Empire (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - A High Hope for a Low Heaven - full transcript

Previously on Empire...
Baby, come back in.

Get up out my house!

COOKIE:
You still with Anika?

I was never with Anika.

You feeling me?
No!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to
come on to you. You forgive me?

Meet your new
Gutter Life president,

Mr. Andre Lyon!
(cheering)

PRYCE:
He's testing you.

I baptize you in the name

of the Father and the Son.



Amen!

You got something and it
don't come around every day.

Let me help you do
something with it.

You are the fifth
promoter I met with.

I'm not afraid
to get my hands dirty.

Drop it, bitch!

Who sent you?
Thirsty!

Quit trying
to steal our tracks.

Cookie and Lucious got beef,

but that ain't got
nothing to do with you.

You need her.

More importantly,
she loves you.

Welcome to Lyon Dynasty.

You want to chillax here,



you gonna pay tax here.

What is this?!

(tires screech)

♪ ♪

A'ight, let's go!
Let's go!

Where y'all taking me?!
Get his punk ass out.

Get off me!
Hurry up!

Get off me!
Shut up!

Damn, you put it on me, girl.

(Becky laughs)

You put it on me.

I know.

(laughs)

I got to get some sleep
before work.

Well, we ain't slept yet.

I want to stay up here with you
all day, but, um,

I got to go.

I got to go to work early

and prepare for my meeting
with my new boss Andre.

You could be a few minutes late.

I can't be a second late.
(chuckles)

Oh, you keep that leg right
there, you gonna end up late.

Mm, no.

I should go.

You got this, baby.

Can't no man knock you off
of your game.

No man?
Not unless his name

is J Poppa.
Oh, who's that?

Keem, this is my fifth time
calling you. (chuckles)

Now, you better
not be ducking me.

Laz got you the headline spot
for the Big Apple Jam.

Okay, that's big, Keem;
that's big for you

and the Lyon Dynasty.

So you need to get your ass
down here to rehearse.

I got Destiny's Problem Child
looking for their lead man,

so if that's still you,
I suggest you hit me back ASAP!

(sighs) You wonder why Gladys
ever had the Pips, right?

(laughs)
Who?

Seriously?

Y'all need to stay off
y'all's cell phones

and quit all that
Tinderoni and Grinding,

and learn some history...

Porsha? Porsha?

Shut up, please. Thank you.

Okay, until Hakeem
gets here,

ladies, we need to run the song.

We need to work on the song.

So, Laura, take it
from the top. Porsha...

The top of what, Cookie?

We already did the intro,
the chorus.

Hakeem comes in right after.

Right, okay.

Excuse me for a second.

Just, uh...

Hakeem Lyon,

get your black ass down here.

Well, okay, Miss Thing.

Since you already know
the choreography, let me see it.

Okay.

♪ ♪
Three, four, five, six...

Hey, Cookie, you should
let me spit Hakeem verse.

You know, just to get them
into it. I got skills.

No, you don't.
I do.

No, you don't.
And you need to stop asking.

'Cause in a minute, you gonna
be asking for a new job

somewhere else, see,
'cause I should've

fired your dumb ass,
like, ten times alre...

(phone rings)
See, wait.

Finally.

Yes.
(laughs)

What the hell?

No, that's not real.

It's Lucious.

(piano playing gentle melody)

♪ Delta John to Alpha 1 ♪

♪ Said my systems checkin' ♪

♪ Something's going on ♪

♪ What to do ♪

♪ Are you coming through? ♪

♪ Delta John to Alpha 1 ♪

♪ Said my systems crashed ♪

♪ And something's come undone ♪

♪ 911, copy, copy you ♪

♪ Delta John to Alpha 1 ♪

♪ Said my system check is done ♪

♪ Know the rules
of how to play ♪

♪ Learn the truth,
it happened today ♪

♪ 'Cause you won't love ♪

♪ And he can't leave ♪

♪ You can't fight
the urge to cheat ♪

♪ You just hide awake, alone ♪

♪ Till the night
and days are gone ♪

♪ So be good ♪

♪ Fair thee well ♪

♪ Follow through ♪

♪ Move on ♪

♪ Mon'ami, mon'ami ♪

♪ You be true, you be true ♪

♪ And I'll try ♪

♪ Be strong but you won't love ♪

♪ The way you should ♪

♪ Sometimes love
can make it good ♪

♪ If you're listening ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh... ♪

♪ But you hurt love. ♪

Yo, I'm sorry.
Stop for one second.

Oh, come on.
You were killing it, man!

I'm sorry, my head
just ain't in this.

Okay, then where is it?
What's wrong?

For one, you know the Staples
Center didn't hit me back.

Wait, hold on, hold on.
Hey, hey!

Give me a, give me a minute.
Give me a minute.

Take a break.

Question is:
is it in your head

or is it in your heart?

I don't know, man, I just...

I'm so disgusted with myself
since Michael cheated.

Fidelity ain't...
everybody ain't made for it.

Yeah, but that's past shady.

He up on my balcony with his
little thing hanging out...

No, no, no, I don't need to know
the details, I don't need...

All you need to know
is that the Staples Center,

there's no way
they gonna pass on you.

And regarding Michael,

you got to put that
into the music, man.

Come on.

Engineer?

(piano playing)

♪ Made the choice
to play the field ♪

♪ But you got nervous
and high at the wheel ♪

♪ You like to voice... ♪

Now I knew there was
some low-ass levels

you would go to, Lucious.
I am working!

But this, this is
some otherworld lowness.

Look what he had done
to your brother.

What?

I didn't do this.

This ain't me, Cookie.

Oh, my God.

They really snatched him.

Wait, wait, wait.

Oh, baby, damn!

I know what this is.
I know what this is.

Come on, come with me.

Yeah, I'm coming, too.

No!

The further away
from this for you,

the better.
They will take you, too.

Are you kidding me?
I'm coming!

No!
You're gonna stay right here.

Get your ass down, man!

We should've taken
the more famous brother.

The one with talent.

This one here
is probably worth 50 cents

on Jamal Lyon's dollar.

What, y'all some cowboys?

What, y'all a bunch
of punk-ass cowboys?!

Well, my name Hakeem...

(groans)

What was that, you little bitch?

Huh? Huh?!

(Lucious sighs)

Yeah, we gonna get
him back okay.

How do you know?
How do you know, Lucious?

Because they only
asked for $40,000.

If this was
some long-term

or they gonna hurt
him or kill him...

Don't say that!
Don't say that!

I'm just saying,
it's a simple snatch-and-grab.

"Snatch-and-grab"?
Really, Lucious?

You know where we come from,
ain't no such thing

as no snatch-and-grab;
they snatch your ass,

it's a wrap.

Yeah, well,
things done changed.

Nobody gets
bodied these days.

You know, this is just

somebody trying to
do a simple hustle

and they flexing on you.

Flexing on me?
Why me?!

Because you're a
rookie to the block

and they want
to remind you.

Look, don't forget, they know
that you're my baby mama

and they know that
he's related to me,

so whatever happens,

we're gonna get our
boy back, I swear.

(cell phone ringing)

Okay. Go ahead. That's them.

Hello?

Yep, we got the money.

We at the drop-off!

No, no, hold on,
hold on, hold on.

Look, before we go any further,

I want to know that
there's proof of life.

Proof...?
Proof that he's okay.

(whispers):
Proof of life?!

Lucious and Cookie Lyon,
I'm still alive.

This video is proof of life.

I'm still here.

Yeah, I see it.

We're good, so...
where do you want it?

Yeah, I see the
welding spot.

All right.

All right, thank you.

What was that, Lucious?

We're good to go.
Uh-huh.

What was that?

You said this was
just a snatch-and-grab.

What is "proof of life"?

Th-There's always
variables.

Look, it's a different
time now, baby.

Just stay calm.

They said they gonna drop him
about three blocks west of here.

This is the drop
spot for them.

As we start rebranding Gutter
Life with me as president,

I'd like to get
to know our roster.

We listed all the artists,

the tickets sales,
digital downloads,

tour grosses
and the algorithms.

Mathematically, you can see
where our artists rank

against other independent
labels of the same size.

I already know the numbers.

But that's not where it starts.

Is it, Becky?

Of course not.

It starts with talent and drive
and having something...

You don't have to recite
what you learned

from your Empire intern manual.
Not here for that.

This all has to
mean something,

ladies and gentlemen.

Now, what if we based our roster

on the wealth
of an individual's character,

as well as their bottom line?

Becky,

can you set up a meeting for me
with each of these artists?

I'd like to get them to know
before I start pruning the tree.

Of course.

If they're not
up to standard...

...the new standard
of Gutter Life,

we have to drop them.

Don't make any sudden moves
when the drop-off car gets here.

Okay.
Okay? Just stay calm.

Okay, here they go.
Okay.

Now, this is on their terms,
let them make the release.

All right, all right.

Cookie!
No.

He's not here!

Lucious, Hakeem not here!
Hey, baby...

Hey, get your ass out!

Hey! Hey, man!

Hey, man,
where my son?!

Where's my son?

Hey, man, I don't
know your son, man!

Look, homeboy
asked to be let out.

And you let him out?!

Listen, two dudes paid me a G
to drive this van.

What did they look like?

I-I don't know.

What? What? Uh-uh! Shake him...

Please! Please! Please!

They gave me a phone, all right?

And directions...
I swear, that's all.

COOKIE:
Shut up, bitch!

Where did our
son go, Lucious?

Where's Hakeem?

(siren wailing in distance)

♪ ♪

Mama, stop.

Stop, stop, stop talking about

how everything's gonna be fine,

how I'm gonna be okay,
because clearly I'm not.

No, I have nothing!

I have no one.

Good-bye, Mom.

Hakeem,
what are you...?

What are you doing?

(panting)

♪ ♪

Look, Keem, I know you mad,
but we're trying to help.

We can't do that
if you don't let us in.

I understand you've been
through an ordeal, Hakeem,

and I'm just gonna
check you over.

I'm straight. Thank you.

Stop lying, boy. JAMAL:
Hakeem, what happened?

Man, you all right?
I said I'm straight.

ANDRE:
You need something, bro?

I don't need nothing except
for all y'all to fall back.

Tell your mother where you disappeared
for five hours. Hakeem, can you see

out of your eye? Is there
anything that you can recall...

I'm good, yo!

Why don't you let me determine
if there are any injuries,

then we can go from there.

I got nothing but a jacked eye.
That's it.

I'd like to see
if there are any signs

of any other
kind of abuse.

I'm out of here, yo.

COOKIE: No. No, you're
gonna take your ass

in the dining room

and let the doctor
do his job.

(phone vibrating)

COOKIE:
Why is she

blowing up your phone?

Leave him alone, Mama.
Mama.

Would you please
take off your jacket?

(doors close)

(sighs)

Lucious, I recommended

a couple of stitches
for the eye,

but it will close
with those butterfly bandages.

Other than that,
there's no serious injuries.

Boy's very lucky.

Doc, here.

I owe you. Thank you.

You're welcome. COOKIE:
Hakeem, what is wrong with you?

You can't tell we was worried
about your ungrateful ass?

I'm just ready to go.
I need a ride.

LUCIOUS:
No, what happened to you, son,

is my worst nightmare.
HAKEEM: It can't be worse

than the nightmare
of being your son.

No. I ain't your mama.

Watch how you talk to me.

Gotta watch nothing.

We in here tripping

like we some
white picket fence family.

Tell yourself whatever you need

so you can go to sleep,
but recognize

none of this would've gone down
if I wasn't your son.

This is because of you and you.

What? Boy...

No, no, no. Let him go.

Let him go.

He's just humiliated right now.

Give him a few days.

Staples Center passed on me.
What?

They claim that I am,
quote-unquote,

"too narrow of an artist
to fill their stadium."

That's code word for gay.

And I'm sorry,
Dad, that's because

Empire keeps on marketing
me as a gay artist.

But that's what you are.

That's not what I am.

I'm gay and I'm an artist,

but that don't make me
a gay artist,

and you of all people
should understand that.

(door slams)

And I'm gonna tell you
this much, Dad:

I'm gonna fire the whole
damn marketing team,

Steve Cho and all them suckers,
if they don't get it together.

No, you're not gonna
fire anybody.

You're gonna take that passion,

you're gonna put it
into the song.

Can you start it from, um,
right before the third hook,

middle part of
the-the high part?

Thank you.

(music begins)

♪ Go to hell ♪

♪ Nothing's left
inside this shell ♪

♪ 'Cause I've lived this long ♪

♪ And nothing's wrong
when living ends, no ♪

♪ You broke love,
la, la, la, love ♪

♪ La, love, la, love ♪

♪ You broke love ♪

♪ La, la, la, love,
la, la, la, love ♪

♪ La, love, but you broke love ♪

♪ La, la, la, love,
la, la, la, love, love ♪

♪ Love, you broke love ♪

♪ Oh... love ♪

♪ La, la ♪

♪ Love. ♪

(music ends)

Lucious.

(chuckles)

Jamieson.

LUCIOUS:
Why is Jamieson Hinthrop

in my studio?

Your brilliant
son asked me

for help reaching the heights
that he so richly deserves.

You do want that, right?

D-Don't worry about what I want

or what my son wants.

You know what, I didn't need
this clown in my life.

You don't need him in yours.

What is this?

Your father almost signed
with me after he left Beretti.

Till he found out I was gay.

Oh.

No, I didn't know that.

Well, look, times have changed.

Exactly. That's why
you don't need him.

You don't even work
with artists anymore, do you?

You're just a rich dude
that throws these lavish parties

and tries to manipulate
political candidates.

That's right, Lucious.

I am devoting the rest
of my life to making the world

a better place for LGBT people.

And I want to help you, Jamal.

And he's on the board
of the Staples Center, Dad.

Look, Mal, there's all kinds
of vampires in this business.

Some suck your blood,

others will suck your... Dad, don't d...
Nuh-uh. Don't do that.

The day I found out
that Lucious Lyon had a gay son

is the day that I knew,
I knew right then and there,

that there was a God.

Okay, see, nuh-uh.
All of this

back and forth is not
gonna go down.

Whatever issue that you two have
with each other is

between the both of
you, okay? Jamieson,

I brought you on board
because Empire

is marketing me in a niche way.

Yeah.
Dad,

I have to undo that. Period.

I say we put
the past behind us.

Jamal is a major talent, poised
to break all kinds of barriers,

and I would be honored
to use all of my influence

to help pave that way.

♪ ♪

♪ Dollars in the bank,
dollars in the bank ♪

♪ Bank ♪

♪ We be pulling rank ♪

♪ If you coming for the money ♪
♪ Whoo! ♪

♪ He ain't shootin' blanks,
I ain't shootin' blanks ♪

♪ Blanks ♪

♪ Fire in my tank, that's what ♪

(distorted): ♪ Keep me runnin',
got them runnin', r-runnin' ♪

(normal audio): ♪ I'm-a get my cake,
you can never take it from me ♪

(distorted): ♪ My mind
runnin', my mind runnin' ♪

(normal audio):
♪ Got these bitches runnin' ♪

(distorted): ♪ Go hard for the
money, I'm always around ♪

(normal audio): ♪ To come take
it from me, I lay you down ♪

(distorted):
♪ Handle my business ♪

♪ I stay on one hundred ♪

(normal):
♪ My level is different ♪

♪ Ain't none of you on it ♪

(distorted): ♪ I ain't playing
games with you losers ♪

♪ I'm the type
that can do what he want ♪

(normal audio): ♪ Got a shorty
who gonna ride with me ♪

♪ I ain't got to ask,
you know she gonna run ♪

♪ I just say it's nothin'
♪ (distorted): ♪ Dollars ♪

♪ In the bank,
dollars in the bank... ♪

Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!

This ain't the song
I came up with.

It is, Hakeem.

Uh, the playback's a little
faster, but we can slow it down.

How you gonna tell me, man?
I know the song I wrote.

How the hell y'all
think y'all ready

with y'all voice
sounding like static?

Who were
your musical inspirations?

EPMD,

KRS-One, Public Enemy,

any other hardcore Negro

not afraid to take it
to the streets.

If you could change one thing
about hip-hop today,

what would it be?

(snapping gum)

You think
hip-hop loves women?

You do know what "P-Busta"
stand for, right, playa?

Any other revenue streams
you think we should explore

in order to best tap
your fan base?

So, J Poppa, instead
of asking questions,

let me just cut to the quick.

I'm assuming the "J"
in "J Poppa" stands

for "joints"? "Jewels"?

"Jigga"?

Nah, man.

It's 'cause
my first name is Job.

As in the Book of Job?

"I know that my redeemer lives,

and that, in the end,
he shall stand on the earth."

Job 19:25.

I'm a PK.

Well, actually,
I'm a preacher's grandkid.

So that's where
the "Poppa" comes from.

A man's gotta show some love
to Grampoppa

for keeping me off the streets
and letting me work on my music.

You ever think
about incorporating the Word

into your music?

You could reach
a lot more people

with the light than you can
with the darkness, brother.

Are you for real?

Oh, yeah.

Let's do business.

It's gonna be fun.

LUCIOUS:
You know this business, Cookie.

Y'all damn near
asked for it.

Maybe you're just not cut out
for this part of the hustle.

He's your son, Lucious,
and he got hurt.

Baby, you know there are two
kinds of security in hip-hop.

There's the house dog
and then there's

the junkyard dog. And if you
gonna make it in this game,

you need both of them.

And the only reason you ain't
had to think about none of this

is because I've created
this blanket of security

with Empire.

So you gonna use this
as a way to say

we need to give up
and crawl back to you?

No, I don't want you back,
Cookie.

Just Hakeem.

And if you love him

like you say you love him,
Cookie,

you're gonna want that for him.

Listen, baby,
these wolves,

they done sunk
they teeth into you.

They ain't gonna let go
until they open up a vein,

and when they open it up,
they never letting it close.

And you gonna learn the hard way
why you need somebody like me

in your corner.

(scoffs)

You just gonna leave us
to the wolves?

So you can prove
your little stupid point?

You ain't a
boss, Lucious.

You's a busta.

Cookie...

Cookie, my ass.

Mmm.

(scoffs)

(door opens, closes)

♪ ♪

(glass clinks)

HAKEEM: ♪ ...new Benz
and that spoiler, whip... ♪

♪ Thirsty, need to sip... ♪

♪ On my dollars, uh ♪

(distorted): ♪ I ain't never gonna fall
off, I see most of y'all caught up ♪

♪ Keep on one hundred, mess up,
keep on one hundred, mess up ♪

♪ Dollars in the bank... ♪

(glass shatters)

(music stops)

(panting)

(rapping inaudibly)

♪ Keep on one hundred,
mess up the drama ♪

♪ You don't want no drama,
'cause money too long ♪

♪ Get that,
don't play with me. ♪

COOKIE:
Hakeem. Okay, Hakeem.

Look, you need to calm down.

I told you I got this
under control, right?

Look, I'm meeting
with a top security firm

right now as we speak.

Okay? So...

His little ass hung up on me.

(chuckles) Arguing with him
isn't gonna help.

(chuckles)
Lucious didn't set this up,

but he might as well have,
'cause this is playing

right into his hands.

(sighs) I need to get
a security team in place.

Hear me out, right?

Before you say
anything.

What if you hired the cats

that snatched Hakeem
and jacked Tiana?

Are you stupid?

(chuckles)

You being serious?

Yeah.

I told you
I used to be a cop.

Mm-hmm.

15 years ago, when I was
a rookie on the job,

there was a rash
of these quick grabs, right?

All of them
in the rap industry.

And the department
was chasing its own tail,

trying to figure out
who's pulling this off.

It turns out, right when
we got it locked down,

they all just stopped.

And you know why?

'Cause the labels
put them on payroll.

They were hitting
them off legitimately,

'cause it's easier
that way for everybody.

"Legitimately."

House dogs and
junkyard dogs.

(sighs)

No, no. I don't want those
wolves in my house. No.

Then hire ex-cops
at Lyon Dynasty.

I... No!

I don't mess with cops.

Oh, no offense.

Nah, none taken.

(clicks tongue)

Guess I just got to
pay someone then.

(sighs)

Uh, if those wolves get
into your house,

I got you.

(scoffs)

You gonna be my
wolf slayer, huh?

That's right.
(laughs)

Wolves, dragons.

Dragons.
Lions.

(chuckles) Yeah,
well, it's the Lyons

you need to look
out for, 'cause...

Uh, I can handle
the Lyons.

(scoffs)

Especially the lioness.

♪ I'm starting to realize ♪

♪ Pressure ♪

♪ Pressure, I know you feel ♪

♪ Pressure ♪

♪ Pressure,
just keep it real... ♪

Hmm.

I'll set up the meeting.

JAMAL: Ma, I been hitting
Hakeem, like, three times.

He ain't hit me back.

COOKIE: I'm really worried
about him, Mal.

I'm starting to worry
about him, too.

Maybe I should just cancel
the Big Apple Jam.

Why would you do
that? Don't do that.

Andre and I will
get Hakeem.

Make him come around.

You just keep the
train on the rail.

It's kind of a big deal
for the Lyon Dynasty.

It's nice
that you said that.

Let's just hope that
Hakeem comes to his senses

and knows what a big
opportunity you set up.

Thanks, Jamal.

I set up a meet with the guys
who snatched Hakeem.

I'm taking him with me.

The boy needs to feel
like a man again.

You clear on
what we're doing, right?

You're running
the meet.

Yeah, and I'm letting
you get your come-up.

But you gonna be good?

You gonna be good?

Yeah, Mom.
Shh.

Let's just get the negotiation done.
All right.

Thank you for taking
the time to meet with us.

So who you calling a
little bitch now, huh?!

Hakeem...

please...

lower the gun, baby.

Hakeem!

(distorted): ♪ I ain't
talkin' 'bout ones... ♪

Hakeem... You really
think I'm gonna make

a plan with
these fools?!

Yes! Yes, because that's

what we came here to do,
all right?

Now, ain't no good solution
in you pulling that trigger.

I'm-a pull his number!

Why you so quiet?!
No, no, no, no.

(voice distorting, echoing)
...Hakeem, okay?

Hakeem...

if you pull the trigger...

you're gonna force me
to step in front of the bullet.

(distorted):
♪ I just say it's nothin'... ♪

♪ Keep it one hundred... ♪

I'd rather die
than lose you again.

(softly):
Please?

Now let's talk.

Yeah, well, due to these
unforeseen circumstances,

I'm doubling
our weekly security fee.

(chuckles)

You step near me,

my artists or
my family again,

you won't even hear
the knock at the door.

Are we clear?

Bitch, I said,
are we clear?

We good.

Now...

welcome to my
streets, bitch.

J POPPA:
Gutter Life for life, y'all!

♪ Playin' with my toys every day
like a playpen ♪

♪ Ears to the street
like I'm 'sleep ♪

♪ On the pavement
so I can hear 'em talkin' ♪

♪ Wishin' I fall off,
no limit on my card ♪

♪ So they know
that I ball hard ♪

♪ Playin' with my toys every day
like a playpen ♪

♪ Ears to the street like
I'm 'sleep on the pavement ♪

♪ So I can hear 'em talkin',
wishin' I fall off ♪

♪ No limit on my card, so they
know that I ball hard... ♪

Look at J Poppa gettin' it.
Go ahead, brother.

He do all right.

Uh-huh. How's that wand
working for you?

Why are you so nasty?

You nasty!
But, uh...

♪ Like change for a twenty... ♪

...that wand is hitting
it correctly.

Yes, it is hitting
all the walls.

Yo, I be so weak in the damn
knees, I can hardly stand.

I just take a step and
I just be, like, uh!

Like... sha-shanda!
(laughs)

Okay, yo, I'm gonna go talk
to Dre. I'll be back.

All right. Hey.

♪ My competition is minimal ♪

♪ We can line 'em all up
and then sort 'em out ♪

♪ If there's a dude realer than
me, then please point him out ♪

♪ Please, please ♪

♪ Playin' with my toys every day
like a playpen ♪

♪ Ears to the street like
I'm 'sleep on the pavement ♪

♪ So I can hear 'em talkin',
wishin' I fall off ♪

♪ No limit on my card, so they
know that I ball hard... ♪

Nice house,
big brother.

You heard
from Hakeem?

Not a word.
He's off the reservation.

I'm worried about him.

Yeah, me, too.

Hopefully, he'll come around,
but if not,

we pull him back up.
Bet.

Yo, he's fired up.

He's much more than that.
He's my archangel Michael,

rolling to the depths
of hell with me.

Which is why
I'm willing to overlook

their relationship for now.

Who?
Oh, don't play with me, man.

I know they got
a thing going on.

It could be a major problem
having an A&R

consorting with
an artist, Jamal.

You know how many deals
have been made in bed?

Just let her have this one.
It's real; ain't a problem.

It won't be a problem
till it's a problem.

♪ Every day like a playpen,
ears to the street ♪

♪ Like I'm 'sleep
on the pavement ♪

♪ So I can hear 'em talkin' ♪

♪ Wishin' I fall off,
no limit on my card ♪

♪ So they know that I ball hard,
for I do not ♪

♪ Understand what I do ♪

♪ For what I want to do,
I do not do ♪

♪ But what I do not want to do,
I agree that ♪

♪ The law is good,
and I put that on my hood... ♪

What the hell was that?

LUCIOUS: That's what
I want to know.

What in the hell
is that?

That's Romans 7,
verse 15 through 16.

My man.

Look at that, the
bloggers are loving it.

BECKY:
With all due respect, Lucious,

I don't think
that Andre understands

the philosophy of the label.

Doesn't sound like there's any
respect in that at all, Becky.

Wait a minute, are you making
your decisions from a Bible

or from a business degree?

It's purely business,
Pop, I assure you.

Look, I didn't
force him to do

anything he didn't
want to do, okay?

♪ Control my energy and effort ♪

♪ So this year, I'm finna bring
the pressure, come on... ♪

Yo, Dad.

I'm going to a little party
at Jamieson's. You want to roll?

Hell no.
Been there, done that.

Oh, r-really?

I hope he delivers
everything he promised you.

Watch yourself.

Will do.

(cheering)

Gutter Life for life!

Gutter Life for life...!

CROWD:
Gutter Life for life!

Hey, yo, Lucious, why don't you
spit some bars for us, man?

Nah, tonight is not about me;
tonight is about

these incredible artists
from the hood that came

to nourish us with some of
the stories from their soul.

And like it's always said,
"Hip-hop is a dish

best served raw,"
like this next MC,

the powerful Miss Freda Gatz!

♪ ♪
(cheering, rhythmic clapping)

♪ I'm Derek Jeter with
the pitch ♪ ♪ Pitch ♪

♪ Bruce Lee up with the kick ♪
♪ Kick ♪

♪ Lucious Lyon with the whip ♪

♪ Whip ♪
♪ Boss bitch, I keep a clip ♪

♪ Freda poppin' on anybody ♪

♪ Wanna take it there,
I don't break for air ♪

♪ I keep my gun cocked
'cause I'm never scared ♪

♪ So hell no,
we can't play it fair... ♪

This one is
not even up for debate.

Long as she clears the bar.

(chuckles):
I'm only kiddin', Pop.

♪ This drug money murder,
all I really know ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang,
had to let 'em know ♪

♪ One shot to the neck, boy,
y'all gon' give me ♪

♪ My respect, boy... ♪

Take that weak-ass sauce
back to Brownsville, ugly bitch!

(crowd groaning)

♪ They all know my name
and you know it ♪

♪ I'm the boss
and you know it ♪

♪ I do what I want
and you know it ♪

♪ I don't play no game
and you know it ♪

♪ They all know my name
and you know it ♪

You're a corn muffin.

Hang the mic up already.

(crowd jeering)

Stay focused.

CROWD:
Oh!

LUCIOUS:
Damn!

MAN: Come on, girl. Come on,
Fre, let's go. Outta here!

ANDRE: Dad. LUCIOUS: No.
There's nothing to talk about.

One of our artists, she kicked
a dude in the face, Pop.

No. "Our artists"?
This is my artist.

Our stocks haven't recovered
from your prison stint,

from the Fed raid--
she is too much of a liability

for a public company, Pop.

Now, remember how Seagram's
had to drop Death Row

even though Death Row was making,
what, a hundred million a year?

Look, tomorrow you and
your MBA number crunchers

can sit down and figure
out who you want to

drop from the roster--
she's not one of them.

You put me in charge.

No, I put you in place.

Don't confuse the two.

ANNOUNCER:
Welcome to this year's

Big Apple Jam!
Mm-mm. Mm-mm.

No, you need to focus now.
Listen, listen, listen.

When you take that stage,

you own it, every inch,
you hear me?

Shake your ass.

Shake it. A lot.
I like that. Sex sells.

Remember that.

Every note you hit,
you do it like

your life depends on it.

You understand me?

'Cause it damn near does.

LAURA: We know when
we're coming in, right?

Yeah, yeah, we got it, we got it.
Does Hakeem

got it, though?
He better.

(distorted): ♪ ...mess up...
keep on mess up ♪

Come here.

Why are you
driving yourself?

'Cause ever since
I got out the joint,

I don't like people
telling me where to go.

Look, um... check out
this song I wrote.

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang... ♪

I told you,
I don't need no tracks from you.

This ain't for you;
this is about you.

Look, the way I see it,
I can keep banging my head

up against this wall,

hoping that you're
gonna learn something

that I want you to know,

or I can let you bang
your own head until, eventually,

you're gonna pay attention.

And when that
moment happens--

and I'm praying
that it's happening

right now-- you're gonna realize
that it ain't about black eyes

and bloody noses
in this business,

it's about life or death.

And that's what
this track reflects.

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪

No strings.

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪

Hey, Dad... with you,
there's always strings.

Or more like

ropes that choke everybody
around you.

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang. ♪

Hakeem, are you okay? Hakeem?
COOKIE: No, no, no, no, no.

Do you know where you come
in at? Don't worry about...

Hakeem! COOKIE: Hey!

Ladies, get the hell
out of here.

Yo, I didn't ask you to come...

Next time you turn
your back on me...

Oh! ...I'm gonna break it!

Um, shut up. Lucious, look,

that is not the way
you're gonna get through to him.

No, I offered the boy
an olive branch.

And the Pilgrims offered
the Indians a bunch of blankets.

Oh, you want to man up now?

Next time you pull a gun,
drop the hammer down.

No, no, no.

There will be no next...

There will be
no next time.

You understand me?

Lucious, what do you want?

You want your own son
to trade places with you

in lockup, dummy?

If that's what it takes for him
to grow a sack, so be it.

Oh, come on in, boys.

Your father's giving
a lovely lesson

about how the whole family
could end up behind bars.

LUCIOUS:
No, I'm giving a lesson

on how to man the hell up

instead of wallowing in
self-pity and bitch-ass-ness.

You gonna use my name,
put some... put some...

put a man behind it.
JAMAL: Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad...

Come on, come on.
We got this, all right?

Both of y'all, get out. What?

You two are
the problem.

Okay, just leave us alone
with our brother.

Give us a shot. Y'all want
to be left alone, fine.

Done.

Mom.

You, too.

♪ ♪

Hakeem?

Hakeem, I swear you do not
have to go out there right now.

We can take you out of here
right now, start fresh tomorrow.

Whatever you need, we're here.

When the dudes pinned me up...

...I ain't do nothing.

I ain't fight back.

I wasn't strong.

Yeah, but you are alive.

You're smart.

You kept your cool, and
you're good, so for that,

you're stronger and smarter
than anybody else on the block.

Man, the three of us--
we can't be broken.

Not by thugs or kidnappers
or anything else

that comes at us.
You know why?

Why?
Because we already

beat the odds by
surviving as the children

of Lucious and
Cookie Lyon.

You already ahead
of the game.

JAMAL:
Come on, man.

Remember when you were little,
and you'd always

stick up for me,
and you was a little French fry?

Hell, I remember you
backing down dudes

who were twice your size
for me.

You're a better man
than your father already.

Braver, too.

I mean, come on.

You really think Dre and I
would react any differently

if we were
in your situation?

Nah, y'all both punks.

Go on.
Set your ass...

Get over here, boy.

You got this, all right?

(crowd cheering)
♪ ♪

♪ Dollars in the bank, dollars
in the bank ♪ ♪ Bank ♪

♪ We be pulling rank
if you coming for the money ♪

♪ He ain't shootin' blanks, I
ain't shootin' blanks ♪ ♪ Blanks ♪

♪ Fire in my tank,
that's what keep me running ♪

♪ Got them runnin' ♪

♪ R-R-Runnin' ♪

♪ I'm-a get my cake,
you can never take it from me ♪

♪ My mind runnin',
my mind runnin' ♪

♪ Every, every day,
got these bitches runnin' ♪

(crowd cheering)

♪ A buck fifty in the
fast lane ♪ ♪ Fast lane ♪

(distorted, muffled music)

♪ That's right, don't stop ♪

♪ I'll be Michelle
on your campaign ♪

♪ Campaign ♪

♪ We can shift gears,
I'm 'bout that life ♪

♪ Whenever I get with you,
I don't fear nothing ♪

♪ But good-bye ♪

♪ So you better make it home
tonight ♪

♪ Trigger fingers
never sleepin' ♪

♪ If you need me to slide ♪

♪ So call me bae ♪

♪ Don't ask me how we do it ♪

♪ I'll just say it's nothin' ♪

♪ We don't run with you lames ♪

♪ 'Cause y'all might
be frontin' ♪

♪ Hangin'
with Benjamin Franklin ♪

♪ 'Cause he keep it
one hundred ♪

♪ She's my new Bugatti ♪

♪ A million miles and runnin' ♪

♪ I ain't never gon' fall off ♪

♪ I see most of y'all
caught up ♪

♪ Y'all looking like orphans ♪

♪ Thirsty, need to sip water ♪

♪ That new whip
with that spoiler ♪

♪ Whip be looking like starship,
blue strip on my dollars ♪

♪ I ain't talking
'bout ones, though ♪

♪ Hundred miles and running,
yeah, I'm always on it ♪

♪ Y'all talking nothing,
I just gave a hundred racks ♪

♪ To my chick,
keep one hundred ♪

♪ Mess up the commas,
you don't want no drama ♪

♪ 'Cause money too long,
get that, don't play with me ♪

♪ Keep kay's with me
and ain't talking 'bout ♪

♪ Them things flipping,
want me gone then keep wishing ♪

♪ Stick to whatever
gon' pay, dig me? ♪

♪ Dollars in the bank, dollars
in the bank ♪ ♪ Bank ♪

♪ We be pulling rank
if you coming for the money ♪

♪ My mind runnin',
my mind runnin' ♪

♪ Every, every day, got-got-got
these bitches runnin'. ♪

(crowd cheering)

I'm glad y'all looking like
you're having a good time,

'cause this party
is a little dead.

And maybe we should get
a stripper pole or something.

(laughter)
I'm down.

We don't need
none of that.

This is a boss-level
celebration, right?

Look, this could be
big for all of us.

Yeah.

I want to thank you
for believing in me.

You for trusting me.

My man.

And I want to thank you
for riding with me.

Cheers up. ALL: Cheers!

Cheers up. Turn up. Turn up.

Mirage á Trois!

Yes.
Up.

(knocking on door)
Mm-hmm. Hmm.

Somebody at the door.

Rack 'em.

Rack 'em, sack 'em.

Hakeem.

Anika, what's up?
Oh, my God.

I have been so worried.
I've been calling you.

I know. I've been...

It's been crazy lately.

Thank you for being there
when I needed you.

Right now ain't a good time.

(laughs) I just wanted
to make sure you were all right.

I'm straight. Thanks.

Good.

Call me if you need anything.

All right.

(sighs heavily)

(muttering)

I messed up, man.

I already know, you gave me
a shot, and I blew it.

You think I
should drop you?

I wouldn't blame you.

I'm not dropping you.

I'm actually
pulling you in closer.

Such a beautiful flame
inside of your eyes.

A flame I only
saw in myself.

Flame that was almost
snuffed out when I was a kid,

when I lost both my parents.

You and me-- we cut
from the same tree.

I got three sons,
and none...

Yeah?

I identify more with you
than any one of them.

I wrote a song for you.

Want to hear it?

(intro plays to
"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom")

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang... ♪

I was thinking
something like, uh...

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ From the bottom I got up
to the top of the pros ♪

♪ From the gutter to the
shutters trimmed out in gold ♪

♪ Life bless my soul,
God bless my mo ♪

♪ Nothing less than the best
so the rest is old ♪

♪ Wanna play chess,
wanna lock and load ♪

♪ Wanna send you home,
wanna tag your toe ♪

♪ It ain't about the fame ♪

♪ Tell 'em what's my name ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ From the bottom I started ♪

♪ So there's nothing
that you can say to me ♪

♪ I prodigal where I grew up,
and this the newest slavery ♪

♪ People see you try hard, like
why you wanna play with me? ♪

♪ I bring them heaters out,
somebody better pray for me ♪

♪ 'Cause all I know is
this money, I gotta have it ♪

♪ These suicidal thoughts
getting bad ♪

♪ I'm getting madder ♪

♪ They say the good die young ♪

♪ I put the pedal to the metal,
hit the gas, then I'm gone ♪

♪ Now I'm front line
at the court ♪

♪ And I'm 'bout to take a shot ♪

♪ I pull it up,
cock it back, let it fly ♪

♪ Now I'm watching
for the backboard ♪

♪ And when they say
the world is yours ♪

♪ I just let 'em know
that I'm just trying to score ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom... ♪

(laughing)

BOTH:
♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang... ♪

(knocking)

So we gonna do this or what?

Make me forget about everything
that happened this week, Laz.

You said you got me, right?

Yeah, I got you.

I got you.

(Cookie sighs)

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang ♪

♪ Boom, boom, boom, boom ♪
(Cookie laughs)

♪ Bang, bang, bang, bang. ♪

Yeah.

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH