[car engine running]
[reporter] Shootings at the beach leave one dead and four injured.
- There are currently no-- - [car and radio switch off]
- [tires screeching in the distance] - [engine accelerating]
- [tires screeching] - [guns firing]
[helicopter whirring]
[automatic gun firing]
[sirens wailing in the distance]
[gun fires]
- [doorbell chimes] - [clerk speaks indistinctly]
[soft rock music playing]
♪ Sunny southern California ♪
♪ Sunken city by the sea ♪
♪ The concrete and the waves The mansions and the gangs ♪
♪ Make me wonder ♪
♪ Will I ever be... ♪
- Good morning, Officer. - [officer 1] Mmm, good morning!
- [woman] The usual? - [chuckles] Yeah, you know it.
[chuckles] Oh yeah.
Mmm.
- [music continues faintly] - ♪ Will I ever be free? ♪
It's gonna be a good day!
- [exhales, sniffles] - [indistinct chatter over radio]
All right.
Let's see here, Harry. Huh?
What do we got?
[engine accelerating]
Jesus!
- [siren wailing] - [tires screech]
[cop 1] Ran those plates. I think it's the guy from Abbott Elementary.
[cop 2] The janitor?
[officer 1] No, the rapper boyfriend.
[exhales]
[rap music playing faintly]
[rap music amplifies]
Good morning, Officer.
- [music halts abruptly] - [camera clicking]
[grunts]
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[marker squeaking]
[Vince clears throat]
[marker continues squeaking]
I do too.
All the time.
♪ Every day I see you is a fine day ♪
♪ Fine ♪
[man 1] Hey, where you from, bro?
North Side, nigga.
I knew that was you, bro.
What I tell you? I told you it was this nigga.
Hey, what's going on, bro? My name is Robb.
My dawg, my dawg.
Vince, he in here with me, okay.
Hey, hey, I ain't gonna hold you, bro. I be messing with the music shit too.
You know what I'm saying? My shit is genius, bro.
It's genius! I listen to your shit too. It's... It's cool. Like, you be talking--
I don't really be fucking with the music like that, though.
Damn. Why?
You seen what that shit did to Michael Jackson?
Hmm...
Shoot... It's my job, for real. You know, I never even had an iPod.
Not even a iPhone?
Hey, whatever, bro, whatever, but I... I really wanna know, you know,
I came up with a little song while I was in here.
I had a lot of time, and if I could just spit that shit for you, bro,
like, I... I... I feel like you--
Hey, look, look.
I ain't in the mood for that right now, bro.
Aight?
I feel it.
Fasho.
[Robb] Fasho.
[sighs]
[cell doors close]
[Robb beatboxing]
♪ I used to think ♪
♪ I was misunderstood ♪
[gate buzzing]
♪ Until the day they put me on the hood ♪
Listen, V.
♪ And now I'm in this cell Without no bail ♪
♪ Don't got no money ♪
♪ My lawyer told me, "Go ahead and tell" ♪
Vince!
♪ If I can beat it ♪
- ♪ In front of the jury... ♪ - [Vince sighs]
[inmate] Hey, you look familiar.
What's your name, homie?
- My name Vince. - [Robb continues singing]
Nah.
Your other name.
- [Robb] ♪ I believe I'll be free... ♪ - [bleep]
Oh yeah, I knew that was you.
[Robb continues singing]
When they take us to the back, me and you, we gonna line it up.
[Robb] ♪ Fighting niggas Every night and day... ♪
Fasho.
♪ I'll be free... ♪
Hey, bro.
[cell door closes]
Uh, you know that nigga right there?
[Robb] Who, Poke?
- Yeah. - Yeah, he in here all the time.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
He ain't got no squabble or nothing, though, right?
Mmm...
He's not much of a fighter.
- He do be stabbing niggas, though. - [gate buzzing]
Mm-hmm.
Great form.
Masterful.
[dramatic swell]
[gate buzzing]
[keypad beeps]
- [operator] Hello, and welcome to jail. - [excited cheers]
You have two free calls.
- Please state your name after the tone. - The fuck are you doing, nigga?
- [operator] Thank you. - [Vince] Nigga.
[operator] Please dial the number you are trying to reach.
[keypad beeping]
[line ringing]
- You have a call from... - [Vince] Nigga.
[operator] If you accept the charges, press five.
- [door opens] - Hello?
[Vince] Hey, Bri, I need you to come bail me out.
[Bri sucks teeth] What you do?
[Vince] Man, do it matter? Just come get me, nigga.
[Bri] Um, I would, but I'm at work right now,
and I'm super swamped.
[Vince] Swamped? Man, I might die in here. You can't take no vacation time off?
[Bri] Please, I'm saving that for Africa.
And besides, Bri don't do jailhouses.
She sell houses.
Did you try to call Deja?
[Vince] I will, but I don't wanna bother her.
She worked a double shift today.
[Bri] Oh, bro, that is so sweet and considerate!
I need to find me a nigga with them qualities.
Ain't you get married?
What that mean? [scoffs]
Ooh, how's the new place?
[Vince] It's cool. Finally finished unpacking.
We were supposed to have dinner tonight, but I'm in jail and shit.
- [man] Hey! - Ooh, look, I gotta go.
- Fight hard. - [line ends]
Hey, what are you guys doing?
Whup his ass!
[man grunts]
[cell doors clanking]
- Aggressive. - [keys jingle]
First time?
Nah.
It's just been a minute, that's all.
Yeah.
Hey, this jail shit is crazy, ain't it?
Boy, I tell you, when I was young, I used to love it in here.
It's like a game, you know?
The cat and mouse.
See, my grandfather always said,
"You do the crime, you do the time."
[chuckles]
I wish he'd have just said, "Don't do the crime."
[cell door buzzes, opens, shuts]
How old are you, young brother?
Eh, don't matter.
See, time don't pass in here like it do on the outside.
You make a lot of friends, though. I know I did.
- [Poke exhaling] - Oh yeah?
[continues exhaling]
Oh yeah. Yeah, me and him got a real good rapport.
Road was a little rocky at first,
but, uh, after our last run-in a couple of weeks ago... [chuckles]
...yeah, we came to an understanding.
What kind of run-in?
Yeah.
We good now, though.
On speaking terms, at least.
[groans]
♪ Friends ♪
- ♪ How many of us have them? ♪ - [Vince] I gotta get the fuck outta here.
♪ Friends ♪
- ♪ One you can depend on... ♪ - Guard!
Hey, you think I can get my own cell?
You know, I'm a danger to myself... and others.
[cop] Huh.
"I ain't never run from nothing but the police." [laughs]
Well, I guess we got you, huh?
- No, but seriously, I'm a fan. - [keys jingle]
Come on out. You gotta meet the guys.
No, no, no, no, no.
I don't really communicate with law enforcement.
Next thing I know, you settin' a can of soda next to a nigga,
asking me if I remember anything about Wednesday night.
Who said anything about a soda?
You know, I can get you a soda
if something happened on Wednesday night and you wanna tell me about it.
Hmm?
Of course not.
Come on.
I'm not asking.
No, you good.
Norf Norf!
[cop 1] Yeah, bullshit!
You mean to tell me you beat this case, huh?
Even though they used the lyrics in court?
- Yep, DA threw it right out. - [exhales]
Hey, who'd you have?
I don't know, Fuller?
Oh, motherfucker.
- Fuller! - Fuck!
God, I hate that guy.
But... But, you know, he's inept, so that doesn't surprise me. Right?
Hey, bro. Can you be real with us?
Like, what you do?
- I'm innocent. - Everybody in here is innocent.
[cop 2 chuckles] Might as well take a look.
Out of curiosity, huh? Let's see what we got here.
We have Vincent Jamal.
[cop 3] Oh, Jamal.
I like that name.
Okay, so we have a warrant for you for a... [sucks teeth]
- ...242. - Assault?
[cop 2] They got him. Can I tell you something real?
You gotta invest in that security, man. That shit is just dumb.
Or why don't you get an entourage? Just like-minded fellas.
Protecting you from your dirty work, like, uh, '90s rappers did.
- [cop 3] Yeah. - Like Tupac. You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, yeah, how'd that work out for him?
He died a very violent death.
Thug life.
Damn it. [sighs]
- [gate buzzes] - [keys jangling]
Hey. Come here.
Next time you have a show, think I can get some tickets?
If you let me outta here.
[laughs] This fucking guy.
You should try doing some stand-up.
[dramatic music playing]
[ticks echoing]
[cell door buzzes]
Oh shit. The homie in here is up now.
What?
Shh, shh, shh!
[whispers] Vince is asleep right now. [clears throat]
Hey.
Hey, sweet dreams, bro. Sweet dreams.
Oh, you up now. Top of the morning, bruh.
[Robb beatboxing, vocalizing]
♪ I'm steady misunderstood, stood Till they put me on the hood... ♪
Guard.
Guard!
[keypad beeps, line rings]
- [Vince] Nigga. - [operator] You're in jail.
[excited cheers]
Welcome back. You have one free call remaining.
Choose wisely.
[indistinct chatter]
[keypad beeping]
- [operator] You have a call from... - [Vince] Nigga.
[operator] If you accept the charges, press five.
[sighs]
[keypad beeps]
[Vince] Hey, Ma.
Hey, son.
How you doing? You... You busy right now?
I am never too busy for my baby.
All right, good. I need you to bail me out.
Mmm, I know. I saw them put you in the backseat.
Me and Eloise, we was across the street at Gospel Brunch.
And you ain't try to help me?
[mom] You gotta take some accountability, son.
- I bailed you out last week. - Well, that was your decision.
Plus, I don't mind doing a little jail time.
You know, it's good seeing old friends.
So, how did you get caught up this time anyway?
Man, I was just driving, and they pulled me over after a U-turn.
Said I was speeding and then they said I got a warrant for simple assault
or some shit like that.
Well, I have told you about that shit, Vincent.
- No U-turns. You take three rights-- - Three rights and a left. I know.
No, seriously,
a U-turn is just asking for trouble.
Ma, can you pick me up, please?
No, uh-uh, no, no. The answer is no.
- Why? - 'Cause I don't feel like it, that's why.
Ask that little girl that you living in sin with.
I'm not finna have Deja come get me from jail. She not like that.
Son, I just don't know what you see in that soft-ass little girl.
[sighs]
- I love her, Mom. - [chuckles] You love a lot of things.
I tell you what. Since you love her, why don't you call her?
I ain't got time for this shit right now, Vincent.
- Go on, call that girl. - [line ends]
[cell door clanks]
[faint indistinct chatter]
[Robb] Are you finna eat that, bro?
- That's all you. - Ooh, that's great! [laughs]
Huh?
[mutters] ...got in there...
Mmm, it's lit! Mmm!
You are too.
Mm-hmm.
So what brings you in here with us, bro?
You don't strike me as the kind of guy that makes mistakes.
Shit, everybody make mistakes.
That's like saying I don't look like I'm 60% water.
Yeah.
You don't really strike me as that either.
You wanna cell up?
No, I'm cool, bro. I don't plan on being in here that long.
It's really not that bad in here, bro. Food is good. Firm mattresses, bro.
I really be in here tryin' to network. Maximize my opportunities.
What, you got a show or something?
Nah.
[clears throat] Well, listen, if you do decide to extend your stay,
when you get to the back, you're gonna need a cellmate.
And I'm the best candidate.
I'm just saying, you don't wanna leave this to chance, bro.
You might end up with cuz.
I ain't worried about it.
[chuckles]
Denial.
That's the first step. bro.
You'll come around.
[sighs]
[inmate grunting]
- [cell door clanks] - [inmate grunts]
[sniffles, exhales]
- [farts] - [exhales]
[inmate sighs]
[lighter clicks]
- [inmate coughs] - [lighter clicks]
[inhales]
[coughs, sniffles]
[exhales]
Oh, man, move your stinkin' ass.
Come on. I'm out.
[Robb] Bro, can I get a hit?
[suspenseful music playing]
[toilet clanks]
[rapid scraping]
- [indistinct chatter over police radio] - [gate buzzes]
- [door shuts] - [gate buzzes]
[shank clatters]
[scraping continues]
[Vince exhales]
[sighs]
[exhales]
Fuck it. [sighs]
Psst! Poke.
Hey, bro, um...
I feel like we got off on the wrong foot. You know what I'm saying?
I heard you into cutlery and shit.
I got these Shun knives from Sur La Table.
[sucks teeth] Sells only, like, five ends.
I can debone a fish in, like, what, two, maybe three minutes.
When it's all said and done, you know, maybe you should pull up to the house--
Why are you talking to me, cuz?
I just don't understand the root of the problem.
You don't understand?
You one of them niggas.
Could you define "them niggas"? I mean, I had a full life.
Nigga, you from... [bleep]
[clicks tongue] Yeah, man. But I don't be on that.
I really be on this music shit, bro.
Speaking of which, have you ever thought about recordin' something?
You got, like, the voice for soul. Like, it's really Barry White-type shit.
[Robb] What? Vince.
[Robb clears throat]
♪ Why would you lie to me-- ♪
Robb! You can't see we having a moment?
[Poke] I don't give a fuck about none of that music shit.
You from over there.
So we got problems, on Bam-Bam.
Bam-Bam...
Miss Mary's son?
Nigga, Miss Mary used to watch me.
Yeah, K through third grade. Back when she had that pink house.
Nigga, I know you been to the pink house.
Yeah, man.
Bake cookies,
oatmeal,
all kind of shit.
You probably know Terrance too, huh?
T-Lo Terrance or Trouble Terrance?
T-Lo. I was just with cuz before I got in here.
That's my day one nigga, yeah.
- [Poke] That's crazy. - It's crazy, right?
Yeah, he snitched on me.
And now I'm facing 800 years to life.
And I fucking hate oatmeal.
Don't nobody hate oatmeal.
When they pop these cells open,
I'mma bust your head against the concrete.
- [cell door shuts] - [keys jingle]
[officer laughs] Yeah. Hey, time to go.
[Robb] No!
No... [scoffs]
[cell door shuts]
Vince!
Bro, what about the verse, bro?
Hey, cuz, you from... [bleep] ...too?
Nah, big Poke.
Mm-mm. I don't even like that nigga, bro.
[intercom beeps]
[officer] The next time you do a show, I'm gonna bring my kids.
They're gonna love it.
They won't understand a lot of it, but they'll love it.
- We 18 and up, so... - Oh, okay.
So, it turns out you were innocent after all, huh?
Man, I'm sorry for the case of mistaken identity, you know.
But don't feel bad. You know, it happens all the time.
[officer 3 chuckles] Like, a lot.
[officer 2] A lot.
Oh! Have fun at Surf City.
- [Vince] Hmm. - Fuck, Surf City?
You a Beach Boy too?
Nah, I fucking hate that place.
[indistinct chatter over radio]
Need a ride back to your car?
I'm good, man.
Suit yourself.
[sirens wailing in the distance]
[dogs barking]
[car alarm beeps]
[dogs continue barking]
Towin' my shit, man. I just got that car.
[dogs continue barking]
- [car brakes screech] - [door opens]
[car door slams]
[man] Hey, cuz.
You Vince Staples?
Yeah.
[man] I knew that was you.
You know my cousin Terrance.
T-Lo Terrance or Trouble Terrance?
T-Lo!
You mind if I take a flick? Gotta send it to cuz.
Fuck T-Lo.
[man] Okay, okay.
Hey, bro just whipped out on me. Cuz really like that.
[men grunting on TV]
I'm home.
[men continue grunting]
Hi, baby.
What's up?
Aw!
You actually got the tickets.
- I told you. - Thank you.
You're welcome.
And the food's almost ready. Are you hungry?
Low-key.
How was your day?
It was cool.
- Anything interesting happen? - [chuckles]
Not really.
I feel you.
♪ Fine day ♪
♪ Fine ♪
[rap music playing]
God, I get, like, 50% of what he's saying.
- I mean... - I fucking love this song.
He's an asshole, but he's so fucking talented.
♪ I ain't never ran from nothin' But the police ♪
[officer 2 laughs] That's us.
♪ I ain't never ran from nothin' But the police! ♪
♪ From the city Where the skinny carry strong heat ♪
♪ Norfside, Long Beach Norfside, Long Beach! ♪
[mellow music playing]
[vocalizing]
[music ends]