Original subtitles

(Bobby playing organ notes)

You good, baby?

Yeah. I'm good.

That's my bitch,

and this right here is my town.

It's my town.

(tense music)

Just fucking go home, yo.

We 'bout to send you home in a box.

PROSECUTOR: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

Bobby Diggs came from New York.

But he brought trouble with him.

DENNIS: Hey, yo, where you goin'?

- ASON: Back. - To New York?

Yeah, son, I got some pussy waitin' on me right now.

We closed, motherfucker.

SHANK: Shutting you down, New York.

(gunshots)

(grunting)

PERSON: (grunts) Shit!

(gunshot)

(monitor beeping)

Hey, where-- where my backpack at?

Wise gave it to my mom.

She gonna post Bobby's bail.

Why do you carry a gun, Bobby?

I guess it's a sign of not losing the fight.

Well, your next fight,

it's not gonna be in the streets.

It's gonna be in a courtroom.

BOBBY: ♪ A Black man in fear ♪

♪ Of the police arresting me ♪

♪ Illusions of luxury possessing me ♪

♪ Like God is testing me ♪

♪ Scared to manly face all the demons ♪

♪ That's confronting me ♪

The jury finds the defendant, Robert Fitzgerald Diggs,

not guilty.

(gavel bangs)

- ALL: Hey! - BOBBY: Yo!

(laughter)

LINDA: Aw.

- DENNIS: Yo, yo. - BOTH: Son.

DENNIS: Welcome home, son.

Bobby...

I knew you were coming home. I could feel it.

Oh, yeah? You got ESP?

Randy has never said his prayers more in his life.

His daddy even said a couple.

Justice system finally got something right.

(agreeing murmurs)

All right. Here's to this family.

- Moving forward. - Yes, yes.

ALL: Cheers.

- (phone ringing) - LINDA: All right.

Wow, this is a lot better than toilet wine.

RANDY: Ew!

You drunk from the toilet? Like Sheeba?

LINDA: Bobby.

Somebody wanna speak to you.

Yo.

Peace.

Peace indeed, little bro!

Yo, what's good, boy?

The God is free!

Yo, we got a party on this line or what?

No, no-- (laughs)

Nah, nah, it's just us, you know?

Nah, it's not just us, son.

Say "what's up" to your boy.

Yo, what up, B-O-B?

- Hey, yo, glad you out, kid. - BOBBY: Yo, respect.

- Ason. - SHOTGUN: Pass the method, son.

- (static crackling) - Ason--Ason!

I think your phone's outta range.

Yo, Bobby, I know we ain't there with you,

but your acquittal is a-- is a blessing for all of us.

Yo, thanks, 'Vine.

Miss you, man.

Yeah. (laughs)

Yeah, I miss protecting your skinny ass.

Yeah, I miss protecting you too, son.

Yo, hold up. You call Bobby or he call you?

Come on, cuz, I know you not

acting like that with me right now.

You runnin' up my long-distance bill, son!

(both arguing)

BOBBY: Hey, yo, yo, 'Vine.

Mommy said you're getting out the halfway house today.

Yo, congrats, man.

DIVINE: Yeah, finally.

I'm gonna see you real soon.

We both getting our second chance, eh?

(Rebel and Ason arguing indistinctly)

I know it.

(hip-hop music)

(blade resounds)

♪ ♪

(gun cocks)

♪ ♪

(singer vocalizing)

♪ ♪

(blade resounds)

You know, I'm not gonna miss sleeping on this hard-ass bed.

Bed ain't gonna miss you, either.

It's being filled in a couple hours

by a repeat felon.

His third time here.

- You did good, 'Vine. - (Divine chuckles)

If I recall correctly, you didn't have

much faith in me when I first got here.

I save my faith for Sundays.

So how's the night shift?

Honestly? (scoffs)

It's time to get up outta there.

Hey, it was a great place to start, but my boss, you know.

FUFU: (chuckles) Yeah, I know.

Haven't gotten a positive review for him

in all the years we've been sending men to work over there.

Most of those guys,

they make it outta here, though.

Something about working a graveyard

keeps a man focused.

Hey, listen.

I got a friend who's looking to add

a few more hands to his construction site.

I'll give him a call about you.

You serious?

FUFU: You ever know me not to be?

No.

Thank you.

Hey.

Don't let me catch your ass back here.

Okay?

DIVINE: Yeah, uh,

yeah, okay.

FUFU: Good luck.

(Ice Cube's "Steady Mobbin'")

ICE CUBE: ♪ Four or five niggas in a mothership ♪

♪ Better known as a deuce and we all wanna...♪

PERSON: Come on, man.

You gotta consider wall-crawling,

you gotta consider Spidey-Sense.

REBEL: Come on, now. It ain't even a question.

- So what you saying? - REBEL: Nothing.

Just that Batman could take Spider-Man

any day of the week.

SHOTGUN: That's what I thought you said.

The hell you even talking about?

Batman ain't got no powers.

Like that matters.

All the shit he got in the Batcave?

Whatever. I don't even fuck with DC.

Yo, what up, El?

PERSON: You smokin' again, Shotgun?

- (Shotgun laughs) - Damn, son.

You really are the Method Man.

SHOTGUN: A'ight, you wanna talk superhero shit?

Let's say your moms is trapped in the Statue of Liberty.

Bomb 'bout to go off in 90 seconds.

Who would you want to save her?

I'm going with--

ICE CUBE: ♪ Bitch, 'cause I'm steady mobbin' ♪

SINGER: ♪ Have you ever seen such a sight in your life? ♪

SHOTGUN: This track is fire, son.

Whole album fire.

Was thinking Cube sounding like he from West 6-0.

Shit, my nigga Cressy used to say

the hood the same from Killer Hill to Kingston.

Man, we all scratchin' for survival.

No doubt.

- (cheering) - (dice clatter)

DADA: A'ight, that's one.

Put that one down, nigga.

Let's fuck, let's get it. Whoo!

Take Leon's money.

Ah! Head crack, nigga!

All dogs are good. What up, Sha?

It's kinda loud in here, man.

That's my job, yo.

Some folks deliver the mail; I deliver the dice.

Ah?

There you go.

I'm takin' these niggas' mack, though.

(laughs)

(hip-hop music playing)

♪ ♪

POWER: What up, kid?

Peace.

Hop in.

SHA: Nah, I'm good.

Where you headed?

Studio. I got a session.

POWER: I can give you a ride.

Man, the studio owner see me pull up in this whip,

- son gonna be charging me more. - (Power laughing)

Different hustle, Power. Shit nice, though.

POWER: She pretty, right?

But look, look.

I know you out the game and all of that,

but if you tryin' to make some extra cream, know what I mean?

Pay for those sessions,

come cook up a couple of bricks for me.

Can't nobody make that coke bubble like the Chef, right?

The only thing I'ma be cooking up

is this track into something marvelous, know what I mean?

POWER: A'ight.

Let me catch you, then.

Good luck with that.

(Power chuckles)

♪ ♪

You wanna record with this?

Yeah.

You realize you're paying for the quality

of all this equipment, right?

This consumer-grade tape's gonna fuck all that up.

That's the beat I want.

RUFUS: Okay.

Who the hell made this beat, anyway?

(hip-hop music plays)

(indistinct chatter)

LINDA: Just want to give you a fresh start.

They say your space is a reflection

of your interior life, and for years,

all I've ever seen when I walked into yours

was chaos.

Hey, look, uh,

I'm sorry, Mommy.

For real, for--for everything.

Just get your life on track, Bobby.

That's all the apology I ever need.

Hey, y'all ready for some cake?

(laughs) That's up to Bobby.

It's your day.

Yeah. Ready for some cake.

Then maybe afterwards, we could, uh, watch a movie.

- LINDA: Let's do it. - BOBBY: Let's do it.

- MECCA: Let's do it. - LINDA: All right.

JEROME: I don't have to read subtitles, do I?

MOTHER: If one of us has to die

to save the empire, who will it be?

Which of my sons is it going to be?

The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter.

Shurrie, let me get some chips.

- Trade you for the popcorn? - RANDY: Mm-hmm.

DENNIS: Hey, yo, you been holding out, son?

Ain't that old boy from Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang?

Yeah. Y'all in for a treat.

What's this one about, Bobby?

It's about losing everything you love

and then finding your path on your own.

(grunting on TV)

FIGHTER: (yelling)

ASON: Ah.

Mm.

That's the spot right there.

TESIA: Here?

Mm-hmm.

TESIA: So then she went to her man's house,

knocked on the front door, and his wife opened it,

so she shot her in the face.

ASON: Wait, what?

Some white lady on Long Island.

She was the mistress. Look.

B-butt-a-fucko?

TESIA: It's Buttafuoco.

(knock at door)

Who the--

Hey, girl, you better be careful.

(Tesia laughs)

You're early today.

Hey, Ason, your hair's looking funny.

That's 'cause your mom ain't finished it yet.

Hey, yo, who the fuck is that?

None of your business.

See you next week.

Are you hungry?

CHILD: Yes.

Hey, yo.

♪ ♪

Hey, yo.

Hey, yo, chill, son.

You're not even with her no more.

And when I'm done with you,

you ain't gonna be with her no more, either.

- Man, fuck you. - Oh, fuck me?

No, fuck you and that corny-ass hair.

Give me that.

Look, every time you see this motherfucker,

whup his ass.

PERSON: Word.

EX: Come on.

♪ ♪

- PERSON: Look at his-- - EX: Look at that ass.

Baby wax. He didn't wipe.

PERSON: He don't wipe that baby.

Come on.

We outta here, fellas.

(Nia clears throat)

So, uh, our drawers are cohabitating now too?

You know, you could just, um,

keep your stuff in your bag if you're feeling noncommittal.

Are you?

Nope.

- NIA: Didn't think so. - (chuckles)

Uh, I was gonna--

I was gonna ask my PO for a travel exemption

so we can go visit my nephew.

NIA: That's a great idea.

DIVINE: Yeah, you know, between the, uh,

the baby and-- and Bobby's acquittal,

feel like I'm missing so much.

Everyone's building their lives just like us here.

You're right.

You know, I still miss 'em, though.

I know you do.

But maybe it's time for us to start thinking about

having a little one of our own.

You--you know I want that,

but I gotta figure my situation out first.

No, I can't be raising my kid the way that I came up.

We need financial security.

As long as you're not going back to the streets, we fine.

Plus, I just been promoted to manager, okay?

We a'ight.

Well, if I get this new job, then we can start saving,

and then we can talk about it.

Cool?

Cool.

NIA: Mm, put your shit away.

- DIVINE: Oh, wait. - NIA: Yeah.

All right, a'ight, a'ight.

(clears throat)

Oh, okay, so, uh,

now that you the manager at the video store,

you decide to start hustlin' the place.

Okay, that is for Gary, your cousin.

Dub him a couple tapes, you know,

kicks me a few bucks.

We got a good thing going.

Mm.

Hey, you got The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

Yeah, right here.

(indistinct chatter)

Yo.

Man, what happened to you?

ASON: Man, this girl I've been messin' with,

her baby dad and his boys just ran up on me, son.

- GARY: Oh, word? - ASON: Yeah, man.

They not even together no more, man!

But it's like--it's like he ain't going nowhere, man.

You got Fearless Fighters?

GARY: Yeah, right here.

And you wanna keep fuckin' with her?

Well, why shouldn't I?

GARY: You already know.

You're screwing his baby moms.

Put yourself in his shoes.

You can't just be running around here with her like it's nothing.

Can you pop this in the VHS?

Yeah, hold on. Listen.

Man, I'm trying to buy something from you.

How I know you ain't sellin' me a blank tape?

Because my word is bond.

Man, I ain't no Muslim. Play it. Please.

(gong reverberates)

GARY: Listen, the original Black man is God

and owner of the Earth.

And knowing every square inch,

he choose for himself the best part.

- Come on. - Word, bro. Word.

(whooshing)

Yo, Israelites coming over here now too?

GARY: Ignore 'em.

Keep moving how we moving, a'ight?

Listen, your name is Ason Unique.

You choose for yourself

the best part through your actions.

Approach him like a man. He'll respect that.

I dig. All right, son.

DENNIS: Hey, yo, my favorite part

is when he smashes that pole through the wooden wolf.

That's some real shit. Keep the wolves at bay.

What you mean?

What I mean is,

them bum-ass niggas that did this to us,

they can't be skatin' around here

on some Dorothy Hamill shit.

About to get that bail money back, though.

We flip that shit, cake up, arm up,

and smash them niggas.

BOBBY: Hey, yo, D.

Hey, yo, we gotta-- we gotta talk.

Nah, it's just-- yo, it's just like

you and Divine been sayin' since the beginning.

We gotta build a strong foundation

so it don't crumble around us.

Look, I got more mouths to feed,

so I'm ready to get busy.

BOBBY: Yeah.

We gotta keep building,

but we ain't gonna get a positive result

if we keep on building in a negative space.

Negative space.

What you mean, like this fuckin' hole in my neck?

Look, I gotta provide for and protect my family.

That's all I give a damn about right now.

LINDA: Dennis? Dennis?

Shurrie says y'all need more formula from the store.

DENNIS: Yo, this little man eat, like, 12 times a day.

LINDA: Yeah, well, he poops twice as much.

You're watching this again?

Yeah.

I'm starting to like this

more than Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang.

You really think this story's about

him finding his path alone?

Because I think it's about

these brothers needing each other to succeed.

I never thought about it like that before.

You got my O'Jays. (gasps)

I been looking for this one for years!

I-I forgot that I even took that,

but I do have a couple more in there

that you don't know about, a'ight?

(both laugh)

Ooh, ooh.

What do you even know about this?

What do I know about that?

LINDA: Yeah.

Let me ask you, a'ight?

What you know about the percussion

on "Family Reunion"?

- Ooh, okay. - BOBBY: Okay.

- Let's listen. - BOBBY: You gonna play it.

Yeah, yeah. Go turn that down.

- BOBBY: All right. - LINDA: Turn that down.

Let's listen to this.

(sings under breath)

(soft R&B music playing)

Ooh, oh, come on.

- Come on, come on. - BOBBY: Get that, Mommy.

(Linda vocalizing)

Yeah, you gotta sing it.

Now, what do you know about, uh,

the lead singer on this? Eddie Levert?

I know who Eddie Levert is, boy, don't even tell me.

BOBBY: A'ight.

And the O'Jays rotate their lead singers.

Come on.

Well, then you know of his son Gerald.

LINDA: Mm-mm.

Oh, let me show you something.

He has this--this record.

"My Forever Love."

That's me and Mecca's favorite.

Turn it around.

It's a song with him and his pops.

Right here.

Ooh, that's cute.

Oh, we should make a record together.

Come on.

(vocalizing)

- You hear that? (laughs) - I do hear it.

I don't do R&B, but if you could spit a 16 for me,

then maybe we can talk.

- LINDA: (laughing) No, no. - BOBBY: A'ight, then.

- We outta luck. - (Linda sighs)

Well, music's always gonna be your path, isn't it?

Yeah.

Listen.

Watching this movie the other day

reminded me of a Confucius quote

I read a while back.

It says, "We have two lives.

"The second begins

when you realize you only have one."

Well, a person might have two lives,

but I only have one calling.

I know.

That's how you get your heart broken,

and it pushed you into the streets.

What's gonna be different this time?

This time, I'm gonna have my brothers with me.

(hip-hop beat playing)

♪ ♪

You went over.

What you talking about? Rufus ain't say anything.

There's a clock right there. You owe me for another hour.

Come on, son.

Yo, I-I can't even pay that.

I mean, what you wanna--

Then I have to hold your music here till you can.

You serious right now?

(chuckles)

Soon as you bring the money, you'll get the music.

(tense music)

♪ ♪

SHA: Yeah, a'ight.

I'll be back.

(indistinct chatter)

Hey, yo.

PERSON: Word.

REBEL: Hey, yo, you got something?

- Maybe. - Come on, yo, spit it.

SHOTGUN: Check it.

♪ Hey, you, get off my cloud ♪

♪ You don't know me, and you don't know my style ♪

♪ Who be getting' flam when they come to the jam? ♪

♪ Here I am, here I am, the Method Man ♪

♪ Patty cake, patty cake, hey! ♪

♪ The Method Man ♪

♪ Don't eat Skippy, Jif, or Peter Pan ♪

♪ Peanut butter 'cause I'm not butter ♪

♪ In fact, I snap back like a rubber band ♪

♪ I be Sam, Sam-I-Am ♪

♪ And I don't eat green eggs and ham ♪

♪ Style will hit you, wham! ♪

♪ Then God damn ♪

♪ You'll be like, "Oh, shit, that's the jam" ♪

Some shit like that.

(laughs) Yo.

That's ill.

Yo, and that peanut butter shit is nice.

Yo, what you call yourself? Method Man?

Mm-hmm.

(upbeat hip-hop music)

That's kinda dope, actually, yo.

Hey, yo, I need to fuck with my own name.

No doubt.

♪ ♪

(mouthing words)

Yo, I can't wait for Bobby to hear me spit this.

I see you, Inspectah.

(suspenseful music)

(indistinct chatter)

Hey, yo, let me holla at you, son.

Now, I know what you and Tesia share is an unbreakable bond.

That sort of connection just don't go away.

But, yo, she got a good thing going on right now, son.

And I ain't trying to be the kid's father or nothing.

Just trying to be a man.

So, look, maybe we can come up with some--

some sort of understanding.

Together.

There ain't gonna be no understanding!

- (gun cocks) - Yeah.

You understand?

ASON: (mumbling)

PERSON: This...

EX: No, he good.

PERSON: You don't want none of that, boy.

EX: Go home.

Goofy.

(RZA's "See the Joy")

(all speaking)

SINGER: ♪ See the joy of life beginning ♪

♪ See the joy of life beginning ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Sweet joy ♪

♪ A brand-new baby boy ♪

(steady hip-hop music)

♪ ♪

(sighs)

Oh, shit.

Come on, it's like-- it's like riding a bike.

All right, fuck it. Let's do this.

(steady beat playing)

SINGER: ♪ Don't know ♪

♪ If I'll make it back home ♪

♪ Don't kn-- ♪

♪ Don't know ♪

(low-pitched) ♪ Don't know ♪

(low, distorted voice)

(high-pitched) ♪ Don't know ♪

♪ If I'll make it back home ♪

(high-pitched chirps)

(soft R&B music)

♪ ♪

BOBBY: (whispering) What's this?

(funky beat playing)

♪ ♪

(music stops)

(music resumes)

♪ ♪

TV REPORTER: Domestic abuse charges for--

Now, what did she expect?

He abused her in the past. Why go back?

Don't be getting all worked up

over somebody else's problems, Ma.

We got enough of our own.

I do not need a reminder.

This woman on the news,

she lives in an apartment building

- just like this one. - I know.

Even so, I wouldn't even consider

going back to Rondell's,

and all he did was raise his voice every now and again.

And again. And again.

All I'm saying is, a person has a right

to come and go from their home in peace.

SHA: I'ma get us outta here soon, Ma.

I'm headed to the studio right now, in fact.

I'm--I'm working on it.

Son, as long as you keep walking the righteous path,

I will be happy.

OFFICER: Shit's nice, kid.

Yo, what's your problem?

I don't eat pork, pig.

Yo, you wanna give me a ticket for graffiti, go ahead.

Why don't you empty your pockets instead?

You wanna violate my civil rights so bad...

(tense music)

You empty them.

On the wall.

♪ ♪

SINGER: ♪ Scared than a motherfucker ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm fresh out ♪

♪ But I gots to make my green, and plus they all fiend ♪

♪ Follow me ♪

♪ They keep yellin' murder but it won't stop ♪

♪ Until the last nigga that you know drop ♪

♪ Another nigga out, but I doubt ♪

♪ That you really give a fuck what it's about ♪

♪ Now, 99 pigs on a block with me ♪

♪ Not a motherfuckin' cop wanna knock with me ♪

♪ A C-O-N-V-I-C-T ♪

Yo, U-God.

- (groans) - What's good, son?

- What up, son? - That re-up's under the seat.

Yo, chill, son.

Rebel just got knocked by some plainclothes jakes.

Word, son.

Damn.

SHOTGUN: Yo, who this?

U-GOD: That's that new Dre and Snoop joint right there.

West Coast motherfuckers coming with the real.

SNOOP DOGG: ♪ 187 on an undercover cop ♪

187 on an undercover...

yo, if I ever see the undercover that got Rebel,

I'll fuckin'...

You ever heard of the Judas Chair?

- The what? - U-GOD: The Judas Chair.

Yo, son, you smokin' your own shit now?

- No, nigga. - (Shotgun laughs)

It was introduced during the Spanish Inquisition,

but you know them old-school motherfuckers

made that shit famous.

The Judas Chair, that shit was this--

this pointy-ass metal pyramid on wooden legs.

If I ever see that undercover cop,

I'll fuckin' make him sit on it,

and I'll fuckin'--

I'll fuckin' strap both of his ankles on--

80-pound weights and just sit there

and watch that shit split him in half.

SHOTGUN: Damn, U-God.

Yo, that's some real horror-movie shit, son.

- (chuckles) - U-GOD: Word, son.

Yo, speaking of crime and punishment,

you heard anything about Bobby's case?

- Yo, you didn't hear? - U-GOD: Nah.

He got acquitted.

Oh, ain't that some shit.

One of ours goes in, another comes out.

At least there's a balance.

Better be making music about that shit.

Yo, they ain't the only ones

with a motherfuckin' street story to tell.

You know what I'm sayin'?

You know, I played Bobby your tape before he left.

He was feeling that shit, son.

- Word? - Word.

You know, with him, it's like,

voices is a symphony or some shit.

He like, "That's--that's the guy I need.

I need that bass." (chuckles)

I'm like, "Yo, son, you sounding

- like a fiend right now." - (U-God chuckles)

Yo, you stupid, son.

I do got that other kind of bass, though,

if you want it.

(both laugh)

No doubt.

(indistinct conversation)

BUS DRIVER: You coming?

Nah, I'll catch the next one.

Okay.

SINGER: ♪ Down with the head banger ♪

SINGERS: ♪ The head banger, what? ♪

♪ The head banger, what? ♪

♪ The head banger, the head banger ♪

SINGER: ♪ Now it's time to break it down ♪

♪ Surprise, you wonder where I've been ♪

♪ I've been workin', but sounds makin' danger ♪

♪ And black birds chirpin' ♪

♪ A real Damien, omen possessed by the devil ♪

♪ You dig the rhythm ♪

- ♪ And I'll play the ♪ - SINGERS: ♪ Runnin' rebel ♪

SINGER: ♪ Changed my style... ♪

(knock at door)

SHA: Yo, peace, I don't mean to interrupt,

but, yo, that shit right there crazy.

That's on the new joint?

Yeah, man, thanks.

All right, well, I'm recording right next door

if you ever wanna hear some of my shit.

Yo, are you Sha?

SHA: Yeah.

How you know my name?

Clifton played me your stuff.

You got a grimy flow.

Yeah, a'ight.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

My boy Prince Ra-- my boy Bobby,

he made that beat.

Yeah, he pulled that from Cymande, right?

I don't know where he pulled that from,

but I know he be going deep in the crates, know what I mean?

Keep doin' what you doin', man.

New York, you know, we need more peoples

rhyming about what we're living.

SHA: I'm sayin'!

Y'all some of the only ones

holding it down while Dre and Cube and everybody,

they gotta keep bustin' it out.

Yo, I'm busy with this Hit Squad stuff right now,

but when I'm done,

we should put something together.

Hell, yeah!

- Erick Sermon, all right. - ERICK: Mm-hmm.

Did he tell you I played your music for him?

SHA: Yeah. Peace.

Hey, yo, listen.

Hey, yo, I got that money for you, a'ight?

Why don't you hold on to that for now?

I played your music for a cousin of mine too.

He produced some stuff for Leaders of the New School.

- Oh, word? - Yeah.

He liked your style.

He want to record with you.

You work with him, you keep your money.

Yo, you for real?

Can you shoot through when he comes in?

Definitely. I'll be here.

(chuckles)

Word.

(upbeat hip-hop music)

♪ ♪

What, you working out some trigonometry over there?

BOBBY: What's up?

I said, what are you trying to figure out?

BOBBY: (sighs)

I'm trying to figure out what comes next.

Are you finished working on that stack of beats

for you and your friends?

My brothers.

Finish beats for your brothers.

Right, like you said. (chuckles)

BOBBY: But it ain't enough.

You gotta come in...

sword swinging, guns blazing.

You know what I'm saying?

Gotta be a master of the game.

You know, baby, I ain't never heard

any beats like the ones you got over there, so...

BOBBY: Yeah, I got taken by the industry once before,

and it wasn't my music.

It definitely has nothing to do with my skill.

Okay, then.

BOBBY: Yo, where you going?

MECCA: What, you think I wanna sit around

and watch you work on your skills?

BOBBY: Hey, hey, hold on a minute.

I can take a break.

Oh, you mean that kinda break?

BOBBY: Yeah.

(both laugh)

(The Charmels' "As Long As I've Got You")

(sultry R&B music)

♪ ♪

♪ A young buck sellin' drugs and such ♪

♪ Who never had much ♪

♪ Tryin' to get a clutch at what I could not touch ♪

♪ The court played me short, now I face incarceration ♪

Pacin'...

(indistinct chatter)

♪ A young buck sellin' drugs and such ♪

♪ Who never had much ♪

♪ Tryin' to get a clutch at what I could not touch ♪

♪ The court played me short, now I face incarceration ♪

♪ Pacin', goin' upstate's my destination ♪

GREG: It was a standard renovation

that turned into a complete demolition,

which means now I need a few more guys ASAP.

Well, look, I'm happy to do anything you need.

I worked all kinds of jobs in my life,

starting back to when I used to sell papers

with my best friend.

And then, you know, I was a--a janitor

down in, uh, Wall Street, so...

- Look. Look. - I can do anything.

I wanna hire you, but with this job,

I don't have time to train people.

If Fufu says you're good, believe me, I know you're good.

But that isn't the situation here.

Well, try me out on the first week.

You don't even gotta pay me.

I'm a fast learner and a hard worker.

I can do a trial run.

No pay.

- Okay. - Okay?

You start tomorrow. 8:00 a.m.

Well, thank you. I-I--thank--thank you.

I really appreciate this, sir.

- You know, it's-- - Call me Greg.

And I'm paying you.

(Raekwon's "State of Grace")

(upbeat hip-hop music)

♪ ♪

ISRAELITE: The scripture can't be broken.

It means what it says.

Romans 9:16.

"So then it is not of him that willeth,

"nor of him that runneth,

but of God that showeth mercy."

So then the question is,

who does God have mercy for?

The Black man himself is God

and, in knowing that, has no fear

about who shows him mercy.

'Cause the Nation of Islam

embodies righteousness and wisdom.

How can the Nation of Islam embody righteousness and wisdom

when you don't know where you're from?

Handle that situation?

ISRAELITE: Isaiah 34:16.

- Seek ye the book of the Lord... - Yeah.

So you good?

I'm good.

ISRAELITE: You don't even believe in God.

PERSON: Wah!

GARY: The devil continues to speak of this mystery God.

Why?

To fool the 85% who allow themselves to be fooled.

Romans 1:22. Let's go.

ONE-MAN ARMY: I am known as the One-Man Army.

Though I am but one man,

I fight with the power of many swords.

(tense music)

♪ ♪

EX: Are you serious?

You back again?

- DENNIS: Hey, yo. - Yo.

Trying to twist one?

BOBBY: Oh, nah, it's all good, brother.

I'm on that natural high.

Hey, yo.

- You know who these two are? - DENNIS: Nah.

BOBBY: That's Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton.

They created Stax Records.

She took out a mortgage of 2,500 out on her home

and invested that into their own record label.

Yo, four years later, everybody across America

was dancing in their living rooms to Otis Redding, yo.

Yo, look, it says right here...

"Success in the music industry is in the business of it."

Yo, the business of it, yo.

Hey, yo, if you--if you read all them books already,

why you bring them shits home?

I gotta write this shit down, yo.

We can do all this shit ourselves.

Well, Wise got that heat.

I'm sure we could shake down way more than just 2,500.

You gotta can that shit now, man.

You think I don't know that shit, son?

Hey, you remember us, uh, making our first track?

The "Dipsy Doodle" cheese doodles song?

BOBBY: (laughs)

Had to use that old-ass equipment and shit.

Had to plug the headphones into the mic jack.

You remember that?

Hey, yo, the quality was trash,

but, still, niggas was fucking with it at school.

You bagged Tanya off of that shit.

Yo, Shurrie don't know about no Tanya.

No, but Ason and Gary?

Yeah, they really hyped that track up

to Tanya, though.

Hey, yo, if we gonna make it,

that's what we gotta be on, you know what I'm saying?

Gotta be on the same path.

It's just like that movie.

The brotherhood.

Yeah, we dropped out of school that year, remember?

Just spent all day at your crib,

watching flicks, making demos.

Yo, you was always--

you was always determined to finish them songs,

son, every time.

I've been having that same surge of determination lately.

Just fuckin' the feeling, like,

I gotta be on my path.

Yo, that's why, uh...

I'm gonna head back to New York.

(dramatic music)

You're welcome to come with.

Or you could-- you could stay here.

It's up to you.

♪ ♪

I guess we're goin' our separate ways, then, son.

I gotta take care of my family,

and I don't know if music is gonna do that.

BOBBY: Hey, let me, uh,

let me play you some shit real fast, a'ight?

I been working on this shit all day.

Can't really figure out what to do with the drums,

but, uh, maybe you can help me out.

(coughing)

SINGER: Bastards must be runnin' outta niggas to arrest.

(soft R&B music playing)

♪ ♪

(both laugh)

Nah, that don't need no drums.

That shit beautiful, fam.

Remind me of our childhood.

Hey, yo, your beats been getting razor-sharp, son.

For real.

I'm not leaving you, D.

But, yo, I am gonna leave you with this beat.

And you can decide what you wanna do with it.

(tape deck clicks, music stops)

TESIA: So when are you gonna show me?

ASON: I'll show you right now, baby girl.

TESIA: Well, come on, then.

♪ My hip-hop drops on your head like rain ♪

♪ And when it rains, it pours ♪

♪ 'Cause my rhymes hardcore ♪

♪ That's why I give you more of the raw ♪

♪ Talent that I got when I rock the spot ♪

♪ MCs, they be burnin', burnin' hot ♪

♪ Whoa-oh-oh ♪

♪ Let me, like, slow up with the flow ♪

♪ If I move too quick, oh, you just don't know ♪

You're not feelin' me?

Daniel's father is behind you.

- Don't look. - ASON: Your ex?

Girl, don't worry about that. That's done.

Ason, he's got his army with him.

ASON: Relax.

I got the power of many swords.

(whispering) And he's got his shotgun.

- Say what? - TESIA: His shotgun.

(whispering) Is he close?

TESIA: He's getting closer.

What are you doing? Run!

- Just chill, all right? - I'll still fuck with you.

Don't be stupid.

What's up?

(indistinct chatter)

(distorted shouting)

(upbeat hip-hop music)

I'm the one-man army, Ason!

Ha.

Yo, what you say about fucking me?

MS. WARD: Oh, my goodness.

(laughs)

SHA: What you laughing at, Ma?

See this movie you can rent now?

You see that boy's hair?

SHA: House Party 2?

You know it?

SHA: Those two boys, they're rappers.

They're a little different from me, though.

MS. WARD: They putting rappers in movies now?

Hmm.

Maybe that can be you one day.

(chuckles) Maybe.

I'm actually getting ready to meet this producer.

This could be our break.

I'm proud of you, son.

I'll see you later, Ma.

PLAYER: Whoo!

(indistinct chatter)

Let's go, let's go, let's go. Let's go, pick that shit up.

Let's get it. Fuck, whoo!

SHA: Where's Rebel at?

He got knocked, son.

Word? Damn.

(indistinct chatter)

Say that shit again, nigga. Say that shit again.

- PLAYER: What? No! - DADA: Say that shit again.

- (mocking) "What?" - PLAYER: No!

- (Shotgun shouts) - (Sha groans)

Where you get it, son?

My fucking leg. Yo, what, the fuck?

(groaning)

Yo, I think the bullet went straight through, son.

DADA: My bad, my bad, man, my bad.

SHA: You fuckin' shot me, man! What the fuck?

What the fuck is wrong with you?

I just be getting mad competitive!

You know how it be. You know I didn't mean that shit.

Yo, put that shit away, man!

What the fuck is wrong with you, man?

Fu--I don't wanna hear all that shit!

SHOTGUN: Get the fuck outta here!

- Get the fuck outta here! - DADA: I told you,

I didn't mean to shoot the nigga!

SHOTGUN: Stupid motherfuckers.

- You all right, son? - You be a'ight, bro.

My bad.

MECCA: Is she your new girlfriend?

BOBBY: Not my girlfriend.

My babies.

A case of beats with each one labeled

for each one of my brothers.

The Wu-Tang Clan.

Can I join the Wu-Tang Clan?

Come here, baby.

There.

I'ma come visit you in New York.

BOBBY: Yeah, I know you will.

And you better be ready and waiting.

BOBBY: You know I will.

All right.

You make sure you lead those boys

instead of letting them lead you

right back to where you were.

I know, Mommy.

I needed those lessons of the past

so I don't make the same mistakes now.

But I see everything clearly now.

I know I made you a lot of promises,

but this one,

I'ma keep.

Well, then I guess there's no stopping you.

- (both chuckle) - No.

You gonna be okay?

I always am.

That's right.

Thank you.

You be safe.

You take care of yourself, son.

I will.

Oh, I left you, uh,

some movies in the living room.

(chuckles) Oh, well...

hope they not as bloody as the Pole Fighter.

- No promises. - (Linda chuckles)

I love you.

BOBBY: I love you, too.

(sentimental music)

♪ ♪

(hip-hop music)

SINGER: ♪ It's good to see the Wu-Tang family ♪

♪ Under one roof, we celebrate ♪

♪ Toastin' shots, Ciroc 40 proof ♪

♪ Burgers on the grill and fried fish ♪

♪ The Wiz made potato salad, greens for a side dish ♪

♪ Cold water, mill and reminisce ♪

♪ With cousins and sisters ♪

♪ Children on the grass playin' ball and Twister ♪

♪ Fresh lemonade is made, we playin' spades ♪

♪ My nephews turn the livin' room into an arcade ♪

♪ Aunt's cherry baked pie ♪

♪ Surprise, Johnny showed up ♪

♪ You can tell from the smell in the air ♪

♪ Somethin' rolled up ♪

♪ It's love, peace, and happiness ♪

♪ With the joy and laughter ♪

♪ Camera phones flashes, the moment is captured ♪

SINGER: ♪ I miss my grandmother ♪

♪ My auntie Unique Ason ♪

♪ I knew Dirt was high when he had that face on ♪

♪ Fangs hangin' out his mouth, his fronts was golden ♪

♪ Wildin', record execs can't control him ♪

♪ He said ish like me and Mariah ♪

♪ Hit me, whoa-whoa-whoa, that's fire ♪

♪ Still no matter what we gon' rep your name ♪

♪ Look at your family, we got twenty years in the game ♪

SINGER: ♪ Family reunion ♪

♪ Gonna have a family reunion ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Family reunion ♪

♪ It's so nice to come together ♪

♪ To get together ♪

(rap fading out)

PERSON: Get on the line.