Previously on Raising Kanan...
I can't handle wildness around me and my son, 'Nique.
You know, you and me, we in-in different places right now.
I think we gotta pump the brakes.
I mean, we just kicking it anyway, right?
- To Cafe Vous. - Cafe Vous.
I need you to put that on the airwaves.
Get it bubbling in these streets.
I'm here to move weight.
It's what I do. It's who I am.
So what the fuck am I doing here?
You're throwing them back fast.
It's a bar, right?
Throwing them back is what you do in a bar.
Think of the good times too, please.
Raquel Thomas. Special Agent Preston Tanner.
I'd like you to come in for a conversation.
I'm gonna have to call my lawyer.
I'm the big dog, nigga.
Running your fucking mouth to Pernessa
ain't no big-dog shit.
That's bitch shit.
I heard about our friend Unique.
I'm sorry.
I'm gonna step into what he started with you, take it over.
Let's give it the old college try.
'Nique's gone, and he ain't coming back.
Now we do business.
If we do this, it's you and me.
Cousin isn't involved, and no one else can know.
Time to go to work.
This right here is about knowing that I win
every fucking day.
Your moms is fucking with our investment.
She need to be handled.
I told you not to ever fuck with my family.
You don't tell me shit, little boy.
- I know Ronnie had-- - Shut the fuck up.
The math is real easy on this.
It's either Marvin, or it's you, me, and Kanan.
You adding shit up all wrong.
The feds on you, not me.
Raq, it's Kanan.
I want my son back safe.
What does Ronnie want for the boy?
Five.
That cruddy-ass nigga want $500,000?
I got your money. Now give me my son.
Ain't nobody kidnap me, Ma.
Y'all been played.
You and Ronnie in on this together?
Throw that over here.
Shit's all you, ma.
♪ I'm a hustler, baby I'm a hustler, baby ♪
♪ Yeah, I know Heartbreaks, setbacks ♪
♪ Bitch, if I crap out I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
♪ I been through the ups and Downs, you know I get around ♪
♪ So to me It's all a part of the game ♪
♪ If I ain't the coke man Or the dope man ♪
♪ I'm almost for sure, man I got to take it ♪
♪ No need to say shit I'm gon' take it ♪
♪ Robberies turned homicide It's nothin' to play with ♪
♪ Make money Make, make, make money ♪
♪ When shit hit the fan We'll take money, Southside ♪
♪ Beef with the best of 'em ♪
♪ Done shot At the rest of 'em, yeah ♪
♪ Checks, I'm collectin' 'em ♪
♪ Check, boy I'm finessin' 'em ♪
♪ Bag Supreme Boy, you fuck around ♪
♪ Put a big bag on your head ♪
♪ Before the weather break You're dead ♪
♪ Let's get to it, they Don't do it like we do it ♪
♪ Nah, cop it, whip it Bag it, flip it ♪
♪ Re-up, we up G'd up, what up? ♪
♪ Runnin' round this bitch Still not givin' a fuck, hey ♪
♪ When it come to that paper There'll be no complications ♪
Ha ha. That's right.
♪ Put a hole in a nigga Right in front of you ♪
♪ Your heartbeat pacin' ♪
♪ And it's all right ♪
♪ That's how We do it on this side ♪
♪ Niggas get to it On this side ♪
♪ I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪
♪ Bitch, if I crap out I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
♪ I been through the ups and Downs, you know I get around ♪
♪ So to me It's all a part of the game ♪
♪ If I ain't the coke man Or the dope man ♪
♪ I'm almost for sure, man I got to take it ♪
♪ No need to say shit I'm gon' take it ♪
♪ Robberies turned homicide It's nothin' to play with ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
Before you can figure out where you going,
you gotta look back at where you been.
And you gotta look real close,
'cause you miss shit,
forget details.
There's things that happened that seem like
they didn't mean nothing at the time.
But then you realize they mean everything.
That's why you gotta look back...
...because now that you see where you at,
you gotta understand how the fuck you got there.
Oh.
I need a fucking doctor, man.
I'm all fucked up.
Yo, Early...
...I need you to come get me.
Shit.
Goddamn, boy.
A'ight, you all better.
Up slow.
- Right here. - OK.
Don't even know how you still alive, boy.
You been worked the fuck over,
then worked over three more fucking times.
Goddamn.
A'ight, come on, fam. Easy.
Come on, man. Almost there.
Almost there.
Yo, careful.
In here.
Everything you seeing here happened already.
♪ I'm too famous ♪
But we didn't peep it the way we needed to
because we wasn't looking.
♪ These streets need a body ♪
♪ I'm too famous ♪
♪ Me and my niggas 'Bout them triggers ♪
♪ Puttin' bodies in rivers ♪
♪ Robbin' for major figures ♪
♪ I was born in the gutters Of Southside ♪
♪ And outside is where I earned my stripes ♪
♪ I'm 'bout mine ♪
♪ Corner bodega Played a nigga... ♪
- Let me get a water, please. - I got you.
♪ That's how I do it... ♪
Yo, Juke.
Been meaning to get at you.
I'm sorry that I missed your audition.
I been dealing with some shit,
and it-it got the best of me.
It's all good, Uncle Lou.
It's not, though. I fucked up.
I know I been saying that a lot lately,
but I'm trying to figure my shit out.
♪ Body, body, body, body ♪
♪ Need a body, body Body, body ♪
♪ Streets need a body, body Body, body... ♪
I like the spot.
♪ I'm too famous... ♪
It's good, right?
♪ Body, body, body, body... ♪
That's your uncle?
That's Uncle Lou, yeah.
He and you tight?
We family.
We all tight...
sort of.
You ever met Juke's friend Nicole?
♪ That's Queens for you ♪
♪ Fiends on every corner... ♪
I did.
She cool?
♪ Triple beams And porterhouse steaks... ♪
No doubt.
Is she pretty?
Nicole a'ight.
♪ Hundred and forty reasons ♪
♪ Why you no longer Breathin' ♪
♪ Bitch ass, we even... ♪
Juke's so dope. Nicole was lucky.
♪ I'm comin' For them payments ♪
♪ In funeral arrangements ♪
♪ I'm kissin' your mama... ♪
Happy to be here with you, Kanan.
♪ Flowers and Hard dick for your girl... ♪
- Pretty good, right? - Mm-hmm.
And he's cute, which never hurts.
♪ See what I mean... ♪
Don't tell me you into all that March November shit, Shirley.
I think it's May December, but, no.
I like my men like you like your whiskey, aged.
I heard that.
He's talented, though, and he's got stage presence.
♪ Streets need a body Body, body, body, body ♪
♪ Streets need a body... ♪
Uh, excuse me for a minute.
♪ Streets, streets Streets need a body... ♪
Hey.
♪ Streets need a body Body, body, body ♪
♪ Streets, streets Streets need a body ♪
- ♪ I'm too famous ♪ - Excuse me.
♪ I'm comin' From the streets ♪
♪ Streets need a body ♪
♪ I wish a nigga would Say something about me... ♪
- You good? - For sure.
You still coming over for dinner with my parents
later this week, right?
No doubt.
Good.
♪ I wish a nigga would Say something about me ♪
♪ Bring out the whole hood Say something about me ♪
♪ The streets need a body... ♪
Yo, I thought Raq was coming through the spot.
I don't know what the fuck she doing.
She got her own life, and I got mine.
♪ Body, body ♪
They think they smell something,
but they're realizing it's just their own stench.
There's no there there, and they know it.
I 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.
Hmm.
Everything OK?
I just got crazy hungry.
Guess I ain't eat in a minute.
Well, tell me what you want. I'll go back and get it.
I appreciate that, but I gotta see what they got.
Can't have you bringing me back no nasty-ass Mounds bar
or some shit.
I'll wait for you outside.
- Thanks. - Mm.
Who's this?
You sure he want to talk to me and not my sister instead?
A'ight.
I'll come through, then.
He's seriously injured, Early.
I can't X-ray him here, but I'm betting he has
multiple skull fractures.
I ain't his daddy.
I don't fucking care about all that.
All I need to know is whether he gonna live long enough
to pay for services provided.
He'll survive, but recovery from head trauma like this
is long and difficult.
I mean, he's gonna need constant care and monitoring.
Someone in his condition should be
in a rehabilitation facility, where he can recover
while under the care of a full medical staff.
That shit ain't gonna happen.
We often see significant personality changes
in people with these kinds of brain injuries.
Can you speak normal, nigga?
'Cause I don't get all that doctor-nese you spitting.
When he wakes up, he could be different
than who he was before.
I mean, it-it's not unusual for people with this kind
of injury to experience significant bouts
of anxiety, even rage.
Like I said, Doc,
I need to know if the fool gonna give me my money,
'cause I came straight out of pocket
for your fucking time tonight,
and it sound like my work ain't even done.
Getting you your money
is gonna be the least of your friend's problems.
Look, while you seem to be out of their crosshairs,
I can't say the same for everybody else in your circle.
The FBI doesn't like to leave a party empty-handed.
And frankly, there's no depths to which they won't stoop
to get an indictment.
You and your family need to keep
your side of the street squeaky-clean
for the foreseeable future.
Let's also acknowledge tonight for the win that it is.
Right now, at this moment, they have nothing at all on you
or anyone else in your circle,
which is inarguably and undeniably good news.
I'll be in touch.
Have a good night.
You too.
Those my blocks.
All of them.
Raq need to step the fuck off.
Tell her I love her, though.
Tell her that.
I'm sure you were surprised to hear from me.
Never- never met you, you know, face-to-face like this before.
Heard good things from my sister, though.
Well, I was really impressed with your work
with our pal from Jersey.
And I wanted to put a name to a face.
Hey, by the way, that job,
executed flawlessly.
Felt like I could've tightened it up in a couple spots,
but I appreciate the kind words.
Yeah.
Hey, uh, so you-you're wondering
why I reached out to you.
And the answer is twofold, my friend.
Uh, first off, as discussed,
you are a true professional,
I mean, and-and in-in a business
that is sorely lacking in that particular area.
And secondly, as was the case with our, uh, late comrade
in Newark, I have a job that, uh, demands,
uh, a little bit of-of distance
and some cover for me.
You need me to do more work for you.
My daughter Paulette, her, uh--
her new husband, Tomasso, he's embarrassing her and me.
And that's unacceptable.
Problem is, is Tomasso's a made guy,
so I can't have one of my own guys
go over there and knock some much-needed sense into him.
You know, it's against the rules.
You Mafia guys seem to find a whole lot of ways
around the rules, though.
Well--
Well, it's, uh--it's not so much the letter of the law
as it is the spirit, if you know what I'm saying.
Anyway, this piece of shit Tomasso,
you know, he's-he's running around on my daughter,
which, in and of itself, it's not the end of the world.
It happens to the best of us.
But the issue is, Tomasso's doing it in such a public way
that it's insulting to my family.
And that's where I come in.
Now, look, this is gonna have to be between the two of us.
That's why I didn't contact your sister.
I don't like mixing my businesses.
It confuses the conversations.
Raq ain't the king of me.
I got my own life and my own interests.
I do what I do.
Yeah. A man after my own heart, eh?
All right, so we're agreed.
All right, you'll-you'll set my son-in-law straight for me,
and we'll keep this to ourselves.
You give me that information.
I'ma roll up on that sucker and see what he talking about.
Marvin, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
I know I say this to you every time that we meet,
but I just cannot help but remember when you were
in the tenth grade and I encouraged you
to take the test to go to Stuyvesant.
That seems like another lifetime ago.
Things turn out how they supposed to, Dr. West.
Our lives are what we make of them, Kanan.
And your grades are what you make of them,
which is why you're here.
Ms. Terrell tells me that if you don't turn in
your research paper on one of your grandparents
before the end of the semester, you'll fail her class,
which will put you in violation
of the terms set forth by the social worker
who's managing your court case.
I told Ms. Terrell I'd do her paper.
I just wanted to do it on something else.
I ain't really got no grandparents to write about.
I spoke to your mother,
who says that both your grandmother
and your late grandfather
have wonderful histories you could explore.
You don't get to decide what work you're assigned, Kanan.
This paper has to get done immediately.
Understood?
Understood.
This is for the pain,
but he really should be in a hospital, Early.
He ain't going nowhere.
I don't know who did this to him,
and I don't know if they still out there,
waiting to finish the damn job.
Just last week, we had a German shepherd
who got hit by a car
- and had similar head trauma. - Hmm.
When the dog finally regained consciousness,
he turned vicious, gave one of my nurses stitches.
We had to put him down.
Well, last time I checked,
this fucked-up nigga ain't a German shepherd.
He paying me for safety and security,
and that's what he getting.
You may be keeping him secure...
...but I can't say that this is safe.
Hell no, you can't write about my family.
You don't even know them.
That's why I'm trying to learn, man.
I mean, they my grandparents too, right?
Could be good for me to know who they are.
Why don't just write about your mother's parents, man?
Nah, then I gotta talk to her.
And I'm really not about that right now.
You can't write about my peoples.
What if somebody put two and two together,
start asking questions,
realize you ain't Def Con's son?
You want people to know you a cop's kid?
Look, I haven't given up on you and me.
I'm still thinking maybe we could connect,
be something to each other.
I mean, we ain't there yet,
but maybe we can get there.
I'm hoping we can get there.
But you...
writing some history paper about my family,
that just ain't smart, yo.
I gotta get back to work.
Hey, yo, for future reference,
showing up to my place of business
is probably not the brightest idea you ever had.
Iesha never stops raving about you, Jukebox...
...which is a nickname I absolutely love.
And I need to know the origin of it.
- Thank you for having me. - Mm.
And Jukebox is what my family call me
'cause I was always singing when I was young.
And what do your parents do, Jukebox?
Actually, my-my moms passed kind of recently.
Iesha told us, and we're sorry about that.
And my dad, he does a whole lot of different things.
Juke's dad is so cool.
He's been to a few of our rehearsals
and says the funniest stuff.
My dad always talking.
So, uh, what are your plans for next year, Jukebox?
Where are you thinking about going to college?
Can Juke just enjoy her dinner
without being interrogated by you guys?
Right now, I'm kind of just focused on Butta, I guess,
seeing where that goes.
Well, this singing group
is a wonderful extracurricular activity
for you girls, but it's a diversion.
It's a lark.
Wow, thanks for stomping
on our hopes and dreams, Mom and Dad.
We are not stomping on anything.
Last time I checked, you've been dreaming
of going to Spelman since you were eight years old.
I'm just saying, not everybody has to have the same dreams.
I'm quite certain Jukebox wants a bright future
for herself, right?
Right.
I don't wanna do it in the car again.
Can't we, like, go to a motel or something?
No.
This nigga don't give a fuck at all.
Does the father know?
No.
Are you planning on telling him?
He's dead.
I'm sorry.
Is that why you're terminating the pregnancy?
Ain't got no room for another kid in my life right now.
Just so you're aware, you are going to need to meet
with one of the clinic's social workers
when you return for your follow-up.
We are just as concerned about your emotional well-being
as we are about your physical health.
Let's get this scheduled.
Yo, Early,
give me the keys to one of them rides, man.
And just where the fuck you think you goin'?
I gotta let Pernessa and Jerome know I'm alive.
Doc says you in the danger zone.
Need to stay your ass in bed.
I'm paying you
to do what the fuck I tell you to do, nigga.
You ain't paid me shit, boy.
I'm still waitin' on my fuckin' money.
Give me them keys.
This fool wanna get behind the wheel.
Can't even walk across my damn kitchen.
Clown-ass motherfucker, man.
Special occasion over here.
From the President
of the United States--
It's not often my grandson comes calling.
So...
to what do I owe this pleasure?
Because you know I love seeing you any chance I get.
Yeah, I'm sorry I haven't come over more often.
I just--I been caught up with school stuff and--
Uh-uh, you don't ever need to apologize to me, baby.
I'm not your mother.
I don't put expectations
and demands on you.
Look, I got this assignment.
Gotta write a research paper on one of my grandparents.
I was thinking I'd write it on Grandpa Elijah.
Like, I done heard so many stories about him,
but I don't know the story, if you know what I'm saying.
I know exactly what you saying,
and I think it's a great idea.
You should know more about your grandfather
because he would have loved you, Kanan.
You have that same spirit he had,
that same belief in yourself.
Look, your grandfather did what he did
because he didn't like his life and the world around him.
Mm, he didn't like me much neither.
But for most of his life, he believed he could do
anything he set his mind to.
That's why he had so many jobs and interests and passions.
Elijah was capable and skilled
and brilliant...
...just like you.
I appreciate that.
You don't have to thank me, baby.
I'm your grandma.
I'm supposed to pile praise on you.
I'm gonna tell you my point of view of your grandfather.
Now, your mother and your uncles,
they're gonna tell you something different.
So I'm not saying I'm right about all this.
I'm just saying, this is how I remember him.
You got your pencil and paper?
Oh, yeah. No doubt.
Elijah Thomas was born in 1925
in Clinch County, Georgia.
His daddy, Charles, worked on the railroads.
And his mama, Ruth, did laundry for white folks.
Yo, Tomasso.
You lost?
My bad. Um, this Fort Greene?
Not even close.
Yeah, you got off on the wrong exit, boy.
Maybe so.
Um, never been good with directions.
Hmm, right, well,
here's some you should follow.
Get the fuck back in your car right now,
and we won't make you eat the fucking curb, OK?
Uh, my bad, I was expecting you to say
that I should make a left at the light
and then my second right or some shit.
But y'all, y'all crackers got different maps
out here, I see.
Y'all have a good night.
This fucking coon.
I mean, does this look like Fort Greene?
I don't see no monkeys swinging from the fucking trees.
Do you?
Come here. Looking insane, bro.
- Is this new? - You like that?
The doctor will walk you through
the actual step-by-step process, but--
Ain't my first time.
Oh.
I didn't see that in your chart.
It was an off-the-books type thing,
when I was a lot younger.
I'll let the doctor know.
And I'll see you in the recovery room.
♪ Come over ♪
♪ Come over... ♪
Does it hurt?
Nah.
Just uncomfortable is all.
It was 'Nique's.
If you wanna drop your jaw or yell or some shit,
do what you gotta do,
'cause I know the shit's gotta be a shock.
Uh, I mean, it's-it's a surprise.
It's a surprise that I was carrying
the baby of the nigga I was trying to kill for years?
Come on, Juke, you gotta give me
something better than that.
OK.
It's a shock.
Like...
I can't even believe it.
Like, I don't even know what to say.
That's more like it.
Of course, you gotta keep this shit to yourself.
♪ Won't you come over... ♪
To the grave, Juke.
No doubt.
Truth is, I can't even believe this shit myself.
Can't believe none of it.
Did you love him?
Think I could have.
This the Elephant Man-looking motherfucker
eating solid food.
Just give me a couple more days.
I'ma be ready to circle back on my brother,
settle this fuckin' score.
You don't wanna do all that right now.
Like I keep saying, I don't give a fuck
about what you think I should or I shouldn't do, Early.
Just hear me out, nigga.
You got a damn superpower at the moment, man.
You invisible.
Everybody think you dead and gone.
Why you wanna go and fuck all that up?
Let the dust settle.
Lay back in the cut, see who comes
to fill that hole you left behind,
'cause whoever step in behind had a hand
in taking you out in the first place.
I don't need to let nothing settle,
'cause I already know who did it.
It was my own fuckin' brother, man.
But maybe he had somebody behind him.
It's a big move for a nigga to make dolo.
Look, point is, element of surprise
is the biggest advantage there is,
and you got that shit in spades right now.
All I'm saying, you ain't paid me shit,
so I gotta protect my investment.
My investment is you, nigga.
You get took out, all my money deaded with you.
Well, I'ma need you to do some recon for me, then...
...see what niggas is talking about out there.
I need to understand the lay of the fuckin' land.
Trust me when I say this.
Just 'cause I'm invisible right now
don't mean you ain't gonna see your fuckin' money, Early.
Every debt I owe is gonna get paid,
every fucking one.
He just gave up, man.
Your grandfather threw up his damn hands
and checked the fuck out.
Didn't think about nobody else when he did it neither,
'cause him being gone made me
having to step up and be daddy to your moms and uncle.
Couldn't be no kid no more
'cause I had to raise Raq and Lou.
Had to help out any way I could.
What your grandfather did
was selfish, man,
and weak.
To him, it felt like it answered all his problems,
but all he did was leave them problems behind
and some new ones, too, for the rest of us to figure out.
So you don't have no good memories of him, then?
Course I do.
I loved that nigga, man.
He was my father.
That's why it hurt so bad.
That's why it stay hurtin'.
Man...
...I remember when he was prizefightin'.
That's when your mom was still young and Lou was a baby.
He'd take me to his fights, and...
I'd see him put fools on they backs.
You know what that's like for a little nigga,
seein' his pops do that to another man?
I remember it- it felt like his muscles was-was my muscles,
like nobody could fuck with me.
See...
I loved him most out of everybody...
...which is why I can't never forgive him.
Man, three weeks of picketing.
Wait till I get my hands on that Tony, huh?
When is this all gonna end?
Wow, this is really getting to you, huh, Roc?
Well, hell yeah, my whole life, I've worked...
It's all Raq out there.
She picked up all the work, man.
And she movin' out of that old Chinese spot
that you was fuckin' with too.
Yeah, I can't say for sure,
but it's also sounding like she getting her supply
from your old connect.
This bitch tell me she done.
And now she got my work?
She let me get shit up and runnin'
just so she could take it from me.
And your brother fuckin' with Raq's kid too.
Ronnie and that boy working together.
So you was right, then, huh?
Raq had Ronnie's back.
They conspirin' against me and shit.
Kanan had Ronnie take me out for his moms
so she could jack my work.
I mean, you jumpin' to a lot of conclusions there,
but some of it sound like it could be real.
That's her fuckin' son, nigga.
That motherfucker don't wipe his nose without her say-so.
They all workin' together against me, man.
Raq do this with every nigga she's ever been with,
from Def Con to High Post.
She plays them, and she takes what they got.
That's how she do.
You ain't been her man like that.
Yo, you got a gat?
Just what you gonna do with it?
Hold it, nigga.
Remember we said that we felt bad
about the situation?
Because you were on strike,
- we wanted to help out? - Yeah.
Well, right now, Pop's out looking for a job.
Oh, that's really nice. What about you?
This bitch think I'm dead.
I ain't never been more fuckin' alive.
What your moms say about your grandfather?
I ain't really talk to her.
Ain't you back home 'cause of the school shit?
That don't mean me and her talkin'.
Well, look, I-I'm still learning shit
about your grandfather that I didn't know.
But here's something your moms and grandmom
don't understand about your grandpa.
Nigga was a creator.
He could take nothing, turn it into something.
He was real good with his hands.
You know, he used to make a lot of the furniture
we had up in the crib.
And I know you know he was a hell of a horn player.
Yeah, I do.
That man could blow, boy.
I mean, he'd get lost in the shit.
He'd close his eyes, he'd blow that horn,
and he was a million miles away,
somewhere better than here.
And he always worked for himself.
He was his own fuckin' man, never licked no nigga boots,
never took no shit from nobody.
Wish I could say the fuckin' same about myself.
You know, I used to be real angry at him
for leaving us like he did.
I'd lie up my bed at night,
scream into my pillow so no one could hear me
raging at that motherfucker.
Now that I'm older, though...
...I understand him better,
understand why he did what he did better too.
Death gotta be easy, kid,
'cause life is fucking hard.
Yo, Mikey, I'm sorry about that check.
I thought you saw me coming.
No, you didn't.
You're right, I didn't.
Fuck you, Tomasso.
Oh, don't get your panties in a bunch.
You're fine.
Who the dumb ofay motherfucker,
standing out in some brick-ass cold,
peeped a fucking sheet of ice and thought, yo,
let's slide around on that shit
with fucking sticks in our hands?
I got off on the right exit this time, white boy.
Who the fuck are you?
You been disrespecting your wife
with that other bitch.
I'm here to tell you to knock that shit off.
You following my directions, nigga?
Say it out loud, motherfucker!
All right, I hear you.
Yeah.
You did.
What you doing?
Working on this paper on Grandpa Elijah.
Oh, yeah. School called me on that.
Meant to talk to you about it,
but I got caught up in other things.
So you ain't got no questions for me about your grandfather?
I mean, you know I was his favorite.
I talked to Grandma, Uncle Marvin, and Uncle Lou.
They gave me what I needed.
You know it don't matter to me what you think of me, Kanan?
Don't matter to me at all.
I don't need you to love me for me to love you back.
You understand what I'm saying?
I love you so much...
...don't matter if you hate me.
So happy to hear from you, Laverne.
I just wanted to say thank you
for telling me about that audition.
Uh, I decided to try out after all,
and I got picked for the group.
Oh, my gosh!
That is such wonderful news.
Oh, I am so happy for you.
Nicole would be so happy for you.
Wow, but I thought you said you were tired of singing,
that you didn't-- you didn't wanna do it anymore.
Um, thought I'd give it a shot.
- Yeah. - Owe it to myself, I guess.
Well, you did, and you do.
I'm so proud for you.
- Thanks. - Here you go, honey.
Mm, there was something I wanted to ask you.
Please.
I remember Nicole saying to me one time
that you were in the army back in the day.
Mm.
I was just wondering what that was like
and how you felt about it, all that.
Are you thinking about enlisting
in-in-in the military?
It's something I'm considering.
Hmm.
Well, I-I was, um, on an ROTC scholarship
in college, which requires
four years of service after graduation.
I served in the intelligence branch.
And, uh, you know, for-for me, the service, um, helped.
It taught me discipline, commitment,
um, might have given me some direction that I lacked.
But, you know, the-the army is not for everyone, uh, Laverne.
It's a very conservative institution,
uh, especially...
when it--when it comes to c-certain, um,
societal issues.
But look, you're gonna be a huge pop star,
so you're not gonna have time for anything else.
Tell me--tell me about the, uh--the group.
Mm, it's called Butta, with a A.
Ooh, Butta with an A. I love it.
I'm gonna buy 20 copies of the record
just because of the name alone.
Butta.
- Yeah. - Wow.
Wow! I'm so proud of you.
Thank you.
We ain't open yet.
Not here for a drink, Lou.
Oh, shit.
It's Jess.
It's me.
Fame told me he was working here a while ago.
Mm.
- I like it. - No, you don't.
It ain't high-post enough for you.
I'm still a Southside Jamaica girl, Lou.
I won't ever change.
That Cali life look good on you, though.
It never rains over there.
It feels like you're always on vacation.
Shit, I could use a vacation.
You could do big things in LA.
Mm, and, what,
leave all this behind?
I heard about Crown.
Crown, yeah.
That nigga's dirt finally caught up to him.
And they still don't know who did it?
Crown was owing crazy loot to a lot of people.
Anyway, I'm in town for a minute,
just doing some label meetings.
Family doesn't even know I'm here,
but I wanted to stop by and see you.
Now you see me.
You know, I tell the people I work with
about you all the time.
I'm always talking about how talented
and smart you are,
how one day, we all gonna be working for Lou Thomas.
Anyway, I gotta get going.
But I'll-I'll be back in New York soon,
so maybe I'll come through and see you.
Or don't.
That'd be OK too.
You know, one day, you're gonna have to forgive yourself
for all this shit that wasn't even your fault
in the first place.
I miss you.
Man, you got us out here all day and night,
delivering shit.
You gotta make it worth our while.
We need more money.
So the other niggas sent you in here
to negotiate with me for they fucking raises.
They know I'm about business.
I'm paying y'all way more
than Paul was hitting you off for his courier shit.
But Paul was only working us nine to five
Monday to Friday.
You got us out here 24-7.
You making 24-7 money.
Ain't enough.
A'ight, I'll run some numbers.
I'll get back to y'all, and I'll see what's good.
Word.
I'll let the crew know.
Everybody always want something.
Shit never end.
You can't ever control the money coming in.
You can only control what's going out.
What the fuck you know about it, Krystal?
My father owned a health food store.
And before he bounced on us,
he was always telling me this stuff.
What else your father have to say?
If everyone else going one way,
you go the other
'cause that's where the opportunity is.
Where he get that shit, a cereal box or something?
Hello.
Grandma, where are you?
I'm on the way.
It's my grandmother.
She at the hospital.
I gotta go. I'll get at you later.
Well, you want me to come with you?
Come on, Marvin, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit.
Here, try this on for size, huh?
Here, let me light it for you.
Yeah, there you go. There you go.
Hey, so Tomasso
just booked a cruise to the Bahamas
for him and Paulette.
So whatever you said did the trick.
I just told him a good woman's hard to find.
Hey, so's a dismembered body.
Hey, Marvin, I owe you one.
And believe me, that's great news for you.
You must be the grandson.
Yeah.
I'll let you two talk.
Thank you.
Grandma, what happened?
I fainted. It's no big deal.
Happens at my age.
They're gonna discharge me in about an hour or so,
which is why I called you.
I could use a little help getting home.
Yeah, of course.
Uh...
why-why did you faint, though?
This boy always asks the right questions.
Your grandmother has kidney cancer.
The treatment makes me weak sometimes,
which is what happened today.
But I'm OK.
Like I said, they're letting me go home.
Uh, do Mom and Uncle Marvin
and Uncle Lou know?
You're the only one in the family who knows.
And I'd like to keep it that way.
I don't want everyone coming around,
making this about themselves
and all they problems with they mother.
I'm asking you to keep this to yourself.
I got you.
I know.
Louis,
you can't drive like this.
- I'm all right. - You're not.
- I'm all right. - You're not. You're not.
I'm not gonna let you get behind that wheel.
You give me those keys and let me drive
this shit into a fucking tree.
I'm not letting you do that.
Over here.
All right.
In we go.
All right, here's a step.
There we go.
All right.
Now got a step here.
That's it. That's it.
That's it.
So how are you feeling--
your feelings, that is?
How are your feelings feeling?
They fine.
I'm fine.
Your chart says that the father is recently deceased.
I'm sure that makes for some complicated emotions.
Well, the only thing that makes it complicated
is conversations like this.
That kind of a loss, coupled with a terminated pregnancy,
is a lot to grapple with.
Everybody loses something every day--
time, money, people.
It all comes and goes.
And you can fight that shit all you want,
cry about how it ain't fair,
but it ain't gonna change shit.
You expecting me to kick and scream
about what I gave up here and what I lost before,
but I don't do that.
That ain't me.
It ain't never gonna be me.
You spend time crying about what you lost,
you never get shit.
And I'ma get mines.
You can be goddamn sure of that.
My feelings is good.
Nobody need to worry about them,
and nobody need to worry about me.
I appreciate your time.
Now here we are,
back where the fuck we started.
See, you thought you knew everything.
But turns out, you didn't,
'cause nobody know everything.
And it's better that way,
'cause if you knew everything, you'd know too much.
You'd know how many times you'd been lied to,
how many times you done lied to yourself.
You'd know how many times you came close to dying
and how many times you almost made somebody die.
And knowing about them lies and dying,
that ain't no fucking way to live.
♪ Casualties of war ♪
Not at all.
♪ Casualties of war ♪
♪ As I approached The barricade ♪
♪ Where's the enemy Who do I invade ♪
♪ Bullets of Teflon Bulletproof vest rip ♪
♪ Tear you out of your frame With a bag full of clips ♪
♪ 'Cause I got a family That waits for my return ♪
♪ To get back home Is my main concern ♪
♪ I'ma gonna get back To New York in one piece ♪
♪ But I'm bent in the sand ♪
♪ That is hot As the city streets ♪
♪ Sky lights up Like fireworks blind me ♪
♪ Bullets whistling Over my head remind me ♪
♪ President Bush said attack ♪
♪ Flashback to 'Nam I might not make it back ♪
♪ Missile hits the area ♪
♪ Screams wake me up From a war of dreams ♪
♪ Heat up the M-16 ♪
♪ Basic training Trained for torture ♪
♪ Take no prisoners And I just caught ya ♪
♪ Addicted to murder Send more body bags ♪
♪ They can't identify them Leave the name tag ♪
♪ I get a rush When I see blood ♪
♪ Dead bodies on the floor ♪
♪ Casualties of war ♪
♪ Day divides the night And night divides the day ♪
♪ It's all hard work And no play ♪
♪ More than combat It's far beyond that ♪
♪ Cause I got A kill-or-be-killed ♪
♪ Kind of attack ♪
♪ Areas mapped out ♪
♪ There'll be no Stratego ♪
♪ Me and my platoon make a ♪