Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le (2016) Movie Script

I grew up in South Central.

Gangs, guns, and hip-hop

all waiting to explode.

Welcome to my neighborhood.

Dr. Dre, N.W.A.

Homeboy conquering heroes.

I'm proud of 'em.

We all are.

They're like icons

who know how to do it.

Straight outta Compton

and into the world.

Everybody keeps asking me,

"Girl, why you ain't

in their movie?

You was there.

"You was down

with Ruthless Records

right along with them boys."

That movie ain't about me.

That's them telling

the story they want to tell.

History gets told

by the winners.

I got my own history,

my own story,

about a girl

from the 'hood.

I am MICHEL'LE.

It started when I was little.

The seeds of hip-hop.

Cops busting brothers

for just being black.

Gangs replacing families.

Music trading smooth melody

for hard-core rhythm tracks.

Hip-hop was waiting

to explode.

And even back then in Compton,

the fuse was already lit.

Why did you lose your

lunch box? Losing things, huh?

I can't afford that!

I grew up in South Central.

It seemed like somebody

was always getting hit.

Keep trying

to tell you...

Meme, when I get grown,

I ain't never going to let

no man put his hands on me

like that.

So you say.

When a man hits a woman,

it's because,

well, his hands are working

faster than his brain.

And a woman

might be smarter,

but she's still

going to get hit.

Never make a man

want to hit you.

And if you do,

then you fix it.

And you fix

yourself fast, hear me?

So many

of the decisions

you make in life

depend on what

you was taught as a child.

As soon as I could

fake looking 18,

I got a full-time job

working at May Company.

♪ We're on

the shores of nowhere

♪ Looking out to sea

♪ I turn and kiss your face

and you laugh at me

♪ You laugh at me

♪ How do I feel

when I feel like

♪ When I feel like saying

♪ Feel so good,

so right

♪ To be with you tonight

♪ So good, so right

♪ To be

with you tonight

♪ So good, so...

Alonzo Williams.

Grandmaster Alonzo.

Uh, can I help you

with something?

Oh, you sure don't talk

like you sing.

Uh, yeah,

most people don't.

I came here for some socks.

What I really need

is a singer.

Seriously.

My group,

World Class Wreckin' Cru,

about to record

in a few hours.

Girl singer dropped out.

I need somebody fast

I can get on the track.

You want to help me out?

I never

made a record before.

Yeah, but you can sing.

I heard that.

Oh, I don't know.

What? You got something

better tonight?

Come on, Alonzo.

Where she at?

Man, I've been

waiting two hours.

This is fucked up, man.

Is she coming or not?

I'm going

to call Teensy.

No, man, wait.

Look, she coming.

I told y'all she had

to get off work first.

Where the hell

she work, Mars?

Damn.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

I don't think

Martians look like that, Dre.

Fellas, this is

the voice we've been

waiting for right here.

All right.

This is, uh...

Yeah.

What?

Oh, MICHEL'LE.

That's my name.

I'm so sorry. It took

me forever to get here.

I couldn't find the place.

I had to take three buses.

You kidding me.

This bitch sound

like Minnie Mouse.

You don't need to be

calling me names, okay?

I'm here to sing,

so if y'all want

me to sing, cool.

But if not,

screw it and screw you.

Ooh!

Oh!

The mouse just told me

to screw myself.

Ease up, man. Hey, let's

give her a chance.

Here go the words

right here.

It's called

Before You Turn Out

the Lights.

Dre, play the beat.

That's nice.

Yeah. You just feel

your way in, okay?

You make

the melody,

you hear?

I think so.

Cool.

Let me grab that.

Oh, thank you.

Put the cans on.

Uh, the what?

The cans, genius.

Here we go.

Play the track, Dre.

Any time, squeaky.

You kidding?

♪ Before you turn off

the lights

♪ Let's get one thing

understood ♪

No way!

Do you hear that?

♪ If you plan

to make love to me

♪ You've got to do it good

♪ 'Cause I'm a hell of a woman

♪ And for me

it takes a hell of a man

♪ So don't you dare

turn off the lights

♪ Unless this you understand

That's a winner,

I'm telling you.

Where does she

even get a voice like that?

Um...

Was that okay?

Hell, yeah!

- That was good.

- Yeah, I liked that.

We're going to take it again,

gonna do a little more

with the last bit.

Okay, can you, please?

Sure. Just tell me

what you want.

Hey, so... So, do you, like,

sing for people a lot?

Me? Not really. I usually

just sing for myself.

Um... Alonzo just so happened

to come in my store today.

Alonzo, man,

you are a genius.

Hey, nice find, bro.

Okay, what's your name?

That's beautiful.

We're going to

take it from the top.

- Bye, guys.

- That was cool.

Thanks,

you guys are awesome.

Listen, MICHEL'LE,

you did great.

You did really great.

I wasn't expecting that.

Thank you.

And thanks for having me.

I had so much fun.

Thanks for coming.

I guess I was

a little rude

at first, huh?

Yeah, you were.

But I'm over it.

Good night, Andre.

No, it's just Dre.

I mean, you're not

walking home, right?

Bus, unless you

offering a ride.

Hell, baby, this fool

ain't got no car.

He got one,

but the cops are

holding it hostage.

- Boy don't pay his tickets.

- Never.

Hey, Dre, I need you

to finish the track.

Alonzo, later.

Hey, listen, you know,

I could drive you.

Yo, MICHEL'LE,

you hungry?

Let's roll.

♪ I know I was wrong

I used to sing when I was sad.

When folks around

me was fighting,

which was always.

Yeah, I feel you.

Can I get

some more syrup?

Just a minute, baby.

It's like when I sing,

nothing else matters.

Kind of just let

the song fill me up

and take me away

from here.

Yeah.

Away from today,

tomorrow...

Here you are.

Thank you.

That's what it's like

when I'm making music,

you know?

I'm hearing it

happening in my head,

it's like I'm in

a trance, right?

I mean, it could be

a fire, earthquake.

Hell, a goddamn

blizzard,

and I still wouldn't

turn away from what

I'm seeing.

You know.

You know what I mean?

Music's all I got, Dre.

It's like my secret weapon

to get me up and out of here.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, I do.

It was sweet.

You know,

a sweet connection.

He really wasn't my type.

But at that age,

I really didn't know

what my type was.

Hello?

Yeah, who is this?

Hold on.

Some boy.

Wouldn't say his name.

Hello?

Oh, good morning, Dre.

Hello?

Hold on.

Hello?

Yeah, who is this?

For the next three weeks,

they called me every morning.

Hello?

It was sweet.

First Dre would call,

then Eazy, then Dre.

They were both trying hard

to win my attention.

What?

Listen.

♪ Before you turn

off the lights

That's you,

What?

What are you

talking about?

It's you singing.

Who else sounds like that?

♪ If you plan to

make love to me ♪

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

I'm on the radio!

I'm singing on the radio!

Well, how much you

get paid for that?

Paid?

Girl, you do not have

a head for business.

You need to tell them boys

that keep phoning here,

they need to do

better than call.

You need to get paid.

Okay, I'll ask.

No, Alonzo.

Alonzo's supposed

to pay you.

All that money?

All that money goes

straight to him.

World Class Wreckin' Cru,

that's his outfit.

Tosses us a few bucks.

You know, and he keeps

the lion's share.

I mean...

Crazy.

Honestly,

I'm just glad

for the experience,

you know?

It doesn't

seem fair, though,

that Alonzo

gets everything.

No, that's about

to change.

No, we starting

our own crew.

We ditching Alonzo.

Part of the dream, huh?

Yeah, I... I get it.

So, is this where you

take all your dates?

Only ones

with killer voices

that I'm trying

to get closer to.

Oh, trying? Well, you're

pretty close right now.

Shit, I could get closer.

Mmm?

♪ I may be young

But not a fool

So you like it, right?

It's tasting better.

Yeah?

♪ I may be young

But not a fool

♪ I may be young

But not a fool

♪ I may be young

But not a fool

♪ I may be young

Mmm-mmm.

Yeah, I like that.

- I like that shit.

- Yeah.

Dre... Yeah.

Mmm!

Okay.

Whoo! Mmm!

Hey, Dre, man,

I'm telling you, man,

you need to double that.

What you know

about music, fool?

Man, I know what I like.

Yeah, big butts.

Man, shut up.

So I got the five

basic food groups.

Hennessy, beer,

Bacardi, rum, and chips.

Thank you.

Girl, you a food group

all by yourself.

Eazy, shut up.

- We were like family.

- They were like my brothers.

Except for Dre, of course.

Come here.

Hi.

Hey, Dre,

it's for you, man.

It's, um...

It's Val.

What?

Yeah.

Uh-oh!

Yeah.

What?

Please, man,

let me hold your keys.

Um, Val, this girl

I used to go with,

well, she's having

a baby.

Man, shut up, man.

- Man, shut up.

- Oh, he mad at us now.

It's my baby.

Go take care

of your business.

- Yo, yo...

- All right, pops.

Pops!

Almost every guy I knew

had a baby somewhere.

It was almost like

a Compton rite of passage.

So your new boyfriend

won't come inside, huh?

He's just tired, Meme.

He's been up all night

working on tracks.

Sign says

when a man sleeps

in his car,

he got a woman

pregnant somewhere.

Well, your signs are

a little off, Meme,

because I'm definitely

not pregnant,

and Dre's ex

just had her baby

a few weeks ago.

Signs don't lie.

My grandma's signs were right.

After he just had Val's baby,

he had another one.

Boy or girl?

Twins, maybe?

Look, I messed up, all right?

I should have told you.

I just wasn't

thinking about it.

You really think that

makes it better, Dre?

What do you want

from me?

The truth.

Was you sleeping

with her the same time

you been sleeping with me?

Hell, no.

Do the math, girl. It takes

nine months to make a baby.

We only been together

for five.

Look, we good.

MICHEL'LE, we good.

Everybody else,

that was before.

Before you.

You're gonna take

care of him, right?

I'll take care

of all of them.

How many "all"?

Look, I...

I had three.

It was just three.

Then Val's baby,

now this one.

So, five. You really

got five kids.

Yeah. I think so.

"Think so."

Now who can't do the math?

Look, MICHEL'LE,

I didn't take

any of those girls

seriously, okay?

But you, baby,

it's different.

Right. I'm not pregnant, Dre.

Look, I'm trying to

say something here.

Then say it, Dre.

Damn.

Hey, hey.

Come and live

with me.

Let's do this

together,

you feel me?

Come on. We got

something real here.

I can create

with you and

talk with you.

Maybe.

Baby, we going to fly.

And when I fly,

you fly too.

We can make it out

of these streets,

out of being broke,

and damn sure

straight out of Compton.

Eazy rapped

about stuffin' women.

So why was it funny?

Because Eazy was funny.

We needed to laugh.

Yeah, I'm laughing.

Shit was funny.

But you had to be there

to get it.

To feel it.

That beat was so raw,

and the groove

and the rage was so red

that if Eazy had said,

"Slap yourself, bitch,"

you would have.

It was contagious.

N.W.A. was contagious.

♪ Yeah

I want you guys to see

the big picture, okay?

Beyond here, beyond

little clubs like this.

You guys could be playing

in venues 50 times this size.

Hey, MICHEL'LE,

where's Dre at?

He needs to be

hearing all this.

Um, he's over there.

Who is that?

You didn't come through

with the money yet, Dre!

That's, um...

That's Val.

That's his baby mama.

Which one?

I'll see my baby

whenever I want.

You know what?

I'm gone.

You don't tell me.

Rap that.

Hey, man, Dre,

get your ass

over here, man.

Sit down.

MICHEL'LE, let's go.

Hey, man, this is

Jerry Heller I been trying

to tell you about.

Why are we here?

Where are we?

Dre!

Dre, why are we stopping here?

I got work in the morning.

Dre!

Val, open up!

Hey, man,

what the hell you want?

What you doing here,

sucker?

Dre, stop!

Yeah.

Dre, stop!

Stop, Dre!

Dre, stop!

Why did you do that?

Shut up!

Dre, if Val got

a new boyfriend,

if you're over her,

so what?

Shut the fuck up!

I had never seen

Dre like that.

Get in the car!

Like, Dre was gone

and some crazy hate took over.

♪ I told you to go

♪ I want to be alone

♪ Alone

♪ I told you to go

♪ I just

want to be alone

♪ Alone

Mmm.

♪ Yeah

Oh.

Hell, yeah.

♪ Go

Man,

she's killing, man.

That's smooth.

Okay.

Hey, man.

Yo!

Yeah?

God damn, man,

that working overtime.

Look at you.

- That was smoking.

- Thank you.

You got some great ideas.

Girl, you all over this album.

Thanks, man.

Yo, check this out.

♪ I told you to go

- I like that.

- Yeah, I like that.

♪ I want to be alone

♪ Alone

♪ I told you to go

Lord.

Oh, yeah.

♪ I just want to be alone

♪ Alone, alone

Yeah.

♪ Yeah

Mmm! Mmm!

♪ Go

Oh, man.

I ain't never heard nothing

like this before, man.

We breaking the mold.

Yeah, we making the mold.

I'm telling y'all, man,

Ruthless Records

is right on time.

'Cause we some

ruthless motherfuckers.

So I'm guessing that

makes me N.W.A. now?

What, for doing what?

Ho chatter?

Any bitch can do that.

Ruthless!

Hey!

When Jerry Heller

started managing N.W.A.,

the whole world opened up.

The world is waiting,

and it's buying tickets.

New home.

I don't

love you that much.

Small-ass toilet.

- Look at this.

- What?

Got a bathroom.

Oh, man, got food on here.

All right, we got

five cities in five days.

Okay?

You're going to

be tired, hungry,

grumpy, and smelly.

Guess what?

I don't give a shit.

As long as you deliver

on that stage,

I'll get you all the booze,

sleep and showers

that you need.

Man, what about bitches?

What?

Eazy, shut up!

That you're going to

have to do on your own.

Bitches ain't my job.

Let's roll.

Don't get up.

This affects Dre,

so it affects you, too.

What's up, Jerry?

You're up.

Dre, I think that you have

a prodigious talent.

It's a huge talent

in a very small box.

The stuff you're

doing with rap now,

that's amazing.

All right?

But I think this is

just the beginning.

I think there's

no limit for you.

When we get back,

I want to show you

and MICHEL'LE the world

you've been missing.

What do you mean?

You're going to

have money now, honey.

Money opens up

the world to people,

places, experiences that

you've never had access to.

Cool.

White world's

opening up.

You could be

our official

tour guide, J.

You know, Dre, you have

a great woman right here.

You take care of her.

♪ Let me hear you say

N.W.A. was blowing up.

Full of controversy.

They was like Elvis to us.

And there were lots of women.

It's raining pussy, yo!

Get on the bus!

Quick!

Lots and lots of women.

Lots.

This was only the beginning

of the craziness.

Being on tour might

not be the best thing

for your relationship.

Sometimes in life,

there's just too many titties.

Get your flabby ass

up out of my seat

and away from my man!

You'd better do

what she says.

You don't even have

the decency to put

a goddamn towel down?

Ain't nobody want to sit

on your butt-naked ass print.

I bet y'all think

this is funny.

What if I decided to

throw myself a party

and invite a bunch

of male strippers

and just dudes

from the 'hood

with their Johnsons

all saluting the flag?

That's enough,

that's enough.

Hey, Dre.

Look.

What the hell's

Suge Knight doing here?

I can't explain it,

but when I first met

Suge Knight,

I felt this surge

of pure evil fall over

everything around him.

What's up?

N.W.A. kicking ass.

Proud of y'all.

What up?

I'm making

Compton get on the map.

You don't invite a thug,

drug-dealing felon

into your house.

Guy's a lowlife.

That's being judgmental,

Jerry. Relax, man.

Y'all kicking ass, man.

Y'all got even Ken and Barbie

rapping to this shit.

Hey!

Hi, Jerry.

Beautiful dress.

Thanks.

You look gorgeous.

Oh.

Give me a little twirl.

You like it?

Yeah.

What happened to my

girl from the 'hood?

Jerry, what's this?

You know, it's squid.

It's delicious.

- Squid?

- Yeah.

Like octopus?

Fish eggs and octopussy.

I mean, white people

eat some crazy shit.

Look at us.

Life is good, right?

Yeah.

Yeah, it is.

You think it could be

like this every day?

You and me?

No.

Yeah, you're right.

Come here.

Hey, man, if he wrote

as much as he smoked,

we might have some

records to work with.

That's funny...

How about you just

come up with some shit

since you not writing?

How about that?

Hey, man. How about

I'm paying for this?

How about this Jheri Curl?

All this shit you talking.

Yeah,

that's what I thought.

I see

y'all playing, man.

We really need to think

of something new.

We trying to.

Yeah, keep

calling me Jheri Curl.

Hey, man, listen...

What's up?

- What's up, baby?

- Usual.

Eazy's mouthing off

about his sex life.

Man, you

a jealous-ass man,

you know that?

- I'm jealous?

- Oh...

I'm just trying

to figure out what's next,

you know what I'm saying?

Man, Dre over there

being a misunderstood genius.

Yup.

We need something fresh.

How about that?

Yo, yes we do.

We need something.

Keep drinking, man.

How about

you write something?

Shut up, Cube!

let me ask you something.

Hmm?

How would you like

to make a record?

You know, like for real?

You.

If you want it, do it, baby.

Oh, my God!

Yes! I would love to!

Okay, cool.

Let's see what you got.

What I got?

Bring me your material,

and, uh,

you'll be Ruthless Records'

first female artist.

That'd be dope.

So does, like,

that mean I can

get some now?

Come on.

Shut up!

Where are you going?

Uh, I got to

start writing.

Wait, wait, wait.

Who's going to fetch

us more dinner?

It looks to me

like Peter Pan

and the Lost Boys

got to find a new Wendy.

Where is she going?

And who the hell is Wendy?

I was so excited.

I had so many song

pieces in my head.

But none of them

came together.

Asleep?

Mmm-hmm.

I'm hungry.

I left something

for you in the oven.

Yeah.

Yeah. Mmm!

♪ You say you love me

♪ And I think that is true

♪ But every night

my girlfriend tells me

♪ I should watch you

♪ Now I say I trust you

♪ But I want you to know

♪ I'm not a sucker

♪ Chill out,

your nose is

growing, Pinocchio

♪ So now I'm leaving

♪ And you know I tried...

Dre, she gonna

mess around and get

bigger than you, man.

I mean, she damn

sure got more talent.

♪ You say no more lies

And I'll try to understand

♪ But there's

a little exaggeration

♪ In almost every man

♪ Now I say I trust you

♪ But I want you to know

♪ Sounds like you're

crying wolf, baby

♪ I think it's

time for you to go...

She's busting

your balls, bro.

Damn.

♪ I tried

♪ You don't appreciate

the time I take ♪

Yeah, jams in the club.

That's going to

be a goddamn hit.

I say we release

that as a single.

Hey.

Hello?

Nice.

We got another

genius, Dre.

Slamming.

Beautiful job.

Yeah?

Word up, girl.

So, do you

like it, Dre?

Mmm.

Yeah.

All right.

I got to go.

Jerry, you drive her home.

Dre?

Hey, man, that's

what I'm talking about.

Hey, good work tonight.

Am I missing something?

You know, uh,

Dre's been drinking

a lot more.

Is everything

all right at home?

Things are what

they are, Jerry.

Dre likes to drink

and he likes

to mess around.

You know that, right?

I'm sorry, MICHEL'LE.

Once the fame hits,

you know, they all do it.

Dre been

drinking and messing around

long before

he was famous.

I mean,

it'd be nice

if he stopped,

but I don't think

he ever will.

Are you all right

with that?

I'm making

a record, Jerry.

Me.

Little

squeaky-voiced

Life ain't perfect,

but all dreams cost

something, right?

Hi.

I was worried...

Everyone said

I should have left then.

Should have got out

while I still had

one eye working.

He was crying.

But I couldn't

leave Dre then.

I kept hearing Meme

telling me how it was

in a man's nature

to hurt the one he loved.

I was both

terrified and grateful

that Dre loved me.

Women been singing

their pain

for as long as

there's been music.

Women voices let

the world know exactly

what hurt them and why.

But in rap,

the women stop singing.

And without their voices

to anchor their truths,

the women were just

bitches to be slapped

and/or ho's to be

passed around.

Rap was about rage,

not beauty.

Rap hated most women

because it had to

hurt somebody.

And it did.

You're late.

Let's get started.

We're waiting here.

♪ There's no reason why

♪ We should be apart

♪ Mmm-mmm

♪ No, baby

♪ 'Cause searching

for something out there

♪ Will leave

two lonely hearts

♪ We've come too far

to let it all end

♪ I've told you

over and over again

♪ How I feel inside

You stopping already?

I gave you this track

a week ago. Where is it?

This ain't brain surgery.

Sing the song.

What is it,

it's almost cocktail hour?

Huh?

Yeah.

Sing the hook.

And you sing it

like you feel it,

or I'll make you feel it

when you get home.

Dre, the hook

ain't working.

If it ain't working, fix it.

You too stupid to do that?

Sing the song,

stupid bitch. Now!

Dre, I can't...

I can't work like this.

Look, you sing

the hook.

You sing it

like you feel it,

or I'm going to

make you feel it

when we get in the car.

Play the damn track.

♪ We've come too far

to let it all end

♪ I've told you

over and over again

♪ How I feel inside,

but if you go

♪ Baby, there's something

you should know

♪ Something you should know

♪ There's something

in my heart

♪ And it's got me

hooked on you

♪ Uh-huh

♪ It's got me hooked on you

Hey, why do I

have to wear this?

It's hot, and I can

barely move in it.

Because it's the look

I want for you. Enough.

You know I don't

like you wearing

a lot of makeup.

I need a weave, Dre.

Really, I'm going

to start dancing,

and it's going to

sweat my hair out.

At least send a stylist.

I'm your stylist.

What the hell

you know about it?

Dre, come on!

Hey, hey. Give her what

she wants. Calm down.

You talking to me, Jerry?

Look at me.

I'm Dre. I ain't Eazy.

You don't run me.

Man, I'm gonna run

your head into

a motherfucking wall,

if you keep holding up

this production, man.

Let's go.

We ain't got all day.

♪ To know, just ask me

and I'll say I'm nicety

Action!

♪ Oh, oh, oh, say I'm nicety

♪ Nicety

♪ It's got to be nicety

♪ Oh, oh, oh

Cut! Cut, cut.

Hold up, hold up.

Is everything okay, Eaz?

That's what I'm

about to ask you.

You all right?

It's this

turtleneck and the jacket.

It was Dre's idea.

He wants me to

look like somebody's

dancing grandma.

Say what? Huh?

Bring your ass.

Dre.

- Dre...

- Shut the fuck up!

Who you talking to?

Oh, man.

- We got to do something.

- That's messed up.

That's not right.

Where's MICHEL'LE?

Dre?

She's fine,

all right?

Shit!

All right,

everyone. Take five.

Hey, I'm talking

to you.

Get off me.

What's wrong with you, man?

You ain't got to

do her like that, man.

She a sweet girl.

What's wrong with you, man?

What, you

in charge here, huh?

No, you ain't.

Handle this shit, Jerry.

Look, you should

seriously leave his ass.

How much more of this

shit you got to take?

E, I'm fine.

You don't got to

deal with this.

I'm fine, E.

Jerry, take care of her, man.

- No, we can start.

- He's right.

Look, I'm fine.

Let's just go.

Stay here.

I want

to shoot my video.

I'm good. Let's just start.

I'm ready.

Can somebody play

the music, please?

Oh.

Hey, Eazy.

Listen, Dre's headed home.

Full tank.

He's drunk as hell.

You really need to get

the hell out of there.

You hear me?

All right.

I started to premedicate.

Booze, pills.

Never had to buy my own drugs.

If I got myself drunk,

Dre's fist didn't hurt

as much.

Why didn't I leave his

two-fisted drunk ass?

That's what you're

thinking, right?

Well, guess what?

I don't know.

And I didn't understand love.

Not at all.

Baby.

Come on.

Please don't go.

Dre, no!

Please, please!

Please don't go.

Baby...

Was I weak?

Was he strong?

I couldn't tell you.

I didn't know what love was.

Despite how things

were with Dre,

my career was taking off.

My album went gold.

And suddenly,

I was blowing up everywhere.

He's still at it?

It's gotten

worse, Meme.

I don't know what

I'm doing wrong.

Baby, if you love him,

you'll put up with it.

It's up to you how

much you can take.

But just think of it as a job

that pays you well.

Hey!

Hey.

Look at you.

I'm proud of you.

Thank you.

You hang in there. Mmm?

Bye, Meme.

- Oh!

- Champagne.

You're too good to me.

You should feel

very proud of yourself.

What?

You sold 500,000 copies.

That's gold, MICHEL'LE.

You... You are a superstar.

What do you want

to do next?

Next?

Mmm-hmm.

Jerry, I don't know.

I'm just so happy.

This is... I always

dreamed of this.

You know, me and Dre,

we used to talk about...

Hey, hey, hey.

This is about you,

not Dre.

Hmm?

Cheers.

You like to travel?

Uh, yeah.

Okay.

How would you like

to open up for MC Hammer?

What?

You want me to

make a call right now?

Tell him you said yes?

Well, I got to

ask Dre first,

obviously, you know?

MICHEL'LE, really? Come on.

Jerry...

I cook for Dre.

How long would I be gone?

I mean, I clean the house.

Dre's going to be

on tour himself.

So who cares if

he has to cook?

you need this time alone.

Body and soul,

am I right?

♪ Can't touch this

And off I went on my own.

It was wonderful.

The dancers, musicians.

For the first time,

I had friends

who loved what I loved.

I never worked harder

in my life.

But I loved

every minute of it.

Without Dre,

I was living clean

and having

the best time

of my life.

It's 3:00 a.m.

Who are you fucking?

Dre, when the hell

did you get here?

What you been doing?

Hmm?

Don't touch me, Dre.

A bunch of us went

out to eat, okay?

What the hell you

expect me to do, huh?

Eat alone?

You gained some weight.

But you look good.

Did not, Dre.

Yeah, you have.

Right here.

Do you miss me?

Hmm?

I can't

have a baby, Jerry.

I can barely

keep myself sane.

Look,

you have time,

all right?

This doesn't need to happen.

Nobody needs to know.

Dre finds out,

Jerry, he'll kill me.

This isn't Dre's choice.

What's not Dre's choice?

Um...

I'm pregnant, Dre.

That's great.

I don't think

that's great, Dre.

Not right now,

you know?

Maybe in a few years,

but I can't have

a baby right now, Dre.

I know

excellent doctors, okay?

They can perform...

Shut the fuck up, Jerry!

Are you talking about

killing my child?

Leave now, Jerry.

Dre, Dre, come on, think

about her career, all right?

She's just getting started.

Jerry, you should go.

He's right.

This is between

me and Dre.

I will not leave

you here alone.

Please.

Now, Jerry.

I'm right

outside, MICHEL'LE.

If you weren't

pregnant with my child,

I'd kick your ass.

By the time

the Hammer tour ended,

I was three-and-a-half

months pregnant.

Dre was due back

from his own tour,

so I came back home

a couple of days early

to put the house in order.

Hey.

Who are you? What are

you doing in my house?

That girl is five

inches and 45 pounds

bigger than you.

You ought not to be

bookin' with my baby

on the way.

That bitch

was in my bed.

I told you.

Stop lying.

Of course you were

sleeping with her.

You moved her in here.

It was just temporary.

Temporary?

This ain't temporary.

This was actually

your call.

You changing your mind?

Or you trying to tell me

I'm about to be

another one of your

five, six, seven...

Marry me.

What?

We might as well.

Look at us.

Look at everything

we've been through.

Will marrying me stop you

from fooling around

with other women?

I mean, we are

who we are, right?

You know

what I'm saying?

Hmm.

Come here.

Give me a kiss.

Dre was right.

We were who we were.

At least he was who he was.

I was still

trying to figure out

who I was to him.

To myself.

And to this new soul

living inside me.

Come on.

Come on, easy now.

Dre, be careful.

Don't you make

me drop my baby.

Now, you ain't

dropping nobody.

All right, all right,

all right.

Open your eyes.

Come here.

Come here, bud.

Yeah.

For once, Marcel,

Mommy ain't got

nothing to say.

It was big, cold.

A token, not a home.

The truth was,

I felt it was just his.

Yeah.

Jerry don't own me, man.

Stay and get screwed

if you want to,

but I ain't no slave, Dre.

- What about the group?

Don't say that to me.

Take him out of here!

I had it, man.

We made Jerry

and Eazy millions,

and what have we got?

What have we got

to show for it?

Yeah.

I'm done.

Didn't I tell you

to shut that baby up?

You got so many kids

you can't even remember

Marcel's name?

Where's my fucking

money, Jerry?

No, it ain't in no mail.

What?

I ain't had no

motherfucking mail

since I moved in here.

Mailbox?

We don't have no mailbox.

Man, this ain't

The Beverly Hillbillies.

You better give me my money.

It's the last I'm gonna ask.

I ask you one more time,

you know what I'm going to do.

You're rich, Jethro.

Uh-huh.

You calling Jerry back?

Jerry who?

Look at that Beamer

with the bow.

Is that yours

or is that mine?

It's my birthday present.

I know, I know.

Wow. My nigga gave me

some flowers.

I think I'm going

to kill him.

Happy birthday.

Your place off

the chain, girl.

Oh, damn.

He's going to squash

that munchkin Eazy

like a bug. Mmm-mmm-mmm.

Man, last I checked,

man, you were nothing

but a bodyguard.

I don't like

when he's around.

Yeah. Come on,

we got to get

this going.

You think

you some kind of

player now, huh?

You take your head

out of that dude's

back pocket and take a look,

you'll see

I'm telling the truth.

is being pimped, fellas.

What the hell

you talking about?

Maybe you like

being a bitch.

What the fuck

you say to me?

Eaz, man, chill.

Get his ass out of here, man.

Man, this is

my house.

What?

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, guys. Food's ready.

- Is anybody hungry?

- What's up, baby?

If you cook anywhere

as good as you sing,

I'm in trouble.

Suge, meet

my superstar,

Happy birthday, MICHEL'LE.

Thank you, Suge.

Got a present for you.

That's for you.

Go ahead, open it.

Oh, my God.

Put it on, Dre.

It's beautiful.

Lovely.

You should put that

on your next album cover.

See, I put money

in my artists.

Not Jheri curls.

I got to get back to

the grill. Thank you.

All right, baby.

Hmm. You got a winner.

It's a party, man.

Oh, shoot.

Are you okay?

Holy sweet Lord,

baby Jesus.

It's a present

from Suge Knight.

For real?

Take this off me.

I don't want nothing

about that gangster

hanging around my neck.

Pfft.

Sure, you don't

got to ask me twice.

Ooh!

Now, everybody,

it's Michel'le's

birthday party.

I was standing

on top of the world.

Or at the edge of a cliff.

It's all

a matter of perspective.

Oh, my God, Dre!

Do you feel that?

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God.

Now, come on.

We got to get out.

I want to drive.

Nice ride, B.

Thank you.

You ought to get

rid of that bitch

you're riding with

and let a real man

ride with you.

Say what?

Dre, calm down.

They're drunk, we drunk.

It don't mean nothing, baby.

Yo, Dre,

you want to blow me?

Same reason why Cube

left the group, right?

Because you always

trying to screw him?

Dre, no. Stop.

What's up, nigga?

What's up?

Yo, Eaz, man,

we got to talk.

Yeah, meet me at

the office in one hour.

Cool.

Punk boy.

You headed

out again?

Why don't you mind

your own business?

Why you got a gun, Dre?

Because Suge said.

You listen to Suge now?

You taking tips

from a thug?

Well, that thug

is getting our

contracts back.

Is that why

you meeting Eazy?

Ruthless Records,

Eazy, Jerry.

That's all history.

Now we rolling with Suge.

Eazy and Jerry are

our friends, Dre.

What about N.W.A.?

Man, fuck N.W.A.!

Let Jerry and Eazy go

jerk each other off.

Don't you think

you should have talked

to me about this, Dre?

That necklace,

was that supposed

to buy me?

What'd he buy you with, Dre?

Shut the fuck up!

Hey, come get this baby!

What kind of mother are you?

♪ La-dee-da

21-40, in between I reside ♪

The Death Row crowd

just had a different vibe.

♪ I control everything

♪ The secrets of mankind

The one-world fling

♪ I'm a dragon

♪ Never gave the organization

With closed caption

♪ Make it happen

Watch them grown

into assassins

♪ Red dust

Where your ashes be ♪

It's like

feeding time at the zoo

I do not want to visit.

Well, I am doing

everything over

in the ugliest fabric

I can find.

I told the designer

to make it thug-proof.

Ah. A couple of

stainless steel benches

will do just fine.

Prison cell chic.

your man wants

a threesome.

Tell him he can

screw himself twice.

Do you know why he

likes you so much?

Because you keep

his house clean.

Oh, no, she didn't.

Should I kill her?

She'll stain your carpet.

Good point.

Look at that ho.

Excuse me?

Hey.

Folks want more chicken.

I look like

Colonel Sanders to you?

Say what?

Oh, my God, MICHEL'LE.

What you doing?

Yo, Dre, man,

let's take this

to the studio, man.

Yo! I'm going

to say this once.

Everybody get the hell

out of this man's house.

Get out!

Turn off the music.

I'll get my guy

to clear your house,

all right?

♪ Headed towards death

in the Impala

♪ It's all for a G

without a father

♪ Mama praying,

hoping for the lottery

♪ Keeping hope alive

Living out these prophecies

♪ Ain't nobody killing me

♪ Fifty others,

but the blast

on our enemies ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think we killed

that one, y'all.

Lay that. Come on in.

♪ Go proud on my enemies

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah.

Suge.

Love you, homeboy.

Oh, my God.

Pac, that was amazing.

Think so?

What? You were just

right in every pocket.

Shut the hell up, stupid.

This man don't want

to hear your shit.

You sound like

you want to suck him off.

Pac, I'm gonna lay it.

I'll get at you later.

All right, my boy.

You want to

suck me off?

That was amazing

in there.

I'm just living my dream.

What about you?

Are you living

your dream?

Yeah.

Dre says we're gonna

finish my album.

I feel like I'm

locked in a cage.

And my dreams are just

so far away from me.

If I can get my dream,

as jacked up as I am,

you can get yours.

Right?

Yeah.

Mommy, I'm hungry.

Mmm.

Mommy!

You got to be kidding.

Suge Knight. Leave a message.

Suge, it's MICHEL'LE.

Um...

Dre's been gone

for two weeks.

I have no car,

no keys, no cash.

And he didn't pay

the light bill.

He let them

turn our lights off.

Please, just...

Suge, if you could tell him

that I need money.

Diapers, food.

The baby's out

of his vitamins.

Please just...

Just have him call me.

Damn it, Dre.

What are you making?

Hmm?

Daddy.

It's Daddy, Marcel.

Come on.

Let's go see Daddy.

Oh, my God.

Come in.

Thank you, Suge.

I mean, to think

you came out of your house

in this weather.

I got kids.

I know what it's like.

What's up, little man?

Hey.

It's raining.

I know it's raining.

It is raining.

And I want that thing.

There you go.

Dre's a genius,

but he don't got no right

to dog you the way he do.

Yeah.

I know.

Bye, little man.

We got to get you

back in the studio.

What's up, baby?

The nice thing

about prescription drugs

is you don't feel nothing.

The terrible thing

about prescription drugs

is you don't feel nothing.

I was trapped.

I didn't see Dre much.

Vicodin, Xanax, Ambien, Zoloft

were my new best friends.

That night, I binged.

I drank, smoked, took pills.

What did it matter?

It's like I took

a long overdue vacation

from life.

From reality.

♪ You were getting teased

And it scarred you

when you were young

♪ Now you're getting older

And you been on your grind

♪ Your paper off the scale

So you feel like it's time

♪ So you got a nose job

That's the primary thing

♪ People teased you as a kid

And for some reason you hid

♪ Always into high fashion

Girl, you heavy like lead

♪ Liposuction out your shell

Like a chick in an egg

♪ Feeling confident

But now you're

becoming obsessed

♪ First your nose

Then your weight

♪ Now your butt

And your breasts

♪ It's a vanity fair

Cosmetic overdose ♪

So, you really MICHEL'LE?

Um...

I am.

You know, I was

doing hard time

a few years ago.

I used to hear you

on the radio.

Your voice, your singing,

kept me alive in there.

So, why you not

singing no more?

Um...

You know...

I had a baby.

But I'm gonna

sing again. I am.

I'm going to create

a new album

with Death Row Records.

I'm going to do that.

Marcel! Marcel!

Marcel!

No. Marcel!

Marcel!

Marcel...

No, please!

Yo, T, T, T, T.

Not her, man.

It's MICHEL'LE, man.

She's my friend.

Yo, come on, man.

Let's go.

Happy graduation, asshole!

Okay.

I got to go.

No, no. MICHEL'LE,

Raise it up.

Exactly. Raise up the tempo.

Cool.

♪ I run through your zone

Like it's land I own

♪ Easy come, easy go

Like cash I've blown

♪ I've shown in the fire

The desire full grown... ♪

I need money

to go to rehab.

Look...

I got to get

better, Dre.

Go take some 7UP

and some aspirin.

That always works.

No, Dre.

Dre, this is not a hangover.

I got to get clean.

'Cause I have to be over it.

I want Marcel

to be safe.

Fuck what you want.

I want to be

a family, Dre.

Fuck what you want.

Look, I got an artist

in the booth. All right?

Can't you see that?

Why are you bringing me

your shit?

I got to be

with family, Dre.

Man, take five.

Dre!

Look...

Please!

What is wrong

with you?

You a mess.

Man, get your

shit together.

Dre!

Don't walk out on me!

MICHEL'LE, if you're serious,

I can get you into rehab.

They can fix you.

But it's going

to take work.

You ready

for that?

Yeah.

Yes.

You're going to leave now.

Don't tell

or call anybody

where you're going.

How's the little man?

He's safe.

Listen, I'm going

to make sure he has

everything he needs.

But you got to go.

Okay?

And so,

Suge Knight, the man

I had been so afraid of,

turned out to be

an angel in my life.

I always thought

recovery meant

finding something

you had lost.

For me, though,

it was finding

strength I never had.

Looking at myself,

I didn't find a whole lot

that made me happy.

I'm sorry.

I started writing every day.

Lyrics, poems, apologies.

Road maps for a way

into a new life.

I came back

from the edge.

I got sober,

clean, healthy.

Hey.

Take five.

Come here.

Hi.

Gosh, you look

beautiful.

Thank you, Suge.

Really, I mean,

you saved my life.

No, only you

could've done that.

I just take care

of my people.

Look who's healthy

and strong.

What's up?

What's going on?

I'm awesome.

Suge. You heard

my new track?

Man, you ain't

never getting no

airplay with that.

Suge, fuck airplay, man.

This is my truth, man.

This is how I'm feeling.

I bet you if Dre was here,

Dre would've been like...

Yo, Dre ain't here!

You want to talk

about truth?

Truth is,

I pay for your time.

You'd be nothing

but a broke-ass,

unknown baby rapper

if it wasn't for me.

So, fix the hook.

When you ready,

we can start on your album.

I'm ready now.

Great. I got some songs

for you I picked out.

Suge, you know I've always

written my own songs.

That wasn't writing.

That was improvising off of

Dre's half-assed tracks.

I'm talking about

crossing over into,

like, pop stardom.

I'm talking about

Janet Jackson, Whitney.

Come on.

Okay.

I mean, whatever

you say, Suge.

I really just can't

believe how big he is.

Yeah.

Here you go, baby.

Thanks, Meme.

Rehab was so good.

It really gave me time

to just think about me,

and what I want,

and what I need.

You know,

what's best for Marcel.

Oh, MICHEL'LE.

I think I've been

teaching you

the wrong things.

About men.

Your life

wasn't like mine.

It just wasn't.

Today's woman

has got to stand up

for herself.

Don't you ever

let that goddamn Dre

hit you again.

I'm not

going back to Dre, Meme.

Finally. Phew!

It's a damn shame

that heifer gonna

get all your stuff.

You didn't tell her?

Tell me what?

Uh...

Dre got engaged

soon after you left.

The wedding's this Thursday.

T, I don't care.

I've spent enough of my life

talking about Dre, okay?

The best thing about

Dre is right there,

playing with them toys.

Is it okay if he just

stays a little bit longer?

You know, just until I

feel strong, Meme. I...

I really don't want

to mess up again.

Of course he can.

Come here.

Thank you.

What do you want?

Wow!

Man...

You look amazing.

You got no business here, Dre.

We got a kid together.

And you still don't use

Marcel's name.

I just want to talk.

You going to

let me in or what?

Thank you.

Man...

This is real nice.

What you doing here, Dre?

You know, when you left,

things changed.

I heard about

your wedding.

Congratulations.

I ain't talking

about them changes.

It's Death Row.

Suge.

You know, he's trying

to control me

and break me down.

But I'm breaking loose.

I'm starting

my own label.

Aftermath.

You know, Pac.

He hates Suge.

He wants in with me.

I want you to come, too.

We're gonna start

your album...

And what, Dre?

You know me better

than anybody, MICHEL'LE.

We've been through

so much together.

Baby, we ain't got

to end things now.

Okay?

Get out, Dre.

Who you with?

Suge?

Not Suge!

Are you fucking

Suge Knight?

Dre, get out,

or I'm calling

the police.

And this ain't Compton.

They come real quick here.

You know,

you making a mistake.

So this...

So, this is how we

going to end this?

Go home to your wife, Dre.

And he was gone.

And I was free.

You look beautiful.

And armed.

Can I come in?

Yeah.

People ask me

if I slept with Suge

to punish Dre.

I didn't.

People ask me if

I slept with Suge

to pay him

for his kindness to me.

And that's not true either.

Suge was kind,

at least in the beginning.

And kindness was new.

I slept with him

because I wanted to.

I'm a big man

with big appetites.

I already

got a wife.

I don't need

another one.

If you'd be my lady,

a part of my city,

I'd make sure

you'd want for nothing.

Let's do the math here.

Dre offered great sex,

brilliance, no respect,

chaos, violence,

hidden baby mamas.

Whereas Suge offered kindness,

generosity, limited sex,

job security,

access to power,

and a chance at a dream

I thought was dead.

So, hate me if you want to.

I said yes.

25-year-old

rapper was in the back seat

of a black BMW,

part of an informal

convoy of 10 cars,

when Las Vegas police

say shots were fired

from a passing white Cadillac.

Turns out

the same night Pac was shot,

Suge violated his parole

by getting into a fight.

Cops saw it all on video.

The judge gave Suge

five years.

My name is Peter Fenkel.

I handle business

matters for Suge Knight.

This is your

security detail, ma'am.

Security? What?

No, this is my house.

I don't need no bunch of

security running around...

This house

belongs to Suge Knight.

Here are his rules.

When most people go to jail,

their presence in the

outside world gets weaker.

It was not that way with Suge.

Mr. Knight

wants you to help

manage Death Row

while he's indisposed.

Indisposed?

He's in jail, not on a toilet.

I want to talk to him.

He's not allowed

visitations yet.

I'll let you know

when it's time.

I don't like this.

Look, you'll be paid

$30,000 a month

to follow

his orders,

as delivered

through me.

Thirty grand a month?

Sign here.

I was not to

make or attempt contact

with Dre or Tichi.

Suge even restricted visits

with my own grandmother.

For one year,

I didn't see Suge.

I had plenty of money,

nowhere to go,

and nothing to spend it on.

You look

beautiful, baby.

I missed you, girl.

You look really good, Suge.

I didn't notice you say

you miss me.

Suge, it's just the detail

you sent me, it's too much.

I just kind of feel like...

I just kind of

feel like I'm...

What, a prisoner?

There's people out there

that want me dead.

And the closest thing

to get to me

is to get to you.

But, look, the good news is,

you'll be able to visit

every weekend

during the duration

of my stay.

Suge...

I have my son on weekends.

I remind you,

he's paying you

$30,000 a month.

Time's up.

See you next weekend.

On Thursdays,

I went to jail.

It was like clockwork,

week after week.

But, Marcel's seventh birthday

was falling on the weekend.

I was determined

to give him a party.

So, I decided to

visit Suge a day early

so I could get back in time.

Visitor

for Marion Knight.

What are you doing here?

This is my day.

Your day for what?

Don't try that.

This has been my day

for the past year.

Year?

Suge always said that

he would take Dre's label

and his bitch.

You ain't nothing

but a trophy.

You don't get shit, do you?

Hey! What the hell?

Are you kidding me?

I was here first.

Calm down, ma'am.

This is not fair.

I can escort myself.

You disobeyed me.

I got the things

the way they are

for a reason.

But you

didn't ask me...

I'm sorry.

If you would have,

I would have

told you any days

but Thursday

through Sundays

were fine.

But you didn't ask me.

I can't do this

anymore, Suge.

But you can keep your money.

I'll move out.

Who do you love

most, MICHEL'LE?

Huh?

Is it your grandmother?

Your little boy, Marcel?

Is it your friend Tichina?

I bet it's Marcel.

He played T-ball today, right?

4:00 p.m.?

Dre's son.

Great Dre's son.

Thursday through Sunday

is completely fine, Suge.

I want to marry you, girl.

What?

But, Suge, you're

already married.

It's been taken care of.

Taken care of?

Suge...

Divorced.

Annulled, actually.

Well, I'm flattered,

Suge, really.

But, I just don't think...

You don't have a choice.

I need you, and you owe me.

I can't run

my business out there

without someone

I can legally trust.

Okay. What about

your Tuesday bitch?

She already married.

Look, we get married,

and from then on,

we can meet every week

at the cottage.

Conjugal visits.

Mrs. Knight.

The Good Ship Lollipop

had just become the Titanic.

I was so excited.

Not for him, for me.

Hey!

For his release meant

my freedom, too.

I could have my life back.

This was his homecoming,

but it was

my getting-out party.

Oh! Lights out.

He's coming, he's coming.

Surprise!

Baby, welcome home.

Who that?

How much is this

going to cost me?

Just have a drink.

Welcome home.

All right, keep

the music up.

Hi.

Out of my way!

Who's ripping off Death Row?

After prison, Death Row

had financial troubles.

Suge was not happy.

I'm not going

down like this!

Get my car.

What's this, motherfucker?

See that right there?

Death Row. That's me.

Suge Knight.

What the fuck

you standing here for?

Get my car.

Man, get my car!

So, Suge,

you say you need product.

What about my album,

Hang Tyme?

It's finished,

and it hasn't

been released.

You're going to

bring that shit up?

Yeah, I was

just waiting on

the right time.

Fuck your album!

Talking about

singing about

you in love with

the wrong man?

You talking about Dre,

aren't you?

You're hurting me.

Hurting?

You living on my dime,

eating food that I paid for,

and you talking about

loving about Dre? Huh?

Bitch!

Give us a minute.

Listen, I told nothing to 'em.

We was playing football.

You got hit with a pass,

hear me?

Football.

You got hit with a football.

All right?

Sir, we need

to get going.

All right,

don't tell 'em

nothing else.

Footballs

don't leave ring prints.

Tell the police.

Take his ass

back to jail.

What good will it do?

Suge in jail

is just as powerful

as Suge out of jail.

Mmm-mmm-mmm.

It ain't right.

If you don't leave,

your ass gonna get killed.

No, I won't.

Why?

You got

superpowers?

Huh? You hear me?

Suge loves kids.

What? Kids?

No.

What y'all girl

talking about?

Oh, my God!

I was pregnant.

That's what saved me.

My baby girl's name is Bailei.

And while I was trying

to be the best mom

I could be to her...

I'm going to court.

Make sure you bring

the baby.

I want the judge to know

I'm a family man.

Six months.

Suge was out thugging

and getting arrested.

I saw my chance.

I took Bailei

and moved back in

with Grandma.

Then all hell broke loose.

MICHEL'LE Knight,

you're wanted from the U.S.

Department of Justice.

Go ahead and

put that down.

That's evidence.

Are you aware that

there are three houses

and 42 cars bought by

Mr. Knight in your name?

I didn't know.

As Mr. Knight's wife,

the court would hold you

responsible for his debts.

Do you recognize these?

Um...

Yeah, it's the

papers and stuff

Suge's lawyer

told me to sign

when we were

getting married.

Well, Miss Toussaint,

these papers are bogus.

You were never

legally married

to Marion Knight.

He never divorced

his wife.

You son of a bitch.

You're back.

Bitches always come back.

You weak, selfish,

lying thug.

Bet y'all didn't know

big, bad Suge

needed to hide

behind a woman's titties.

What the hell

you talking about?

It's all fake.

Fake artists, fake papers,

fake deals.

Fake marriage.

None of it was real.

I got a baby

on you, bitch.

Bailei's real.

Bailei exists

'cause God was trying

to get my attention.

Trying to get me

to look at my own

damn, pitiful life.

You ungrateful, stupid bitch.

I gave you everything.

You gave me hell

dressed up

in dollar bills.

I'm gonna crush you.

No, you won't.

'Cause I won't let you.

They coming for you, Marion.

And when they do,

I'm telling them

every damn thing I know.

You know what happens

when people

threaten me, right?

You want to shoot me?

'Cause it's going to take

more than some bullets

to keep the truth

from grabbing your ass.

I'm not scared of you,

Suge Knight.

It's your turn to be scared.

Baby, you deserve

so much better

than this world

of rap and rage.

This is not for you.

You and your brother Marcel

deserve so much better.

Don't you ever let

anybody hit you.

No matter what, okay?

And don't you ever,

ever trade your freedom

for security or power.

You got to own

yourself, Bailei.

Baby, you got to own yourself.

I grew up. Had to.

My life became my kids.

I had children to raise,

to protect.

Legal fines to pay,

homework to check,

and rent to dig up.

I had to start over.

And this time,

I had to do it on my own

and get it right.

♪ There were times

♪ I remember

♪ Had to fight

♪ Just to hold my head up

♪ Those times when

even my friends tried

♪ To make a fool of me

♪ There were things

that my heart attacked

♪ That they just couldn't see

♪ Some said I was hopeless

♪ Mind tangled in the night

♪ Strong hearts

Just keep on going

♪ And that is why

I'm still standing here today

♪ If you're lost

♪ In your troubles

♪ And the world

♪ Just seems

to forget you

♪ If you remember sunshine

♪ Even on your darkest day

♪ Just follow

what your heart says

♪ And you will find the way

♪ Some said

that I was hopeless

♪ A mind

tangled in the night

♪ Strong hearts

Just keep on going

♪ That is why

♪ I'm still

standing here today

♪ Come together

♪ Raise up your voices

♪ This time

my song of love and life

♪ It won't go away

♪ I'll sing forever

♪ Here in the sunshine

♪ I've lived to see the sun

break through the storm

♪ And I'm so glad

I'm standing here today

♪ I'm standing

♪ And I'm so glad

♪ I'm still

standing here today ♪

I'm so glad

I'm standing here today.

Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le (2016) - full transcript