I just don't think we can live together.
Wow, this sounds like a, you know, I pay for your life,
but I ain't in it type shit.
You want a break?
You got it.
[upbeat music plays]
Excuse me, Lucille.
Maurice?
This is my friend Dr. Montclair.
We went to high school together.
Let me take you to lunch.
We can catch up without all these interruptions.
I searched my mind, trying to figure out
why my stubborn-ass father would call me in.
I hear you've been trying to expand.
I'm sending you someone.
Put him to work in your organization.
Uh, I decide who works for me.
Let me know how he does.
That VIP is over there, calling your name, sweetheart.
[Meech] Damn, who the fuck is that that?
That is Angel.
So why you ask me here?
I need a name, and I know you know it.
Nigga, I am not the yellow pages.
[Angel] Santiago Dominguez.
Ask around for the Havana House.
- Are you Santiago? - No, no, estoy loco.
So you came looking for me to be my plug.
[laughs] Fuck yeah, man, fuck yeah.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
[upbeat music plays]
♪ ♪
Stop, Meech, stop.
Come on, Pops. You mad at my skills?
No, no, no.
Making noise like that ain't a skill to be proud of, boy.
A drummer's job ain't to showboat.
Look.
In a band...
[snapping fingers]
Everyone plays their position.
A good percussionist makes the rest of the band feel safe.
See, he's the rock because he lays the foundation.
So kind of like how you are for our family, huh?
[chuckles] Show me something now.
[Meech] All right.
[Charles] Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
[bluesy music plays]
[Meech] It's human nature to seek out sanctuary.
Some of us find it in family or religion.
But for Pops and me, it was always with music.
They could take away our heat, our water, our dignity,
but never our expression.
♪ ♪
[dog barking]
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
- [grunting] - [person] Come on!
[Stacks] Motherfuckers robbed us!
- The money's gone, Meech. - [Meech] Fuck.
[Older Meech] The thing about sanctuaries is that you got
to fight to protect 'em.
The same shit that gives us peace of mind
is what we wage wars over.
I guess that's why they say, no rest for the fucking weary.
[Charlie] ♪ I got everything On the line ♪
♪ 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 ♪
[hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪
[Meech] You dimed me out, huh?
[Angel] What you talking about?
The MKs blindsided me at that plug meeting
you helped set up.
You think I'm fucking stupid?
And then my crib gets jacked?
Look, I'm sorry all that happened to you,
but I ain't say shit to nobody about nothing.
Now if you'll excuse me, time is money.
And it's Jack the Rapper weekend, so--
[Greeny clears throat] Everything good?
- Uh, yeah, yeah, we cool. - [Meech] Mm-hmm.
[Greeny] Puffy's calling for you, yes?
Go on straight, go, go. There you go.
Little kickstart, that's all you need.
Speaking of money, we make a good team, you and me.
Got that next green for me to clean?
I had a minor setback, so it's gon' be a minute.
- [Greeny] Mm-hmm. - Let me ask you something.
Who the fuck is Jack the Rapper?
[laughs]
You got a whole lot to learn, youngblood.
Jack the Rapper is a Black radio music convention.
Shit take over the whole goddamn city
when it roll through.
It's where cats come to learn a little something
about the music game, elevate their hustle
by rubbing elbows with the upper echelon,
you know what I'm talking about?
Yeah.
Like the boys over there?
♪ ♪
Mm-hmm, I'll tell you something, Detroit.
If I was a blind man, I could smell money.
♪ ♪
[upbeat music plays]
Hey, where the hell Roland at?
I don't know.
[Terry] His girl just had a baby.
Roland got a little Rollie-roll now.
[Sterl] Oh, shit.
Yo, the freezer's back up.
What was it y'all needed to rap about?
We sold out of the whipped work, right?
[Tee] Okay.
And you know how Lops on the north end
been getting all antsy.
So I called them and told them we got more weight coming in.
But the bull dagger bitch got to him first,
and stole a couple of our other clients too.
And Dizz.
- Even Dizz? - Yeah.
Oh, fuck.
Man, I known that nigga since Little League.
So what you want to do?
[phone rings]
[phone beeps]
[Markisha] Hey, I've been thinking about you.
I miss you.
[Terry] That's nice.
Uh, I've been busy with the family,
Terry Jr. and stuff like that,
since that's what we doing now.
Oh, come on. Don't be salty, Tee.
You know I want to be with you.
I just had to pump the brakes for a second.
That Saint shit really fucked me up.
No, I'm not- I'm not salty at all.
Between Terry Jr.-- he's-he's sick--
and LaWanda's pregnancy,
you really just doing me a favor.
Why don't you come over and we can talk about it in person?
My kids are with my parents,
and I don't have any panties on.
She misses you.
Nah, you-you know what, I'm-I'm busy.
I'm still moving into an apartment.
I got shit to do.
[soft music plays]
[scoffs]
♪ ♪
[upbeat hip-hop music plays]
♪ You always gotta work, work ♪
[Tina] I'm just saying, Remi's right-hand
Claude usually be in the store tiptoeing
around in cheap shit.
Now he all draped out in designer threads
after your crib get hit?
[Meech] At least we know it wasn't the MKs.
[Duffy] Nah, they just ambush us.
Glock out here Batmanning and shit.
I'm trying to find Bruce Wayne, so I can clip
that motherfucker's wings.
[Stacks] Man, fuck all that shit.
Yo, chill. What's the problem, Stacks?
Your ass the one that got caught up, right?
Nah, been told Meech, first Remi capped Ty.
Now motherfuckers think they got the green light
to Rodney King me?
What up, Meech?
We gon' get this shit right?
We gon' ride for Ty when the time is right,
and Remi gon' get what's coming to him for sure.
But right now, we need to be focused
on feeding our fucking family.
[Rip] But how we gon' eat in the meantime?
[Meech] Shit, I pawned my Rolexes,
so I got something to break y'all off with.
[Lazuli] Damn.
Good looks, Meech.
[Meech] Yeah, I take care of my people.
And I just talked to my plug.
We're back in regular rotation, which gon' make up
for the losses in no time.
We gon' build more pipelines in the A,
but we need more manpower.
That's why we going to Jack the Rapper.
- Ey. - Hell yeah.
And we gon' to show the MKs and the Atlanta crews,
no matter what they throw at us,
we ain't skippin' a motherfucking beat.
That's solid.
Dealers from all over the country be at Jack.
[Stacks] Look, man, you come in here acting like Moses,
but me and mine, we ain't wandering around the desert
with your ass no more.
[soft music plays]
Well, you gon' die of thirst without me then, partner.
We'll see, nigga.
♪ ♪
You ain't never pawned shit for us.
♪ ♪
Well, go ahead on.
You know I'm Atlanta.
I'm riding with Meech, yo.
♪ ♪
Man, crazy.
[Meech] Rip, better bring your mixtape.
[Rip] You already know.
[Duffy] Yo, forget Stacks, man.
We better off without him.
Yo, and since your crib got hit,
if you need a place to lay your head, feel free to crash.
Appreciate it, Duff.
But those mansions up the block, in the gated community?
They're more my style.
It is greater in Decatur.
[chuckles] And it's also safer
to do business over there.
Yeah. Look, them HOAs?
They like the mafia themselves.
I mean, someone legit gonna have to sign for it.
♪ ♪
[Terry] BMF was built on loyalty and brotherhood.
With these two things,
we got a bright future ahead of us.
We just can't let outsiders get in the way.
[Guttah] Outsiders?
Your biggest threat is the cyclops in the mirror.
Yeah, man, since Meech left,
your new regime is rigid as fuck.
Yeah, and we sick of being dinged for late payments,
or being a few bucks short.
Our loyalty was to Meech,
not his penny-pinching baby backup.
You right. I'm not my brother.
I'm running shit my way.
Now, what's up with the rest of you?
[Lop] Man, fuck all that, man.
Where's the product, Tee?
I've been waiting on that shit like it's
my fucking kidney, man.
- [Terry] It's coming. - When?
Soon.
[Lops] Hey, look. We've been wanting to bounce.
And now that we got other options?
Deuces.
Hey, Dizz. Yo, hold up, hold up man, hold up.
[bell chimes]
[exhales sharply]
Remember when you ran the register at Watkins,
and we would come over and eat all the leftovers
when your shift was done?
You ate all the leftovers, Tee.
Surprised you didn't turn all Fat Albert on us.
Look, the gist is, I put you on.
You really gonna play me like that?
All right, fine.
I guess I can cancel my order with Henri.
Your Hamburglar ass happy?
No.
Don't cancel shit.
I need to know Henri's every fucking move,
and you're in position to get them.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
Appreciate you, cuzzo.
Hey.
For what it's worth, I don't give two soiled shits
about what your pop's saying.
You've been motherfucking ready, OK?
Managing to get that pure weight from them
racist-ass Chaldeans proved that shit.
[Tuan] BMF may have the soldiers, but they're
dropping like dominoes.
It's only a matter of time before the board
clears for a new regime.
[door clicks]
Motherfuckers don't knock in Ecorse?
I could knock your skinny ass out, if you're curious.
[laughs] All right, all right, all right.
At ease, Tuan.
Ah. Somebody in need of a cavalry.
Mm.
Just 'cause my father vouched for you don't make you it.
I'm the swinging dick running this show.
So if you need something, I'ma need to start
hearing some feet a-tapping.
Look here.
Any tap dancing I do is on the necks
of motherfuckers in my way.
Now, I am here for my son's protection.
So why don't you just tell me what the fuck I got to do,
and let's get on with it.
[clicks tongue]
You could escort a shipment I got coming.
If you want your flight to land smoothly,
you need to find a ship that can hide in plain sight.
In other words, there are just some vehicles
that cops don't fuck with.
[upbeat music plays]
♪ ♪
- Pops! - [Charles] Come here, son.
[Meech] Man, I missed you, Pops.
How was first class?
[Charles] I can get used to five-star treatment like that.
You know how we get down.
I'ma stop you by the mall real quick,
get some new threads.
You know you like to show out in style.
[Charles] Yeah, that sounds nice,
but when we seeing this house you thinking about buying?
You said you want me look at the foundation?
And I want to show you my boy Duffy's recording studio.
It's killer, huh?
- All right, this you? - This me, baby.
Ooh.
Asymmetrical walls, high ceilings.
Bet the acoustics here are nice, huh?
[Duffy] Yes, sir, yes, sir.
You know, music is a passion for me, Mr. Flenory.
And Meech here said that you know
how to get our bars sounding crisp as damn Cracker Trax.
Yeah, I tried building a basement studio back home.
I just never had the funds to finish.
Whoa, snap.
Family Affair this weekend?
Hey, Duffy, why don't you show Pops the sound quality?
[Duffy] Oh, yeah, yeah.
[Meech] Pops, let me know what you think, all right?
[Charles] All right.
Hey, ghost these passes, dawg.
I can't have my dad at no drug dealer palooza.
For sure.
[Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" playing]
♪ ♪
How it sound, Pops?
[Charles] Oh, man, whoo.
Them speakers got some range.
[laughs]
I knew you would like it.
[Charles] Oh, now, that song takes me back, boy.
Look at you.
Mm!
Estelle, thank you so much for filling in for Nicole.
I guess she just wanted to be with her friends.
[Estelle] I'm happy to help.
Besides, church is a great place to meet single men.
I'm praying the Lord giveth me a three-six,
six-pack, 6 feet, six figures.
You know what, I can't take you nowhere.
I know you right about that
'cause I honestly have no idea what I'm doing.
Because the cake batter is too loose.
The church ain't even gonna accept this.
Hmm.
Speaking of cakes--
Mm-hmm.
When you gonna let the good doctor accept yours?
If you don't lower your voice up in here.
I do not want these church folks all up in my business.
You got to get back out there, cuz.
Look, I'm not even divorced yet.
And just because Charles couldn't keep it in his pants
does not give me a green light to ungodly behaviors, so--
You think that stopped me after I kicked
lazy Leebird to the curb?
Girl, life is too short to waste time.
Maurice is still so fine.
[Estelle squeals]
- [both laughing] - Stop it!
And he's so kind.
And he's, like-- he's successful.
And Charles is in Atlanta.
You owe it to yourself to go see if something
is still there.
OK, you know what they say.
[Lucille] Hmm?
A good man is hard to find.
But a hard man is good to find.
If you don't cut this--
girl!
[Sterl] If your customers don't get their orders from Henri,
they'll come running back to you, hat in hand.
That's cool.
We'll raise the rent on those ungrateful fucks.
Gonna have to move quick.
'Etta's home delivery coming tonight.
Oh, yeah?
How do you know that, Sherlock Hood?
Had to kiss the ring on that lumberjack-looking bitch.
Uh-huh.
While there, I peeped her whole crew
retrofitting an ambulance with Brighton stickers.
[Terry] Hmm.
Damn, on all my car ride runs,
I ain't never seen an ambulance truck get searched.
That's how she's moving her weight.
[exhales sharply] That's smart.
- As fuck. - Damn.
So from Brighton, that amber wagon gon' be riding
dirty all the way down I-96.
Mm-mm, you're gonna risk the Jeffries getting jammed.
Smart move is Grand River.
Hoop, you gonna have to run point.
Take my top shooter, Kutz, with you.
And whatever you do, make sure
that ambulance don't make its drop.
[soft music plays]
♪ ♪
[camera shutter clicking]
You ever been in a gun battle?
Not yet.
[laughs] So you're a virgin.
I'm going to pop your firefight cherry.
I promise I will be gentle.
I'm not afraid of dying.
When I OD'd, I saw the light.
And it was the most beautiful,
peaceful thing I've ever seen.
My sister was beaten to death.
That shit still haunts me.
I hope she saw what you saw.
[Charles laughs] Whew.
It's the same kind of house your mom and I
dreamt of moving into one day.
[Stephanie] Well, the papers are all filled out.
All you got to do is sign.
[Meech] Can you give us a minute?
- [Stephanie] Of course. - [Meech] Thank you.
[Charles] It's got a nice foundation, son.
The only thing is, I don't got legitimate income.
I was thinking maybe you could sign off on it for me.
You know, I still don't agree with what you do.
But I respect how hard you work at it.
Let's see.
Wait, what?
Well, wait a minute.
This is a mistake.
An engineer?
Oh yeah, Pops, I had to stretch some of the info.
Good thing is, the realtor, she down with me.
So don't even trip by it.
[Charles] You know, Meech, this is not my salary.
And these for damn sure ain't my paystubs.
I'm paying everything up front, all right?
The money is not an issue.
The issue is it's illegal.
[Meech] So is boosting the neighbor's cable
when electricity goes out and tampering with the meter.
Come on now. Don't do this to me, man.
Boy, I had a family to support.
Everything I did was for survival.
And so is this.
I was just staying at a crib that got broken into.
I'm trying to be at a spot I don't have to keep
looking over my shoulder.
I thought you wanted me to be safe.
That's all I ever wanted for you, Meech.
Which is why I asked you to end this nonsense.
And now you're asking me to be complicit?
Oh, no, you know what,
I need to sleep on this, so why don't you call me
a cab back to the hotel?
I'll be outside.
[tense music plays]
[radio chatter]
You sure we ain't going to run into any one-time?
I mean, can you even make that shit out?
Just shut the fuck up and keep us between the lines.
[gunshot]
[tires squealing]
[gasping]
Let's finish this nigga.
Hey.
♪ ♪
[gunshots]
[police sirens wailing]
Police! Drop your weapons!
[person] Let's get the fuck out of here.
[Amberson] Stop right now!
Get your hands up where I can see them!
♪ ♪
[gunshot]
Fuck!
♪ ♪
[gunshots]
♪ ♪
[gasping]
[gunshot]
Shit.
[Henrietta] Hiding in plain sight, my ass!
This is why I don't take recs from my father.
He sends me limp dick ex-cops who can't
get the goddamn job right.
Somebody fetch me Tuan!
I need to know what the fuck happened.
Well, you gonna be sending your errand boy to hell, yeah?
Because that's where that nigga done
took up permanent residence.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
Tuan?
Yo, that was my fucking blood, man!
[gunshots]
[screams]
Sorry for your loss.
But BMF knew when, where, and what to look for.
So if you're looking for a place to channel that anger--
[Henrietta scoffs]
Tell me everything you know about Tee.
[knocking]
Who's coming to my house this early?
Can I help you?
I'm Lisa Murray from Child Protective Services.
Oh, shit.
I'm here about Terry Flenory Jr.
Are you the parents?
[Terry] Yeah, yeah. But what's-what's going on?
We received a call regarding Terry Jr.'s well-being.
I'm here to ensure he's in a safe environment.
But TJ is fine.
[baby coughing]
Does this child of a history of asthma?
No.
Has he even been checked out?
Wait, hold on. Ma'am-ma'am, whoa.
Look, we're responsible parents, all right?
TJ just has a simple cold.
You know, what you're investigating
is a completely false and unwarranted claim.
Smoking is a health hazard for children,
even more so if there's marijuana involved.
Wait, wait, wait. We are a drug-free family here.
[Terry] Look, lady--ma'am.
Whoever called is probably just, uh, they're just joking.
Or they're just full of shit. It's probably a prank.
Can you just please give us a name?
You'll be privy to the details
of the investigation in 30 days,
once it goes to the judge.
[both] Judge?
[Terry] Hey, hey, look, look, hey.
Hey. I'm gonna fix this.
I promise you I'm going to fix this, LaWanda.
Terry, this got that cradle-robbing
ass bitch's name all over it.
She's mad 'cause you with me and not her sorry ass no more.
I don't--I don't think Markisha would do some shit like this.
You better talk to that bitch
'cause if you don't get her to back the fuck up, I will.
All right?
[baby cooing]
[singer] ♪ Here they come, yo Here they come ♪
[Meech] Mayor Hartsfield envisioned Atlanta
as the entertainment capital of the South.
So when DJ pioneer Jack Gibson threw the biggest urban radio
music convention in the country,
Hotlanta was the perfect host.
[singer] ♪ Come on Who's the black sheep? ♪
♪ What's the black sheep? ♪
♪ Know not who I am or when I'm coming, so you sleep ♪
♪ Wasn't in my realm or wasn't in your sphere ♪
♪ Knew not who I was But listen here ♪
♪ Dres, D-R-E-S, yes I guess I can start... ♪
[Jack] Without beating around the bush,
we're glad that you're hanging out with the sugar-sugar man,
Jack the Rapper.
Ow!
[Meech] Gospel, funk, R&B, jazz--
Family Affair was home to everyone in Black music.
Then hip-hop burst onto the scene.
Sponsors warned old mellow yellow rappers would ruin
the party with their drama, but he invited them anyway,
embracing Black cultural freedom in all its forms.
Like the charts, hip-hop dominated the event.
And in honor of its fast-talking founder,
the streets rechristened that shit Jack the Rapper.
[singer] ♪ You can get with this ♪
♪ Or you can get with that ♪
♪ I think I'll get with this 'Cause this is where it's at ♪
♪ You can get with this Or you can get with that ♪
[Rip] Got that heat. Five bones.
Holla at me.
[Caesar] Oh, shit, they got those iggity diggity jiggity
niggas over there.
Damn, they got everybody and they mama in this bitch.
I might have to break me off a big bite.
This my type of party for sure.
Look like it's your old man's type of party too.
[hip-hop music plays]
Pops?
Hey, Meech.
Ah!
You know your mama love her some Clark Sisters.
You're supposed to be at the hotel.
Boy, I'm grown.
And I've dreamed of coming to Family Affair
since Tee was in trainers.
You standing in history, son.
White folks would never give us the time of day,
so we had to create our own.
That sound good, Pops, but just look around.
Does this look like the same event to you?
I admit, the vibe is different.
♪ ♪
Is there anything left decent you boys won't poison?
Pops, that's why you gots to go.
And what am I supposed to tell Mama
if something happened to you?
Oh, so now you're thinking about my well-being?
Let me live, boy.
[chuckles]
♪ ♪
[Terry] Markisha!
Markisha, girl, where the hell you--
yo, Kish.
What you doing, busting up in my house like that?
First of all, this is my house.
Hey, yo, did you call CPS on LaWanda and my kid?
Nigga, excuse you?
If you did, just tell me.
Tee, I'm a mother.
I know what calling the authorities
could do to people like us.
And how dare you accuse me of some fucked-up shit like that?
[sighs] Damn.
Look, I--you're right.
I'm sorry.
Tee, I love you.
I'm only gonna lift you up.
I'm not gonna tear you down ever.
I know, I know.
It's just--you know, there's just been a lot.
My head is a little twisted.
They talking about pulling up my police reports,
school records, medical files.
If they find any shit they don't like, it's a wrap.
My family's destroyed.
Damn. That's fucked up, Tee.
[upbeat music plays]
[Meech] Back in the day, hip-hop heads
couldn't catch a cold over the airwaves,
let alone radio play.
So they used Jack the Rapper to get on with the DJs.
Especially Uncle Luke.
That nigga threw the livest suite parties at Jack.
Liquor was loose, but the women were looser.
Next thing you know,
Luke's jams were bumping coast to coast.
♪ ♪
I'd go on to use the same networking strategy.
You treat motherfuckers right,
they never gonna forget you.
[person] Hey.
That pimp Greeny over at Platinum
comped our party favors.
Said we had that rattail motherfucker to thank.
Yeah, that's no sweat, dawg. Just trying to spread the love.
Big Meech, Motor City.
J-Pusha, Hustle City.
I dabble in a little bit of everything.
You know, uh, fish fries, beepers, birds.
Before my little brother right here go pro,
I wanted to, you know, give him a little taste
of what to expect.
Matter of fact, given all the opportunity in this room,
figured I'll make it a two-for-one.
So it seems like y'all know a lot about a lot.
I'm actually trying to expand my pipeline down to St. Louis.
My brother jammin', man.
I'm talking about to lock down the biggest PJ in the Lou.
So if you really got that work, shit.
He sure as hell got them pipes.
[chuckles]
Oh, yeah? See, that's what's up.
But you know, a lot of motherfuckers like to shit
from their mouth more than their asshole,
so I need to come down to St. Louis
and check y'all out myself before I can
make any commitments.
♪ ♪
[both laughing]
You know what, if I didn't know any better,
I would swear that these were the popcorn balls
from Euclid Park in Cleveland.
Do you remember that?
Girl, you thought I could forget?
I remember we used to take our shoes off,
walk down the beach when there were full moons.
Oh, my goodness.
Can I tell you a secret, though?
Hm?
These are the popcorn balls from Euclid Park.
What? How?
They closed decades ago.
Mm-mm. They're a candy company now.
Hmm.
I had them shipped here,
so you'd have a little pop of home.
How did you know I would even call you?
Truth is--
Hmm?
I didn't.
But if there was just the slightest of chances,
I was gonna be ready.
Got something else for you.
Oh, my goodness.
This is for your church.
I heard about the bake sale you spearheaded.
This is--
listen, I-I-I did not expect you to do anything like this.
I--that was not my--
Lucille.
Letting you walk away
is one of my biggest regrets.
And if this lets me be a part of your life
even just a little,
then it's a blessing.
[soft music plays]
♪ ♪
Thank you...
'Reece.
[both laugh]
I haven't heard that in a long time.
[upbeat music plays]
[singer] ♪ You are buggin' if You're playing with my head ♪
♪ 'Cause I ain't falling For the same mistakes again ♪
♪ 'Cause I spent Long enough, yeah ♪
[person] You know, my people have a saying.
[speaking Creole]
Knowing how to read doesn't make you intelligent.
Just like having a fancy title doesn't mean that your audio
isn't dog shit.
[laughs]
You know, truth is, I'm just getting back in the game.
So, to a old head like me, every little bit helps.
Wisly Solomon, Colonial Records.
Now, I must warn you, we are small-time,
but our breakthrough is on the horizon.
What is your name?
Charles Flenory.
You know what, Charles,
in the spirit of the Family Affair,
maybe we should fellowship, hm?
Who knows?
Who knows, maybe you are the breakthrough
that we're looking for.
[singer] ♪ You know real Recognize real ♪
♪ And give me honesty ♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
[Meech] God damn, nigga. They letting us blaze in here?
Hell no.
This Cali kush was burning a hole in my pocket, so...
here.
[Meech] Let me hit that motherfucker.
♪ ♪
[Tupac] It's that shit.
Damn, nigga, I got to be getting
my weed from the wrong coast.
Yeah.
♪ ♪
What that's about, though?
That goofy-looking motherfucker?
[Meech] Mm-hmm.
[Tupac] That's Luke's Miami folk.
They still popping off.
That's exactly why I roll deep.
Why I got family everywhere I go.
You know what's crazy?
I used to think hip-hop heads ain't have beef.
Shit, I'm thinking that's only my line of work.
[chuckles] Nigga, it's the same shit.
Just a different hustle.
Look, everybody in the hip-hop game
either trying to get out or avoid it.
Ain't this rap shit a motherfucker, though?
Like, they used to throw the book at our ass for the shit
we go through.
Now look at them, bending over backwards
for our fucking stories, noses all the way open.
That's 'cause y'all make that cheese, you know.
"America's Most Wanted," for real.
[laughs]
Nigga, not just America.
They love them some Pac overseas.
Pac be loving they ass right back.
Like Jack the Rapper, taking this motherfucker over.
Yeah, maybe I'll be right there with you one day.
[bell chimes]
[Terry] We're gonna get a menu out to you.
You're gonna--
Tee, we got a problem with our fucking delivery.
Oh, yo, uh, our shipment-- um, our beef shipment.
Can you guys give me a second? I'm sorry.
Bro, let's talk. Come on.
[tense music plays]
Yo, what the fuck is wrong with you, Hoop?
I been blowing up your phone. Where the fuck is Kutz?
Man, I lost my fucking phone.
I just walked all the way here from Novi, nigga.
Novi.
And Kutz got fucking pinched.
Wait, what?
The fucking cops got involved?
Yes.
We must have been fucking tailed
because as soon as shit went down,
it was raining fucking five-oh.
Listen, Kutz a real one, all right?
You ain't got to worry about him.
Get this, Bryant was there.
And this motherfucker is flying Henri's colors now.
You got to respect Henri's gangster.
I'm just saying, having somebody hip to both sides
of the law comes in handy,
especially now that Kutz's bagged up.
Maybe our organization should get on that.
I should have fuckin' killed that bitch.
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ It's that south side ♪
♪ South side, south side ♪
Yo, yo.
This man Solomon here gave me some gems.
Now, what do you all think
about vinyl sound barriers for the studio?
I like that.
Yeah, yeah.
Do you see that pendant old dude wearing?
- Mm-hmm. - That's some voodoo shit.
Them Haitians from Miami be wearing them in my shop.
Meech, that's a Miami Killa.
♪ ♪
Hey, Pops.
Spike Lee having a screening in Ballroom C.
Come check it out.
No, man. I'm having fun right here.
[Solomon] You know, you should do the right thing, Charles.
[chuckles]
You should listen to your son.
What, y'all know each other?
[Meech] Yo, get him out of here.
Man, get your hands off me, man!
Yo, Meech, who is this guy?
I am the man that this ti vole
has been trying to steal from.
I was trying to smoke your bitch ass
from out the shadows.
But I see you must feel threatened
since you've been hellbent on trying to merk me.
[Duffy] Yo, hold up.
This old ooga-booga motherfucker is Glock?
Typical American negro.
Half a decade late and a dollar short,
yet you still think you deserve
to have a free pass in my city?
[laughs]
[speaking Creole]
Yo, I thought security was beefed up.
[Solomon speaking Creole]
I own security.
Just like I own the pimp who cleans your money.
[person] Suck my dick, Miami motherfucker!
[crowd exclaiming]
Watch out, Pops!
[person] Fucking shit, man.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
Fuck!
- Hey, you all right, you good? - Yeah, yeah, I'm good.
[people shouting] Red Dogs!
[Charles] Meech, Meech!
- [person] Come on! - [Charles] Meech!
[person] Gotta go!
♪ ♪
[person] Get him out of here, man!
[Terry] I'm still getting settled in.
You know, it's starting to feel like home.
You living big-time now, huh?
[both laugh]
It is so nice.
Thanks. Trying.
I got you a housewarming gift.
What you got?
You ready?
- [both laugh] - Oh, shit.
Oh, my God.
Yo, I thought I really was gonna
impress you with this, and you shut my ass down so quick.
Wow.
Well, I'm glad you didn't give up.
Me too.
I missed you.
[Terry] I missed you too.
[soft music plays]
♪ ♪
[knocking]
[person] Terry?
[Terry] Oh, shit. Damn, it's my mom.
[Markisha] Go, go, go.
[Terry] Uh--uh, I'm coming!
[Markisha] Wait, wait, wait. My shirt, my shirt, my shirt.
[door clicks]
[Terry] Hey.
Hi, Mrs. Flenory.
I need to talk to my son.
Yeah.
OK.
I will see you at dinner.
All right.
I talked to LaWanda's mother, and she told me
what's happening with CPS.
So I'ma need you to get your head out of that cougar's ass
and take this seriously.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
Why do you think I fast-tracked getting this place decorated?
So they can see that Terry Jr. has a nice place,
instead of that damn chimney.
Desiree said the accusations are bogus.
Those three-letter folks, they have a track record
for ruining Black families.
The few years that I was in the foster care system,
they were the most traumatic years of my life.
It makes you feel less-than.
Like there's no ground underneath your feet.
Like you are unworthy.
Please, Mom, don't cry, don't cry.
I promise you, Terry Jr. is gonna stay put, Ma.
[Meech] All good, Duff?
All right, I'm just making sure the homies straight.
And keep me posted.
All right.
[phone beeps]
Pops, you good?
Pops.
You know, this whole state was a house of bondage.
Even now, our brightest stars get treated
like studio session hands.
That's why they started Family Affair in the first place,
to shine a light on our music, to force the whole world
to take notice.
I know how much that event meant to you, Pops.
And I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to.
Son, if you knew what was gonna happen,
why did you go in the first place?
Because I have to take care of my family, Pops.
And it ain't going exactly how I wanted it to go.
Now you see why I need that roof over my head.
To be safe from all the shit we just dealt with.
Boy, you got a roof back home.
Just hit the highway and head north.
Pops, you don't get it.
You're not getting it.
You left the house because you gave up on your dreams.
I left the house because I'm still chasing mine.
Meech, you have no idea what I had to sacrifice.
Pops, I know everything you've given up
because I've watched you my entire life.
[sighs] Now, listen.
I know the world didn't exactly give you a choice.
But I have a choice, Pops.
I know what you think of what I do.
I know I didn't exactly turn out the way you wanted.
But I'm the first Flenory who can actually
control they destiny.
You know how badly I wanted that
and how heavy that weight is
because when you were my age, you felt the same too.
Pops, I need you to sign that paper for me.
Please.
[soft music plays]
♪ ♪
You got them keys for me, baby?
[Stephanie] Mm-hmm, here you go.
- [Meech] Thank you. - [Stephanie] You're welcome.
Congratulations on your new home.
I'm sure you'll put it to good use.
Yes, we will. Thank you.
Admit it, Pops,
you're already thinking about all
the renovations you could do.
[chuckles]
No, I'm just admiring the craftsmanship.
You got everything you need.
[car horn honks]
- That's my ride. - [Meech] Hey, Pops, hold on.
I just want to let you know,
I'ma take care of you and Mama,
just how you did your family.
[hip-hop music plays]
[snorting]
♪ ♪
[snorts, coughs]
Yo, you've been hitting that white girl pretty hard.
Pull back.
[Tyson] You're one to fucking talk.
Tuan is pushing up daisies,
and all I can fucking think about is how
it should have been me.
Listen.
Uh, cuzzo needs to forget his sorrows too.
Why don't you go over there and put those pretty little lips
to work?
But if I wanted dick, I'd go back to my boyfriend.
[chuckles]
You're either a useful bitch or a dead one.
On your fucking knees.
♪ ♪
Love you, cuzzo.
Which is why I'm gonna make this right.
Every motherfucker responsible for Tuan's death
is gonna find themselves on the wrong side of the dirt.
[Greeny] These motherfucking ball players and rappers
got y'all boosted up.
You know what, you a fine piece of ass and all that,
but I will cut your ass like some motherfucking grass.
And then what? You ain't shit without me.
Say it.
I ain't shit without you.
Say it again.
I ain't shit without you.
That's motherfucking right.
And don't you ever forget your place, all right?
I run the show, you hear me?
I run the motherfucking show. What the fuck?
The fucking--
[Meech] You fucking snake!
[Angel] Stop! What y'all doing?
You fucking set me up.
You thought I wouldn't find out?
- [Greeny grunts] - Meech, please stop!
[Greeny coughing]
Your greasy ass don't deserve to clean my money.
I'ma cut your fucking water off.
And you double-cross me again,
I'm cut something else off too, bitch.
[Angel] Meech!
This fucking shit-stain, man. Why wait?
[Greeny screaming]
Oh, shit!
- [Duffy laughs] - [Greeny] Oh, shit!
[Greeny screaming]
If you think this shit is over, motherfucker,
you will pay for this shit.
You hear me, you Lite-Brite bitch?
Both of y'all!
Oh, my God, you scared me.
I didn't--I forgot you were coming back tonight.
Oh, you know I couldn't stay away too long.
[laughs]
Lucille, baby. What's wrong?
Somebody called Child Protective Services
and fraudulently claimed that Terry and LaWanda
were unfit parents.
CPS could take everything, even the unborn baby,
if they see fit.
- They won't do that. - This is a government agency.
They can do whatever the hell they want to do.
I'm going to bed.
[somber music plays]
♪ ♪
[clicks tongue]
[chuckles]
[door clicks]
What?
What happened?
[guard] Stop. Hands on the table.
Kevin, you gon' be OK.
I got the best lawyer, and you won't have
any more problems in here.
Uh...
hey, Bruiser has allies now.
Help is on the way, you understand?
Look, I'll stay tonight, but I got to go back.
I know Greeny's not perfect, but he's right.
I ain't shit without him.
[Meech] Man, the way you pack that club out
night after night,
he ain't shit without you.
He protects and provides for me.
Angel, you have to start taking back your power.
My mom always taught me, a woman's worth
is in her mind and her heart.
And I got you. Believe that.
You're safe here.
[Older Meech] The real of it is,
there ain't no sanctuary in the drug game.
That false sense of security can get you killed,
a lesson I had to learn the hard way.
And once I did, I didn't get a good night's rest
until I was sleeping in a jail cell.
[Terry] So how's my little man Kev doing?
[sighs] You got 90 seconds.
[laughs]
Look, I figure you must be desperate to be
rolling around with that crazy bitch Henri.
There's always a job for a man willing to work.
Look, if you gon' be back in the streets again,
you might as well roll with the top dogs
like you were with Meech.
[chuckles] So uh, this a job interview?
I understand you got to do what you
got to do to protect your family,
and we can help each other out.
We could pool our resources together
and fix both our problems.
Yeah, how we gon' fix it when y'all are my problem?
Look here, you and Meech are the ones should
be on the inside, not my son.
Well, buddy, we're free.
And from the looks of it, the world is my fucking oyster.
So you either get on board, or get ran the fuck over.
[Bryant] Hey.
I choose to get run the fuck over.
[tense music plays]
[Older Terry] I stayed in the D 'cause I couldn't bear
the thought of losing the ones I cared about.
But sometimes, you hold on to loved ones so close,
you push them away.
With my enemies coming from all angles,
my sanctuary was becoming my nightmare.
And without my brother, the only one who could
wake me out of it was me.
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ You ask for a favor And showed up on that paper ♪
♪ Get hit with the razor Your life is in danger ♪
♪ They blowing up my pager I watch for the neighbors ♪
♪ The reverend can't save you Your life is in danger ♪
♪ You ask for a favor And showed up on that paper ♪
♪ Get hit with a razor Your life is in danger ♪
♪ They blowing up my pager Watch for the neighbors ♪
♪ The reverend can't save you Your life is in danger ♪
♪ Yo, yo, get stabbed With a sharp blade ♪
♪ Blood stains on the arcade It's all over ♪
♪ Now my hands filled With residue ♪
♪ Your man in the ICU He a vegetable ♪
♪ You pull your back up Get the backhand ♪
♪ I eat you to eat your ghost Like I'm Pacman ♪
♪ Here's the proof I got The juice ♪
♪ Don't care if you want Q I'm bishop on the roof ♪
♪ It's hard as hell for a Black man ♪
♪ It's either 187 Or a crack den ♪
♪ And I'm committing both Colombian connect ♪
♪ Make it stretch I get the dough ♪
♪ And all my cuzzes They trust me ♪
♪ But I'm on a lookout This 38 rusty ♪
♪ Know they blowing up My pager ♪
♪ If you act up Know your life is in danger ♪
[dramatic hip-hop music playing]
♪ ♪