪ Will I take the wrong direction ♪
♪ All my life?
- ♪ Where will I go? - [music stops]
Wh-- Yeah. Which way will you go? Huh?
Yeah. Home.
- That's where you going. - [laughter]
- Okay. Come on. - Are you ready? You got it?
- Come on. Come on. - Okay, let's run it.
Mm.
["Who Can I Run To" instrumental playing]
♪ Who can, who can I run to?
- [crowd exclaiming] - [vocalizes]
♪ Who can, who can I run to?
[crowd murmuring]
♪ I can't stop the tears from falling from my eyes ♪
♪ There's no one to run to
♪ Nowhere to go if I fall apart ♪
♪ Out here on my own
[woman whoops]
♪ And when the world's against me, yeah ♪
♪ There's no one I can trust
♪ And I'm struggling
♪ There's nowhere to lay down my burdens ♪
♪ And the weight is taking its toll on me ♪
♪ Will I ever heal my scars?
♪ 'Cause it's a feeling I can't escape ♪
♪ And I want to be strong
♪ But I am breaking
♪ How do I go within?
♪ When I need to heal these scars ♪
♪ Who will be there to rescue me? ♪
- ♪ Does anybody hear my cries? - [cheering]
♪ Tell me, how do I make it through? ♪
♪ I'm doing what I can to survive ♪
♪ 'Cause when I really need someone ♪
♪ Who am I gonna run to?
♪ I wanna find somewhere.
[crowd cheering loudly]
Okay, that's it.
- That's it. That's all you get. - DJ: Oh-oh. Okay.
Good job. God is good.
[cheering continues]
Whoo! Yeah, cousin!
I quit drinking.
That...
[sighs]
Yo, Sam. We should hang out after this.
I can give you a ride home.
Sure. [chuckles]
Just don't keep her out too late.
Or fornicate.
And what does that mean?
You know just what that means, Sam.
No. No. I don't think I do.
- Mm. - [moans]
- [gasps] - Bye.
[KiKi giggles]
[Jess grunts angrily]
- [bowling pins clattering] - [lively chatter]
You said come hang out, not help you work.
Friends help friends.
I don't have friends.
We'll see.
Sam, good job tonight.
Are you okay?
You seemed a little emotional singing out there.
Me? Nah.
I've rocked bigger rooms than that before.
But praise songs hit people's heart a little different.
You're the number one lady or something, right?
[chuckles] Yeah, you could say that.
- I'm the first lady. - Huh.
Well, let me let you in on a little secret.
I don't really have a relationship with God.
I just know how to rhyme. [clicks tongue]
Mm-hmm.
Well, obviously, God has a relationship with you.
- [chuckles] - [clicks tongue] Mm-hmm.
I don't think so.
God used fish, donkeys, even hoes to get his word across.
So don't think he won't use you, too.
That's Bible.
Let's go get 'em at locals.
[Aaron sighs]
What's-what's going on?
I think she just called me a ho.
Uh, I mean... Nah.
GROUP: ♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
♪ To break every chain
♪ Break every chain, break every chain ♪
♪ To break every chain
♪ Break every chain, break every chain. ♪
- Melissa? - What?
It's your solo.
Oh.
Don't worry about it. I got it.
["Together As One" by Erba Tom and Dawkins Nathaniel playing]
[lively chatter]
Top three winners move forward to regionals.
Yeah. -You get through regionals, you're invited to
the national championship, which is where record labels scout.
Okay. -So, first in the way, I'd say...
[gasps] the Promise Ringtones.
The Promise Ringtones are like if Beyoncé and Mary--
mother of Jesus Mary, not the one with the good knees--
met at a beauty shop, got their lives and edges together
and started a praise team.
Every time, worship slay.
What's the promise?
To not to have, you know...
[whispers]: ...S-E-X.
No sex?
They say it's the vow of celibacy
that gives them perfect pitch.
Mm-mm.
- KELLY: Jess! - [gasps]
- Hi. [chuckles] - Hi. -[Jess chuckles]
Thank you.
You are so brave to show your face when many think
your performance was so disgraceful last year.
That's kingdom-building courage.
And on behalf of myself and the Promise Ringtones,
we do not think you're going straight to hell,
as some people have said.
- Amen. - [Sam clears throat]
Amen.
[all chuckling]
- [gentle guitar music playing] - MAN: ♪ Turn the gospel up
♪ How to love
♪ A little louder...
Prodigal Bros. Look away.
♪ How to love
♪ What a mighty God we serve... ♪
I don't think I can.
- I know. - [hisses]
- ♪ We serve - ♪ Ay
JESS: Oh, God.
♪ Angels bow before him
♪ Heaven and Earth adore him... ♪
- [exhales deeply] - Can I get an amen?
Amen.
- ♪ We serve - ♪ Ay
♪ How to love
♪ What a mighty God
♪ We serve
- ♪ What a mighty God - ♪ Ay
- ♪ We serve - ♪ Ay
♪ Angels bow before him
♪ Heaven and Earth adore him... ♪
FALLON: Oil Factory?
What are you doing back at competition?
That's Fallon.
Champion Life paid her to join their praise team.
They've won nationals ever since.
[both chuckle]
[chuckles]
So, y'all really think God's gonna waste
a miracle on y'all this year?
[Jess chuckles]
Oh, no, thank you.
Drink it.
- SAM: Mm-mm. - Go on.
Mm.
[slurps]
[whispers]: Good God, it's delicious.
Would you like a complimentary bookmark?
It's laminated.
- Ew, no. - [laughing]
I made them myself.
I know she-- Mm.
Just let it go.
[gasps] Jess.
The iPad Bibles are true.
Would it have killed you to join this church?
[church bell tolling]
Now, as the reigning national champs,
we'd like to extend our gratitude
to the Grace Midtown Church
for hosting the local qualifiers again this year.
- [applause] - MAN: That's right.
- Let's get our praise on! - [crowd cheering]
♪ There's a fire burnin' down below ♪
- [banjo music playing] - ♪ For your sinnin' soul
♪ Sinnin' soul...
I rebuke the spirit of boredom in this atmosphere.
- ♪ Oh, your sinnin' soul - ♪ Oh, your sinnin' soul
♪ Clubbin', twerkin', hot in here ♪
♪ Well, in hell, you're gonna sear... ♪
- Ooh, if I had something, I'd... - Please don't throw too much,
'cause that water gonna make them pants shrink. More.
- [both laughing] - You can see his spirit already.
Yeah, could it be any tighter?
I see his disciples. [laughing]
♪ Your sinnin' soul
♪ Your sinnin' soul.
[light applause]
Hey, hey, hey.
- Here y'all are. - Hey.
I just wanted to give y'all a little encouragement
before y'all head out there.
I know it's not easy showing up after a loss.
But being here, getting ready to face these people again...
Yeah, they hate us.
But staring down your fear, that's the win. All right?
Well, we're definitely victorious
'cause we are terrified.
- [chuckles] - Stop. Stop.
You guys are good. You got it, all right?
- I love y'all. Come on. Come on. - We got this.
Oil Factory, up. Yes, sir.
That's right.
- Sam. - Hmm?
- You good? - Yeah, yeah. I'm good.
I'm just wondering, where's Melissa at?
Oil Factory, you're up after Champion Life.
- Pastor, you can't be back here. - Oh, okay.
Um, hey, go out there and kill.
Y'all know what I mean.
HOST: And now, the reigning champs.
They are about that life.
This is Champion Life!
[crowd cheering]
[vocalizing]
[gentle guitar music playing]
♪ Hey, oh
♪ I smile
♪ Even though I hurt, I see a smile ♪
♪ I know God is working, so I smile ♪
♪ Even though I been here for a while, I smile ♪
- ♪ Today's a new day - ♪ Oh, today is a new day
- PG: Is that Melissa? - ♪ There is no sunshine
♪ There is no sunshine...
I know this heifer didn't just switch teams.
Baby, baby, baby, baby. Th-That's not nice to say.
What can I say?
Everyone wants to be a Champion. [chuckles]
- ♪ Where are my blue skies? - ♪ Where is my blue skies?
♪ Where is the love and the joy that you promised me... ♪
Y'all, Melissa on Champion Life.
We know. We're looking right at it, KiKi.
Get off your phone for once!
♪ Power that I can't explain
♪ Fell from heaven like a shower, now ♪
[singing along]: ♪ I smile
♪ Even though I hurt, see, I smile ♪
♪ I know God is working, so I smile ♪
♪ I know my God is working
♪ Even though I've been here for a while ♪
♪ I smile, yeah
♪ Smile, it's so hard to look up when you've been down ♪
♪ Don't you look down
♪ Sure would hate to see you give up now ♪
♪ Ooh, don't you give up
♪ You look so much better when you smile ♪
- ♪ Oh, smile - ♪ So smile
- ♪ Oh, smile - ♪ Smile
♪ Even though I hurt, I see a smile ♪
♪ I know God is working, so I smile ♪
♪ Even though I've been here for a while, I smile ♪
♪ Smile
♪ Even though I hurt, I see a smile ♪ - Smile ♪
♪ I know God is working, so I smile ♪ - Smile... ♪
Ooh, Champion Life, honey.
They take it almost to the club.
- Bring you right up to the door. - [laughs]
You can smell the Henn.
- But they don't go in! - [laughs]
♪ I know God is working, so I smile ♪ - I smile ♪
♪ Even though I been here for a while, I smile. ♪
- [vocalizes] - [song ends]
[crowd cheering]
God is the champion! Amen!
Now, this next team is coming back to redeem themselves,
and that's okay, because our God is in the redemption business.
So I need everyone to give a round of applause
to the Oil Factory!
- Let's do it. Let's do it. - [scattered cheering]
- Oh, Lord. - Mm-mm.
- Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm. - Oh, girl, it's them again?
What are we gonna do?
The Oil Factory!
- Move. Come on, move. Go, go! - No, no, no, no, no, no.
- [chuckling nervously] - Get up there! Go!
Hi.
CORA: Ooh, and who is this new one looking like,
"I got a flat stomach
- and I ain't had no kids yet." - Mm.
- Chile, please. [chuckling] - [chuckling] Chile.
If you give me one match,
I can light this place up and we're out of here.
Please, no, not again, Jermaine.
- Chile... - Don't give him the mic, chile.
Girl, he gonna mess around and get a STD up on that floor.
And it ain't gonna be a sanctified transmission.
- I tell you. - [both laughing]
[gentle piano music playing]
Please, Lord, let it be great.
♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
♪ There is power
♪ In the name of Jesus
[laughs]
♪ To break every chain...
Why can't these little lambs get it together?
Yes, please do something! Don't let the devil win again!
- Jess, get on the drums. - ♪ Break every chain
Don't you need me to back you up vocally? -Go.
- ♪ Break every chain - Okay.
- [grunts] - ♪ Break every chain
AARON: What are you doing?
[playing rapid drumbeat]
- Oh! Okay. - [others whooping]
I like that, Jess.
Hold on, hold on, hold on. I like that. Keep doing that.
- Keep doing that. I like that. - Yeah.
[Sam grunting rhythmically]
♪ Yeah
♪ Break every chain, break every chain ♪
♪ Break every chain
AARON: Okay, okay, okay, okay, let's go. -♪ Uh
♪ Break every chain, break every chain ♪ -Let's go.
♪ Break every chain, come on, sing it, y'all ♪ -Let's go.
♪ Break every chain, break every chain ♪
♪ Break every chain
- ♪ Break every chain - ♪ Break
♪ Break every chain, break every chain ♪ -[vocalizes]
♪ There is power in the name of Jesus ♪
- ♪ Yeah, oh - Oh!
♪ Break every chain, break every chain, break every chain ♪
♪ There is power in the name of Jesus ♪
- ♪ Break every chain... - Melissa.
Did you know about this?
Hey! Hey!
- ♪ There's an army rising up - Hands up! Hands up! Hands up!
♪ There's an army of angels
- ♪ There's an army rising up - Oh, oh! Hands up!
- Hands up! - ♪ Our generation of change
♪ There's an army rising up
♪ Oh, the chains are breaking
♪ Break every chain, break every ♪
♪ Break every, break every chain ♪
- ♪ I hear the chains falling - ♪ Do you hear it? Oh
- ♪ Oh, they are falling - ♪ So we gonna break
♪ So we gonna break, so we gonna break ♪
♪ Every chain, every chain, every chain, every chain. ♪
- [song ends] - [crowd cheering]
- [lively gospel music playing] - AARON: Hey!
You don't have to wait until the battle is over!
- Hallelujah! - Yeah! That's it!
The Spirit got you!
Hey! All right, now!
AARON: You can shout right now!
Hey! Hallelujah!
[grunting]
[laughing wildly]
[grunting]
Whoo!
[shouts]
Hallelujah!
[lively gospel music continues]
[wild shouting continues]
[shouts]
[music ends]
And now, the moment we have all been waiting for.
Who will continue to the regional level
of the National Praise Team Competition?
And in third place:
the Oil Factory!
- [Jess shouts] - [crowd cheering]
Come on!
- [laughing] - Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
[Jess squeals]
We're number three! We're number three!
HOST: Now, coming in second place:
the Promise Ringtones!
[crowd cheering]
And now,
- in first place... - FALLON: Move. It's me.
...and they are still about that life,
make sure y'all give it up for the winners
of the local qualifiers:
Champion Life!
[crowd cheering]
Um, Samantha, is it?
It's Sam. Get it right.
Right.
A bit of Christian advice.
Stay in your prayer closet,
'cause regionals ain't gonna be so sweet. [scoffs]
[Sam scoffs]
So what happened to, "I don't do that trash"?
Now you're okay with twerking for the Lord?
And it ain't her first time.
You all thought you could do so good with Sam, right?
So I let you.
- And we did. - And we will continue to.
What do you want to do, KiKi?
Oh, baby, try Jesus.
Do not try me, 'cause you already know. -Oh.
Come get your blessing.
You traitor! -Melissa, what's up with you, though?
- Me? What's up with me? - Yeah, you.
- You! - Me?
You led me on.
Every time I slashed my tires
and waited by the side of the road, you picked me up.
- Wait, you did that? - Ugh! Move.
I can change a flat faster than you.
Loser.
[Melissa grunts]
AARON: Can't even get in that car.
KIKI: Them little legs. [laughs]
Good luck getting home!
Smile. [laughing]
[engine starts]
- Bye, then. - [KiKi groans]
KIKI: Y'all already know I ain't never like her.
SAM: Well, there goes that.
[rap instrumental playing]
Yo. Ol' girl here.
- Which girl? - One from the platinum party.
Oh, yeah. The one with the voice?
- Yeah. - Yeah, let her in.
[elevator bell dings]
[sighs] Okay.
Mm. Hey.
This beat is sick.
Yeah, that beat too hard.
I'm thinking about making it my first single.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
I'm still trying to figure out the lyrics, though.
I could help you with that.
Or whatever.
Whatever?
What's that?
[sighs] Whatever is whatever.
I'd do anything for the chance to work with you.
You on some clout shit, huh?
That's a good thing.
That's a dangerous thing.
Hey, Slim, come let this young lady out.
What's going on?
I thought you was different.
I don't deal with people who'd do anything to get on.
[Slim clears throat]
Go on home now.
Hmm. Okay. That's how it is, huh?
Yeah, it's like that.
- I'm so sick of people. - Bye.
It ain't my fault you ain't ready.
I'm not ready? You heard me.
When you don't believe in yourself,
you'll do some desperate shit.
I lost everything.
But you wouldn't know nothing about that
'cause you have freaking everything.
I lost everything, too.
- It just don't look like it. - [scoffs]
If you don't help me, I'm-a have to do this gospel thing
just so executives can hear me sing.
And I really don't want to do that. I really don't.
Gospel?
- That sounds terrible. - Yeah.
Why do you think I'm here?
I don't know shit about God or no church music.
Neither do I.
But that's the genius part. I don't have to.
I can take any song-- hell, I can take "Can't Help It"
and I can flip it into gospel.
"Can't Help It" is about getting high and having sex in my Lambo.
What you talking about?
Not when I sing it.
You want to hear it?
A'ight.
But I'm not giving up my good weed or my wine
'cause you singing about Jesus.
Now, come on.
My time ain't cheap.
This girl crazy popping up in my house.
This is it.
Where all the magic happens.
Wow.
Uh, give me a second to figure it out.
The song went platinum, now.
Don't choke.
[chuckles]
[playing simple melody]
[vocalizes]
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
[Sam clears throat]
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been
♪ What I did, how I came up
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
♪ Don't worry 'bout me.
- [vocalizes] - [music ends]
Yeah.
Something like that. [chuckles]
You believe that for real?
Believe what?
All that stuff you was saying about God.
That everything gonna be all right.
Honestly, I don't really know.
My cousin's always like,
"Isaiah says look for a sign from the Lord,
and everything's gonna be all right."
Who's Isaiah?
I don't know. Some dude in the Bible.
Well, I appreciate you coming down here, being so annoying
and begging me to sing.
I wouldn't exactly call it begging.
Uh, yeah, you was.
[laughs]
But you still helped me out, though.
- It helped you? - Yeah, it did.
How? -When I come down here sometimes,
I lose inspo.
But when you say everything a'ight,
you made me feel better.
Yeah.
Anyway...
...I never thought I'd hear myself say this,
but I think you should sing my song at that church thing.
Huh?
Nah, nah, I was just messing around.
Nah, you come here asking me for help.
I'm telling you this the one.
Let's get it.
I'm-a pull it up.
[gentle piano music playing]
[vocalizes]
♪ Yeah, yeah
- ♪ Don't worry 'bout me - [drums join in]
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did, how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ Test my patience
♪ No matter what, I'm not breaking ♪
♪ I'm not basic
♪ Throw your stone, you won't prevail ♪
♪ I got up every time I failed, I failed ♪
♪ But God's got me till the end ♪
♪ Replaced every loss with a win, uh ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ If God is for me
♪ Who can be against me?
- ♪ He's all I need, all I need - That was it. We got it.
- ♪ Don't worry 'bout me - [giggles]
- ♪ I'm-a be all right. - [song fades]
- [giggling] - It's yours.
- You really like it, though? - [song playing over speakers]
Oh, my gosh. It's so good.
Literally, Champion Life is gonna have nothing on us.
We're gonna dance. We're gonna have choreography.
It's gonna be amazing.
[off-key]: ♪ All over my life
[squeals] ♪ Yeah
That's gonna be my solo.
No. I got to tell you something.
- What? - I don't think you're ready.
Tell me. -Really? You want me to tell you?
- Yes. - Okay, I did it with TY.
You did it with TY?
Not that with TY. I did this with TY.
We were in the studio face-to-face.
He breathed on me, I breathed on him.
It was sparks. He was like: ♪ Sing it like this.
I was like: ♪ No, I'm not gonna sing it like that. ♪
And I challenged him. I gave him a challenge
'cause he's not used to that, and boom, we made the song.
- [squeals] That's amazing. - I know.
So, did he ask about me?
No. [laughs]
[TY's rap instrumental playing]
Oh.
What is this?
This is hard.
This is Atlanta.
Yes.
Oh, yeah.
That's that song he was working on in the studio.
Must have been on the drive he gave me.
[music stops]
Man.
[phone vibrating]
[sighs]
He's been calling nonstop, Sam.
Please say something to your dad.
He misses you.
Let's rehearse.
- Okay? - Hmm. Okay.
♪ Don't worry 'bout me...
Ready? One, two, three.
Ooh. I like this.
This how we gonna look. Come on, Oil.
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did, how I came up... ♪
- Oh! - [all exclaiming, laughing]
- Okay. Hips, hips. - Let me try.
♪ I'm-a be all right...
- Stanky leg right there. - [cheering, laughing]
Stanky leg right there.
Feel your fingers.
Oh! -It's just giving too much Jess. -Nah.
♪ I'm not basic
♪ Throw your stone, you won't prevail ♪
♪ I got up every time I failed... ♪
- [cheering, laughing] - You got it, you got it.
♪ God's got me till the end... ♪ -Okay.
- JERMAINE: Come on, big guy. - [groaning]
SAM: Five, six.
[speaking along to music]: ♪ Don't worry 'bout me
- Here we go. All right. - ♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did, how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪ -Hey!
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right, I got G-O-D ♪
- [cheering, squealing] - ♪ I got G-O-D
- ♪ Don't worry about me. - [song fades]
- All right, all right. - [laughter]
I'm done!
[crowd cheering] -HOST: Next up, in the Southern Regionals
Praise Team Competition, Bechurch.
- [cheering continues] - WOMAN: Bechurch!
WOMAN 2: Yeah, Bechurch!
[rap music playing]
♪ What's shaking? Look at this life I'm making ♪
♪ I don't fake it, G-O-D on my side ♪
♪ I'm sacred, uh, we gon' take it ♪
♪ We going up right now, no waiting ♪
♪ My life need a little reshaping ♪
♪ I'm-a trust my faith ain't breaking ♪
♪ I could put a hand on the Bible ♪
♪ I'm a real-life disciple, yeah... ♪
Cora, now you gonna have to hurry up and get here.
You are on CP time.
Hey, it's saved, baby. It's saved.
[laughs] Yeah, I'm trying to save your seat,
but you have to hurry up.
Now, you know these Bible bullies is aggressive.
Hey, baby, she's at the bathroom. Saved.
[chuckles]
♪ Son of God, that's my title
♪ You know that that's my idol, yeah ♪
♪ You need a little him in your life ♪
♪ I told everybody it's vital
♪ Or else I'm-a scratch y'all out like vinyl ♪
♪ It's viral
♪ Uh, what's shaking? Look at this life... ♪
Jesus gonna have to save these seats 'cause I got to go!
My God!
- [shouting wildly] - [cheering and music continues]
♪ My life need a little reshaping ♪
♪ I'm-a trust my faith ain't breaking ♪
[vocalizing]
You know, sometimes in life
it gets hard.
But God's always there right with you.
These white boys for Jesus! Come on!
Yeah.
Who knew?
And if you ever feel like you need somebody,
someone to talk to...
[vocalizing continues]
...he's right there.
Yeah.
[crowd cheering]
[grunting rhythmically]
Come on! Come on in!
Oh, Lord! All right!
[babbling wildly]
[shouts]
Thank you!
Jess.
Congratulations on making it to regionals.
[chuckles]
You're proof that a bruised heel
can still crush a serpent's head.
I reckon we're gonna win, though.
Oh, of course.
But God bless you.
- God bless you. [chuckles] - Bye-bye.
That's Bible. She just means even though
our team took an "L" last year, we're still able to crush it.
Oh, that was actually really sweet. -Mm-hmm.
HOST: Get ready and let's welcome to the stage
- the Promise Ringtones! - [crowd cheering]
- [crowd shouting] - [dramatic music playing]
♪ I should do a TikTok praise dance ♪ - Dance ♪
♪ On that Jesus time
- ♪ I don't wait on any man - ♪ Any man
♪ G-O-D got my life in his hands ♪
♪ If you wanna see some real change ♪
- ♪ Give him a chance - ♪ He never left me
♪ Why he love me, I can't explain ♪
♪ Blessings I can't contain, put you up on his name ♪
- ♪ His name - ♪ Nothing stopping his reign
♪ God gang, gang, gang
♪ If you don't jump to get your praise on ♪
- ♪ Then you don't feel my pain - ♪ Hold up
- ♪ Please don't get me hype - ♪ Hype
- ♪ How he changed my life - ♪ Life
♪ Don't argue with me when I say ♪
♪ He took me to new heights, I'm a boss, I'm a leader ♪
♪ Yeah, he made me a believer
♪ Yeah, my mama the first lady and my daddy is a preacher... ♪
[vocalizing]
[engine revs]
We have to beat out Bechurch and the Promise Ringtones?
Top three winners make it to finals,
and we still haven't even seen Champion Life.
Hey, I don't think I've ever told you this,
but I'm really proud of the changes you've made, man.
Hey. You know, I appreciate that.
- Coming from the streets... - TY: Big Love!
- Hey, Big Love. - [whispers]: Shit.
I been calling you, bro.
Ah, yeah. What's up, man?
Hey, that Birkin you sold us the other night...
[whistling]
You know, I dibble dabble in handbags.
So that's what they're calling it now, huh?
A brother got some lungs, don't he?
- [whistling stops] - All right.
- ...was smoking. - Yeah.
It's worth every bit of that little 10K.
- 10K. - 10K?
- On God. - Yeah.
- D-Do you remember, um... - [fingers snap]
I told you I be doing, like, a little triathlon thing?
Wh-When was the last time you exercised?
- Uh, shit. - That's a lot of money.
Pastor, you know all my money be going to tithes and offering.
- Ah. Uh-huh. - Yeah. Yeah.
Maybe we should be quiet in church, huh?
TY: Ooh... man, it was blowing.
Like, yeah. Like, shut up.
This is my pastor. Uh, PG.
- Pastor. Pastor. - [inhales sharply] My bad, God.
You don't look like no pastor, though.
Ah, yeah. You know, I hear that every now and then.
What are you doing, man?
Um, yes, I best get back to stepping for Jesus.
Get my praise on. [chuckles]
- Okay. [chuckles] - Yeah.
10K.
♪ With God, anything I want
- ♪ I could have it - ♪ Okay
♪ All I have to do is ask him
- [vocalizing] - ♪ What's happening?
♪ There ain't nothing you can tell me 'bout my God ♪
♪ Took away my pain and filled me with his love ♪
- ♪ He my number one - ♪ One
- ♪ We been on the run - ♪ Run
♪ Can't nobody do me like him
♪ And where would I be
♪ If he never made me this lit ♪ - This lit ♪
♪ If he never gave me this drip ♪ - This drip ♪
- ♪ The shine on me is all him - ♪ All him...
Excuse me. I-Is this seat saved?
[clears throat]
Oh, no. Nobody. [chuckles]
♪ Nobody
But you. Come on in here and get with God.
- All right. - All right.
You good?
- [vocalizes] - ♪ Not your average
♪ Ready for any challenge
♪ Anything I want, I could have it ♪
♪ All I have to do is ask him
- ♪ All I got to do is ask - ♪ What's happening?
- [song ends] - [crowd cheering]
[sighs]: Okay.
I changed the music.
What? Now? No.
Nah, we about to go on.
Just follow my lead.
You're up, Oil Factory.
[Jess whimpers]
I got this.
HOST: And let's welcome to the stage the Oil Factory!
[crowd cheering]
Let's go!
[TY's rap instrumental playing]
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
- ♪ I'm-a be all right - [crowd cheering]
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did or how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ I got G-O-D...
Was it time for the altar call already?
Where is he going?
♪ No matter what you do, I'm never breaking ♪
♪ I'm not basic
♪ Any stone you throw will not prevail ♪
♪ 'Cause I do it very well...
Did you give her your song?
No.
♪ God's got me till the end
She stole it.
♪ Replaced every loss with a win ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ God's got me -Come on, guys. Come on. Come on.
♪ Yeah, yeah
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did or how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
- ♪ Don't worry 'bout me - [crowd cheering]
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ I got G-O-D.
- [song ends] - [crowd cheering]
[cheering continues]
- [lively chatter] - [rap music playing]
So, who won?
Ooh.
Obviously not y'all.
Champion Life, first place.
Ringtones second.
Bechurch third.
If we had just kept to what we rehearsed,
we'd be at nationals by now.
And you know we all thinking it.
The new track was dope,
but without practicing, we just weren't ready.
I just panicked, all right?
Well, the Internet is saying TY was there,
but he left in the middle of our show.
Was that the same track from that night at his studio?
I wasn't planning on using it.
You stole it?
How could you do something like that?
I would never do something like that.
I was trying to help you all out, okay?
It wasn't about us, Sam.
All you do is whine about what you want and what you deserve.
Would it kill you to show the tiniest bit of gratitude
for what God has already done for you?
Oh, my gosh, Jess. Shut up!
Me shut up? You shut the hockey puck up.
You don't care if I find God,
so stop pretending that you're all deep
like some young, Black Baby Yoda!
[gasps]
Worship thyself not God, you do!
- Lies! - Okay, at least I tried.
At least I'm not in some delusional bubble in some house
drawing dead cats.
You ungrateful jackhole.
- [gasps] - I'm out!
Fine! Get the oyster shuck on, then!
You get the oyster shuck on!
And by the way, Cheddar was not just a dead cat.
She was my emotional support animal!
You are not my sister-cousin anymore!
- [quiet chatter, laughter] - [gentle piano music playing]
♪ I'm caught up in your presence... ♪
How you doing? What can I get you?
- Uh, rum and Coke. - Can I just see your I.D.?
Yeah.
♪ I'm caught up in this holy moment... ♪
Okay, Deborah Goldstein.
Thanks.
[sighs]
Oh. Here you go.
[sighs] Thank you.
You're welcome.
Are you kidding me with this weak-ass drink?
Mm-mm. I need another shot.
I'm sorry. I can't.
♪ Take me back to where we started ♪
♪ I open up my heart
Oh, great.
♪ To you
♪ Oh, I'm not here for blessing ♪
- ♪ Oh, no - [crowd exclaiming]
♪ Jesus, you don't owe me anything ♪
♪ And more than anything that you can do ♪
♪ Oh
♪ I just want you
♪ I just want you.
- [song ends] - [cheering, applause]
[crowd murmuring]
- Thank you, Rob. - You're welcome.
So, what are you doing here?
I could be asking you the same thing, first lady.
[chuckles]
Well, um, I'm grown.
And this is my place.
Yeah. Natalie, that's-that's me.
What's your excuse? [chuckles]
I didn't want to go home.
The team is in their feelings because I switched up the music.
So the new music was your idea?
Mm-hmm. [sighs] Yeah.
And I kind of stole it from somebody
who was gonna help me get my music career going.
He was there.
And we lost anyways.
No fun in sinning and not winning, huh?
Mm. Who you telling?
But you're a singer for real.
Why aren't you running things every Sunday?
Ooh, that, um, that used to be me.
Yeah. Back in the day, it was all about me.
What I could receive.
The money, the fame, the attention, the men.
That was before PG.
- Okay. - [chuckles] Okay.
[both laugh]
But, you know, praise, it... it works different.
And it hits people different.
You were right.
The other night when I sang at the arcade,
you said I looked like I was scared.
I felt like a fraud, you know?
Singing about having faith and trusting God.
When my mom died, I stopped talking to God.
He wasn't listening, so I stopped.
You know, God, he doesn't promise
we'll get everything we want.
Life is going to do life, hon.
You'll have some wins and you'll have some losses.
But God promises to always be there.
- I am not so sure about that. - Yeah.
You know what? That's okay.
But guess what.
Of all the lounges, you strolled into mine.
Look, I get it. I do.
Sometimes life can go so wrong that you have to really sit down
and think, "What's good?"
[laughs]: I mean, "What's really good?"
- You know? - [laughs]: Yeah.
[sniffles, sighs]
But you got to count your blessings, okay?
That's where it starts.
And that's praise.
- Thank you. - All right.
♪
[Sam breathes deeply]
[whispering]: I'm sorry.
[whispering]: Me, too.
- Love you. - Love you.
- [birds chirping] - [dogs barking in distance]
- [phone chiming] - Oh.
Hello.
Oh, hi, PG.
What?
Yes. I'll be right there. [squeals]
Sam!
Sam?
[intercom buzzes]
[intercom clicks]
TY?
TY, if you could just let me in to explain.
SLIM: Go away. He don't want to talk to you.
TY, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry.
You trusted me, and I blew it.
- TY: Hang up on her, man. - [intercom clicks]
[sighs]
[cell phone vibrating]
I'll try not to take too much of y'all time.
[PG grunts]
Evidently, the Promise Ringtones' church
will not allow Kelly to sing, and, uh,
the rest of the Ringtones will not compete without her.
Wait, what happened?
There's a tape.
Uh, apparently Kelly and one of the guys from church...
Oh, tea! A sex tape?
- KiKi. - [stammers] You right, PG.
I'm-a mind my own business, but I'm-a start tomorrow.
Thank you.
[sighs] So, according to their church rules,
Kelly is not allowed to perform with the team.
That's not how we roll here, okay?
That's their church rules.
So, you have been invited to nationals.
Sam.
Did you get my message?
Yeah. Uh...
I'm sorry to hear about Kelly.
She was really nice to us.
So what do you think about competing?
You guys still want me on the team?
- Duh. -Of course. - Duh.
- KIKI: Of course. - AARON [chuckles]: Yeah.
PG: I ever tell y'all how I became a pastor?
- Mm-mm. - No.
I stole the wrong car.
- What? -[laughter] - [blows raspberry]
Or the right one, depending on how you look at it.
I stole a car that belonged to a pastor, and I got caught.
In exchange for not pressing charges,
he made me come to his service every Sunday
for the next three months straight.
- Oh, wow. - Mm-hmm.
Now, that first Sunday was my first time at church ever.
But I knew that my life was gonna change from that day on.
[chuckles softly]
You see, all of us, no matter what, we're gonna fail.
We're gonna mess up. We're gonna make mistakes.
All of that. So what?
Get over it.
Just keep going no matter what.
Your story ain't over.
All right. [sighs]
Y'all let me know what y'all want to do.
It's on y'all.
- Bye. - All right, Peeg.
Okay, before you guys say anything, I would feel
a lot better if I could just say
a few things that I'm grateful for.
- Go ahead. - AARON: Oh, I got to hear this.
[exhales sharply]
SAM: So, in no particular order,
as Usher would say...
♪ These are my confessions.
First of all, I can't judge Kelly
because the footage that is out there on me... whew!
Damn.
And I know God has covered a pregnancy stick or two,
- because when I say... - Mm-hmm.
...your girl has been reckless, she has been reckless.
Come on, now.
And that night that I blacked out off the D'USSEÉ
and the car got me home...
Jesus.
To this day, I still don't know how.
But now I know it was you, God. I know it. I feel it. I know it.
Told you that D'USSEÉ do that.
D'USSEÉ be testing our faith. [chuckles]
Won't he do it?
AARON: And do, and do.
My mom had this wild faith in me.
And in God, too.
And I'm beginning to see how it all connects,
how God loves us and how we love each other.
And I didn't understand that
until I came here and I met some really cool people.
- KIKI: Aw. - [chuckles]
Who I know will always have my back.
- KIKI: You know it. - AARON: We got you.
And I'll always have yours.
I knew your testimony was gonna hit different.
[laughs]
Whew. Okay. [sighs]
- Guys, if we're confessing... - All right.
Um, [sighs] after, you know, I got all those IG followers
after Sam sang at the Painted Duck...
AARON: Mm-hmm. -...um, I may have gotten carried away
and opened a OnlyFans.
- OnlyFans? - That's how I got this watch.
What's the at name on that? I-I want to see if it's--
you telling the truth, see it's really you.
I closed it down.
Now, anybody else got something to confess?
[sighs heavily, grunts]
Y'all ain't gonna believe this, but, um...
...I never stopped selling weed.
- We know. Everybody knows. - Okay. -Yeah, everybody knows.
- Y'all knew? Okay. - I didn't know.
Yeah, it's over now. You know, uh--
Well, it is this one dude. I still got to serve him.
But after that, I'm done.
It's just on some street stuff with him.
And I'm dating somebody from Champion Life.
- OTHERS: What? - [gasps] -Traitor.
[scoffs] Okay, okay.
Now it makes sense why you friend-zoned me.
And me.
Jess, I-- Come on. Now, that...
Baby. Melissa finds out that your true boo
is standing right beside her at Champion Life-- ha! -Ooh.
- Your tires gonna get slashed. - [laughter]
So... [sighs] what do we do about finals?
["We Gon' Be Alright" playing]
♪ We gon' be all right, we gon' be all right ♪
♪ I'm living my best life, I'm living my best life... ♪
Girl.
Did you hear about that Promise Ringtone?
No. What?
[whispers]: Sex tape.
- What? - Mm-hmm.
No.
Now they won't let her compete.
- [scoffs] - What?
Now, if they sat me down every time I did a sex...
Oh, no. No, no.
- Shh, shh. No. - I mean...
- [laughs] - Okay, I'm just saying.
- MAN: Hey, PG. - [sighs] What's up, man?
- WOMAN: Good luck, Pastor. - Thank you.
Oh, look who showed up.
The Chevron reverend himself.
[chuckles]: Hey, man.
You know what's funny about God?
You with the Oil Factory
and y'all had just enough fuel to make it to finals.
- God got a sense of humor. - [Cora clears throat]
I tell you what.
[chuckles] Funny.
Hey, man. [laughs]
- Okay. - Bruh.
I owe you something?
What you talking about, brother?
Like, I mean, Jesus paid the price.
But you still acting like I owe you something.
So what's up?
Take your foot off the gas a little bit.
We're just two brothers, you know.
- Foot off the gas. [chuckles] - [chuckles] Right.
Hey, and-and I know you a bishop, right?
So you understand that the oil represents God's spirit.
So being in the Oil Factory is good with me.
You feel me?
I feel-- I-I-I-I knew that, so--
I mean, everybody know that, right? [chuckles]
That's in the New-New Testament.
John, chapter... [grunts, sighs]
Yeah. Enjoy the show, everybody.
[chuckles] Chile, I heard that clap back
all the way over here.
- [Cora and Prisilla laughing] - [Headley clears throat]
[crowd cheering]
- Hey, I'll be right back. - Oh, it's about to start.
Welcome, welcome, welcome to
the National Praise Team Championship!
[crowd cheering, shouting]
This year, we have the biggest and brightest praise teams
competing for the honor of being the best praise team in America!
[crowd cheering]
[cheering continues in distance]
How you doing? Here you-- Oh, okay.
Hey, you made it.
Thanks for calling me.
Yeah, no problem. Come on. The seat's over this way.
Hey-hey, can I, can I talk to you?
We haven't always seen eye to eye, but...
I know it took a man like you to help Sam.
I appreciate you.
It's all good, bro. That's what family's for, right?
[laughs] Okay, okay.
Let's get to our seats, man.
♪ Every time that I am down
- ♪ You lift me up, oh - ♪ You lift me up
♪ And I am heaven bound
- ♪ Oh - ♪ Heaven bound.
[crowd cheering]
Coming to the stage,
the national three-time reigning Praise Team Competition winners,
under the leadership and sometimes shenanigans
of Bishop Jerome Headley,
please make some noise for Champion Life!
[crowd cheering]
Come on, now. Y'all know what y'all do.
- [cash register dings] - [rap music playing]
♪ Look
♪ When things go bad, my God's so real ♪
♪ I praise his name like no one will ♪
♪ Big love flows through all my fears ♪
♪ Say his name 'cause he always hears ♪
♪ Don't just wish, give him your will ♪
♪ Ten different reasons to rely on him ♪
♪ Seek and you should find, it be giving me chills ♪
♪ Blessings from above rolling in like wheels, whoo ♪
- ♪ I was born to praise - ♪ Yeah
- ♪ Yes, in Jesus' name - ♪ Yeah
♪ Give yourself some rest, you deserve the best ♪
- ♪ Yeah - ♪ But nothing in this world
- ♪ Yeah - ♪ That he love more than us
♪ Jesus, all I ever really need is Jesus ♪
♪ I don't need another thing, just Jesus ♪
♪ I surrender everything to Jesus ♪
♪ I got blessings out the roof
♪ Trust me, he the truth
♪ I got blessings out the roof
♪ Trust me, he the truth
♪ Clapping my hands, doing my dance ♪
- ♪ Praising the Lord - [singers grunt]
♪ All of this cash
♪ You gotta tithe to get you some more ♪
♪ I got angels in the coupe, trust me, they the truth ♪
♪ I got angels in the coupe
♪ Trust me, they the truth
♪ I got a problem, I need his help ♪
- ♪ Yeah - ♪ I go straight to that shelf
♪ I get my Bible, I gotta study ♪
♪ 'Cause no faith can get ugly, all my enemies in trouble ♪
♪ Better bow your head, be humble ♪
♪ I heard that Jesus don't stop ♪
♪ Nah, he never stop, stop
♪ That's him protecting his flock ♪
♪ He designed me like this, took his time on this here ♪
♪ His love is always near, with him, I have no fear ♪
- ♪ Amen - ♪ Amen...
- Dad? - Sam.
- Good luck. - All right. Thanks, man.
Wow.
I hope you're not mad I'm here.
The way we left things last time at your aunt and uncle's.
I'm not mad.
I'm actually happy you're here.
Yeah, um...
I came here to bring you this.
What is it?
Larry told me about you singing.
He said it was some church thing,
but that didn't sound right. [chuckles]
Like, Sam in church, um...
[both chuckle]
[gasps]
Reminded me of this.
Your mom wanted you to have it someday.
I remember this.
She would wear it all the time.
Here, let me help.
[breath trembles]
Look, I am so proud of you.
[inhales deeply]
And...
And I know she would be, too.
- Thank you, Dad. - No, no, no. Don't cry.
All right? You look beautiful.
I did not want to upset you. I'm gonna just, uh...
Dad, I'm not upset.
You being here is actually a sign
that everything's gonna be okay.
And that Mom is still with us.
Dad, you're my blessing.
Oh, what is happening down here?
Here. [chuckles]
All right, sweetie.
- Just please stop crying. - [chuckles]
Yo, Sam. It's time.
Okay.
Um, go get your seat and everything.
You can't come all this way and miss it.
- Yeah, um... - Okay. [stammers]
- I love you. - I love you, too.
♪ Looking in the mirror
♪ Ooh, man, I'm blessed
- ♪ Talking to the man above - ♪ Ooh
♪ Give me some rest.
[vocalizes]
- [song ends] - [crowd cheering]
Ooh! [laughing]
Whoo!
- [shouts] - Come on, now.
- Yes! - That's what I'm talking about.
[man whoops]
Aw. What is this?
You're not serving a look, sweetie?
You know what? I get it.
Winning used to mean more to me than praise did, too.
[scoffs] Whatever.
You're as desperate to win as we are.
Oh, I'm not as desperate as you.
- Yeah? Yeah? Yeah? Yeah? - Yeah? Yeah? Yeah?
The jail you planned for me is the one you gonna rot in.
- It's okay, KiKi. - What?
Until you do right by us,
everything you think about gon' crumble.
- Hmm. - Okay.
Color Purple was on Starz last night.
Just let it get out of her system.
We may be poor, we're Black,
some of us may be ugly, but, dear God, we're here!
Okay. Yeah.
We are here.
- Okay, KiKi, okay. - Okay? -Okay.
[Sam sighs]
So do you guys really think this is the right move?
- I do. -Uh-huh. - Yeah, we all do.
Okay, well, then let's get it. Hands on, hands up!
ALL: Hands on, hands up!
♪ Try Jesus
♪ Don't try me
♪ 'Cause I throw hands
♪ Try Jesus
♪ Please don't try me
♪ Because I fight...
HOST: Next up, from Atlanta, Georgia,
give it up for the Oil Factory!
[crowd cheering]
[vocalizing]
- [beatboxing] - [vocalizing continues]
- [vocalizing] - [band joins in]
[crowd cheering]
Come on, hey!
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Telling you I really believe
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Even though I've never seen
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Look at my life and you will see ♪
♪ I'm a believer
- ♪ How can you not believe? - ♪ Oh, yeah
♪ I believe just like the air I breathe, yeah ♪
♪ Believe even though my eyes can't see, yeah ♪
♪ Every day, you feel so real to me, yeah ♪
♪ You turned my dreams into reality ♪
- ♪ That's why I love you - ♪ I love you
♪ Oh, God, oh, God, I love you
♪ Place no one above you, put nobody else before you ♪
♪ Because I'm a believer
♪ It's like that 'cause when I was a sinner ♪
♪ You took me right back
- [vocalizing] - ♪ I'm a believer
♪ Telling you I really believe
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Even though I've never seen
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Look at my life and you will see ♪
- ♪ I'm a believer - [vocalizing]
♪ How can you not believe?
[crowd cheering]
♪ Yes, I see the thing that they wishing on me ♪
♪ But giving him the glory ain't no struggle for me ♪
♪ I live in his word 'cause you know I believe ♪
♪ In God's plan, God's plan
- WOMAN: You got it, Kelly! Go! - ♪ Yes, I see the thing
- ♪ That they wishing on me - ♪ Wishing on me
♪ But giving him the glory ain't no struggle for me ♪
♪ Struggle for me
♪ I live in his word 'cause you know I believe ♪
♪ In God's plan, God's plan
- ♪ Oh, yeah - ♪ I'm a believer
♪ Telling you I really believe
- ♪ I'm a believer - [Kelly vocalizing]
♪ Even though I've never seen
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Look at my life and you will see ♪
♪ I'm a believer
♪ How can you not believe?
♪ Same God right now
Let's go!
- ♪ He is - ♪ He is
♪ Same God right now
♪ I know that I know that I know ♪
- ♪ He is, he is - ♪ He is
♪ Same God right now
♪ Over here, say
- ♪ He is - ♪ He is
- ♪ Same God right now - [vocalizing]
♪ Somebody say
♪ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
♪ Oh, I'm a believer
♪ Telling you I really believe
♪ I'm a believer, even though I've never seen ♪
♪ I'm a believer, look at my life and you will see ♪
♪ I'm a believer
♪ Oh, how can you not believe?
♪ Yes, I see the thing that they wishing on me ♪ - Yeah ♪
♪ But giving him the glory
- ♪ Ain't no struggle for me - [vocalizing]
♪ I live in his word 'cause you know I believe ♪
♪ In God's plan
♪ Oh, how can you not believe?
- [song ends] - [crowd cheering]
[excited chatter, laughter]
♪
We did it! Oh, my gosh!
- [squeals] - Yeah!
Yeah!
- Whoo! Okay! Yes! - Let's go, let's go, let's go!
- Now, that's how you come back! - Mm! Mm!
- That's how you come back, baby! - Whoo!
HOST: And now, the moment we've all been waiting for.
In third place...
Bechurch!
[crowd cheering]
It was good. It was nice.
HOST: In second place...
What a surprise.
- Champion Life! - [gasps]
[crowd cheering]
WOMAN: Wow. Really?
Champ-- Did she just say--
Excuse me?
- Sit down! - Oh.
[both chuckle]
[crowd gasping, chuckling]
Give her grace. We understand.
And now, the winner
of the National Praise Team Competition...
- the Oil Factory! - [crowd cheering]
Yeah!
♪
[squeals]
- Let's go, Oil Factory! - Yeah!
- [laughing] - [shouting]
This is Russian hacking!
And I will not concede!
Yes, way to go, Sam!
- Go, Oil Factory team! - [chuckles]: Yeah.
CROWD [chanting]: Oil Factory! Oil Factory! Oil Factory!
- Oil Factory! Oil Factory! - What? What?
- Oil Factory! - What?
Oil Factory! Oil Factory!
You left this at the house.
From the night we first met.
I was looking for this.
I was gonna give it back
until you walked in my house and finessed me.
And now?
I don't know.
I'm here.
I know I don't deserve you coming here.
Most definitely don't.
But I'm actually really grateful
for the chance to say that I'm sorry.
TY, I am really, really sorry
for betraying you and your trust.
You didn't deserve that.
Maybe we could start over?
Not about the music but as friends?
Not so fast. You still owe me, now.
Even I know "Thou shalt not steal."
[chuckles]
Facts.
So let's just start with a song.
You want us to work together?
All right, we better head out.
I'll be in touch.
[imitates drumbeat] Touch.
[laughs]
Okay.
Did he ask about me?
You were all he could talk about.
[gasps] I knew it.
[laughs]
Mm.
God is good. God is good.
- Yes. - [chuckles] Whoo!
Don't you just feel that?
Like, the spirit, it's, like-- it's overtaking me, you know?
- We're not doing that right now. - [sighs] It's the Holy Spirit.
- No. - It's activating.
Jess, we're not activating right now.
I just-- I got to let it out.
[off-key]: ♪ You are
All right. Here we go.
♪ The source of my strength
- [Aaron groans] - [Jess vocalizes]
♪ You are the source of my life ♪
Oh, my God.
♪ I lift my hands
♪ In total praise
♪ To you
♪ Amen...
[harmonizing]: ♪ Amen
- ♪ Amen - ♪ Amen
♪ Amen
Thank you, Jesus.
- ♪ Amen - [Sam vocalizing]
♪ Amen
- ♪ Amen - [vocalizing continues]
♪ Amen.
[Sam holds high note]
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
♪ I'm out on 70
♪ I'm finally passing all the ones that was ahead of me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ And bless my enemies
♪ They been more loyal than anyone has been to me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ I'm out on 70
♪ I'm finally passing all the ones that was ahead of me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ And bless my enemies
♪ They been more loyal than anyone has been to me ♪
♪ Praise God
♪ You can't ride with us if you anti ♪ - No ♪
♪ All the way to heaven, money stacked high ♪ - Cash ♪
♪ You say you getting money, you a damn liar ♪ - Cap ♪
♪ You don't rock with him, so I understand why ♪
♪ White suits, white shoes and a black tie ♪
♪ Looking like living proof that you can fly ♪
- ♪ Even if I die, I can't die - ♪ Uh-uh
♪ God got me out here feeling like the man, I ♪
♪ Do not worry, I get M's
♪ In the Phantom, ain't no Benz ♪
♪ We'll be good without you, ain't no new friends ♪
♪ I'm-a follow him, I don't follow trends ♪
♪ Save it for the birds, I ain't playing ♪
♪ And don't be getting salty, Himalayan ♪ - Splash ♪
♪ I'm living in the palm of his hand ♪
♪ Forever I'll be straight
- ♪ Know what I'm saying? - ♪ Straight
♪ I'm out on 70
♪ I'm finally passing all the ones that was ahead of me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ And bless my enemies
♪ They been more loyal than anyone has been to me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ I'm out on 70
♪ I'm finally passing all the ones that was ahead of me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ And bless my enemies
♪ They been more loyal than anyone has been to me ♪
♪ Praise God
♪ 2021 Chevy Suburban swervin'
♪ Ask around 'bout me, boy, I need a conversion ♪
♪ Don't know the Bible, but I'm-a give you a sermon ♪
♪ Atlanta, the city of selling water and Sherman ♪
♪ How did I get here? I'm out the loop ♪
♪ But really getting it
♪ 'Cause everything I do of late is sincere ♪
♪ The "A" been good to me as it should to me ♪
♪ After all, it really was the best it could to me ♪
♪ Praise God
♪ I don't study, but I'm passionate ♪
- ♪ I'm passionate - ♪ I done ran me up a ticket
- ♪ And I'm cashing it - ♪ I'm cashing it
♪ I'm-a leave it up to G-O-D, go ahead and fasten it ♪
♪ That little talent, you have to save it ♪
♪ And really ration it
- ♪ Oh - ♪ Hey
♪ A couple answers, all I wish for ♪ - Wish ♪
♪ After I finish Lenox
- ♪ Shutting down a big store - ♪ Drip
♪ That doesn't mean I done forgot that Jesus is the Lord ♪
♪ Next I'm on North Ave Myrtle somewhere in Sixth Ward ♪
- ♪ Praise - ♪ I'm out on 70
♪ I'm finally passing all the ones that was ahead of me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ And bless my enemies
♪ They been more loyal than anyone has been to me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ I'm out on 70
♪ I'm finally passing all the ones that was ahead of me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise God
♪ And bless my enemies
♪ They been more loyal than anyone has been to me ♪
- ♪ Praise God - ♪ Praise
♪ Praise, praise
♪ Say praise
♪ Praise, praise
- ♪ Praise. - [song ends]
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did, how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ Test my patience
♪ No matter what, I'm not breaking ♪
♪ I'm not basic
♪ Throw your stone, you won't prevail ♪
♪ I got up every time I failed
♪ I failed
♪ But God's got me till the end ♪
♪ Replaced every loss with a win, uh ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ If God is for me
♪ Who can be against me?
♪ He's all I need, all I need
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ All over my life
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did, how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
♪ Got G-O-D
♪ No temptation
♪ I would never leave him or forsake him ♪
♪ Won't stop praying
♪ Any stone you throw will not prevail ♪
♪ 'Cause I do it very well
♪ Know you'd love to see me fail ♪
♪ Love to see me fail
♪ God's got me till the end
♪ Replaced every loss with a win, oh ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ My life's great, get yours straight ♪
♪ All this hate tests your faith ♪
♪ If God is for me
♪ Who can be against me?
♪ He's all I need
- ♪ He's all I need, oh - ♪ Don't worry 'bout me
♪ I'm-a be all right
- ♪ Got G-O-D - ♪ Got G-O-D
- ♪ All over my life - ♪ All over my life, baby
♪ Don't worry where I been, what I did, how I came up ♪
♪ Every saint was a sinner till they changed ♪
♪ Don't worry 'bout me
- ♪ I'm-a be all right - ♪ I'm-a be all right
- ♪ I got G-O-D - ♪ G-O-D
- ♪ Don't worry 'bout me - ♪ I got G-O-D
- ♪ I got G-O-D
- ♪ Don't worry 'bout me - ♪ I got, I got G-O-D
- ♪ Got G-O-D, G-O-D - ♪ I got
- ♪ Don't worry 'bout me - ♪ Don't worry about me, baby
♪ Got G-O-D, G-O-D
- [vocalizes] - ♪ Don't worry 'bout me
- ♪ Don't worry about me. - [song ends]
♪ I got the city in L.A. and it is a part of us ♪ - Yeah ♪
♪ Naked women on the party bus
♪ The way that I'm feeling is marvelous ♪ - Wow ♪
♪ Shawty playing with the starry dust ♪
♪ Some of them old as Atari is
♪ We ain't listening to various ♪ - No ♪
♪ Only P. Wayne in the car with us ♪ - Uh, uh ♪
♪ Who walking in with the substance? ♪
♪ Smoking on muffins
♪ Brodie came through with reluctance ♪
♪ Party got justice
♪ I'm-a go dumb on productions
♪ Taking abundance
♪ I don't mind no interruptions ♪ - Shh ♪
- ♪ I'm going dumb shit - ♪ Yeah, yeah
♪ Sipping the gravy with Minute Maid, baby ♪
♪ 'Cause everything I do is fresher ♪
♪ Women for cuffin' and smoking on muffins ♪
♪ Is how I'm-a deal with the pressure ♪ - Uh ♪
♪ Turn off the lights with maybes and mights ♪
♪ Tonight we ain't doing lesser ♪
♪ I'm what they call a progressive ♪ - Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, everybody been pushing the patience ♪
♪ On some you gon' be dead in the face shit ♪
♪ Let me teach you a lesson of greatness ♪ - Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Ah, yeah, spaceship, spaceship, up ♪
♪ Something but never the latest ♪
♪ Women love me, I'm petty and gracious ♪ - Yeah ♪
♪ Do it quick, 7:00 to 8:00 shit ♪ - Uh-huh ♪
♪ I'm the one like 11 with spaces ♪
♪ Who walking in with the substance? ♪
♪ Smoking on muffins
♪ Brodie came through with reluctance ♪
♪ Party got justice
♪ I'm-a go dumb on productions
♪ Taking abundance
♪ I don't mind no interruptions ♪ - Shh ♪
♪ I'm going dumb shit.
[song fades]