[Meech] After tonight,
everybody gonna know who the 50 Boyz are.
[tense music plays]
If y'all don't stop, bodies gon' drop.
- Fuck you, nigga. - Fuck.
Step to the side till you're ready to order.
- Step aside? - Yeah.
A'ight.
[grunts]
When you see Duka, you tell him
that Lamar Silas is back in town.
[Charles] He don't need his mama to protect him.
He done went and got a gun.
Pops, it's not like that.
Then what's it like, Demetrius?
I heard you were out.
Man, I came straight to see you and Zo.
I need you to set a better example for Terry
or leave him alone altogether.
I'm guessing your pockets is kind of low.
If you want to fill 'em, you run with us.
That nigga's still institutionalized.
Fuck being bosses.
We gon' be kings, Tee.
Kings of the motherfucking D, man.
[tense hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪
[gunshot, bullet clatters]
♪ ♪
[Melle Mel & Duke Bootee's "Message II (Survival)"]
♪ ♪
[engine revving]
[tires squealing]
[Older Meech] Everybody in the game knows the risks.
Getting locked up, ganked, or smoked is a part of it.
[tires screech]
But you don't think about that before you get in.
You just thinking about how sweet the whole thing look.
[engine revving]
When we was growing up, every kid in our hood
wanted to be like Billy Sims, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas,
and all the other Black stars on the Michigan sports teams.
But not me and Tee.
We wanted to be like the Chambers brothers,
who the movie New Jack City was based on,
and YBI, Young Boys Incorporated,
who all the Detroit D-boys patterned themselves after.
YBI was the first crew in the city to only hire kids.
All them dudes had money,
women, clothes, and fly whips.
But more than anything, they had respect.
[Melle Mel] ♪ Survival ♪
♪ Only the strong Can survive ♪
♪ It's called survival ♪
♪ Only the strong Can survive ♪
-♪ It's called survival ♪ -[pedestrian yelps]
-[tires squealing] -♪ In order to stay alive ♪
-[pedestrian whimpers] -♪ It's called survival ♪
♪ Survival, survival, Survival ♪
[Meech] Yo, Tee!
Terry! Where you at?
Tee!
Where's Terry Flenory at? Terry, where you at?
- Terry! Tee! -[man 1] Hey!
-[man 2] He's got a gun! - What the hell?
Yo, Terry! Tee, where you at?
Drop it right there!
I'm looking for my brother.
Back off, Lopez. I know this man.
He's got a gun, Brian.
I said back off.
I'm in control of the situation.
Secure your weapon.
Now.
[tense music plays]
[phone rings in distance]
Where my brother at, man?
You can see him as soon as you hand that piece over.
♪ ♪
Meech.
Give me the gun.
[curtain rattles]
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
Yo, Tee.
I'm here, man.
Meechie?
Yo, tell Mom and them I'm so sorry.
[machinery beeping]
Please look after Terry Jr. for me.
You gon' be fine.
♪ ♪
[machinery beeping rapidly]
- What's going on? -[nurse] Page Dr. Hall to OR2.
[nurse] Order two units O negative.
He's unresponsive. We gotta go now.
-Confirm cross-rate. -[Meech] Yo, Tee!
You gon' be straight, man!
Unless you tell me something your brother didn't,
this looks like an attempted carjacking.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
[phone ringing]
[siren wailing in distance]
What the fuck, man? Is Tee straight?
They're working on him now.
- Who the fuck shot him? - I don't know.
But we gotta lock shit down,
and we gotta move that damn stash.
We don't know if this is an isolated incident
or the start of something different.
Shit, we could use that uh, backup stash house we got.
Do that. Now, Sockie, pull some muscle
we trust off the streets to look after my family.
And hire some goons to cover our boys on the corners.
Nigga, we already stretched pretty thin,
not to mention hired goons ain't the most reliable.
Nigga, I don't give a fuck.
I want motherfuckers I can trust on my family
until I can figure shit out.
What you gon' do?
Finna find the motherfucker who shot my brother.
[siren wailing]
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
It's because of you, ain't it?
No, Mama. Somebody tried to rob him.
Don't lie to me!
- Mama, no! - Don't lie to me!
Lucille, Lucille! Come on.
Let it go. Let it go.
If he dies, it's on you.
I told you to stay away from him.
I told you to stay away from him!
[Older Meech] Looking back now,
I can see how naive I was.
But the thing is, you don't ever play the dope game.
It plays you.
And I just didn't know that yet.
[Charlie] ♪ I got everything On the line ♪
♪ I'm out here I'm on the grind ♪
♪ Trying to get mine ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ A nigga move the weight ♪
♪ Trying to get the cake ♪
♪ I'm in and out of state ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ Too many niggas fake ♪
♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪
♪ One more flip And I'm straight ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ I don't go hand to hand ♪
♪ It go gram after gram ♪
♪ Yeah, holla at me, man ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ Too many niggas fake ♪
♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪
♪ One more flip And I'm straight ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
[50 Cent] ♪ The D's ain't that good ♪
♪ These niggas is ratting ♪
♪ They tell them What's going on ♪
♪ That's how they know What's happening ♪
♪ I'm riding With the top down ♪
♪ Trunk full of yola ♪
♪ Ghetto pharmaceutical ♪
♪ I move that Coca-Cola ♪
♪ Thousand grams of pure ♪
♪ Though I fuck With the weirdos ♪
♪ They snort away the pain ♪
♪ Bang their dope In their vein ♪
♪ Shorty crying Christmas ain't coming ♪
♪ Her pop's locked up ♪
♪ When it hurts the worst ♪
♪ Your ace find out She knocked up ♪
♪ Welfare ain't an option ♪
♪ When the Feds come knocking ♪
♪ It's all fucked up So wish me luck ♪
[Charlie] ♪ At least You could wish me luck ♪
♪ A nigga move the weight ♪
♪ Trying to get the cake ♪
♪ I'm in and out of state ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ Too many niggas fake ♪
♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪
♪ One more flip And I'm straight ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ I don't go hand to hand ♪
♪ It go gram after gram ♪
♪ Yeah, holla at me, man ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ Too many niggas fake ♪
♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪
♪ One more flip And I'm straight ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ Wish me luck ♪
♪ At least you could Wish me luck ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, wish me luck ♪
♪ Wish me luck ♪
♪ All you got to do Is wish me luck, yeah ♪
[Jay Mo] Told that nigga,
stop fucking playing with me, nigga.
Y'all cold over here
because y'all ain't making no money.
Nigga, I ain't cold. I'm hot.
Make sure y'all don't be ass-betting over there, man.
Hope that wasn't your re-up, lil' nigga.
[Filmel] Step to him, Mo. You know what it is.
Hey, hey, yo, heads up.
It's fucking Fruit Loops, two o'clock.
Man, you strapped?
[Filmel] You already know.
Yo. Jay Mo.
[hip-hop music plays]
So, man, you serious about that job?
Nope.
We good on 12th Street, my nigga.
We don't hire from Special Olympics.
[laughs]
Hey, old head, you shot me down.
Why the sudden change of heart?
Look, man, my days is past, all right?
I want the king of these streets
to actually come from Ecorse.
A'ight, you know, I help you to the crown.
You give me a cut. [laughs]
You's a smooth motherfucker, huh?
Shoot.
I know you not taking this bum-ass nigga serious.
Look at him.
[Jay Mo] Let me handle this shit.
Slick, you know this motherfucker?
[Slick] I heard of this nigga.
- Who ain't? -[Jay Mo] Good.
'Cause I'm breaking him off with you, running pickups.
Do that well, maybe we'll see about something else.
A'ight, I promise you, you will not regret it.
12th Street, nigga.
- Come on, nigga. -[Lamar] A'ight.
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ Blow ya mind Out of sight ♪
♪ My people fly people ♪
♪ We rock Till the morning light ♪
Good.
Keep the change.
Shit.
Ooh!
Thanks.
[both laugh]
- Yo. - Yo.
You came through.
Hell yeah, bruh. Hey, Pop's working late, so...
Hey, yo, let's invite some ladies over.
You might even get lucky, you feel me?
[sarcastic laughter]
Come on, bruh. Let's go, man, let's go.
[tense music plays]
You the nigga talking at the party the other night.
What, y'all can't take a joke?
Shit.
You think popping my brother's
fucking funny, nigga?
Laugh now, nigga.
I ain't shoot nobody, man.
Do I look like a fucking sucker to you?
[suspenseful music plays]
Me and Terry had words,
but we ain't never beef on nothing serious.
I ain't even that type of nigga,
and I'll put that on my mama.
♪ ♪
Nigga, you know what the fuck gon' happen
if I find out you lying?
Dawg, I'm being straight up with you, bruh.
Square bidness.
Oh, fuck.
I ain't shoot nobody, man.
Check that shit.
Bitch-ass nigga.
[ominous music plays]
♪ ♪
[baby fussing]
[suspenseful music plays]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
Where am I, Mama?
You had surgery.
How you feel?
[sighs] Like I wanna throw up.
Where's--where's Meech?
He been gone all night.
[Lawanda] They got the bullet out.
But said it might be a while before you feel normal again.
Do you remember what happened?
Any idea who'd want to do this?
What about your brother?
He got you caught up in any of his street mess?
- Charles. - What?
Terry needs to rest, okay?
Well, I need some damn answers.
What about you, Nikki?
You know if Terry's involved with Meech?
No. Not- not that I know of.
Don't lie to me!
I'm not.
Oh, my God, this is crazy.
[Lucille] Okay, you know what?
I think we need to go change clothes,
and a bite to eat might do us all some good, okay?
Yeah, go ahead.
We'll stay with Terry.
Okay.
We love you.
I love you, too, Mama.
[phone ringing in distance]
Thank you, sweetheart.
[hip-hop music plays]
[singer] ♪ Last call ♪
[Lamar laughing]
Nigga, what's happening?
- Slick, nigga? - Hey, man.
- Slick? -[Slick] Look, man.
That's what they call you now?
- You know what it is. - What happened to P-M?
New day, new game, you know what I'm saying?
Had to reinvent myself.
- A'ight. - Rebrand on these niggas.
[laughs]
How long you been out, man?
Shit, I been out a few days.
Just trying to figure out how our crew fell apart so fast.
Shit, man.
Look, when you went away, nigga,
I held shit down best I could, but I ain't have no product.
I had to work for the nigga who did.
Now, what you on, bruh? I know you ain't out here
trying to pop on no corner right now.
What's your play?
Man, nigga, even if I did have a war to fight,
I ain't got no army.
Since when that ever stopped you?
This nigga. Come on, man.
- Hey, man. - Hm?
I did hear that Jay Mo put the hit on the Flenory kid.
That's the word?
Shit, I don't know them dudes like that.
- Oh, shit. - But, you know, shit,
I probably would have popped him myself,
'cause you know I hate them soft-ass light-skinned niggas.
I ain't been soft since I came out my mama pussy.
A'ight, look, the point is, nigga, spread the fucking word.
- I got you. - A'ight?
Make sure niggas is strapped up and alert.
All right.
If Meech and them didn't want no funk before,
they sure as hell will once this comes out, huh?
- Hell, yeah. - Sho nuff.
My nigga.
[Timex Social Club's "Rumors"]
[singer] ♪ How do rumors Get started? ♪
♪ They're started By the jealous people ♪
♪ And they get mad Seeing something they had ♪
♪ And somebody else Is holding ♪
[Older Meech] In the hood, rumors pass around
faster than the clap.
And dope boys gossip
more than women at their hair salons.
Long before cell phones and texting,
we had the hood network,
and it was like a game of telephone.
I got you, you know what I mean?
[Older Meech] Nobody ever knew if the shit was true or not.
But if we heard it,
we acted like it was.
We had to.
[singer] ♪ I just need Some time ♪
♪ Some time to get away from ♪
♪ From all these rumors ♪
♪ I can't take it no more ♪
♪ My best friend said There's one out now ♪
♪ About me And the girl next door ♪
♪ Stop spreading ♪
♪ Those rumors around ♪
♪ Stop spreading Those rumors around ♪
[Kato] This place cool.
[B-Mickie] Nah, this place is smart, a'ight?
We got a back entrance if we ever need to escape.
Got a driveway to get shit in and out.
I guess Terry knows what he's doing.
Me, Meech, and Terry know what the fuck we doing.
[dog barking in distance]
You check around?
Yeah. It's clear.
Back room got a shitty-ass Jacuzzi, though.
[laughs]
So have at it, bath boy.
Did you bring your lavender bubbles too?
[laughs]
Look, I know you from the South and all,
but you gotta have something mixed in you, some Indian.
Why? 'Cause I'm a Black woman
with straight hair and good skin?
Nah, it ain't even like that.
You different.
You don't talk or act like the girls usually do in the D.
Damn sure don't look like it.
[soft music plays]
♪ ♪
Yo.
Word on the street is,
Jay Mo the one that put the hit out on Tee.
Who the fuck told you that shit?
You ain't the only one that know how to ear hustle.
If that shit's true, that nigga's dog water.
[indistinct conversation in distance]
[suspenseful music plays]
I thought you said Terry and them
never spend no time here.
[B-Mickie] Far as I know, they don't. Why?
This is my house!
[both grunt]
[dramatic music plays]
[both grunting]
Get the fuck off me!
Move! Get down!
What the hell?
[both grunting]
♪ ♪
[Kato] Shit.
We gotta tell Meech.
Nigga, hell nah. That nigga gon' have my head.
Yo, that is a whole eighth.
Six fucking thousand dollars we gotta account for.
Yo, let's sweep it up, re-package it.
Re-package it?
We cannot have roach legs in the damn work.
Hey, man.
That's some good shit.
[both] Shut the fuck up.
[indistinct chatter]
Zo.
Hey.
How you doing?
It's me, Daddy.
Why are you here?
I- I just got out of the hospital,
and I'm all better now.
I wanted--I'm here to see you.
I got you this.
[sighs]
Where do you want to go?
Huh?
I'll take you wherever you want.
Anywhere. Belle Isle?
Huh? Boblo? Cedar Point?
I don't think I'm supposed to go with you.
Come on, Zoe. Look, I'll--I'll--
I'll go take you to go meet your mother.
How about that? Huh?
I'll let you drive.
Um, I'm sorry.
Zo. Zoe, come back.
[teacher] Hey, hey. Excuse me, sir.
[Lamar] I just want to talk.
Hey, look, that's my daughter.
She doesn't want to talk to you.
How the fuck do you know what my daughter wants, huh?
Sir, if you don't leave right now,
I'm calling the police.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
A'ight.
You got some-- uh, some in your hair.
- I'm good. -[door opens]
[Meech] Man, what the fuck is going on?
I got jumped.
You know what?
I don't know if you got bad luck or something,
but we need to get rid of your ass.
Every time some shit happen,
your ass is always in the middle.
Meech, this was on me, dawg, a'ight?
I ain't check the back door.
But we ain't lose too much product
or anything, so we a'ight.
Nigga, this fucking crib's been compromised.
Okay. Cool.
We'll move the shit over to my mom's house.
We'll wait there, find a new spot.
[dog barking in distance]
Now, what the fuck we gon' do
with this nigga right here, huh?
This my house.
Nigga, get the fuck up, nigga.
Fuck off.
Get your ass up out of here, man.
Hey, you ain't seen any of us, right?
But can I get some of that--
Get the fuck up out of here, man.
Crazy-ass nigga.
[door creaks, thuds]
[door creaking]
I know you got a lot on your plate.
You know I still got your back.
I caught that nigga Kwame at the liquor store
and pressed that nigga.
Nigga Tee been beefing with?
Hell yeah. But it wasn't him.
So I gave that little nigga a pass.
You pressed his ass in public?
Nigga, hell yeah.
Fuck, I can't have niggas thinking
they can just run up and touch us like that.
Right, right.
But what if dawg didn't convince you?
You would have shot him in front of all them people?
What?
Yo, what the fuck is up with you, man?
[suspenseful music plays]
Man, you been my man for over ten years.
I know when something up with you, nigga.
♪ ♪
Streets been saying the man behind all this is Jay Mo.
[Meech] Oh, yeah?
But you confronting me about pressing Kwame in public
in case in gotta pop him.
You know, Jay Mo do make more sense,
if you think about it.
Yo, Tee did pull a fucking gun on them niggas, man.
Yeah, well, maybe it's time for you to find a better way
to communicate with this nigga.
Just move the fucking stash, man.
I got to do every fucking thing.
[tense music plays]
[indistinct chatter]
[equipment beeps]
Tee.
Yo, Tee.
Man, what the hell are you doing in here?
I came to see about my brother, man.
How you doing? You straight?
Hell, nah.
They got me doped up on all this damn pain medication.
Shit, at least you still here.
- One eye and all. -[laughs]
Can't even get no ass with one eye, man.
How you gon' see ladies with one eye?
- Fuck you, yo. -[both laughing]
Nah.
You look good.
[Meech] Look.
♪ ♪
They say Jay Mo the one that popped you.
Jay Mo? [scoffs]
Man, that fool shakes
at the sound of his own footsteps.
[laughs]
[Terry] I doubt that.
Well, it ain't Kwame.
I pulled up on that fool. He damn near shit his pants.
[both chuckle]
But- but what if it's that nigga Lamar?
I mean, we did take his corners.
Everybody took his corners.
Yeah, but you took his baby moms, Meech.
Man, Zoe not even his. A'ight?
And if nigga has static with me over Monique,
why he ain't come after me then?
The hell if I know.
Look, you--[sighs]
You need to leave all this shit alone
and just focus on the business, Meech,
so we don't fall behind.
Taking care of the motherfucker
who popped my brother,
that is my bidness.
Meech.
- Nah, bro. Look. -[Terry] Meech.
Worry about getting yourself better.
A'ight? I got this.
[suspenseful music plays]
You too heavy-handed with this shit.
Treat this like a lady.
Like you got some damn class.
Nigga, I know what the fuck I'm doing.
[Slick] I don't know if you do, 'Mar.
[engine rumbles, tires squeal]
Shit.
- Hey, motherfucker. - That's Mo.
Are you out your rabid-ass mind?
First you show up to my house unannounced,
and then you just pop up at my daughter's school?
Why was Zoe so shook to see me?
Huh?
What the fuck you been telling her?
[Monique] Zoe didn't know you were out.
So why the fuck would you just pop up at her school?
I'm her goddamn daddy!
I don't need to make no motherfucking announcement.
You are not Zoe's father.
I let her call you that when we were together, nigga,
but y'all ain't blood.
Look, Zoe thought you were sick for the past two years,
so she prayed for you every night.
So for you to just show up to her fucking school
with some cheap-ass stuffed animal--
Zoe's got a right for her family
to be together, you understand?
Lamar, you don't think that we're gonna be together, right?
I'm trying to do what's best for our family!
Then stay your crazy ass the fuck away from me and Zoe.
Or what? Hmm?
You can't keep ignoring me.
And you sure as hell can't keep parading
that squirmy-ass little nigga in front of our kid.
[Slick] All right, all right. Look, look.
You hear me? Huh?
- All right, Mar, hey. - Huh?
Mo, get on. You said your piece.
Talk some sense into your friend, P-M,
with his dumb ass.
-[Slick] Come on, man. - You stupid motherfucker.
[screams]
[breathing heavily]
- I got neighbors, my nigga. - Man, shut the fuck up.
- A'ight. - Shut the fuck up.
A'ight, come on. Want to smoke?
[percussive music plays]
♪ ♪
[Older Meech] We was young and hungry.
I didn't want us falling into the typical D-Boy trap.
You know, where I beef out
with Jay Mo or somebody and shoot him.
[gunshot]
Then he comes back and kills me.
[gunshot]
Then Tee merc his ass,
and Jay Mo's kids go after him.
[rapid gunfire]
I was looking for a way to sort shit out
that wouldn't result in body pileups.
♪ ♪
-[indistinct chatter] - I got you.
That shit shouldn't take you all night.
[indistinct chatter]
What up doe?
You in the wrong hood to be whipping up like that, nigga.
Come on, man. With all that bullshit, man?
Chill. Hey, look.
I'm trying to make your life better.
What you think, I'm one of your skeezes, nigga?
Nah.
But I seen the way your motherfucker eye twinkle
when I made that offer to Jay Mo.
Nigga, you ain't see shit.
You better get your eyes checked.
Come on, Filmel.
Now, you been a businessman who been all about his paper.
But look, though, when you in these streets,
nigga, you either winning or you not.
Now, right now, I'm trying to give you the opportunity
to come make more money than you ever fucking imagined.
All you gotta do is help me get rid of the motherfucker
holding us both back so you can become top dog.
[suspenseful music plays]
Man, sell that shit to somebody else, Meech.
I ain't buying.
Hey, look, offer ain't gonna stand forever.
Yeah, a'ight.
[tense music plays]
And you won't be standing--
yo, get the fuck out of here, Meech!
Take that shit up to 50, nigga. You know what time it is.
[dramatic music plays]
[car door thuds, engine turns over]
[baby fussing]
- Yeah? -[baby crying]
[woman] Somebody page the doctor.
[suspenseful music plays]
Terry, where are you going?
I'm going to see about my brother.
Baby, stop. You can't leave the hospital.
What are you doing?
Wanda, just watch the baby.
[Lawanda] No, come here. You got to go.
-[ears ringing] -[gasps]
Terry!
-Oh, my God, help! -[man] Help me get him up.
[baby crying]
[tense music plays]
[woman moaning]
[singer] ♪ I feel good ♪
♪ Real good ♪
[upbeat R&B music plays]
[moaning continues]
♪ ♪
♪ Wanna make you feel good ♪
♪ Feel good ♪
♪ I think I'm falling ♪
[moaning continues]
[sighs] That's high spirit.
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ But I just Can't hide ♪
♪ So I keep my distance ♪
How'd it go in there, big dog?
Mm, shit, slip and slide.
You know how that go.
Thanks, baby. See you tomorrow?
Same place, different position.
Mm.
-[Lamar] Mm-hmm. -[Slick slurps drink]
[Lamar] Man, she got ass for days, don't she?
Yeah, she got a whole bunch of other shit, too, nigga.
You know I could've hooked you up, right, man?
Yeah, you know, beggars can't be picky.
Plus, it's been two years,
and I don't like to overstep my boundaries.
You can go on and keep those. You can kill those, man.
Thanks.
Hey, man, so what you saying about Meech?
I heard he made a play for Filmel.
See, that was smooth.
That young un trying to take out
the 12th Street Boys from inside-out.
Yeah, but see the thing is, Filmel, man,
he a soldier that pisses blood.
Plus he's loyal as fuck to Jay Mo.
What's that about?
[Slick] Him and Jay Mo went
to fucking school together back in the day.
I'm pretty sure Mel told Meech
to get on with that smooth-talking shit.
You know, smooth talk's for pussies.
Filmel, though,
he sound like a real one.
Yeah.
You know what, my brother?
Speaking of smooth talking...
Mm.
You might want to tighten up your game with Monique,
know what I mean?
See, all that rough shit,
you know, it works for certain broads
and all that.
But, you know, sometimes, you gotta be a little bit more,
um, a little bit more refined, you know what I'm saying?
A'ight. P-M Suave.
Lay it on me.
All right, now. [clears throat]
Now, look, man, going away for that long, man,
you gotta understand, it makes shit tougher, brother.
Now, if you want to get back in good graces
with Mo and your daughter,
you gotta show them that every part of your being
is devoted to them.
How the fuck I do that?
I don't know, nigga.
Make her a slow jams tape or some shit.
You know bitches love music.
The point is, man,
you just gotta convince her about how you really feel.
[R&B music plays]
Excuse me, ma'am. You have a pen I can borrow?
What you doing, man?
Thank you. Appreciate it.
Man, what you about to do, draw a picture?
Smooth talking.
[tense music plays]
[woman] You ready?
[man] I can handle this shit.
Nigga, I know none of y'all ain't scared.
Yo!
Fuck y'all doing standing around
looking like dicks without balls?
Why Meech ain't pop Jay Mo?
Hey.
I heard he tried to make a deal with Filmel.
What's up with that?
That ain't something for y'all to be questioning.
I'm just saying.
If the nigga ain't gon' ride for his own brother,
- Why would he do it for us? -[man] Right.
Because we paying y'all.
Now get y'all monkey asses back on the post
before I kick both of y'all asses.
And look. I know how y'all feel.
But what if Jay Mo ain't do it?
Meech kills him and start a war.
How many of y'all willing to stand
on hot blocks for the wrong dude?
Armageddon's already started.
Those 12th Street niggas are walking around strapped,
on high alert, expecting us to clap back, man.
Meech don't want us taking no unnecessary shots.
Now, Kato, you know I ain't scared of shit.
We ain't neither.
But that don't mean we want to get in a shootout.
Hey, hey, hey, one thing I know about this nigga Meech,
he's thinking about shit I ain't never thought about.
So if he ain't taken Jay Mo ass out,
he for damn sure has a reason.
When is the last time either of you seen Meech
or Tee not have our backs?
Then continue to play your position,
and we gon' play ours.
All right.
Y'all better figure this shit out.
[tense music plays]
Hey, get y'all asses up.
Shit, nice teamwork.
All day, but that shit ain't gon' last.
♪ ♪
I just did that.
What's going on?
Terry's got an infection.
They're worried it moved into his brain.
[Charles] If you cared,
you would have been here instead of out in them streets.
Pops, it's not my fault, all right?
Somebody tried to jack him.
Is that why your drug-dealing goons been following us around?
What? You didn't think we'd notice?
He's here now, baby. That's all that matters.
[phone ringing]
[suspenseful music plays]
♪ ♪
What up doe?
[Sockie] Nicole out here
venturing in 12th Street territory, man.
What the fuck you talking about, man?
She 'posed to be next door.
[Sockie] Yeah, well,
I just seen her come out the arcade off of Visger.
All right, bet. I'm on my way.
On your way where?
You just got here.
Ma, look, I'm just making a quick run, a'ight?
I'll be right back. This is important.
What's more important than your own flesh and blood?
[Lucille] Demetrius, don't do this.
Demetrius.
[siren wailing in distance]
[B-Mickie] Hey. Hey, look, we got a problem.
Deal with it. I got a bigger one.
Bruh, deal with it? I'm talking dissension, dawg.
That shit you did, going to Filmel, it look weak.
Man, I don't give a fuck how it look.
Nigga, we need to dead Jay Mo ass.
Nigga, you don't even for sure know
if that nigga shot my brother, man.
Nigga, it's the fact that niggas think that he did.
You gotta respond.
You see, gun-happy niggas like you
is the reason real playas always getting knocked, nigga.
I ain't doing a motherfucking thing until I get the truth.
[tense music plays]
What happened to that King of Detroit shit, huh?
Show me a king that never dropped a body
on the way to the throne.
♪ ♪
Nigga, I know for a fact,
if somebody shot my brother,
I'd been scorched the earth by now.
Oh, yeah?
Well luckily, Tee ain't your brother.
Now do what I fucking said.
[siren wailing in distance]
[dramatic music plays]
[doctor] Terry is out of surgery and resting,
and we cleaned out the infection,
but we can't say how well
his eye is going to heal right now.
Are- are you saying that my son might lose his vision?
There's just no way
to determine anything at the moment.
[Charles] How the hell did that happen?
His vision was fine before he went back in
for the second surgery.
Somebody messed up?
No procedure is without risk.
But we always strive to give our patients the best care.
Did you make a mistake?
I'm sorry. I can't answer that.
[phone ringing in distance]
If my son is seeing anything other than 20/20
when this is done,
you're looking at a lawsuit.
Mrs. Flenory, we're going to do everything we can.
You better.
-[intercom beeps] -[woman speaking indistinctly]
[babies fussing]
How'd you know I'd be here?
We been in this hospital three times.
And every time, this is your favorite place,
staring at the newborns,
thanking the Lord and marveling at his handiwork.
They so innocent when they come into this world.
Nothing we can do can keep them that way.
If something happens to Terry's sight...
The Lord will provide.
How?
Terry ain't gon' learn piano, write music,
and sign with Motown.
No.
But he is alive.
And what right do we have to ask for more?
We have a right to stop losing, Lucille.
Money.
Control of our kids.
Our job is to protect them, and we ain't been doing that.
When Meech dropped out to sell drugs,
I said put him out.
When we found that damn gun,
I said he got to go.
And now Terry lying up in here
with a gunshot to his head,
maybe going blind, all because his brother,
who I believe pulled him into this.
But you refuse to make the hard choice.
Terry ain't dealing drugs, Charles.
You need to let Meech go.
[dramatic music plays]
Drugs are polluting our home. They killing us.
And you and I ain't never even touched a drop.
I got one son who just cheated death.
And we put Demetrius out,
if something happens to him, how do I live with myself?
What if something happens to Nicole?
♪ ♪
Or us?
How you gon' live with yourself then?
[babies crying]
You wrote all these?
Yeah, in the hospital.
Well, why you just now giving them to me?
'Cause I wanted Zo to know
that I was trying to get better.
And I hated myself for abandoning y'all, you know?
So those letters were what kept me going in that place.
Look, nigga, if you trying to make me feel bad for you...
Mo, come on.
I don't want your pity, all right?
Look, you're Zoe's mother.
I was out of line,
and I'm saying that I'm sorry.
Well, I do appreciate you acknowledging
how hard it was on us when you went away.
Yeah. I'm just sorry I couldn't provide, that's all.
Lamar, it's not about that.
Look, I only went to see Zo
'cause I wanted to tell her that.
And when I saw her run away from me,
it felt like everything that I fought for
the past two years was for nothing.
Lamar, honestly, what do you want?
What--[scoffs]
I want Zoe to know that I'm her father,
and that I'm there for her.
And when the time is right,
I'd like to see her.
Well, I'll talk to Zoe and see how she feel about it.
Thanks, and...
- Look, that... - Hey.
Mo, that is all I ask.
[scoffs]
A'ight.
[Meech] What the fuck, Nicole?
Do you even know where the hell you were?
- Who cares? - Who cares?
I told you not to ever go to Ecorse.
And now you doing it with everything that's going on?
Do you even know Terry got rushed back into surgery?
So what?
[Meech] The fuck you talking about, "So what"?
What's wrong with you?
[dramatic music plays]
[brakes screeching]
[horns blaring]
What the fuck is your problem?
Let me out! Let me out!
Not until you talk to me.
Let me out!
[screams]
I hate you!
[dramatic music plays]
[tires squeal]
[boat horn blares softly]
- Get out the damn car. - No.
Nicole, get your ass out this car before I yank you out.
What the hell's going on with you, Danielle?
Talk to me. Tell me what's going on.
It's always about you in this family
and your damn drug dealing.
What? That's not fair.
You know what's not fair?
Me having to lie to Mom and Dad all the time
so they don't find out Terry doing it with you.
Ain't nobody ever ask you to do that.
I don't have a choice, Meech.
You don't even think for one second
how your shit affects me.
I don't ever hear you complaining
when Terry's buying you clothes,
or when I'm giving you money.
I don't care about your damn money.
I'm just sick and tired of being invisible in this family.
Can't even get Mom and Dad to remember the stupid field trip.
I'm not gonna be able to go.
It's stupid.
[birds chirping]
[sighs]
You're not invisible to me, Nicole.
You never have been.
You my baby sister, and I love you to death.
I just been a little too focused on myself.
But I want you to know I'm always here for you,
no matter what.
Here. Take this.
But don't tell Mom and Dad.
Thanks, Meech.
I love you so much.
Love you too.
[soft piano music plays]
♪ ♪
Let me see something.
Wait. Stop, stop.
You're not supposed to open your eyes.
- Stop. - Okay.
Where the hell is Meech?
I told you. He left a while ago.
Did you ask him where he was going?
Really?
Terry, someone just tried
to fucking execute you!
And all you can think about is your brother?
It was a carjacking.
It wasn't no carjacking.
I'm not fucking stupid!
Whoever did this shit
is still running around.
What if they try again and we're with you, huh?
What if they hit Terry Jr.?
I'm fucking scared, Terry.
And I don't know why you aren't.
Look, I'm scared too.
You're not the only one who's scared.
But if you asking me to leave this game,
Wanda, I can't do that.
Not right now.
Look, I'ma be 100 with you.
I love this shit.
I love the hustle. I love the chase.
I love the money.
And I'm really, really good at it.
Are you listening to yourself right now?
You just got shot in the fucking head.
But Wanda, this is how I provide for us.
I'm not gonna stop doing it.
I'm not.
Look, I'm not gonna stop going to school either.
[tense music plays]
Damn.
If anything, it'll give our son a better shot
at a life that neither one of us had.
Come on.
We're gon' be good.
I hope you right.
Pray to God you fucking right.
[horn blares]
[Meech] How the fuck did we lose the rec center?
Man, I told you, hired goons are just that: hired goons.
Look, 12th Street bought them off
and moved our niggas off their posts.
So we need to make a next move.
[Meech] Goddamn,
that's some Inspector Gadget shit, for real.
Hell yeah. Duke put this shit in,
so we ain't got to be riding dirty.
Can hide guns, drugs,
all kinds of shit in there.
Yo, who the hell is this?
[Meech] Chill. I got this.
Ruffle his feathers.
Nothing else.
I got you. Good look.
Man, get your bitch ass out of the car, nigga.
Fuck wrong with you?
[muffled grunting]
[tense music plays]
Damn, I guess Christmas came early.
[muffled grunting]
[Meech] Nigga, get your bitch ass on the ground, man.
Man, you lost your motherfucking mind?
You know what--
This ain't the same type of meeting
we had last time, is it?
Yo, what the fuck, Meech?
What, all because I moved on the rec center?
This ain't got shit to do with that, nigga.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. This is about Terry?
Nah, man, I ain't got shit to do with--
[grunting]
[coughing]
Get your bitch ass up, nigga.
Was it you, motherfucker? Huh?
Was it you?
[gasping]
Man, you done fucked up worse
than when Terry pulled that goddamn--
[blows landing]
[coughing]
[gun clicks]
Get your bitch ass up, nigga.
It wasn't me.
I ain't shoot him, man.
I ain't shoot Terry, man. Come on, man.
I ain't shoot your brother, man.
Come on.
Come on, Meech, man.
It wasn't me, man. You know it, man.
Please, man.
Yo, this man out here crying like a little bitch.
Cut this nigga water off.
[Jay Mo] I ain't shoot him, man.
Come on, man. Please, Meech.
Don't do me like this, man.
I didn't do it, man.
[gunshot]
What the fuck you do that for?
I did something you wouldn't.
Nigga, you just fucked me is what you did.
No, no, no, no. Don't trip, all right?
I'll tell everybody you capped him.
It'll be our little secret.
Oh, yeah? Do it then, nigga.
Do it, nigga.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
Look, I made the right call here.
Nigga, as long as I'm running shit,
you don't make no fucking calls.
Clean that goddamn body up.
[siren wailing]
[door opens]
[phone ringing in distance]
You know what I was just praying for?
That the Lord would enter your heart
and inspire you to leave these streets alone.
[Meech] Mama.
Meech.
I need you to promise me
that you gon' stop doing what you doing.
'Cause if you don't, you gon' end up in jail or dead,
or somebody's gon' get hurt,
and I don't know if my heart can take that.
I'm sorry Terry got shot.
I'm sorry that you hurting.
But I promise you one thing.
I will do better protecting this family.
Demetrius, you don't know
how hard I go to bat for you.
And it pains me to say this,
but if you don't stop dealing these drugs,
you gonna have to get out of our house, for real.
A mother's love can only go so far.
I'm sorry, Ma.
But I guess I'm out the house then.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
And I'm sorry that's your choice.
Mama.
Keep praying for me, okay?
[Juan Atkins' "Technicolor"]
♪ ♪
[Juan] ♪ Technicolor Technicolor, technicolor ♪
♪ Technicolor Technicolor, technicolor ♪
♪ Techni-red, techni-red Techni-red ♪
♪ Technicolor, techni-red Techni-red ♪
♪ Techni-red, technicolor ♪
♪ Techni-green, green-green Green, technicolor ♪
♪ Techni-green Green, blue, green ♪
♪ Technicolor, technicolor ♪
[B-Mickie] Oh, shit, I ain't know you could dance like that.
[Juan] ♪ Technicolor, technicolor ♪
[B-Mickie] See you're getting a little comfortable.
[sighs]
- My ma dukes call down for me? - No.
Her ass must be knocked out, yo.
♪ ♪
Appreciate you staying for the work.
[pants]
Is Meech gon' deal with Jay Mo?
You don't gotta worry about him no more.
You need to worry about that nigga Meech.
Meech got an unusual philosophy,
but maybe he can make it work.
Yeah?
[singer] ♪ Sugar ♪
♪ Nobody makes me Feel this way ♪
I guess we ain't got no choice 'cept ride it out.
Shit. My kind of girl.
[singer] ♪ Know I need you ♪
♪ Next to me ♪
♪ You're sweeter Than a candy cane ♪
You know this ain't gon' never happen, right?
What you talking about?
Ever since we met, you been looking at me like you a dog
and I'm a damn steak.
- Hm. - So you gon' sit there,
act like you not trying to get in my pants.
What nigga ain't trying to get into a fly girl's pants?
I'm a female in a crew of all dudes.
The worst thing I can do is get mixed up with one of y'all.
Lose whatever credibility and respect that I got.
So no.
We ain't fucking.
Okay?
Okay, well what about clothes
burning against each other really, really bad?
[singer] ♪ Sugar, sugar ♪
♪ Sugar ♪
♪ I get weak, my body ♪
I gotta bounce.
Okay.
Well, I'll stay here with the stash
till we find a better spot.
[R&B music plays]
[singer] ♪ You see I done been all around the world ♪
What?
You got some vodka in your fridge?
Yeah.
Then get your ass over there and get us some.
I'll keep you company.
Okay, like I said, my kind of woman.
[siren wailing]
Goddamn.
Look at my one-eyed brother.
Man, you about to be a hood cyclops, for real.
[laughing]
Come on, man.
Don't get all sensitive on me now, bro.
You gon' be fine, man.
What if I'm not, Meech?
I almost died.
Hell, sometimes, when I close my eyes,
I'm actually thinking,
"What if I don't wake up?"
I'm scared, Meech.
[Meech] Me too, Tee.
I'm scared of burying my brother
over some shit I got him into.
[Terry] Yo, what happened?
[soft music plays]
Why are you asking me that?
Last night, you left here
like you was about to torture some motherfuckers
to find out who shot me, and now you sitting here
looking like you the nigga who got shot.
I just got behind on that work, that's all.
Damn, Meech, I told you to focus on the business.
[Meech] I ain't have no choice, Tee.
Ain't nobody
popping my fucking brother
and getting away with that shit.
I always got your back.
Remember that.
Womb to the tomb, baby.
Womb to the tomb.
[gospel music plays]
[singer] ♪ On my knees ♪
♪ I'm praying, Lord ♪
♪ Praying, Lord ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Praying, Lord ♪
♪ On my knees... ♪
[Older Meech] Terry told me something once
that he learned in science class.
If you put a frog in a pot of cold water,
then slowly heat it up,
the frog won't notice till it boils to death.
[singer] ♪ On my knees ♪
[Older Meech] I guess it gets hot so slowly,
he doesn't even realize what's happening.
-[chorus] ♪ Praying, Lord ♪ -[singer] ♪ I'm praying, Lord ♪
[chorus] ♪ On my knees I'm praying, Lord ♪
[singer] ♪ Oh, Lord ♪
[chorus] ♪ Praying that you Hear my cries ♪
[singer] ♪ Hear my cries ♪
[both grunting]
♪ Ain't no other help ♪
♪ I know ♪
Zoe, make sure you pray for your daddy, baby, okay?
[singer] ♪ Help, I know ♪
♪ Ain't no other help ♪
♪ I know ♪
-[glass shatters] -[Lamar shouts]
[singer] ♪ I know that you can hear my cries ♪
[coughing]
-[chorus] ♪ Ain't no other ♪ -[singer] ♪ Ain't no other ♪
♪ I don't know ♪
-[yells] - Ah!
-[singer] ♪ I don't know ♪ -[chorus] ♪ I know ♪
♪ Ain't no other ♪
[singer] ♪ Ain't no other help ♪
-[chorus] ♪ I know ♪ -[singer] ♪ I know ♪
[chorus] ♪ Ain't no other help ♪
♪ I know ♪
[growls]
-[singer] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Hear me ♪
-[singer] ♪ Please hear me ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Please hear me ♪
-[singer] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪
[singer] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪
[chorus] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪
-[singer] ♪ Lord ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪
-[singer] ♪ Please hear me ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Please hear me ♪
[screams]
[chorus] ♪ I know That you can hear my cries ♪
[singer] ♪ Hear my cries ♪
-♪ Lord, answer ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪
-[singer] ♪ Please answer ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Please answer ♪
-[singer] ♪ Oh, Lord ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪
-[singer] ♪ Lord, answer ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪
-[singer] ♪ I need to give ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪
-[singer] ♪ Please, Lord ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Please answer ♪
[singer] ♪ I know ♪
-♪ Oh ♪ -[chorus] ♪ Hear my cries ♪
[singer] ♪ Praying that you Hear my cries ♪
[chorus] ♪ Praying That you hear my cries ♪
[Older Meech] The game's like that too.
It's all these warning bells going off,
but you can't even hear 'em
'cause of the money, the cars, and the fun.
And you can think you changing the rules of the game,
but really, they changing you.
No matter how hard you fight
or how many people praying for you,
sometimes it just ain't enough
and you never get out that pot.
[upbeat hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪