Original subtitles

♪ Don Julio, I don't drink gin ♪

♪ Bad ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ love me Chain like a slushie ♪

♪ Wrist like a ice pack Boy, I'm really like that ♪

♪ Bankroll on me, whole lotta motion ♪

♪ Two-tone Patek, young ♪♪♪♪♪ snappin' ♪

♪ Bad ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ love me Chain like a slushie ♪

♪ Wrist like a ice pack Boy, I'm really like that ♪

♪ Bankroll on me, whole lotta motion ♪

♪ Two-tone Patek, young ♪♪♪♪♪ snappin' ♪

♪ What's your name, bae? You know you some fine ♪♪♪♪♪

♪ Where you goin' after this? Who you ridin' with? ♪

♪ I don't wanna play with you Baby, what's your number? ♪

♪ I'm a boss Don't even waste your time with a runner ♪

♪ We don't care 'bout what you had We ain't see that ♪

♪ Rich ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ Bae, this where you wanna be at ♪

♪ Nothin' but money on my mind I'm a cash addict ♪

♪ Young ♪♪♪♪♪ lit I remember when they laughed at me ♪

♪ This a motion party ♪

Have your IDs ready.

Once you're registered, you'll be divided into cohorts

and assigned a Hillman helper.

And yes, cohorts are already established, so don't get creative.

I swear, I just had my ID.

Um...

Oh, I think this is yours, Debra?

Thank you.

God, yo, you saved my life. Here you go.

Also, it's Deborah.

Oh, okay. Three syllables. Beyoncé. We get it.

Here's two. Amir.

-What's up? -Nice to meet you.

-Thank you so much. -Hi, it's me again. Yeah.

Why would I trek from the 212 to the 804 if I wasn't enrolled?

I would expect a different type of institution to play in my face.

Uh, I'm sorry... I'm sorry to interrupt, Ms. Perkins,

but anyone who loves Auntie Mary J. The way you do, understands hardship

and the need for community support

in this dancery.

Okay? I know you like that one.

So maybe we could check again for my friend?

-Please. -But only because I want no more drama.

Get it?

It looks like there was an error due to your past deferment.

-You are enrolled. -Okay.

But you don't have a housing assignment yet. Shortage.

Okay, see?

-This is really starting to feel racist. -Miss Wayne?

Room 2412, Miss Wayne.

-That's me. -Okay, Miss Thing...

-Ooh, sorry about that. -Ooh, excuse me. Wait, wait.

We weren't supposed to prepare anything, right?

Oh, I just made this little binder about myself, but you should be fine.

♪ It's a different world ♪

♪ Than where you come from ♪

♪ It's a different world ♪

♪ Than where you come from ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ It's a different world ♪

♪ Than where you come from ♪

♪ Oh ♪

Yeah, see, Dr. Langhorne...

I would never choose to take Migrations of the Diaspora at 8 a.m.,

or Engineering 101, period.

Baby, take it up with your mama and your daddy.

See, the thing is, I'm really supposed to be at Tisch.

You know, embarking on a collaborative arts degree...

Then, baby, why are you here?

I think you have "face reality" issues.

According to your records,

it was your actions as the reason...

NYU rescinded your acceptance.

Those alleged actions were a horrific misstep.

A deeply, deeply unfortunate error for me, right?

And I take full, full responsibility.

Mm.

-But it wasn't my fault. -You didn't get in anywhere else, did you?

Oh, given the magnitude of the incident,

the academic board has mandated that you maintain a 3.0 GPA

and that you not incur any further disciplinary infraction this semester.

-Understood? -Mm?

-Understood? -Huh?

Yes, yes. A 3.0 right out the gate is a little aggressive, no?

Can we land at 2.5?

2.75?

Baby, let me tell you like I told your mama.

You gotta learn how to relax, relate, and release.

-Ooh, girl, I'm releasing, okay? -Who's next?

Oh. Okay.

-Go on, baby. -Uh... Mm-hm.

♪ Yes, you can ♪

-♪ Hot topic... ♪ -♪ Hot topic... ♪

First day on campus in the US of A.

Your boy Kojo repping my new Chop Lyfe tee.

Cop it at the link in my bio, you get me?

Yep. Yes...

Uh, lord, body-ody-ody!

-Where you going? Involve me. -Okay, accent, where you from?

I'm half Ghanaian, half Naija, by way of the UK.

And what makes you think you're worthy enough

to be a part of anything I got going on?

Oh, come on.

♪ Yes, you can ♪

I, uh...

I, you know, I'm...

-You ain't ready for all of this, UK. -No, but I could... be. I could be.

I swear, I could be.

Yo, these American girls are wild.

Dude, get up off me. I don't know you like that.

-My bad, bruv. Didn't mean no disrespect. -Oh. All right.

Mm, American boys are wild too.

While we wait for our last student, two things.

Freshmen have a curfew first semester.

1 a.m.

Look, you do not wanna be locked out

and wake up to the damn sprinklers going off. A'ight?

Second, freshman convocation...

is this weekend.

Dress code not optional.

Hey. Hey, Miss Binder.

This group five?

Yep. How'd your meeting go?

It, uh, like, went.

-But, um... between me and you... -Mm?

After waiting in that advising line for fifty-eleven hours,

I'm ready to ditch this tour, like I...

♪ Down South ♪♪♪♪♪ gettin' money And you know that ♪

Hillman, your star has arrived...

and a legend has returned.

Back to Hillman.

Mm, mm, mm.

Ooh, looks like I made the right decision, Pops.

All right, you and little Shaquille need to chill out.

-Put an ice pack on it. -Whoo!

It's gonna be fine.

Look who made it.

A week late.

They fine you for that in the NFL.

My bad for missing camp last week, Coach.

Yeah, we couldn't get him out of that Nike shoot.

That contract is as tight as my fade was in 1987.

Wow, that's fantastic.

But when I played running back for the 49ers,

nothing came before the game.

Well, if we're talking about priorities, where's the red carpet?

Where's the step and repeat?

Where's Last Chance U documenting my boy coming here to save this sorry program?

-Come on, Pops. -Yeah, you didn't see

how we power-washed the sidewalk?

-Oh, you got jokes. -And you have no hair.

Shaquille, look, we are thrilled to have you here, brother.

Get settled in. Two-a-days start tomorrow.

You got it, Coach. I'm there.

Listen, I can make a few calls.

Michigan, Ohio State. You're leaving a lot of cash on the table.

Pops, we talked about this already.

Look, I'm trailblazing by coming here. Just give Hillman a chance.

-You see the ladies? -I gave Hillman a chance.

At least four, five years, seven, maybe, of my life.

But you're a five-star recruit, Hillman's first.

And you need to be treated like it.

Follow me this way. Here is the...

And my personal favorite place on campus is the math building.

Heads up, though, y'all, it do be smelling like corn chips.

Been missing your boy?

Depends on who we're talking about.

Ah, let me find that you came to Hillman 'cause you knew I was coming here.

What?

-You saw my post. -Boy, please.

I mean, my parents have been pushing Hillman

since before they knew my name.

Just like my big brother and sister.

You know what? This, um...

This is a great school, and I am going to make the best of it.

Prove to Dwayne and Whitley that, you know, I can crush it.

Retire my party girl era

and enter my full studious season.

-I'm talking full rebrand. -Mm.

Yum. Well, maybe we can prove our parents wrong together.

There is no "we"

or "together."

You know, I didn't hear from you all summer.

-That's 'cause you blocked me, birdie. -And you know why.

But I don't live in the past.

But we here right now though.

So, what's up?

♪ Can't do it like me... ♪

Everyone wants to live here since Mrs. Gilbert renovated.

As your RA, I'm here to ensure

that you all live up to the Gilbert legacy.

-Now, Hazel. -Yes?

-You'll be right there with Teedra. -Okay.

Deborah and Rashida, you two are roommates.

I thought I was gonna have a single.

I have a roommate?

-Yes. -Uh, that can't be right.

My roommate's name is Erin from the Bronx. We DM'd and everything.

Wow.

It looks like Bed Bath & Beyond threw up in here.

Hey. Uh, cappuccino?

You know, I haven't had my coffee all day, and I'm about to crash out.

Uh, oh, wow, that's a...

A lot of awards.

I'm the Simone Biles of school. Top 1%.

In your class?

In the country.

Uh... Um...

Choate...

Choate women's pickleball...

...most improved.

Two years in a row.

Okay.

And I painted this.

Oh, upside down.

This.

A dot.

It's a representation of the unbothered mind.

Deborah Wayne, your Chanel suit for the convocation.

Uh, hey, Ma. I thought you went back to the Four Seasons.

And you are?

Rashida, my, uh, roommate. For now.

Look, no need to stay. Come on.

Well, I picked a lovely girl for you named Kennedy.

She went to Kent. And she doesn't live far from us in Connecticut.

You really chose a roommate for me?

What, first my classes, now this?

Well...

I'm choosing my roommate,

and it's Rashida.

Huh?

Rashida.

That's a colorful name.

-Major? -Criminal justice.

A defender of rights, Mother.

To get my cousins out of prison.

-GPA? -Four-point-six, weighted.

Oh, impressive.

Although grades aren't the only indicator of intelligence.

And where you from?

Compton.

Watch her.

Okay, well, I'm gonna go find Candace and see if she's sorted this out.

Yeah.

Dwayne!

Deborah thinks we are micromanaging her.

And the school gave her a roommate from

Compton.

Come on. Come... Hey, hey, Whitley. Whitley.

-Oh! -Everybody gotta be from somewhere.

Okay? It could be good for Deborah.

-That's Deborah, isn't it? -Yeah.

This is all your fault, impregnating me in my forties.

Oh, wait, wait, wait. I didn't hear you saying nothin' about it

when we was making her. Huh?

You was all like...

"Oh, baby, please."

"Glory, hallelujah, big daddy, you sure do do me right."

You remember that?

-You're too easy on her. -Oh, you were too hard on her.

-I put my foot down. -You put...

What did Dr. Henry say?

-We're on the same team. -We're on the same team. Okay?

We just have to trust her.

How come the first two were easy-breezy, and this one's just trying to take me out?

'Cause that's Debo.

You better tuck your chain, Mrs. Wayne.

-Plus, we were a lot younger then. -Yes.

And...

we weren't separated.

We always made parenting a top priority.

Maybe that was the problem.

We just neglected us.

All right, let me finish helping with Mr. Gaines's dedication for tomorrow.

And, um, we agreed to loosen the reins on Deborah, give her some space.

So we gonna honor that, right? Okay, there we go, team.

Over my dead body.

I heard that.

-Ma, the Black people here are different. -What?

I mean, they have Chanel suits and British accents and Lambos.

Mm.

The girl they have me rooming with, she is so unserious. Uh...

Pretty sure her mama's a fed.

Baby, you're meeting new people.

That's a good thing.

Remember when I first met your Auntie Carolyn?

I couldn't stand her big hat-wearing self.

But underneath that hat, lots of love.

You gonna meet your people, all right? You gotta give it time, baby.

And try to loosen up a bit, you know? Try to have some fun.

Okay.

I'll try.

-Okay. -I love you.

I love you more.

Nah, but for real, if you stay here, you become one of us.

Yeah, we help each other.

When I was struggling to get waves during my second senior year,

they taught me how.

Now when this rag come off, it's Ocean's Eleven.

Mm-hm.

And, and, and anything y'all need, someone here knows how to cop it.

Now, that's what I'm talking about. I like that.

-Yeah, well, I need to cop me a room, so... -Yo, you can crash here.

On this couch.

Until you get your housing settled, a'ight?

Touchdown.

-Hey! -Hey, hey!

You don't even really wanna talk. I did beat you...

Why you even in a dorm, man?

You know, with that NIL dough,

shouldn't you be at a place where people wonder how you afford it?

Forget the dorm. Why are you here, bruv?

I heard with this NIL ting, bigger schools mean bigger checks.

Well, everything ain't about money, y'all.

That's cute, man. Tell that to my parents.

They only let me come here if I promised to study hard,

get a good job, and send money back to help train up my siblings.

But I, nah, I came to Hillman for this.

Look, I'm just happy to be here. The plot was rough at home.

Now look at me, sleeping on a couch at Hillman. Dreams do come true.

I do want the real Hillman.

Oh, you want that real real?

Then hit the In the Building party tonight...

...superstar.

"In the Building party?"

Rashida, please?

Okay, I just think us being roommates could be so much fun.

We... We could be accountability partners.

You just don't wanna room with...

Kennedy from Connecticut.

-Okay, two things can be true. -Mm-hm.

Don't make me...

Knock, knock!

They're hosting a Black Girl Missing marathon in the common room.

Who's down?

-They're starting with the HBCU one. -Ooh!

-I love me some Garcelle, girl. -Mm-hm.

See, my mama said I should have some fun, so I'm down.

Right.

You know what?

It's our first night in college. Hello, we should do it up.

Celebrate by getting to the In the Building party tonight.

Shaquille and the boys are going. I heard it's not to be missed.

I've never really been to a party before,

except those thrown by my church youth group.

-We called them "bible study." -Huh?

We're hot girls, girl.

But with a curfew.

Trust me, the last thing I need...

Is to get in trouble right now.

But come on, I'll make sure we get back in time.

-Mm. -Let's show Hillman what we working with.

♪ Maybach Music ♪

♪ Damn, James ♪

♪ Minks in Miami Shawty know that I'm a winner ♪

♪ Killed my lil' mans So you know I gotta get him ♪

♪ Losin' all my homies Got me living with regrets ♪

♪ Blood, sweat, and tears Help me get up outta ghet ♪

♪ Look into the eyes Of a mother♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ boss ♪

♪ Gettin' to the money And I hope it lasts forever ♪

♪ Lonely at the top But life couldn't be better ♪

♪ Jet to New Orleans Mansion in the French Quarter ♪

♪ All my jewels on me Like the legend Rich Porter ♪

♪ Pretty boy swag with a Rick Ross aura ♪

♪ Had to call her back 'Cause she squirt that water ♪

♪ Ain't no party like a Hillman party 'Cause a Hillman party don't stop ♪

We got a special treat for y'all.

TikTok sensation and Hillman's very own,

Devon Culture!

Whoo!

Ooh. Ooh!

Ooh, I love him.

Like... Like, we could be... We could be soulmates.

Going out was the right decision. Thank you.

Light work.

I don't wanna look up in four years and think, "Damn, all I did was study."

Hm.

Well, uh, maybe we can

rub off on one another.

♪ There's never been a time more perfect ♪

-Okay... -Yeah.

-Roomie. -Yes! Yes.

-Ah, get out my way. -Okay.

You're blocking my view of Devon Culture.

♪ Every single warm embrace ♪

♪ Every time we touch feels brand-new ♪

♪ Baby, don't let go ♪

♪ Of me, just stay there ♪

♪ Tonight I'm gonna play fair ♪

♪ This time we're taking turns Going round for round ♪

♪ So, baby, just don't lay there... ♪

Being here at Hillman together,

it's almost like it's meant to be.

♪ I fall deeper for you ♪

So, what we gonna do about it?

♪ You ♪

♪ It's never been... ♪

I love you!

♪ Perfect ♪

Oh.

Y'all. Y'all, listen.

It's 1 a.m.

-Shit! -Come on!

-Now, go, come on! -Sorry!

I just got my hair done!

♪ Girls luh 2 twerk Baby, I don't wanna slow dance ♪

♪ Pop, pop, pop Make the boys say, "Whoa damn" ♪

♪ Girls luh 2 twerk Baby, I don't... ♪

Caught in 4K.

Um, no...

My bad. My bad.

You know, I promised them we'd get back in time,

but then the Uber driver, he... He had a flat tire and got out to fix it,

and then he got hit by a car, and the police came.

And then the ambulance came and took us to the hospital,

so we had to run all the way back here to get back in time,

and then Hazel fell, and she lost her shoe.

-But we're here. -How'd you get all wet?

Look, I love a saga.

But I gotta write y'all up and let the disciplinary board decide.

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Uh, wait, like, uh, will that impact my scholarship?

Like I said, the board will decide.

-Are you gonna tell our parents? -Worse. I'm gonna tell God.

-Uh... -What? Wait, no. No, no, no.

Ca... Candace. Candy, baby.

Can't you cut us a break?

You and I both know that your mother,

the Whitley Gilbert,

wouldn't want me to let this slide.

Wait.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Whitley Gilbert, the beauty mogul, is your mother?

OMG, I have, like, every Glitter by Gilbert product.

The foundation really changed my life.

I don't admit this very often, but I have acne.

This is your mother's building?

Candace, we...

We can work this out, right?

What'll it take? I can get you...

I can get you free laundry service for a year.

-Two year... -I can't be bought.

-But if I could be sponsored... -Oh.

It would be with a marketing internship at Glitter by Gilbert.

Done.

I'm gonna go repent. Hard.

Tell him I said hi.

I mean, wow.

I mean...

This is how you go through life.

Just unbothered about curfew or... or... or consequences.

I mean, you're just floating off your mother's name.

-Now, Rashida... -You know what?

You and Kennedy, y'all would have been a better fit.

Come on. Rashida.

Rashida, please.

I appreciate y'all bros opening up y'all room for me.

For sure.

So, what's up with you and Deborah?

I mean, it looked like y'all go together real bad.

-Real, real bad. -Yeah.

You know, we kinda, sorta, almost had a thing once or twice.

Our fathers are like brothers. They actually met here at Hillman, so...

-That's poetic as hell. -Trying to spin the block?

You know, I had to do that a little one time, but...

Ah, man, D, she's beautiful.

-I'm talking smart... -Mm-hm.

Talented.

-She can be a little extra, but, you know. -Yeah, I got that.

It just seem like our timing always off.

But, uh, now that we both at Hillman,

seems like it may be destiny. You know what I mean?

-But destiny never hurt nobody. -It ain't never hurt nobody, never.

Shaquille.

Who's banging on...

Get yo shit. We are finding you a better place to stay.

-Can y'all give me a minute? -Yeah.

-Yeah, absolutely. -I appreciate that.

I ain't leaving.

They don't even have a suite for you, son.

You're a five-star athlete in this two-star dormitory.

-Pops... -And...

This is not what I talked to the provost about.

That whole situation's got me pissed off.

-Pops, come on, man. -This is not what you worked for.

-So let's... Come on, come on. -I promised Mom.

What?

I promised Mom that I'd come to Hillman.

Wh...

When?

It was a thing between her and I before she passed.

She thought coming here would help build me up

so I can be ready for the world and be like you.

-And you're just telling me now? -'Cause you never wanna talk about her.

Son.

Uh, you know what? Um...

I'm gonna call you later.

♪ Sing a song ♪

♪ Full of the hope ♪

♪ That the present has brought us ♪

♪ Facing the rising sun ♪

♪ Of our new day begun ♪

♪ Let us march on ♪

♪ Till victory is won ♪

Welcome to Hillman,

the preeminent HBCU in the country.

And I don't mind saying it louder

for the people in the back.

Am I right or am I right?

To mark our 145th convocation,

we're mixing it up a bit from tradition

and having it in the theater of our brand-new library!

Yes, yes. Take it in.

Take it in. It's majestic, isn't it, everybody?

-Hillman continues its legacy... -Sit down!

-Excuse me. -as an institution for young Black minds

set to lead and shape the nation into something new.

Hey, you look good, girl.

Now, to lead us in the dedication...

You clean up all right yourself.

Is alumnus and newly appointed, Provost Wayne.

This has been my honor to help bring this library to life,

which is dedicated to the father of The Pit,

Mr. Vernon Gaines.

Mr. Gaines was our griot.

He nurtured our souls through his stories, his wisdom, his tough love,

and the best damn collard greens you ever had.

He was Hillman.

-Sorry about last night. -Convocation is a sacred event.

How can I make it up to you?

Now?

This is a watershed moment where this country that we built

is trying to erase our Black history.

Our gains, our culture.

They wanna demoralize us.

They wanna deport us, they wanna jail us, they wanna shoot us down in the streets.

Mm.

But you, you all are their greatest threat.

You, future leaders

who care about justice and community and each other.

I know you will stand up.

I know you will fight, build, and you will change the world.

Now let's get to it.

Provost Wayne is taking us to church up in here, yes?

Yeah, that's right.

Was that a word or was that a word?

Wait.

-And the word here is Hillman's truth. -What?

-No! -What's wrong?

What's going on? Are you good?

The financial aid office is saying that Rashida lost one of her grants.

-What? Why? -Yo, are you seeing this?

Not because of last night?

What is this?

Students.

-What we gonna do? -Okay, everybody settle down. Settle down.

We've got about three more hours. But I can make it four.

Uh, President Davenport, something's going on.

Oh my God.

My friend just received an alert that she lost one of her grants.

-Me too. -Me too.

And I'm unhoused. Y'all heard that?

Miss Wayne. Miss Wayne, now is not the place or time.

-You know better. -Yes, but...

This is a convocation. Listen very carefully.

I will not tolerate outbursts.

Yeah, but they worked hard to get here, and they deserve answers.

-Yeah. -Deborah, that's enough.

Everybody calm down, okay? Calm down.

Oh Lord, take me. Just strike me down.

-Nah, nah. -Tell us something.

Where is the money? What are you not telling us?

Where is the money?

Where is the money?

Where is the money?

-Deborah Wayne... -Where is the money?

-You are on my list! -Where is the money?

-Where is the money? -Listen, little girl.

-I don't have to explain myself to you. -Where is the money?

You haven't lived long enough to demand anything from me.

Answers?

You want answers from me? I don't have time for this bull...

Where is the money? Where is the money?

♪ Four, five hundred On the Hummer, no gas ♪

♪ Eighty-nine, price on the ticket ♪

♪ Exercise, eat all my vegetables ♪

♪♪♪♪♪ up some decimals He 'bout his business ♪

♪ Stuntin' 'bout the hundreds Got 'em comin' all fast ♪

♪ Shawty gon' bag it, lick it ♪

♪ Gift wrap, package, ship it ♪

♪♪♪♪♪♪ from rags to riches, uh ♪

♪ Dumb ♪♪♪♪, dumb ♪♪♪♪♪

♪ Act like you don't know Who run ♪♪♪♪, run ♪♪♪♪♪

♪ On the front porch in the function, uh ♪

♪ I'm checkin' my sneakers No checks on my sneakers ♪

♪ Just Puma, Gap And, yeah, the goody GRIM ♪

♪ Pull up to the church In my hoodie then ♪

♪ I'm 'bout to get money What should he think? ♪

♪ I ride around in the all-pink Mercedes The ♪♪♪♪♪ whip ♪

♪ Like Killa Cam My braids lookin' like I could be Jim ♪

♪ They lookin' around Like that could be them ♪

♪ Lot of opps is around And you could be them ♪

♪ If we talkin' 'bout pockets You know mine fat ♪

♪ If we talkin' your chances They could be thin ♪

♪ And I'm knocking at the door Like, "Let me in" ♪

♪ Who get more ♪♪♪♪♪ than a lesbian? ♪

♪ Hangin' from the helicopter Spider-Man ♪

♪ Take my white tee off Spin it like a helicopter ♪

♪ Take my wife beat off Spin it like a helicopter ♪

♪♪♪♪♪ with young pretty Flacko I Petey pop ya ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ with that pretty Flacko Might Petey pop you ♪

♪ GRIM ♪

♪ Take my white tee off Spin it like a helicopter ♪

♪ Take my wife beat off Spin it like a helicopter ♪

♪♪♪♪♪ with young pretty Flacko I Petey pop ya ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ with that pretty Flacko Might Petey pop you ♪

♪ GRIM ♪

♪ Used to be ♪♪♪♪♪♪ do anything For a new check ♪

♪ Nowadays, these days ♪ do anything for a blue check ♪

♪ When tennis shoes had the check ♪

♪ Or three stripes on the side ♪

♪ Way before Puma cut the check, yeah ♪

♪ Three strikes, that's your... ♪