[Al] Previously onStep Up...
I'm selling Al's Wigs and Wangs.
It's an institution.
It's Brandon's institution now.
I love Sage. Fans love Sage.
He's slow dancing in a burning room.
[man] Uh-huh.
We're gonna keep going with Rigo.
This is my goddamn tour. You cannot fire me!
It wasyour tour, Sage.
-Who's the ice? -Saint Clip.
-[singer] ♪ Now my angel gone ♪ -Okay, let's...
Why are you so hot and cold all of a sudden?
What changed?
Marquise, where are you?
You'll never understand me, Odalie--you just can't.
What a fucking liar.
[Al] That's the biggest TikTok video
-I've ever seen in my-- -Ma!
"See Me" is tracking top ten!
I got some free concert tickets to the person
that can tell me the true identity of Saint Clip.
No one can see me, or I'm a dead man.
I now dub thee Saint Clip.
Now they won't see Marquise. They'll see this.
♪ 'Cause you'll never know Which moment is your last ♪
[Al] Hit it.
[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 ♪
[man] Right now we exhale
the demons that controlled our will,
for the devil's grasp will not last if we release
the mask that kept us killed...
[Sage] Fuck it! You ain't shit!
Hey, get the fuck off of me!
[man] Going to succeed from small seeds...
-Too fucking tight! -Hey, hey, hey, hey!
[Cruz] Every time you lose your temper,
something colossally fucked up happens.
Every time you tell me you love me,
it makes me feel smaller.
[man] It's not where I reside, for in my eyes...
[breathes deeply]
-Fuck! -[objects clattering]
-[Marquise] God damn! -[clattering]
Beat this nigga's ass!
I see this nigga Rigo, he think he's slick.
I'ma beat this motherfucker.
-[Sage] Hey. -Fuck! Shit! Ooh.
Okay, clearly I missed a-a earthquake or something,
'cause I know that you are not in here
disrespecting my studio.
This nigga took all my songs, Sage.
"Night Terrors," "Hands Up Stand Up."
This nigga has my notebook.
I just saw a clip of him in Chicago doing it all!
I knew I wasn't fuckin' crazy.
I knew I was not fuckin' crazy.
What the hell you smiling about?
'Cause, see, this shit makes sense now.
See, in Chicago, Rigo was smashing,
but I felt like, "Nah, this shit feel off."
[Marquise] Yeah, it was off because I've been
ghostwriting all this nigga's shit.
He don't know what the fuck he doin'.
Oh, okay, so you wrote that wack-ass dis track "Ryder"
that took me down,
and now you're wearing all my bling,
eating all my damn Pop-Tarts.
Look, man, that's old shit.
I don't even know why you bringing it up, bro.
You know I was just fuckin' around.
It was a song. Took a hour to write it.
I apologize, man--that's not the song that's the issue, bro.
The issue is, he has "Unchosen," man.
He has-- [sighs]
All right, all right, let's breathe.
Have a seat. Come on, sit down...
before you break anything else.
Now, talk to me about this "Unchosen."
What is it?
-Man, "Unchosen" is my baby. -Mm.
I feel like I been working on it my whole life.
Uh, every time I was on the block,
when I was locked up, man, I would add
these little pieces to it until it was perfect.
And now he got that shit. It's in his fucking pocket.
And I can't do shit about it
'cause I'm stuck up in this bitch.
Not that I don't appreciate being up in this bitch,
'cause this bitch here
is quite possibly the nicest bitch I've--
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm feeling all the appreciation
as I look at my floor here.
I'ma take care of that. That's my bad, bro.
All right, look, check it out.
"Unchosen" is still in your head, right?
So tell me what it needs to be finished.
[Marquise] Look, I don't know, man.
It's just a little complex.
I feel like I said everything I was trying to say.
I just don't have the right beat yet.
Lucky for you, I am what they call an alchemist.
Your cauldron just needs a little bit of Sage, that's all.
Okay, we just got to get your "Unchosen" out
before Rigo get any ideas.
Here's what we gonna do--we'll work on it for a few weeks,
and then Saint Clip can drop it
when he opens for me at Mercedes-Benz in a month.
[laughing]
Man, this nigga trippin'.
Nah, uh-uh-uh. Sage don't trip.
Not when there's somethin' real going down.
What, you serious? You really would do that for me?
Okay, look, save all that. Pull up a chair.
Let's find a beat to this joint, come on.
Okay. So this is your life story.
What do we need to feel like? What we need--
It's gotta come from the soul, man.
From the soul. What about...
[mellow hip-hop beat playing]
[Rigo] ♪ Who gives a fuck What I gotta say? ♪
♪ It's just another day where I gotta say I'm unchosen ♪
[King] All right.
[Rigo] ♪ When your heart Broke and your life wrong ♪
♪ Steady waking up To that same song, unchosen ♪
I'm gonna choke the filter off here.
[Rigo] ♪ What you plan to be So you make believe ♪
♪ It's unchosen ♪
Yeah, yeah.
♪ Unchosen ♪
[Collette] Holy fucking shit!
Rigo!
[Rigo laughs] What? You dig it?
Do I dig it?
It's incredible.
No, word was out after Chicago, but this shit--
this is on another level.
Oh, my God.
This song, "Unchosen," is gonna blow you up.
Where did it come from?
I mean, you know, when-- when my pops died, shit...
[scoffs] ...figured my dreams was gonna go with him.
I was gonna go unseen, so...
I wrote that.
Wow.
You know what? This song could be song of the year.
We're gonna build your album around this.
Album. How we gonna make a album?
Sage owns me, a'ight?
That damn contract gonna be the end of my career
before it even fucking begins.
Do you trust me?
Of course. Yeah.
Good.
You did your part. Let me handle mine.
[mellow hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪
[Sage] Okay, the power of community,
the power of music,
power to people, people...
people rising, rising.
[upbeat jazz music playing]
Sage Rising. That's what we call it.
Sage Rising. Yes.
Okay, we gotta tell the whole world
Sage Odom is back with a brand-new message.
And, plus, I got the dopest opening act known to man.
Pop, you especially gonna dig this.
-Yo, Clip! -[Poppy] Wait.
Clip as in Saint Clip?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. No one even knows who this is.
You got-- [screams]
[Sage humming] ♪ My name is Sage Odom ♪
Oh, you can take the mask off, man.
They ain't gon' snitch. We good.
Go ahead, nigga. Take it off.
Nigga think he cute and shit.
You supposed to be happy to take the damn mask off.
So here's--
Is this supposed to be a joke?
This isn't fuckin' Saint Clip.
This is the motherfucker that's been blowin' my shit up
since I was six years old, Sage.
-You don't know that shit? -Bitch, why don't you show me
-some motherfuckin' respect? -[Poppy] "Bitch"?
I'm the one that blew up your fuckin' dance.
This bitch blew up your motherfucking song.
Don't get it twisted, nigga. What you gon' do?
[Sage] All right. Hey, hey, hey, hey!
This is an oasis of Zen, yeah?
A'ight, you walk through my door,
we on the same level, yeah?
No. Fuck, no.
Me and him are not on the same level,
not now, not today, not ever.
And let's go, Tal. He's not with that shit either.
[tense music playing]
What the--
-[Tal] Wait, yo, Pop. -Yo, come here, man.
Pop, Pop, hey, you really gonna leave?
And you ain't?
Last time I checked, you hated his ass, too.
No, I did, but I think there's more to him now.
And what's that? He found Jesus?
Look, people want him dead.
He's afraid to even show his face.
But if I can forgive him, maybe you can, too.
♪ ♪
[breathes deeply]
[Sage claps once] Okay. Everybody back in the oasis?
Yeah?
Smiles up-- all right, fuck smiles.
Forget it. Let's just get back to work.
Sage Rising.
-[lip synching] -[singer] ♪ Figaro! ♪
♪ Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! ♪
♪ Fi...gar...o! ♪
[dramatic operatic sting]
["Largo al Factotum" from The Barber of Sevilleplays]
-[lip synching] -[singing in Italian]
♪ La la la la, la la la la ♪
♪ La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la ♪
[singing in Italian]
♪ ♪
♪ La la la la la la la ♪
♪ ♪
[lip syncing along with singer]
[singer] ♪ La la la la la la la ♪
♪ La la ♪
[tinnily] ♪ La ♪
[uneasy music playing]
♪ ♪
[gasps]
Damn it, King. You scared the shit out of me.
So what you doing in here?
[Collette] What's it look like?
I'm moving out.
I'd do it during the day,
but I already have enough drama going on in my life.
Mm, the word around High Water
is that Sage has been straight dragging you.
In fact, I'm not even sure
you're supposed to be here right now.
Well, it's not a big deal.
I'm just getting some of my stuff.
You know, I can lock the door
when I leave if you want to go back to the studio.
Yeah. Sure. Thank you.
So what are you really doing in here?
I'm sure that troll doll is sentimental, but come on.
Okay, whose team are you on, King, huh?
Are you, what, Rigo's best friend,
or you're Sage's lead producer?
I'm on the team I've always had to be on--mine.
Which is why I don't trust you.
Don't be my enemy, King. You'll regret it.
♪ ♪
[Poppy] All right, I think you gonna like this.
-Step, cross, uh-huh. -[Sage] All right.
Turn. Hey, hey.
-Then shoe up. What you think? -Ah, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Ain't got enough James in your James.
[Poppy] Okay. Okay, so you do it.
-So boom, uh-huh. -[Sage] Boom.
-Boom. -[Poppy] Boom, boom, and turn.
Hey, hey, hey. And give me whoo.
The city pulled our permit for MB Stadium.
[both] What?
-Why? -They didn't give a reason.
They said that they'll send a letter
-in the mail, 14 to 21 days. -Fuck.
[Tal] Is this even legal?
It's the fucking DA, the goddamn DA.
I can smell that bitch all over this shit.
[Tal] Can we- can we try a different venue maybe?
Truist Park or Athens.
Nah, no, one phone call from her,
and-and we back at square one.
All right, nobody from the Parks Department
is standing up to this bitch.
Just not happening.
Fuck, man!
Okay, you keep saying you wanna bring
your message to the people.
If we can't go big, then why don't go small?
Poppy, I don't do small. You know this.
Okay, don't think small, think...local.
[inquisitive music plays]
What if instead of doing a single blowout concert,
we do a series of mini shows.
I'm talking pop-ups on the fly.
Oh, my God, actually, this is genius,
because if we stay on the move, we don't even need a permit.
[Poppy] Exactly.
We market everything on socials, stay underground.
Hell, or at least out of the DA's eyes.
I can call up all my connects and all the local dancers.
[Tal] Load up some trucks with amps, speakers.
We go barnstorming around the city wherever we want.
Yeah.
[indistinct chatter]
-I like it. -[Poppy] Mm-hmm.
I like it a lot. I like it a lot.
Okay, I need a bus. I need color.
I need bright color. I need happiness on wheels.
[Rigo] ♪ Who gives a fuck What I got to say? ♪
♪ It's just another day Where I got to say ♪
-♪ I'm unchosen ♪ -Unchosen.
[hip-hop beat plays]
[Rigo] ♪ When your heart Broke and your life wrong ♪
♪ Steady waking up To that same song ♪
-♪ Unchosen ♪ -Unchosen.
-[Collette laughs] -[Rigo] Mm-hmm. [groans]
[Odalie] Wow.
Rigo, dude, that is a banger, like, for real.
-Wow. -Yeah, it's-it's sick.
You wrote that?
Mm-hmm. Who else?
Sorry, she just means it's really that good.
[chuckles]
It's dope.
Well, great, because I want the two of you
to create a dance for it.
-You want us to choreograph? -[Collette] Mm-hmm.
Amazing--I have dope ideas already on standby, right?
[Collette] Good. Well, okay.
So I'm throwing this party tomorrow...
-[Rigo] Mm-hmm. -...and we're inviting
every A&R exec from here to L.A.,
and I'm hyping up a little surprise.
Of course, they're expecting Rigo to play a few of his hits,
but they have no idea we're gonna play this.
And brains are gonna explode.
I'm telling you, I'ma have a mess all over that party.
-Boom. -[laughter]
All right, so just keep it fly,
keep it fresh, keep it sexy but not distracting.
Just remember, Rigo's the star.
-Right. I mean, we're on it. -[Collette sighs]
Great. I know you are.
The two of you are like fire in a bottle.
-[Odalie] Thank you. -[Collette] Thank you.
[Odalie] See you.
[Sage] Okay, if we can't perform
for 50,000 people in person,
we just go digital.
Livestream. We can do that.
-Hell, yeah. -[Sage] Okay.
We need top-notch audio.
I want wide shots streaming live all day,
all night, on all socials.
DA won't let us play a stadium?
-[door opens] -[laughs] Okay, bitch.
We'll do the globe.
-What are y'all looking at? -[door closes]
Oh, shit, Kasey. Come on in here, brother.
Kasey, this is Poppy.
This is my lead dancer and choreographer.
This is Tal. This is my creative director.
-[Kasey] Hey, pleasure. -This is Kasey Dumas.
He is chief of staff
to the soon-to-be governor of Georgia, Iman Walker.
I love Iman Walker.
Back when she was councilwoman, she saved the community center
where I had my first dance lessons.
How is she?
Honestly, not great.
Our message polls well,
but we're struggling to get heard.
It's 'cause Erin Baxter dog-whistles
like a fucking jet engine.
But don't worry about it. We gonna help, okay?
It is now my mission to make sure
that Iman Walker is the next governor of Georgia.
That's why you're here.
So, shit, why don't we bring her on board?
You know, get donations off the livestream.
-Register voters. -Yes.
[Kasey] A swell of grassroots support
is exactly the boost our campaign needs.
[laughs] You're on a roll, Pop.
Uh, the only thing is, the registration deadline
is next Thursday,
meaning if you wanna include a voter's drive,
this concert would have to be...
-No. Don't-- -[Kasey] ...tomorrow.
All right. Y'all figure that out.
Kasey, let me holla at you right quick.
We might need to--
Kasey? Kasey!
-[Kasey] Yeah, I'm coming. -[Sage] I think that we might need--
Well, Spartika Girls are loving it,
and so will every pair of ears in America.
-Okay, what's wrong? -[Rigo chuckles]
This. What are we doing?
Are we fuckin'? Are we datin'?
I be wanting to tell the whole world about us,
but it's like every time people around,
I turn into Rigo, the student,
and you become Ms. Jones again.
What's goin' on? You embarrassed by me?
I am not now, nor never have I ever...
been embarrassed by you or us.
Mm. Then what? What the fuck's goin' on?
Why we doin' this game?
I am 100% with you personally and professionally, okay?
Your fans want to see you single.
You know the game.
Rigo, they're gonna be begging to sign you.
-[Rigo] Mm-hmm. -[Collette] Yes.
[slow R&B music plays]
♪ ♪
Seven, eight. One, two, three.
Where we go Dougie, ah.
Dougie, mm, Dougie, and--
Odalie, I'm just not feeling it right now.
Okay, yeah, let's take a break, then.
[Rigo] ♪ If I show it, Leave a nigga stressed out-- ♪
[Odalie] So are we ready to talk?
I'm sorry.
I'm just alone in a new country,
and it-it gets a bit much.
Don't worry about it.
[sighs] I crossed a line, too.
I'm always trying to help people,
and I always forget that
that sometimes means shutting my mouth.
[scoffs]
Not too far shut, I hope.
Look, Angel, I just want you to feel safe with me.
You know, we can be open with each other about anything.
I mean, there is one thing, but...
promise you won't think I'm mad.
I won't.
You know that new rapper, Saint Clip?
That's Marquise.
Yeah, I'm going crazy, innit? [chuckles]
Look, I just don't get why you think
that the hottest new rapper in town is your ex-fling.
'Cause I know his voice and his words.
That Rigo track at the BMTs, the one that launched us?
-Marquise wrote that. -Mm. Bullshit.
Look...
even if he is Saint Clip,
Marquise is gone, right?
I hope so.
Really, I'm just glad he got out.
-Let's do it again. -Yeah?
Mm-hmm.
[singer] ♪ Here it comes ♪
[singer] ♪ Hey, here it comes ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
[Big Tigger] This is your man Big Tig
right here on the Big Tigger Morning Show.
We just got word of this last night,
but all morning,
I've been trying to figure out
what Sage Odom's up to with this cryptic post of his.
Is it a concert,
a block party, a political rally?
I don't know. But who cares?
If Sage is throwing a party, hell, yeah!
Let's all get down.
[indistinct chatter]
Hey, Sage.
Here's your mic. All right, game plan.
One song, and we disappear. Tal's gonna jump off.
He's gonna post the next neighborhood on social media.
-We roll out, and then... -Boom.
-Rinse and repeat. -Yeah.
-All right, Iman. -Right there.
[Sage] Ah, I see.
Damn, this the smallest crowd
-I been in front of in a while. -[chuckles]
But you know what? This shit feel good.
I know.
Feels like this is what
we should have been doing all along.
Let's get it.
-[chuckles] Yeah. -Let's get it.
♪ ♪
Yo, I know you lyin'.
What's going on, ATL?
That's Sage.
[cheers and applause]
And hello, world.
This is Sage Rising.
[cheers and applause]
But listen, for today, I'm not a celebrity, y'all.
I'm not here on some celebrity shit.
I'm here as a part of y'all with a mission.
[cheers and applause]
And the mission is to take us away from the old ways,
to take us out of the dark and into the bright new day,
'cause shit gotta change.
[cheers and applause]
Yes. Hi.
[Sage] That day is today.
That time is now. Are y'all ready?
[cheers and applause]
Let's get it!
Whoo! Hey!
[smooth hip-hop music plays]
♪ ♪
Let's go.
[Sage] ♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Took a while To learn my lesson ♪
♪ I see the power In my presence ♪
♪ Impact over oppression ♪
♪ Make room For all the blessings ♪
♪ Focused on the problems ♪
-♪ I know everybody got 'em ♪ -[singer] ♪ Everybody got 'em ♪
[Sage] ♪ Mm, coming up With solutions ♪
♪ I gotta give My people options ♪
-♪ Even though I know ♪ -Hi.
♪ We make something From nothing ♪
♪ Struggle's all that we know ♪
♪ Yet we still rise above it ♪
♪ Up, up, and away we go ♪
-♪ And we risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
-[Sage] ♪ Risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
[both] ♪ Keep risin' To the top ♪
-[Sage] ♪ Baby, we risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
-[Sage] ♪ Risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
[Sage] ♪ 'Cause us Is all we got, whoa-oh-oh ♪
♪ Step to the front Rock it to the left, oh ♪
♪ Both hands up Now keep it right there ♪
♪ And turn it around ♪
♪ Drop it to the ground And bring it back up ♪
♪ That's how we get down ♪
-♪ We risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
-[Sage] ♪ Risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
[Sage] ♪ Keep risin' To the top ♪
-♪ Baby, we risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
-[Sage] ♪ Risin' ♪ -[singer] ♪ Risin' ♪
[Sage] ♪ 'Cause us is all We got, whoa-oh-oh ♪
[crowd cheering]
[all] Hey! Hey!
-Hey! Hey! -That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
[cheers and applause]
-Hey, Tal. -ATL, we love ya!
-Let's go. -[cheers and applause]
[crowd chanting "Sage!"]
Hey, let's go. Come on.
[cheers and applause]
[all] Sage! Sage! Sage! Sage!
[lively electronic music playing]
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ You ♪
♪ Can't let my guard down ♪
♪ No, no ♪
-♪ Script ♪ -♪ One, one, one ♪
♪ Little bitch, no man down ♪
♪ Can't let my guard down No, no ♪
♪ You fucking up my reign Ain't no outlet ♪
♪ No more ♪
[Rigo] No, it's not a game.
My mom died when I was younger.
You already know who my dad is.
But all that weight just made me stronger, you feel me?
And-and that's pretty much what music means to me.
You know, it's my way
of telling the world ain't nothing gonna stop me.
That kind of authenticity is my entire ethos.
It guides my company and my life.
Word?
Is there anything I can do to make your party better?
-Anything? -Nah, man, I'm straight.
Well, since we're vibing each other,
maybe you can give me a taste of that track
Collette sounds like she's dangling.
[Rigo chuckles]
I don't know about all that, brother,
but, uh, look, enjoy the party, a'ight?
Papito, papito, papito, What's up, player?
-What's good? -Look at this shit, man.
This shit is fucking bumpin'.
You got all these rich motherfuckers
dressed in Prada just for you, man.
[Rigo] Hey, man, this shit crazy, right?
[Davis] You gonna be the next Kanye, watch.
-[Rigo] Hey. -Now, which Kanye?
-That's your choice. -[Rigo laughs]
[upbeat hip-hop music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Sage] The time is now!
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you
to the next governor of Georgia, Iman Walker.
It's time to rise up. Y'all ready?
Do you feel like I feel?
-Let's do it. -Rise up! Ow!
♪ What's that in the air? ♪
♪ Is it the sound of sirens? ♪
♪ And I'm 'posed To feel safe? ♪
♪ Tell me why then do I feel Like running and hiding ♪
♪ Tired of names On the T-shirt ♪
♪ Tired of my mama crying ♪
♪ Tired of the powers that be Beating powers that be ♪
♪ That be doing all the lying ♪
♪ And I've been trying To keep it calm ♪
♪ I've been trying To keep it calm ♪
♪ But because of my race And the skin on my face ♪
♪ Everybody wanna do me harm ♪
♪ Still, I been trying To keep it calm ♪
♪ I been trying To keep it calm ♪
♪ Another Black man dead ♪
♪ I woke up this morning Wishing I could drop a bomb ♪
♪ Yo! ♪
And now, for our very own
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Jericho Brown.
Help me hold in place my blazing jaw
as I think to say, "Excuse me."
[cheers and applause]
Shoutout to Drum Line Live!
I know I smelled some barbecue earlier.
Whoever it is grilling, share it with your people.
And while you at it, share your stories.
Share your passions, your thoughts, your ideas.
We gotta look out for we.
Hit your people in other hoods. Tell 'em we on the way.
We not stoppin' 'til the whole city
is rocking with this movement.
We love y'all. Peace out.
Come on, come on, we got to go.
[cheers and applause]
[crowd] Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage!
[cheers and applause]
[Sage] ♪ If you feel like I feel ♪
♪ And you think it's time To see change♪
[Sage] Let's go, y'all!
♪ Rise up from the ashes ♪
Get out and vote. Get your voice heard.
♪ Rise up from the system We helped build ♪
♪ But don't treat us The same ♪
♪ Rise up for my brother ♪
I love you, too, baby.
♪ If you feel like I feel ♪
Get out and vote, y'all. Let's go!
♪ ♪
[crowd cheering]
This is amazing.
Yo, everybody, magnificent job, everybody.
Greyhound, Tal, you outdid yourself, brother.
Let's get it. Come on, come on.
[indistinct chatter]
[mellow hip-hop playing]
[Collette] Excuse me, excuse me,
I just need to borrow the man just a minute.
Time for that surprise you sold us on?
I wanna see this star take off.
Not just yet, Java, but I promise you,
Rigo is worth the wait. [laughs]
♪ ♪
Okay, Derek Kasdan is ready to offer
his firstborn to sign you.
No way! That's cool!
Yes. Okay, you are killing it.
All you have to do is crush "Unchosen" later,
and I'm telling you,
we're gonna have our bidding war, okay?
-Oh, my God. -You are doing so good.
No.
♪ ♪
[Sage] Thank y'all for being here.
Thank y'all for being part of this movement, this mission.
Yo, it is--it's my honor
to celebrate the culture with y'all.
-It really and truly is. -[cheers and applause]
You know, disco, rock and roll,
blues, jazz,
on through to hip-hop--
every truly American musical genre
has got Black roots.
[cheers and applause]
So y'all know what that means?
Fuck that--Black culture is American culture.
-It wouldn't exist without us. -[cheers and applause]
Is that the thing in Mechanicsville?
No, it's in Cabbagetown. Sage Odom is there.
[bartender] Yeah, I've been watching this thing.
It looks pretty dope.
Please allow me to introduce to you Willie Hyn and his band,
Confetti Rose!
-Give 'em some love. Let's go! -[cheers and applause]
[upbeat rock music playing]
My name is Willie Hyn,
and they are Confetti Rose!
♪ ♪
Hey!
And y'all already know this is the Sage Rising Festival.
And we wanna just encourage y'all
to make sure that you recognize your power to vote.
♪ ♪
[Willie] Yeah!
♪ ♪
Where have you been? Why aren't you on the floor?
Babe, these heels are killing me.
I just needed a minute off.
Okay, I get that, but literally
any one of these people could make our careers.
[hip-hop music plays]
Okay, bitch, what the fuck are you watching?
[Angel] I think it's called Sage Rising.
He's rolling out a concert on wheels.
Why? 'Cause he lost his tour?
Sounds desperate.
You're still pissed that he didn't call you.
No, I just--
Look, I fucking put myself
on the line to get you this job...
a dream job where we literally get paid to look hot and dance,
and now you don't even wanna be here.
I thought you needed money.
♪ Strawberry, hoo! ♪
[Willie] Say! Say! Strawberry lights! Say!
-♪ Strawberry lights ♪ -[Willie] ♪ Yeah, take me ♪
♪ Take me to impossible ♪
Okay, please, Lord, I hope this works.
I will not forgive myself if Sage kills me over this.
♪ ♪
Okay, yeah, that's not bad so far.
71,000 viewers. It's solid. It's solid.
Tal, look again. That's four zeros.
That's 710,000.
[Kasey] Now it's 900,000.
-Oh, shit! Okay. -[laughter]
That's really good. That's really good.
[Chief Ward] You might be 18,
but you're not paying the mortgage.
No kid of mine's gettin' a tattoo.
Morning, Ms. Baxter. Working another Saturday?
[Erin] Oh, justice doesn't sleep, Chief.
Can you tell me, though, what is this?
My teenage niece just posted it.
-[Sage singing] -I thought we agreed
to shut Mr. Odom down.
His voice is not good for us right now.
[Chief Ward] Yeah, that's, um, uh, DeKalb Avenue.
♪ ♪
Is that Iman Walker with him?
Please go there and shut it down.
Arrest them if you have to.
Uh, we haven't received any complaints.
Peter, no permit, unregistered gathering.
It's a pu pu platter.
Grab your napkin and take your sweet pick.
Shut it down.
-Yes, ma'am. -Yes, ma'am. We're on it.
Oh, I just got these in.
Here you go.
[siren wailing]
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ Let's go higher ♪
♪ Right here, right now ♪
♪ Don't you look down ♪
♪ I want it right now ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Right now, right now ♪
♪ Need your attention Focus on me ♪
[Sage] Come on up here. Come on, come on!
Come on, show some love for your next governor,
Iman Walker!
[Iman] I said do you feel this power?
All right? All right!
Thank you! On to the next!
♪ You could be The perfect one ♪
♪ I'm trying to get you With somebody, son ♪
♪ Baby, you could be the one ♪
[upbeat hip-hop music playing]
[Poppy] What?
Just you act like you never done
something like this before, yet everywhere we stopping,
people look just as excited to see you as Sage.
I threw a few parties here and there.
Uh-huh.
Shit! Our next location is burnt.
-[Poppy] What? -Cops are onto us.
They're already headed to College Park.
We need to call an audible. Where else can we go?
♪ ♪
You thinking what I'm thinking?
Yeah.
-He gonna kill us, but, yeah. -[Poppy] Yeah.
-Showtime. -[both laugh]
♪ ♪
[Ray] Al, come here, dog.
What's this two-boned monstrosity
doing in my basket, man?
Ray.
Flats taste just as good as legs.
Look, they call me Straight Leg Ray
for a reason, all right?
I don't fuck with the flats.
You've been coming here for six years.
[Ray] Right.
All you order-- legs, legs, legs, legs, legs.
-Mm-hmm. -Cost me extra.
Did you know that?
Did you know that most people don't know the difference
between flats and legs?
It's just chicken!
[indistinct singing approaches]
[car horn honks]
[singer] ♪ MJ in the game ♪
♪ Got that secret stuff Yeah ♪
[singer] ♪ Everything They brought, he got ♪
♪ Been the best Since day one ♪
[softly] What the hell is going on here?
[car horn honks]
[Poppy] Hey, we only have 20 minutes to set up!
Oh. Uncle Al. Yo.
About half of Atlanta is about to be up in here,
so I don't know how many pieces of chicken that is,
but we need to get to work.
[engines revving]
Juicy! Get some more flats.
[singer] ♪ No cap, Been the best since day one ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
-[phone rings] -Hello?
Ms. Baxter, it's Fenner. He's not here.
Just hang tight for a minute, okay?
[cell phone beeps, line trilling]
[hip-hop music playing]
♪ ♪
Shayna. Hey, honey. It's Auntie Erin.
[music playing in background]
Can you hear me? Where are you right now?
♪ ♪
No, no, honey, just checking in.
Okay, bye.
Head over to East Atlanta, now.
Copy.
♪ ♪
All right, let's go.
What you got? What you got, baby?
So that's, uh, one Big Mama, one Curtis Mayfield,
big leg karate special.
-[bell dings] -What's going on here?
We're slingin' chicken, my man. Slingin' chicken.
You want some?
No, but you gonna want what's in this envelope, though.
You take that, sale's complete.
Whoa!
[Brandon] Congratulations.
Pleasure doing business with you.
[both laugh]
-That's a lot of m- -Right?
Whoa! Shit!
That's a lot of money.
Oh, my God. Oh!
I'm so sorry I can't take it.
Wait, wait, wha-- hey, what you doing?
This business belong to them.
Ow!
[laughter]
♪ ♪
-Now get back to work. -Ow!
[mellow hip-hop plays, indistinct chatter]
You really gotta have a Tesla and a Peloton.
Mind and body, you know?
[Sage] This party is just getting started.
I got something real special set up for the next stop.
A live set for my homeboy, the hottest new artist
in the game right now, my man, Saint Clip.
-Mm-hmm. -He's here.
-What? -They got Clip?
Did they say where?
[exec] Southeast Atlanta, I think.
[Angel] Is that close?
Damn.
You ready, A? It's about time.
So I take it you're dancing to Rigo's big new song?
Yeah, Rigo's big new song.
You two have hustle. I like it.
Sorry, we've gotta get ready. Lip gloss?
Thanks.
♪ ♪
Oh, excuse me.
♪ ♪
What's going on, ATL?
[cheers and applause]
Yeah!
Hey, you nervous?
No, I'm all right.
-[sighs] -You got this.
-[Sage] Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. -Thank you.
[Sage] Y'all ready for Saint Clip?
[cheers and applause]
-No, no, no, no, no, ATL. -Okay, okay.
-[Sage] We gotta do this right. -Uh...
[Sage] Are y'all ready for Saint Clip?
-Going out there with me? -[crowd screaming]
-[Sage] That's what it is. -Yeah.
-Let's do this. -[Sage] All right, then!
Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen,
give it up for my dog, Saint Clip!
[cheers and applause]
[crowd chanting "Saint Clip!"]
[dramatic hip-hop music playing]
♪ ♪
[Marquise] Clip, Clip, Clip.
One two, one two.
Yeah. Yeah.
♪ Look, cut these lights on Clear the vision ♪
♪ My speaker loud So you can hear the vision ♪
♪ I'ma peel the clips So you can feel the tension ♪
♪ Streets is calling I've been resistant ♪
♪ I been to prison Every single morning ♪
♪ I went looking for something Real to deal with the pain ♪
♪ Heal from the game Now a nigga own ♪
♪ And it's time that I build me a lane ♪
♪ Build me a name Nigga, see me, see me ♪
♪ Lights on and a nigga Wanna be me ♪
♪ Fight's on and I'm really On my Ps and Qs ♪
♪ Don't be confused I really wanna change my way ♪
♪ The streets refuse, and now I'm on a different wave ♪
♪ The waters deep, and niggas Wanna dig my grave ♪
♪ They want me to sleep ♪
♪ But I ain't never ran Never will ♪
♪ Matter of fact, run it back ♪
♪ Hit the Motherfuckin' lights ♪
♪ Let the niggas see me ♪
♪ On my mama, really I pray for this ♪
[mellow pop playing]
♪ ♪
-[guest] Hey! -[Odalie] Sorry.
-Girl, watch out! -There you are!
♪ ♪
-Sorry. -Hey. Odalie?
Davis?
I didn't know you were gonna be here.
How are you?
Uh, I'm good. Actually great.
How's Justin?
Justin's good.
This is Nova.
-Hi. I'm Odalie. -Oh, I know.
You're so majestic out on stage.
[chuckles]
[both speaking Spanish]
-Are we all set? -Yeah, we set. What's up?
The Rigo Octavio bidding war has begun.
[exec] Hey, let's hear it, Collette.
If you're gonna be coy, Collette, we need more sushi.
All right, guys, hold up, hold up, hold up.
We got Def Jam, Bad Boy, Roc-A-Fella.
This is the murderers' row of hip-hop labels.
-Goddamn, yo, for real? -[Collette laughs]
[crowd cheering]
[person] Yo, you see that?
[indistinct shouting, cheering]
You sure?
Entirely.
[Marquise] ♪ And now my angel gone ♪
♪ Shit, I done lost my ways Never had love ♪
♪ And I lost my way ♪
[singers vocalizing]
♪ ♪
Now it's time for you to show them all
what you're worth.
[Marquise] ♪ It's my time, see me ♪
♪ Hey, Clip ♪
♪ Gotta see me, Clip, uh ♪
♪ Gotta see me ♪
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
Poppy!
Tell him to do "Unchosen"!
[announcer] The wait is over.
We have a special treat from Rigo today.
Poppy! "Unchosen"!
Tell him to do "Unchosen"!
I don't know what that means, but we gotta go, yo.
We gotta go. Let's go. Aye.
[Angel] Tell him to do "Unchosen"!
[cheers and applause]
-[Angel] Sage! -Yeah, yeah.
"Unchosen"!
[Angel] Rigo's about to do it!
You gotta do "Unchosen" right now.
[Marquise] What? It's not done yet.
Do "Unchosen" right now or lose that shit forever.
[announcer] Hey, yo, ATL--
Yo, what's good? I'm ready to perform.
Yeah, but everyone's watching this damn Saint kid.
I'm finding out how to cut the feed.
[Marquise] Let's do it.
Now, this next one,
feel like I been writing it my whole life.
I dedicate this to... an old friend of mine.
What you gon' do when you get
to that last page of that notebook?
You gonna lose your tongue?
[uneasy music]
Brother?
[Rigo] Oh, fuck.
[Marquise] This is my life.
This is my story.
This is "Unchosen."
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic hip-hop music playing]
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ These days I need a Tylenol 'Cause my head hurt ♪
♪ Getting tired Of making no bread work ♪
♪ I been walkin' around With my chest out ♪
♪ But I'm stressed out ♪
♪ So I'm checked out 'Cause I'm the best out ♪
♪ And I know it Never really owned it ♪
♪ Never had a moment Under this pressure ♪
♪ I been wondering whether They give a fuck if I show it ♪
♪ I don't get to picture No real friend ♪
♪ These rain clouds These... ♪
Why the fuck is this happening?
Who the fuck is Saint Clip?
[Marquise] ♪ Will I miss the Shot when the game counts? ♪
♪ I'm ashamed now 'cause I feel strange ♪
♪ Don't feel the same Well, I'm here now ♪
♪ Now it's ten toes When my peers came ♪
♪ Going uphill When my gears change ♪
♪ Who give a fuck What I gotta say? ♪
♪ Just another day Where I gotta say ♪
-♪ I'm unchosen ♪ -[cheers and applause]
♪ And it's plain to see ♪
♪ That you can't achieve What you plan to be ♪
♪ So you make believe Unchosen ♪
♪ Yeah, unchosen ♪
♪ Mm-hmm, unchosen ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Hey, look ♪
♪ Cut these lights on And this mic on ♪
♪ Saint Clip With the fight song ♪
♪ Come out swinging Like I'm Tyson ♪
[rapping continues indistinctly]
Hi, isn't that your dance partner?
♪ ♪
[Davis] Hey, yeah, it is.
What the hell is she doing there?
Looks like Sage found himself another star.
So when are we gonna hear yours?
Listen, I appreciate the first dibs, but I got a long night.
[Marquise continues rapping]
Cut it. Cut it right the fuck now.
♪ ♪
Fuck it.
[Marquise continues rapping indistinctly]
♪ ♪
[crowd jeering]
[cheers and applause]
[soft music plays]
♪ ♪
You found me.
You stopped running.
[engine revving, tires squealing]
[siren wailing]
[tires screeching]
Yo, hey, hey, red alert! Red alert!
Get these trucks moving, let's go!
Oh, shit!
Yo, if the DA catch me, I'm out, baby.
Let's go.
[officer] I repeat--you must disperse.
♪ ♪
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
[officer] I think I spotted Sage!
[indistinct chatter over police radio]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
Go.
♪ ♪
[mellow hip-hop plays in background]
-[Collette] Come here. -[Rigo] Mm!
[Collette] We gotta talk.
That motherfucker Sage turned someone.
He knew that you were gonna drop a surefire number one,
and this is his petty fucking game.
Who could he have had spying on us?
Only, like, five people knew about the damn song, 'Lette.
King?
There's no way in hell King did that, a'ight?
King's my boy. He been my boy my whole life.
No.
He's the only one who could've slipped Sage the track.
I'm telling you, King ain't it.
No, no, King, he's always played both sides.
And tonight, for whatever reason, he finally chose.
You need to fire him.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
So is this our first date?
[Marquise laughs]
Nah, you know I'd do you something better than this.
Actually...
Uh...
[singer vocalizing]
[mellow R&B plays]
♪ ♪
Hey, look, uh...
♪ ♪
...baby, I don't have much to offer.
I don't even know where life is taking me next.
[singers] ♪ Summer days ♪
I'm lost.
Uh...
♪ When the river Don't work on the flames ♪
I don't know, but I just don't want to lose you again.
♪ And roses don't come Back to life ♪
I think we're meant to be lost together.
[singers] ♪ Could be with you ♪
♪ Talk of faith Grateful, I love you ♪
♪ Shouldn't you ♪
♪ Wouldn't say ♪
♪ Just like you said Just like you said ♪
[singers vocalizing]
[Marquise] I got to go back into hiding.
[Angel] Not from me, you don't.
[Marquise laughs]
Oh, shit!
[siren chirps]
-Fuck! -[officers shouting]
[officer] Let me see your hands.
[officer 2] Hey, keep those hands up, keep those hands up.
[officer 3] Put your hands behind your back.
-Man, fuck you. -Who the hell are you?
-Let go of him! -Where's Sage?
What? Dumber than you look
you think I'm talking to you, partner.
-Take him in! -No. No, no, no, no.
He didn't do any-- he didn't do anything!
-[officer] Watch your head. -Hey! Ah!
They're gonna kill him in there!
-Angel! Don't get involved. -He didn't do anything!
[Angel] You can't take him!
♪ ♪
Look, I'm the one you want. Let the kid go.
[solemn music playing]
♪ ♪
You got a permit for all this?
Go ahead and slap the cuffs on, man.
Just-just make something up.
Let the kid go.
[officer] Put your hands behind your back.
[Sage] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh! Sh--
Whoa, whoa, hey. Yo, you ain't gotta do this!
Yeah, yeah, I do. Don't worry about it.
♪ ♪
[officer] All right, step back.
Change of plan.
What do you want me to do?
[Sage] Finish it. I trust you!
[siren wailing]
♪ ♪
Well, now what?
♪ ♪
I got a plan.
[indistinct chatter]
[soft rock/blues music plays over speakers]
♪ ♪
[King sighs]
What a fucking day.
We been through worse.
Just gotta get in the studio,
get back to making our own music.
What's up?
♪ ♪
I gotta let you go, man.
[laughing] Shut the fuck up.
♪ ♪
You serious?
Bro, you know I didn't have anything to do with this.
What's going on?
King, what am I supposed to do right now?
You want me to tell 'Lette
that I been out here using 'Quise's lyrics?
♪ ♪
King, for the first time,
things are on the up for me right now--
the tour, the offers.
All these opportunities are 'cause of her.
Bro, it's 'cause of us.
Rigo, I ain't been nothin' but loyal to you.
Man up.
Tell her the truth.
But you can't.
So what's the plan, Rigo?
Throw me under the bus so Collette
doesn't think you're a fraud?
You traded in real talent
for some fake-ass persona.
And for what? For her?
♪ ♪
I know, King.
♪ ♪
I know.
You know, I expect this shit from Sage, but from you?
♪ ♪
Have fun flying solo.
♪ ♪
[Iman] I want to say something about Sage Odom.
He's an icon, a proud son of our city.
And right now...
he's an innocent man illegally detained
for exercising his God-given rights.
[Sage sighs]
-[clears throat] -Mr. Odom.
Is this the best you can do, French Tips?
Disturbing the peace?
This reeks of desperation, even for you.
So check it out, come Election Day,
we're gonna make sure that you are out on your ass.
Oh, I wouldn't count your chickens just yet--
like you did with your wedding, I hear.
[crowd chanting "Free Sage"!]
Free Sage, free Sage, free Sage...
[laughs]
You hear it?
That's the sound of Atlanta.
That's the sound of the people, my people,
a people that will never let your ass be governor.
[door closes]
[crowd] Free Sage, free Sage, free Sage!
This is your man Big Tigger. What's happening?
[cheers and applause]
Listen, do you think you have the power to change lives?
-[crowd cheers] -You do.
And I got to tell you about a local entrepreneur
who was offered the bag
to close up shop and let it all go.
I'm talking about that living on a big yacht type of cash.
[indistinct chatter]
But he turned it all down for you.
Big Al Baker! Where you at, Big Al?
[cheers and applause]
Big Al, come on!
[cheers and applause]
[clears throat]
-[clears throat] -[person] Yes, sir!
Uh, I'm not one for words...
...but, uh, we a community.
Y'all know if you ain't got no money, you a little short,
you can always get a meal at Al's.
[crowd affirms]
I'm so proud of you guys,
'cause sometimes you gotta fight for what's right.
[cheers and applause]
That young man over there is strong and smart.
My nephew.
I never been so proud.
He's been fighting since he's been here.
[cheers and applause]
He's gay!
[yelling and laughter]
Yes, I motherfucking am!
And I say a prayer with him. We gay!
-We gay! -Whoo!
We ride and we die together 'cause we family!
Yes!
Come here.
[cheers and applause]
I'm proud of you, man.
I'm proud of you.
[lively percussive music playing]
[Iman] ATL, y'all ready to get up on your feet?
Sage want us to celebrate, so we gonna dance tonight!
[woman] That's right-- Sage want us to celebrate,
so we need to keep on keeping the party live, right?
Come on!
[woman] ATL sets the tone. Let's go.
Come on! Come on!
Yeah! I see you!
Yeah, come on!
♪ ♪
[Collette] Free Sage?
For Christ's sake, come on.
[singing continues on TV]
[sighs]
It's done.
[Collette] Yeah, well, you had to do it.
He stabbed us in our back.
You know King wasn't in this alone, right?
Sage was behind all of it.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
I got something for him.
♪ ♪
[upbeat jazz music playing]
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ Ooh! Sweet ladies ♪
[music continues, muffled]
That's a thousand voters out there.
What are you waiting for? 3,000? 5,000?
You don't get it, do you?
Every second that Sage is behind bars,
it's another block of voters for Walker.
Huh.
[singer] ♪ Baby, baby ♪
[singer] ♪ Oh! ♪
♪ Tell me what it is ♪
[tense music playing]
Let him out.
[singer] ♪ 'Cause whatever It is, yeah ♪
[person] My boy Sage! Look at him!
[cheers and applause]
[victorious music playing]
♪ ♪
Yo!
ATL, ATL, let me holla at you.
[cheers and applause]
Y'all held me down, man.
And because y'all held me down, I will always hold you down.
Atlanta, I love you. Thank you so much.
-[cheers and applause] -Yep.
So now I have to say thank you
in the best way that I know how.
-Are we ready? -[all] Yeah!
Are we ready? DJ, let's go!
[Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" playing]
[Sage vocalizing]
[soft soul music playing]
♪ Mother, mother ♪
♪ There's too many Of you crying ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Brother, brother, brother ♪
♪ There's far too many Of you dying ♪
♪ You know we got To find a way ♪
♪ ♪
♪ To bring some lovin' here Today ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
-♪ Picket line ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Sister ♪
-♪ And picket signs ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Sister ♪
-♪ Don't punish me ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Sister ♪
-[Sage] ♪ With brutality ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Sister ♪
-♪ Come on and talk to me ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Sister ♪
- ♪ So you can see ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Sister ♪
-♪ Oh, what's going on ♪ -[crowd] ♪ What's going on ♪
-♪ Yeah, what's going on ♪ -[crowd] ♪ What's going on ♪
[Sage] ♪ Oh, what's going on ♪
[crowd] ♪ What's going on ♪
[Sage] ♪ Yeah, what's going on ♪
[crowd] ♪ What's going on ♪
[Sage vocalizing]
♪ ♪
[train horn blowing]
[dramatic music plays]
[train horn blowing]
♪ ♪
[Odalie screaming, crying]
♪ ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
Ow!
Ha!
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
[crowd chanting "Sage!"]
Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage, Sage!
ATL, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
This right here,
this community, these people, this is the real power.
You are the power. We are the power!
And we gonna take this power, and we gonna spread it
across the whole world, and we gonna change it.
We gonna make real change. Are y'all ready for that?
[all] Yeah!
And we gonna start right here in the A.
Ladies and gentlemen, we rising.
We rising! Let's go! We rising!
[singer] ♪ Where the hell's ours? ♪
♪ You don't wanna Give us none ♪
♪ So we take your food And devour ♪
♪ You don't wanna Hear my voice ♪
♪ So I guess I gotta talk A little louder ♪
And anywhere there's injustice, we coming for you!
[singer] ♪ Rise up From the pain ♪
[Sage] And we bringing this beautiful-ass
new world with us.
We risin', y'all.
We risin'!
-♪ Rise up for her name ♪ -[cheers and applause]
[singer] ♪ If you feel Like I feel ♪
♪ And you think it's time To see change ♪
♪ Rise up! ♪
[child vocalizing]