[dramatic instrumental music plays]
[funky hip-hop beat layers in]
[older Kanan] Previously on Raising Kanan...
[Kanan] If Raq been more honest with me,
maybe things would be different between me and her now.
You still need to show her respect.
[Lou] I made peace with myself.
- I'm ready to go. - I got work for you.
- Strap the fuck up. - The name of the group is Butta.
It's not gon' be easy, but it will be worthwhile.
[Kanan] So you gon' mess with this music thing again?
[Juke] Nah. I'm done with all that.
I'll have one of the guys go and take your mother to the doctor.
You and Jerome gon' post up here
until I say you could leave.
[Amber] Uncle Marvin!
Call the police. I'ma circle back on you.
Hey, Ms. Washington. Is Derek there?
[Kanan] Fame is dead. O-Cee's gone.
Somebody took out Quân.
- The violence is too much. - Can't let you walk out on me.
Once you and me jump that broom, shit stay jumped.
I don't suppose you heard anything about my friend
who got fished out of the East River?
Somebody's gonna be wearing concrete slippers.
You told me to handle that, so me and Londell did that shit.
[Early] I know you took out Londell.
Let's say I did kill that chatty-ass fool.
Fuck you gonna do about it, Early?
[Raq] Early came through
and told Stefano everything.
What they did to Sal is a fuckin' sacrilege.
Someone has got to pay.
We heard back from our friends in the NYPD.
Famous.
Raq hired some dirty police to kill your friend.
- I need to get at you, 'Nique. - Welcome, my brother.
[tense music playing]
We need to talk.
[Juke] Krystal gone missing.
Whatever goin' on with Krystal ain't on me, Kanan.
Krystal coulda got caught up in your shit like we all do.
This shit ain't-- [grunts]
Krystal told me
you like to creep in the middle of the night.
If you or Krystal moms hear from her,
you let me know.
I'm gonna let you know.
They found the Jane Doe in a stairwell over at Edgemere.
[gunshot echoes]
Sorry for your loss.
♪ I'm a hustla, baby ♪
- ♪ I'm a hustla, baby ♪ - ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪
♪ Bitch, if I crap out I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
♪ I been through The ups and downs ♪
♪ You know I get around ♪
♪ So to me, it's all a part Of the game ♪
♪ If I ain't the coke man Or the dope man ♪
♪ I'm almost for sure, man I gotta take it ♪
♪ No need to say shit I'm gon' take it ♪
♪ Robberies turn homicide It's nothin' to play with ♪
♪ Make money Make-make-make money ♪
♪ When shit hit the fan We'll take money, Southside ♪
♪ Beef with the best of 'em Done shot at the rest of 'em ♪
♪ Checks, I'm collectin' 'em Check, boy, I'm finessin' em ♪
♪ Big bags of bread ♪
♪ Boy, you fuck around Put a big bag on your head ♪
♪ 'Fore the weather break You're dead ♪
♪ Let's get to it ♪
♪ They don't do it Like we do it ♪
♪ Cop it, whip it Bag it, flip it ♪
♪ Re-up, we up G'd up, what up? ♪
♪ Runnin' 'round this bitch Still not givin' a fuck ♪
♪ When it come to that paper There'll be no complications ♪
♪ Ha-ha, that's right ♪
♪ Put a hole in a nigga Right in front of you ♪
♪ Your heartbeat pacin' ♪
♪ And it's alright ♪
♪ That's how we do it On this side ♪
♪ Niggas get to it On this side ♪
♪ I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪
♪ Bitch, if I crap out I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
♪ I been through The ups and downs ♪
♪ You know I get around ♪
♪ So to me, it's all a part Of the game ♪
♪ If I ain't the coke man Or the dope man ♪
♪ I'm almost for sure, man I gotta take it ♪
♪ No need to say shit I'm gon' take it ♪
♪ Robberies turn homicide It's nothin' to play with ♪
♪ Ayy, ayy ♪
[sultry female vocalization]
[ominous music playing]
[older Kanan] When it come to this shit,
you gotta keep it all inside.
Why Krystal?
Fuck, man!
Fuck!
[older Kanan] You can't let niggas see you shook or hurt.
Or even fucking happy.
You show 'em how you feel,
they gon' figure out a way to turn it back on you.
On the block, feelings is weakness.
It's you slippin'.
'Cause when you feelin', you ain't thinkin'.
And when you ain't thinkin', you a fuckin' mark.
So you keep all that shit inside
until you can't keep it there no more.
I'm sorry, man.
[anguished grunting]
I'm sorry, man.
[crying]
You been talkin' to my son.
This shit is between you and me.
You don't wanna drag family into it.
This bitch lecturin' me about family.
How you like that, Akbar?
[chuckles]
Kanan in this as much as you and me.
And he in it 'cause of you.
'Cause you ain't shit as a hustler or as a mother.
[tense music playing]
And I bet you didn't even know I was tappin' that ass.
Did you?
Well, I did, Lou.
A few times.
I'll tell you what.
Big sis likes it a little rough.
[Unique chuckles]
Little mean.
Right?
She like a nigga to take charge.
Yeah.
She even called me "daddy."
And since when your punk-ass back in the fold, Lou?
Last I heard, you turned pussy
and was sucking that bottle
like a ho working the last dick left.
I'm right here, 'Nique.
I go where my family go.
Your family goin' nowhere.
You could be goddamn sure of that.
[music fades]
Thing is, it ain't even just about Krystal.
It's everybody.
Everything.
I give a fuck about somebody or something,
that shit gon' get grabbed away.
And me and you both know
she always the one doin' the takin'.
Snaps and Pop couldn't have made it plainer.
They said Raq took out Fame.
We know she took out D.
And my father.
Ain't no big leap to Krystal.
And probably O-Cee too.
What the fuck Krystal got to do wit' your moms, though?
That ain't about business.
And I don't even know if I buy all that shit
Bonnie and Clyde been talkin' about, anyway.
Them old motherfuckers always got an angle.
It'd be just like 'em to put that in your head about Raq now
so they can twist that shit around.
Nobody ever need to put nothin' in my head about Raq.
I know who she is.
Better than anybody.
[somber music playing]
Even you.
So you really thought you could come here
and tell me what the fuck to do, huh?
Is you confused, bitch?
You thinkin' that we back in the bedroom
and you tellin' me to hit it harder like you do.
You don't get to tell me what to do up in here.
That is, unless you want me to hit them skins again.
We both got family, 'Nique.
And if mine's fair game, so is yours.
Yeah, you got people too.
And I can get to them.
Believe that.
I wish you would.
I really do.
You know, Kanan came here
to talk to me about working together.
About linkin' to fuck yo' shit up.
Boy on that "enemy of my enemy is my friend" tip.
And I'm the fuckin' friend, Raq.
Which makes you the enemy of your own fuckin' son!
[laughing]
You here tryin' to protect Kanan from me.
Meanwhile, the boy comin' through here tryin' to get me
to protect him from you.
[Unique laughs]
[tense music playing]
I'm makin' your whole world
fall apart all around you, bitch.
And when I'm done...
ain't gon' be nothin' left.
You been warned, nigga.
Do with that what the fuck you will.
Go find out where Pernessa and her baby stayin' at,
then we gonna see who callin' who "daddy."
- [boat bell dinging in distance] - [traffic humming]
[door bell tinkles]
[Giorgio] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I just need a minute of your time, Stefano.
That's all.
Come on.
[sighs]
Look, I know you pissed off at me.
And- and I get it. I really do.
But it was on some... some lines got crossed type shit.
I didn't know who that guy was to you.
If I did, no way Early woulda handled it like that.
Early says you gave him the green light.
That you made the call.
No, that nigga's lying.
Man, Early's tryin' to save his own ass--
That-that doesn't even matter now, Marvin.
What's done is done.
Can't turn back the clock and make it right.
I'm just sayin', you can't trust that nigga.
[chortles]
Now you tell me I can't trust him.
But when you gave my business to Early,
you told me he was Honest Abe fuckin' Lincoln.
You vouched for him, Marvin.
He's your guy.
Worst mistake I ever made was gettin' in business
with you and f... Raq.
I shoulda known it at the time,
but I'm a sucker for a pretty face.
[groans] That sister of yours... Oy.
[scoffs] My cock hasn't worked in five years,
I'm still thinkin' with it.
[sighs]
You know, and thanks to you and yours,
Phil Russo and his fuckin' gang of misfits in Jersey
think they can go toe-to-toe with me now.
You know, when you do what I do,
you're only as strong as the asshole
who's least scared of you.
You know, that guy sees a chink in the armor,
the whole fuckin' house of cards comes crashin' down.
And look, t-t-tell Raq I'm done.
No, no, no. No, look. No more trucks.
No more boats. No more nothing.
Our business is concluded.
You're on your own. Yo, come on.
[scoffs] We can figure this out, Stefano.
[dramatic music playing]
It don't have to be like this.
It already is.
[Giorgio] Let's go.
I'm-I'm just telling you, man. We can fix this.
[music fades]
[brakes squealing]
[engine revving]
[engine shuts off]
[car door opens, closes]
[both cars start]
I'm sorry I ain't come around more in the end, Grandma.
Just didn't wanna see you like that.
And I ain't know what to say. I...
Look, I know you said she's my moms
and I gotta respect her...
but too much has happened.
I don't know exactly what I'm gonna do, Grandma.
I do know you gonna need to forgive me for it.
[somber music playing]
[music fades]
[ominous music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
I heard about Quân.
Executed in his own casino.
And David Kan. Murdered in a bathroom.
How many more people will die because of your business?
That gamblin' shit is way more dirty than my work.
And David Kan into all sorts of bullshit.
I don't wanna be associated with you.
I want you out of my restaurants.
And I don't care what you do to me.
I'm old. I want you gone.
I told you before that you and me,
we in this for the long haul.
That once you get jumped in, you can't get jumped out.
Look...
I get it.
This shit is way rockier than we expected.
How 'bout I give you a couple more points.
Double up on security.
Turn these spots into Fort fuckin' Knox.
I'm done with you.
So you sayin' you don't care what I do to you,
but what about the people close to you?
I've sent my entire family back to China.
I'm the only one left.
In Chinese mythology,
there's a monster called Hundun.
A blind, deaf, faceless demon.
Hundun is chaos, evil,
corrupting and polluting all that it touches.
But for me...
what's most scary about Hundun's true evil
isn't what it does,
but that it can't see itself.
It doesn't know that it's a monster.
Just like you.
[tense, dramatic music playing]
[car alarm system beeps]
Yo.
What the police talkin' 'bout?
Nothing.
What about Krystal moms? How's she doin'?
Hurtin'.
Bad.
She and Krys had they problems, but that was still her baby.
You was they problem, nigga.
Maybe so.
You gon' hit me if you hear anything.
[car alarm system beeps, car door opens]
[car engine starts]
[siren wails in distance]
[indistinct chatter]
[tense music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
- See you later. - Bye.
[man 1] What are we doin'?
[woman] Just go around the block. That's alright.
[man 2] I don't think they validate, hon!
[engine starts]
[music fades]
You really like that pizza.
And I really don't like you.
[chuckles]
Give me time, I'll grow on you.
I need to talk to you about that girl.
The one they found in Edgemere. What do you know about her?
She was just a friend.
We were singin' together.
The fact that you were asking after a girl
who just showed up dead
makes you what we call a person of interest.
Get at me when you got a fuckin' warrant, Five-O.
Till then, fuck you.
One of the tenants in Edgemere said that they saw a Black woman
leaving the apartment where we think your friend was murdered.
And?
Last time I checked,
you match that description.
Oh shit, I do. You're right.
Bitch-ass police.
Your peoples keep showing up at the morgue, Kanan.
That doesn't bode well for you, son.
Keep asking these police about all your dead friends,
they gonna start thinking
we might have had something to do with that shit.
We make a conscious effort to stay above the proverbial fray.
Too many questions about unsolved murders...
could raise a red flag amongst our NYPD contacts.
I'm not asking you to open up a fuckin' task force.
I just wanna know if these cops are circlin' anyone.
Hey, we'll ask around.
So what ever happened with what we told you
about Raq and that Puerto Rican kid?
Right now, all I wanna know is what happened to Krystal.
[tense music playing]
[music fades]
Rumor has it that you paid a visit to the tailor shop.
'Nique said y'all talked about the possibility of linkin' up.
'Nique talkin'.
I ain't say shit.
For what it's worth,
Pop and I think that it's a ideal arrangement
for all parties involved.
Especially since we been hearin'
Raq and these Italians out in Queens got beef.
Been whispers up until now,
but shit is gettin' louder.
Fuck does it matter to y'all what me and 'Nique are doing?
We want a bigger piece of the pie
out of Southside Jamaica.
A portion befitting our appetite.
And Raq ain't cuttin' them slices like that.
We real hungry.
And we got our own supplier, Kanan.
And transportation.
Shit's turnkey.
Just say the word. We could be up in a day.
[Snaps] We bring together you and Unique...
and then connect you with our nephew.
He just relocated to South Jamaica
from a very lucrative stint in East New York.
And we feel like...
we could corner the market.
What, you thinkin' 'cause I'm young
you can control me or some shit?
[Snaps] On the contrary.
Your youth is your greatest asset.
You're not set in your ways, not married to tradition
like all of us old heads.
You can see opportunity we don't.
Assuming Raq never told you that your father
made us a whole lot of money back in the day.
- [Snaps] DefCon. - [Pop] Hmm.
He was a man of dignity and integrity.
He was a businessman of the highest order.
We honor him by honoring you.
And I'm sure you think this is a bunch of bullshit,
but when you get to be our age,
this is exactly the type of shit that moves you.
It's something Raq don't understand.
Because when you disrespect the niggas that come before you...
you disrespect yourself.
Legacy matters, Kanan.
She threatened my family, Teresa.
My son and his mother.
And I know nobody know better than you how that feel.
How old is Jerome?
He's eight.
My son just a baby still.
There was a time when families were off-limits.
When wives and children were sacrosanct.
You know, Stefano and Raq,
they don't care about none of that.
And that's why Sal and Marco aren't wit' us anymore.
There is not a minute, a second that goes by
where I don't feel my heart broken into a million pieces.
- I know. - [crying]
- I know. - [sobbing]
I know.
What does Phil say?
[tense, ominous music playing]
He's just tellin' me to sit tight.
But you know I can't do that, Teresa.
Not when my family is in danger.
Phil always had it in for Sally.
Always wanted his seat. But he was never strong enough.
And now, he just lets these fuckin' animals
who killed my family
run amok without any repercussions at all.
Well...
Phil Russo is gonna hear from me.
Because he needs to know that me and all of Sally's friends
are sick of him sitting on his fuckin' hands.
I may not be able to protect my family,
but Christ as my witness,
I am going to protect yours.
And everyone else's.
God bless you, baby.
[dramatic music playing]
[man on television] Mr. Black? Joe Louis.
[Black] Well, hello.
We've been expecting you.
Come with me.
[knocking on door]
You been carrying that bag in the same hand all the time?
Who there?
[Calvin] It's Calvin. I got your food.
Fuck took you so long, man?
[grunting]
Shoulda dropped you when I put down Londell.
[rapid gunshots]
[chatter on TV continues]
Man, I ain't got shit to do with none of this!
That's what they all say, nigga.
- [gunshots] - [grunt]
[chatter on TV continues]
[Black, on TV] Okay, Champ.
Come on.
You know you're off balance.
[door creaks, closes]
Keep that right foot back of the left.
I know this gotta be important.
Ain't often you reach out sayin' we need to talk.
It's Kanan.
And all this shit that's been happenin'.
[chuckles]
Your cousin still sayin' that I put down Famous?
I know you know that I ain't do that, Juke.
I don't know nothin' no more, Aunt Raq.
Are you serious?
For real?
You think I coulda done that to that boy?
That child lived with us for almost a year
when his mom and sister went into that shelter.
What you know about what happened to Krystal?
You know, I can almost understand Kanan havin' doubts.
That's just who he is.
Not you.
I told the both of you, Krystal came through to the house.
She told me to look after Kanan,
then she went to the bus station.
Why the fuck would I do anything to her?
I barely even knew her.
You were one of the last people to see her alive.
I'ma warn you right now to watch what you say to me.
'Cause you ain't a child no more, Juke,
and you're gonna have to stand behind all the shit
that's comin' out your mouth.
I'm not a child no more, Aunt Raq.
For my whole life...
I just sat there and watched while y'all did what you do.
Didn't say a fuckin' word.
Hell, most of the time
you damn near forgot I was there.
And even when you did notice me...
it's 'cause I was next to Kanan.
And that's what you never understood.
Just 'cause I wasn't sayin' shit...
doesn't mean I wasn't thinkin' shit.
[somber music playing]
Just 'cause you didn't see me...
didn't mean I didn't see you.
I see you.
Maybe even better than anybody.
I don't even know where this coming from.
What do you know
about what happened to Krystal?
You're just like your father, Juke.
Jumpin' in the shit
before you look at where you're gonna land.
Sloppy.
Rather be like him than like you.
[music fades]
I appreciate you agreeing to meet alone.
My guys even see me sniffing in your direction,
I'll have a fuckin' mutiny on my hands.
I know the feeling all too well, Stefano.
Yeah, Teresa Boselli
ripped me a new fucking asshole last night.
A new asshole on an old asshole.
You're a medical fuckin' marvel, Phil.
[both laugh]
No. You know, you came to me...
asked me to help you get rid of Sal, which I did.
Put you in the big chair.
Now you're fuckin' with my business,
which is disgraceful and unforgivable.
I underestimated how angry
my guys were gonna be about Sally.
Now they're looking to me to exact some retribution.
I don't do anything, the target ends up on my back.
I don't even know what the fuck you're saying, Phil,
and neither do you.
Wh-wh-what, they want you to exact some retribution
for the guy that you had whacked?
If they knew the truth, they wouldn't have to look far.
Eh, the real mistake we made
was stickin' our necks out for these moulinyans.
We both thought that using them
would give the appearance that we're going toe-to-toe
without actually going toe-to-toe.
- It all got fucked up, Stefano. - No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
You came into Queens,
my place of business,
and set up shop.
That's a fuckin' insult under any circumstances.
It's not like New York doesn't come out and step on our toes
out in Jersey all the fucking time.
Hey, Phil. I'm about to go from stepping on your toes
to kneeling on your fuckin' neck.
You know, I think... I think
it's high time your fucking bowling club out in Newark
knew that it's your hands
that have Sal Boselli's blood all over them.
You know what, Stefano?
I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong.
I overstepped.
And I apologize.
I'ma pull out of Queens.
I'ma put the word out today,
South Jamaica's off-limits for us.
Givin' it all back to you.
Whoa, you know...
you can't give me back something that was already mine.
I give, Stefano.
Yeah... alright.
There you go.
[grunting]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
And I take.
[grunts]
- [music fades] - [indistinct chatter]
I just wanna make sure you makin' the right decision.
That's all.
'Cause the moves you make now,
they gon' dictate the moves you gotta make later.
You should be worried about your own moves, Uncle Lou.
Since when you fuckin' wit' Raq again?
She my big sister, Kanan.
She, Marvin, Juke, and you family.
Nothin' ever gon' change that.
[Kanan] Ain't nobody talkin' about
who sittin' around the fuckin' dinner table
at Thanksgiving, man.
You sittin' here tellin' me now you're workin' wit' her again.
After everything she done put you through,
you back on her bullshit.
My decisions are my own, Kanan.
I stand by 'em.
Just like you gotta do.
That's why hearin' that you talkin' with 'Nique
is so fucked up.
'Nique ain't just comin' after your mother.
He comin' after all us.
He lookin' at her and anybody next to her,
and that ain't me.
And up until now, I didn't think that was you, neither.
She killed Famous, Uncle Lou.
Who the fuck told you that? 'Nique?
Don't matter who told me. What matters is it's true.
She did that shit. Just like she did D.
I killed D-Wiz, Kanan. Me.
And just like you said to me before,
I coulda saved him.
But I didn't.
And it's on me.
And it's gon' be on me for as long as I breathe.
We men, Kanan. Men. Me and you.
Nobody tell us what to do.
Nobody else carry what we done.
If I said no,
D would still be alive.
I believe that.
I really do.
Raq and I would have figured out a different way,
but I didn't.
And he's gone.
See, that's the work, Kanan.
That's the hardest part about becoming a man.
Is taking responsibility for your own shit.
Pullin' up your own fuckin' pants.
That's what I'm finally figuring out, Kanan.
I was the little brother for so long...
I never realized I had to grow up.
Your grandmother asked me and your Uncle Marvin to kill her.
She was dying.
She was in pain.
And she wanted us to take that from her.
To put a needle in her arm
that would put her to sleep forever.
Neither of us had the heart to do that shit, Kanan.
Marvin and me was too scared.
We was too worried about how it would fuck wit' us later.
Your grandmother just wanted us to save her from all that pain,
and all me and Marvin was doing
was thinkin' 'bout our fuckin' selves.
But you know who could see past herself
and give your grandmother that peace?
[somber music playing]
Yeah.
Your moms.
While Marvin and me couldn't take on that shit...
Raq grabbed all of it.
She put it all on her back.
She took that weight on for your grandmother,
for me,
for Marvin.
For all us.
'Cause that's just how she do.
Your mother...
is more of a man than any nigga you know.
When Iesha called and told me about Krystal,
I fell to my knees.
She's not the first artist I lost...
but she's the youngest.
I mean, y'all are still children.
You got a whole world of life ahead of you.
I wanted to see you both to tell you how sorry I am,
but also to check on you.
Because my feelings for you didn't end with Butta.
I still care about y'all.
I'm still invested in your futures.
I still believe in you.
Jukebox?
How you doin', baby?
I'm okay.
Your cousin was dating Krystal, right?
Kanan. Yeah.
How's he holding up?
You'd have to ask him.
Kanan got Krystal and Juke
to work out all their issues from the group.
So they ended up being friends.
[N'Kiyah] That's good.
But it probably makes it harder too.
[somber music playing]
Jukebox!
Where you at, baby?
What's goin' on in that head of yours?
Nothin'.
Something's goin' on, Jukebox.
You seem different now.
No.
I was different before.
Now I'm the same again.
[music fades]
Without Stefano, we hangin' out to fuckin' dry, Marvin.
We out here holdin' our fuckin' dicks in our hand.
I tried, uh, reasoning with him.
But he wasn't listening.
I'm thinkin' maybe I can circle back though.
Especially now that I mopped up Early.
You know, you gotta be the very fucking definition
of "day late, dollar short," nigga.
You already fucked it up enough.
I'ma talk to Stefano.
[sighs] You know, nothin' ever changes.
If I want shit done right, I gotta do it myself.
You done a whole lot wrong yourself too.
Fuck you say?
I'm just sayin'.
You ain't perfect.
Nobody perfect.
Is that why you was telling Stefano
that maybe you should step up and take my spot?
Who the fuck told you that?
I ain't never said that shit.
Hell, I said the opposite.
He floated that shit by me.
I knocked it down as soon as he said it.
Yeah, but meanwhile you in business with him
behind my back.
Fuckin' up my work for yours.
He told me he wanted to keep
what me and him was doin' on the side to myself.
Told me he didn't like confusing conversations, or some shit.
Every conversation with you is confusing, Marvin.
'Cause you always talkin' out both sides of your fuckin' neck.
You can't keep a story straight 'cause you crooked, nigga.
All twisted and turned and shit.
Always have been. Always gon' be.
You know, the mistake I made was the one I always make:
Trusting you. Believing in you.
You know, you never could accept that your little sister
jumped the line in front of her big brother
and you been lookin' for a reason
to get ahead of me ever since.
Fuck this.
And fuck you.
Walkin' out that door the least confusin'
this nigga been his whole fucked up life.
- [door slams] - Finally figured out
how to shut the fuck up,
but as usual, the shit is too far gone now.
"Day Late, Dollar Short Marvin," that's you!
[sighs contentedly]
That was better than the first time.
That's 'cause you stopped worrying about it
and you enjoyed it.
Yeah, I think you right.
Is it fucked up that we just did all that
while this horrible shit with Krystal's happening?
If we stopped doing everything when horrible shit happened...
we'd never do nothing.
Hmm.
So...
am I better than your boyfriend in Atlanta?
[giggles] Shut up!
He goin' to medical school, right?
You guys play doctor yet?
Girl, you better leave me alone!
You like a bad girl, though.
If you a bad girl, I guess I do.
'Cause I like you...
Juke.
I like you too.
[laughs softly]
[Iesha] Maybe you should come down to Spelman.
I mean, you got the grades, and they got scholarships.
Maybe you could go to school with me.
Shit...
A few months ago, I woulda had my bags packed
before that even came the whole way out your mouth.
But...
now I know this where I'm supposed to be.
But there's nothing for you in New York.
You've said that like a million times.
My father's here.
When my mom left...
and Butta ended...
When I left the Army...
my dad had my back.
And... even when he didn't like
the shit I was doing with my life...
he decided that...
I meant more to him...
than some fucked up noise he had in his head.
[somber music playing]
My dad's the most stubborn nigga I know...
and he changed
for me.
He needs me, Iesha.
And if I'm not here to watch after him...
no one will.
Not Kanan. Not my Uncle Lou.
And definitely not my Aunt Raq.
My dad didn't leave me.
So...
I can't leave him.
[indistinct chatter]
Figure we were in the neighborhood,
we might as well do this here and now.
Branford be comin' through any minute.
Y'all hear back yet from the NYPD on that other thing?
Not yet.
But we shakin' the trees.
There he is.
["DWYCK" by Gang Starr featuring Nice & Smooth playing]
♪ Handle it, handle it, Roy Nice & Smooth ♪
♪ Starr, sure shot... ♪
[older Kanan] This motherfucker.
- Yeah. - [older Kanan] You already know.
♪ Nice and smooth ♪
- ♪ Hey, hey ♪ - ♪ Hey ♪
♪ Gang Starr has got to be The sure shot... ♪
- You look beautiful. - Aw, I feel beautiful, baby.
- Ah. - How you livin', Snaps?
- Large as hell, nigga. - Hmm.
- You know how we do. - Yeah, no doubt.
Here, allow me to do brief introductions, gentlemen.
Branford... this is young Kanan Stark.
The up-and-comer I was telling you about.
Mm-hmm.
Kanan's youth
belies his success and ambition.
He's an ascendant young star
who is lighting the night sky.
And, Kanan...
Please meet Branford Frady, our nephew.
He is one of the brightest minds
and boldest thinkers you will ever encounter.
He is both a scholar and a visionary.
Learnin' and buildin' at the same time.
Gentlemen.
I hear you doin' big things out here, Kanan.
Heard the same thing about you out in East New York, Branford.
Nah. Only these old heads call me Branford.
Around the way on the block...
niggas call me Breeze.
Breeze.
Word.
[dramatic music playing]
Yeah.
Huh?
[music fades]
[Marvin] Came in late last night.
Sounded like you had company.
[laughs] It's all good.
It's your house too. You can have guests.
It was Iesha.
Butta Iesha?
Didn't know she swing like that.
She figuring some things out.
Figuring things out is... is good.
Mm. Met up with Aunt Raq yesterday.
Yeah? How'd that go?
Hm. I was askin' her about what happened
to Famous and Kanan's girl.
Uh, yeah.
Krystal. I heard about that.
I'm sorry. Shit's tough.
How Kanan doing?
Not good.
You think Aunt Raq had somethin' to do with it?
With Fame and Kanan girl? Hell no.
Not at all. Raq'd never do that.
That ain't her way.
I'd know if she did.
She didn't. I'm telling you.
Shit got real tense when me and her were talking.
She got kinda angry.
I did too.
Well, a lot going on right now.
There's always a lot going on.
Not like this.
[somber music playing]
Look, we ain't tryin' to arrange no marriage here, alright?
Ain't no need to linger for long.
We just wanted y'all to meet, put eyes on each other.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Snaps and Pop says you just like me.
All about your business.
Shit. We agree on that,
we agree on everything.
[Snaps] As my better half said,
this is just an introduction, a meet and greet.
But we believe there's an opportunity
for a successful joint venture.
But these things tend to work best
when they evolve organically.
What about that other nigga you was talkin' about?
[Pop] Unique most definitely down with this crime.
Plus, he got the Italian connects,
so we gon' need him.
[Snaps] At least in the short term.
But again, that's a conversation for another time.
You two titans have now laid eyes on each other.
Breathed the same Southside Jamaica, Queens, air.
What was once abstraction is now a reality.
We're moving from theory to practice, young brothers.
We all know practice makes perfect.
[dramatic music playing]
[music fades]
["Soldier Boy" by The Shirelles playing in restaurant]
I'm at a point now, if I don't get real loud,
ain't nobody gonna listen to me again.
Make all the fuckin' noise you want.
Doesn't matter now anyway.
I took a big swing...
and I missed.
[grim music playing]
Assuming Stefano lives to go another round,
it's gonna be no holds fuckin' barred.
So we'll do whatever the fuck it is you need to do.
[sucks teeth]
[music intensifies]
[sighs] They don't know if Stefano gonna live or die.
But it don't even matter.
As far as we concerned, he good as gone.
We need to hit first and hit fast.
Take that nigga out at the knees.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Kanan Stark.
[tense music playing]
I need to talk to you about Krystal Bradley.
[music fades]
[knocking on door]
[gentle, somber music playing]
Mr. and Mrs. Porter. How are you?
[tense, ominous music playing]
When I was dyin'...
Dreamin' of this moment right fuckin' here.
It's the only shit that kept me alive.
[inhales deeply, sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
[music fades]
[engine shuts off]
[Pernessa] Home sweet home.
[chuckles]
When we get upstairs,
you need to jump into that homework right away.
Jerome, I don't wanna get any more--
[tires squealing]
[tires screeching]
Back up.
You don't wanna fuckin' do that.
Both of you get in the fuckin' car.
- Please. - Let's go, nigga.
Get in the motherfuckin' car before I drop both you and him.
Right here.
Come on, baby. Gon' be alright.
Just listen to Mommy, okay?
- Just do what I say, okay? - Mommy!
- We're gonna be okay. - No, no, no, no, no.
[gasps] Fuck! He's just a child!
Get the fuck inside.
[tense music playing]
Let's go!
[tires squealing]
[music fades]
You don't know that it was Raq, Kanan.
All he said is that somebody
maybe saw a Black lady walkin' outta the apartment.
Tell me you don't think it was her, Juke.
Tell me!
- I don't know. - Fuck that.
I do.
I always do.
[Juke scoffs] Kanan!
Wait!
If you ain't wit' me, you against me!
[grim music playing]
[tense, dramatic music playing]
[glass shatters]
[rumbling explosion]
[engine revving, tires screeching]
[glass shatters]
[tires screeching]
[flames crackling]
[music fades]
[indistinct chatter]
[engine shuts off]
- Oh, shit. - Fuck!
[dramatic music playing]
[tires screeching]
[Raq] All the shit they burnin' down can be built again.
'Nique got a surprise waitin' on him
that's gonna hurt more than a couple of boiled goldfish.
[Kanan] Why'd you kill her?
I gotta call you back.
Kill who?
Krystal.
Don't even try bullshittin'.
Police said it was you.
Somebody saw you.
Police got it wrong.
Just like always.
Everybody always got it wrong, but you.
As far as you concerned,
you ain't never done nothin' to nobody.
Nah.
I've done shit, Kanan.
Shit I wish I'd never done.
To you.
To other people in my life that I love and I care about.
But I didn't kill your girlfriend.
And I swear to that on the most important thing in my life,
and that's my child.
You.
I swear on you, Kanan, that I didn't do nothin' to Krystal.
You don't give a fuck about me.
You my life.
You always been my life.
You ain't allowed to say all that
when you do what you've done to me.
Know what the most fucked up part of this shit is, though?
I know you killed Fame too.
- I didn't. - You did.
I know you did.
What's so fucked up is that
that wasn't enough for me to do this right here.
You twisted up my brain so bad...
you killin' my best friend wasn't enough.
I made excuses for you.
Maybe Fame was snitchin'.
Maybe you knew somethin' about him I didn't know.
I came up with reasons for you
to explain why you killed my best fuckin' friend.
I'm always protecting you.
[tense music playing]
But not no more.
I'm done makin' excuses for you and for me.
Tonight, I'ma do what I shoulda done.
I would never hurt you like that.
You don't believe me because you in so much pain.
But I love you.
Only person you ever loved is you!
You don't know how to love nobody else.
Why would I kill Krystal, Kanan? Why would I do that?
Because you don't want me to have nobody but you.
Want me all to your-fuckin'-self.
That's why you killed 'em all.
D, Fame, Krystal.
Even my own fuckin' father!
That's why I gotta do this right now.
So you can't take nobody else away from me.
[tense, ominous music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music fades]
[gunshot echoes]
[older Kanan] Fuck you gonna say? What?
♪ Please allow me To introduce myself ♪
♪ I'm a man of wealth And taste ♪
♪ I've been around For a long, long year ♪
♪ Stole many a man's Soul and faith ♪
♪ And I was 'round When Jesus Christ ♪
♪ Had his moment Of doubt and pain ♪
♪ Made damn sure that Pilate ♪
♪ Washed his hands And sealed his fate ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name ♪
♪ But what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game ♪
["Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones playing]
♪ I stuck around St. Petersburg ♪
♪ When I saw it was a time For a change ♪
♪ Killed the Czar And his ministers ♪
♪ Anastasia screamed in vain ♪
♪ I rode a tank... ♪