[Al] Previously onStep Up...
You took the gun that was registered to you.
You killed him.
Get the fuck out of my face, bitch!
[Al] Shit done hit the fan.
It's a grant of immunity. You say what I need you to say.
Or I will see to it
that you are locked away for a very long time.
[Rigo] Testify, bruh-- if Sage gets sent up,
-the world is ours, bruh. -All right.
Collette is High Water.
She's the only one who looked out for me,
the only one that looked out for all of us.
There's nothing going on with me and Collette.
It doesn't feel like nothing, Rigo.
I thought this was about me and you.
Fuck Marquise.
[Marquise] I got to get out of Atlanta.
[Angel] I can't come with you. I gave up on running.
Did you mean what you said?
[Al] Goddamn, I didn't see that coming.
Can you believe that?
[Collette] Put me back on the stand, Cruz--do it.
Tell me what you got, or sit your ass down.
[Al] Get ready!
[funky music plays]
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ Step up in the spotlight ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ Yo, yo ♪
♪ Yo, yo, yo ♪
♪ I'm looking ♪
♪ For a better day ♪
♪ Wanna live my dream ♪
♪ Step up in the spotlight ♪
♪ Wanna step up Step up in the spotlight ♪
♪ Want the money Want the fame ♪
♪ Want the love Not the same ♪
♪ I want it all ♪
♪ Step up in the spotlight ♪
♪ Wanna step up Step up in the spotlight ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Oh ♪
[Chaptabois' "Hard Life" plays]
[singer] ♪ Uh, hard life, hard life ♪
♪ Got hard life For my urban suit ♪
♪ Many demons face Many demons ♪
♪ Say my check Like ace deuce ♪
♪ Clockwork, clockwork ♪
♪ It's like clockwork Tryin' to get ahead ♪
♪ Hatin' on me, They back-biters ♪
♪ They sell they soul For a piece of bread ♪
[dramatic note plays]
[gavel bangs]
Are there any final witnesses before we conclude?
[Collette] I know who killed East-O.
Just put me on the stand.
[suspenseful music plays]
[Erin] Yes, Your Honor.
I have one final witness.
[spectators murmur]
[Hooper] Very well. Proceed.
The people call Marquise Howard.
[murmuring increases]
[singer] ♪ Rah rah rah ♪
♪ There's a rumble In the jungle ♪
♪ Better stay up Outta trouble ♪
♪ Think the ground About to crumble ♪
♪ Wanna live You gotta hustle ♪
♪ Just be careful Not to stumble ♪
♪ This require More than muscle ♪
♪ You won't make it Bein' humble, hey ♪
[bailiff] Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?
[singer] ♪ Think the ground About to crumble ♪
♪ Wanna live, You gotta hustle ♪
I do.
[Hooper] Proceed.
[singer] ♪ You won't Make it bein' humble, hey ♪
Mr. Howard, you worked for Ernest Octavio
for many years, did you not?
Yes.
Would you say that you were close?
I mean, we worked together, so...yeah, I guess so.
[Erin] You guess so?
Mr. Howard, everyone in this courtroom
is aware of Mr. Octavio's line of work.
[East-O] You might run High Water,
but I run the streets, nigga.
[dramatic note plays]
He ran an illegal drug syndicate
that you were a part of.
Were you not, in fact,
one of his most trusted foot soldiers?
A lackey of sorts?
It wasn't like that.
Really?
Because by all accounts,
Mr. Octavio was a fairly scary character.
If he told you to do something,
you wouldn't question it, would you?
Good. Good. Thank you.
Now that we have that straight,
tell me about the night East-O was killed.
[gasps, whimpers]
[tense music plays]
East was pretty worked up.
He was pissed off about Sage dissing Rigo
and about Sage stuntin' on him about Collette.
And when I left him that night,
he said he was gonna square things with Sage
once and for all.
And how was he going to do that?
He was gonna make Sage give Rigo a contract.
And if he didn't, he was gonna expose some shit--
criminal shit,
kind of shit that might hurt Sage or ruin his career.
[Erin] So, when East-O left you that night,
it was with the express purpose of threatening Sage.
Yes.
[Erin] And then later that night he was shot dead?
♪ ♪
I never saw East-O again after that.
♪ ♪
Hmm.
♪ ♪
Marquise...
did East-O ever physically strike you?
♪ ♪
Sometimes.
Aah!
You hear me when I'm talkin' to you? Huh?
[Erin] Did it scare you when he got violent with you?
♪ ♪
Yeah, sometimes.
Enough that you feared for your life?
♪ ♪
Well?
♪ ♪
Did you fear for your life?
Could you understand why Sage might have?
♪ ♪
[Marquise sighs]
If you askin' me if I think Sage Odom
killed East-O...
♪ ♪
...then the answer is no.
[spectators gasp, murmuring]
[gavel banging]
Sage Odom might be a asshole, but he's also a pussy.
[murmuring continues]
[Erin] Thanks.
That gun don't even belong to Sage.
You're dismissed.
I have nothing further for this witness.
[Cruz] Uh, Your Honor, I have some questions
I'd like to ask Mr. Howard, if that's okay.
Mr. Howard, how are you?
I'd like to talk about this gun for a moment.
What makes you so sure that this gun...
doesn't belong to my client, Sage Odom?
'Cause I was there when Sage gave it to East-O.
You were?
[Marquise] Yeah, I was, like, 16.
So, just to be clear, crystal clear,
what you're saying is that this gun did not belong to Sage
and that you think somebody else used this gun
to kill East-O.
Is that what you're saying?
Is that what you're saying, Mr. Howard?
That's exactly what I'm sayin'.
-Thank you. -Hey, no, objection!
The witness wasn't at the scene.
He has no idea what happened, and by his own account,
he left East-O and never saw him again.
[Marquise] Wait, wait.
Hang on.
I didn't see East-O again that night,
but...
I did see Sage.
Why is that Mr. Howard?
Because I was followin' him.
East told me just follow him
and not to let him out my sight.
♪ ♪
Why did East-O have you follow Sage?
Because we was gonna kill him.
-[spectators murmuring] -Objection.
[murmuring continues]
I actually got a picture. Do you want to see?
-[Cruz] Yes. Yes, we do. -[Erin] Your Honor,
-this is pure fantasy. -[Cruz] Your Honor.
Wanna know what's real fantasy?
Your case.
-[gavel bangs] -Order. Order.
I'll see attorneys in my chambers immediately.
Mr. Howard, you too.
-Let's go. Let's go. -Fuck.
Why didn't you show this to the police
when you were questioned?
It was right after East-O died.
Sage wasn't even a suspect,
and ain't nobody say shit about a gun.
It wasn't nothin' to tell.
So why are you bringing this forward now?
What changed?
Her.
What?
Why is that?
-I'm asking the questions here. -I'm sorry, Your Honor.
You care to elaborate?
When she first took over, she told me to lie.
I never asked him to lie.
[Cruz scoffs]
And when I said I wouldn't, she gave me this.
And when I still said no,
she threatened to send me back to jail
if I ain't say what she want me to say.
I mean, come on, we're taking the word
of common criminals over the DA now?
Well, when the criminal shows up with enough receipts
to fill a cookie jar, yes, we are.
Your Honor, we have no weapon. We have no physical evidence.
Now, what we do have is a clear alibi for my client
and a DA that should be charged with witness tampering.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
[door opens]
[Hooper] Please be seated.
I am ruling that the people have not met their burden here.
Furthermore, ethical questions have been raised
concerning DA Baxter's behavior.
I am therefore dismissing the case.
-[spectator] Ha! -What?
-[both] Yes! -[Rigo] That's bullshit!
Bullshit!
[Hooper] Mr. Odom, you are free to go.
[singer] ♪ Sing it in And sing it out ♪
♪ No, there's no ♪
♪ Piece of me You don't know ♪
♪ Why you gotta ♪
♪ Sing it in and sing it out ♪
♪ Not so hard to figure out ♪
♪ Sing it in and sing it out ♪
[Sage] It's over, baby.
-It's over. -Yeah. Yeah.
[Sage] It's finally over.
-[patting back] -Mm.
[Cruz] Hello. I am excited and ecstatic
to announce that today
is not only a victory for my client, Sage Odom.
[Collette] I can't believe it's all over now. [chuckles]
-Mmm... -I can't believe it.
You know I couldn't have got through this without you.
♪ ♪
-[whispers] I love you. -[chuckles]
Mmm!
-[Collette] Mmm. -Okay, all right.
I'm gonna shake it off. Sage Odom is back.
It's time to get to work. You ready, Ms. Odom?
-[sighs] Yes, Mr. Odom. -Let's get it going.
♪ ♪
Marquise, what the fuck, bro?
Why didn't you tell me you knew Sage didn't do it?
[Marquise] Don't you get it?
I wasn't tellin' nobody that, Rigo,
especially not a disloyal motherfucker like you.
-[reporter] Sage. Sage. Sage! -[overlapping shouting]
All right, all right, one at a time, one at a time.
[reporter] How does it feel to be a free man?
Come on, now, how you think it feels?
It feels like victory.
You know what?
Have fun on the motherfucking streets, a'ight?
And have fun with the DA, too,
'cause she about to get all up in your fuckin' ass.
[Marquise] My nigga, I might get smoked for this,
so for this last little bit of life
I might actually have on this earth,
I'm gonna do the shit I want to do,
and I don't give a fuck what nobody think.
You ain't my brother, nigga.
You damn sure. ain't my friend.
[Sage] Victory for me, victory for my people,
and victory for the people of the city of Atlanta,
but make no mistake, the judicial system is flawed,
a'ight?
'Cause of people like her.
You have not heard the last of me on this
but in the meantime, if you'll excuse me,
I'd like to get my lady out of the water.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
[reporters clamoring, camera shutters clicking]
[engine turning over]
Yeah, I hope you enjoyed your little 15 minutes,
'cause that shit is almost up.
Payback's a bitch, know what I'm sayin'?
Stay warm. Enjoy your Uber.
[bluesy music plays]
[singer] ♪ Well, listen at it thunder ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Gee, but it's bad outside ♪
[Sage] I should go away more often.
I mean, not-- maybe not jail, though,
like fucking Maldives or some shit.
Okay.
[sighs] Mm!
Okay.
Back to the grind.
Okay. A'ight, remind me
that I gotta get on a call with Ray from, uh...
what's-what's the name of the PR firm?
Satellite?
Yeah, Satellite.
Are you sure you want to do that right now?
[Sage] And Kelly. Kelly.
Got to get on the phone with Kelly about the merch.
What the fuck is the hold-up with that shit anyway?
Okay. All right, so...
♪ ♪
Well...
I guess that means, uh,
our little welcome-home party is over for now?
♪ ♪
-Hmm? -'Lette, you know this shit
could've went way different, right?
[Collette breathes deeply]
And that time that was taken, I got to get that shit back.
-Yeah, I know. -Yeah, we got to--we got to--
we got to catch up.
Well, can't we just, like, catch up tomorrow?
Tomorrow is interviews, and we got to prep for those.
Come on, baby, you know what it is.
Back on the grind. Back on the grind.
♪ ♪
Okay, maybe we could just, uh, I don't know,
maybe just pick one big outlet.
[Sage] Oh, and, um, rehearsals, okay?
Get my goddamn tour back on track.
[Collette] You know, Sage, maybe, uh,
maybe you should, like, take a little bit of time to recover.
You know, it'd be nice if you could just heal.
I don't know, you've been-- you've been through a lot.
♪ ♪
Yeah, maybe you're right.
A-a'ight, maybe you're right.
Maybe you're right. Maybe I do need a-a minute.
-Yeah? -One, singular.
-[softly] One minute, yeah? -[scoffs]
-[cell phone ringing] -[stammers] Just--
You know what? Just who I wanted to goddamn talk to.
What's going on with my goddamn record?
-[end chords play] -[singer] ♪ Mm, mm ♪
[interviewer] How did it feel
when they slammed those bar doors in your face...
for a crime you did not commit?
It felt kind of like, uh, screaming fire in a crowd,
but nobody's listening.
I mean, I-I can honestly say, with no shame,
it's one of the most humbling...
[scoffs]
...terrifying experiences of my life.
[scoffs] It's burned on the back of my brain, I swear,
but, um, I-I feel like it needed to happen...
'cause, see, what it did is it opened my eyes
to how broken this country really is.
[indistinct chatter]
Nobody really cares if you're innocent, guilty.
It hardly even matters anymore.
I mean, we've been shown that time and time again,
especially Black people.
Yo, that's my boy, Sage.
[Sage] I mean, one minute,
I'm on a jet headed to my next show.
The next minute, I'm on laundry duty in a cement building.
But I was fortunate. I had resources.
You know, a lot of people that go through
what I went through-- they don't have resources.
So what happens to them?
I spent time inside with this cat...
-[sighs] Magic. -[door closes]
So much talent, so much joy, but he's just sitting there--
just sitting there, waiting on somebody to realize that-
that he been in there way too long.
Lost in the system.
[interviewer] Sounds like the men you were inside with
left quite an impression on you.
[Sage] I'm not gonna forget about 'em.
Any of 'em.
[interviewer] Coming up, Sage Odom...
Yo. Hey, yo, Sage Odom is on prime time
talking about me, baby.
[laughs]
Man, that's fucking bullshit, bro.
Y'all hear this bullshit this man spitting out here?
This nigga ain't gettin' up out this bitch
thinkin' about your ass, silly boy.
Sit your silly ass down somewhere.
You fuckin' stuck.
[door buzzes, opens]
[somber music plays]
[door closes]
[interviewer] I want to pivot now
to talk about what's next for you.
Oh, absolutely.
Yeah, we can--we can definitely talk about that.
The son of the very man you were accused of killing
will be filling your stadium seats
and playing a show that you were supposed to play.
Yeah, yeah.
But, luckily, I'm taking it back.
This Friday after Chicago,
QB's back on the field,
and it's game time.
Seattle--two weeks.
I'll see you there.
-Aah! -Jesus! Rigo!
[hip-hop music plays]
-Stop! -Fuck this!
[Rigo] Chicago? All I get is fuckin' Chicago?
Man, you're lucky to still have Chicago.
[Rigo] What?
-And how does that help? -[Rigo] Nah, go on, King.
Share your thoughts with the fucking class.
Everyone's sayin' that you came for Sage
but you ain't shit.
They straight up clowning you, man.
Even your boy Richie Ross dropped off as your opener,
so now you are only openin' for...
you.
-Are you fuckin' kidding me? -[Poppy] Oh!
He begged!
Sage begged me to open that fuckin' tour for him!
And I busted my ass to give him a dope-ass show!
Agreeing to do that shit was a fuckin' mistake!
And that was for you. Nah, nah, Sage...
Sage wanna throw me to the fuckin' curb.
He wanna throw me away? Fuck him!
Fuck Chicago! Fuck the tour!
I'm out!
Where are you goin'?
[door slams]
See? You happy now?
You just had to run your mouth.
Look, somebody had to tell him.
Clearly, it wasn't gonna be you.
[scoffs]
[intense rap music plays]
All right, we have one, two,
three, four.
Smack and the kick, you roll butt.
[Odalie] Hey.
Can you record this for me in a sec?
Yeah, sure. Is it for Insta?
No, it's an open-call audition
for this new artist from Sunnyside.
They're opening for Beyoncé.
Wow. So it's, like, a tour?
Fuck it.
I should just move to New York, isn't it?
There's more auditions there anyway.
Wh-wh-why? What--what's going on?
If Sage is back, Rigo's done, and I'm off the tour.
I have no reason to be here.
But we're killing it right now.
And our BMT clip has, like, 100,000 views
or shares or something.
[Angel] Odalie, I can't go back to making coffee.
If I'm gonna be grinding anything,
it's going to be my waist.
[chuckles]
Is this about Marquise?
No.
Fine. Yes.
[British accent] You fancy him.
Don't do that.
[laughing, normal voice] Sorry.
You'll never hear me say these words again,
but he's just so buff.
And he had me feeling things.
Ooh, come back, Angel. Where you at?
Look, he's gone now.
And speaking of gone, your boo has been ghosting lately.
Uh, he did not ghost me.
He's just, you know, busy.
We're all busy.
But we make time for the people we want to see.
Yeah.
But he's just been working on something
that's been taking up a lot of his time.
And what's that?
A surprise.
I'm ready to go.
These moves aren't gonna learn themselves.
[indistinct chatter]
[hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪
[door closes]
Rigo?
[sighs]
♪ ♪
Make yourself at home.
A'ight. I did that already.
What... four times the other night?
[scoffs]
I do not know what you're talkin' about.
We did nothing.
Both our careers depend on that, you hear me?
Loud and clear.
The fuck?[clears throat]
You smell like a distillery.
[scoffs] Well, I've been partakin' a little.
Yeah, well, you need to get your ass up
and get prepped for Chicago.
Man, fuck Sage and fuck Chicago.
I'm not doin' it.
I warned you goin' against Sage was a bad idea.
You made your bed, now lie in it.
I'm fucking serious. Yo, I'm not doin' the show.
I go out there, I look like Sage bitch.
And for what? One gig?
One sold-out stadium
in one of the biggest cities in the world.
You did that. You sold that out.
Look...
I know everyone's talking about you right now,
and they have their opinions.
But there's one thing I know for sure.
What happens in Chicago will either launch your career
or finish it.
You slink away, you're a joke.
Bruh, I'm tired of all this.
I don't give a shit about my career anymore.
And to be honest, I don't give a shit about you either.
Dawg, I'm out.
[door opens, closes]
[hip-hop music plays]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
The prodigal son has returned!
Whoo! It's good to be home!
Whoo! Speech! Speech!
Speech? You want a speech? Okay, all right.
Okay, listen, listen, listen.
Thank you.
Thank you for holding down the fort
while I was away being dragged through hell
by the dumbass DA and her bullshit agenda.
[all booing]
She can't hear you! She can't hear you!
[all booing louder]
I understand it's been hard on some people.
You had to rally behind a novice.
Some of you being pulled in different directions
just trying to figure out how this whole thing
was gonna pan out-- I get it. I get it.
We are a unit once more.
One fam, one roof,
one tour.
So let's put this shit in the rearview,
because we got shit to do.
Are y'all ready?
-[cheers and applause] -Yeah!
Let's goddamn rock it! Let's go!
♪ ♪
[music stops]
[sighs] Been lookin' everywhere for you.
You okay?
My whole show smell like Sage Odom.
[scoffs]
Pop, my whole life riding on this show,
and I can't even perform the one motherfucking song I like
because...
everybody thinks I'm a liar now.
[door opens]
-[Collette] Hey. -[door closes]
[chuckles] Oh, good. Look who's here to help.
I, uh, I just came by
to see if Rigo's reconsidered...
about Chicago?
I see.
I guess I should remind you that you're under contract.
And I don't have a choice.
Come on, 'Lette, that record is broken and old.
[Collette] No, you don't have a choice.
Unless you got about $5 million in your back pocket
and a desire for a dead career.
Listen to her, Rigo.
I mean, this woman understands dead careers.
But she's right.
We have a contract.
And it's not about that one track.
It's about your performance, okay?
Just bring that same fire you brought to the BMT show
and you will kill it.
[Collette] That'll help bring the energy.
But if he really wants to launch off this one night,
he's gonna need something more.
He needs more songs like the diss track.
That's what launched him.
Mm, yeah, and, um,
how is he supposed to pull new songs out of his ass
24 hours before the show?
He's got 24 hours. That's time to write.
Look, when Rigo went from bottle-service bot
to that hard energy, he blew up.
More of that hard energy
will shut up everyone who's calling him a pussy.
[Poppy] Let me remind you,
Rigo had a following before BMT.
He's been killing it since "Oh Man."
That's kid stuff.
Nothing like what I can give him now.
What you can give--
[Rigo] All right, um, yeah.
I'm literally still in the room.
[clears throat]
Baby, you have to do the show.
And I'll be right there standing beside you.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
Well, I have to get to Chicago, get the dancers rehearsed.
It will be fly as hell,
ready and waiting to step in like the star that you are.
♪ ♪
[door closes]
Look, you need to get in and make some more material.
You need to shut up these haters
and give the best fucking concert of your life.
Your career and Poppy's depend on that.
♪ ♪
[Jimmy] This is Gunnar Jordan's portfolio.
You'll notice his work with bokeh,
and light painting's really fresh.
Gunnar does tons of athlete action shots,
which is why we thought he'd be perfect
to shoot our Spartika girl in her natural habitat.
I'm doing a shoot with him?
Actually, you'll be doing a 24-hour photo shoot.
He'll meet you as soon as you land in Chicago
and start documenting your every move.
-[chuckles] -He'll capture the life
of a real working dancer on tour--
rehearsals, checking into the hotel, all that.
That's genius.
But that's not the cool part.
I haven't heard the cool part already?
He'll be uploading the photos
live to Spartika's stores and billboards nationwide.
Wow.
Okay, so lashes and full lip for the plane ride.
Got it, but in an "I, like, woke up this way" type of way.
Spartika's the first to do a fully live media campaign.
Cover of Adweek, Clio, Webby shit.
[soft pop music plays]
I just had an idea. Let-let me know what you think.
You know that Angel girl that I've been dancing with
a bunch lately?
Girl from the BMTs?
Yeah. Well, that video of ours went viral,
and we're kind of crushing it on the 'Gram right now.
You know, what if we featured her with me on the shoot?
Make Angel a Spartika girl?
You know, we're roommates. We work well together.
Just saying, that is if you really wanted to see it peak.
A look into your real life.
Meta.
Yeah, I see it.
-That's sexy. -Yeah?
Both of you bring it to Gunnar's live campaign,
and we'll roll it into Sage's tour.
Amazing. [chuckles]
♪ ♪
[squeals]
What's that smile for?
I came through, bitch.
What do you mean?
You're not going anywhere, 'cause you're back on tour.
So put away your audition shoes or whatever,
because you are a Spartika girl with me.
Fuck me. Don't lie.
No lie. Jimmy just gave me his word.
You're back on Rigo's tour or Sage's tour
or whoever the fuck's tour it is.
Either way, it's you and me.
So pack your bags, 'cause we're going to Chicago.
♪ We're goin' to Chicago ♪
♪ To Chicago ♪
♪ We're goin' to Chicago ♪
I cannot believe you did this for me.
And there's more swag where this came from,
along with Spartika endorsement money.
So leave some room in your suitcase, okay?
[electronic music plays]
♪ ♪
[distant dog barking]
[feedback whines]
Yo.
[rapping without music] I took the throne
Now I look like I'm beggin' for a bone
Everyone wanna say they know me
Throw on a label You should see
What happens on my pool table
That shit wack!
Fuck!
[sighs]
[dramatic music plays]
-[coughs] -I got nothin'.
I got nothin'. Fuck, I got nothin'.
♪ ♪
I got nothin'.
I got nothin', nothin', nothin'.
Nothin', nothin', nothin'.
Bars, shit.
Shit is nothin'.
[woman moaning on cell phone, skin slapping]
♪ ♪
We gonna call this one, "Nothin'."
♪ ♪
[distant dog barking]
♪ ♪
[feedback whines]
♪ Real nigga who I am Real nigga who I been ♪
♪ Fuckin' wit you now Wasn't fuckin' wit' you then ♪
♪ See you in the streets Then you comin' to a end ♪
♪ Stop sign on a hater ♪
♪ I'ma see you later I'm greater ♪
♪ Than anybody you mentioned And did I mention ♪
♪ I'm a motherfucking king In this bitch? ♪
♪ Finna roll a green In this bitch ♪
♪ Finna pop a bean In this bitch ♪
♪ Finna send a .45 through The spleen of a snitch ♪
♪ Wait a minute What you mean? ♪
♪ Hit a scene Need a Billie Jean ♪
♪ Put it in her jeans ♪
♪ Drop a pin I'ma swing through ♪
♪ I'm gonna bring The whole damn team through ♪
♪ Bring a couple hos I'ma show 'em ♪
♪ How we do, nigga ♪
[laughs] Yo!
Damn, Rigo. That sounding right.
Oh.
Bro, let me get a beat on that.
What's that?
Marquise left it.
All his verses.
All beautiful mind and shit.
I mean, shit.
It's just what I need for the show tomorrow, too.
Uh...
[laughs] Yo, fuck Marquise.
But you're not thinking about actually trying to...
Listen, I don't owe Marquise shit, a'ight?
He long gone, especially after he done switched up on me.
Fuck him.
He's an asshole. That's not the question.
But that doesn't make it right.
Nigga, why you defending him?
[laughs] I'm not. I mean, I wouldn't, but...
remember when Sage stole my shit?
It's a fucked-up feeling.
Well, yeah, 'cause you didn't deserve it, a'ight?
Marquise owes me.
King, you said it yourself, a'ight?
They out here talking about me in these streets,
and the show, Chicago is tomorrow.
All right? My-my career's riding on this shit, bruh.
I'm not gonna let them bury me. I'm doing it.
[sighs]
Yeah, but the only problem is, King,
I don't know if I can be the dude on these sheets.
This dude buggin'.
Listen, it's gonna be a long night,
and you need to get into character.
You ready for this?
[dramatic hip-hop plays]
♪ ♪
[Tal] What exactly did he mean by new tracks?
And how many? Like, are we talking one?
[chuckles] Are we talkin' two?
Tal, he'll come through.
-This isn't you or me. -Mm.
We know how to work.
This is Rigo.
[percussive music plays]
He's lazy and disorganized.
And he listens to me.
Rigo--all you gotta do is point him in the right direction
and tell him to go--simple.
[Tyrone] Yo, Rigo.
Up all night. Let's get it.
All right, you can't just change up an entire show
the night before-- it doesn't work like that.
I'm sorry.
[King] You ready to lay this beat down, Rigo?
♪ ♪
-[sighs] -[phone chimes]
He sent me the first track.
-[Tal] Hit play. -Okay!
[funky hip-hop plays]
♪ ♪
♪ When I pull up On a block like a real one do ♪
♪ Pop shots in the air Bullet holes in the roof ♪
-[Rigo rapping] -Is that seriously Rigo?
It doesn't even sound like him.
Wait, wait, wait, we should walk in the girl shit.
And walk and slap and pose.
♪ Then you comin' to a end Stop sign on a hater ♪
The boys feel kind of creatures.
That's like-- it's like his-his demons
are, like, coming out.
♪ Finna pop a bean In this bitch ♪
♪ Finna send a .45 through The spleen of a snitch ♪
♪ Wait a minute What you mean? Hit a scene ♪
All right, listen, we gotta go call everybody up,
tell them to have rehearsal right now, okay?
-Okay. -Let's get it poppin'.
-Got work to do. Let's go. -♪ Now I'm living a dream ♪
♪ But really used to be A nightmare ♪
♪ I really came a long way From the night terrors ♪
[Poppy] Come on, y'all, the show is tomorrow night.
I need you guys to step it up.
One, two.
♪ Rigo all caps 'Cause my name up ♪
♪ Middle finger to the sky ♪
♪ 'Cause I really fucked the Game up, throw the gang up ♪
♪ When I pull up on a block Like a real one do ♪
♪ Pop shots in the air Bullet holes in the roof ♪
[Poppy] Yo, we don't have time to waste!
[Rigo] ♪ Got a bad little bitch Finna hit it like a switch ♪
♪ Real nigga who I am Real nigga who I been ♪
♪ Fuckin' with you now Wasn't fuckin' with you then ♪
[Poppy] One, two, three, four.
♪ Stop sign on a hater I'ma see you later ♪
♪ I'm greater Than anybody you mention ♪
[Poppy] Leave all that shit on the stage.
[Rigo] ♪ Still bringin' The ruckus ♪
♪ And I ain't running niggas' Gas up on a fast truck ♪
♪ On my last nerve, hit the gas Swerve on a nigga ♪
♪ Jump the curb, hop out No words on a nigga ♪
♪ Just pop, pop, pop You ain't heard, lil' nigga ♪
♪ Lil' rookie with a gun And you better not miss ♪
[Poppy] All right, let's go.
[singer] ♪ Now I'm livin' the dream ♪
♪ But really used to be A nightmare ♪
[Tal] These are beautiful.
You think?
Yeah. It's-it's art. It's cool.
Did you just take a picture of me?
[Gunnar] My camera likes you.
[Rigo] ♪ Throw the gang up ♪
[Tyrone] Yo, Rigo.
I ain't think you had it in you,
but you're the real deal, straight up.
Hey, you should write a song for that snitch, Marquise.
Play the shit at his funeral. Swear to God.
♪ ♪
[Sage claps hands, whistling tune]
Where you going?
-I'm going to Chicago. -[door closes]
Chicago? For what?
You know why.
It's Rigo's show.
Yeah. Rigo's last show.
Fuck that nigga. Let him flail.
You're kidding, right?
I worked really hard on this,
and right now you're acting like this is some kind of joke.
Oh, no, no. No, baby. No, no. You're not a joke.
No, Rigo is the joke. It's Rigo that's the joke.
Yeah? [scoffs]
What, d-do I really have to remind you
that this tour is literally saving our asses?
Excuse me if I want to see how it all goes off.
[chuckles] See, this-- this is your problem.
See--see, what you should be worried about
is what's gonna happen after this show.
Right? Our future. Our thing.
Look, okay, I know how hard you worked
to keep everything afloat, and I love you for that.
But Rigo tried to bury me.
So, as far as I'm concerned, fuck Rigo, okay?
Fuck everything Rigo.
Fuck words that rhyme with Rigo.
Fuck the letter R, okay? He has no future.
Put that shit away.
Let's--let's find something to watch.
I think our show about to come on.
It's like nine buttons on this remote
that don't do nothin'.
What the fuck's going on with this goddamn--
As much money as this TV costs,
you think the remote would be a little simpler.
Yo, what are you doing?
[Collette] You.
You don't even know all I do for you...
for your empire.
I run your tour...
your school, your finances.
I pick up the pieces every time you fuck up.
And I clean up your messes every time you shit on people.
It's a little extreme.
[Collette] No. No, I'm not done.
I tapped Rigo for this tour, and I helped make him a star.
And for once, it would be pretty fucking great
if you actually cared about something
that was important to me.
[KZ Kova's "Purple Dream" plays]
'Lette. 'Lette.
'Lette!
♪ ♪
[car door closes]
♪ ♪
[knocking on door]
[bottle clatters on floor]
[door closes]
[Collette] What in the actual fuck?
-Rigo! -Hmm.
Rigo.
-[cup clatters] -[sighs]
We have a show tonight.
[clears throat]
-[bottle thuds] -My bad.
[sniffs, clears throat] Now, look, before you go off on me,
go all crazy... [sniffs, claps hands]
...check this out.
[clearing throat]
♪ Now I'm living the Dream ♪
♪ But really used to be A nightmare ♪
♪ I really came a long way From the night terrors ♪
♪ Every single night Was a fight there ♪
♪ Every single night scared Now I came up ♪
♪ No, your brain's no cap Nigga, fade up,
♪ Rigo all caps 'Cause my name up ♪
♪ Middle finger to the sky ♪
♪ 'Cause I really fucked the Game up, throw the gang up ♪
♪ When I pull up on a block Like a real one do ♪
♪ Pop shots in the air Bullet holes in the roof ♪
♪ Scurried off in a Benz Got the paddock on a wrist ♪
-♪ Got a bad little bitch... ♪ -[button clicks]
[claps hands] So, uh...
that man enough for you or what?
[claps hands]
Get your stuff. Let's go.
Tell your boys to get up. Let's go.
[dynamic music plays]
♪ ♪
This is it.
[giggles]
I cannot believe this is all for us.
Ooh!
Call me Lizzy, because a bitch is feeling real queen-like.
Okay.
Life is crazy, man.
I used to stay up late watching your videos,
trying to copy your moves.
And now...
we're here, my G.
[giggles]
-[sighs] Come here. -[chuckles]
-Davis? -[Davis] Hey, baby.
[chuckles] What are you doing here?
[Davis] Surprise.
I am opening up for Rigo tonight.
[Odalie] Wait. So that's the surprise?
Yeah, I was so worried you were gonna find out, but--
-Oh, no! -I guess all the sneaking
around was worth it, you know?
Just so I could see the look on your face.
-Guess what. -What?
The song I'm singing tonight...
-Mm-hmm? -...I wrote it for you.
I can't wait for you to hear it.
Me neither.
Let's go.
-Come on. -[laughing] What?
[indistinct chatter]
[edgy electronic instrumental plays]
♪ ♪
[crewperson] All hands on deck.
Davis takes the stage in T minus two minutes.
Stand by.
[indistinct chatter]
[Poppy] Okay, settle down. Settle down.
Yo, real talk.
Thank you all for busting your ass last night
and this morning to pull together this show.
We killed ourselves for this and for Rigo.
[Odalie] Where the fuck is Rigo?
Odalie, don't worry. He's gonna be here. It's fine.
[Poppy] As I was saying...
Well, he hasn't been here all day
and we need to rehearse the new steps,
and we're about to go on, so...
Who y'all talkin' about?
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
Shit dope, right?
[person] Yo, is that a face tat?
"Only Son"?
Listen, uh...
things gonna go a little different tonight.
Cool?
♪ ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ ♪
You look good.
It's packed out there. Are you ready for this?
Man, what you think?
We'll see about that.
I think I have something that might help.
What, you tryin' to go back to the dressing room real quick?
East-O gave this to me.
I want you to have it now.
♪ ♪
I believe in you. I believe in your music.
Now it's time for you to go out there and show the world.
[crewperson] Stand by. Davis is up in ten seconds.
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
[Davis] ♪ My Mona Lisa ♪
♪ Yeah you taught me babe, you're one of my favorite teachers ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Yes, she my señorita ♪
♪ I play the game, she Watchin' from the bleachers ♪
Sage wants him as the opener.
He wants to feature another High Water student.
-For real? -Mm-hmm.
[Odalie] He'd go on tour with us?
♪ ♪
That means we finally get to be together in every city.
[chuckles]
♪ ♪
♪ My Mona Lisa ♪
[cheers and applause]
Okay, Rigo, you come through, click,
and then you throw it to Tal on the left.
And then we're gonna come up to you
-like kind of tormented... -[Poppy] Hello? Rigo!
Are you not paying attention?
Nah, you good, you got it.
What?
We go on in seconds, and you-- you don't know half the choreo.
Listen, Pop, I'm sure what you gonna do is dope, a'ight?
I-I trust y'all.
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
What the fuck is happening?
Beats the fuck out of me.
[suspenseful music plays]
♪ ♪
[announcer] All right everybody, let's put your hands together for Rigo!
Let's see those motherfucking hands!
♪ When I pull up on a block Like a real one do ♪
♪ Pop shots in the air Bullet holes in the roof ♪
♪ Scurried off in a Benz Got the paddock on a wrist ♪
♪ Got a bad little bitch Finna hit it like a switch ♪
♪ Real nigga who I am Real nigga who I been ♪
♪ Fuckin' with you now Wasn't fuckin' with you then ♪
♪ See you in the streets Then you comin' to a end ♪
♪ Stop sign on a hater I'ma see you later ♪
♪ I'm greater Than anybody you mention ♪
♪ Did I mention I'm a motherfucking king ♪
♪ In this bitch, finna rolling Green in this bitch ♪
♪ Finna pop a bean In this bitch ♪
♪ Finna send a .45 through The spleen of a snitch ♪
♪ Wait a minute What you mean? Hit a scene ♪
♪ Need a Billie Jean Put it in her jeans ♪
♪ Drop a pin I'ma swing through ♪
♪ I'm gonna bring The whole damn team through ♪
♪ Bring a couple hos Finna show 'em ♪
♪ How we do, nigga ♪
♪ Now I'm living the dream ♪
♪ But really used to be A nightmare ♪
♪ I really came a long way From the night terrors ♪
♪ Every single night Was a fight there ♪
♪ Every single night scared Now I came up ♪
♪ No your brain's no cap Nigga, fade up ♪
♪ Rigo all caps 'cause my name Up, middle finger to the sky ♪
♪ 'Cause I really fucked the Game up, throw the gang up ♪
♪ When I pull up on a block Like a real one do ♪
♪ Pop shots in the air Bullet holes in the roof ♪
♪ Scurried off in a Benz Got the paddock on a wrist ♪
♪ Got a bad little bitch Finna hit it like a switch ♪
♪ Real nigga who I am Real nigga who I been ♪
♪ Fuckin' with you now Wasn't fuckin' with you then ♪
♪ See you in the streets Then you comin' to a end ♪
♪ Stop sign on a hater I'ma see you later ♪
♪ I'm greater Than anybody you mention ♪
♪ You motherfuckers Don't win ♪
♪ I'm gettin' blunted Still bringing the ruckus ♪
♪ And I ain't runnin' niggas' Gas up in a fast truck ♪
♪ On my last nerve, hit The gas, swerve on a nigga ♪
♪ Jump the curb, hop out, No words on a nigga ♪
♪ Just pop, pop, pop You ain't heard, lil' nigga ♪
♪ Lil' rookie with a gun You better not miss ♪
♪ Here come the boogeyman, Here I come, lil' bitch ♪
[cheers and applause]
♪ Scream it one time For the streets I roam ♪
♪ Atlanta, Georgia you know the zone ♪
♪ West to the east They know I'm on ♪
♪ North to the south They know I'm home ♪
♪ 'Cause I work hard for my money ♪
♪ Sweat a lot for my fame ♪
♪ Shed a few tears Because of the pain ♪
♪ Then I made it big enough For the game ♪
♪ Put yo hands up, stand up ♪
♪ Hands up, stand up ♪
♪ I see a lot Of niggas talkin' ♪
♪ When I ain't Really discussin' ♪
♪ Never been the type To argue ♪
♪ With motherfuckers Who dumpin' ♪
♪ Coppers rushin' To the scene of the crime ♪
♪ And they ain't catch it, bet The chopper leave his spleen ♪
♪ On the ground covered in Ketchup, now let us pray ♪
♪ And burn Sage To a mountain of dust ♪
♪ You son of a bitch You wicked as fuck ♪
♪ You back-stabbin' Two-timin'-ass nigga ♪
♪ Really switched on East ♪
♪ Should've known His only son ♪
♪ Was a helluva beast Ya feel me? ♪
♪ Fuck Sage Odom And you can quote it ♪
♪ He got away with murder And he floated ♪
♪ Should've noticed I was coming ♪
♪ Clipped up and reloaded ♪
♪ And now I got The chrome gripped up ♪
♪ And explodin' No withholding ♪
♪ You can't crop me Out the picture ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm hot now, nigga ♪
♪ Ain't dropped five songs Still top five, nigga ♪
♪ Better pray to someone special ♪
♪ On that hotline, nigga ♪
♪ 'Cause when I see you In the streets ♪
♪ You'll be out, my nigga ♪
♪ I'm a motherfuckin' rider A rider ♪
♪ Run up on me, and we slidin' I'm slidin' ♪
♪ They be watchin' Never tryin', tryin' ♪
♪ You gon' end up here Beside him, beside him ♪
[music fades, crowd cheers]
Chicago, how ya like me now, huh?
Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about.
Listen, this shit has been amazing.
Y'all have been awesome.
I want to take a quick pause, a moment real quick
to shout out a special woman that put this all together.
The show would not be here without her.
[cheers and applause]
Make some noise for Collette Jones, everybody.
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
Look, just follow my lead. Come on.
You're gonna need this.
[cheers and applause continue]
[funky music plays]
♪ ♪
♪ Hey, nobody said It would be ♪
♪ Happy ever after With you and me ♪
♪ But I'm ridin' And that's a guarantee ♪
♪ Ain't no telling your story Without me ♪
♪ Ain't no telling my story Without you ♪
♪ And no matter what Know that I got you ♪
♪ Said I'm ridin' We shared a history ♪
♪ Ain't no telling your story Without me ♪
♪ I won't act like Caesar ♪
♪ You know That wouldn't be true ♪
♪ I can't act Like I don't wanna smack ♪
♪ The shit Out of you sometimes ♪
♪ I can't act like you Don't give me the blues ♪
♪ But I can't act Like they're ain't nothin' ♪
♪ That I wouldn't do For you, baby ♪
♪ It might sound crazy Where they see troubled water ♪
♪ I see everything wavy ♪
♪ I can never tell you, no Everything they did ♪
♪ Only no I know is, no I will never not be your lady ♪
♪ We hit a bump It's all good ♪
[chorus] ♪ Runnin' 'Til the wheels off ♪
♪ As long as we're together ♪
[chorus] ♪ We can never be alone ♪
♪ I want you 'til the end ♪
♪ And then again Me and you for the win ♪
♪ Me and you for the win Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
♪ We ridin' We ridin', we ridin' ♪
♪ Hey Nobody said it would be ♪
♪ It would be ♪
[both] ♪ Happy ever after With you and me ♪
♪ But I'm ridin' And that's a guarantee ♪
♪ Ain't no telling your story Without me ♪
♪ Ain't no telling my story Without you ♪
♪ And no matter what Know that I got you ♪
♪ Said I'm ridin' We shared a history ♪
♪ Ain't no telling your story Without me ♪
[Collette] ♪ Ain't no you Without me ♪
♪ There ain't no you Without me ♪
♪ No, ain't no you without me ♪
-♪ We ridin' ♪ -♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
[cheers and applause]
[moody music plays]
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause continue]
[Rigo] Thank you, Chicago!
Let's go!
Hey, yo, Poppy, thanks for your dancers.
Yo, them girls was crazy! [yells]
♪ ♪
Stay the fuck away from me...
forever.
♪ ♪
[cork pops, both squeal]
That was mad. I'm buzzin'.
Ooh.
I'm still shakin'. Look.
[both chuckle]
♪ ♪
[child vocalizing]