(logo chiming)
Downloaded from YTS.MX
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
(flame crackling)
(dramatic music)
(tense music)
[Bolo] Damn.
Who would've ever thought it would end up like this,
me having to hurt innocent people I never intended to
in order to keep what's mine.
It's Murphy's Law out here in the streets.
Whatever could go wrong will go wrong.
That's why you take care of those who take care of you.
It's the call of the streets
because here in the Spring,
it's only family before everything.
(gun bangs)
(upbeat music)
♪ Uh, uh, come on ♪
♪ Ain't got no time for your current leave ♪
♪ Just got my mind on my currency ♪
♪ You not on your grind, not concerning me ♪
♪ Nigga, money on my mind till they bury me ♪
♪ Nigga, till they bury me ♪
♪ Money on my mind till they bury me ♪
♪ You not on your grind, not concerning me ♪
♪ Money on my mind till they bury me ♪
♪ A hundred thousand deposit from stacking that legal money ♪
♪ They mad 'cause half of these rappers don't see the money ♪
♪ Million dollars worth the game ♪
♪ I'd rather just keep the money ♪
♪ Raise the ball with some stocks ♪
♪ Yeah, that's (indistinct) money, y'all ♪
Man, Ricky got handles, man.
Yeah he does.
He's been practicing every day.
Man, you can tell.
You might have a young Kyrie in the making, Rick.
Yeah, we definitely trying.
He start basketball camp this summer.
Bruce, you should have Julian join.
There's a few slots left.
You never know, they could be the future D Wade and LeBron.
(Bruce laughing)
Now you watch the same game I watch.
You know that's not Julian Collin.
(Bruce laughing)
But they definitely thick as thieves, though.
(Bruce laughing)
I'm gonna ask him and see what he wants to do.
Glory got him signed up for the summer reading program,
so he definitely been getting it in.
That's dope.
You been helping Ricky with his math.
That boy is definitely the brains of their operation.
It's that third wheel they need to figure out.
Three, game!
Good game, Ju.
Good game, Rick.
Good game, Quan.
You ain't no KD, bruh.
(indistinct) play I can though.
Yo, chill, chill, chill.
Man, you're not serious.
Y'all acting like y'all about to scrap or something.
Yo, shut up, Ju.
You sticking up for Ricky like he yo bae or something.
Nah, you doing that
'cause he took your girl in fourth grade.
Nah Ju, she wasn't his girl.
He just likes her.
(car honking)
Man, I ain't care nothing about that girl.
She liked me, I ain't like her.
Rick just got my leftovers.
(group laughing)
Quan doesn't have his father around like our boys do.
You know, Theresa, she's been holding it down on her own.
I try to help out as much as I can.
You know, you can't help the cards you've been dealt.
Facts.
You right.
You just keep an eye out on him.
The last thing you need is for him to rub off on your boy.
He definitely going places.
(indistinct chattering)
Ricky, come on!
[Quan] All right, bro, I'll catch you later.
[Julian] All right, well, my mom cooking.
If you want, you can come get some.
I'm good, I'm going to my grandma's.
She always got food.
[Julian] All right.
(hands clapping)
- What's going on? - Hold on.
(overlapping chattering)
What you talking about?
What's your number, man?
Man, I don't like you, man.
I got two, I don't like you.
(overlapping chattering)
I like myself.
(overlapping chattering)
Nobody move, show me my money!
(car honking)
[Rick] Quan, get off the street!
(indistinct chattering in distance)
♪ In the winter time, we feeling fine ♪
♪ We feeling fine ♪
♪ Niggas feeling some type of way ♪
♪ 'Cause we don't intertwine ♪
♪ Haters be watching ♪
♪ Money, get loaded and they straight to your pocket ♪
♪ There's really no option when you come from Buffalo ♪
♪ In just Breezy ♪
♪ I'm a legend in my city ♪
♪ Role model, well respected ♪
♪ Used to be a bad boy biggie ♪
♪ Well connected, only haters gonna not respect us ♪
♪ And everybody and they mama wanna rap now ♪
♪ But me, I've been with it ♪
♪ These niggas don't fight no more ♪
♪ Best believe you will get caught for sure ♪
♪ I'm from a city with plenty (indistinct) ♪
♪ All the real homies locked up and dead and gone ♪
♪ (indistinct) powers all in the room ♪
♪ So when it raining snow, that mean it (indistinct) ♪
(muffled rap music)
Ashley.
[Ashley] Hey, J.
How are you?
Good.
What can I get for you and your friend?
A little information would be good.
Listen, looking for a nigga named Zipper.
Seen that nigga around?
You must be talking about that loud mouth nigga
back there in the VIP.
He been running his mouth since he got here.
That's (indistinct).
I'll be right back, all right?
(muffled rap music)
Looking good too.
♪ When he can't get a job ♪
♪ Now he's forced to rhyme, I'ma turn into a (indistinct) ♪
♪ So I'm bumming with the squad ♪
♪ Hella bands, hella bands in this bitch ♪
♪ Hella bands make her twerk for the work ♪
♪ I bet money make her dance ♪
♪ First I stir, then I (indistinct) ♪
♪ I be in a money trance ♪
♪ Get to working with (indistinct) ♪
What up, family?
Oh, if it ain't (indistinct) and Bolo.
Y'all here to celebrate
my team taking over Cold Springs, huh man?
Not exactly,
Streets talking.
I don't like what they been saying.
The streets always going to talk.
But is there a problem?
I hate for this good celebration to get ugly.
Hold on, hold on.
It ain't even like that.
We just need a little clarification,
and I hate not to be on the same page.
And we heard you been talking to some people
and you already know outta all people,
it'll make it harder for us to do business.
You know what I mean?
All this talking in codes
is really beginning to piss me off.
So if y'all here to question me
about who I'm talking to, then say it.
'Cause if not, you and this blade looking motherfucker-
(gun bangs)
(people exclaiming)
Bitch ass nigga.
(low music)
(upbeat music)
[Bolo] I am Bolo.
I run Cold Springs.
You need it, I got it.
And if you got it and I don't, will, I take that shit.
See, that's how it is around here.
I got a few bodies underneath my belt
to represent my street cred
because ain't no nigga gonna ever snitch on me again
because they don't wanna end up like that nigga Zipper.
My corner boys, I got 'em posted up all over the blocks.
They my ears and eyes to the streets.
See, they know when you work for me, I take care of you.
It's family before everything out here.
That's my Cold and this is my hood.
Cold Spring is mine and it's gonna stay that way.
(upbeat music)
Gotta go to work.
Stop crying, bro, you always crying.
I'm not crying, dude.
They gonna be able to come to your game on Saturday.
- Oh, word? - (indistinct) lent.
Ah bet, all right.
I'm gonna try to get a triple double on Saturday.
I hope you don't bet.
Gotta stop freaking like a walk on.
Last game, he only put me in two minutes in the second half.
Rick.
I mean, I wasn't gonna say anything
'cause you my man, but last game I came to of yours,
all those bricks you was laying,
I thought he was gonna have you
on the bench the whole season.
Whatever, bro.
That was the first bad game I had all season, you know?
Yeah, okay.
And before that, I had 30 points.
Six rebounds, five assists.
Soon, you, coach and everybody else
gonna notice all this greatness.
Yeah, okay.
Put your money where your mouth is, man.
It on the bus, bro.
All right man, we gonna see you on Saturday.
(Julian mumbling)
Hurry up, I know you late.
[Julian] Oh.
Can't start that job without me, baby.
What up, bro bro?
(indistinct chattering)
(bags rustling)
All together or separate?
Yeah, all together.
You got me, right?
Really, though?
Come on, bro, I'm on a budget.
You always on a budget.
I didn't get my endorsements yet.
And you know, I got the books to buy.
I got you.
When, in a year?
This...
Come on, let's make it quick.
My bus fare, dude.
Thank you man, appreciate it.
Yeah, you welcome.
Thank you too.
Yeah, man, get outta here.
[Cashier] All right, man.
All right, (indistinct) stay Black, brother.
[Cashier] Thank you.
[Julian] I be waiting too long.
I gotta try.
Hey, my guy!
Oh wow, it's my guy.
What up? - Hey, look at you.
What's up, man?
(overlapping chattering)
Boy getting into, man.
Bro, we have to work, bro.
Work as usual.
- You know I'm getting out here-
(group laughing)
While y'all laughing.
Don't worry about that.
Save it for y'all squares, man..
Nigga, you know I ain't no square, bro.
I'll take it.
I like my freedom.
(overlapping chattering)
It was good though.
You come to my game on Saturday.
Chill please with the game, bro.
Are you willing to play?
Bro, last time I heard you was riding the wood.
- Wait a minute. - Pause.
Nigga, you are wildin'.
Don't talk to me like that.
I didn't tell him that bro.
I had one bad game.
- One. - One?
I had one bad game, all right?
Come through tonight.
I got 40 piece nuggets with your name.
- 40 piece, huh? - Yeah!
- 40, bro? - That's what I do.
- Rick. - Put some money on that.
Put some money on that. - All right, man.
I got a couple licks to hit, man.
Y'all boys be slick, man.
Have a good day at work.
Start working!
Yo, fuck off, bro.
(indistinct) too, come on.
I'm about to be late, bro.
You can't get... Keep that.
I actually forgot something in the store.
[Radio] Black male subject,
on the corner of Memphis and Jefferson.
Drug related, possible armed and dangerous.
(upbeat music)
(indistinct radio chatter)
Roger that, spotted subject on the corner.
(upbeat music) (sirens wailing)
(upbeat music)
Bro, what the fuck?
What the fuck? - Put your hands
behind your back.
Come on, man, what the fuck?
(upbeat music)
Well, good morning.
- What's happening? - Hello.
(lips smooching)
Somebody woke up on the right side of the bed today.
I sure did, did your thing last night.
I'm making some coffee.
Want some coffee or tea?
Yeah, I'll have a cup.
(footsteps tapping)
So what's on your agenda for today?
shit, I gotta go down to the Springs
and take care of a couple of things.
That's about it. - Yeah?
Yeah, what time you gotta be to work?
About 9:30.
I got a couple clients today,
so it should be a relatively easy day.
All right, I'll be home a little early.
I'll make sure dinner made, all right?
I like how that sounds.
I got you.
(lips smooching)
How you doing, miss?
Good.
I thought you just bought a case of this yesterday.
Well look, I drink a lot, okay?
Well, I hope you're drinking your water too.
It's my juice.
Right, now 7.67, queen.
- Alright now. - A 10.
All right, you know I don't want no problems from you.
And I want my pennies back.
Yes ma'am, yes ma'am.
(coins rattling)
[Speaker] I have everything here.
7.67 is your change.
Have a nice day.
But it cost seven, so...
Shit.
I think you messed that up.
Did I really?
- Yeah, you know, I can't-
Man.
I'm a child of God, I gotta get it right.
(upbeat music)
What you need, bro?
I'm good.
But I might got something for you though.
What you mean?
Take a whiff of this.
[Julian] Fuck it.
(upbeat music)
- That's that new pack. - Ooh!
Temperature is on fire, my nigga.
Call that butcher's breath.
Butcher breath, hmm.
Price, how much you selling this for?
I ain't selling that, man.
I'm giving you a sample.
Consider that an investment.
An investment, from you to me, huh?
All right.
Take this.
If you looking to capitalize off this butcher's breath,
bro, hit me.
I got the plug.
Talking some real bread, fam.
What's your name, bro?
My name's Black.
Black.
All right, Black, I'm gonna be in contact.
Stay up.
Do the same, my nigga.
(low music)
Whoa.
Yo, you brought that old school joint out, huh?
You know how I do.
What's up with you?
What's good, what's chill?
Hey Bolo, already getting his papers.
What my man Ice Cube say?
Today was a good day.
Hey yo, I've been politicking like you said.
Just kicking it with this dude said he got a plug
that's gonna get us some butcher breath.
I got the town buzzing, dropping crazy red.
The nigga gave me a sample.
Smell this shit.
Uh-huh, fire.
Butcher's breath, huh?
Sir, said his name was Black.
Black.
That's what he said.
All right.
I'll hit old boy up to see what's really good.
In the meantime, I wanna talk to you about something.
Sure.
Who was that little nigga
I seen you walking with the other day?
Who you talking about?
Square looking nigga with the book bag.
Oh man, that's my man Ricky from the Springs.
He know what you do?
Yeah, but he cool though.
How cool?
I mean, he ain't no snitch or nothing like that.
He a college boy.
That's good
because I think I'm gonna need him
to help you out around here.
Ricky?
Nah, that dude ain't like that.
He a square.
So was you, little nigga.
Yo, come on, my nigga.
I never was no square.
You see me.
Like I said that nigga Ricky, he a college boy.
He into the books and shit.
Shit, college kids smoke too.
My man used to play D1 ball up in Syracuse.
We used to get mad and go out together, son.
Man, for real?
Oh yeah.
I think I'm gonna need you to put him on the team ASAP.
With Quan locked up
and if this butcher breath plug go right,
we gonna need extra hands out here to distribute.
Plus, I think it's time for you to get promoted.
(Julian laughing)
Come on!
Talk to me nice.
Your sister about to graduate, right?
Hell yeah.
And you gonna need some more bread
to help out around there.
Now if you can get your man on the team,
I think I can make you a boss in no time.
Word, you gonna finally let a nigga move some weight?
Hell no, nigga, you ain't ready for that yet.
Almost, but not quite.
Ju, you too valuable to me
for me to put you out there right now.
I tell you what I want you to do.
I want you to supervise that nigga, right?
And I want both of y'all to bleed
that butcher breath loud out there bro.
Bolo man, come on.
I don't think that that's a good idea-
How many times I gotta tell you not to think, bro?
Just do.
In time, you gonna be able to think,
but for now, you just gotta do it.
Alright man, why him though?
That's for me to know, Ju.
You just get the job done and let's move, all right?
I gotta go.
I gotta hit these white boys up in Lockport.
I'll talk to you a little later, all right?
All right.
Should go home
and spend some time with your mom and your sister.
You done made enough bread out here.
You see me, though.
(Julian laughing)
Hey Ju, I fuck with you, my nigga.
I got mad love for you.
Just remember it's FBE out here,
family before everything.
Feel me?
[Julian] Oh, FBE.
(Julian exhales)
(indistinct chattering)
Hey Ma, did you get the mail?
Hold on, Erin.
Don't you see I'm on the phone, young lady?
Yes, excuse me ma.
I just wanted to know if I got any mail from UNC.
Um, I'm not sure.
Check on the kitchen table or the mailbox or something.
Okay, thanks ma.
Wait a minute.
Erin, let me call you back.
Lemme talk to you for a minute.
Can we talk after I check and see if I got any mail?
That mail is not going anywhere.
Come on over here and talk to your mama.
I just wanted to tell you how proud of you I am.
Ah.
Stop it, listen to me.
I know the last few years have been hard
on you and your brother since your father passed, and-
Can we not talk about that right now?
I really just wanna-
No, let's talk about this now.
You'll be leaving me soon
and I just wanna see how you're feeling about everything.
Why are you bringing that back up right now?
Because I felt like bringing it up.
Is that a problem?
No, I just don't wanna talk about that right now.
I'm about to graduate high school with honors next month
and I got accepted into the school my first choice
while most of my friends are knocked up by
or messing with dudes that are in or on their way to jail
and I'm not.
That's what's most important, right?
Sadie, I'm grateful to God that he has kept you
in spite of all that's been going on.
I'm very proud of your accomplishments,
I am, but I know you better than you know yourself.
I carried you for nine months.
I was in labor for 15 long hours.
I've earned the right to bring up anything I want to
and discuss it with you.
Mom, what do you want me to say, that I miss Dad?
Of course I do, and I don't think I'll ever get over it,
but he's in a better place now
and that helps me deal with it.
Sadie, I just wanna make sure you are okay,
especially since you're about to enter
a very important phase of your life.
And when you go to North Carolina, it'll be just you.
We don't have family down there.
Julian and I will be 13 hours away, and I just don't know
if that's something you're ready to handle,
being on your own.
No offense, but I'd rather not be here.
This hood is like a black hole
that sucks everything outta you,
your dreams, your family, your friends, even your life.
I'm tired hearing gunshots every other day.
I'm tired of losing friends all the time.
Do you know last year alone,
I went to five funerals of people my age?
I'm not trying to be the next person to get killed
from being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
And you need to leave too.
Baby, I understand what you're saying,
but violence is everywhere, not just here on Kingsley Ave.
Ignorant babies are having babies
even more ignorant than them.
It's a sad situation.
Yeah, but we can't run from it.
We have to stand up and change it.
Ma, where have you been?
Nothing is going to change.
Niggas are gonna be niggas.
You watch your mouth young lady.
I don't ever wanna hear you use that word
in front of me again.
I'm sorry, but it's the truth.
90% of the boys at my school,
close to 100% of the boys in the hood are.
Just is what it is.
I'm labeled as the stuck up wanna be white girl
because I'm interested in boys
that have a vocabulary higher than the fifth grade
and because they don't wear their pants down to the floor.
Do you know how many times I've been called a B
since sixth grade?
Well, you know that you aren't, right?
You are what you answer to.
Ma, you just don't get it.
These girls nowadays, they wanna be called that.
They call each other that!
If a guy isn't calling them out their name
or beating on them,
they don't think that they like them.
I try to get them away from it,
but all they wanna do is be at the hood parties
with the hood nig-
I mean dudes.
And I'm through wasting my time with them.
I'm proud that you have higher standards
than those other girls.
But it takes a village to raise a child.
You may not be able to save all of them,
but if you stop trying to help people, what good is that?
You can't call yourself a Christian
and think that having that title means nothing.
To be Christian is to be Christlike,
and Christ hung out with the worst kind of people
in order to save them.
So if you see people in need
and you don't think that you have a responsibility
to minister to them, then maybe you've got it all wrong.
All right pops, thanks for the ride, man.
Got it.
Like we talked about, stay focused on school and the game
and you going pro.
Yes, sir.
With that being said...
There we go, go ahead.
Ricky, I know you don't want to hear it,
but that girl's getting you sidetracked.
She's trying to come up off your potential to go pro.
Pop, she's not like that.
She knows I gotta stay focused,
so she been giving me my space lately.
Okay, your favorite rapper tried to tell you.
If your girlfriend has been
at any season opener basketball game,
best believe she getting down with some dudes on that team.
She's for the streets, Ricky.
She cause unnecessary stress.
All right, cool.
I'ma go to practice.
Think with the head on your shoulders
and not in your pants, son.
Don't let no hood rat ruin your future.
Kids.
[Gloria] Hey Julian, are you just getting in from work?
Yeah, what's wrong with you, sis?
Just tired, I guess.
You just tired and you ain't got no job.
Shut up, Julian.
Ma, are we done now?
I really just wanna get started on my homework.
For now.
Bye
Bye.
What's her problem, huh?
She's all right.
(Julian exhales)
I'm tired.
Julian, what do you think
about relocating to North Carolina?
Relocating for what?
Well, I think it'd be a good idea for us.
Sadie won't admit it, but she's afraid of being on her own.
And since your father's gone, she really depends on us.
Okay, well, what about your job, Ma?
I'm sure I can find another down there.
I hear a lot of people who relocate from this area
and go down there are doing very well for themselves.
Okay, well what about my job, huh?
Look, I'm doing really well for myself right now
and I'm probably about to get promoted real soon.
I'd have to start all over down there.
Well, that may be the best thing for you.
You need to go back to school
and finish your education anyway.
I know you wanna do more with your life
than work doubles at a grocery store.
You need to start focusing on a career.
Okay Ma, well, what about the house?
It's not paid for.
We can't just leave it here and-
I'll take care of all that, Julian.
Mom, we don't even know anybody down there.
We didn't know anybody
when we moved on this street either.
I'm surprised that of all people,
you are not ready to get out of here.
Your friend Quan just got locked up a couple of months ago.
Last year, your other friend
from down the street got killed.
Your sister was just in here giving me all the reasons
that she really wants to get outta here.
Just thought you guys felt the same
since you're only a couple of years apart.
I do, ma.
Look, Quan where he at
because he was in the street hustling.
And Greg, that was an innocent bystander.
That could happen anywhere.
Besides, it's just not the right time
for us to leave right now.
Sadie's scholarship not gonna cover all her tuition,
so she gonna need us to help her
give her money towards that.
Look mom, relocating when we have the proper time
to set some things up and prepare will make the most sense.
I know that.
I'm not talking about relocating by tomorrow.
[Julian] Good.
But I want to by the end of the year or early next year.
End of this year, early next year?
Ma, come on now.
Do you really think
we're gonna have the money to move by then?
Look, what if Sadie go all the way down there
and don't even like it, then what?
We would've spent all that money
to move down there for nothing.
But Julian, what's the real reason
you're not trying to get outta here, huh?
You didn't mess around
and get one of these girls pregnant, did you?
Come on, Ma, no I don't.
I just-
You just don't what?
I don't understand what's keeping you here.
Ju, you got more excuses than a little bit.
I know that job is not that important to you.
What is it, Julian?
Nothing, Ma.
Look, I gotta go.
I'm about to go change and I'll see you later, all right?
I love you.
I love you too.
And I'm not playing with you, Julian.
You better not have none of these little girls pregnant.
I don't, Ma.
Hey.
You still here?
We going to the movies later, Ricky, or not?
Ebony.
I told you maybe, didn't I?
I got a final paper due Monday
and I ain't even get started yet.
See, this is exactly what I'm talking about.
You always stunting on me.
Baby, listen, I'm not stunting on you, okay?
The semester's about to end
and I gotta get a good grade in this class
so I can keep my scholarship.
You know this.
Why are you tripping?
I know, babe.
It just seems like you don't have time for me anymore.
You either here at the stupid court or you at school.
I don't know when the last time
we went out somewhere together.
Girl. I'm a student athlete.
What you expect?
I'm serious.
You've been changing on me these last couple months
and anytime I wanna do something,
it's always excuse after excuse.
You better not let me find out you talking to another girl.
Ebony, what?
Look, I'm not about to do this with you right now.
You want me to lose my scholarship?
I'm not a baller for one,
and you know how stressed I get about school.
If I lose the scholarship, I'm not gonna be able
to afford my tuition and then I have to drop out.
I'm not about to mess in my future 'cause I can't spend time
and money taking you places.
You just don't wanna keep it real with me.
And I know you talking to another girl
because Keisha told me she saw you last week leaving campus
with some big old fat chick.
And don't try to act like it wasn't you either.
I don't wanna hear it.
Ebony, that girl she saw me with has a whole dude.
We just got a marketing class together.
I can't do this right now.
If you can't handle it, then maybe we need to take a break.
Oh, a break?
- Yeah. - That's what it is?
Yeah, that's what it is.
Alright.
I bet you gonna regret cheating on me.
♪ Ah, what you calling, nigga ♪
♪ Let's go ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ I'm wild ♪
My nigga, (indistinct) pole, man.
(indistinct chattering)
Fuck you doing here, nigga?
Man, shit.
Word on the streets there's this new strand
that got your name stamped all on it.
- You must be talking about that butcher breath, ain't you?
Word.
I hear that shit has got motherfuckers
walking around here like they're living dead.
That's what they saying.
So you got any of them joints?
Oh wait, you need something?
[Bolo] Yeah, with a sticker price on it.
For you, 4,500.
Shit, I'll take 20 of 'em right now then.
Niggas gonna like that.
Word, word, I do.
You (indistinct) for you though?
♪ Since I blew more, the feds got threw off direction ♪
♪ I'm too smart to catch me in the two part confession ♪
♪ Jail cells drew on, it's through our profession ♪
♪ They want my supplier, but he flew off to Texas ♪
♪ They identified the bosses through y'all possessions ♪
♪ Last two years, I've been running through all contestants ♪
♪ Four pound of crack and shoot you off your fences ♪
♪ Back flipping op (indistinct) confesses ♪
♪ You ain't get shot, but you call out the message ♪
♪ I keep it real with everything I do and everything I say ♪
♪ And everything I love ♪
♪ My only wish was get my niggas rich ♪
♪ Hold my family down ♪
♪ Find a plug ♪
♪ I had to turn that one to two ♪
♪ Turn that two to three ♪
♪ Turning into a thug ♪
♪ My only wish was get my nigga's rich ♪
I knew I was gonna find you here.
Strong boy, what up, Rick?
What up, Ju?
What's wrong with you?
Yo, Ebony tripping as usual bro.
I'm not worried about that right now.
Got a game tomorrow and saw some scouts from the league.
What?
Yeah, last game I was a little off,
but gotta finish this paper too.
I gotta get a good grade on it
or I might be on academic probation.
Damn, word.
This semester kicking my ass, bro.
And my pops riding me about school and my game.
Hates Ebony, bro, he hates her.
(Julian laughing)
Basically called her a bust down.
Big Rick Carter a bust down, bro.
Basically.
Straight coded that Drake song to justify dissing her.
(Julian laughing)
[Ricky] Ju, what's good with you?
Shit, I'm grinding as usual.
Feel you.
I know he got you working like a Hebrew slave, man.
Hell yeah, man.
You gotta do what you gotta do, right?
Times is hard.
Money been tight since this inflation shit.
You know I've been helping my family since my dad dies.
Yeah, word.
What's good though with you, what you about to do?
Shit, gotta hit a couple clicks but yo,
I'm glad I ran into you, Rick.
I wanna run something by you and talk to you.
Now look, look,
I know you're going the whole school thing and all that,
but trying to make some extra paper?
Yeah, what up?
Talk to me, doing what?
Come on man, you already know what I'm talking about.
Nah Ju, that ain't my thing, bro.
Nah, I'm just focused on school right now, bro.
No, but Rick, there's a lot of cake out there
that can help you with that.
I'm not even saying you gotta be on the grind like me, man.
Come on, we don't even expect you to.
It'd be like a real part-time thing.
Rick, there's a lot of cake out there
that you can get on the low, bro.
Ain't nobody gonna be on you like that.
My man got some new tree
that's bleeding the block like crazy right now.
And we down a man since Quan dumb ass got locked up,
so we need somebody to come in
who ain't got no eyes on him to distribute, you know?
Look Rick, you gonna be able
to make so much cheese part-time, bro.
You ain't gonna be stressed
about losing a little scholarship.
Yo, you my boy Ju, you already know that.
But that ain't me, bro.
Yeah, come on, man.
You ain't even gotta go that hard, bro.
We don't expect you to.
Look, all you gotta do is find out
who at your school smoking.
Once they try that shit, bro, they gonna come to you.
I just need your help.
Look, Sadie about to go to school
all the way in North Carolina
so she gonna need help with the books and stuff like that,
so you know I need the extra bread and you my man.
So you know I'm gonna chop you off for making the connects,
bro, I just need your help.
I don't know about that, man.
It's just, I'm not trying to get caught up in all that, bro.
You not.
All I need is for somebody to find out
that I got drugs on me on school property
and then boom, I'm expelled.
Now I got a record.
Man, I can't do that, man.
You watching too many movies, dude.
You really think people will be on you if you keep cool?
Look, you ain't even gonna have that much on you.
Just a couple jars, if that.
You get knocked with that shit, bro, say it's yours.
My mom and sister don't even know what I do.
You only know 'cause I told you, bro.
I bet there's a bunch of niggas on your campus that hustle
and you don't even know that they do.
So go holler at them, bro!
I'm sorry Ju, I got too much to lose if it go wrong.
You know where to find me
if you change your mind, big boss.
Holler at you later.
Funny guy.
(tense music)
(vehicle whirring)
Man, what the fuck?
Yo, you good, fam?
You good fam?
Yeah, you good?
Trying to get your ass bagged up out of here?
Man, what you talking about, bro?
Man, that shit is obvious.
I got that fire.
With all these undercovers making they way
throughout the hood in the city,
you know they heard that one before, right?
- What, you 5-O or something?
I could be, but if I was,
don't you think after you fucked up with that line,
I would've stretched your dumb ass by now?
Look man, if you good, I'm gonna keep it moving.
All right?
Pause for a minute.
Trying to give you some wisdom
before you get your ass locked up all week.
Oh, you a rookie, huh man?
Yeah, rookie, go ahead OG
before you get your ass hurt out here, all right?
Hey bro, what you want, man?
I ain't got nothing on me.
I ain't got shit.
Actually, I think you do,
but instead of robbing your dumb ass right now,
I'm gonna give you an opportunity to redeem yourself.
Hop in.
(ominous music)
Listen, you come highly recommended.
Black a good friend of mine.
He told me y'all here bleeding it and you work for Bolo.
Man, I don't know what you talking about.
The no snitch shit,
that gotta be the cowardest shit the hood ever came up.
It is obvious you running for him,
but with that ass nine training he gave you,
you gonna get yourself caught up out here.
- Yo, straight up-
Yo, hold on, what you about, 17, 18?
Man, what you going to do?
Just do it right now or just let me the fuck out.
What's up?
Boy, you lucky I got a few more years
of patience in me.
Hey, I got something for you.
(ominous music)
Take it.
(ominous music)
That's right.
What you giving me money for, bro?
Now this some weird shit, man.
I'm good, keep your bread, fam.
Yo little nigga,
you gonna find out after working with me
that it's sometimes better
not to ask questions and say less.
We let the money do the talking.
That money I gave you, that's yours.
Do whatever you want with it, but if you need more,
you're gonna have to work for it.
In that envelope is five bones
and I got a burner phone for you
when you ready to get more money.
(gentle music)
(upbeat music) (singer vocalizing)
[Bolo] You see, I believe in them ghetto proverbs.
You raising them up in the way you want them to go.
Young Ju, he gets an in on the block.
See, he understands.
In order to move up in this game,
you gotta be willing to grind.
He's selling weed right now,
but he already trying to move them real packs,
that crack, that (indistinct), even that fenty.
I'm not trying to have him do that, though.
The weed is all he needs.
That's my little nigga.
I'll take a bullet for him,
and I'll put one in any body who harm him.
(upbeat music) (singer vocalizing)
What's up, shawty?
(Julian speaking indistinctly)
(upbeat music) (singer vocalizing)
♪ Come on, come on ♪
(upbeat music) (singer vocalizing)
♪ Come on, come on ♪
(ominous music)
(phone buzzing)
[Speaker] You have a call from an inmate
from Wendy Correctional Facility.
Do you accept the charges?
Yes, hello?
Hey, hey, hey ma.
[Theresa] Quan, I don't have no money for you.
Yo.
Ma, you know how bad I need this money right now.
Sounds like a you problem.
I can't help you, Quan.
You know, maybe you should have thought about that
before you got yourself jammed up.
A you problem?
Yeah, you know what, I do got a you problem.
You, you ain't had no problem taking my money
when I was giving it to you.
Now I need some money.
I'm in a bind and you don't want to help.
That's not true and you know it.
I never wanted you to be a drug dealer.
Ma, yo.
Yeah fucking right.
You didn't care where the money came from
as long as your ass got some, right?
You know what, you really a hypocrite.
Yeah, 'cause you run around talking about this God shit.
God this, God that.
You really the fucking devil.
You got some nerve.
You need to take responsibility for your own actions.
You got yourself locked up.
It ain't nobody's fault but yours that you in there,
just like your deadbeat father.
And I always knew you would end up just like him.
Hmm, there she go.
There she go.
Just wait for my mom to show up
and you gonna hear her blame somebody but her.
Dad did you wrong, right?
No, you spent up his money
and watched him go to jail.
Matter of fact, you're doing the same shit to me right now
talking that deadbeat sheat.
You the deadbeat.
You know what, I'm done.
I'm done!
Instead of calling me to watch your daughter,
instead you call that girl and her family
and y'all figure it out.
I'm gonna pray for you, Quan.
Let the Lord lead and keep you.
He will provide.
(phone thuds)
(Theresa sighs)
Fuck!
Shit.
(fist thudding)
(Quan mumbling)
(phone beeping)
(phone ringing)
Pick up, pick up.
[Speaker] Yo, what's up, what's up, it's your boy Ju.
Leave a message after the tone.
(phone beeps)
Ju, my boy.
Big time, bro.
Bro, I need something.
Yo, matter of fact, listen man,
I'm about to send you my,
I'm gonna give you my pin and everything.
I need you to like, yo, send some bread like right now.
Like today though, bro, you hear me?
I've been telling you, you know,
I put you on and all that shit.
That's love, Ju, and I'm glad you out there making money.
Be fucking careful, bro.
If you wanna listen to one thing I ever tell you, bro,
be careful 'cause when you get back behind these walls,
bro, you are by yourself.
(gentle music) (indistinct singing)
♪ Now, we all judge, but hardly ever ♪
♪ Hold the gavel ♪ (doorbell ringing)
♪ But in the battle (indistinct) ♪
♪ It's a tough struggle ♪
♪ Long fight, we let the blood leak ♪
♪ Keep quiet, we loud, we let the drugs speak ♪
♪ Our father who are in heaven ♪
♪ I'ma barely just moving daily ♪
♪ It's all bad, don't got to tell me ♪
♪ The love for the ghetto ♪
♪ Drug dealers, they call me chocolate ♪
♪ (indistinct) was 10 times flat out ♪
♪ He round there walking from the east side of Buffalo ♪
Hey, Ju.
(indistinct chattering)
He's upstairs.
I'll get him for you.
Thank you.
(footsteps tapping)
(ominous music)
Let me get this straight.
You mean to tell me you let that nigga
tell you his situation
before you can tell him what it take
to get down with the team?
Yo Bolo, I did, but he wasn't trying to hear it.
He not gonna do it, man.
He fed you the same lame excuse you fed Quan
when he brung you to me and I put you on.
Tell me something, Ju,
how do you expect to move up in this gang
if you can't convince a nigga that need money to get money?
I told you he ain't with it!
You told me what, and who you hollering at?
You don't run this block, I do.
You never bite the hand that feeds you, my nigga.
I didn't mean no disrespect.
I'm just trying-
Piss me off, Ju.
That's what you was trying to do.
But you know better than to let that happen, don't you?
Listen Ju, I know you got a lot of pressure
on you right now.
That's why I've been trying to lighten your load.
You see, I've been running these streets a long time
and I done seen a lot of niggas come
and I done seen a lot of niggas go.
But mainly the ones that go,
it's because them niggas ain't got no heart
or no strong team.
See, you my little nigga, you got mad heart.
You ain't in this game for yourself,
but to take care of your family.
That's why I take care of you.
I want the best for you,
even if you don't know what the best for you is.
Now with Quan locked up, we a man down.
In order for us to maximize on that butcher breath,
we gonna need another man on the team.
You need more money but less stress, right?
Come on.
That's why I won't let you move no weight.
Now if you can get your man on,
oh, that'll take a whole lot of pressure off of you.
And if you can make that happen,
I give you an extra 5% on everything that nigga bring in.
Bolo, he ain't going to do it.
He focused on school and trying to go to the NBA.
The only way I even see him thinking about hustling
is if he lost his scholarship.
Other than that, man, he not going to do it.
Well, that's what has to happen then.
Come on, man, you not serious.
Are you?
Nigga, do it look like I'm playing?
You know that's been my man since the second grade.
He worked hard for that scholarship.
I wouldn't even feel right if I fucked that up.
I know that and you won't.
So what that mean?
That mean don't worry about it.
I'll take care of it.
Yo Bolo, that's my mans.
Please don't do that.
The second grade bro, I grew up with him, man.
I can't do that to him.
Family before everything, Ju, remember that.
Man!
(low tense music)
Pastor spoke a word tonight, didn't he, Theresa?
Yes Lord.
You know he had me running around that church
like I was being chased by (indistinct).
I'm telling you, when pastor was talking about
how God will provide for us in all things,
that really touched my spirit.
Yes, yes, yes Lord.
You know, that's why I told that boy today
and I let him know, I can't be bailing him
out of trouble no more.
Quan be letting the devil use him
and get ahold of him ever since he dropped outta school
and started selling them drugs on the corner.
Now I done told him too many times not to,
but he don't wanna listen to me.
So you know, but he thought
because he was giving me money while he was out
that I was gonna go ahead
and give him money while he was in there.
But now he know the dope is a liar.
Wait, he was giving you money?
Sure did.
He put a whole bunch of money in my purse, girl.
He's the one to help me get the new roof fixed.
You know, his heart was always in the right place.
But I told him, if you ever got caught up, that was on him.
Wait, you didn't try to make him stop giving you money?
We needed that money, Gloria.
God knew we needed to get that roof fixed,
so he allowed Quan to make a little extra to help out.
Theresa, I can't believe
you would say something like that.
That was not God and you know it.
I believe it was from God
and I'm not ashamed of it either.
Okay, I'm thankful for everything God allows, good and bad.
God allowed Quan to make some money to help me,
and now I'm helping Quan by allowing him to stay in jail
until he changes his ways.
I'm sorry girl, but that just ain't right.
- How you gonna tell me what's right and what's not, Gloria?
You didn't have to worry
about where your help was coming from.
It's been me and Quan for the last 20 years.
No help from nobody.
Did you forget Bruce died almost four years ago?
He left me with a bunch of bills
and a mortgage I can't afford to pay on my own.
I'm in a whole lot of debt right now.
And if it hadn't been for God blessing me
with a hardworking son who works doubles
to help his mother out, I wouldn't have a home right now.
Now Quan may have made some bad decisions,
but for you to look the other way and benefit from it,
that's messed up.
Benefit, benefit?
That boy has made nothing but bad decisions his whole life.
Okay, that boy has given me nothing but problems
since he was born.
Me having to leave my job
because he wanna act out in school
caused me to lose too many jobs to count.
His lying and his stealing caused them damn CPS people
to run in and outta my house for the last three years.
The neighborhood we lived in, we had to move not once,
not twice, but four times.
Then we move here a couple years ago and he has the nerve
to get that nasty girl from down the street pregnant.
And I have that baby more than they do.
On top of that,
he's been in and out of the detention center
until he was old enough to go to jail.
So you damn right, I'm owed every benefit.
Told that boy he was gonna end up
just like his deadbeat father.
I couldn't have been more right.
You done got me all worked up,
so I'm gonna talk to you later.
Hold on, Theresa.
I didn't mean to sound judgmental.
Oh, don't you even worry about it.
While you are so busy praising your hardworking son,
you might wanna ask him what did he do
for the guy that gave him that large knot of money?
Yeah, think about that.
I'll see you, girl.
You know I'm here on my own dime, on my time.
This tutoring is important to you.
Excuse me.
- So please let us make-
Sorry to interrupt.
Excuse me sir, is this your backpack?
Yeah.
Can you just come into the hallway
and talk to me real quick?
- Why? - Wait a minute,
wait a minute, what's going on here?
Can you just come down in the hallway real quick?
♪ I'm only aiming from the neck up ♪
♪ I don't blame them for the record ♪
♪ Now they're staying, but a lot of pressure ♪
♪ They disdain, but never ♪
I'm sorry to interrupt, ma'am.
♪ They could put a check up if they charging up the efforts ♪
♪ No applause, they said F us ♪
♪ Now they effing off the necklace ♪
♪ And they effing in the back ♪
♪ For any jack who feeling reckless ♪
♪ And they package up the pack and get it back ♪
♪ That's in the record center ♪
♪ That's why they react ♪
♪ When I react, they intercept it ♪
♪ Then they run them bitches back like how the DJ do my shit ♪
♪ So here you are thinking you'd fall ♪
♪ Into a car that get you hit ♪
♪ Wasting time with all the bull ♪
♪ Like (indistinct) your shit ♪
♪ I guess this how God feel when every sinner go repent ♪
♪ Wasn't ready but I went ♪
Got him.
♪ I told my bitches I can go ♪
♪ I understood we had to eat ♪
♪ But then that first one in the room said ♪
♪ If I'ma be lit, I gotta get it off (indistinct) ♪
♪ But then they put him on parole ♪
♪ Anyway to make it home (indistinct) ♪
That's what he get.
I told him to stop stunting on me
and now he got exactly what he deserved.
He was always crying so broke
and here he was hustling the whole time.
That don't even sound like him.
How'd they find out he was selling weed
to people in the class?
I don't know.
I mean, he told me somebody told public safety at his school
and they searched his bag a couple weeks ago
and found money and a big old bag of weed.
Girl, he just stupid.
Ebony.
It's not even right.
Unlike these other fools out here,
he actually was trying to do something with his life.
You shouldn't be happy that he lost that scholarship
that he worked so hard for and now he's expelled.
Girl, I'm not happy he lost his scholarship
or got expelled.
I'm just mad that he lied to me
about why he couldn't spend time with me.
He couldn't because he was hustling,
and now he wanna act like he all depressed,
but it's all his fault.
So what's he gonna do now?
Girl, probably what every other nigga
in the hood do, hustle.
He tried to act like he was so surprised
about that weed being in his bag.
And why this happened,
he think your brother set him up.
Why the hell would Julian do that?
Julian and him been friends
since they were in the second grade.
Listen, I don't know, but that's what he told me.
But this whole situation just seem real suspicious to me
and I don't want nothing to do with it.
So I'll talk to you later.
I gotta get to class.
(tense music)
(school bell ringing)
(ominous rap music)
(person speaking indistinctly)
(ominous rap music)
(person speaking indistinctly)
(ominous rap music)
Sadie, enough about your brother and Ricky, girl.
We about to graduate in three weeks.
Come on you, are you ready?
Yeah, can't wait to get outta here.
I know that's right.
I might transfer out after my first two years.
You know we all can't be nerds like you
in order to get scholarships to go out of town.
Just because I spent my time wisely in school,
don't be a hater, Ebony.
Girl, ain't nobody hating on you.
I'm just saying, you not scared to be out there by yourself?
Yeah, I'm very scared, but I refuse to stay here.
My mom's been asking me how I felt about everything
and I just don't wanna tell her about me being scared.
I've been praying that God will keep me
because I just dunno how I'm gonna handle
really being on my own.
All my life, it's been me and my family,
and now it'll just be me.
Yeah, I mean, but I don't see how you can do it
'cause as much as my family get on my absolute last nerves,
I don't think I could be that far away from them
for long for nothing.
Girl, you better not get out there
and let them country niggas turn you out.
Oh no, I'm not trying to focus on anything but school.
Yeah, okay.
You can act all holy if you want to.
You gonna go out there and wild out, watch.
The parties be off the chain and them country boys is lit.
- Just because that's what you would do doesn't mean I will.
Plus, I'm probably gonna be too wrapped up in studying
to go to any parties.
So you not gonna go to none of the parties?
Well, maybe one or two, but I'm not gonna go buck wild.
Girl, you capping too hard right now.
You gonna get down there and let loose, watch.
Them country niggas gonna come in your ear
talking that southern slang
gonna have you ready to bust it wide open.
Watch.
- Just because that's what you would do doesn't mean I will.
Plus, I'm saving myself for the right dude.
Not no nigga, especially no dude from North Carolina.
And you still a virgin too?
Oh yeah, they definitely about to have you bent over.
All right, Ebony,
that's enough of your nastiness for today.
Don't you have to go see about your baby Ricky?
That's not my baby anymore.
Girl, who you lying to?
You know he still having you bend over as you like to say.
First of all, just because we still do what we do
don't mean we back together.
We just friends with benefits now.
Oh, so that's what it's called now?
So if you catch him with that girl
you claim he creeped on you with,
you not gonna flip out?
Oh, best believe she's still
gonna get her head cracked wide open.
And it's not because I'm jealous of her.
It's about her being disrespectful.
Facts.
Okay, Ebony, whatever you say.
(school bell ringing)
(ominous music)
Hello young lady.
Have you seen your brother Julian today?
No, I don't know who you're talking about.
I'm sorry.
Really?
I could have swore y'all both lived on Kingsley.
Isn't this you?
Uh, mister, I don't know.
It's okay.
The name's BJ.
Say BJ.
BJ.
Yeah, that's right.
You tell him BJ looking for him.
Thank you, pretty young lady.
You have yourself a blessed day.
(ominous music)
[Julian] You got a problem?
Definitely.
I thought we was boys, bro,
and you do some foul shit like that.
What, what you talking about, Rick?
You set me up.
Set you up,
what the hell? - I got kicked out school.
Now I got a case coming up.
Yo, Rick, I ain't have shit to do with that, bro.
Because I ain't want to sell drugs with you.
Rick, look at me.
Look, I had nothing-
(overlapping hollering)
(fist thudding)
What the?
(both grunting)
What the fuck is wrong with you, bro?
You wildin', bro!
What is wrong with you?
Get up before somebody call the cops on you!
[Julian] What's wrong with you?
You be going...
You be going square on me, bro.
Miss Gloria's son here
decided to be real foul. - For real?
Word.
What did you do to Ricky, Julian?
[Julian] I don't do nothing to this man.
He tripping on me for no reason.
You gonna stand here and lie to my face?
Rick, I ain't scared of you.
All right, keep that energy.
All right? - Yeah.
We'll see how long your secret stays secret, nigga.
What did you...
What did you get yourself involved in, Julian?
Ma, I ain't do nothing to him.
Somebody must have gave him the wrong information.
Come on, Ma.
[Gloria] Sadie, you know anything about this?
- Ma, no I-
Don't you stand up here lying to me
trying to protect your brother.
I know both of you like the back of my hand.
I know when you're lying.
And Ricky is not gonna come over here
trying to fight you for no reason.
Ma look, it was a misunderstanding.
I'll handle it.
Oh, you better handle it because I don't want nobody
fighting or doing nothing crazy in front of my property.
You hear me?
Yes ma'am.
Sadie, you better talk to your brother.
Talk some sense in him
before I knock some sense into him.
What secret is he talking about, Julian?
Sadie, leave it alone!
Damn, okay?
No, I'm not gonna leave it alone.
What's going on with you, Julian?
Man, look, I'm gonna go talk to Rick.
I'm gonna make sure everything is handled, all right?
It's good, it's gonna get straightened out.
Julian, I'm gonna ask you something
and I want you to be honest with me.
Did you set Ricky up?
Hell no!
Come on Sadie, that's my man.
How would you think that?
I love you and I just don't
want anything to happen to you.
Ain't nothing gonna happen to me.
Stop talking crazy.
What's wrong with you?
Who is BJ, Julian, and why is he looking for you?
BJ?
He ain't nobody, okay?
I'm scared something's gonna happen to you.
That guy pulled up on me and he looks scary.
And whatever you did
that made Ricky think that you set him up-
- Sadie. - Has me scared
he's gonna try and do something to you.
Look Sadie, look at me, all right?
It's good, everything is good.
I'm gonna handle it like I handle everything.
All right? - Please, Ju-
Look little sis, I gotta go, all right?
Don't worry about me.
I'm good, everything is good.
I'll handle it.
I love you.
Go in the house.
(gentle music)
(keypad buzzing)
Who that?
[Julian] Ju.
(door rumbling) (tense music)
(person knocking on door)
(tense music)
Well, well, well, what do we have here?
Hello, Julian.
Hey, BJ.
Your sister told you I seen her?
Yeah, man.
Well look, I tried to call you,
but you didn't answer the phone.
Can you please not approach her or any of my family anymore?
Man, you got her shook.
Now she asking all these questions.
Is that right?
[Julian] Yeah.
How was your day?
- My day? - Yeah.
It was okay.
Look man, I ain't get everything off
that you told me to sell,
but I got some of your money.
Yo.
I told you I don't like to get shit in bits and pieces.
I told you that.
You get everything to me at once.
What wasn't you able to get off,
the pills or the (indistinct)?
The (indistinct).
I tell you what I'm gonna do.
I want you to take this and sell it with the rest.
I will be by tomorrow to pick up.
What time you gonna be ready for me?
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow.
I should be ready like eight o'clock tomorrow night.
Where you want me to meet you?
I'll let you know.
Have yourself a good evening, Julian.
Help this nigga outta here.
(tense music)
(gentle music) (muffled singing)
Damn baby, you looking real good in that dress.
Can't wait to get your ass home tonight.
I can see the way you looking at me over here.
Yeah, I know.
(phone ringing)
Hold on.
Yo, what up?
What you doing, where you at, man?
You out and about, you at the crib?
Where you at?
Nigga, what?
You know I'm out of town.
I don't get back until Monday.
What's up, you good?
- [Julian] Yeah, man, I just-
[Bolo] You just what?
Nothing man, I'll handle it.
See you on Monday.
Hello?
[Julian] Hey yo, what's up, what's up?
It's your boy Julie, leave a message after the tone.
Nigga Julian, man.
What's the matter, baby, is everything okay?
Nah, I think we gonna have to head back home tonight.
Think this nigga got himself into something
he can't get himself out of on his own.
Baby, can't it wait?
I mean, we just got here.
Get your ass up and let's go.
(gentle music)
(Theresa knocking)
Hey Theresa.
Hey Gloria.
I'm sorry to tell you this on your way to work,
but the police just left my house looking for Julian.
- Julian, why would they be at your house looking for him?
Turns out your son is not so perfect, okay?
They said someone told them
that Julian and Quan were runners
for some big drug dealer in the neighborhood.
You know, I bet it was that guy
I saw them taking money from the other night.
No, that can't be true, not Julian.
Yes, Julian.
They start asking me who he was
and where he lived and all that.
I told 'em I have no information to give 'em.
Listen, I thought you should know so you can talk to him.
Try to get him outta town before they come here to get him.
Now look, I'm gonna pray for you.
I am, but you know I can't be involved in this, okay?
My son is already doing time for what he did,
and it's only a matter of time
before they come get your son.
Theresa.
I cannot believe this.
Why would he do this?
He knows that this life can only lead to two places,
jail or dead.
I made sure he wouldn't go down this road, I did.
This cannot be happening.
All I'm saying is that you better pray
that you get to him before they do.
Now I can't be here.
I don't even know if they got people following me.
I don't need to stress, girl.
Okay, I'll talk to you later.
Thanks, Theresa.
Shelly, it's Gloria.
I'm not having a good day.
I have a family emergency that...
(Gloria breathing heavily)
I can't breathe.
(Gloria breathing heavily)
Good morning, Gloria.
Are you calling to reschedule your appointment for later?
No, I need to come in earlier.
I'm not having a good day.
I'm so sorry to hear that.
I did just have a 12 o'clock reschedule.
Can you come in then?
Yes, thanks Erin.
(ominous music)
(gentle music)
(Sadie crying)
♪ Change I see ♪
♪ And I'm seeing this recession all around ♪
♪ I'm gonna grab you ♪
♪ I've got some wings, security is around ♪
♪ For there are angels watching you ♪
♪ To keep you in all of your ways ♪
♪ Keeping you from stumbling ♪
♪ So don't be afraid ♪
♪ God has appointed angels ♪
How can one mistake follow you forever?
Erin, I can't lose my son to these streets,
to this mentality that plagues this generation.
Why would he think he could or even should do this?
Damn it, Bruce.
Why did you have to leave us?
If he just stayed and talked to me
instead of running out,
he would've never gotten in that car.
What the hell happened to all of our damn money, Bruce?
Why is the bank calling me about a foreclosure?
Gloria, stop stressing me about it.
I'm handling it.
Stressing you?
What about our kids?
What about me, Bruce?
What about me?
Lately it's always been about me, me, me,
and you wonder why I don't want to be here.
You know what, I'll be back later.
Bruce, you not going back to that casino.
No, no!
Bruce, you not going back to that casino!
Bruce!
Bruce, if you walk out that door,
don't you bring your tail back here!
We were so happy until that day.
Bruce was a good outstanding man.
He was a great role model for the kids.
He loved them and me so much.
I mean, he had his problems like we all do,
but he was a good man.
We would've been married 18 years this September.
I blamed myself for a long time.
Still do from time to time.
I know if it hadn't been for God,
I just know I wouldn't be able to deal with it.
And my poor Julian,
he had so much pressure on him to keep us together.
(upbeat music)
So what's up, Ju?
Think I'm in big trouble, man.
Why you set Ricky up like that?
What?
Well, he spazzed on me.
Now I think he snitched on me about hustling out here.
Nigga stop all that whining and man up.
He ain't got no proof of what you was doing.
And even if he did, you wasn't moving no real weight.
Just that AZ and that butcher breath.
You don't understand, man.
I'm in a bad situation right now.
I saw the cops stop by Miss Theresa house
this morning asking questions.
Ricky must have told her that I used to hustle with Quan
and if they asked her about me, I know she told my moms
Ju, you got to calm down man.
Your mother ain't gonna believe that,
even if they do bring it to her house.
It's that nigga Rick word against yours.
He the only one know what you was doing, right?
Yeah, I think so.
But look man, I can't go to jail, man.
What if somebody saw me selling and told the cops?
Damn, man!
Ju, you got to be easy.
How can I, man?
I asked you not to do nothing to Rick
and now this is happening.
I cannot end up like Quan, my family need me!
Now you goy me all-
I got you what?
You know!
I'll tell you what I got you.
When you need that money for your family, I did that.
And when you came crying the blues to me
about not having no money to pay your bills, I helped y'all.
That punk ass Bruce ain't never helped y'all.
I'm more family to you than he ever was.
My father always provided for us before he died.
Man, that nigga ain't do shit
but left y'all with a whole lot of debt and no money.
Now what type of father makes sure he ain't got no money
set to the side for his kids
just in case something happens?
Yo look man, you better stop disrespecting my father!
Better what, huh nigga?
Get off of me!
Or what?
What you going do, Ju, you gonna flex on me now?
Huh?
Do something, do something.
You breathing all this air in for what?
I told you, nigga,
you never bite the hand that feeds you.
Now don't let your punk ass fears
get you in some more trouble.
(Gloria sniffles)
Julian was barely 16
and had to suck up all his pain from losing his mentor,
his hero to be strong for us.
He lost his motivation right after he died.
And it didn't help that Bruce no longer had life insurance
because he let it lapse due to his gambling habit.
So there we were, no extra income, just mine.
That's when Julian started working
at the grocery store to help out.
And that's also when he started doing just enough
to get by in school instead of excelling like he used to.
It was as if I could see him giving up
and changing from my son to someone else.
I can't believe this, man.
Why this gotta happen to me?
I was just trying to help, man.
This ain't fair, man.
And you thought you was ready to move some weight.
Tell me Ju, why you stretching over some weed anyway?
Because it's not just weed, all right?
What you mean it just ain't no weed?
Look Bolo, my mom was talking about relocating
to North Carolina by next year,
so I had to make some extra money to help out.
Help doing what?
- [Julian] Nothing, it's-
- Just what? - Forget it, man.
Nah, we ain't gonna forget nothing.
Get out the car,
Get your ass out the car!
(door thudding)
After Julian barely graduated from high school,
he started working crazy hours and making so much money,
I guess I should have known then that something was weird.
You know, here I was working two jobs
and the money he gave me from one matched it.
What else you been selling, Ju?
Just a few pills and some rock.
Where you get it from?
Yo, look, Bolo, I needed the extra money.
I'm gonna ask you one more time.
Who gave it to you?
This dude that roll with Black.
Nigga, you stupid, huh?
Damn it!
(Julian breathing heavily)
I didn't mean to choke you like that,
but why you ain't asking me for the money, man?
You knew I would've gave it to you.
You know that.
That nigga Black got you involved in something
you shouldn't even be in.
And I told your ass time and time again.
You ain't ready to move that weight yet,
and you go behind my back and do that to me anyway.
Damn, you hard headed.
Look man, I know but yo, the dude pulled up on me.
He gave me money and his number
so I called him and he put me down.
I was just trying to help.
I know with Quan locked up
and Ricky not trying to move any,
we needed the extra money.
Man, I thought I was helping.
Ju, your heart was in the right place.
What's this nigga's name, man?
Said his name BJ.
BJ?
Yeah.
An older nigga with a buck 50 on his face?
Yeah.
- Hell no, Ju! - What?
That's Zipper's uncle.
Now who is Zipper?
- Zipper's the nigga that snitched on me eight years ago
I had to do a bid for.
Oh, fuck.
He know you work for me.
I never told him directly, but Black might've.
He kept asking, but I ain't say shit.
He know where you stay?
Yeah.
You told this nigga where you stay at?
I don't know how he found that out.
Fuck.
I know he know you work for me now
because of that nigga Black.
How long you been selling for him?
Just a few weeks.
It ain't even been that much product.
I just sold the rest of it.
I'm supposed to meet up with him in an hour.
Where you supposed to meet him at?
He said he'll let me know.
I don't trust that nigga.
I think he gonna try to do something to you
to get back at me for what I did to Zipper, man.
If he call you, Ju, you do not answer that phone.
You hear me?
You need to get your mom and Sadie
out that house immediately.
Yo, but what about his money?
I still owe him five steps.
You going to keep that money and I'm gonna bring you
some more money to get y'all up outta here.
I got some family in North Carolina.
Y'all can go stay with them.
Man, how we going to do that?
My mom ain't about to move that quickly,
especially since she don't know-
She don't even know you. - Listen, Ju, listen!
She'll do it.
You just gotta tell her everything.
Man Ju, if them niggas know where you stay
and know you know me,
ain't no telling what him and his boys
is planning right now.
This ain't no small problem, Ju.
I told you.
Niggas get real ruthless
behind a vengeance of they family.
It's family before everything out here.
It is the code of the streets.
And I'm telling you if something happen to any of y'all,
I got a bullet for all them niggas!
What good is that going to do?
I don't want nothing happening to you either.
You a good kid, Ju,
and I wish I never showed you this world, man.
It's corrupt.
You should have never had a part in it.
Your mom tried her hardest to keep you out this life, man.
And I promised her,
I promised her that I'll never let you get involved in it.
You know my moms, how?
I thought I could leave the past in the past
and just move on.
But the past has become the future I was afraid of.
How do you know my moms?
Well, if you gotta keep it real with your moms,
then I'm gonna have to keep it 100 with you.
Back in the day, me and your mom,
we used to kick it.
When I started hustling, she was my girl.
So you used to go with my moms?
Yeah, I did, Ju.
That's around the time I started getting
real heavy into the game.
She couldn't handle it, so your great grandma and them
told her to leave me alone or I would ruin her life.
And that's around the time she started dating Bruce.
But by the time she was done with me,
that's when we found out she was pregnant with you.
Bruce thought it was his,
but me and your mom both knew that I was the father.
Ju, she made me promise, man.
She made me promise to let Bruce think
that he was the father and you was his son.
I loved her that much, man, I really did.
I didn't want to cause her no more problems,
so I just left y'all alone.
Years later, y'all moved back in town
and that's when Quan brung you to me.
And that's when I realized who you were
when he started telling me about Gloria and Bruce.
Are you serious right now?
Yeah Ju, I'm your father.
That's why I didn't want you to make a career out of this.
You a good kid, Ju.
And I never wanted you to be a product
of this environment like me.
I've been in this game 25 years,
and yeah I got a little money son, but I ain't got no peace.
The stress of getting caught, killed,
or something happening to the people that you love.
See, the real niggas in this game, they know.
All that stuff that they show you on TV,
that ain't the real deal.
All these fake ass rappers got y'all
wanting to be in a gang for all the wrong reasons,
talking about what type of cars they drive
and how many hoes they can smash.
But they never wanna talk about nothing
that's really important and that's family.
Most of us in this game, we came from nothing
and we did whatever we had to do
to put food on the table, man.
Shit, my mom's, she was strung out my whole life.
And my punk ass father, he was on that shit too.
The only time I got to see him, Ju,
was when he had a pipe in his hand.
Can you imagine that, Ju?
Four years old, hungry, just hungry for no reason at all.
You know what I mean?
That's around the time them people found out about me
and came and got me and I went to go stay
with my aunt and my cousins.
Now them niggas, them were some real gutter niggas,
but they showed me mad love
'cause when all them teachers
and everybody else that I looked up to
just kicked me to the curb unless it benefited them,
see, when you have all these false promises, man,
and people keep disappointing you,
you grow up wanting to be around real niggas.
And then with some real niggas,
when I needed food, they fed me.
And when I needed clothes on my back
because all them kids was talking about me in school
for wearing the same thing over and over again,
they got me new clothes, hot shit.
And they kicked everybody ass that talked about me.
Them was my fathers.
They schooled me to this game, man.
Now here I am 50 years old,
ain't never finished school and all I know is that block.
I'm gonna die in these streets one day, son.
And truth be told, I wouldn't have it any other way, Ju.
But I don't want that for you, man.
What I need you to do is go home, man,
and save your family, Ju.
You hear me?
I (indistinct)...
If if I'm going tell my mom everything,
I want you to leave with us too.
Nah Ju, I belong here.
You know the truth now, and that's all good.
Man, I wouldn't wanna bring that dark cloud
around y'all down there anyway.
There's a lot of people that want to hurt me, Ju.
And they know the only way to get to me
is through my family.
So I don't want to talk to you
or see you no more until this thing is over
between me, BJ and his crew.
But Bolo, how I'm gonna say family before everything
if I can't take my whole family with me?
That's how it's got to be, Ju.
You got to go home and get them ready, man.
And I'm gonna bring
the rest of this money to you, all right?
But we got to move fast, you hear me?
I love you, son.
(somber music)
We go to go, Ju.
Please baby, let's go.
(somber music)
Gloria, I think we made a lot of progress today.
We addressed a lot of your past,
and dealing with those issues and the trauma
has led to a tremendous amount of breakthrough today.
(school bell ringing)
Hello
Ma, can I go to the mall with Ebony
to get our graduation outfits?
Sadie, you girls have all weekend to do that.
I really need you to come straight home.
Ma, come on, we're not gonna have time this weekend
'cause you gotta work.
Well, you girls will just have to
figure something else out
because you are coming straight home.
End of story.
It's not that serious,
like you always gotta take it there.
We are a family in crisis right now
and you are concerned about clothes
that you can get any day?
Sadie, how selfish can you be?
I'll call Ebony and see if she can go another day.
I'm on the way home.
(suspenseful music)
- BJ. - Yeah.
Look like we got company.
I think it's time that I formally introduce myself
to the rest of the family.
Let's move.
(suspenseful music)
Julian, you here?
(suspenseful music)
Ma, is that you?
(tense music)
Good afternoon, Julian.
I've been calling you and didn't get an answer,
so I thought I'd drop by.
Mom.
She was nice enough to let me in.
Thanks, Mom.
BJ, please man.
Y'all got your money.
(tense music)
I don't like bits and pieces
and I damn sure don't like being ignored.
10 unanswered calls from me and no missed calls from you.
Have a seat, have a seat!
Look, BJ, I was gonna call you.
Look, look, look, my phone was dead.
I couldn't find my charger and I was...
I mean, you used to call me on my cell phone.
You used to, you used to.
Julian!
(tense music)
I was going to call you.
My mom don't have nothing to do with this.
Just let her go, man.
I'll give you what I owe you plus interest.
What you think, ma,
should I let you go and just deal with your son?
See, I'm a gentleman.
I value a woman's opinion.
I do, I really do.
Not one drop of toxic masculinity over here.
I was just trying to help.
(BJ exclaims)
I asked your mom a question
and she ain't get a chance to reply.
So, what do you think, Mom?
What do you prefer, Mom?
Whatever my son owes you, he gonna pay.
Please leave my house.
(BJ chuckling)
Damn, now I see where you get your manners from, Julian.
That was a little woo, ma.
I don't believe in assaulting women.
Unfortunately though...
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Yo BJ man, please don't do this, man.
Just let her go, man, just handle me.
Just deal with me.
Just deal with me, please.
What I want
is respect, Julian, a little respect.
That's it, Ju.
See, respect mean everything to me, everything.
When we first met, I approached you with respect.
Shit, I even gave you a lot of money,
an opportunity more than your boss did.
Your boss,
he a disrespectful motherfucker too.
He was really disrespectful to my nephew Zipper.
So disrespectful, he blew his head off
in front of everybody, everybody!
He walked away like...
(tense music)
Maybe, maybe...
I should do the same thing to mom, why not?
Sadie, call the cops, run! (gun banging)
Come on!
(tense music)
(gun bangs)
(tense music)
(gun bangs)
(tense music)
(gun banging)
Bolo?
(guns banging)
(tense music)
♪ Don't trouble the water ♪
[Bolo] Sometimes you think you're doing everything
to protect your family.
You break promises that should have been kept.
The same ones you try to protect-
Sadie!
- [Bolo] You end up leading them down a path of destruction.
[Julian] Sadie, Sadie!
[Bolo] I knew where this life was headed for me,
[Julian] Sadie!
[Bolo] But I never thought
my life would destroy the ones I vowed to protect.
♪ Then you're on the street ♪
[Bolo] Damn Ju, I hope you and Gloria will forgive me.
♪ Somehow I will comfort you ♪
♪ I'll take your heart, oh, and all your scars ♪
♪ And pain is all around ♪
♪ I (indistinct) trouble ♪
♪ I will lay thee down like a bird of trouble ♪
♪ I will lay thee down ♪
♪ Oh ♪
(indistinct singing)
What makes a dynamic and a strong performance
is how many things in that grammar, in that script,
in that character that you as an individual
see where this is headed, where the story is going.
You gonna get in there
and try to make it the story you want to.
Get it right!
You are in it to perform, not change the story.
(gentle music)
♪ I will lay thee down like a bird ♪