[Tariq] Previously on Ghost...
I know who snitched on you about Poncho.
Fucking Spanky.
[Dru] We gotta figure this shit out.
[Ev] I can't just go out there and tell them I'm gay
and start shooting for the Spurs.
It doesn't work like that.
-Is my brother here? -No.
Cane! You need to come home.
You want back in, you show up for the family.
-Wanted to see me, Professor? -I want you to write
about the nature of power in relationships
between you and a love interest.
-Yeah, I can-I can do that. -But I want details, Tariq.
I know you're sleeping with Tariq.
[Carrie] I'm not sleeping with Tariq St. Patrick.
I'd like you to meet my Auntie Monet.
I'm a professor, and you're a student.
Any of this getting out would be explosive.
[Lauren] Now that Malcolm's out of the picture,
maybe we can talk about a few things.
Professor at Stansfield is sleeping with a student.
Look it's my secret; it's what you're here for, right?
[tense music]
-You went too far with Cane. -I did what I had to do.
Look, you ain't out here.
You don't understand who he is now.
I broke up with Riley. I'm sorry I didn't believe you.
Look, it's all good, bro.
[Joe] ♪ They say this is A big, rich town ♪
♪ I just come From the poorest part ♪
♪ Bright lights, city life ♪
♪ I gotta make it This is where it goes down ♪
♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪
♪ Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it ♪
[50 Cent] ♪ I never took A straight path nowhere ♪
♪ Life's full of twists And turns, bumps and bruises ♪
♪ I live, I learn ♪
♪ I'm from that city full of Yellow cabs and skyscrapers ♪
♪ It's hard to get a start In these parts without paper ♪
♪ Homey, I grew up in hell A block away from heaven ♪
♪ That corner every 15 minutes They moving seven ♪
♪ Pure snow, bag it Then watch it go ♪
♪ Occupational options Get some blow or some hos ♪
♪ Shoot the ball or the strap Learn to rap or to jack ♪
♪ Fuck it, man In the meantime ♪
♪ Go head and pump a pack ♪
♪ This my regal, royal flow My James Bond bounce ♪
♪ That 007 That's 62 on my count ♪
♪ I'm an undercover liar I lie under the covers ♪
♪ Look a bitch in the eyes ♪
♪ And tell her Baby, I love ya ♪
♪ You're my inspiration You're my motivation ♪
♪ You're the reason that I'm Moving with no hesitation ♪
[Joe] ♪ They say this is A big, rich town ♪
♪ Yeah, I just come From the poorest part ♪
♪ Bright lights, city life ♪
♪ I gotta make it This is where it goes down ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪
♪ Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it ♪
♪ ♪
[rapper] ♪ The plan was to get In and then make it out ♪
♪ Put a couple mil Up in that bank account ♪
-♪ Drive foreign whips... ♪ -[door opens]
-[sighs] Yo. -What up?
Got something that'll cheer you up.
Got the re-up.
Okay, but this is, like, half of what we usually get.
Yeah, well, the connect is having some supply issues,
so we're just gonna have to deal with it right now.
Okay, well, this is the wrong weekend for that.
It's homecoming; everyone's parents are gonna be in town.
There's gonna be people all over campus.
Remember Choate's Parents' Weekend?
We made a killing.
It's gonna be like that times a thousand.
Plus, we'd make even more money if we sell powder.
Just this weekend.
[Tariq] Bro, I'm not selling no coke.
I told you, that shit is too hot.
I know, but I'd be like the snowman with that shit.
Call me Jack fuckin' Frost, baby.
Jingle bells, son.
Time to deliver. Catch you later.
[Tariq] A'ight.
[rapper] ♪ Put a couple mill Up in that bank account ♪
♪ Drive foreign whips When I'm skrrtin' out ♪
[Billy] Oh!
-Uh, BruShaundria here? -Who's asking?
[BruShaundria] Ma, that's just my math tutor.
A tutor?
Girl, I know you ain't paying nobody to tutor you.
-You could study for free. -[BruShaundria] Mom, stop.
Can you just take the study guide, please?
♪ ♪
Keep talkin', talkin', and I'll snatch.
What?
[confused murmuring]
[Oliver] Okay, let's get started.
Great.
Uh, welcome, parents, to Canonical Studies.
If you're unfamiliar,
this is an interdisciplinary course
that exposes freshmen to the Western canon.
Our focus on fundamental texts fortifies their foundations
before they continue their studies
or go off to run the world.
[light laughter]
Professor Reynolds, please?
So this week,
we are dissecting Invisible Man.
Show of hands--how many parents here have actually read it?
Oh, um... [chuckles]
...it's been a while, but I think I recall
how the book portrays not only the effects of overt racism,
but also the depersonalization of race blindness.
-Mom. -[Jabari] Very well put.
I certainly see where Lauren gets it from.
[Phillip] How is this book relevant
in a course about fundamental texts?
-Dad! -[Oliver] The text
is a metaphor to illustrate
the racial divide in America.
How is that not relevant?
Ooh, I like him. Mm-hmm.
You can turn around.
[Jabari] Ralph Ellison writes,
"I've been trying to look through myself.
"And there's risk in it.
I was never more hated than when I tried to be honest."
How do we interpret that?
Mr. St. Patrick, what do you think?
Well, I think he's right.
You know, that's how life works.
People only like to hear what they wanna hear.
The truth is usually ugly, and they don't wanna hear that.
They wanna hear their own version of it.
[Lauren clears throat]
I think a mature person is always honest,
even if other people don't like it.
Mm, nice answer, honey.
Nobody is always honest.
Mm, better answer, honey.
[Oliver] So, students, maybe we should share with our parents
some of the excerpts from our Invisible Man papers.
[indistinct chatter, light laughter]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[Tariq] Here's my extra-credit paper.
I hope it makes up for the paper I failed on The Apology.
Listen, I, uh--
I know things can be very difficult for you right now,
seeing all these other families here,
given your situation.
But that point you made earlier today in class
about struggling to tell the truth--
was that about your parents?
Because it really seemed to come from the heart.
Nah, that was-that was really just about the book,
Professor Reynolds.
Uh, listen, Tariq.
Look, I still feel like there's something that you're hiding.
Now, you know you can trust me, right?
Have you read the book, Professor?
You can't trust anybody, not with the truth.
I have to make it to my next class.
♪ ♪
[door creaks open]
[door clicks shut]
Ms. Richards.
Been a minute.
Francis.
I thought you were still inside.
They just let you out?
Something wrong with my arrest.
White people fucked up. I'm home.
Is that how Spanky got out too?
Like that?
You know, I don't believe it, but...
...but I heard rumors somebody said he snitched.
You have any idea who might did that?
I heard some people inside talkin' that same shit.
Let's just say they ain't talkin' at all no more.
I'm sorry for your loss, Ms. Richards.
Spanky was my day one, my best friend.
Anybody throwing dirt on his name
gotta deal with me now.
Well...
it's good to have you out, at least.
You always took care of Spank.
I got you now.
You need anything, just holla at me.
I'll be around.
♪ ♪
[Ms. Richards sniffles]
[dark music]
♪ ♪
Got a minute, Carrie?
Not here.
And it's Professor Milgram at school.
Right, right, right. My bad.
[sighs]
So what's wrong?
It's just this rivalry game tomorrow.
It's already airing on ESPN,
and I just found out NBA scouts gonna be there too.
Well, that's great.
Isn't this everything you've been waiting for?
That's why I'm nervous.
If I don't show out for these scouts,
I could end up in the second round of the draft,
and half them dudes end up playing overseas.
Okay.
Play this out.
Say all that does happen.
What's the worst that can happen to you?
Ain't about me.
I'm holding down my whole family.
They're depending on me,
and I just wanna make it to the league
so they can stop what they've been doing...
[inhales sharply, stammers] ...stop working.
Well, just approach it like it's any other game.
It might help put my mind at ease
if I know I'm gonna see you later.
Tonight's a little busy.
I'll call you.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Not if I call you first, girl.
♪ ♪
Well, look who it is.
Good to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin.
Hey.
I'm surprised you were all alone in class, Tariq.
They couldn't grant your mother release for the weekend?
My mother will be home for good very soon, actually.
Okay, anyways, we were actually just on our way to lunch.
-You can join us if you want. -Oh, that'd be perfect.
I just have to grab something from my room really quick.
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
Yo, what was up with you the other night?
Look, you had just broken up with your man, a'ight?
What did you want me to do?
I make the move, and then I'm the asshole.
Why didn't you just say that, then?
[knock at door]
'Sup, 'Riq?
The fuck are you doing here?
Looks like I'm interrupting.
Oh, well.
-Yeah, you actually are. -[Lauren scoffs]
Now I see what the other night was about.
She doesn't look worth it to me.
[chuckles] Oh, shit, you big mad, huh?
[Lauren scoffs]
[Tariq] Lauren.
-Lauren, I'll catch up, a'ight? -Don't bother.
Yo, what the fuck you up here for?
I hope you're not here to collect,
'cause I don't owe you shit.
It's Parents' Weekend, homecoming,
the big basketball game.
It's Yale versus Stansfield.
I'm here to make money.
All these people on campus at once is a fucking cash cow.
I brought product down here.
I just need you to tell me how to move it.
Split it 50/50.
To be honest with you, Effie, I'm not on that shit no more.
[scoffs] What do you mean?
I don't sell drugs. I'm done.
I'm out the game.
You really hate me that much?
That you just gonna lie straight to my face?
This has nothing to do with you, all right?
But since you did ruin my whole afternoon,
I got a paper to write.
Damn.
A'ight.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
[dark music]
Look, all I am saying is that catches like Malcolm
don't grow on trees, dear.
And even though I don't advocate chasing a man,
I think maybe you should reach out.
Mom, it's over.
Well, I'm still going golfing with him.
Hey, excuse me.
You know where the freshmen stay at?
Um, freshmen dorms are straight ahead.
You look way too young to be somebody's parent.
Who are you here for?
My little cousin Tariq.
[scoffs] St. Patrick?
Yeah, you know him?
Oh, we're all quite acquainted with Tariq.
Okay, his building is right around the corner.
The names are on the door.
Oh, he might be kind of busy right now, though.
Not too busy for me.
Oh, and don't tell him I'm here.
It's a surprise.
Don't worry. I won't.
Thank you.
♪ ♪
[overlapping conversations, silverware clinking]
[Brandon sighs, chair scrapes]
What? Don't hold out on me, man.
What do you think?
[chuckles] I love the new story.
It feels real.
Like your first book, but grittier.
Okay, but listen:
I truly believe that this can be the fundamental text
on Black male identity for the next generation.
Yo, but even better, I can sell this drug-dealing family shit.
I set up meetings with the majors.
Should be a big payday for the both of us.
And I gotta know, how does it end?
Does the kid end up dead?
In jail?
Graduating and going straight?
Gotta wait and see.
You don't know, do you?
Look, publishers are gonna want the full spiel, all right?
So just figure that shit out, nigga.
-[cell phone vibrates] -Oh, shit.
I gotta take this.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[knock at door]
[sighs]
Yo, I already told you, I'm out of the game, man.
[dramatic music]
-You know who I am? -You look familiar.
I look more than fucking familiar.
And you owe me money.
Listen, man, I hope Davis ain't tell you
I was gonna pay you for holding it down in court,
'cause I don't got no money to give you, a'ight?
Davis ain't say shit.
I'm here 'cause Ghost owe me, motherfucker.
We had an agreement before he died.
Long story short,
he said he'd take care of me, so I'm here to collect.
I know you think he left me and my family a bunch of money,
but we broke.
I could barely pay for Davis, man.
Look like I give a fuck about your life story?
I want my fucking money.
I see you already got Ghost's Rolex.
Look, this is all I got for now.
Fuck out of here. What's that? Your lunch money?
Just give me till the end of the week.
-I'll get you some money-- -I look like I got all
fucking week?
You know what? I'm a reasonable man.
I want my money tomorrow.
If not, you're fucking dead.
-All right, man-- -Your first payment is 24K.
All right, man. Tomorrow. I got it.
Now, give me your phone.
Come on!
♪ ♪
Here. When I hit your line, pick up.
If not, me and my friend here will be back.
I got you, man.
A'ight, man. Relax.
-Good to see you, cuz. -[door thuds shut]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[line trilling]
Yes, hello?
Daniel Warren, please.
So sorry I kept you waiting.
Mr. St. Patrick.
I was surprised that you reached out.
-Have you graduated already? -No, not quite yet.
But I am here to speak to you about my inheritance.
I'm gonna need an advance.
The money stays in the trust
until you gradate with a three point five,
as your father wished.
You're right,
but I don't need the full amount.
I just need 24,000.
On top of that, I'm crushing my grades.
Wonderful.
Aside, of course,
from the Canonical Studies paper that you failed?
You've been keeping track of my grades?
Your father saw to it that I would.
But he's the reason I need the money.
I'm in danger until I pay his debt.
Danger? Oh, dear.
Should I alert the authorities?
No, no, no. It's not that kind of danger.
This guy said he would... sue if I didn't pay, so...
Well...
if he does, you have my number.
I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Have a good day.
[cell phone vibrating]
Tariq, what's wrong?
Ma, is there any lockboxes in the city
with some extra cash?
If there was more money out there,
I would have told you before now.
Why? Why do you need money so fast?
-Is it Davis? -No, it's not Davis.
[Tasha] Well, tell me.
Look, Ma, I can't tell you, all right?
I-I'm not gonna involve you in this.
Tariq, I'm your mother. I'm always involved.
[buzzer sounds]
Look, baby,
I wish I was out there to help you.
You can help me.
Look, I need some help from this girl, right?
But she stabbed me in the back before.
How do I work with someone that I can't trust?
[scoffs]
Well, after I found out your father was cheating on me,
on all of us, I couldn't trust him either.
Facts.
[Tasha] So when things went left
and we still had to work together,
I did the next best thing.
I got him to trust me.
And that worked?
Like a charm.
[suspenseful music]
[Tariq] Instead of writing about power in relationships,
I'm gonna investigate the power of relationships.
You know, the ones I saw ended up in death,
and the only ones I've ever been in were built on lies.
And I didn't think they could work
I wrote them off entirely.
But there's this one person who's changing my mind.
She cares. We connect.
I wouldn't even be in Canonical Studies without her,
to be honest.
Only problem is,
she got this square for a boyfriend
who shows up all the time, but...
she chose me over him.
-[tense music] -[pencil snaps]
Nigga, you wearing a wire?
[scoffs] Fuck, no.
Look, you the one that ratted on me at Choate, so...
Yeah, and just a couple hours ago,
you told me you was out the game.
Now you're saying you know what kids want coke
and you're willing to point 'em out to me
in exchange for half my profit?
Why the sudden change of heart?
My mom's trial.
You know, I owe her lawyer money.
Yeah, I figured it was something like that.
I didn't think you would tell me the truth, though.
I know you don't fuck with me like that anymore.
But you don't know why, though.
You know, I really liked you.
You know, I don't let myself like anybody.
I don't even let people get to know who I am.
When you tell people the truth,
they don't even wanna hear it.
I wanna hear it.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Truth is, I need your help making this money.
-And I wanna trust you, but-- -I'm here for you, 'Riq.
Hey, back at Choate, I did what I had to do,
but that doesn't mean that I liked it.
Haven't you ever done anything you had to do,
even if it was the last thing you wanted to do?
♪ ♪
Yep.
You can trust me, Tariq.
We're the same.
We both do what needs to be done.
[sultry R&B music]
[singer] ♪ I want you ♪
♪ You want me ♪
♪ We need trust, babe ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I want you, you want me ♪
I didn't mean for you to see that.
[singer] ♪ We need trust ♪
♪ Hey, I can be The one you need ♪
You don't need yours tonight.
You're safe with me.
[singer] ♪ Other bitches wanna be you ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ No I don't wanna do you wrong ♪
♪ I'ma give you my all ♪
♪ And I'ma always Keep it real ♪
♪ Just gotta tell me How you feeling ♪
♪ If we ain't got no trust ♪
♪ Then I ain't got No feelings ♪
♪ You say you need my love ♪
♪ We ain't got no limits ♪
♪ Said if we ain't got trust ♪
♪ We ain't really got Nothing ♪
♪ I want you ♪
♪ And you want me ♪
♪ We need trust ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ I want you ♪
♪ You want me ♪
♪ We need trust, babe ♪
♪ ♪
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[tapping on cell phone]
[line trilling]
[over phone] Hi. This is Professor Carrie Milgram.
♪ ♪
[knock at door]
[Dru] It's about fucking time.
[Tariq] Damn, Dru.
I gotta come all the way up to the BX.
Not even giving me a full re-up.
Things been a little shaky since D.C. Joe went missing.
Plus, I don't make the fucking rules.
Man, you could've dropped that shit off at campus.
I look like Postmates to you?
That's your lane, CourseCorrect.
♪ ♪
[Tariq] You right.
It is my shit, and we're making a lot of money from it.
But, nigga, I can't keep coming up here.
I be having shit to do.
[Dru] Well, what the fuck you think I gotta do?
-[Jabari's phone chimes] -[Dru] I got a life.
[Tariq] Well, you just sitting here in a motel waiting for me.
Next time I have to travel this far for the re-up,
I want some extra.
[Dru] Yeah, that's definitely not...
[Tariq] Then we need to work some shit out,
because this was a long-ass journey.
[Dru] You know who you have to talk to about changing this.
-[Tariq] I'll do that. -[Dru] You do that.
Till then, it is what it is.
[indistinct chatter]
[knock at door]
Finally.
-[Effie] Wait. -[door closes]
We should focus on business.
-A'ight. You got the coke? -[singers] ♪ Ooh ♪
Where the customers at?
[Tariq] All right, so, boom.
-It's Parents' Weekend, right? -Mm-hmm.
So, basically, seeing someone with their parents
lets you know everything you need to know about them.
Now, some kids at Stansfield got perfect parents
and can't wait to be reunited.
But most kids fucking hate their families.
Having them around is a reminder
that these college kids ain't adults yet
and they still under their parents' thumbs.
-[indistinct argument] -I paid for the damn thing.
[Tariq] Well, you got divorced moms and dads
in the same room together, jealous siblings acting out.
That's why your grades are so low!
[Tariq] And with them around,
students can't turn up in the time they most want to.
We'll target the computer science, pre-law,
the econ kids.
Those are the ones most overworked,
and their parents being here means less time to study.
Gotta flirt with the bag boys at the grocery store?
[Tariq] And that's where you come in.
[parent] Well, excuse me for trying to live a little.
[smooth hip-hop music]
You look like you need this.
[Tariq] These kids not about to leave campus to get some coke,
so they gonna pay airport prices.
[singer] ♪ Here we go ♪
♪ If you a bad gyal Then you have to back it up ♪
♪ Me no want no negativity A-come around me ♪
Hmm.
For someone who's not dealing,
you sure know the lay of the land here.
You know, I made it my business to look around
just in case I change my mind.
[singer] ♪ Ooh ♪
I guess I changed it for you.
♪ ♪
You know, it's a good thing you don't go here,
'cause I wouldn't get no work done.
[chuckles] We're gonna work.
Later.
[singer] ♪ Ooh ♪
[Robert] Think you're better off single, Brayden.
When I was an undergraduate, I kept a scoreboard.
-Bobby. -Relax.
-This was all before we met. -[Becca huffs]
Who do you think taught Trace?
♪ I be stuntin' Like my daddy ♪
♪ Stuntin', stuntin' Like my daddy ♪
-[laughter] -[Becca] What?
-Is it, like, 2006, Trace? -Mm.
What in the actual fuck is happening right now?
Two glasses wasn't enough?
Oh, it was before your joyride down memory lane.
[Robert] Oh, I'm sorry.
I didn't realize reliving my glory days was a crime.
[Nicole] "Glory days"?
[scoffs] Like last year with your assistant?
You're a walking #MeToo, Bobby.
Well, maybe if I was more stimulated at home,
I wouldn't need to entertain those girls at work.
[Nicole scoffs] Always an excuse for everything.
-[guest] Ah! -[Nicole] And you wonder
where Becca gets it from.
What's going on with Trace?
Oh, we did a few lines earlier.
Um, once his high wears off,
he'll be back to his normal douchebag self.
Where the fuck did you get coke?
Ha! Nice try, Skids. Find your own drugs.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[keyboard keys clacking]
♪ ♪
[Lil' Guap] Hold the fuck still.
[Cane] Here, I got it. Don't worry about it.
What the fuck, man? Take that shit.
There you go. Nice and pretty.
Yo, why am I trying to kill this nigga again?
-Wait, you scary now? -Man, come on.
Barz ain't scary, man. He's a motherfucking soldier.
Yo, he told you.
This kid Tariq is our competition.
That's right. He tutors my cousin.
And once he saw how reckless and wild
y'all was moving online,
he convinced Monet to drop y'all and only deal with him.
He said GTG was bad for business.
-Fuck that. -[Lil' Guap] Yeah, fuck that.
Soft-ass tutor nigga took food off our plate, Barz.
Gotta go handle that shit.
[Cane] Look, you'll be able
to get through the metal detectors with this.
Hey, remember, you're on a college campus,
so don't do it until you have him cornered, alone,
with no witnesses, okay?
There's gonna be a lot of white folks up there,
so the police will pull up on your ass in a heartbeat.
And then text me on the burner when it's done.
[Lil' Guap] Ayo.
Finish this shit.
♪ ♪
[Tariq] Yo, I can't believe we made 50K that fast.
That's what happens when you got a team.
You know we ain't gotta stop here.
We could go to Homecoming Weekend
at the different schools, take over all the Ivy League.
Yo, I never thought of that.
[Effie] Think about how big we could make it.
Just you and me.
[cell phone vibrates]
That the girl from yesterday?
[laughs] Ooh, I bet she's pissed.
Nah, it's not.
But I gotta go pay my mom's lawyer.
Cool. Let's go.
How about we meet up later?
-How long you here for, anyway? -Just through the weekend.
But I could stay a couple more days.
Do you want me to stay a couple of more days?
Yeah, that would be cool.
That is, if it's okay with your roommate.
I think he might feel some type of way about us hooking up.
He always had a crush on me.
Yo, his ex basically moved in.
Ex? What happened to her?
Uh, look, I really gotta go, all right?
Mm-hmm.
See you after the game?
For sure.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
-[door closes] -[sighs]
-How you feeling? -Better.
Taking your advice.
It's just another game.
-Good. -[Monet] Zeke.
What up, Auntie?
-Where everybody else at? -Parking the cars.
Is this the teacher that put you on probation?
No, this is my advisor, Ca-- uh, Professor Milgram.
You should be really proud of your nephew.
I am.
Well, go, Stallions.
♪ ♪
Hey, you good?
Yeah.
Don't fuck this up.
-[Zeke] I won't. -Here.
♪ ♪
-What's this for? -You earned it.
Not yet.
Look, those scouts showed up to see you play.
You already won.
Now go in there and give them a show.
You got this.
[Zeke] Love you, Auntie.
♪ ♪
Yo, I was just about to call you.
I just got back from family brunch.
My little sister and Trace were high as fuck.
They bought coke off of someone on campus.
Some outsider is making money on our turf.
That's our fucking money, 'Riq!
It ain't our money, a'ight?
-'Cause we don't sell coke. -I know, but we should.
Do you think Effie is here?
I know her school is playing ours.
I don't know; I think she would have hit us if she was here.
Yeah, you're right.
All right, I'm gonna ask around
and see who's been hustling here.
Pills and weed, a'ight? That's our bread and butter.
I mean, do you even know how to cut a brick of coke?
Do you even know how much a brick of coke
goes for on the street?
-No. -All right, then.
That's a whole different game, bro.
You gotta stay in your lane.
[sighs] I gotta go check on Trace.
I'll catch you later.
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Zeke, focus up. We need your head in the game.
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
Energy up.
♪ ♪
Energy up.
[guard] All right, come on through. You're good.
All right, keep it moving.
[overlapping chatter]
-[suspenseful music] -Yeah, you're okay.
♪ ♪
[messaging app swooshes]
[cell phone vibrates]
♪ ♪
-Yo. What up, y'all? -Yo.
-[Ev] Yo, what up? -What up, man?
-Hey. -What's up?
Ms. Tejada, I could use some more work.
Running low.
Well, I'm having some problems on my end this week.
I'll get back to you.
All good.
[cheers and applause]
[cell phone vibrates]
Yo, I'm about to go to the concession stand.
-Y'all want anything? -No, thanks, I'm good.
-A water. -[Dru] I'm Gucci.
Hey, grab me some nachos, orange soda, and a pretzel.
Yeah, word.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
[guard] All right. Come on through.
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
What's good, bitch?
♪ ♪
[Tariq] Get the fuck off me.
[both struggling]
[Barz groans]
[pole clatters]
Let's get the fuck out of here.
Nah, he ain't done.
♪ ♪
[muffled screaming]
Yo, who the fuck is this nigga trying to kill you?
[Tariq] I don't know who that is.
[2-Bit] Y'all got cameras in here?
[Tariq] Nah, they out of service.
Motherfucker.
I should shoot this nigga for fucking up my Rollie.
They asking if he killed me, yo.
[camera shutter clicks]
♪ ♪
Here.
[clicks tongue] Nah. More.
Man, that's what you asked for.
Circumstances changed. I just saved your fucking life.
It's gonna run you at least 20 to 50 more bands.
Fuck it, all right. Let's just go.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Wipe everything down you touched, you stupid-ass nigga.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[pole clatters]
[announcer] And at shooting guard,
standing six foot five,
Ezekiel Cross!
[crowd chanting] Zeke! Zeke! Zeke! Zeke!
[cheers and applause]
I taught him everything he know, baby.
Get off me, you lyin'-ass nigga.
-Here. -Thank you.
-Yo, they was all out. -A'ight.
What took so long? You almost missed tip-off.
[cheers and applause]
All right, the way we win this game is effort.
That means moving the ball and playing together as a unit.
On three. One, two, three.
[team] Stallions!
Let's go, Zeke!
Yes, baby, they can't hold you!
-Let's go, let's go, let's go! -Bust they ass, cuzzo!
[cheers and applause]
[cell phone vibrates]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[line trilling]
Whoever the fuck this is, when I find you, you're dead.
Fucking pussy.
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
[all]
Zeke! Zeke! Zeke! Zeke! Zeke!
[line trilling]
Hey, Effie. I-I didn't know you were here.
Hey.
Mm. You look good.
So, like, what are you doing here?
Why didn't you hit me?
Um, just supporting the basketball team.
But isn't the game going on right now?
Yeah. I'm the one who got played.
Tariq?
Yeah, he blew me off for some bitch.
Let me guess. Blonde hair, kind of stuck up?
Hey, Hamilton starts in 45 minutes,
and you know how Dad gets when he misses the opening.
Thank God. I was looking for you.
Um...
do you have any more of that white stuff?
Get it from your brother's best friend.
I'm sure he has more left over.
Wait, what?
Tariq was selling coke with you?
Yeah. He sold me, all right.
Uh, tell Tariq he can suck my dick.
[hip-hop music]
[rapper] ♪ Yo ♪
♪ I got money, bitch ♪
-Hey, turn up! -[person] Zeke Cross!
We need you on the Knicks next year, baby!
[Zeke] Hey. Drinks on me tonight, fellas.
Word? Top shelf?
I'm about to be on my Ciroc Obama shit in here.
Y'all niggas gonna make me broke.
[CJ] They're not gonna charge you anyway, First Round.
They want you to come back with your little NBA friends
when you hit the league.
Bottle service all night.
-[cell phone buzzing] -[Zeke] Y'all stupid.
[hip hop playing over speakers]
-[loud chatter] -[patron] Get it! Get it!
Yo, Ev, you good?
-Yeah, I'm good. -Come on, bro.
Look where we at, man.
[cell phone buzzing]
What's up, Dru?
Nah, we at the club. Just me and some teammates.
Yeah, you should come through
if you can, uh, get away from Monet.
Let's get it.
♪ ♪
[rapper] ♪ What's poppin'? ♪
♪ Brand-new whip Just hopped in ♪
♪ I got options ♪
♪ I can pass that bitch Like Stockton ♪
♪ Hometown hero Feelin' myself ♪
♪ Can't murder my ego ♪
♪ She heard Of my deep stroke ♪
♪ She said, "Bae, does it hurt When I deep throat?" ♪
♪ Certified freak ho ♪
♪ Hang around us And she learning my lingo ♪
♪ Back then wasn't worried About me, though ♪
♪ In the gym, trying to work On my free throw ♪
♪ Goddamn, goddamn ♪
♪ Spending money in the club Like Sam's ♪
♪ Yes, ma'am She a little freak on cam ♪
♪ I'm at the club With the basketball team ♪
♪ Me and the Cardinals Are sharing this section ♪
♪ ♪
[bumping hip-hop music playing]
♪ ♪
All right, that's it. That's it. I'm done.
-Come on, man. -[CJ] Hey, nah, man.
Come on, we got shootaround tomorrow.
No, we got shootaround tomorrow.
You got interviews on ESPN and shit.
[Ev] Hey, and shout-out your point guard
for dropping you all them dimes.
Stop playing, hey?
We got-we got a bunch of games left.
Shit, if I dropped 40 on prime time,
I'd wrap my ass in Bubble Wrap
till the commissioner calls my name.
[laughter]
-Didn't I see you on TV today? -Me?
Nah, but you did see my boys here.
If you got love, show it to them.
[sultry dance music playing]
♪ ♪
Yo, that's you, man.
You ain't get no pussy all season.
What's up, Ma?
I noticed you noticing me.
You kind of short... but cute, though.
-Come on. -[CJ] Aw, yeah.
[laughing]
-Cuzzo! You made it. -[Dru] Yeah.
Y'all turning up already, huh?
Hey, man, it's a celebration. You need to catch up.
The whole crew out.
[singer] ♪ Keep it heating up Mmm ♪
-♪ See, I can't take it ♪ -[Dru] Yeah.
[singer] ♪ I'm gonna Call your bluff, yeah ♪
But y'all ain't got no champagne.
I'm gonna be back.
Hey, let's get it.
[CJ] Good lookin' out!
-What do you want? -I just wanted to talk.
I didn't answer your call for a reason.
So I gotta keep pretending I don't know you
when we see each other?
You making it sound like you ran into me here, Dru.
Come on.
I know you called Zeke, looking for me.
So what the fuck is up?
I like the other you better. This one's a fucking asshole.
Man, you don't even know me.
I'm trying, but you won't let me.
Because I'm trying to make the league, Dru.
But you keep trying to blow up my life
and turn me into a fucking symbol.
I just want you to be real with me.
You wanna be real? Fine. Let's go outside.
Outside? For what? So you can hide?
That's all you fucking do is hide.
Hide from me, hide from your team,
-hide from the fucking world. -You're right, okay? You're right.
I hide.
Man, not everybody's family is like yours, okay?
Not everybody accepts me for myself.
And it's hard being myself, okay?
But I am trying.
Okay? I'm trying.
♪ ♪
[singer] ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
[loud chatter]
-Yo, fuck the ride at? -Forget the ride.
We need to run them drinks off anyway.
Come on. Don't let me see you dragging.
Oh. [laughs]
So your family ain't show up for the big game?
Dad wanted me to go to Yale.
So he probably rooted against me today.
[Dru] Just so you know, my family ain't a cakewalk neither.
Keep wanting me to be something I'm not.
What they want you to be?
More like them.
Yo, I'm trying to eat, man.
Halal cart right around the corner.
And they got that fire sauce. Come on.
Hey, Zeke Cross. Hey, what's good, fam?
Can I get a picture?
-I got you, fam. -Appreciate it, man.
[Zeke grunts]
[Zeke groaning]
[dramatic music]
[Ev] Zeke.
-[Dru] Yo, Zeke! -[Ev] Yo, what the fuck?
[panting] He ain't got nothing to do with this, man.
Oh, they do now.
See, y'all Tejadas think GTG ain't got no code,
but we take that "eye for an eye" shit to the grave.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey!
[Dru] Guap. Guap. Hey, listen. Chill.
You want back in the game, right?
Right? I can do that.
But only if you fall the fuck back right now.
Ain't about being in no game, man.
This is about Cane sending my young boy Barz into a trap.
All that passion, all that energy, dead and gone.
So now I'm about do the same shit to y'all.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, hey, hey!
If you gonna do some shit...
do it to me.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Nah.
This will hurt Monet way more
than killing her faggot-ass son.
♪ ♪
[Dru shouts]
♪ ♪
Dru!
[eerie music]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[pants]
Zeke, come on.
Zeke, come on!
[siren approaching]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
I can't even look at you right now.
Bringing this on your cousin.
Ma, it all happened so fast, I--
When I said, "Keep Zeke away from the business,"
it doesn't mean you go stalk his little teammate at the club
'cause you all caught up in your feelings.
I'm sorry.
-Uh, but Zeke's okay, so-- -Zeke didn't come home.
He's not okay, not after what almost happened.
Ma, I saved him. Me.
You don't get credit
for putting out a fire that you started.
Basketball is all Zeke's got.
Zeke is all this family got if this drug shit goes left.
Stay out of my face.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
What the fuck?
Look...
y'all need to leave me alone, all right?
-Cane ain't even here. -[Dru] Uh-uh.
You already tried that shit with Diana.
-I know he's here. -Nah, for real this time.
I heard he's at his other bitch house.
Okay, well, you should know:
niggas is out looking for Cane, to get at him.
And if I thought he was here, they will too.
-Cane? -Goddamn.
I told you not to say shit.
You ain't tell me you was using me for a safehouse, nigga.
Get the fuck out.
Take your weird-ass brother with you
and your funky-ass Timbs.
-[Cane] Yeah, whatever. -[Chelle] Mm-hmm.
[scoffs] Fucking most.
Blew up my whole spot.
-Nigga, Barz is dead. -No shit.
Why you think I'm hiding out?
Yeah, but GTG ain't come for you.
They came for us.
Almost shot Zeke's leg off.
Wait, what?
Lil' Guap and them jumped us.
They put their gun right up to Zeke's knee.
I saved him.
-You? -Mm-hmm.
Did you clip Guap?
This is on you, Cane.
Oh, my God, y'all always blame me, okay?
But this is Ma's fault.
First, she links up with that silver-spoon motherfucker,
then she replace me with him,
then her and Dad have my ass beat outside the bing,
and y'all mad at me for doing me?
-Get the fuck out of here. -Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I didn't know Dad did that.
[dramatic music]
Fuck, man.
Monet finds out Zeke got touched behind this shit,
I'm dead.
[Dru] She knows.
She just don't know it's your fault.
♪ ♪
And she don't got to.
♪ ♪
What you need me to do?
Body them Guaps.
End this shit... for good.
Say less.
I was about to do that shit anyways.
♪ ♪
[phone line trilling]
[cell phone vibrates]
Oh, you must really miss me, huh?
-Ma! -What's wrong?
Somebody tried to kill me today, Ma.
What?
Tariq, are you okay?
I'm good. I got away.
I should be out there with you. This never would have happened.
-Look, I can handle it. -[Tasha] Who was it?
Was it the people that you work with?
I can't get into that right now, Ma.
I'm trying to keep you out of this.
[Tasha] No, that's over now.
You need to tell me everything
that you've been up to, right now.
♪ ♪
[cell phone vibrates]
[Lorenzo] You seem to misunderstand how this works.
You don't call shots,
and you don't get me on the phone.
I got one question.
Why you been fronting me like you're some kind of boss?
[chuckles]
Lady, I don't front.
So you're the one who ordered a hit on my son's life, then?
♪ ♪
What are you talking about?
Why don't you ask Monet?
Yeah, I know about her.
Way I see it, we're all one big, happy family now,
and everybody's getting rich off of my son's back.
You better listen to me, and listen to me good.
If you hurt what's mine, I swear to God,
I will find a way to hurt what's yours.
♪ ♪
[Monet] Yeah, 'Renzo, I know I'm right.
We tried everything with him already.
Look, I gotta go.
[cell phone snaps closed]
Dru, get in here.
[sighs]
Already tried what with me?
Your father and I were talking about Cane, not you.
Somebody died at Stansfield today.
School says it was someone that just got drunk
and drowned in the pool.
But I think Cane sent one of them Guaps up there
to kill Tariq.
But they didn't kill Tariq.
-Tariq killed them. -Exactly.
And now GTG thinks that we set them up.
And what's why they went after Zeke.
I've been seeing this whole thing wrong.
What do you mean?
I mean, you taking the blame for your brother.
Great leaders always take the fall, deserved or not,
'cause it's the quickest way to make things right,
and you did that.
-It was nothing, Ma. -[Monet] It wasn't.
Look, Cane is just too far gone at this point.
Ma, Cane is out taking care of GTG right now.
You made that call?
I did.
♪ ♪
Well, that'll be the last thing Cane does for this family.
This is for my little nigga Barz.
Guap in peace, bro.
Cane fucking finessed us.
Sent our boy into an ambush.
We need to go smoke that nigga.
-Facts. We out. Let's go. -Not just him.
The whole Tejada family is fucking dead.
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
The fuck, y'all niggas ain't paid the ConEd bill?
Might just be a blackout.
[Lil' Guap] Okay, y'all go outside and check
if the whole block got their power out too.
Man, this is some bullshit.
♪ ♪
[whispering] Hey. Go and check that shit.
♪ ♪
Fuck!
♪ ♪
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Yo, Cane.
Look, man, it don't gotta be like this.
I-I'll do whatever you need. Just please, bro, just chill.
Calm the fuck down, bro, a'ight?
[breathing heavily]
From now on, I want half of everything.
I don't care if you moving weight or hitting licks.
Half is mines.
-Want half of every-- -Every fucking thing.
Or else I'm gonna come back here, and I'm gonna finish
-the fucking job. -Bet. Got you.
You got it.
[chuckles] My guy.
Oof! [coughs]
That's for violating my cousin.
♪ ♪
[doorbell buzzing]
[whispering] Zeke!
You can't just show up at my place like this.
Oh, my God.
What happened?
Can I come in?
Yeah.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
What's up?
You heard about Zeke?
I didn't-I didn't send GTG after Zeke.
Come on, D. I would never do that.
But you sent them after Tariq, right?
And now...
Cane, now she's made up her mind.
You're not welcome here anymore.
Wait, so y'all choosing Tariq over me?
It ain't about that.
It's about you going against this family.
Yo, I gotta talk to her, okay?
I just killed the motherfuckers who fucked with Zeke.
All right, I-I need y'all right now.
Shit's hot out there.
You know damn well that shit ain't up to me.
Take it.
And get out of the city.
Be careful out there.
♪ ♪
[door closes]
♪ ♪
[gunfire on TV]
[character groans on TV]
Yo, bro, what's up with your phone?
I called you, like, ten times.
I know.
Bro, you good? I was worried about you, man.
No, I'm not good, dude.
You lied to me about knowing Effie was here,
side hustle with her, did it all without me,
and I think you fucked her in here.
The room smelled all weird earlier.
You know what? Don't even tell me.
[Tariq] Listen, bro, you don't understand, all right?
My mother's lawyer was asking for mad cash by today,
or he would drop her case.
I don't want to hear that shit
about you having to help your mom, okay?
You could have come to me about that.
But instead, you lied to me.
I would have, but I don't trust your judgment
after you bringing a bitch like Riley around.
The only thing on your mind is her, bro.
You're not even thinking about the money anymore.
Okay, run the app with Effie, then.
Listen, B, that's our business.
Nigga, I ain't tell her shit about that.
Nah, there is no business anymore.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[line trilling]
[over phone] This is Effie.
Don't leave a message. I won't check it.
[cell phone vibrates]
♪ ♪
Hello?
♪ ♪
[transcendent hip hop beats]
♪ ♪
[King Von] ♪ I am what I am ♪
♪ What I'm not, see I never be ♪
♪ Niggas woofin' up Until we meet ♪
♪ Catch him lackin' Put him on TV
♪ And if I should die ♪
♪ I'm boostin' The murder rate ♪
♪ My niggas gon' slide Every day ♪
♪ He been talkin' that shit I can't wait ♪
♪ I am what I am What I'm not ♪
♪ See, I never be Uh-uh ♪
♪ Niggas woofin' up Until we meet ♪
♪ Catch him lackin' Put him on TV ♪
[Monet] You don't trust me.
That's why you asked me to meet you here.
You can't kill me in broad daylight.
You'll get caught.
I wasn't trying to kill you, Tariq.
That was Cane, all on his own.
Now, why should I believe you?
Because if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead.
Look, I don't fuck with none of y'all, a'ight?
So just stay away from me, and we'll keep it at that.
If I was you, I would feel the same way.
But I want you to know that Cane was all the way wrong
for what he did.
And because of that, he's no longer a part of this family.
So you don't have to worry about him anymore.
Shit, I don't even trust him.
I told you I was the one you could trust the most.
Cane is your blood, all right?
You not gonna turn your back on him.
Yeah, well, your mother made it very clear
that she's not gonna turn her back on you either.
You talked to my mom?
She made a call to Lorenzo on your behalf.
I ain't tell her to do that.
Look, she's a mother. I understand.
But she can't call him ever again.
A'ight.
And Cane can't come for me again.
Look, I'm not giving you permission to hunt Cane down.
But this is the streets.
You gotta protect yourself at all times,
by any means necessary.
So if he comes for you, it is what it is.
I'll hold nothing against you.
But if I get any word of you seeking him out
and killing my son,
nigga, I promise you, I'll come kill you myself.
Do we have an understanding?
[cell phone buzzing]
♪ ♪
Yeah, we good. I need some more work.
More just came in.
I got you.
We got each other.
♪ ♪
[King Von] ♪ I am what I am ♪
♪ What I'm not See, I never be ♪
♪ Niggas woofin' up Until we meet ♪
♪ Catch him lackin' Put him on TV ♪
♪ And if I should die ♪
♪ I'm boostin' The murder rate ♪
♪ My niggas gon' slide Every day ♪
♪ He been talkin' that shit I can't wait ♪
♪ I am what I am ♪
♪ What I'm not, see I never be ♪
♪ Niggas woofin' up Until we meet ♪
♪ Catch him lackin' Put him on TV ♪
♪ And if I should die ♪
♪ I'm boostin' The murder rate ♪
♪ My niggas gon' slide Every day ♪
♪ He been talkin' that shit I can't wait ♪
[Fivio Foreign] ♪ Ey, look You know how we rock ♪
♪ I can't wait Until we find out the block ♪
♪ Forever Pop ♪
♪ We ain't never getting' cool With the opps ♪
♪ I get the money I do it a lot ♪
♪ Bow, I got it on me He gettin' shot ♪
♪ We ain't give a fuck About the cops ♪
♪ I am Woo You know what to do ♪
♪ I throw the set When I come in the room ♪
♪ I heard they offer a hundred mil ♪
♪ Tell them boys I need a hundred and two ♪
♪ Ay, ay, boom ♪
♪ Send me the addy ♪
♪ I'm comin' to you ♪
♪ Huh, send me the addy ♪
♪ I'm comin' to you ♪
♪ I just touched down ♪
♪ Von like "Welcome to the 'Raq" ♪
♪ I need a gun Where it's at? ♪
♪ It's GDK on my back ♪
♪ Uh, and I ain't talkin' 'Bout a tat ♪
♪ Henny, 'gnac ♪
♪ I'm off the liquor Don't know how to act ♪
[King Von] ♪ I am what I am ♪
♪ What I'm not, see I never be ♪
♪ Niggas woofin' up Until we meet ♪
♪ Catch him lackin' Put him on TV ♪