03x05 - One Before Another

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Empire...

I didn't know Gram was performing with Tiana tonight.

Lucious: Why don't you spit some napalm on a diss track and bury him and everything he cares about.

There is no head of A&R to oversee the deal.

Cookie: We hired Xavier Rosen.

Becky: Who?

Given the dangers to Ms. Gathers, the court agrees to grant bail.

Lucious: What I was most proud of was that you paid off that doctor.

How does it feel to know you're just like your daddy?

I had to put in work on a couple of cats.

Mm-hmm.

The three horsemen who wanted us dead.

Lucious: Well, there was a fourth horseman.

But Shine, he ain't no snitch.

Cookie, we're not that different.

I truly believe we can make this work.

That was hot.

Oh, so... first you hate me, then you love me.

You have no idea...

... what you're worth.

Shine: An att*ck on me is an att*ck on each and every one of you.

Lucious and Andre Lyon want a w*r.

So we w*r.

(heavy bass b*at playing)

Yeah, that feel right to you?

I think you could make that bass a little harder.

Yeah. (chuckles)

Look, I know we haven't worked together in a while, but I appreciate you coming through.

Feel like this is about to be something big.

Couldn't think of anyone better.

Oh, come on, Mal.

You know we make good music together.

Yeah.

Yeah, we do.

But that's all we need to do, Derek.

(heavy bass b*at continues)

Let's go k*ll some Lyons.

You heard him. Let's roll.

Now, you know I love getting coffee with you before work, but one of these days, you got to let me bring it to you in bed.

Huh. Well, I might like that, one of these days in the far future.

Oh, the future, okay.

(laughs)

Come on. No... no sugar? No cream?

Oh, no. I like mine dark and strong.

Ah, well, you're gonna have to do a little better than that if you want to get in these drawers.

(both laugh)

Make a right right here.

Watch out for the cops.

Lucious: And make sure Tony has his guys fan out.

Man: Yes, sir.

And we got three marks over there at that hot dog stand.

Now, you see that dude with the newspaper?

Nobody reads print anymore.

Anika: I never thought I'd be making doctor visits in an armored personnel carrier.

Well, I know Shine; he's gonna clap back.

So if you want to step your ass out and see if you're bulletproof, go ahead.

♪ ♪

Hakeem: I'm-a try Nessa one more time.

Chicken: Still texting Nessa again?

When you gonna hit that?

(sighs) I will.

I want her to meet my daughter.

Cute little babies, that always gets the girls.

Chicken: I thought it was your rap skills that got the honeys.

Hakeem: That, too.

I'm-a invite her to my livestream concert.

Once she sees me doing my thing, it's game over.

That's gonna be enough?

Period.

(tires screech)

Get him.

Yeah.

And that bitch of his gonna catch a few of these, too.

(chuckles) So why are you going through so much trouble to announce you're running for mayor?

I say just call a couple reporters...

Right.

... do the damn thing, and keep it moving.

Well, you know, I just want to be prepared for any questions they might throw at me.

Oh. Yeah, questions like, uh, "Why are you trying to date an ex-con?" Huh?

Yes, they may ask that. But, look, I'll just say, "I haven't been to third base yet," so...

(laughs)

Unless we're planning on, you know, changing that tonight.

No. I got to see my P.O. tomorrow.

You still have a parole officer?

Yeah, it's called supervised release, so...

Heads up, Councilman.

Excuse me, Ms. Lyon.

You need to come with us.

Step back.

Uh, no, I don't.

I don't even know who the hell you are.

All right, stand down.

What's going on here, gentlemen?

All due respect, Councilman.

Your husband sent us, ma'am.

For your own safety.

He is not my hu...

Come with us, ma'am.

He's not my husband.

Look, I don't know what he did this time.

Stay back. Stay back.

Cookie: Get your hands off of me!

I'm sorry!

(elevator bell dings)

Andre: Long night at the studio, huh, brother?

Get some of these eggs, man.

I made plenty.

Good morning, sunshine.

(g*n clicks)

♪ ♪

Yo...

Shine, what the hell are you doing?!

What the hell are you doing here?!

You smashing this dude?

After what him and his father did to me?

That's how you got the bruise, Andre?

We had a disagreement.

Oh, we had a disagreement.

No, no, no. (pants)

Shine, look at me.

Get out the way, Nessa.

Look at me!

You're my brother, and I love you.

I ain't got nobody else! You know that.

And I will not have you catching a case over this. Look at me.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Let's go, Shine.

(crying)

Shine...

No! Shine!

(Nessa sobbing)

I don't get my hands dirty in front of her.

But I'll be back.

In fact, I think I'll save you for last.

(elevator bell dings)

(exhales)

Hey, brother.

Sorry about my friends, man.

Sometimes they, uh... (laughs) they get out of hand.

What's with all the security outside my spot?

We're good for my livestream show on Friday, right?

Not exactly, Hakeem.

Lucious, why don't you tell him.

As I was saying, once Shine reentered into my orbit, I knew there was gonna come a time in which he needed to be corrected.

So fortunately, last night, my eldest son and I decided that his actions were extremely disrespectful and, if left unchecked, a thr*at to this family. And so we...

... checked his ass.

Checked him how?

How you think?

Except now Shine is at my place trying to clap back.

I'm sorry about that, Jamal; it won't happen again.

I'm moving in to Pop's guesthouse.

No, Dre.

Trust me, you don't want to be all up under him like that.

Hold up. We b*ating up our friends now?

Boy, he is not your friend.

Look, all of y'all, the only reason why we are even messing with him is to block Tariq from building a case against us, you got that?

Now, how in the hell are we gonna stop him from flipping out on us now?

Because Shine is not a snitch.

He'd rather be dead than be a rat.

I swear, am I the only one...

See, you love this type of drama.

Yeah, he does.

It brought my family back together, didn't it?

The music I'm doing with Shine is some of my best stuff.

Well, you're gonna have to postpone that for now.

I already told my fans it's happening.

I don't care what you told your fans!

Ain't no do-overs in live streaming, Mom.

There also ain't no do-overs if you get sh*t in the head.

Look, look, relax. Ain't nobody changing anything.

Everything stays according to what we're doing.

Everybody just needs to be alert and stay in their lane.

And then soon as you're done playing house with... the mayor of Dingleberry, you owe me a Tiana single.

And, Jamal, you can go back to doing whatever you do when you're not making music.

You want to help the family? You help the family.

You want to go and free the world? Free the world.

But, Keem, your Empire XStream show goes on as planned.

We got to keep pushing them stats up.

I got Shine exactly where I want him.

Now it's time to tuck his little bitch ass in.

There he is!

Hakeem!

(reporters clamoring)

What's up, little brother?

(heavy bass b*at playing)

You feeling this track?

You already know.

(chuckles): Get in.

Yo, can you pause that?

(music stops) Yo, you want it?

What I got to do for it?

Make your Empire XStream event a double bill. You and me.

Come on, bro, I'm doing my own jam right now.

No, I get it, Hakeem. But listen, we could give the people what they missed out on at the ASAs.

And keeping it real, I need it, too.

It's important that I show the fans that I'm still in the game.

Bro, you can't even perform.

You know that.

Not in front of a big crowd with all these bells and whistles, no.

But I was thinking we could do it at my living room.

We could make it mad intimate and just blast it out to the fans.

(sighs): Maybe.

Hakeem and Jamal, the Lyon brothers.

Live and alive.

You know the message that that sends to the world?

Why we even doing music if we don't make a real imprint on the next generations?

You know what this is about?

You and Dad.

That "end the cycle" beef you got with him.

Nah, man, it's about you and Bella.

It's about the fact that our father... her grandfather... b*at up your favorite producer.

That's really the type of world you want her to grow up in?

We're going to Laviticus.

Yes, sir, Mr. Lyon.

Jamal (laughs): All right, listen.

What's up, y'all? It's your boy, Jamal Lyon.

And I'm the smooth baby brother, Hakeem.

And we have a very special announcement.

Tell 'em, Keem.

Yeah. Nah, you tell 'em, Mal.

All right, look, this Friday make sure y'all are tuned in, 8:00... we have a very special event.

And look, #TeamKeem, all day, ladies.

Yeah, yeah. Y'all know what that is.

Hey, what kind of fun-boy stuff y'all two clowns doing up there, man?

Hey, yo, what this dude doing in our spot for, man?!

Yo, yo, yo...

What it look like I'm doing, man?

I'm coming at you. You a MC. Battle me.

What, you want to go right now, little man?

Keem...

No, let's do it in front of your subscribers.

Let them enjoy the show.

I'm-a bring my subscribers, too.

I designed my own little streaming apps and everything.

I didn't need daddy money for that.

(others laugh)

But since I'm a gentleman, that's what I'm-a do for you, okay?

I'm-a have you bloody and trending worldwide in a matter of seconds.

Say "cheese" for the camera. Y'all like selfies, right?

Yeah, anything for the fans.

(camera clicks)

Thank you.

We're gonna leave, man.

(camera clicks)

(chuckles)

I got to go talk to him.

Wait, stop. Come here!

You are better than that. We are better than that.

Look at me.

Start using your mind, all right?

How the hell did he even get up in here with all of this security around?

Lucious.

Becky: So, we have that great new song,

"Starlight." Tiana loves it, and I think it's time to record it.

Well, I don't think it's a lead single.

Now, the song she did at Laviticus is already getting crazy heat. And the numbers show...

Can we just stop with the numbers really quickly?

I actually spoke to Tiana, and that song is not what she wants.

Well, Becky, in A&R, we can't always give in to what the artist wants.

Do not mansplain to me.

And especially do not white-mansplain to me.

Then don't be uninformed.

Now, if it makes you feel better, we can throw an experimental track deeper in the album.

This isn't about how I feel, first of all, and secondly, I disagree... with everything that you are.

Okay. Let's put down the g*ns.

All right?

(clears throat)

Fiddler on the Roof here has a point.

He's looking at the bigger picture.

And I agree with him.

That song Tiana did is getting crazy heat, so that is the song we will record. Okay?

All right, now, can't we just all get along?

Kiss and make up.

Becky: Don't.

♪ ♪

Andre: Nessa.

Thanks for coming.

You okay?

Yeah, I...

What the hell is going on, Dre?

You think you can just hook up with me and then not tell me that you just got done stomping out my best friend?

That's what we doing?

I should've told you.

I couldn't help it.

So what do we do now?

Lucious wants to have a sit-down with Shine and get things back on track.

What? A sit...

I promise you, Nessa, we're not gonna screw him over.

You better not, Dre.

Because he's all I got.

Come here.

N...

Come here. Come here. Come here.

I respect that he's all you got.

You could have more.

What you said when you came to see me... if you had my musical talent... what did you mean by that?

Help me get Shine to the table.

I'll show you what I meant by that.

All right, Keem, you ready to put...

You look surprised to see me.

Surprised.

But happy to see my son, even if it's the wrong one.

(chuckles): Okay.

Well, look, I have good news.

Hakeem is squashing that little petty-ass beef with Gram.

So, yes, I...

I lost Freda, but... I'm not losing Hakeem.

Why are you throwing bricks when you live in a glass house, son?

Have you forgotten all those lies you told in order to get Freda out of that place?

I did what I had to do.

Yeah, and then you dropped her ass back off in the projects.

You know, Shakespeare said, "To thy own self be true."

The sooner you accept that you are the younger version of me... with a twist... the sooner you'll be back on that stage and be your old self again.

It's this space, man.

Last time I sat in this chair, I turned against my mother.

Because she deserved it.

And what do you deserve?

How you get so corrupt?

There's no way that you were born this way.

Jamal, you are 50% genetically predisposed to become me.

It's inevitable.

You know what I like about Keem?

He knows that he likes what I like, and he knows he's going to become me.

He knows nothing except what you told him.

Maybe you should let him be the man he wants to be instead of the man that you want him to be.

Oh, my God, you are so corny, Mal.

I'm-a book a duet with you and Mary Magdalene, soon as God gives me the okay.

Oops. I said no.

Hey, girl. How you doing?

You look good! You lost weight.

Julio, my man. Oh.

(laughs)

Sharlene!

Holloway.

Hey, girl, I bought you your favorite.

Keep it. You're late.

Excuse me?

Your appointment was 9:00 a.m. It's a quarter to 10:00.

(chuckles)

I know, but I always come here at this time.

You seem a little off. Is there something I can do?

The rules of your supervised release stipulate that you need to contact me if you're going to be late.

I'm gonna have to write you up.

(chuckles) What's going on, Sharlene?

I don't know what you mean.

Well, the last time I was here, you were showing me pictures of your kids, and... now you're acting brand-new.

About that.

Your last visit was three months ago.

Since you can't tell time, we're going to have to have you report here three times a week.

Oh! Sharlene, no, come on, now.

You know I run a company.

I can't come here three times a week.

This isn't some thug rapper you're negotiating with, Holloway.

This is the United States government.

You need time to consider, I can send you back to Danbury to think it over.

Right now, you need to use the bathroom.

Let's just get this over with.

I'm sorry.

I know you're not excited to come in to record "Me."

I get it... it's what Cookie wants.

What if I told you that you're actually here to record "Starlight" because it's about to be your lead single?

What? I thought Cookie said that...

No, I... I talked her out of it.

I told her that you were gonna get in that booth and slay the hell out of that song, and she... agreed with me.

Are you serious?

Dead serious.

Oh, my God! Yo, thank you!

You're the best.

You know I got your back like bra straps, girl.

(laughs) Yo!

I'm-a always get you what you want.

Yeah! Yes!

(both laugh)

Lucious: "I asked for bread in the name

"of love and mercy, but humanity did not heed me.

So now I shall take it in the name of evil."

Why's she always sleeping?

(sighs)

'Cause that's what babies do, son.

They sleep.

But you can't afford to do that.

You see, as a patriarch of the family, you're responsible for teaching your young ones how to survive in this cold world.

Jamal don't understand that.

He thinks it's all Kumbaya and love, but he's wrong.

(sighs)

It's k*ll or be k*lled.

Eat or be eaten.

Look, I know you're trying to get me up under you like how you got Andre up under you.

(sighs)

I want you to crush Gram because it means money for Empire, and Empire XStream needs that kind of fanfare and activity.

But I want you to destroy him, 'cause you're a Lyon, and I want the world to know that you're not someone to be trifled with.

I want this little girl to know what kind of man her daddy is.

Why is everybody bringing Bella into this?

Because, like you... she was born a Lyon.

So she's born into this.

See this book?

It's written by Kahlil Gibran.

It's called A Tear and a Smile.

Inside it is the story of "The Criminal."

It tells of a young man... who was very kind of heart, and he depended on the kindness of humanity in order for him to eat.

But after some time, he found himself starving to death.

And right when you thought he was about to die, he realized his own true nature.

You see, Keem, the nature of humanity isn't love and peaceful, it's dark and beastly.

And it'll turn the meek and the humble into a criminal, and the sons of peace into... destroyers of men.

He became a destroyer of men.

Because he had to.

♪ ♪
♪ No matter what, you know I'm here forever ♪
♪ No matter what, I know you're here forever ♪
♪ We've been through the storm and we're still together ♪
♪ We're back together now as ♪
♪ One... ♪
♪ It's you and me over everything ♪
♪ One... ♪
♪ It's you and me over everything ♪
♪ Leave it all behind, no more wasting time ♪
♪ Too focused on what's behind us now ♪
♪ Made it through the fight, finally got it right ♪
♪ This is what I've been waiting for ♪
♪ Practically my whole ♪
♪ Life... ♪

Brother.

(heavy bass b*at playing)

What is... ?

♪ See, I always stayed down for my bros ♪
♪ Because loyalty is all I know, down to ride for 'em ♪
♪ And I won't lose control even when we hit bumps in the road ♪
♪ We get money on our own ♪
♪ And treat it like baseball and bring it back home ♪
♪ No King Kong, but we strong, so just like the bank ♪
♪ Better leave us alone, like we car shoppin' ♪
♪ Swear we been through a whole lot ♪

That's too far.

♪ We swerved around all the roadblocks ♪
♪ I put my family over everything ♪
♪ Like hot sauce on the stove top ♪
♪ Don't want me retaliate ♪
♪ Don't mess with nobody related ♪
♪ I roll for my bros, you know, for my folks ♪
♪ I'm going as hard as the pavement ♪
♪ If they need anything, then I got 'em ♪
♪ Promise all of their problems my problems ♪
♪ I could always tell one thing about 'em ♪
♪ They hold me down even when I'm at rock bottom ♪
♪ Through it all, when I fall ♪
♪ They pick me up like a phone call ♪
♪ No pretend, all my kin ♪
♪ We going for the win like a long ball. ♪

(music ends)

Okay.

Um, one, can you not do the stool like that?

It makes you look pissed.

And then also, you are literally out of bounds.

That's what all this tape is for.

You're, like, in my balcony.

Yo, this whole performance is too soft.

It needs to command respect, Mal.

Yo, why you sounding like Lucious now?

Hakeem, our performance is tomorrow, okay?

They're rearranging my entire apartment, and we have a song.

A dope song.

It is dope, but this verse, I need to use to clap back to my haters.

No, you should not.

You know what, you're literally gonna stand your whole career doing clap-back records.

That's fine, and I don't care, but do it on someone else's track, 'cause you're not gonna put that B.S. on mine.

We got terms and conditions?

If you had enough followers, you'd be doing this on your own channel, not Empire XStream.

You know what, bro, you about to piss me off.

Bro, you're the one that needs this, not me.

You're the one that's losing his fans, not me.

Now, if it's gonna be terms and conditions, just think about it... it's mine.

'Cause everybody knows this concert is life or death for you.

Just think about it.

(thunder rumbling)

Arms up.

Hey, come on, man. Hey, if I was packing, I would have violated the terms of the sit-down.

This is a violation.

Lucious: If I wanted to violate you, Shine, you'd be getting patted down with some b*ll*ts.

Yeah. Is that right?

Well, I got four sh**t outside that say you won't.

Lucious: No, you got three.

One stayed back at a five-star hotel, where he's getting some room service sent up by me right now.

And if you like, I can send your boys outside a snack, too.

Don't forget I do this, Shine.

(scoffs)

No, you don't do this, Lucious.

I do this.

You ain't did this for years.

You industry. And I'm still in the streets.

And if I got to blow somebody up, I don't care if I die with him.

But you already know this.

Look, maybe we got off on the wrong foot, huh?

You want a drink or something, man?

No, I'm straight.

'Cause we can talk tough all night.

But last time I checked, we had something real good going with Nessa.

Yeah, I thought so, too.

That's until you and your son tried to divide and conquer.

You came at us first, man.

(scoffs) What is this?

What are we doing?

Come on, Lucious, it's me, bro.

I could have buried you a long time ago with any one of them bodies you got.

You forget Camden?

Hold on, man.

It's me you're talking to.

Calling me "bro," and you're gonna bring something like that up?

Which I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

But if I did, that would be violating code right here.

Okay, you know what?

This is a waste of my time.

Come on, Nessa, let's move.

(chuckles): Shine. Hey, I thought I heard you in here, waking up my baby.

Look, Anika, we in the middle of something right now.

Oh, good. Did you tell him about the idea that we discussed?

My husband, just the other day, he had just said how much he really appreciates having you around here.

You know, putting your ear to Hakeem, bringing in Nessa.

He even said that it was such a shame that your talent had been slept on all this time, and... imagine what you could do with your own imprint.

Right, babe?

But, you know, I mean, if you ever need somebody to bounce anything off of, I'm here.

Just let me know.

Good to see you.

Is that what you're offering, Lucious?

My own imprint?

(chuckles): That's what I was trying to get to when you came charging in like King Kong or something, man.

Is Nessa part of that deal?

Look, Nessa's under a different contract with Empire, but... we can cross-pollinate, man.

What about Freda Gatz?

I heard she out.

I hear she's dope.

Hey, if Freda gets it done for you, she's all yours, bro.

Nessa: Freda's the one, Shine.

And this could be a good deal for you.

Oh, for me, huh?

For us, Shine.

We got a deal.

(thunder rumbling)

(chuckles) Welcome to the Empire, baby.

Hey, you okay? I barely got through, uh, last two meetings.

You been talking to my probation officer?

Say what? No.

Why would I do that?

So, it's a total coincidence that after I tell you I'm on supervised release, my P.O. starts acting strict with me.

No, I don't know nothing about that. It's not me.

Hmm. Then it must be because you're running for mayor and you want to keep me in check.

(chuckles): Oh, uh, okay, look, I don't make a habit of keeping women in check.

You must've got me confused with your ex-husband.

(laughs) Leave Lucious out of this, man.

Well, how can I?

He's making sure he's very much a part of this.

And what the hell is that supposed to mean, Angelo?

Cookie, look, I'm feeling you. Okay, I know you know this.

(chuckles): But you and Lucious, y'all got some unresolved issues you need to take care of.

My only issue is being told what issues I have.

See, Angelo, you don't know me like that.

I don't. How can I?

You don't let me. Every time I try to get close to you, you put a wall up.

Aw, man...

See? Look, there you go.

I can't! What?

Okay.

Uh, let's just cut this night short, all right, 'cause we're both getting reckless in the mouth...

Yeah.

... and one of us is gonna say something that we're gonna regret.

Already did that.

Good night, Cookie.

Yeah, well, good night.

Thank you.

Good luck.

(sighs)

(smacks lips)

♪ ♪
♪ Where there is smoke ♪
♪ There is a fire ♪
♪ Burnin' my heart ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ If they only know ♪
♪ You're my desire ♪
♪ The world would put an end to us ♪
♪ I'll ride in the night ♪
♪ On the back of your bike ♪
♪ With my hands, my hands to the sky ♪
♪ So fast we could fly ♪
♪ Let's leave it behind... ♪

Okay, fine. You're right, that's hot.

I know.

Yet you still disobeyed a direct order, and you lied to Tiana.

This ain't Chutes and Ladders.

It's the music business.

I thought you people understood what the word "business" meant.

You know, Cookie is going to be pissed.

I know. That's why I wanted you to listen to the song first.

You can help me convince Cookie that this song is a hit.

I don't know that it is a hit.

Yes, you do!

The song is dope. Listen to it.

More importantly, it's what the artist wants.

All we have to do is let Cookie hear it tomorrow.

She'll love it, and all will be forgiven.

Listen to her.

♪ Under starlight ♪
♪ So bright ♪
♪ Fast life ♪
♪ Tonight... ♪

(door opens)

Cookie: Damn, boy!

I'm-a give you the number to my cleaning lady, because this place is disgusting, Hakeem.

I should've known you would have ran to Mom.

So much for being a grown-up.

Yeah, I played her the song.

Yes, and it's fire, and you will do it the way you and Jamal arranged it, end of story.

How you gonna make me?

Why don't you stop acting like a baby.

You the baby!

You the baby, the dumb little baby... that's what you do.

And you the semi-bald- headed-looking baby.

Shut up!

Now, what did I have, two boys or two little girls?

'Cause y'all sound like two sissies.

(sighs)

Now, what did I tell y'all way back at that investor showcase?

Hmm? What y'all not gonna do is come in between me and my money.

Now, it's been too long since you and your brother performed in front of the people.

And that's what they want, and that's what we will give them.

Y'all just trying to drag me into a fight y'all are having with Lucious.

Get your narrow ass back up here, boy.

Don't you ever walk away from me.

I'm trying to stop one son from clapping back at an artist that's not even on our label.

Mm-hmm.

Oh. And I'm only trying to help my other son get back to performing in front of his fans before they forget how much they love his stupid ass.

Mm-hmm.

Cookie: If you are afraid of getting on the wrong side of your daddy... you don't want to get on the wrong side of your mama.

You feel me?

I said, do you feel me?

Yeah, I feel you.

Good. Come here.

Mmm.

(groans)

Hey, Ma...

Clean this damn place up.

Smelling like ass in here!

Next time, take your shoes off in my house, please.

Shut up, Hakeem.

Boy, you better clean this place up before I throw an acid b*mb in here. Nasty-ass pigsty.

What's up, everybody? It's your boy, Jamal Lyon.

I want to say thank you so much for tuning in.

We are all the way live on Empire XStream.

That's my baby brother, Hakeem.

We are here truly for love and light.

So for all of y'all, this is for you.

♪ Like the water to the fire ♪
♪ We gonna find a way to make it all right ♪
♪ No looking in the rearview ♪
♪ The front window shows that our future's bright ♪
♪ Together we stand, divided we fall ♪
♪ Building up the bridge and we're tearing down the walls ♪
♪ See, we done been through the worse ♪
♪ Love conquers all even if the truth hurts ♪
♪ If... we don't ♪
♪ Stand for something ♪
♪ Then we'll fall for anything ♪
♪ Blood is so much thicker than... ♪
♪ Water ♪
♪ Like a prince is proud to say he's king ♪
♪ I'm proud to say it's us over everything ♪
♪ No matter what, you know I'm here forever ♪
♪ No matter what, I know you're here forever ♪
♪ We've been through the storm and we're still together ♪
♪ We're back together now as ♪
♪ One... ♪
♪ It's you and me over everything... ♪

Looks like my baby Jamal is back.

Anybody can perform in the shower or in the middle of his damn living room.

Look at this.

Cookie: What are those, the users?

Looks like the numbers are staying steady.

Yeah, but they need to go up.

Hakeem's audience ain't even tuning in because they not here for this Kumbaya crap.

We need some fire in here.

Okay, whatever, Lucious. Get away from me.

Okay.

What happened to Gram, man?

Lyons don't run from beef. We crush that.

I don't need to be beefing over a chick who's my ex.

Especially when I'm about to have a new one.

What?

Nessa?

Hakeem: Yeah. We been talking for a minute.

I'm-a lock it down today.

Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your brother already got that on lock.

My brother?

Not Jamal.

Dre.

Nah, Andre wouldn't do that.

(laughs)

Man, you better get your girl back.

Jamal: Come on, brother.

(heavy bass b*at playing)

♪ See, I always stayed down for my bros ♪
♪ Staying loyal should be how it goes ♪
♪ I was ridin' with 'em, but then we lost control ♪
♪ When we hit some bumps in the road ♪
♪ Ask Andre, bet he knows ♪
♪ He was keeping secrets on the low ♪
♪ All them lies that you told ♪
♪ Thought you kept it real, but you don't ♪
♪ I knew the whole time ♪
♪ That you was a fake one ♪
♪ And then Jamal don't want to say nothin' ♪
♪ Just wanna act like a straight punk ♪
♪ Plus Andre sick ♪
♪ Hold up, yeah, I told 'em that I'll never let you ♪
♪ Lean on my shoulder, you know Nessa ♪
♪ Soon as I left her, I heard you had her ♪
♪ Come and sleepin' over, then Jamal ♪
♪ Kept it quiet, what you thought I wouldn't realize it? ♪

Don't nobody care about them damn numbers, Lucious.

♪ And if you got a problem, see about it ♪
♪ Too busy kissing your boyfriend ♪
♪ You been dressing like a girl since you were ten... ♪

Oh, no, no, no! No!

This is live, boy. Whatever he's mad at, let him be mad, or it's gonna get worse, okay?

♪ I don't rock with either one of you at all ♪
♪ Sick, boy, yeah, you sick, boy ♪
♪ Lucious, let me know you think you slick, boy ♪
♪ You a has-been and you been gay ♪
♪ And you both weak like a Wednesday ♪
♪ Cash'll turn you into a trick for it ♪
♪ You'll probably even sleep with a chick for it. ♪

(music ends, microphone feedback hums)

Jamal: Is he out his damn mind?

Cookie: No, no, no...

What the hell was that, Hakeem?! What the hell was that about?!

You got us doing this Mickey Mouse performance about brotherhood when you know Andre's giant ass crushing my girl!

What the hell are you talking about?!

Andre and Nessa!

That's what I'm talking about!

Nessa: Hakeem, we could have talked about this at a different time.

You're trying to deny it?

Calm down, okay? I didn't even know you were into Nessa.

Hakeem: Of course you knew!

Andre: I didn't know nothing.

Wait, wait, wait, what are y'all doing?!

No, no, no, no, no, no! No, no!

Jamal: I don't give a damn what you are pissed off about.

You took it to another level, and I want to know why!

Wack-ass performance was your idea in the first place!

I shouldn't have never listened to you.

You just used me to do a performance 'cause you can't get out there and do it yourself!

Fake-ass wannabe MC! I will k*ll you right...

Shut your big ass up, Frankenstein!

Come on! Come on!

Keep rolling! Keep filming!

No, stop!

Cookie: Turn it off!

What the hell is wrong with you?!

Somebody plug this back in!

You cannot just claim me, Hakeem... nothing happened!

We didn't do that duet together? We didn't vibe together?

Oh my goodness, a vibe, a vibe!

Shut up!

Y'all, it's okay, don't worry about it, 'cause Hakeem Lyon, he was just vibin' to some female, so it's all good.

Turn these cameras off! This is over! A wrap!

Everybody out!

Petty-ass dumb bitch!

Shut your Frank Ocean wannabe-ass up!

You shut your fake-ass wannabe...

Turn these cameras off!

Hello, Becky. Come in. Have a seat.

So, uh, Tiana... unfortunately, there was a miscommunication in your lead song, so... we're gonna have to postpone the release of your album.

No... What do you mean, a miscommunication?

Well, Xavier told me that you recorded "Starlight"... which that is lightweight snitchin', but we gonna deal with that later.

I did not sign off on that song.

So now we got to put you back in the studio to record "Me," the song I wanted.

So... you lied to me?

No. I believed in the song.

I can't work with no liars, Cookie.

I want her off my team.

What?

Are you serious?

I'm the only one around here fighting for you.

Yeah, and look where it got me.

T... Cookie, she's just mad right now.

Please don't take me off her team.

You said it, Becky.

We got to give the artist what they want. Now...

I can try and talk to her and see if I can change her mind, but... you did this.

You need to learn how to listen.

What happened? I thought you liked the song.

I did.

So why didn't you have my back?

It's just business.

(screams)

There she is. Cookie, I'd like to introduce you to a good friend of mine, Gus Rodriguez.

You know Ms. Davis.

(chuckles): Oh, so... it's like this now, huh, Angelo?

I'm here to apologize, Ms. Lyon.

Ms. Lyon, Officer Davis has been reprimanded for her overzealous behavior.

She hopes that that will be sufficient, and you won't choose to file a complaint.

I'm not.

Uh, what's going on here?

Rodriguez: It seems that we got some wrong information about an ongoing investigation that has nothing to do with you.

So who you saying told her to put the squeeze on me?

I'm not at liberty to say, but you've been a model offender, and my office sees no reason to extend your restrictions.

I've known my man here since we balled at Columbia.

He says you're good people; you're good with me.

Okay. I'll wait for you out front.

Angelo: All right, man, thanks.

I'll see you in three months, Hollo...

Ms. Lyon.

Give the kids my love, Sharlene.

So you went to a lot of trouble for me, huh?

I saw your boys tonight on Empire XStream, and, uh...

I realized something about you and your family.

Yeah, I'm sure the whole world did. (chuckles)

Well, I realized that... fighting is your family's way of life.

It's... it's like it's in your blood.

But somehow, y'all got the idea that I'm...

I'm not a fighter.

Look, I am not trying to fight with you right now.

Baby girl, I'm not talking about fighting with you...

I'm talking about fighting for you.

And if that means going up against Lucious, well... then so be it.

Hmm.

♪ ♪

Tariq: You got me all the way out in Brownsville.

I hope you're ready to talk.

Yeah, I'm ready to talk.

You ready to be about that WITSEC life?

(scoffs)

WITSEC? You must be smoking.

You ain't gonna be walking around in the sunshine after giving me a body.

Even you ain't that crazy, my G.

What body?

(chuckles) The one you and Lucious hid in a slab of concrete back in Camden.

I don't know what you're talking about.

You know what I'm talking about.

Look, I ain't the one to be playing with, Shine.

I'm squeezing the Lyon family on all sides.

Got Cookie's P.O. to tighten the leash on her, and I can turn that same heat on you anytime I want.

That don't sound like gratitude, Tariq.

Especially when I'm about to make Christmas come early for you.

(door bell jingles)

Who's that?

That's Freda Gatz.

The rapper that sh*t Jamal Lyon at the ASAs?

Exactly.

Shine: Do you know who her dad was?

Remember Frank Gathers?

Of course I remember Frank.

You, Lucious and Cookie, you used to run material for him back in the day.

Allegedly.

More importantly, you know her father was locked up with Lucious at the BCC.

You know, he got k*lled up there.

Now, I can't tell if it was a coincidence or... or what.

I don't know.

So you saying Lucious had something to do with it?

Nah, that's not what I'm saying.

Actually, I ain't saying nothing.

I'm just taking my dog for a walk through the neighborhood.

♪ ♪

I know what you was up to in that meeting with Shine today.

I ain't mad at you, though.

It was a good idea.

Well, when it comes to good ideas, let's just say I learned from the best.

(chuckles)

Nah, I'm just glad I could help.

(sighs)

I could continue being a help, you know.

Shine's gonna need an A&R.

(chuckles) Look at you.

Trying to get something for yourself out of this whole thing.

I'm just saying.

Yeah.

I'll think about it, all right?

Look, let me talk to my boy for a minute.

Okay.

(sighs)

I'm-a place her right on your chest.

She's so tiny, I think I'm gonna break her.

Nah, don't worry.

Just trust yourself.

Right there.

Make sure her head is nice and relaxed.

You were right, Dad.

Yeah.

I wasn't gonna let you get punked like that.

And if that means you got to go to w*r with your brothers, then... so be it.

You were right about Jamal, too.

Yeah, I know.

(sighs)

So this means I don't have to play tug-of-w*r with you no more?

I wasn't trying to do that.

You want what's right for Bella, right?

Want to set the world up for her.

But I need to find myself again, musically.

But things are just so tense with Shine right now.

Ah, don't worry about him. I took care of that.

Look at her.

Sound asleep in your arms.

(chuckles softly)

It's the first time she's not screaming in my arms.

Know why?

You got your swagger back.

Come on.

Let's put her down over here.

When you swaddle a baby, you want to bend down the top of the corner like you're making a nice "V."

Then you put her head, the top of her head, right there, right there, at the top of that.

Okay. You got it.

She trusts you.

Yeah, support that neck.

I got you.

Oh...

Oh, little baby.

(fusses)

Oh, you got it, you got it, you got it.

She's good, she's good.

All right. (sighs)

Let's talk about this music of yours.

I have some thoughts about who you should and shouldn't be working with.

And, yeah, you should do some songs with Shine, but not all of 'em.

Maybe I'll produce you again.

Turn you into a destroyer of souls.