[Kevin] Previously on The Chi...
Oh, shit.
[Kevin] What, nigga? Don't call me that!
Hey, Kevin! Stop it!
[whack]
We have a zero tolerance policy.
So if I'm not perfect, I can't be here?
We want folks to stop calling 911,
start calling us.
The police want some shit to pop off
so they can act like we need they asses.
Anybody got an issue, we gonna handle it.
I actually think we should take some space.
I don't know if I want space.
Well, I do.
Look, I'm sorry, a'ight?
Yeah, you should be.
Look, when I said get a girlfriend, I didn't mean mine.
[Tiff] You been acting different
ever since we got married.
You having regrets or something?
dramatic music playing
[Emmett] I felt dumb.
[speaker] Married people should be able to do what they want
within their own marriage.
Look, as long as all parties are grown and consenting,
do what you gotta do.
[Tiff] I just want you to be honest about it,
and I'll be honest with you.
So we both fuckin' other people?
Let's just try it and see what happens.
-[screaming] -[baby crying]
I want my baby back.
Welcome to the world, Ronnie.
Mommy's here.
I got more important shit to worry about than my homework.
Like what?
[Lynae] Like where I'm gon' live.
I don't want you to just survive.
I want you to live.
Will you consider moving in with me and my family?
Why can't she just stay in my room with me?
[Nina scoffs] You know why.
Kev, don't push it.
I don't even like him like that.
-[Dre chuckles] -What?
[Marcus grunts] Did you hear me?
[Douda grunting]
[impacts and grunting]
tense music playing
-She got you on tape, nigga. -[Douda] Who?
-Marcus' daughter. -She still got the footage?
No. I do.
You could either leave quietly,
or I'ma make sure this footage is all over the news
first thing tomorrow morning.
So where are we going?
[Douda] Far away from here.
Da Brat's "Give It 2 You" playing
One for the money, for the money
Two for the bass
Three to get ya goin', get ya goin'
'Cause Da Brat's in the place
Yeah
Ha
I'm comin'.
It's me, the O.G. funk bandit, who's that
The B. to the R-A-T and in fact
- If you ain't heard a me... -Don't come yet.
Lay back and listen as I bust for your ass
On this funkified mission
Just kick off your shoes and relax your feet
That's right, party on down with Da Brat and her beat
Now, it goes like that and that's how it goes
I'ma give it to all you Negros and hos
So listen up, make sure you listen up well
Don't miss a little bit
'Cause this here be bad as hell
Truth of the matter is I splatter kids
Tryin' to dis in the gangster's way
That's how them fools get dealt with
So what you wanna do?
Don't even trip
Step up, step up, and I'ma bust yo' lip
Now, I know that you know that I know you don't...
Yo.
That's what happens when you smoke.
-You get caught slippin'. -Oh, fuck you.
-[Lynae] Don't curse at me. -Oh, I'm sorry.
You better be.
Yo, yo.
Come on, now.
See, if y'all gonna keep being late for school,
eventually we gonna have to have a conversation
about why you enjoy being late,
because you must get some enjoyment out of it.
Or else you wouldn't keep repeatin' the same behavior.
Let's go.
Chop-chop. [claps twice]
[coughs, wheezes]
Single-handed bandit, and damn it
- Don't get no better -[coughing] Oh, shit.
And it don't get no mo' than the flow
That I flow for you Negros and hos
Devastating, captivating, elevating as I
Ooh, operatin', floatin' on cloud nine
So just fire it up, baby fire it up
At your request, I guess it's time for me
To hit the cud, it goes
One puff, two puff, three puff, four
From the bottom to the top, top to bottom I go
So now you know what I ain't and what I is
It's the baddest lil' pimp in this hip-hop biz
O.G. is what I am, a brat is what I be
You know what I smoke, and you can't see me
So let it go, 'cause I'm wrapped too tight
Take it how I give it and enjoy the night
Right, yeah
It's like that, it's like that
Yo, the one that's natural is Da Brat
And you don't know
You betta ask somebody
Lodi dodi, I came to party
Big ba-by
Ha ha ha
JD, what you think 'bout this right here, boy?
Come on, come on
-[moaning] - Word up, yeah
Word up, hey
- Word up, hey -[Suede] Ohh...
For real, though, oh
-Emmett! -[Emmett] Huh?
Yeah, uh...
hey, hey.
[Tiff] You okay?
Um...
Y-yup.
Where you goin'?
I'm gonna stay with my mom for a while.
Um...
how long is for a while, Tiff?
I don't know.
I just gotta figure some shit out.
I-I-I know.
Shit ain't been perfect between us.
But come on, we su--
we supposed to be a family.
I just need time, Emmett.
What about EJ?
I'm taking him with me.
That's some bullshit.
I hope you was dreaming about me.
Ooh, shu--
Uh, hey, hey, Tiff. Wait, come on.
You know I was think--fuck.
mysterious music playing
It's part of the vision.
hip-hop music playing
[Jake] I don't miss this shit at all.
[Kevin] Me, either.
I couldn't go to school with this many white people.
My dad says I have to go to a racially-diverse school
so that when I'm older,
I can navigate the world better.
The white world?
They're still the majority.
Says who?
I don't know about this North Side life.
I like being one with my people.
And who are your people?
-"Papa's Pulpit." -Tch. Bro.
Look, it's more than a podcast. It's my virtual congregation.
The people want me to lead them to the promised land,
and that's what I intend to do.
And where is that, exactly?
If you joined my newsletter, you'd know.
Whatever, Papa.
I'm seeing you later, right?
No. I have band.
I'm supposed to be trying out for varsity.
You said you was comin'.
Oh, shit. Wait, that's today?
Yeah, he been talking 'bout it all week.
Um, I'll be late, but I'll be there.
A'ight.
I gotta get this truck back to my brother.
All right.
So you and Kev like brother-sister, right?
I guess. Why?
Look, just 'cause I walk with the Lord don't mean I'm blind.
And I like what I see in you.
Close your eyes.
Who hurt you?
Sittin' at the top, you're so dramatic...
Come on, Kev.
We been listenin' to your playlist all week.
Can we please get some Mary Mary
or Phyllis Hyman or something?
Oh, hell no.
-[engine turns over] -[groans softly]
Countin' money while you count sheep
X-Man turn into a beast
Gang with me, call the whole fleet
Let's have a thing, make it take a seat
I been all alone at the throne
Leave me lone, leave me lone
Way I'm working, need a clone
Dawg, you better watch yo' tone
[commotion]
-[impacts] -[shouting]
-Want some more, nigga? -Get off me!
-Shut the fuck up, nigga! -No, stop! Excuse me!
Excuse--excuse me!
[Bakari] Shut the fuck up!
[Tracy] No, no, no, stop!
Rappers fakin' like actors
Dawg, he'd never been a factor
I can see you had the mood swings
Two rings, and I'm big now
Let them judge him in the coochie...
[overlapping shouting]
I will fuck yo' ass up! I will fuck you up!
-[wheezing] -[Shaad] The fuck?
The fuck is wrong with these young niggas, man?
[Tracy] ROCK is a safe space.
Don't bring negativity into the house
that I built to honor my son.
I need y'all to apologize to her.
I'm sorry.
[sighs]
Man, why can't this bitch-ass nigga
just stay on his block, huh?
[Trig] Do you own the ground you walkin' on?
Y'all fighting over something that don't even belong to you.
That is stupid.
Let me tell y'all something, man.
Wasted ten years of my life fightin' over bullshit.
Seriously, man, why do niggas fight over dumb shit, anyway?
I want y'all to volunteer here.
No, we got enough volunteers.
Good, 'cause I'm not trying to do that shit no way.
No, you will do it.
That's the least you can do for disturbing the peace.
[Shaad] That's right.
And if you don't come, I'ma find yo' ass.
Find me.
I ain't scared of none of you niggas.
Both of y'all niggas need to scared,
'cause neither one of you motherfuckers can fight.
Hey, be here first thing in the morning.
Get the fuck outta here.
[James sighs softly]
Well, I think we handled that well.
Yeah, I feel like a little Black Power Ranger.
[both chuckle]
You do realize
you just invited a murderer into our community, right?
[small laugh]
That young nigga ain't no killer.
He killed Ronnie.
You sure?
I'm standing over Ronnie's body,
I was sc--I was screaming,
and then I looked up and I saw him.
And then he just stood there for a second and he said
it was for Coogie.
[sighs] Damn.
[scoffs] Man, I ain't know that little nigga had it in him.
It's not funny, Shaad.
I-I-I didn't say it was, it's just--trust me.
H-he ain't the only killer in the neighborhood.
I mean...you don't know what people are capable of.
Shaad's right.
Excuse me?
I mean, how can we say we for the community
if we gon' judge them?
Right.
No, I got a right to judge the men
that took the life of somebody I love.
But he's not a man. He's a boy.
A scared little boy.
Yeah, I'm sure my son was scared
the night somebody took his life, too.
Look, I'm sure he was.
And it's my hope to save as many of these boys as I can.
We can't save everybody, Trig.
But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
Tracy.
[Tracy] We can't.
[Shaad sighs]
Oh, ah, ah! Why you got so many bags?
I thought you was only supposed to stay for a few nights.
Ma, I never said that.
What happened between you and Emmett?
Nothing.
I knew that open marriage shit wouldn't work.
I don't understand you young people.
How you wanna be married but still wanna fuck everybody?
-Ma! -Oh, please.
I'm sure he hears much worse in your house.
Now, why this baby ain't got no coat on?
He gon' catch pneumonia and die.
Ma, could you please not say shit like that?
You know I believe words have power.
[Dolly chuckling] Oh, well!
If my words had power, your daddy would still be here
and you wouldn'ta had a baby at 16.
So apparently, my words are not that powerful.
-Ma. -[Dolly] What?
Can you please stop talkin'?
How you gon' tell me to stop talking in my own house?
You got some nerve.
I am allowing you to bring your married ass into my house
to stay for God knows how long,
and you showed up two hours later than you said you would.
-We got stuck in traffic. -[Dolly] Yuh-huh.
And not only are you stayin',
but you're bringing a baby in here wit' you.
I'm not no baby.
Yes, you are.
And how you gon' bring you and your baby
and all your baby's bags into my house
and disturbin' my peace and say I can't talk?
Make that make sense for me.
I love you, Grandma.
Aww.
I love you, too, baby. [chuckles]
Now, come on. Let's go find you some toys.
And a real coat.
soft upbeat music playing
vocalizing
-[Dolly] Tiff! -What?
[Dolly] What did you just say?
-Yes? -[Dolly] Bring me the remote!
-Ma, you already downstairs. -[Dolly] Girl, if you don't
bring me the fuckin' remote...
Ooh
Hey.
I love you.
Love you, too.
The bad days, the good days
I just want to understand...
Oh, snap. I see you, Kiesha.
[Kiesha] Today is the day.
-Are you sure about this? -Yes, I'm sure, Mom.
-I wanna live on campus. -Baby, we talked about this.
[Nina] Being away from you and Lil Ronnie
is triggering for me.
[Kiesha] It's safe. I promise.
Yeah, those college grounds are safer than most neighborhoods.
[Kiesha] Thank you.
Why do I always have to be the bad guy?
You're not. You just worry too much.
I have good reason.
Well, I think that this is the right move.
[Nina] You just think this house is too crowded.
-It is! -I hate it here.
Fine.
You think this house is so bad, you can leave.
[scoffs] Don't be like that, Ma.
I just--I want a new start for me and my son.
It's time to start a new chapter.
Does this new chapter include Christian?
I been thinking about it.
Well, what you been thinkin'?
That is none-a y'all business.
Uh, as long as my grandson is involved, it is my business.
Look, I need to find out
what I need this relationship to be for me.
That's very healthy of you, Kiesha.
-I'm impressed. -Why?
Because.
As a licensed therapist,
I think that's a good way to view any relationship.
When you start bringing up being a licensed therapist
is when I exit the conversation.
[Kiesha] Bye, y'all.
-[Nina chuckles] -Bye, Kiesh.
Pops, you gotta let me buy you some damn AirPods, like...
[Darnell] No, sir.
I ain't fucking with them things.
[Emmett laughs]
[Darnell] That shit ain't nothing but the feds.
[Emmett chuckles]
Ssss...
-Hey, Pop. -[Darnell] Yeah.
You got any advice how I can get Tiff back?
Man, fuck Tiff.
Tch. Damn.
-[Darnell] She don't want you. -Yeah, she does.
[Darnell] A'ight. Where she at right now?
Her mama house.
Mm-hmm. [chuckles]
Yeah, she must really want to get away from your ass
if she went to go live with her mama.
I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
I did everything she wanted me to.
I became a better father, I got my business together,
I agreed to the open marriage shit.
[Darnell, softly] Mm.
I was listening to Anita Baker. Vacuuming carpets,
making cheese omelets and shit.
Yeah, well, you shoulda been doin' that shit from the jump.
I know you ain't talking.
-[laughing] -I know you ain't talking,
like--
[Darnell] That's funny.
You know, have a drink with me.
Nah, nah, nah. That shit get me too emotional.
That's the point.
Boy, it's okay to get pissy-ass drunk
and cry about it.
Nah. Why I gotta drink, though? I don't--
I don't know.
That's how my daddy taught me.
Mm.
quiet music playing
-Fuck it. -Cheers.
Cheers.
[Darnell] Ah! Yes, sir.
Baby, I remember you had me blind
Couldn't keep you...
-You like it? -[chuckles]
Shit, nigga. I like anything that sparkles.
-[all chuckle] -I mean, it's only
a few karats.
You know, being a community organizer
don't pay too well, so...
She gon' love it, man.
[salesperson] Mr. Taylor.
Would you like me to box this up for you?
Yes. That one.
Thank you.
mellow R&B playing
-[Shaad chuckles] -[Trig exhales deeply]
I'm proud of you, man.
-Yeah? -Yeah.
I mean, look, I know me and Imani,
we had our little shit in the beginning, but...
she a good woman.
[Trig] Yeah.
-A good heart, you know? -Mm-hmm.
And she let my Black ass in.
She ain't had to do that, right?
[chuckles] Yeah.
I don't know. I'm...
just glad we cool now, you know?
Yeah. Me too.
Me too.
Y'all my family, brother.
Aw, man. You want a hug right now?
Man, get outta here with all that sentimental shit, man.
You really know how to fuck up a moment.
-[Trig laughing] -Hey, but your goofy ass
is actually proposin' to someone.
What, you ain't think I had it in me?
Nah, I mean, I wouldn't say all that.
But you know,
you was always weird about fuckin' when we was younger.
Like, all the hos on the block wanted to suck your dick
and you would never let 'em suck your dick,
which made them wanna...
-Man, I was chillin', bro. -Suck your dick even mo'!
[Trig] I wasn't even about all that.
[chuckles] Yeah, I know.
-You was gangsta. -Mm.
It's why we linked up, right?
Yeah. Needed to feed my family.
Hmm. I don't know.
You know, that's what I always liked about you, though.
Like, you ain't never did that shit for clout.
-You needed that bread. -Yeah.
Still do.
-Ha ha. -Pshhh. Tell me about it.
Yeah, but we chose to go straight.
-Took us long enough, right? -Yeah.
Thank you.
Ha! Ain't that about a bitch?
[Trig] Hmm?
Man, I totally forgot your name is Victor.
Man, niggas been callin' me Trig for so long,
start to believe that's who I am.
Shooting so many niggas in the street left and right,
we had to call you somethin'.
[chuckles]
Good luck.
Oh. [Trig sighs]
My bad, yo. My bad, my bad.
Hey, fuck all that shit. Who gonna be the best man?
Gonna be honest, boy.
I haven't even thought about that.
My guy! Say no more.
I will be your Taye Diggs.
Shit, hell no. He slept with his man's wife.
Hey, man, that bitch was bad, though.
-Man, chill out. -[laughter]
Nah, I'm just messing with you.
Hey, but, um, when does Imani get back from St. Louis?
Thank you.
Uh, she get in tomorrow around 6:00.
Latreece gonna bring her to Smokey's around 7:30.
[Shaad] Her mama getting any better?
Oh, man.
S-she's stable. It's touch-and-go, though.
Well, that should definitely lift her spirits.
I hope so.
After you.
-Oh, you a gentleman now? -Yes, I am.
[Darnell] I'm telling you, boy,
you gotta leave that woman in the rear view.
How you and Dom doing?
Uh, we a'ight.
It's...
wish she had a better taste in music.
-What you mean? -[Darnell] You know me.
I only listen to Earth, Wind & Fire.
And she always trying get me
to change my radio station to WGCI.
But you know me. It's either...
[together] V103, WNUA.
-Right. -[chuckles]
Hey, Pop.
[Darnell sighs] Yeah? Mm.
You ever, uh...
[sighs]
...dream about other women?
Do you mean like-- like freaky dreams?
-Yeah. -Ah...
you got that guilty look.
Ha ha ha.
Boy, who you been dreamin' about?
This ain't about me. I'm asking you a question.
A'ight.
A'ight, I'll be honest.
So last night, while I was fuckin' Dom doggystyle--
Oh, hell no.
[Darnell] And I'm getting it in.
It's good, juicy--
Nah. Can you get to the point?
I--I couldn't cum.
[chuckles]
It's time to hang it up. Just stop.
[chuckles]
And so what you do?
Well, I had to start thinkin' about your mama.
Oh, hell no. Get out.
No, no, soon as I started thinkin' about her,
I was able to let one off immediately.
-Pop. -[Darnell chuckles]
Oh, yeah. Mm.
[Darnell sighs]
I need to do something.
[Darnell sighs]
What you need to do... take your drunk ass to bed.
Alexa, play anything by Earth, Wind & Fire.
upbeat music playing
Oh, what the fuck do you think you're doing?
[Emmett groans]
Daddy!
Hey, man.
Ew!
Take him back inside please?
Yeah. Gladly!
[Dolly] Tiffany!
[softly] Oh, shit.
mellow R&B playing
Boy, get in here!
Hey.
[Tiffany] What were you thinkin'?
[Emmett burps and sighs]
[sighs]
I just needed to talk to you.
Did you need to get drunk to do that?
My dad brought the Hennessey.
You know that shit get you emotional.
I know. That's what I told him.
See, you get me.
We get each other.
Can you please stop all this bullshit and come back home?
We need to be together.
I want me and you and EJ to be a family again.
That's what I've been praying for.
I'm begging you.
Come back home.
Tch. Come on.
You really tryna stay with your mom?
-[Dolly] I heard that! -Good!
[Dolly] Don't make me come in there!
Please stay where you at! We talking!
[Dolly] In my house!
Ma, stop! Please!
I just need time.
Time for what?
To figure out what I wanna do with my life.
I'm not happy and you know it.
I feel like I been chasing you my whole life,
and when I finally got you,
I thought it was because you wanted me to be your wife.
But you didn't. You was just scared.
I was scared.
I was, but I'm not anymore.
After we got married,
everything finally started to make sense.
Yeah, and then you told me you fucked Dom.
Because I wanted to be real with you.
Well, I want to be real with you, too.
I don't think I want to be your wife anymore.
somber music playing
I don't even know how you kept that one alive.
[chuckles]
[Suede] Well, you know, anything you give your love
and affection and attention to
is gonna bloom.
Actually, I, uh, I been thinking.
What you think about us movin' in together?
Um, I-I don't know.
I-I hadn't really thought about it.
You haven't thought about it at all?
No, it's just that I like what we got,
and I-I didn't wanna rock the boat.
I mean, I'd rather be in a rocky boat
than one that's just... floating aimlessly
in the middle of the sea.
Can I think about it?
Sure.
[sighs] I think...
I'm gonna go take a hot shower.
[Suede] Ah.
Oh, that sounds like a great idea.
You know, you do some of your best thinkin' in the shower.
-I know, right? -Mm-hmm.
[chuckles]
Oh, shit. I forgot to tell you.
-What? -The showerhead's still broken.
Thanks. Well, you said you was gonna fix it last week.
I don't live here. [huffs]
Hmm. Maybe if I lived here, I'd fix somethin'.
R&B playing
Can we get some peace of mind?
[Tiff] I told him that I don't wanna be married no more.
Damn.
-[Tiff] Is that bad? -No, girl.
Not if it's your truth.
-[Tiff] Thank you, girl. -Yeah.
Everything is gonna be okay.
You promise?
I hope so.
Who you flirting with?
[chuckles] Don't worry about it.
-Who you texting? -Christian.
Tsss. He is such a weirdo.
Tch.
Just 'cause he treat me right, he a weirdo?
Girl, you tryna make him your man?
I ain't say all that.
-[Tiff] Exactly. -I'm just asking.
[both laugh]
I mean, I think he was good for, you know...
after what happened.
Yeah, he was a soft place to land.
Yeah, very soft.
Very sweet.
Then why don't you want him, Kiesha?
Girl, 'cause I gotta focus on school.
And being a mom.
Girl, you can focus on other things, too.
Mm-mm. That's too much to juggle.
All of that and his heart?
Yeah, 'cause it sound like you about to break it.
[chuckles] You making me feel bad.
Look, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Come on and join the single girls club.
Girl, your ass ain't finna be in it for long.
Don't hate. [chuckles]
[both chuckle]
Thank you for coming with me to look at dorms.
[boot zips]
I don't want my mama breathing down my neck.
Girl, I can't believe I moved back in with my mom
and you getting away from yours.
Girl, don't worry. It's only temporary.
It better be, because she gettin' on my damn nerves.
[Kiesha chuckles]
classical music playing
hip-hop song begins
If you ain't got a money plan, homie, come again
Guess I gotta dumb it down, help you understand
Big dreams on a big screen
Like a summer jam
We ain't playing, going Super Saiyan
Fill up rubber bands
Time is money...
Is it just me, or is he trash?
- I don't trust a soul... [overlapping shouting]
Please don't try to lend a hand to get the upper hand
I say do it, always knew it
Yeah, that we could do it
Life by how you view it
Look, you had your chance, you blew it
No days off, I'm always right back to it
We ran the play exactly how I drew it
[Maisha] Hi.
Carin' 'bout the mud
Pullin' diamonds out the dirt
Make myself a plug
If you scared, then go to church
Let nobody come and try to tell me what I'm worth
'Cause I came about the mug for the...
Damn.
It's like "Hoop Dreams" all over again.
Jake!
[sighs] Leave me alone.
What happened?
What you mean what happen? I ain't make the team.
Maybe you just had a bad day.
What the fuck that supposed to mean?
It means it's not the end of the world.
I don't got shit else going on.
I ain't got as many options as you.
So you tryna make it to the NBA now?
[sighs] I wanna be good at something.
[whistle blows in background]
You can be good at other things.
Carl Thomas' "I Wish" playing
I don't want that shit.
It was love at first sight
[Emmett] She got love for me
Oh, oh, oh
But she still belongs
To Emmett
I wish I never met her
Even though I love her so
She's got love for me, oh
-Wow. -Oh, shi--
It's that bad, huh?
Uh, nah. This just a new playlist.
[Trig laughs]
I'm just, uh...[mutters].
-[Trig] You sure? -Come on, man.
[Trig] Uh-huh.
Tiff left me, man.
[Trig clicks tongue]
Damn.
You need a hug, nigga?
Come here, man.
Come on.
Come on, bro.
It'll be a'ight. It'll be a'ight.
I ain't tryna be back out in them streets.
-Man. -Rough as hell.
[Trig] Bro, don't even worry. You'll find love again.
No, for real. Women love you.
Where they at?
I don't know. I mean, she out there.
I mean, you'll find her.
And she won't even care that you already got a gang of kids.
[Emmett chuckling]
[Trig] She love you, flaws and all.
-Damn. Appreciate that. -[Trig] Yeah.
Hey, so, um, we good for tomorrow?
-What's tomorrow? -The proposal.
You-you said I could do it here.
Right, right, right, right. I'm tripping. Of course.
I'm just dealin' with a lot of shit right now.
-Right. -Hey, I got you.
Black love. It's a beautiful thing.
Especially when both people are committed to making it work.
[clicks tongue] Even when it gets hard, man.
'Cause love is a battlefield, obviously.
-[Trig] Yeah. -You know?
-[glass shatters] -Shit!
Whoa. What was that?
[Trig] I know that ain't my shit.
Oh--oh--
Fuck!
Yeah, let me know if you need me!
-[Bakari] Ha ha! -Think you're funny, huh?
-I didn't even do that. -Yeah?
You really wanna die, huh? Hmm?
You fucking playing with me? You little fucking bitch!
You wanna die, bitch?
Think I'm fucking playing with yo' fucking ass, huh? Huh?
You wanna fucking die?
-[Bakari wheezing] -[groans] Uhhh!
Aah!
Fuck!
Fuck wrong wit' you?
[Bang laughing]
[whispers] Fuck.
hip-hop music playing
I'ma go off
I'ma go pop shit
Okay, I'ma go off
I'ma go pop shit
I'ma go off
I'ma a go pop shit, okay
I'ma go off
I'ma go pop shit
Might as well take this back
Before I come down on your neck
I'ma go off...
So we can either ignore what happened
or talk about it like men.
Shut up, Papa.
Well, seeing as how I'm the new school announcer,
I feel bad I won't get to say your name
at all the games, Jake.
Did you know you was that bad before you went out there?
[sighs]
I just assumed I would make the team.
What you mean assume? You ain't practice?
Aw, not really.
Ain't you been talkin' about this for weeks?
I ain't know you had to be that good to make varsity.
[Papa] Well, I mean,
it's called varsity for a reason.
What, you thought you'd be good
just 'cause you a Black boy from Chicago?
Did you stereotype yourself?
All right, leave him alone.
Nah, 'cause keeping shit like this inside ain't healthy.
We just as sick as our secrets.
I did a whole episode about this last week
on "Papa's Pulpit."
If y'all would just listen to my podcast,
maybe you wouldn't be so lost.
Bro, your podcast is dumb, bro!
You don't even talk about shit.
You just get on live and start talking.
At least I'm helpin' people.
What you doin' with your time?
Exactly.
Numbing the pain while stompin' on your girl's heart
'cause you didn't do the work.
Papa, will you please shut the fuck up?
Can y'all both shut the fuck up?
Please!
I'm tryna concentrate.
Stressing me and shit.
Okay, I'ma go off
I'ma go pop shit
I'ma go off, let's go
Christian, um,
I'm sending this as a voice note
'cause I wanted you to hear the tone in my voice
when I say this.
I been thinkin' a lot about us
and what we've become to each other over the past few months.
And you've been a great friend to me.
I had a wonderful time getting to know you,
but I think at this point in my life, I just...
I need to figure out who I am when I'm not in a relationship.
And the only relationship I want to focus on
is the relationship with myself
and the relationship with my son.
And that's it.
I care about you deeply,
and I hope we can be friends.
I hope this makes sense.
Um, let me know what you think.
I'll talk to you soon.
Bye.
Jesus! Damn!
[Dolly] Don't take the Lord's name in vain in my house.
[sighs] I'm sorry.
I'm not your nanny, Tiff. I'm done raising babies.
I know.
[phone buzzing]
Who's that calling you this late?
I hope it's your husband.
Just because I live in your house
doesn't mean you get to be in my business.
Anybody calling you this late
ain't got nothin' on they mind but the flesh!
[FaceTime chimes]
[clicks tongue and sighs]
-Right now is not a good time. -You called me.
[Dolly] And you better not be talking shit about me
to your little friends, either!
I'm not!
Your mom's a trip.
I'ma fight her. I swear I'ma fight her.
Look, if it's that bad, just come stay with me.
No, nigga. [sighs]
I got an extra room.
I'm not about to be your live-in fuckbuddy.
I don't need you for that.
Oh, is that right?
I ain't got issues in that department.
For real. [chuckles]
I'm not pressed.
Well, it's not just me. I got my son.
And?
[Dolly] Tiff!
I need you to grab me some chips from the corner store!
You see what I gotta deal with?
[sighs]
I guess one of the perks of having a broken showerhead
is it forces you to take a relaxing bath, huh?
[Jada chuckles]
Yeah, I needed that.
Hey, I'm sorry about being so pushy earlier.
Yeah, you don't have to apologize.
I just wanted to make sure I'm not wasting my time is all.
-You know? -You not.
It's just, you know,
I didn't realize how much I enjoy living alone.
So you even want me here?
Yeah, of course I do.
Look, I love having you here.
You fix things around the house,
take better care of my plants than I do.
I love what we have.
So basically, I'm just a glorified TaskRabbit?
What?
[Suede sighs softly]
-Tch. -Suede, w-what--
[Suede] Nah, that's what it sounds like.
What is going on with you?
[sighs]
mellow R&B
[Shaad] Trig, Trig. Get up, man.
[Trig groans] What the hell? What?
What the fuck is this?
[fighting sounds, shouting]
Shit.
-Yeah. -Shit.
You reading them comments?
Man, they dragging your ass.
And a few hating muhfuckers tagged Imani on that shit, too.
[Trig in recording] You wanna fuckin' die?
Fuck!
-Yeah, yeah. -[Trig] Aaaaah!
-They calling you the ops, bro. -Fuck!
Bro, people always gonna have something to say,
but if they ain't trying to help,
I don't wanna hear shit from 'em, bro.
Yeah, but you can't turn into the enemy, Trig.
Man, he put a brick through my window.
Look, man.
I used to be this nigga, a'ight?
I--
I just think I can talk to him.
Look, just put some clothes on
so we can find this muhfucker.
-All right. -Man, come on!
soft music playing
No more cloudy days
Chase that frown away
The day I met you, babe...
Hey, why aren't you at school?
I needed to take a mental health day.
[Marcus] What's going on?
Nothing.
You know, one day, you gonna grow up and move out.
And when you do, you're gonna find new friends,
experience new things,
and we won't see each other as much.
Okay.
I'm telling you this
because if we don't talk to each other now,
then we'll stop talking altogether,
and I can't have that.
I want you to have a real relationship with me.
And not one that's predicated on me being your father.
That's not enough for you to come home at Christmas.
I want you to come home because you want to be here.
'Cause you miss me.
And because we have a bond that's deeper than blood.
Now, what's going on?
Jake is being an asshole.
Mm, mm.
Most boys his age are.
Sometimes, I just...
I wonder...
No, go ahead. Say what you gotta say.
I wonder if I should've stayed with Kevin.
Oh, no, no. Don't do that.
[Jemma] Do what?
Don't swap out Jake with Kevin
just because you had a bad moment.
No relationship is perfect.
And you're kids. You practicing on each other.
-I'm not his punching bag. -Oh, no you're not.
'Cause I raised you better than that.
But it's up to you
to teach people how to treat you.
And if someone treats you in a way you don't like,
you should give 'em a taste of what's it's like
to be without you.
If they don't miss you, let 'em be.
If they come back,
they have to agree to your code of conduct.
So what do I do?
I think...you should give him some space.
Let him find his way back to you.
Do you think he'll find his way back to me?
We'll have to wait and see.
I'ma let you get some rest, all right, sweetheart?
[smooches]
You ooh
Ooh, baby
Hoo hoo hoo
Love
[cheers and applause]
Hey
We goin' in-in
Me and my twin-twin
We showin' shots, shots, shots, shots
'Cause we tryna win-win, yuh
We have to run up the score
[singing continues indistinctly under cheering]
[feedback screeching] All right, all right,
all right!
Are y'all ready for me to introduce you
to your new Central High basketball team?
[cheers and applause]
But before I run down the names of those that made the team,
I do wanna take a quick moment of silence
for my brother Jake.
[feedback whining softly]
Oh, oh, no. He still with us.
But his basketball career died a tragic death
the other day during tryouts, man.
-[laughter] -Y'all should've seen it.
It was bad.
He fell on the floor, and nobody pushed him.
Fuck you, Papa!
Hey, that language ain't allowed at school events.
See, this is what happens when you don't have
a positive image of a Black man in your house.
-Ooh! -Man, please.
Your daddy ain't shit.
[scoffs] At least I got a dad.
[all] Oh!
[Papa] Maybe if more of y'all had a man at home,
we'd be further along as a people.
-Is that shade towards me? -[all] Oh!
-Uh, no-- -[all booing]
[Papa] Wait--hold up!
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Whoa, wait, wait!
No, I--see--
Papa.
[Principal] Settle down! Settle down, everybody!
-Please! -Boo!
Man, look at 'em.
Big man wanna puff up, but we hadda sit him down
Hadda put him in his place, I'ma get it now
Big man wanna puff up, but we hadda sit him down
Shit.
[sighs]
Bitch, you set me up?
It ain't my fault you took the bait, nigga.
[Shaad] Nigga, that was some ho shit.
Look, if you and your boys wanna make some money,
we can provide y'all with some jobs down at the center.
-Nigga, I don't want your job. -[scoffs]
See what I'm talking about?
These young niggas think it's cool
to have a rap sheet, man.
Let me tell you something, shorty.
It ain't no fun fillin' out a job application
with a fucking felony, nigga.
I don't wanna work no regular-ass job, nigga.
[Bakari scoffs softly]
[sniffs]
Look, man. I used to be you.
Trust me, me and you?
We ain't got shit in common, nigga.
[Shaad scoffs]
I know what it's like to take a life.
quiet music playing
And you can smoke all the weed you want,
but that ain't gonna make the shit go away.
I see you first thing in the morning at the center.
And your ass better show up, too.
Otherwise, I'm gonna come lookin' for you.
And you don't want that, do you?
That's what I thought.
Come holla at me, shorty.
somber vocalization
[chuckles] All right.
Yeah, got you all set up.
That shower head comes with a lifetime guarantee.
It's stainless steel.
Oh, also, I adjusted the water pressure
in case you ever wanted to detach it...
and have a little fun with yourself.
That thing will have you screaming
in less than 20 seconds.
If you don't get out of here-- [laughter]
Hey, I'm just here for all your handy needs.
[chuckles]
Is that all you're available for?
Well, shit.
What else you need?
[both moaning softly]
Mm, mm, wait, wait, wait.
We can't--we can't do this. Uh...
we with other people.
Man, fuck them kids.
Suede is not a kid.
He ain't that much older than Emmett.
And Dom is how old?
Hey, look, you just say the word
and I can get her ass on the line right now.
Wait, no, no, no, no.
Don't--don't do that, don't do that.
Look, Jada. [sighs]
I just...
I feel like you was the one that got away.
[Jada sighs]
You should go.
Thank you.
Gonna get me all hot and bothered
then kick my ass out, huh?
-Mm-hmm. -[both chuckle]
[sighing] Mmm. Jeez.
[door opens and closes]
[Lynae] I don't know if Jake and Papa
will survive this shit.
If I was Jake,
I would'a went down there and puts hands on him.
[Kevin] Well,
Jake did take my girl and we still cool,
so they'll be a'ight.
[Lynae] Tch. Boys are weird.
Y'all be forgiving each other for the craziest shit.
Only take one time for somebody to cross me.
You burn a lot of bridges that way.
Sometimes, bridges need to be burned.
[gunfire]
Oh, shit.
Been waiting to play this game for a minute.
[gunfire and screaming on monitor]
You don't need my permission.
All right. Come on, then.
What's up?
Ready for some real competition?
[chuckles] Grab a headset.
[game voice] Ready, set,
kill!
[player] Don't be scared.
Shoot that motherfucker. Shoot him.
Yeah, I got him.
-Fuck! -[gunfire]
Yo, man. Just fuckin' drop him.
Oh, headshot!
[screams, gunfire]
This dude doesn't know what he's doing.
Fuck that. [chuckles]
He's too fucking slow, man. [chuckles]
Fuck. Shoot him.
[gunfire]
[voice slowed down] Shoot him.
[gunshot]
Fuck.
Kev, you good?
Yeah.
-Yeah. -[game sounds]
You don't have to play these fools.
-We can go whoop somebody else. -I got it, I got it.
Fuck!
Go straight, go straight.
Yeah, I-I'm fucking trying, dude.
[gunfire and indistinct dialogue]
Kev, can you hurry up and beat these Anglo-Saxons
so we can go?
One down.
Two.
All right.
Now we can go.
unsettling music
[Trig exhales deeply]
[Emmett] And keep it short.
[Trig] What?
[Emmett] If she's the one,
you shouldn't have to talk for too long.
She know exactly how much she means to you
soon as you get down on the bended knee.
-You know what I mean? -Yeah, man.
-Low-key Trig. -Thank you, bro.
Clean, clean.
-Fire. -Hey.
Look, I know you goin' through your own shit right now,
so it really means a lot that you still showed up for me.
-For sure. -[Trig] Yeah.
I just hope we only gotta do this once.
-Uh, yeah. Let's hope. -[Emmett laughs]
-You know what I mean? -[Trig chuckles]
You know what I mean? Divorce is hard.
You know what I mean?
-Oh, man. -Takes a long time.
Oh, bro, bro, bro. No, no, no, no, don't do that.
-Don't do that, don't do that! -Takes a long time.
slow jazz music
In my sacred memories
[notification chimes]
When nothing can change
There's no facing reality
'Cause it all seems so strange
[Kiesha, reading] First, I want to apologize
for my delayed response.
I don't like making people wait,
but I also needed time to gather my thoughts.
Secondly, I want to thank you
for handling my feelings with so much care.
It means a lot.
And the time we spent together was not only joyful,
but it was an education in what it means
to put someone else's needs before my own.
And lastly, I just want to say
it really sucks being a nice guy sometimes,
especially when you're Black,
because people don't think you're real.
People always assume I have something up my sleeve.
They think I can't just be a nice guy,
something must be weird about me,
and that's sad.
But I appreciate you for accepting me
and all my corny ways.
I hope when another nice guy comes along,
you believe him.
He doesn't have to be a fantasy.
We exist.
Oh, and please give Lil Ronnie a hug from me.
I know one day
he's gonna grow up to be a nice guy, too.
I'm here if y'all ever need anything.
All my love, Christian.
Through the heartaches
The heartache's the same
[Rob] Welcome to the house of Rob, guys.
Come on in.
-Hey. -What's up?
-Thank you. -Course.
soft dream-like music
We won't be here long.
[Rob clicks tongue]
I mean, take as long as you need.
Right, champ?
Oh, nothing is perfect
Just give me one night
Baby, I promise it's worth it
We broke all the bonds, nobody has to know
Now, who even cares?
I promise if we make up we'll be glad we tried again
Ooh, you and I
Ooh, you and I was never supposed to happen
But I won't be mad if it happens again
Oh, you and I you and I
Ooh, you and I
upbeat soul music playing
So much hope in the air
And so much work to do
Mm! Hey, Jake.
Come help me with these decorations.
I don't know how to do none of this shit, man.
[overlapping chatter]
[Shaad] You got a little flair for things like that.
Yeah. Clean? Yeah?
[Shaad] Hey, hey y'all.
Check it out. Get down, get down.
-Be quiet. -[Jake] Here they come,
here they come, here they come.
What a time
To be
Alive
Alive, oh
What a time
What a time, what a time
To be alive
To be here
With you
Ooh
[Trig] W-where's--where's Imani?
Imani stayed in St. Louis.
For what? But why?
She saw that video of you beating up that kid,
and...she wants to take some time.
She couldn't tell me this in person?
I'm sorry, Trig.
Uh, so--[chuckles]
Listen, that-that obviously didn't go as planned.
But it's okay, you know?
'Cause the Lord works in mysterious ways, don't He?
-Right? -[guest] That's right.
Yeah, um, I'm sorry, but I guess there ain't--
ain't gonna be nothing to celebrate tonight.
No, no, no. See, that's where you wrong.
We got plenty to celebrate, okay?
We all here together, okay?
We partyin'.
Look, DJ!
Put on that Cupid Shuffle or the Percolator or something.
Come on, y'all!
We alive! Time to turn up!
Chicago, where you at? Come on!
DJ! Uh-oh!
Mm, yeah
[Shaad] Yeah, get it. Come on!
Down, down, do your dance, do your dance
Y'all know how to do it!
We got a brand new dance
Down, down, do your dance, do your dance
And did you know they made wine in Arizona?
-Yeah! -Huh? Well, I didn't.
Girl, this mess will get you a week on "Sally Jessy."
-[Tracy chuckles] -I'm telling you, Glo.
This is how women get screwed.
[knock at door]
Too lazy to look out for yourself,
so you put all your trust in your husbands.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
But I finally got the answer.
Fuck you doing here?
I came back to finish what I started.
Soft dramatic music
[approaching footsteps]
Otis, what are you doing here?
I came back for you.
I'ma go on the beat
dramatic music
I put in that work
Young nigga livin' his dreams
I came out them trenches like Sting
Remember them days when I use to sit on them swings
And watch niggas dealin' to fiends
They served to my mama
Wish I had a burner to pop 'em
You don't know the feeling it brings
I feel like the Hulk
I used to have rips in my jeans
But I had to get to the green
I swallowed the odds
Because I'm anointed with God
The devil can't get in between
Gripping my chrome while I sit on my throne
Tell them niggas come on, ain't no killin' the king
You'll die in the summer
For talking that shit in the spring
So fall down like you sipping that lean
If you ain't from here you the visiting team
You gon' leave in a stretcher
Ain't no limousine
Uh, brace yourself for the truth
It may hurt a bit
The good thing about pain is you learn from it
Make sure your desire survive through the fire
The disappointment and discouragement
Better move like you know what your purpose is
Never say die, learn to fly through that turbulence
Stop placing the blame, you say it's God's
But really you don't know who word it is
Gotta know who the serpent is, know they oppress us
That bitch got more game than a tournament
And the church is the platform