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♪ I said a hip-hop, P Diddy ♪

♪ From Biggie to the rip offs ♪

♪ Jacking on Tupac, you're rocking to Wu Tang Clan ♪

♪ All of this fame can't be nothing ♪

♪ If it isn't for the word on the streets ♪

♪ Now what you heard was all a test ♪

♪ Hip-hop is not complete ♪

♪ Without a beat, some skills, and a pen ♪

♪ And don't forget a hot MC ♪

♪ So that's why I'm on the mic ♪

♪ 'Cause I'd like to say hello ♪

♪ If you thought that rap was a passing fad ♪

♪ Well we're glad to say hell no ♪

♪ But first we gotta pay thanks ♪

♪ To people who were putting it down ♪

♪ Underground all the gang bangers ♪

♪ Often get props for hip-hop ♪

♪ If you've risen to the top you're not so hot ♪

♪ 'Cause it's so hard to steer your choice ♪

♪ When you're right then you're wrong ♪

♪ But next on the mic is my bro Flip ♪

♪ Rip the mic and end this song ♪

♪ Well check it out, I flip the script ♪

♪ And split your lip and take this mic while I recite ♪

♪ And turn a grandmaster to a weak MC ♪

♪ And rock the house like a young Jay-Z ♪

♪ You better run and hide if you's a punk ♪

♪ You're losing the beat or you ruin the funk ♪

♪ While these other MCs simply lose the point ♪

♪ We kept it real with this lyrical joint ♪

♪ We the sons of ones who have paved the way ♪

♪ Before Mix Master Mike, his hands knew time ♪

♪ Because we make a miracle whenever we speak ♪

♪ Cash and Flip, these MCs could never be weak ♪

♪ Now the ceiling is high if you feeling our flows ♪

♪ Put your hands to the sky, let me hear you say ho ♪

♪ Start clapping your fingers and snapping your feet ♪

♪ If you can actually do that, you more talented than me ♪

♪ I say damn, if you feeling the beat ♪

♪ Well just jam to some real MCs ♪

♪ And then throw it up like Linda Blair ♪

♪ How all the music be, make you tear you hair ♪

♪ And talk is super cheap but now we're here ♪

♪ To reverse all whackness up in your ear ♪

♪ Now, we're not as old as the best in the game ♪

♪ But still hang, so don't mess up the name ♪

♪ It's the Bernard Brothers, just a pair of fine guys ♪

♪ All we're here to do, baby, is spit some rhymes ♪

♪ So next time make sure you're word accurate ♪

♪ It's hip-hop's first duo, yeah Cash and Flip ♪

Gimme all your money!

Shit! Damn, Tony!

Man, that shit ain't funny, man.

I don't know dude, that shit was kind of funny to me.

Right or left?

Right, man.

Wrong.

Ah, shit.

What?

Forgot I parked the car on the other side tonight.

Damn, Tony!

Shut up, fool, I didn't hear you say anything

when we left the club.

Hey no, don't worry about it. Check this out.

I'll catch up.

Aw, hell no.

Oh, come on.

Fuck.

Man.

That show was kind of flat, man.

Man, what's up man?

You been working on them new rhymes or what?

I ain't feeling anything new right now, man.

I think I hit a mental block or something.

Look, listen.

If I could help you, Flip, I would.

But you know them rhymes gotta come from you, man.

I told you, I'm trying.

Man, it's all good.

Y'all young brothers can spare a couple dollars

for my meal tonight?

Nah? Alright.

Alright, run your pockets motherfuckers,

- this ain't no fucking joke. - Shit!

- What, are you fucking deaf? - Oh, shit.

Get on the ground, motherfucker.

Don't you look at me.

Yes, this is really happening, what you got?

What you got for me? What you got on my day, dog?

What you got? Don't you look at me!

Don't you look at me.

You like coming down here? You like coming down here?

I bet you won't come down here no more.

Tony!

Beat, a description

of the palpitations of the heart

that are commonly used as the evidence of life.

To strike directly against.

To overcome or baffle.

To progress with much difficulty.

Heartbeat. Beat up.

I'm beat. Beat it.

Beat the rap. Walk the beat.

Beat the odds.

Dr. Bradley, Dr. Martin.

Page full of definitions

and not a word about music.

You gotta hang in there, Cash.

You gotta pull through.

We've gotta go on tour, remember?

Cash and Flip, the Bernard Brothers.

MC extraordinaires, microphone manipulators,

loquacious lyricists, defenders of small children

and protectors of all that is good.

Did you just smile?

Oh, you did, man.

You, that was a smile.

- You're gonna be okay. - Calling Dr. Stacey.

You're gonna be alright, man.

Dr. Stacey.

I'ma go get Mom and Dad.

Cash?

- Cash! - Ma'am, please, please.

Please would you step outside? Sir.

Please stand back.

Check.

Clear.

Clear.

Philip.

Philip!

Goddammit, Philip, you hear me talking to you?

You got to get it together, make a decision.

You haven't got forever to figure this out.

Have you even thought about what we talked about?

You mean, what you talked about?

I told you, I need some time to work on my music.

Your music.

Lemme tell you something.

Your music ain't shit.

You'll never make a dime at it.

You need to be concentrating on getting a paycheck.

This is the real world.

What do you know about the real world?

Hey, Flip, what school you going to anyway?

What did you just call your brother?

Flip.

How many times have I told you not to call him that?

He's not a thug.

He's not out running the streets

like them other little thugs I see every goddamn night,

what's his name?

What's his name?

Philip Randall Bernard.

Then call him Philip Randall Bernard.

Don't you ever let anybody call you out of your name,

either of you.

Your mother and I named each of you very carefully.

I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you go around

disrespecting the first thing I gave you

after I brought you into this world.

It's Quentin and Philip.

And Cash.

Cassius.

Sit down, Marie.

I need my pills.

And I'll tell you this much.

You aren't going to school, you will work

and not at that noise, at something real, something stable.

Marie, come and sit down!

I need them.

Those pills are supposed to last you a month.

This is week one!

Is this what you wanna be?

A drug addict?

Is this what you wanna teach my kids?

You must be nuts!

It's a prescription.

Your prescription is one pill a day.

There should be 20 pills left in this bottle!

I needed them!

I am not as strong as you.

I can't handle it!

Look at what this is doing to us.

Dennis, look at what it's doing to my boys!

He was our son!

Was!

He is gone, we got two other sons,

is this what you wanna teach our kids?

Well let's start right now, huh?

Hey, Quentin.

Do you wanna try some of Mommy's drugs? Huh?

You wanna be a drug addict like Mommy?!

You used to be a real person, Marie.

Oh God!

Look at you.

Look at you!

Stop it!

Leave her alone.

Oh, oh yeah.

Look at your musician son with no job

who's going to protect you.

Huh? What you gonna do, boy?

Huh? You got something to say?

What you gonna do?

- Don't you walk away from me! - Don't touch him!

Don't you walk away from me!

You got something you wanna say to me, boy, you say it.

Ever since Cash died-

His name was Cassius!

No.

His name is Cash.

Ever since he died, you've been going on

about everyone needing to be strong.

You're the one who's weak.

Yes, he's dead, it doesn't mean he never lived.

You've taken down every picture of him in the house,

you call that strong?

How strong is it that you take it out on Quentin?

Dad, he's only 12, he doesn't need this.

Look at him.

This is your son.

How can you just choose to forget him?

I will never forget my son.

And don't you ever interfere

with how I run this house again.

Now, you can get a job.

Or you can get the fuck out.

So, where'd you sleep last night?

Freeway.

What?

Man, you gotta be careful sleeping up there

after the sun comes up, man.

You should know that by now.

Somebody calls the cops

and you out of a warm place to sleep.

You, you better watch out.

Enter the Byronic hero.

Now, why you always gotta say shit

that I don't understand?

- I'm sorry. - Now,

what's that shit mean anyway?

It's your name.

Look, it started with the poet Lord Byron

who wrote poetry about men who refuse

to conform to society's expectations.

A Byronic hero is a love warrior,

both a hero and a villain.

The face of adversity, Byronic hero stands alone, homie.

That was dope.

I'm serious man, write that shit down.

I bet I'd pick up mad hoes with lyrics like that.

And it's true too!

Man, right now I stand alone

like Spike Lee at a Klan meeting.

Check this out, I'm hanging out with Brenda, right?

Hm, that's your girl, right?

Yeah, and she wanted to go to Crenshaw

to buy some weed but I knew it was a bad idea

because Tawanna stays over there on Crenshaw.

That's your other girl, right?

Yeah, but Brenda's all like,

you never want to kick it with me no more.

You never want to kick it,

I don't know why I keep your short ass around.

She said that?

Hell yeah!

And you know she be buying me breakfast

on the weekend so I sure as hell didn't wanna fuck that up.

So I take my stupid ass on the Crenshaw end, of course.

And you run into Tawanna.

Man, no, we run into that dirty-ass ho Honda, man.

Dirty-ass Honda, I couldn't stand that shit, man.

You know like, but she's good to me

'cause she bought me these tight-ass clothes, you know?

- Huh. - I been sleeping at her house

for about the past week.

It ain't much but it sure beats the hell outta

sleeping out here with your ass.

Word.

What?

I'm trying to bring it back.

I can dig it.

Anyway, you know how Brenda is,

she went off on Honda then they both dumped me.

Damn.

Well, at least you still got Tawanna though, right?

You would think that, wouldn't you?

Remember how I told you Tawanna stays on Crenshaw?

- Oh no. - Man, at first

I was all hyped about seeing her, man.

She had her hand raised up waving to me and stuff like that.

Then she started running towards me

with her hand still up in the air.

- Right. - Yo bro,

I didn't know what I was thinking.

I thought she wanted to give a nigga

a high five or something.

Man, she slapped the shit outta me, look!

Oh, shit!

I think I need to go to the hospital or something, Flip.

Brothers ain't supposed to be turning red like this, man.

What the hell was that all about?

Man, she said she found out we're doing Dominique.

But that's fucked up, man

'cause Dominique had stopped buying me shit.

So I dumped her to get with Brenda.

Hey, how much money you got?

I don't know.

What is it, I got about 59 cents, how about you?

- 55 cents. - Oh, shit.

Twinkie Twinkie feel, y'all!

Let's do it, oh!

We gonna get a Twinkie, baby!

- Yeah. - Twinkie!

Damn, here come begging-ass Artis.

- Flip, what's cracking, man? - What's up, V?

- What's going on? - How you guys doing?

- Cool, cool. - I figured out a solution

to our financial situation.

Man, you need finances, man, moolah!

To be in a financial situation, bruh.

All we gotta do is stop asking, start telling, huh?

Just change the tone of your voice, Flip.

Instead of, hey yo, can I have a dollar?

Gimme a dollar. You say, gimme a fucking dollar.

Yo, I ain't playing, give it up.

- Hey, calm down. - You, me gimme

- that fucking dollar, Byron! - Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.

- Are you serious? - Huh? Yeah.

You ran all the way over here for that?

No.

Then why?

Yo, can I get a bite of your Twinkie, man?

- Aw, hell. - Man, hell no!

Get the hell outta here, man.

Huh? Well fuck you, then.

I guess Artis will buy his own, huh?

- Oh, shit! Yeah, 20. - Unbelievable.

Well!

Where the hell you get that from?

Now believe Artis when he says that he has a solution.

You stop asking, you start telling.

You know there's a name for that, Artis.

- Oh yeah? - Yeah.

It's called thieving.

But on the real, shoot it looks like it's working better

than what we doing now, Flip.

I mean, come on, man.

Slinging papers a couple of times a week on the corner

ain't cutting it, man.

- Oh yeah. - Shit'll pay the bills, baby.

What bills?

We're homeless, we don't have any fucking bills.

What are you thinking? Open your eyes.

My eyes are wide open, Flip,

and all I see is cash.

Shit, Flip, man, I'm sorry to tell you, bro,

but I've been thinking about robbing some folks too.

- There you go. - No.

- Shit. - Fuck that,

y'all are getting into some shit

that'll get you killed.

Alright, what happens if someone fights back?

Comes prepared, dog.

- Whoa, hey! - What the fuck?

- Artis! - Yeah.

Two years ago some fucking idiot

had the same idea you have and he killed my brother.

And what if you get caught?

I won't have to use it, Flip.

So what if I get caught?

What? I go to jail?

Three hots and a fucking cot.

You open your eyes, baby,

jail is looking a fuck of a lot better

than what I got going on right here.

You know what?

I heard they take care of you in there, man.

Nah, don't believe that shit,

they fucking take your whole life away in there.

Out here at least that's the one thing we have left.

Get rid of the knife.

Get rid of the fucking knife!

You call this living?

What the fuck are they gonna take away from me, Flip?

I ain't got nothing.

At least in jail I got food, I got water,

I got a warm place to sleep, I got respect.

Not all of us choose to be out here.

Look, I can't go home and visit my mom and dad

once a month like Flip can.

This isn't some experiment.

Or artistic research or whatever the fuck else

that Flip wants to call it for the rest of us.

So unless you can give me what you threw away,

you shut the fuck up

because I am gonna do whatever I can to stay alive!

You coming?

Shit, losing your damn mind, man,

calm your ass down.

Fuck you. Fuck you.

Serious issues.

You alright, bruh?

Yeah, cool.

Damn.

Hey don't, don't you know cat over there?

Oh yeah. I better go holler at him.

Alright then, man, you stay up.

Alright.

- Flip. - What's up?

What's up, man? Been looking for you.

- Yeah? - Yeah, I got something

you should check out.

Remember this? Left or right?

Right.

Wrong.

You know, you should do this.

I mean, this is what you're out here for, right?

I'm not ready yet.

I'm still trying to work on my new flows

and, you know I can't go on stage without Cash, man.

Can't or won't?

Look, you don't have to do this

but you should at least come.

So I'll pick you up at your spot, okay?

Yeah, alright.

Yo, are you okay out here?

Yeah.

Alright, man.

Tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night?

That makes today...

Wednesday.

Bumma? How'd you hear that?

Man, you know I hear everything.

What's the good word today, Bumma?

No good word.

Why don't you tell me a story then?

No, no, not today, some other time.

Oh come on, Bumma, just one-

I said some other time.

And you know, when opportunity knocks

you can't go to the door naked.

Now, it's time for you to move on.

It's gonna be rain.

And Flip. Watch out for that tire.

Tire?

Alright, Bumma.

Ow!

♪ The city's a jungle ♪

♪ I had to leave the bubble to believe the struggle ♪

♪ Now I'm seeing doubles ♪

♪ But with my people huddling the dust and dusk ♪

♪ 'Cause being rough and tough ain't up to snuff ♪

♪ I feel like Stevie Wonder living just enough ♪

♪ And now I'm facing problems ♪

♪ And they outweigh these options ♪

♪ 'Til I no longer wanna take precautions ♪

♪ With crazy thoughts inside this hazy conscience ♪

♪ Sitting here watching this lady walking ♪

♪ With her baby's father talking ♪

♪ And plotting to make some dollars off them ♪

♪ It's not too often I consider crime ♪

♪ But when you're trying to live ♪

♪ There's little time to get in line ♪

♪ I call it street survival ♪

♪ The need to strive for something deeper ♪

♪ Than complete denial ♪

♪ I heard that leads to Cairo ♪

♪ I'm just trying to keep the 5-0 off my back ♪

♪ Beat my rivals, no need to read the Bible ♪

♪ If I wanna see the cycle I'm in ♪

♪ Friends in a spiral of sin ♪

♪ And now we're up to our chin ♪

♪ In five feet of sand and the tide's rolling in ♪

♪ I wish I could just end ♪

♪ Press stop, rewind and begin my life ♪

♪ And then find where it went wrong and try it again ♪

♪ 'Cause this is harder than I ever thought it would be ♪

♪ I'm coughing ugly shit up when I hock a loogie ♪

♪ Nobody bothered looking, just step over a leftover ♪

♪ My people forgotten like dead soldiers ♪

♪ Left to the vultures ♪

♪ Wanting to forget the culture that's forgotten you ♪

♪ No wonder all my niggas be sess smokers ♪

♪ What do we got to lose ♪

♪ Misrepresented when you watch the news ♪

♪ Turn off the tube, it's not the truth ♪

♪ It's about as real as Dr. Seuss ♪

♪ 'Cause when the only opportunity for you to speak ♪

♪ Is through a beat commodity starts ♪

♪ With a high marketing off ♪

♪ 'Cause we like pocketing profit ♪

♪ That's skyrocketing when artistry starts ♪

♪ To be properly signed property so why wait ♪

♪ We gotta play the game at high stakes ♪

♪ So I place my bet to take respect ♪

♪ While rain makes this paper wet ♪

♪ Tempting an MC to spit rhymes 'til my chest is empty ♪

♪ And this polluted air gets no entry ♪

♪ I can't breathe, but yo, I gotta make ends meet ♪

Come on, open your pockets,

this ain't no fucking joke.

What, are you fucking deaf?

- What the fuck? - Don't you look at me.

Yes, this is really happening.

What you got? What you got for me?

Gimme my paper, dog, what what you got?

What you got for me?

You like coming down here? You like coming down here?

Bet you won't come down here no more.

Tony!

Tony!

Hi, this is Phillip Randall Bernard,

leave a message.

Phillip, this is your father.

That's my boy, out on the job already.

Listen, your mother wanted me to call,

she wants you to have dinner with the family.

It's been a while since you came by.

And I guess, just give us a call.

Bye.

Phillip. You're running a little late, aren't you?

- Oh. - And by the way,

as a rookie, you're supposed to be dressed

in full uniform all the time, that means hat.

By the book.

My job is to keep an eye on you

for the first few weeks, you know?

So, so, so make my job easier

and just play everything by the book, alright?

My little girl, she really loves it, the belly, you know?

She says it's like her own personal roller coaster

'cause I let her sit on it, bounce her around.

Can you can try to find out

when this back to streets bullshit is gonna be over?

I mean.

As your TO, I could write you up for that

but I think I'll skip it this time.

This is ridiculous, shouldn't we be sitting in a car

with an air conditioning or something?

I don't know, I kind of like it.

Lets me really get back to the people.

The people?

- College fund. - Hey, man.

College fund, this is called

Byron's college fund, partner.

It goes to good use, I promise you.

I swear, pop the collar.

Hey, that's a nice outfit you got on, man.

Pop your collar when you wear it.

What's your name?

My name's Byron, man.

A Byronic villain.

Yeah, yeah.

Can't you let these poor people go about their business

without begging them for their hard-earned money?

Get outta here.

These poor people?

What, do I look like Richie Rich to you or something?

Man, I'm just trying to get some money

to donate to the policeman's ball

so they gimme one of them cool bumper stickers, that's it.

Oh yeah? And where you gonna put it all?

In the Jag you got in your garage at home?

No, I was actually gonna put it on my left thigh

so you can have a nice view when you kiss my ass.

Wednesday.

What's the good word, old timer?

No good word.

You're too old to be out here.

Time go long but it end quick.

You too young to be out here.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Hey!

You better be deaf or fucking have one ear, you bastard,

'cause I swear to God when I'm done here

I'm kicking your ass, kid!

Turn that fucking music off

before I had to punch through this wall

and leave you knocked out with a toothless jaw, you stupid-

Hi, this is Phillip Randall Bernard,

leave a message.

Hello Flip, this is Tony.

- Hey it's been a long time- - Philip!

Two years is Friday since, you know.

Well, we should get together for drinks or something.

At least on Friday, for, for Cash.

His name was Cassius!

- Tony! - Gimme all your money.

Damn, Tony!

Shit ain't fucking funny, man.

Just playing, man.

Right or left?

Right.

Fucked up.

I'll take care of your brothers for you.

My little talking man!

How you doing, talking man?

"Tell me a story, Bumma, tell me a story!"

All you got to do is tell the truth.

I mean, sometimes you gonna get caught, of course you are.

You know, you gonna slide off a word,

spin around, come in the back way,

but that's when I like it most.

When it sound like what it's saying.

I don't give a damn if it's Coltrane or Chopin,

you cannot tell no lies.

You ain't supposed to tell no lies.

You know, my hard drive is filled with a whole lot of stuff

I don't know if I'll ever get rid of.

You remember original sin?

Original sin is like gift software on a new computer.

Tucked away bits and pieces

so deep that maybe you can't baptize it away.

Maybe it's what you do or what you say.

Or maybe, maybe even our ancestors

have lasered bits and pieces of things

so deep down into our hard drives

that we can't get them off.

We can't delete them, we can't...

Without the right password.

Or the right therapist!

Or the right retribution.

Time is ticking, my brother.

When you gonna do it? When you gonna say it?

When you gonna build it? When you gonna sing it?

When you gonna confront it?

When you gonna kill it?

You a hunter. I'm a hunter.

I can hear ancient melodies out in the woods

and I've seen the beast.

I've seen him and he's a lot smaller than you think.

That's deep.

I was born a king.

I'm the first son of a first son of an only son.

When I was born it was a joyous occasion.

Oh man, thanks Bumma.

Your stories man, they're like,

I don't know, it's like the Odyssey or something

getting passed from person to person like that.

Oh yeah? Well can you flow?

Can you plug in?

I'm trying to feel it, it's deep though.

Well just remember when you step out into the limelight

to show your genius,

you are also lit when you show your ass.

Deep. Deep.

Shit!

Hey, yo, Byron.

- What's cracking? - Flip. What up, baby?

- How you doing? - Bumma.

What the fuck's wrong with him, man?

- Artis. - Yeah, man.

What the hell is that?

Dude, don't even trip

like you never seen a fat dude before.

Nah, nah, I just thought, a little music,

liven up the atmosphere.

Just because we do not have a house

does not mean we can't have a house party, am I right?

I hope you didn't take that off someone though.

That's true too.

Shut the fuck up, mom. I got it at the junkyard.

Word?

What? I'm trying to bring it back, yo.

Mm. Nah, they left that there for a reason.

- Leave that shit alone. - Fuck y'all.

Who's your friend here?

Yo, that's my boy Grey.

Alright, man, you call me Grey.

- Grey. Flip. - What's up?

We need to call your Ton

'cause you look like you damn near weigh one.

I mean, goddamn, man, how the hell you get so fat?

Shit, the reason why we all out here starving half to death

'cause his ass eating up all the food,

ain't that right, big boy?

Fuck you, dog, I got a thyroid problem.

A what?

A thyroid problem?

No bro, look like you got a thigh problem.

For real, look like you got two big ass-

Shut the fuck up.

Oh you getting serious, huh, big boy? What?

- What?! - Oh, shit.

Hey, big man, I was just playing.

- They're squabbling! - Yeah.

- I was just playing. - Hey, yo.

- Oh, shit, brother. - Fuck this motherfucker.

Turn on the radio.

- Just play the radio. - It don't work,

you're on your own, son.

Somebody drop a beatbox or something.

- Ah! - You want some of this?

- Oh, shit. - It's on.

Check this.

♪ Yeah, here we go, uh ♪

♪ Yo, who's gonna rip first I guess it's Flip verse ♪

♪ With words so hot they make a nigga's lip burst ♪

♪ Who the hell rips splitting their belly up on the shelf ♪

♪ Shit is ending in style flinging the fell bliss ♪

♪ Drilling your brain like rap and video games ♪

♪ Fill a syringe full of styles and stick into your veins ♪

♪ Fuck them other niggas, including my pops ♪

♪ 19 was the peak I realized we didn't speak ♪

♪ No disrespect to Mom but when she bust me in her cheek ♪

♪ At night I tried to keep coming ♪

♪ And I choked them in their sleep ♪

♪ I tried to fuck the world, the world fucked me ♪

♪ I'm a bum, motherfucker, we gonna wait to see ♪

♪ We're gonna ball, fuck them all ♪

♪ Who gonna go off, fuck them all, nigga Artis ♪

♪ Hit your head up on the wall ♪

♪ Take it on I burn ♪

♪ I don't got homes but I got some poems ♪

♪ I'ma hit you out on the street when you alone ♪

♪ And bust the stand, let now be your chance to ♪

♪ If you wanna get me son, you gotta advance ♪

♪ I'ma break some lyrics, no fear it, you hear it ♪

♪ I'ma bring the spirits out the boxes, the boxes ♪

♪ Come on motherfucker we can rock this, what ♪

♪ Yo, can I get a soul clap in the circle ♪

♪ Between these rhymes it ain't no commercial ♪

♪ We in the alley just doing our thing ♪

♪ From the microphone rapping, we do not sing ♪

♪ But we still ♪

- Come on, come on, uh. - Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

- What? - Hit that top beat

- he's talking about, it's nice. - I got it.

The sound go.

- Woo! - Uh, what?

- Come on. - Yeah.

♪ Yo I bust a beatbox ♪

♪ The bass prick you like some sheet rock ♪

♪ I keep it pumping like a Reebok tongue ♪

♪ Flying at mach one ♪

♪ Top Gun, Houston, we have a problem ♪

♪ It's too complicated for people to reproduce ♪

♪ I keep the music and the beat purely human ♪

♪ Surely you can go practice, probably surpass this ♪

♪ But first the message you have to be able to grasp is ♪

♪ So when I tweak the cypher, keep the people hyped up ♪

♪ While your girl screaming play up, I love this ♪

♪ So go tell Aerosmith, come play around this ♪

♪ I spare a victim and plug out play, a pair of lips ♪

♪ Remember this hip-hop thing is inherited ♪

♪ Half Afro American blasting, hope and barrelling ♪

♪ I got a rhyme for you, I'm so arrogant ♪

♪ I got a rhyme for ya, I have the right to be ♪

♪ Bitch, man, bitch slap that bitch ♪

♪ Come on, I got a rhyme for ya ♪

What's up man?

I thought you weren't coming.

I know man, I'm sorry.

I was hanging out with the guys,

just lost track of time.

How's school going?

I got sent to the office yesterday.

Why?

I told Miss Goodwin that I wasn't going to college

and when she told me I had to, ha ha, I called her a bitch.

You called her a bitch?

What, to her face?

Don't look all proud about it, man,

you gotta have more control than that.

Dad says it all the time. It just slipped out.

Don't even use that as an excuse, okay?

Dad says a lot of things.

You gotta be careful what you listen to, alright?

Yeah, well.

It's harder than you think.

Does he hit you?

No.

But does he hit you?

No.

Look at me.

Does he hit you?

No.

You promise to tell me if he does?

Oh my God. For the last time, I promise.

Alright.

So how come you ain't going to college?

How come you don't rap no more?

Alright, smart-ass.

I do. Just not on stage.

Why not?

I don't know.

I can't, I guess.

You know who could though? Cash could.

Listen, I can't stay long today.

I gotta go, I got something to do tonight.

I hope you got a date

'cause I'm sick of seeing you going out

with all these guys, it's starting to worry me, man.

Oh, man, get outta here. Shit.

Can I see it?

Oh, yeah.

Hold up.

I know, I look good.

You still got the one I gave you, right?

Yeah.

I love you.

I love you too. Come here.

- Take care, alright? - Alright.

He was great, wasn't he?

You ready for tonight?

No.

You ever think about what life would be like

if I hadn't walked down that alley?

Or if I'd remembered where I parked my car?

Yeah, all the time.

But there are some things you just can't change.

I was so mad at you for leaving us that night.

You damn near got your arm cut off, and Cash.

I was the only one that didn't end up in the hospital.

I'd trade places with him in a second.

I hope I make him proud.

You will.

Why would they pump classical music at a bus stops

at a place like this?

Why not?

Well, the people around here

aren't concerned with classical music.

This is art.

Why spend money to play it in a place like this?

Who's gonna appreciate it?

Somebody in some office somewhere

probably thought that playing classical music

over a PA system in the hood

would get them more votes.

You know, soothe the savages, stop the violence.

I don't think anybody

was actually supposed to appreciate it.

The only music around here is rap.

Definitely not this.

This is some real classy shit.

What are you saying?

I'm just saying that the people that you hang out with

would much rather listen to a bad freestyle

than a good concerto.

Oh!

They're not concerned or interested

in anything that's considered art.

So hip-hop is not art?

- Well. - No, shut up.

Stop.

♪ Listen, I could bust Rachmaninoffs ♪

♪ Switch styles, flipping on and off ♪

♪ Are you trying to talk, save it, you might want a clock ♪

♪ You're choking on your words like it was the common cough ♪

♪ You know, I'm so mad and inflammatory ♪

♪ That the Grammys always have awarding for hip-hop ♪

♪ In the rap category and the story's self explanatory ♪

♪ 'Cause the standards always have been sorry ♪

♪ Didn't expect much of what they had before me ♪

♪ When all we used to do is battle rap for glory ♪

♪ Well who's gonna reform where the path is going ♪

♪ When us cats are after 40 ♪

♪ It's like look at rap ask what songs are working ♪

♪ We're not searching for the honest person ♪

♪ We're looking for the worst who's fond of cursing ♪

♪ Pure controversy we wanna purchase ♪

♪ Well, some will see it as a harmful purpose ♪

♪ When others treat it just like it's on the surface ♪

♪ But no matter how right or wrong the verse is ♪

♪ People just hear rap and the song is worthless ♪

♪ And what's worse is all the exploitation ♪

♪ Voice faking for the next boy sensation ♪

♪ Rich glimmer and glitz is the choice he's taking ♪

♪ But nobody can tell you the point he's making ♪

♪ So I'm not gonna sit here poised and waiting ♪

♪ For paid kids to fake it the more they make it ♪

♪ Before the fame they was naked ♪

♪ I seen better skill coming outta California Raisins ♪

♪ Outrageous, the page is being turned musically ♪

♪ Usually I'm used to seeing tunes that's using ingenuity ♪

♪ Well, maybe soon there'll be some unity ♪

♪ Assuming we can regain fluency ♪

♪ To truthfully do it genuinely ♪

♪ See what I'm doing between you and me ♪

♪ Is coming fluently sequential like one, two, and three ♪

♪ And in this community only a few can see ♪

♪ Wouldn't you agree, that's why I'm moved ♪

♪ To speak the truth to people 'til my eulogy ♪

♪ Or better yet I'll resurrect ♪

♪ And scare those like a werewolf ♪

♪ Tearing clothes from the hair growth ♪

♪ I come prepared for whatever goes ♪

♪ In a bus stop, flowing to concertos ♪

♪ Making it unfair for these MCs ♪

♪ Dumber than that one scarecrow ♪

♪ Looking somewhere over the rainbow for brains so ♪

♪ You better listen hard ♪

♪ I seen you disregard rap like it isn't art ♪

♪ But you're missing all that ♪

♪ Smart lyrics or mixing parts ♪

♪ Understood by those from the business cards ♪

♪ To the prison yards, so disembark ♪

♪ Leave your assumption behind ♪

♪ And you'll find every line keeping time ♪

♪ Is refined by the rhyme ♪

♪ And now try to do that off the top of the mind ♪

♪ And if you still don't see the skill to flow free ♪

♪ Then don't speak, you're old league, just some poetry ♪

♪ We just added a dope beat to make it more sweet ♪

♪ Can't feel that, well than go to sleep and don't breathe ♪

♪ 'Cause it's more powerful than you ever could dream ♪

♪ Mass communication is taking on the cleverest means ♪

♪ Never could be destitute ♪

♪ People who claim that are only resolute ♪

♪ In their ineptitude so get it through your head ♪

♪ Hip-hop is much more than the skill ♪

♪ That you just saw in the lyrics I said ♪

♪ You only know a fraction of the whole ♪

♪ And that's no bull, not even half the cup is full ♪

♪ Now if you want more, I wouldn't know where to start ♪

♪ I'd have to tear it apart and just flow from the heart ♪

♪ But yo, now tell me that this isn't an art ♪

Yeah!

You're ready.

Let's get you dressed.

Why are you doing this for me, Tony?

I promised Cash I'd take care of his brothers.

I'm just keeping my promise.

Thanks.

Let's go.

You alright?

Yeah, I'm cool, I guess.

It's just been a while, you know?

Oh.

- Welcome to the club. - Sorry.

It's amateur night, goddamn!

Okay, now what was that thing you were saying

about a thousand dollars?

Yeah, no, no, we'll work that out.

Just, you know, I can go for half but I need my money.

Hell yeah.

Now we gonna get the party crack-a-lacking

like we do every week about this time.

Y'all ready to do the damn thing?

Do the damn thing!

Alright, you got skills on the mic?

Do the damn thing!

Can you get the crowd hype?

Do the damn thing!

Now, I hope everybody

who wanted to sign up got signed up.

Man, I forgot to sign up.

- Oh, don't worry kid- - Make it to the stage first,

- I got you, I signed you up. - You did?

- Yeah. - We got a guy named Flip.

- You know I was gonna- - Is there a Flip

in the house?

- Flip, where you at? - First?

Come on man, you got this.

You got this, brother, come on.

Flip Flop, Flip Flop.

There you go, Flip Flop, Flip Flop,

back that ass up on the stage, you know what I'm saying.

Let's get this party started.

Where you from, Flip?

LA.

LA? Okay.

Give it up for LA.

Hometown, hometown, you know what I'm saying.

Flip, you ready to do the damn thing?

Yeah!

It's yours.

Does anybody wanna put their hands up?

I know you can, but this damn club

feels like I have to do bad standup.

There's nothing funny about me kicking a verse

but I guess when worse come to worse,

they make me go first.

And that's alright with me.

Although I didn't come prepared,

at least I'm not out there

sitting in underwear.

♪ My skill is major not undeclared ♪

♪ I got this microphone on a stand ♪

♪ 'Cause it knows I'ma rip the PR a hand ♪

♪ 'Cause my turns are lyrical cannibals ♪

♪ Spitting knowledge like political radicals ♪

♪ I'm so live even mechanical minds ♪

♪ Are reliant like they had a pulse ♪

♪ An animal trapped behind padded walls ♪

♪ For riding on the tracks like a rabid dog ♪

♪ As soon as I came out of the womb ♪

♪ I brightened the room, jumped off the doctor's table ♪

♪ Ran out and howled at the moon ♪

♪ My instinct as an MC is to blow up in your face ♪

♪ Worse than Kaczynski ♪

♪ When he was getting hands with Lewinsky ♪

♪ I wanna know how much y'all paid for this open mic ♪

♪ 'Cause I'll make sure this is the only night ♪

♪ This shit ain't overpriced ♪

♪ Like you in the back, take off your coat and tie ♪

♪ This ain't no formal affair ♪

♪ This guy's about to blow us off somewhere ♪

♪ All of a sudden his neck went at, who me ♪

♪ He'll get shocked like he hopped an electric fence ♪

♪ Bro just got caught with a sex offense ♪

♪ Probably from this beautiful queen here ♪

♪ Props, it was excellent ♪

♪ Okay, okay, I should probably stop talking shit ♪

♪ It's just that I follow this hip-hop doctrine strict ♪

♪ So when I stop rapping I'ma start pop locking ♪

♪ I got options though, I could be your entertainer ♪

♪ But I'm not Scott Joplin ♪

♪ And this ain't the age of foxtrotting ♪

♪ Staying in on the rainy days, hobnobbing ♪

♪ Tippy-topping and hot chocolate ♪

♪ These days we got problems ♪

♪ With cops watching from lock stock ♪

♪ And I don't mean we drive to the box office ♪

♪ These are the days of John Cochran ♪

♪ Consumerism and broad shopping and Hot Topic ♪

♪ And rotten politics, straight up dirty ♪

♪ Like dog's pawprints, it's all nonsense ♪

♪ We've hit rock bottom, selling out for the stock options ♪

♪ Aw shit, shit's made me switch gears ♪

♪ And lose my sense of humor ♪

♪ It's proof that I shoulda just ended sooner ♪

♪ But now you know we're coming out in the future ♪

♪ So my name is Flip, now go out and spread the rumor ♪

Yeah! Yeah.

That was hot, son.

I told you to put it down, kid.

Thanks. Yo.

Hey man, this guy just came up to me,

asked me if I knew you, he wants to meet you.

Who is he?

I have no idea, he's some kind of talent scout

or producer or something.

No, player, we're not gonna argue with no money.

No, no, no, we're gonna get back to that.

Okay, I'm, look, hold on a second.

Yeah, yeah. No listen.

Just work out what you can

and I'll call you back a little later,

we'll finish this in a minute.

Sure, sure.

Look, my time is money.

I mean, by just sitting here and talking to you

and listening to you, I've already invested in your talent.

You know I come here to relax,

get away from work for a while.

So I should be mad at you right now.

Mad because you're impeding on my personal time.

But it's alright, it's cool

because I think I'm already gonna see

a return on my initial investment.

Nephew, I think you might just be the next big thing.

So now I got a problem.

What am I gonna do?

Do I continue enjoying my break

or do I slide you my card?

Chi Barnes.

Barnes and Knobles Management.

Do you have another one of those?

No, no, that's the only one I got.

I'm gonna need that back.

Barnes? Barnes and Knoble?

This is a joke, right?

Okay, alright.

I'm really not all that

and it's just because I haven't discovered

the next best thing yet.

But Flip, can I call you Flip?

Okay, what you did out there,

them rhymes you laid down on stage,

man, they were the bomb, they were the it,

they was on point.

The people loved it, it was real,

and they could feel it.

Now, I know I'm not no big record executive

but I will work my ass off to get you discovered.

And if not the big time, at least I'll get you some work.

Get you paid. Get your face out there.

Let the people hear what you got to say.

Get me work? Like I get paid for rapping?

Oh yeah.

I, I don't know.

Barnes and Knoble Management? I mean.

Aren't there laws against using

somebody else's name like that?

Oh no, you know, you're not reading that right.

See, I put a K in there. That's K-N-O-B-L-E.

That's no, but the K is silent.

The K is silent.

I don't know, man.

Hey, look, you don't get paid, I don't get paid.

How much do you take?

20%.

Alright, 15.

Ooh, okay, 10, okay, 10% of what you make.

I can make it on that, 10%.

Am I really gonna make any money?

If, I don't eat if you don't eat, that's the deal.

You don't eat, I don't eat.

I'll hold you to that.

Okay, you got a phone number

so I can get in touch with you?

I-

Just got a new phone number and you wrote it down

and put it in your back pocket, remember?

Alright, good, we cooking with oil.

Alright, so. The next big thing.

Why you always fucking with me?

Man, you been messing with me all motherfucking week, man.

Well, we gonna fuck you up,

make a damn pinata outta your ass.

Kevin Costner.

If anyone were to play me in a movie,

I'd pick Kevin Costner.

Or maybe Kevin Spacey.

He wouldn't have to do much.

He could get an Oscar.

- An Oscar for playing me. - The shit outta you!

Oh, you want me to leave? You want me to leave?

Okay, I'll leave.

I'll bring my ass back and fuck you up!

You think I'm playing with you?

- Oh, yes. - What the hell

did I do to this kid anyway?

This is getting outta hand.

Definitely one of the Kevins, Costner or Spacey.

Or Kline.

I wish a motherfucker would hit me with that club.

Hit me with the club, motherfucker.

Hit me with the club!

Hey!

Is that your magic wand?

Hey, hey.

- Byron! - Hey.

Look out, oh shit!

What the hell did you think you were doing?

You know how many calls the department's gotten

about that kid?

And now I've got the sergeant breathing down my neck

about how I can't keep my trainees in line.

Hey, you don't know what went on out there.

I felt threatened, I responded.

You don't respond by kicking the shit

outta some poor fucking kid.

You gave that kid a concussion!

The sergeant wants me to take your badge and your gun.

What?

You can't do that, I've only been here a few days.

That fucking thug deserved what he got.

Philip.

I'm doing this by the rules, by the book.

Goddamn.

Now, you can keep your badge

but I gotta take your gun.

It's only temporary.

Temporary my ass, you know,

there are fucking kids out there

that are stealing and killing people

for fucking $12 in their wallet,

you're taking my gun over some fucking homeless kid?

What the-

Leave. Get the fuck outta here.

Hi, this is Phillip Randall Bernard,

leave a message.

Flip, it's me, Tony.

I don't know why you won't return my calls,

it's been two years and I, well,

I just figured-

Tony.

Alright.

Sure.

Look, Flip, I didn't-

Phillip.

I didn't come here to talk about Cash.

You know his name. Don't with fuck me.

I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.

You know, I promised your brother-

You told me you didn't come here

to talk about my brother.

Look, I'm a grown man, I don't need a babysitter.

I'm doing fine on my own.

Oh yeah?

Well I heard you shot at your boss today.

Oh geez.

Yeah, that's right.

One week on the force and you're already suspended?

I'm not suspended.

I got my gun back, there's too much shit going on out there

for them to pull a cop off the streets.

Yeah, well next time you might not be so lucky.

I just thought you might need somebody to talk to.

What's up my people, welcome to the club.

Getting it, you know what I'm saying.

First of all, I'd like to say-

Whatever happened

- to your music? - Congratulations to all y'all

out there who want some extra cheese-

Fuck music. Music doesn't pay the bills.

- Hell yeah. Make some noise. - I'm worried about you.

Who the fuck are you to worry about me?

The only person that ever gave a shit about me

died two years ago in some alley

because you couldn't remember

where you parked your fucking car.

When's the last time I heard from you, Tony?

Last year around this time?

Yeah, fuck you.

I was there, Flip.

Philip!

Philip, I was there.

And I did everything I could.

No you didn't, you ran away, you left us.

I went for help.

How the fuck was I supposed to know

there would be somebody around the corner?

Man, don't put that shit on me.

- We gonna do the damn thing. - Alright? It's not my fault.

Do the damn thing!

Some things are just meant to happen,

some things you just can't change.

Are you the type that people like?

Do the damn thing!

And I've, I've tried calling you

but the only time you pick up

is around this time every fucking year.

I made a promise to my best friend

that I'd take care of his younger brothers.

- And I'm trying here. - Do the damn thing!

First up, we got the lovely Carmen,

- Carmen, bring that ass to- - I went by

your parents' house today.

Man, you really need to visit.

When was the last time you saw Quentin?

Brooklyn, New York in the house,

give it up for Brooklyn.

Give it up for Carmen, you ready to do the damn thing?

Okay, baby, it's yours.

Look at her.

What is she, 15, 16?

What the hell is a girl like that doing

in a bar late at night?

I don't understand.

These fucking degenerational morals.

Lack of scruples is what it is.

Fucking lack of scruples.

Slow down there, Racer X.

Hey.

By this rate, you'll be dead by dawn.

Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself.

I'm gonna hit the road. Nice little chat we had.

Need me to drive you home?

No, I'll walk it, it's just around the way.

Yeah, well I'm glad we could have this talk.

I hope you remembered where you parked your car.

You know what?

You're amazing in bed but it really doesn't matter

because you will never have this again.

And by the way, I think you're a little bitch

for trying to make me feel like a whore.

That's what you were when we first met.

Or have you forgot?

I'll page you.

If you wanna talk, return it.

If not, ignore it.

Open your pockets, motherfuckers,

this ain't no fucking joke.

What, are you fucking deaf?

Get on the ground.

- Tony! - Get your hands off of me.

Yes, this is really happening, what you got?

- Tony? - What you got? What you got?

Don't you look at me, don't you look at me.

- Tony! - You like coming round here?

Bet you won't come round here no more.

Tony!

Tony!

Tony! Tony!

Hey, yo.

Look, check that fool out.

Look, as scared as a motherfucker.

You better run. You better run!

Don't scare him more than he already is.

Dude, we could get some mad loot off that cat, man.

Nah, be cool man. Let's just sell some papers.

Alright, alright. Byron!

Yo. What's up, baby?

- What is it? - So, up the street, yeah?

Y'all do that, I'm gonna go see

what I can do downtown, alright?

Alright, man.

Alright man, see you later, man.

- Paper? - Hey, you wanna buy a paper?

- Wanna buy a paper? - Wanna buy a newspaper?

- No paper? - 20 cents, 50 cents.

- How much you got? - Come on, girl.

How about a hug, baby? How about a hug, come on.

Ooh, she oriental style too, boy. Ooh-we!

We ain't selling shit!

Hey, you wanna buy a fucking paper?

May I have your attention please?

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?

Excuse me ma'am, how you doing today?

Can I ask you a question?

What's black and white and red all over?

You know the answer, here's your chance to buy it cheap

instead of acting like I never told you.

♪ I got the newspaper's newest caper ♪

♪ All you need is some change to drop for me ♪

♪ I got the front page's top story ♪

♪ The crisis in the Middle East, it could cease ♪

♪ Read how people might just get a little peace ♪

♪ Or if it's going to stop ♪

♪ Or for all your business heads ♪

♪ You can check in the business section ♪

♪ Get the word on your stock ♪

♪ I just hope that it wasn't Teknekron ♪

♪ They were ordered to stop when the executive board ♪

♪ Was caught in the spot with corporate fraud ♪

♪ Selling the nation's newspaper ♪

♪ I got the first reader ♪

♪ See how President Bush pissed off another world leader ♪

♪ It's USA Today, number one in the country ♪

♪ The newest paper chase that come on a Sunday ♪

♪ So get your update on the latest debate ♪

♪ Our younger generations suffering ♪

♪ From the state of public education ♪

♪ Why thank you, it's nice to see a girl ♪

♪ Who cares enough to learn about ♪

♪ What's going on in world affairs ♪

♪ So make sure you're aware what's happening ♪

♪ Like drug testing students in the school system ♪

♪ And what you're supposed to do with them ♪

♪ You the man, there you go, have a nice day ♪

♪ Hey, I'm impressed my man had the right change, God bless ♪

♪ We got the sports pages for the latest ♪

♪ Some more changes coming for the Oakland Raiders ♪

♪ And another win for the Lakers ♪

♪ You couldn't get a better sports cast ♪

♪ These boys are hotter ♪

♪ Than the coming week's weather forecast ♪

♪ Temperatures in the high 80s ♪

♪ This one's for the nice lady with the sweet face ♪

♪ The mister with the briefcase ♪

♪ One at a time, people please wait ♪

♪ Form a line or something, I'm dying ♪

♪ Trying to keep pace, I'm only one man, understand ♪

♪ I ain't no wonder man, I take papers from the stand ♪

♪ So you can take them from my hand ♪

♪ The proceeds go to feed needy MCs ♪

♪ Looks like I'm all out y'all ♪

I'll see you next week.

- Damn, baby. - Woo!

I'm glad I got this Twinkie.

I'm glad I had some change.

This is the good good, dude.

Yo, Flip.

How the fuck you sell all them papers this morning?

We couldn't sell shit.

Skills. Basically, I got them and you don't.

Oh, dick sucking skills?

- Ooh! - No.

No, I know you don't mean lyrical skills, right?

Yeah, lyrical skills.

Really now, hey, just 'cause I don't use my lyrical skills

to whore newspapers don't mean I ain't got them.

Ghetto credibility, that's what I get with my skills.

Can't eat ghetto credibility, unfortunately.

Oh, that sounds like a challenge,

let's get the damn thing cracking.

Is that a challenge?

I'm just saying.

- I'm just saying. - Just saying.

- Show him, Artis. - You just saying,

- you wanna challenge me? - You want some?

- Spit the best you got then. - Show him, Artis.

- Let's go. - No, I just wanted-

- Spit. - And you, mad at your lip?

♪ 'Cause it started this shit, we're flipping Artis ♪

♪ And I promise that regardless if we in church ♪

♪ Or in markets, I still come the hardest ♪

♪ Of all the street artists ♪

♪ With track marks and scarred wrists ♪

♪ I wasn't born heartless, that's how I became ♪

♪ I was breastfed pain, it deadened my brain ♪

♪ Resurrected at 11 on 5th and Main ♪

♪ The rain baptized me, I got a new name, that's Artis ♪

♪ Like artist but I dropped the T ♪

♪ First letter of my mom's name ♪

♪ And she dropped me for some player type ♪

♪ Poppy, rugged, and cocky ♪

♪ Knock me, knock me, player type, poppy ♪

♪ Rugged and cocked me, now she dropped me ♪

♪ Like luggage and the streets adopt me ♪

♪ My pops be the street like my mom's the wind ♪

♪ My brothers be the dirt that don't come off my skin ♪

♪ My streets, my family, they the closest ♪

♪ My only company I keep is ghosts and ♪

♪ They be like the poets passed like Pac and Euripides ♪

♪ My tongue fully cocked and I spit with ease ♪

♪ Knock the block MCs back on sickly knees ♪

♪ They get hit by the breeze and when I say bitch please ♪

♪ If that's the best that you got ♪

♪ You will not get me, now ♪

♪ You could sell the papers but I'm the news ♪

♪ The whole world wanna know what I've been through ♪

♪ You can't kid on these streets ♪

♪ You gotta earn your shoes ♪

♪ You done got flipped like a coin ♪

♪ And you lose, you lose ♪

♪ This a coin toss, Flip, and you lost ♪

- Uh, uh. - Alright.

- Bring it, what? What? - Alright, alright.

Yep, those sounding like skills to me!

- Come on. Bring it! - If life's a coin toss, yo,

♪ Then I flip the quarter, get you slaughtered ♪

- What? - Fucking flip your garter.

- Garter! - Damn, stop, stop!

- What? - Shut up, what the fuck?

It's Tawanna, man.

Who the fuck is Tawanna?

- Tawanna. - Oh, one of your girls

from last week?

Man, the one that slapped the hell outta me, man.

I needed a medicated face cream for the mark she left.

Man, oh shit, here she comes.

You know I knew this girl named-

- That's Tawanna? - Hey, Tawanna, hey girl!

- Leave me alone. - What's up?

- Hey, Tawanna, what's up girl? - You're that little asshole

that was peeking in my window last week, wasn't you?

No.

You know what? Lemme tell you something.

I am not, was not, and never will be your girlfriend.

You got that? Little bastard, you better stay outta my way.

- Excuse me. - Peeking in the window?

What?

Oh, excuse me, I bumped into you

at the club the other night,

I never got a chance to say-

Excuse me, yeah, I know, you said that.

It's cute though.

You're Flip, right?

Yeah.

Tawanna.

Good to meet you, Tawanna.

Nice to meet you.

You know, you're good.

No, I saw you the other night at the club.

I come up there every now and then

to check things out, so.

Yeah well, thanks.

It was my first time since...

I've just been kind of hesitant to get on stage.

I guess I was just waiting until the time was right.

So was it?

What was what?

The time, was it right?

Oh yeah. Yeah it was.

That's good.

Hey yo, Flip. Oh, hello.

Yo, Flip. You remember Chi?

Chi Barnes?

Yeah, Chi, Barnes and K-noble Chi Barnes,

yeah, I remember, why?

Well, dude, I've been looking all over for you,

he called yesterday.

He says he has an audition with Symbolic Records.

- Are you serious? - 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Dude, excuse me. Come here.

So do you have a place to crash tonight?

Because if you need to, you can stay at my place.

Thanks.

You know, but don't be too worried

if I don't show up on your doorstep later.

Oh, alright, well.

Well that's that, then.

Get you to the audition in the morning,

you put it down, you live happily ever after.

Yeah.

Some crazy shit could happen

before that happily ever after though.

I'm trying to look out for that.

Come on, man. Things are looking good.

Things are looking very good.

Alright? Stay up, baby.

So is everything okay?

Yeah. Everything's great.

So where to?

Well, I was going home,

but I never said I was taking you with me.

Why? I'm a good guy.

I can't tell by the company that you keep.

That's why she slapped your ass!

Oh, who? Byron and Artis?

Ah, they're cool too, it just,

it gets a little rough out here sometimes, that's all.

Out here as in, what? You live out here?

Yeah.

Why?

Well, it's like this, see.

I'm out here trying to live at the bottom

so I can have the experience

to really know what I'm talking about.

I feel I really need to know the streets

before I can begin to rap about them, so,

I'ma do what I gotta do.

If there's a female that wants to come along for the ride,

that's cool too.

No, hold on, I never said

I was trying to get with your ass,

I just asked you where you lived.

- In her motherfucking window? - Oh.

- No. - I knew you couldn't pull

no fine-ass girl, 'cause she was not,

will not, never will be your girlfriend.

Shut up, man!

So I guess this conversation's over then, huh?

Well, do you want it to be?

No. No, I really don't.

Then it's not. Walk me home.

What is this, like a date?

No, it's a walk.

She can't be leaving with him!

Wait, she can't slap me and then leave with him,

no, that's not how it's supposed to go down.

How's it supposed to go down?

You look in her window and she falls in love?

You molesting motherfucker.

Man, shut up.

- They aren't yours at all? - Yeah.

They're not my style.

That's your style?

- Yeah. - I live right there.

Which one's yours?

The one with that light.

Oh God, that's Jimmy. Don't look up.

What?

Just don't look at him, just don't.

Watch where you're going, Tyrone.

Excuse me?

I said watch where you're going, Tyrone.

My name ain't Tyrone.

Oh, what's it, Jamal?

Fucking coons are all the same anyhow.

So watch where the fuck you're going

next time, porch monkey.

Oh, I cannot believe you just said that.

You know, when y'all gonna realize

who runs this country?

So busy drinking your forties, eating fried chicken,

you don't realize what the fuck's going on.

Except you look like one of them half breeds.

That's even worse.

Yeah, well I'd rather be half breed than inbred.

I mean, you do know what year this is, right?

You do know what city this is, right?

You do know that when you find your white Aryan wife

and you have a little girl,

she's gonna realize how ridiculous you are

and find the biggest, Blackest guy she can find

and marry him.

Can you picture that?

Your little white daughter fucking a Black guy?

Loving a nigger?

Oh God, no, let, wait, it's not worth it.

Just come on, let him go, come on.

- Fuck you. - Come on.

That's what I thought.

Just let him go.

Damn, you know that guy?

Yeah, we went to school together when we were kids,

but I don't know what happened.

Come on. Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm cool.

Here, try this.

Oh, thanks.

Thanks for taking care of me.

I could've taken him, you know?

Yeah, I know, but you didn't need to, he'll get his.

And you know what? You're probably right.

All of his hate will die in a generation.

That's awfully optimistic.

Well, I come from an

awfully optimistic interracial couple.

Yeah, me too.

Yeah, I know, I heard.

Hmm.

I remember thinking when I was younger

that in order for two people to be so different

to come together to produce me,

I had to be real special, you know?

Me and my brothers had to be the center of the universe

to be loved that much.

Yeah, well it was a little different for me.

My dad left after I was born.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Don't be, you can't miss someone you never knew.

So how many brothers do you have?

Two.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

No, it's just me and my mom

but she died last year.

So you live here all alone or?

Yeah, it was my grandma's place.

I got it after my mom died.

This is her.

She's pretty.

Thank you.

My oldest brother, he, he died two years ago.

His name was Cassius, we all call him Cash though

'cause he was always talking about

becoming a rich and famous rapper.

A biracial rapper, I don't know.

I guess I just don't know any, so.

Well, they're out there.

I guess it's just not really a marketable thing

to talk about, but.

But you're gonna change all that, right?

Oh, for sure. Yeah.

And then my younger brother, Quentin, he's 14.

He's started high school already.

Hm. I'm sorry.

What, about Quentin?

Yeah, I mean, I know it's hard

to find a place to fit in,

you're not Black enough for the Black kids.

You're definitely not white.

You're just sort of stuck in the middle

and kids can be really cruel.

Yeah. Well, adults can be cruel too.

Are you okay?

Oh, I'm fine, as long as I can use my mouth tomorrow

I'll be good.

Well, you can always use your mouth right now.

You know, that's how porns usually start.

Sorry.

I'm sorry.

You know what?

You can sleep here on the couch.

I'll set my alarm

and I'll wake you up in the morning.

That's how porns usually start?

Here.

Thank you.

Knock if you need anything else.

I will.

I think I wanna come along for the ride.

You know, that's how porns usually start.

I'm not asking you, I'm telling you,

gimme your fucking money!

Yo, man, take it, I don't care.

I don't wanna kill you but I'm not leaving here broke,

now please, gimme your fucking money!

In my pocket, man.

I don't need your cell phone, I need your money.

- Go on, take my money man. - Gimme your fucking.

What the fuck are you smiling at?

Come on!

Alright, so I found the place.

Now why am I here?

Just figured you could use some company, you know?

Just to get out. Come on in.

Come on in, man, have a seat.

You paged me.

Yeah.

You want a drink? I have a couple beers.

No.

Those were good times, remember?

Yeah. I remember.

You guys were really great.

The Bernard Brothers.

You know I was actually mad at him that night?

Yeah, I wasn't getting you guys enough money

and he knew it.

I mean, we just graduated high school, what did he expect?

What did he expect?

The best.

He said he could manage himself.

He said he didn't need anybody but you.

You know, I was so mad at him.

And now he's gone.

And I can't say I'm sorry.

Look, you paged me and now I'm here.

This is what you wanna talk about?

Man, we all need somebody.

Yeah.

People just get in the way.

The best thing to be in this world is alone.

Fuck what everyone else tells you.

If there's one thing I learned from my father,

it's that I need to be my own man.

You know, I live in my own place, I pay my own bills.

You know, I don't need shit from anyone.

That's bullshit, Flip.

Philip.

All I'm trying to say is that

you can't go through this life alone.

Fuck it.

There's certain people out there that we need.

Like, we're meant to find them.

And you won't reach your potential until you do.

Maybe you're right.

But you know what?

He's gone now.

You know? I don't have anyone else.

I gotta move on, I can't depend on,

on anyone else to be happy.

So fuck it, I'm alone, I'm happy.

What?

Nothing.

How about that beer?

Yeah.

Remember this?

Right or left?

Right.

Flip? Flip.

Remember this?

Right or left.

Right.

Motherfucker! I know it was you!

You piece of shit, left us!

It's your fault!

Get off me.

Get the fuck off me, man!

Oh, shit.

Get the fuck out!

Get out!

So how'd you get this again?

I told you, I called in a favor.

But I only get one, so you gotta make this good,

I mean, you gotta to do the damn thing.

Remember, I get paid when you get paid.

See how that works? You get paid, I get paid.

But yo, no pressure.

Shit, bro.

Chi Chi. How are you, man?

How you doing, man?

This shit better be good.

I've stuck my ass out on the line.

Tell Aunt Lily I send my love

next time you see her.

Okay I will. Thanks, man, thanks.

Okay, let's get started, shall we?

You must be.

Flip.

Yeah. That's me.

That's an interesting name.

I like it. What's your real name?

Philip. Phillip Randall Bernard.

Let's stick to Flip.

Let's see what you got.

Do I get any music or?

You earn your music.

You impress us, I'll get you any music you want.

♪ My story starts back in the days ♪

♪ Trapped in a daze with the game of life played ♪

♪ I thought I had it made ♪

♪ 'Cause when youth was swell ♪

♪ Who could tell what the future held ♪

♪ The truth upheld, it soon fell ♪

♪ To a putrid hell with destruction of life ♪

♪ That sucked the blood from life ♪

♪ And with the butt of a knife gripped tight ♪

♪ It fucked my love of life ♪

♪ I tried to hang on for just another night ♪

♪ Wishing the pain gone when it became dawn ♪

♪ But later on it all remained wrong ♪

♪ I'm hearing that same song of sadness sung solemnly ♪

♪ Calling me from the past ♪

♪ Was fought and forgotten follows me ♪

♪ My brother dead, my mother lost ♪

♪ And father spurning, wants me to make an earning ♪

♪ But blocks every way for learning ♪

♪ Unless I abandon who I am ♪

♪ And even standing for the enemy I hate ♪

♪ Either way, a man can't win ♪

♪ I tell the world not to give shit to me ♪

♪ If it would mean I become the one ♪

♪ That's stripping me of my dignity ♪

♪ That's why I initially hit the streets ♪

♪ And saw how it would be a struggle for victory ♪

♪ 'Til people would start listening so ♪

♪ I took what little resources I had around me ♪

♪ And learned that the most astounding work ♪

♪ Comes from having boundaries ♪

♪ Oppressive conditions have predestined division ♪

♪ With the voice always ignored ♪

♪ Now expressively written for my people and myself ♪

♪ Dictated by no one else I spoke it how it felt ♪

♪ And yo, I found it helped ♪

♪ When others start listening to what we're witnessing ♪

♪ Until now, this business of the industry ♪

♪ Wants to get in the scene ♪

♪ Well we're all out to follow skrill ♪

♪ Get our wallets filled ♪

♪ 'Cause American dreams are unfulfilled with dollar bills ♪

♪ So you offer deals for proper skill ♪

♪ No more cyphers behind the bar and grill ♪

♪ Getting paper, it's only logical ♪

♪ So make me famous 'cause if entertainment must ♪

♪ Then yo, you better know the mainstream came to us ♪

♪ 'Cause there ain't no doubt that I would bring you bucks ♪

♪ And if you sell me out after you gain my trust ♪

♪ That'll be dangerous 'cause in perspective fame is nothing ♪

♪ Money ain't much either ♪

♪ And I'd rather be the poor righteous teacher ♪

♪ But these people always looking for the new father of rap ♪

♪ Someone with knowledge and act enough of skill ♪

♪ To call it that but I call it whack ♪

♪ If you think I'll be one to let you define me ♪

♪ Well I'll be damned and I'll probably pay you to buy me ♪

♪ Try me, this is one mind you ain't gonna bind ♪

♪ I represent myself on my own time ♪

♪ 'Cause I already see what you're doing to me ♪

♪ Musically confusing me by moving me ♪

♪ To lose my true history ♪

♪ So now I'm here to take it back in full ♪

♪ And break its shackles ♪

♪ Take the mold that's been getting old ♪

♪ And let it evolve to something ♪

♪ That will cause heads to give it credibility ♪

♪ As long as my life is ignored, then it's killing me ♪

Congratulations, Flip.

You're gonna be a star.

Tony!

Dr. Nicholls, Dr. Nicholls.

Return to surgery.

Don't worry, Flip. You're gonna make it.

You're gonna be a star.

You, you just spoke.

Oh man, you gonna be alright, man.

You gonna make it.

Hold up, man, I'ma tell Mom and Dad.

Phillip?

- Ma'am, no. - Phillip!

Prep.

Clear!

♪ We living life to the fullest, no matter what ♪

♪ Bernard Brothers gonna still get ours ♪

♪ No matter what road you take ♪

♪ Could be the one to break you, one to make you ♪

♪ Cash and Flip gonna take you ♪

♪ Living life on the edge, why ♪

♪ My feet trying to step but keep slipping ♪

♪ Like there's ice on the ledge ♪

♪ Looking down can't stand the pressure ♪

♪ But even if we fall, Cash and Flip we still land together ♪

♪ Stand forever like our words are branded letters ♪

♪ Stamped in leather, we're messengers ♪

♪ That can't be weathered ♪

♪ Can't even measure the greatness ♪

♪ Of two brothers that spit in such ill language ♪

♪ Can't do nothing but hate this ♪

♪ Look it up in the pages between the lines ♪

♪ So caught up in the matrix but you don't read the signs ♪

♪ While we designed the rhyme ♪

♪ That people trying to keep confined ♪

♪ Speak lines to free the mind ♪

♪ Ducking on the grind in these streets of crime ♪

♪ All the time, seeking to find a peak to climb ♪

♪ If your mind's up to the test ♪

♪ Then time will do the rest ♪

♪ Just find what you do best then ride into success ♪

♪ We living life to the fullest, no matter what ♪

♪ Bernard Brothers gonna still get ours, ♪

♪ No matter what road you take ♪

♪ Could be the one to break you, one to make you ♪

♪ Cash and Flip gonna take you ♪

♪ Living life to the fullest, no matter what ♪

♪ Bernard Brothers gonna still get ours ♪

♪ No matter what road you take ♪

♪ Could be the one to break you, one to make you ♪

♪ Cash and Flip gonna take you ♪

♪ More cash to get, more ass to whip ♪

♪ No asterisk just straight Cash and Flip ♪

♪ Get it all is all I know so I'm gonna do what I got to ♪

♪ Pursuing my motto today in case I lose it tomorrow ♪

♪ 'Cause every day could be your last ♪

♪ So when you see the past flash back don't be surprised ♪

♪ Just keep your eyes open, the prize focused ♪

♪ And your dreams alive ♪

♪ So you don't leave the life hopeless ♪

♪ 'Cause when the night approaches you can't be asleep, kid ♪

♪ Never let death see your weakness, that's weak shit ♪

♪ These streets get me paranoid, I'm on the lookout ♪

♪ All I got is my pen and pad ♪

♪ Trying to avoid the crook route ♪

♪ Don't get a shootout, yo, let's have a verbal spit out ♪

♪ And if you ain't got the skills, nigga get out ♪

♪ Huh, word ♪

What? Word?

Ain't nobody say that anymore.

♪ We living life to the fullest, no matter what ♪

♪ Bernard Brothers gonna still get ours ♪

♪ No matter what road you take ♪

♪ Could be the one to break you, one to make you ♪

♪ Cash and Flip gonna take you ♪

♪ Living life to the fullest, no matter what ♪

♪ Bernard Brothers gonna still get ours ♪

♪ No matter what road you take ♪

♪ Could be the one to break you, one to make you ♪

♪ Cash and Flip gonna take you ♪