01x04 - Top Billing

[bunniefuu]

Previously on
"The Queens of R"

- And erotica love stories.
- [laughs]

And there's a market
out there for it.

Sex books?

Yes.

SWV, Xscape onstage together
doing a hot-a*s collaboration.

Everybody put their hands in!

You not gon'
put your hand in?

I have a meeting today
for a record deal.

Have you talked to Xscape
about what it is you're doing?

I have not.

Tocha,

she says she wants to do
some gospel.

Really?

Go ahead and be
this beautiful dentist

that you're gonna be.

I don't really want to
go back to school.

Are you for real right now?

We're looking at doing
this show in the next month.

We want to still have
top billing.

You all want to be paid
more than us?

We gon' pass.

If we can't agree on this,

there will be
no SWV and Xscape show.

Period.

I ain't.....ing opening up
for no mother.....ing body.

I sold 30 million records, b*tch.

[upbeat music]

♪ Baby, if you love me,
you better let me know, know ♪

♪ 'Cause I've been working
overtime, for sho', sho' ♪

- Let's roll.
- [squeals]

- This is the tummy tuck.
- Nuh-uh, my surgeon is.

[laughter]

♪ Baby, if you want me,
you better let me see, see ♪

Your shrimp doesn't got
no seasoning on it.

Well, your daughter did that.

Have you ever met
my alien friends?

- Your alien friends?
- Yeah.

I don't even think you've met
your alien friends, sweetie.

I build... I built a rocket
ship under this house.

♪ They workin' hard
for my lovin' ♪

♪ Workin' hard for my lovin',
lovin', lovin' ♪

I know you...

like, the creative part,
you're not into,

but sometimes I just need...
- Hey, listen.

I just need my husband here
for the energy.

If the spirit moves me,

then I'll contribute.
- Let it move you.

Let it move you.
- Yeah.

♪ Baby, if you love me

♪ You better let me know,
know ♪

We're on the elbows
and we here.

- How many minutes?
- Don't...stop saying minutes.

Seconds.

You got three, two, one, time.

You see? [laughs]

Good job.
- Thank you, ma'am.

You welcome.

- I'm sweating.
- I got a good stretch.

[laughs]
That ain't a stretch.

That's a damn roller coaster.
- [laughs]

My relationship with Coko
today is

so much better than it was
20 some odd years ago.

Woo!

Why you always
humping something?

- [laughs]
- You old horny a*s.

It's P-Valley.

Back in the day, Coko used
to be really, really catty.

Coko was the lead singer.
Everyone did what she said.

So if she decided to
stop talking to me,

everyone would
stop talking to me.

I would just be by myself.

Do this plank. Superman?
- Superman.

- Superwoman.
- [groans]

We have learned to live
as adults.

We get along great.

We work out anything that
comes up as an issue.

We didn't do that
back in the days.

So, yesterday.
- Oh, geez.

That was a disaster.
- [laughs]

But one thing
I definitely believe,

we shouldn't go anywhere
unless it's coheadling.

Oh, I'm absolutely
not going...

After all the history
we've made, we deserve that.

Absolutely.

That's not what we do.

No, I almost went back
to the Bronx and been like,

[loudly]
"b*tch! Who you talkin' to?"

[laughter]

We have worked with tons of
girl groups,

and no one has treated us
the way them gals treated us.

It was a pleasure
working with En Vogue.

It was a pleasure
working with TLC.

And both of them have
outsold both of us.

Xscape can learn a lesson
from En Vogue

with they 7 million records.

If it doesn't happen,
I would be crushed.

And if egos step into
what can be great...

I don't think my ego
has stepped in yet.

But she waitin'.
[laughter]

- Bring that '90s ego out.
- She waitin'.

[laughter]

♪ Yeah, we going out, uh

♪ I got my swagger back

♪ Swagger back

♪ Yeah, yeah, we going out

"The Many Faces of
SistaHotPussy."

Uh, let's see.

♪ Everybody show me love,
love ♪

♪ I got my swagger back

[doorbell rings]

[sighs softly]

- Hey, hey.
- Hi.

How you?
- Good. It's good to see ya.

You want something to drink?

Just some water
if you got it.

That would be awesome.
- OK, that's fine.

I don't like
washing dishes, so...

- That's all right.
- You don't mind drinking out...

As long as the cup doesn't
have a hole in it,

we can make it work.
- No, there's no hole in it.

[laughs]

Yeah, I was just kinda
doing some work on

my erotica audiobook.

- Oh, OK.
- Here you go.

I love that.
Thank you very much.

- Come over here.
- OK.

I'll let you take a peek at
what I've been doing.

Everybody seems to think,

because you're talking
about sex,

it's so easy, but it's not.

This is called "The Many
Faces of SistaHotPussy."

Ooh.

It's not that easy.
Like, I'm really not...

you know, I do my thing, but,

listen, I don't do what
a lot of those people

on PornHub does.
[laughs]

How many pages you have down?

- Ten chapters so far.
- OK.

Let me just read
a little bit to you.

"As he walked towards
the pulpit,

but first greeting
his ministers and clergy,

the minister's d*ck was damn
near halfway down his pant leg

in those tailor-fitted pants."

[slurps]

- Ah.
- I...I love it.

You know, SistaHotPussy is

just who she is, like...
- Yeah.

My goal is to be
an established author.

Like, it's so important to have
multiple streams of income.

SWV will always be my priority.

SWV is the reason why
I'm able to do

a lot of things, you know?
- Yeah.

Me, I know this industry is
very fickle.

You know, they try to k*ll you
at 20.

Like, that's too old.
You turn 30,

you...it's time for you to
just be buried. [laughs]

So how you been?
- Finally recovered from

that mess we just went through.

- [sighs]
- [chuckles]

Y'all don't want
to coheadline?

We have been
headlining our shows.

- On your tour?
- Any tours that we're on.

I ain't no.....ing opener.
Are you crazy?

Neither of us are gonna
argue with you on this.

Yeah.

Put the egos aside.

- I would love that.
- And let's just make music,

make history,
and do something special.

Yeah.

I didn't expect for things
to be so difficult.

We've been doing this
for so long.

Like, I really want this
to happen.

Compared to them,
we're pretty functional.

Sometimes we do petty, too,

but I think
we understand more now

how the business works

and how we can make
the business work for us.

We got to see
the bigger picture.

We have a chance
to do something that will

not just be a concert,
it will be an experience.

- An experience.
- It will be historical.

Yeah.

[upbeat music]

♪

- Ooh.
- Here's some of our pita chips

to start you off for now.
- Oh, my lord.

♪

I didn't know they was fresh.

I burned the hell out of
my mouth. [laughs]

♪

Hey, girl.

- Hey, beautiful.
- [squeals]

- You always looks so gorgeous.
- Thank you.

Here, you want to take
a look at that menu,

see if you want something?
- I already know what I want.

I come here...
- Have you been here?

Yes, girl, me and my husband

been here for game night.
- Really?

I'ma do my usual.

I'm gonna do jerk chicken...
I'm sorry,

the jerk chicken crepes.
- Jerk chicken crepes?

- Yes.
- Yes, ma'am. I got you ladies.

- Thank you, sweetie.
- You're welcome.

OK, so you been here
for a while.

In Atlanta, yeah,
for, like, over a month.

- How is that? Like...
- Yeah, I miss home. I do.

My poor baby's senior year.

How's your college visits
going?

Going good. I'm liking

what I'm seeing so far.
- Yeah?

I've been absent all summer.

Girl, he having
the time of his life.

He be like, "Mom's not here?
Oh, no curfew?"

[laughter]

Thank you.
- Hope you ladies enjoy.

- Girl, yes.
- Thank you.

Ooh, y'all,
this is all her food, OK?

- All my food.
- This is all hers.

And I'm trying to do better.

This is mine, but I'm gon'
help her eat hers.

- Girl.
- Believe that.

'Cause you know, with being
out here on this road,

we got to eat right.
- Yes, we do.

If I get all bloated,

who's trying to stand up there
in some Spandex?

- Girl.
- I know I ain't.

Girl, I'll have on
a bodysuit underneath so quick.

See, and when I think about wardrobe,

did you remember
the Spice Girls?

Yes, everybody had
different looks.

- Love the Spice Girls.
- Yes.

- Like, I was a fan.
- Yes.

I still have the dolls.

That's how much of
a Spice Girl fan I am.

Let me get my notebook.

We still have not decided

if we gon' let them headline
or not. [laughs]

Personality,
dress to the personality.

What matters is
us coming together

and doing something great
for our fans.

I am an SWV fan.

I'm not gonna let this
opportunity get away from me

'cause this is something
big in the making.

What does Coko like?

Since she's just lost
all this weight,

everything is bodycon for her.
- OK, bodycon.

She wants to show her
little body.

Tiny and Kandi,
they love, like, booty shorts.

I like to look like
a retired stripper.

[laughs]

What the hell does
a retired stripper look like?

Ooh, you may see some thighs.

You may see some breasts maybe,

but we gonna have everything
else covered up, baby girl.

- You a legendary stripper.
- [laughs] Oh, yes.

So how do you see us
coming out?

I would love to see us coming
from underneath the stage.

This was a beautiful stage.

I just think they messed up
a little bit with the distance.

We couldn't be interactive.

If we get a turning stage,
we could really

actually get something made,

almost like a house or a hotel.

That would have
different rooms

when it turns.
- Yes.

I never stepped into
that creative role

because that was, like,
my sister and Kandi's lane.

They were the ones who were
making sure that

the songs were
in the right place

and the stage looked like this.

Girl, excuse my writing.

Uh-uh, don't worry.
You draw better than I do.

I'm stepping in this role now
'cause I want to be heard.

This not the little
1990s Tamika.

This the grown Tamika.

She coming out today, baby.

You did a great job
with your drawings.

It's not...
it could be better.

Just trying to jot down
my ideas.

- This is just the beginning.
- It is.

By the time it's all said
and done, you gonna be, like,

the next big
creative director on...

on somebody's movie set.
- [chuckles]

I hope so, girl.

Coming up...

So have we figured out,
are we headlining, coheadling?

Everybody's happy-go-lucky,
but I needs to know.

[upbeat music]

♪ Let's take it home

♪ You know we going
goal for goal ♪

All right,
we gon' set up.

Put the stuff over here
on this counter.

I don't know if
they drink wine.

'Cause you know I don't,
so I'm hoping this is good.

[soft music]

All right, this looks pretty.

What's up?
Two of my favorite ladies!

Hi, LeAnne.

Fly girls.

Hey, baby.
- [kissing]

You like all this stuff.

You eat this
'cause I've seen you.

- This is spice ham?
- I don't know.

You're having a meeting
with seven women,

and you have lunch meat
with no crackers.

Eat this. See how it tastes.

I hope you love it.

- This is not good.
- Le.

Wait a minute,
it's for everybody!

Oh, I didn't know that!

Taj should never be in charge
of nobody's food.

She just need to
stick to singing.

Are you looking forward to
the meeting?

It depends.
One false move, I don't know...

- I just hope they come happy.
- The Bronx gonna come out.

I hope Xscape comes in here

with a better attitude than
the last time.

We want to still have
top billing on our tour.

We gon' pass.

If not, we can just call
this thing quits

and SWV can continue
doing the shows

like we've been doing,
without them.

Hey, what's up, ladies?

- Hi, Tiny!
- Hello.

I'm the first one here.
Y'all put that on the books.

What's up with y'all?
- Look at you.

- Who did the little meat tray?
- I bought it.

Oh, OK.
[laughter]

She bought three pieces
of ham.

[laughter]

Hi.

- You want some wine?
- What y'all got?

What is this?
- We got red and white.

Two pieces of meat.
[laughs]

- How y'all doing?
- Sexy ATL-iens.

- Hey.
- Hey, ladies.

- Hi.
- How y'all doing?

Oh, she got the notebook
and everything.

Ooh, yes, ladies.

We moved those
so y'all can have some space.

- OK.
- And I was telling 'em

how you had all these
great ideas.

- I tried, we tried.
- We tried.

So Steve, he does a lot of

our creative designs
for our shows.

Uh-huh.

We were just
throwing around ideas of

the collaboration with us
and you all.

I see the stage with the water,
you know, rain.

And then "Tonight" follows.

So we come out with
our umbrellas.

Yeah, that's gonna be fun.

Hit them with
the razzle-dazzle.

Yeah, we have to.

Nothing is etched in stone.

I just felt like I needed to
get the ball rolling because,

you know, everybody be busy.

So just imagine the beginning
of the show, like,

the DJ doing, like,
a big announcement,

Xscape and SWV, whatever and...

I do have a question.

Have we figured out,
are we headling, coheadling?

What's going on?

[tense music]

♪

Nobody's asking the question,

what's going on with
the headlining situation?

And let's move on.

I just want to know before,
like, we have this full-fledged

conversation and everybody's
happy-go-lucky,

but I needs to know.

The way the show is,
I think it's more integrated.

It's a coheadlining thing.

It's too powerful for it
not to go that way.

Kandi?
[laughter]

I'm with whatever
my group want to do.

- Wait, but listen, y'all.
- I want to know.

Let's not get into the...
let's coheadline it.

No, we're there. We're there.
Coheadliner, man.

Let's just leave it at coheadliner.

[tense music]

Tocha is so funny, speaking
on behalf of the group.

Coheadline! Woo!

- So yes, let's do it.
- Absolutely.

My group members had told me

that they all felt
we should be headliners,

but I'm not finna sit up here
and let her try to

make it seem like, oh, Kandi
is the one with the problem

and so she's the savior.

Girl, bye.

Well, I'm excited.

So imagine the beginning of
the show,

and behind us, on the big...
what you call it?

- The LED wall.
- The LED wall.

Usually, LED walls are, like, halfway,

but he said we should maybe
do the whole full.

And it will be
different graphics.

Can y'all see that?
- Uh-huh.

With the music, of course.

- It gives it more of a 3-D.
- Oh, that is so dope.

[softly] That's so pretty.

- And that's the whole LED.
- That's really nice.

I'm usually the one that
takes the lead on

a lot of the creativity.

When y'all hear this show
that I put together,

you gon' be happy.

I have this set list
for the show, phenomenal.

My sister was never
in that space.

As a matter of fact,
she was hardly in the studio.

As bold as this is
with the speakers...

You want to take that
away from me, that's fine

'cause you've already
taken the sisterhood.

So is the LED wall a part of

the backdrop that's...
- Absolutely.

What's on the video
portion of it?

So usually on the shows
that we're doing,

you'll have a big screen.

It's like an image
floating in the sky.

Here's what we'll do for
"Just Kick It."

Oh, that is so nice.

So while we're performing,
this is, like, on the back.

So it's always visual
behind us.

Like, our shows are always...

- Like early Xscape.
- Right.

I love that.

- Ooh, yeah.
- I love it.

So it'll look great if, like,
the whole wall...

- Yes.
- Uh-huh.

- Uh-huh.
- Mm.

[laughs]

Tocha and Steve used to
communicate a lot

on the show stuff.

So to see Tamika have this
whole presentation with Steve,

she's not showing it
on the outside,

but on the inside,
Tocha's like... [snarls]

[laughs]

Coming into the show,

we should come into, like,
a '90s vibe,

almost like we in the '90s.
Clothes, set, stage.

You'll hear the thunder, brr,
and, like, it changes.

And then "Rain Down on Me"
comes in,

and the whole set looks like
it's actually raining on set.

That look kind of cute,
corny and cute.

Did you just say
"corny and cute"?

Yeah.
[chuckles]

It's a little cheesy,

but it's cute cheesy,
you know what I'm saying?

If y'all want to play off
the horses,

we probably could have somebody
that could build horses

where y'all are actually
on the horses.

Tamika's so extra.

Who's gonna bring a horse
on the stage?

Like, it is not that serious.

We just want to do a good show

minus the animals.

You're on horses,
but you're coming out

and it's, like, a...
a movement with it.

You know what I mean?

The last time
I got on a horse

was in our "Right Here" video,

and that horse did not cooperate.

So they ended up
putting me on a pony.

So no horses for me.

Thank you, Tamika,
and her great idea.

So I mean, those are
just my little ideas.

That was a damn good start. OK.

[applause]

Great job.

Everybody give Steve
some love.

[applause]

- Bye.
- Get to work, Steve.

Get your a*s to work.

That was good. Good job.

So, Tamika, run down
the to-do list

so we can all be clear on what
we need to do from now on.

Sometimes people take
months to a year

to put together
a show like this.

Wardrobe, Tiny, Lelee.

Song list, Tocha, Kandi, Coko.

And we just got to figure out
the choreographer,

who we gonna decide on.

You need to have somebody to

recreate a lot of the music.

It is so much, and now
we have less than a few weeks

to put together this show.
Oh, my god.

Everybody got
their assignments?

Yeah, at least as
a starting point.

- Yes.
- Yeah.

And then if we get along
after this one show...

God bless us. I don't know.
[laughter]

I'ma take my medication
for y'all b*tches.

[laughter]

Coming up...

So what you want to start with?

I haven't even really put
much thought into this,

to be honest.
- Why not?

Because I got a lot going on.

[SWV's "Weak" playing]

♪

♪ I get so weak in the knees,
I can hardly speak ♪

♪ I lose all control
when something takes over me ♪

♪

That's my song right there, ah.

I think everybody loves
that song.

Hi.

- What's up, girl?
- Hi.

- How are you?
- How you doing?

I'm good. How are you?

- I'm sorry, what's your name?
- I'm Jayo.

Hi, Jayo.
This is my son, J.

- How you doing, man?
- Hey, what's going on?

I didn't want any of my kids
to be in this music industry.

It's not all that you think
it's going to be,

but Jalen is shaking the table
right now.

[vocalizing]

♪ Me and you could never

I'll ride with you
a little bit.

I'll let you get
that experience,

but being a singer full-time?
I'm not sure about that.

Mm-mm.

We was just trying to
remember a lot of y'all songs.

I know, on my phone, I had
a list of some of the songs

that you guys had.
"You're Always on My Mind."

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Oh, what's up?
- What's happening, everybody?

- Hey.
- Hi, there. Hey, hey, hey!

Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- How you doing?

Where's my seat?
Where's my seat?

You can pull up
one of those chairs.

- Pull up a seat.
- OK.

I was just getting a list
of the songs that

they normally do.

Choosing the right set list
is very important for a show

because you don't really want
any dead spots.

You know, each song, you know,
has to have the right mood

going into the next song.

It just keeps the energy going.

What songs do you guys
start out with?

It goes back and forth sometimes.

Yeah, we switch it around.

"Feels So Good" has been the
one that's kind of up for us.

We don't really have
a lot of ups.

Mm-hmm.

It'll be fun as long as
we keep the people awake.

[laughs]

I'll tell you the ones,
like, we normally just do.

We do "Weak," "Anything,"

"I'm So Into You."
- Mm-hmm.

See, with Xscape,
we do "Just Kicking It,"

"Who Can I Run To,"
"Understanding."

Now, here's one that
you don't really care to do,

but we have done in our show,

"Run to the Arms."
- Mm-hmm.

Is that a yes or a no
or a possible?

I don't know.

Have you thought about
any tributes that will work?

OK.
- Nope.

Tocha's attitude has been
an a*s-itude

for the past couple of months.

She's been an a*s, OK?

We got the songs, and
the order is something that,

you know, we all can,
I guess, figure out.

So what you want to
start with?

I haven't even really
put much thought into this,

to be honest.

Why not?

'Cause I got a lot going on.

Baby, this tension between
Tocha and Kandi

is like no other.
I'm uncomfortable.

I feel like
I'm in a couple's bedroom.

Should we be here right now?

Here's the theme.

You start with a smash,
and you end with a smash.

- I get it.
- Because right off the rip,

you make the people go crazy.
- Oh, we do.

We start out with a smash.

- You get what I'm saying?
- Yeah.

What's the biggest one
that you think?

"Weak."

♪ It knocks me
right off of my feet ♪

♪ I can't explain why
your loving makes me weak ♪

I feel the same way.
I feel that way.

Some people really love
"Understanding" like that.

♪ What I need from you
is understanding ♪

I like that song.

Well, we got to
figure it out.

We got to make history.

Let's put
our cattiness aside.

Let's get out here and rock it.

[laughs]

[upbeat music]

♪

- Child.
- Hey.

- Hey, girl.
- OK.

I look like...

We doing it at
somebody house?

Girl, is this church?

Now, we gonna have to
praise the Lord

and sing "Weak" and "Downtown."

[chuckles]
- Oh, wow.

Now, this looks totally
different from outside.

Girl, I thought we was about
to walk into some church pews.

- Hey, honey.
- What up, y'all?

When I tell you,
you had us nervous, honey.

We was driving through
this neighborhood.

I said, where the hell are
we going?

- That's hilarious.
- Shh, you in church.

Oh, sh... I mean...
[laughter]

A creative director plays
a very important role.

They control what people see
on the stage, what they hear.

They talk with the wardrobe,

make sure the colors go,
the lighting.

Everything that's creative to
make a show happen,

that's what Steve is
going to do.

So this is part A.
It looks small right now,

but this is actually almost
20 feet of video wall going up.

And then that's
a 8-foot platform, OK?

- OK.
- So...

Oh!

Yeah, see, like that,
with the stairs on the side.

I didn't know we was
looking at the stage.

Yeah, so this is
16 feet of video wall.

So this is the front
that you're looking at.

Since we've got so much space,
I know we were talking about

bringing out some dancers.
- OK.

Y'all got a lot of stage
to cover.

OK, let's do it.

So we're gonna do
a full SWV intro,

full SWV song,

and then almost a whole 'nother
intro

for Xscape, you know
what I'm saying?

- Almost?
- And just like...

yeah, I mean,
we don't want to...

What you mean, almost?
We got to have an intro, too.

No, no, we don't want to
break up...

We don't want to break up
the show.

- Oh, OK.
- But it's big enough that

both groups feel like
they got a moment to say,

"Hey, we're here."

So we get to do cool stuff.

Like, during "Rain,"

we'll do windows with rain.

♪ Rain down on me

♪ Let your love just fall
like raindrops ♪

♪ Rain on me

Real rain? I want that water
to come down...

- I need to be wet.
- [laughs]

- Real wet.
- Jesus.

I take it we won't be able
to do hydraulics anymore?

That's out?
- Well...

- But what if they can open?
- Um...

What about the things that
lift us up

where we're flying over
the audience?

- Oh.
- Um...

I need wings.

[cash register chimes]

So we probably can use the
bottom one for the hologram.

[cash register chimes]

It would be dope if y'all could
bring out some horses.

We ain't bringing no horses
in the Toyota Center.

- Why not?
- But the horses!

We want horses.
We want hydraulics.

We want to come from
the ceiling.

There's got to be a way.

We could get you
horses on the screen.

Steve is definitely
raining on my parade right now

by telling me that
this is not in the budget.

I'm telling you,
we gonna have to do a GoFundMe.

No, we not, either, no.

But what we won't do, Taj,

we ain't doing
no GoFundMe account, baby.

Uh-uh, we not doing that.

What if they have
something on the floor

that splashes water when
the horses walk through it?

[cash register chimes]
[laughter]

Coming up...

Jalen wants to drop out.

J! Dentist!

Tocha isn't being collaborative.

What's her reasoning why
she's not giving an answer?

My understanding is she has
a gospel deal right now.

Don't make somebody
a priority

that makes you an option.

Ooh.

[upbeat music]

♪

- What's up?
- What up?

- How you doing?
- Good.

How are you?
- Huh.

Not a huh.
Oh, god, when you start a huh...

I'm trying to get my zen.

It's so weird.

Don, at Kandi Koated...
- Mm-hmm.

Our stuff is already together.

We make decisions,
we move forward.

We got almost
a hundred people

that work at this restaurant.

We got a whole bunch of
applicants to, like,

fill that other office space.

I get over here with
this one group,

and they like...
- And it's only four of y'all.

You wasn't at the studio
the other day.

Coko came. She brought her son.
Energy, positive.

Females, we don't ever
come together

to do something like this.

Just put our cattiness aside.

Let's get out here and rock it.

Tocha comes.

She hasn't been collaborative.

So are we gonna have that
in the show?

I don't know.

She hasn't been cooperative.

Have you thought about
any tributes that will work?

Nope.

Whatever kuh-word
you want to put,

she ain't been that.
- What's her reasoning

why she's not giving an answer?

She hasn't talked to us
about it,

but from my understanding,

she has a gospel deal
right now.

- Oh, so that's why.
- 'Cause she keeps saying,

"I don't even know if
I want to tour with y'all.

I don't even know if I want
to be on this with y'all."

Well, what the hell else
is she gon' do?

Her gospel stuff.

But you're basically like
a new artist.

You've not had a project
that anybody...

and gospel is a totally
different world.

You have to earn the respect
of people.

It's like country, and gospel,

they not just gonna be like,

"Oh, you can sing, come on."
- Well, that's her problem.

Whenever she thinks she's about
to blow up without us

or she may not need us,
then she starts

treating us more like sh...
- Mm.

Rocky has been trying to get
her solo forever.

This is nothing new.

Now that the spotlight is back
on her and the group,

they're trying to use
the spotlight

to help her solo endeavor.

And she likes to keep us
in limbo.

She doesn't totally like to
just let us go,

because we're like
a safety net.

When she got her solo deal
when we were younger,

oh, she didn't want to have
nothing to do with us.

She told me, go,
do your little solo thing.

She told her sister and Tiny,
y'all go have more babies.

That is so disrespectful.

Like they can't do nothing else
but go have babies?

Like they ain't got no talent?

The only reason that

she is going to be nice to you, period,

is because we know that
the money you can get

as a four collective

and what you and Tiny bring

as your own brands is way better

than anything they would get
if you were not a part of it.

Yeah, I mean,
I agree with that,

but she really don't want
to deal with us, period.

Don't make
somebody a priority

that makes you an option.

Ooh, that is so right.

She has Xscaped from Xscape.
[laughs]

[upbeat music]

♪

Let's go shopping.

I'ma help y'all out.
I got y'all.

♪

- Hi.
- Hello.

How y'all doing?

We have our stylist who is
coming in here to show us

what we didn't do right.
All right, Mr. J.

[upbeat music]

- I like the top.
- See, that would look

super cute on you,
top and bottom.

Yeah, that would
look good on you.

Maybe not this color,
but this is nice.

You don't like this shirt, Taj?

"Put it on him,
make him want to marry me."

Been there, done that.

Do y'all have large sizes
up top?

'Cause I'm a 38D.
These t*tties need space.

You can wear a jacket,
cover, you know,

don't give the people a show.

Well, see, that V-neck,
I'ma give them everything.

These t*tties ain't
gon' stay in.

Ever since J dropped
the b*mb that

he doesn't want to go back
to school...

Dentistry doesn't
interest me no more.

Dentistry does interest you.

My mental health was not
the best while I was in school.

It's been weighing heavy
on me because

I really want him to go
to school.

Since I got you here.
- Yeah?

I want your advice on something

because you're a mom with a son
that is going to college soon.

Mm-hmm.

And one already finished.
- Right.

And Jalen wants to drop out
for music.

What happened to
dental school?

I haven't been enjoying
dentistry for a long time now.

- Oh, J, think about it.
- I have.

Let me tell you, you have
an amazing voice.

You are so talented.

It's gonna be there.
You can have 'em both.

Megan Thee Stallion did it.

OK, but I'm not
Megan Thee Stallion.

- You're better.
- [laughs]

Well, what is it about
dental school or dentistry?

I just...I was not happy.

Was it people's breaths
when you was in those mouths?

- [laughs]
- I wasn't happy in school.

My mental health was
so bad, like...

Really?

Yeah, it was
really, really bad.

I was in therapy,
and that helped.

But like, it's just...
I don't know, I just...

You was in therapy because
you didn't want to

go to dental school?
- Oh, no,

I was in therapy for
some other things.

Jalen deals with depression,

and I know what to look for

because I deal with it myself,

so that's why
I keep him close.

I want to watch him.

I want to make sure he's good.

I worry about him a lot.

Let me tell you this story.

When I was 18,
I went to college.

I left school because
my career took off.

I chose to go on the road.

But when it was over, I didn't
have anything to fall back on.

The music industry is
fickle as [BLEEP].

When SWV broke up,

Lelee and I were expendable

because they had the key
element; they had Coko.

And we became
yesterday's trash.

I took a job at
La Terrain Coffee Company

making $9 an hour
answering the phone.

So I'm just hoping
he will think about it

and decide to go back.

Ah, yes.

You have such
an amazing opportunity.

If anything were to happen,
you got a plan B.

There you go.
Goodness!

I should have
brought her over earlier!

Oh, my god.

I don't want to go back.
[laughs]

But you just...you know what?
Think about it

'cause today, you're adamant
you don't want to.

Tomorrow, you might be like,
"oh, something popped up."

So don't just put it in a box.
Sit it on the counter.

- I'll sit it on the counter.
- You got this.

Coming up...

She's definitely treating us
like she's.....ing Diana Ross

and we The Supremes.
- The Supremes.

No, no, no, no, better yet,
she's Gladys Knight,

and we The Pips!

Ladies and gentlemen...

tonight, we bring you
something legendary,

four iconic women...

maybe.
- [laughs]

♪

Tell y'all.

The legendary Xscape.

all: ♪ Music makes you move

♪ And you can feel the groove

♪ Then groove on

♪ Groove on

♪ If you feel like
you wanna make love ♪

♪ Under the stars above
- Say what?

- ♪ Then love on
- Come on, come on.

♪ Love on

- 'Cause what?
- ♪ 'Cause whatever

♪ All you do

♪ Ah, you got to do your

- There it is.
- Yes.

Where is Tocha?

Oh, I don't know.

- Have you talked to her?
- Mm-mm.

Oh, god.

We have a spot date coming up

in a few days in Orlando,

and we have a lot to do

because we haven't rehearsed
in a while.

Hey, let's go.

Tiny, bring that back here, Tiny.

I don't know why Tocha's
not here right now.

She's not responding
in the group chats.

She's been real silent.

So I really don't know
what's going on.

This is showtime, full out.

[dreamy music]

♪

♪ As I stand here
contemplating ♪

Tocha?

♪ On the right thing
to decide ♪

- LaTocha?
- Yes, husband?

- I need your presence.
- You always need my presence.

Ooh, we finna go on a safari.

I see glasses.
What's happening?

Oh, yeah,
these are the toasty.

- What?
- Celebratory.

I just want to go over this
with you real quick.

- OK.
- So initially,

what you have to do is
acknowledge the deal in itself

and, you know, sign it.
- Let me read this.

Well, I'm gonna go over it.

You can read it,
but I'm a little excited.

Are you excited?
- I'm very excited.

I just want you to go ahead
and get into it.

Why are you excited,
you know?

I'm excited because
I've always wanted

this opportunity.

I had a meeting with Motown
a few weeks ago.

I think we see
tremendous value

in what you've shared so far
in terms of your vision,

and we see a space for you.

And now...

drum roll, please...
it is finally here.

I'm signing my contract today.

I am ecstatic.

I am...I just want to run around
the room.

I've never had
the opportunity to have

a real label behind me,

and so this is just exciting
and refreshing.

This is such a long time coming.

Thinking that I had
a deal back in the day

that didn't work out,

now, it's happening.

Oh my gosh, you know how
you want something

and then you work, you work,
you work,

and then all of a sudden,
it comes into fruition?

It's just a dream come true.
- Yeah.

- It's tangible.
- It's definitely here.

R has definitely been
my bread and butter,

and I've had fun doing it.

But I've always felt

that I wanted to get back
to my roots...

Because I've been preaching it,
and now it's here.

Yeah.

Singing inspirational
gospel music.

I still want to be able to sing
and sing with a message,

and now I have an opportunity
to do that.

I never had the opportunity before.

I wasn't there when
y'all first did this,

but I'm here for this one now.

And it's real important that,
you know, I make sure

it's exactly what
you want it to be.

You're going into a deal
owning your own masters.

Out of 27 years,
we didn't own our masters.

Every time we would
sing a song,

we'd probably just
get pennies from it.

Now, I own my masters.

This little girl from
College Park

who defied the odds and
everybody was like,

"Oh, girl,
you're not gonna make it,"

it's called perseverance.

And it's also called
believing in your dreams.

Now, I'm here with ownership.

One question I want to ask:

what does this deal mean
for the future of Xscape?

[Xscape's "Understanding"
playing softly]

Mm.

♪ I tried so very hard

♪ To keep our love alive

♪ But you don't want
to meet me halfway ♪

♪ And the understanding
has died ♪

♪ And we can work it out

♪ If we don't pull together

♪ 'Cause I'm down on my knees
- ♪ On my knees

- ♪ I'm begging you please
- ♪ Begging you please

- ♪ I want to be with you
- [vocalizing]

♪ What I need from you

[vocalizing]

♪

both: ♪ What I need from you
is understanding ♪

♪ So simple as one
- Whoo!

♪ It's so simple as
one, two, three ♪

Don't play with you!

We doing all this dancing,
but where is she, for real?

She's not coming.
I hate to say that.

- Shane.
- We need you, Shane, baby.

Come on, baby.

I'm trying to be patient.
I'm trying to be chill,

but I'm getting annoyed.

Serious? For real?

She's still moving the same.

[laughs]

So she's not coming to
rehearsal?

Mm, no.

So is she coming to the show?

- Yes.
- [laughs]

But can y'all check
her mic for her, though,

at sound check?

So she's not coming
for the sound check?

[tense music]

She just want to show up
for the show.

She didn't even ask if
we had any changes.

I needed y'all to practice
her parts, for real,

because we need to be prepared,

'cause if she don't come
or whatever...

- She's gonna come.
- But see,

this is the type of stuff
that annoys me, y'all.

Why do we give her the right
to always put us on hold,

let us know what she gonna do?

Why we don't set
the rules, y'all?

We be sitting there
looking like the dun-ta-duns

all the time.
- OK, but what you...

what you thinking?
What you feel like?

- I'm just like, if you can't
- ing show up

to at least sound check,

like, come on!

[tense music]

Where is Tocha?

She's not coming.

I hate to say that.

Why do we give her the right
to always put us on hold,

let us know what she gonna do?

Why we don't set the rules,
y'all?

We be sitting there
looking like

the dun-ta-duns all the time.
- OK, but what you...

what you thinking?
What you feel like?

- I'm just like, if you can't
- ing show up

to at least sound check...

we don't even know if

she gonna be able to do
the show like we need her to

because she's missed parts
in rehearsal.

I don't understand how y'all
don't be upset.

Yeah, so what would you like
to do right now about this?

How would you like to
change it?

Go on and put it out there.

She's definitely treating us

like she's.....ing Diana Ross,

and we The Supremes.
- The Supremes.

No, no, no, no, better yet,
she's Gladys Knight,

and we The Pips.
[laughter]

That's what the [BLEEP] is
happening right now!

Old Tamika would have
been like,

"Hold on, whoa, whoa, whoa,
wait a minute."

But the new Tamika is like,

"OK, this is business.
She's upset.

So I'm just gon'
let this chill."

I cannot.

Kandi's right
and my sister's wrong.

I have been praying on
a lot of things,

and things have not been
working with us.

They have come against me.
They have come against you.

They have come against my mom.

A lot of things are happening

that I'm not...
I'm not cool with.

I'm trying to endure
just the problems with

me and my sister, the issues
that I'm having with the group.

It's like, "Lord, I know
you've heard my prayers."

It's just time for LaTocha
to kind of get out there

and find out what life is like
on my own terms.

Even when
I'm in the studio now,

I do the backgrounds.
That's what I'm used to doing.

I don't have to say,
"Hey, why aren't you here

to do your part 'cause
you're late" or vice versa.

So when I say that this
opportunity that's here

right now on the table
is mine for the taking,

oh, I'm going to run...
they ask, who can I run to?

I'm running to my solo project.

I'm run...
I'm literally running.

What you think, husband...
I mean, manager?

I'm sorry, manager.
- Listen, I'm hubager.

- That's a word?
- Hubager.

[laughing] OK, hubager.

If you agree to
the deal points...

OK.

Then sign your name
right there.

Dun-dun-dun-dun.
- I know, right?

Turn up, turn up. Ooh.

Turn up, turn up.
[clapping]

Let's toast.

To your independence
and your peace.

- And freedom.
- And freedom and creativity.

- That's right.
- Give the world the gift.

[glasses clink]
- To the gift.

Yeah, I need to drink
all that.

That's good.
You make this?

No, I ordered it from France,

and they flew it in just for
you and this situation.

We got a deal, baby.

I love you, husband. Thank you.
- I love you, too, boo.

Congratulations.
- Yes.

- I'm excited. Hugs, hugs.
- Mm.

[vocalizing]

♪ If only for one moment

♪ Boy, don't be surprised.

♪ I want you right here
next to me ♪

♪ So tell me,
can we spend some time ♪

♪ And the moonlight's
gazing ♪

♪ Shining on my windowpane

♪ Beaming down on
the midnight hour ♪

♪ I hear the sound of rain

both: ♪ Tonight

I have decided that
the show is gonna happen

with or without her.

If she does decide to be
a part of the show, great.

If she doesn't, fine.

It's not gonna be
the first time

we did a show without her.

♪ Tonight

all: ♪ Tonight

♪ Tonight

♪ All the people sing yeah

[vocalizing]

- Come on.
- Hit it.

I'm singing
my sister's parts,

and I ain't gonna say
they easy to sing.

But your girl stepped up
to the plate.

♪ Yeah

♪ I'm holding you

I think I'm doing a good job.

all: ♪ Tonight

Next time on
"The Queens of R"

♪ Long as there's love
we're making ♪

♪ There'll be no hesitating

[laughter]

We're going over
the set list.

"Weak," "Understanding"

Don't you think we should...

"Understanding" then "Weak"?

- We don't agree with that.
- We do.

At the end of the day,
SWV got more hits than Xscape.

We put more asses in
the seats.

Ooh.

They don't feel like
we're relevant right now.

- Everything is going your way.
- Ain't sh... going our way.

This is getting on
my mother.....ing nerves.

Ooh.

[tense music]

♪