(indistinct chatter)
(siren wailing)
- [Voiceover] My name is Chariote Lowe
and this is my story.
Life has a funny way of showing you
that what goes around, comes around.
And before I took my last breath,
I could only think about one thing my gram told me.
God first, and everything else comes after.
(gun shot)
(Paradise by Kyle Jason ft. Hi Coup)
I was born to Harriet Lowe,
a woman that most would not consider dignified.
My mother was beautiful.
She stood five feet five inches tall with black hair
and a generous build that many men admired.
Gram always blamed herself for the way my mother turned out.
The people in the neighborhood called her Crazy Harriet.
She once cut a woman's face up just for looking at
her wrong.
(screaming)
♫ I'm a sucker for you baby because you are
♫ Remember when we met, I was walking by ♫
I could never understand why my mother prostituted herself.
Always chasing after some no-good man.
♫ Kept it moving 'cause I had some place to go ♫
But then gram finally let it slip once that my father
was my mother's pimp.
She said my father was a handsome man
and never feared what was in front of him.
When Sweet Daddy killed him,
my father never saw it coming.
(gun shot)
Sweet Daddy was a rival pimp who used to run west 25th
between Detroit and Loraine.
He found out my father stole one of his hoes
and he responded the only way he knew how.
- WWOL 103.6 on you FM dial, smile for a while.
This is your man, Jonny Specials right here.
Be safe out there in the street, especially to you young
people out there.
(alarm buzzing)
- [Voiceover] When my alarm went off,
I felt as if I had just laid down.
It had been a long night and it always took a minute
to get my head right when I woke up.
(jazzy music)
I wanted to call Snapp to make sure everything was cool.
Snapp was a dude that would lay down his life for me.
I remember the first time I met Snapp.
He was standing on the block with Ace.
Ace was a hot boy that nobody fuck with.
Most people feared or admired him.
I got my first look at Ace standing by The Big Q
furniture store on 55th and Woodland.
Women used to go ape shit over him,
but i never gave him the time of day.
I knew what kind of guy he was.
♫ How we feel about each other ♫
As I walk to school in the mornings I used to see Ace
and Snapp in their usual positions.
They had both showed up out of no where.
They weren't Cleveland natives, but they moved into
that spot and took it over as their own.
My girls, Lily and Shannon, thought both of those guys
were cute.
Lilly was quiet and sweet, always dressed well,
and was as smart as a whip.
Shannon had a mouth on her.
She would dog anyone that got out a pocket,
but she was smart, and maybe just a little bit
crazy, too.
- Hey girl, I like your hair.
- What?
- I said, I like your hair.
- Thank you.
- Psyche, bitch, that shit ugly as fuck!
(cackling)
- [Voiceover] We had been friends since the playpen,
the three musketeers.
If anyone saw one of us, they see us all.
Our blood was thicker than bullshit and everything was
cool until just before graduation.
- Hey, whoa.
Baby girl, come here for a second.
- Baby girl does have a name.
- Well then maybe you should tell me your name, then.
- Whatever.
- Whatever?
That's a fucked up name.
Look, you gonna tell me your name or what?
- If I do, will you leave me alone?
- If you want me to.
- My name is Chariote.
- Well it's nice to meet you, Chariote.
Look, I'm Ace.
You know, like the ace of spades?
Everything else just follows suit.
- Ah, please.
- I like your style.
And a girl with your demeanor definitely should
be on my team.
- Ace, baby, I need to talk to you.
- Yo, can't you see I'm talking over here?
- Yeah, but I just need--
- Bitch, if I gotta tell you one mother fucking time!
- Ace! - I'm gonna kick your mother
fucking ass, you hear me?
No, I got this. - I just need something.
You motherfucker, don't put your hands on me!
Who the fuck do you think you are?
(screaming)
- [Voiceover] One day, when I was seven,
my mother picked me up from school.
I remember the way she was dressed,
it was just like how she dressed on nights she went
out to work.
- Get in the car!
- Hey, baby girl.
Harriet, you gonna get me what's owed me tonight, right?
- I don't feel good.
- I don't care what's hurting, you hear me?
- What am I supposed to do with Chariote?
- Like that's my problem.
I guess she gonna be out there with you tonight.
Maybe you can show her what you know.
Ain't that right, baby girl?
- [Voiceover] Money dropped us off downtown on fourth
and Prospect.
My mother sat me down and told me not to move.
- Hey, daddy.
- Hey, what's going on with ya?
- You tell me what's going on.
- I see you over here hanging out.
Tell me something, what's going on?
What you got for me?
- I can tell you a lot of something that's good.
- Tell you what, let me check out what you got here, girl.
Let me see that.
- Mommy, no!
(car zooms off)
- I told you to sit your ass down!
There's gonna be more of that to follow if you don't
learn how to sit your ass down like--
- Harriet, why is that kid out here?
- Candy, the babysitter canceled the last minute.
I have to work tonight.
You know how Money get when he don't get his money.
- Alright, I'll keep an eye on her.
But you got to make enough to cover us both tonight, okay?
- Thanks, girl.
- [Voiceover] Candy was a nice lady and she got me off
the street and took care of me that night.
Most of my mother's friends wouldn't even talk to me,
but Candy was different.
Later on, I heard she had been stabbed to death by
one of her regulars.
(horn honking)
- Get the fuck up!
- Whoa, Chariote, Chariote.
Don't pay them no mind.
It's just business, you feel me?
- Chariote!
- Hey girl.
- Were you just back there talking to Ace and Snapp?
- No.
I was just talking to those two assholes.
- They're some cute assholes.
- Oh my God, whatever man.
Are you coming over later to finish the paperwork
for the college loans?
- I don't know, I got to babysit my sister and brother,
but I'll see what I can do.
- Alright.
- Alright, I'll call you, girl.
- [Chariote] Alright, see ya. - Alright, see ya.
(gun shots)
- Chariote, are you okay?
Why are you so late?
- Sorry, gram, I ran into Shannon on the way home.
- Make sure you get those chores done before you
pick up that phone, you hear me?
- Yes, ma'am.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
- Hey girl, what you doing?
- Just finishing up some chores, Lilly.
- Oh, I should've known.
Listen, I was walking home today and I ran into
Ace and Snapp and Ace was asking all kinds of
questions about you.
- What kind of questions.
- You know, the usual stuff.
But I told him that your grandmother would not
allow him to see you.
Girl, if he only knew.
Her church-going behind would be rebuking the
demons out of him.
- Girl, you crazy.
- You know it's true.
And then he told me his friend, Snapp,
was interested in me.
- Damn, Lilly.
Don't pay them fools no mind.
They're some grown ass men.
What could they possibly want from us
other than some high school pussy?
- Chariote, watch your mouth!
- Sorry, gram.
- Is Shannon coming over tonight?
- Hopefully.
I'll talk to you later though, alright?
- Okay, alright, bye.
- Bye.
- Chariote, you know better than to use that language
in my house!
- But, gram--
- Shh, mm-mm.
- [Voiceover] I had a lot of paperwork to do for my
college loans, but it was the last thing on my mind.
You could call it a school girl fantasy, I guess.
I knew it was ridiculous, but at that moment,
I didn't even care.
(pounding on door)
- Chariote! Open the door!
Please, please open the door!
Chariote, open up!
Chariote!
They shot my baby!
(sobbing)
(high pitched humming)
- [Voiceover] When I was 10, gram took me to a funeral.
It was the first time in my life that I had seen
a dead body up close.
I always remembered how weird it was and how the person
that died didn't even look real anymore.
But when I saw Shannon laying motionless on the floor,
covered in her own blood, that was more reality
than I could take.
(sobbing)
(upbeat music)
Life was all fucked up now.
Three weeks of school left and I could barely force
myself to go.
Shannon, Lilly, and I always had everything planned out.
We were all supposed to go to Spelman in the fall.
The three musketeers, venturing on like always.
- I had to go take them to the courthouse.
Hey, Chariote.
Look, I heard about your girl.
I'm sorry, you know.
I'm sorry for your loss.
If there's anything I can do, man, I'm here for you.
- [Voiceover] Ace was different than the guys I went
to school with.
His hold, his scent, everything was different.
It was nice.
I didn't want to admit it to myself,
but I couldn't help it.
- I got to go.
- You know where I'm at, right?
I'm here whenever you need me.
♫ I breathed in, breathed out
♫ Got it for the city, no doubt ♫
- Chariote, I didn't ex--
- Hey, gran, what's wrong?
- Hello, Chariote.
- What the fuck is this bitch doing here?
Aren't you supposed to be out tricking or something?
- Watch your mouth, Chariote!
- Hey, baby.
When I caught wind of Shannon's death,
I hurried up over here to see how you was holding up.
How you doing?
- Three days later?
Thanks for the concern!
- Look, I tried to get here as quick as I could!
You know I got a new job and all.
- A new job?
Again and again.
Not again, bitch!
I ain't seven years old no more!
Don't you putting your fucking hands on me again!
You hear me?
- [Voiceover] I was sick of my mother turning up whenever
she wanted, stinking of Hennessy.
She had been that way for as long as I could remember.
Turning tricks and only keeping a job until she got bored
or until some other slick motherfucker came along.
It was a new day, but an old game when it came to her.
I knew she didn't give a shit about Shannon.
But once a ho, always a ho.
(church music)
(sobbing)
♫ Swing low, sweet chariot
♫ Come forth to carry me home
♫ Swing low, sweet chariot
♫ Come for to carry me home ♫
- As you all may know,
Shannon, Lilly, and I have been the best of friends.
(sobbing)
Every since we were little.
We were the three musketeers.
I never knew it could hurt so much to say goodbye.
We love you, Shannon.
(Light's On by Young Tee)
- [Voiceover] After they put Shannon in the ground,
we all went back to her house for the family gathering.
I couldn't sit there, though, choking in all that misery.
I needed to get out.
- Shorty!
Where you going?
Want to take a ride with me?
- I'd rather walk.
- Come on, man, I ain't gonna bite.
Unless you in to that.
Bare with me for a minute, make a quick stop.
- Quick stop?
Ace, I don't want any part of your bullshit.
- Calm down, nigga.
It just be for a moment, man.
Just gotta handle some quick business.
This motherfuck-- this is him?
You best be coming up with my motherfucking money,
I'm talking about in the next two hours!
- I told you Tuesday, man, right here.
- Yous a dead man, you know that, right?
Yo pick this nigga up!
(indistinct shouting)
- Fuck ya'll, man.
- Told you everything would be okay, right?
That shit was nothing.
- Business, Ace?
You're so full of shit!
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, my business is my motherfucking
business.
No matter what you think.
- Oh, you don't want to know what I think of it.
I had to bury my best friend today.
And you gonna bring me out here into this nonsense?
- Damn.
Yeah, you right.
Look, I'm sorry, okay?
Look, I'm gonna make it up to you.
(Second Chance by Kyle Jason)
What you doing?
- Kissing you.
- Not like that, you ain't.
Now, was that better?
Seems like I got to teach my girl a few things yet, huh?
- Ace, I'm not your girl.
I don't have time for any of this.
Maybe some other time, but not right now.
- You know, Chariote, you think way too much.
I mean, sometimes you just need to just go with the flow,
follow your gut.
You know, deep down inside, you know what you want.
- I want
to go home.
- To the class of 2012, I offer this simple piece of advice,
never forget where you come from.
Because it is who you are and who you will become
as a productive member of our society.
I wish you all the best and brightest futures.
I know that you are capable of accomplishing anything
you set your mind to.
So again, congratulations and best wishes.
(applause)
Ms. Chariote Lowe.
Congratulations, Ms. Lowe.
- Thank you.
(applause)
(Pull Em Down by Chris Bleek)
- What up with it, ladies?
- Hey, Snapp.
Hey, Ace.
- What up, Lilly.
What's up, baby?
- I haven't seen you in a while.
- You know, I been busy, you know.
Getting that paper.
But I heard you finally graduated.
- Yes I did.
Wish you could've been there.
- How do you know I wasn't?
- Oh shit!
This is my song!
Come on baby, we gotta dance!
- Okay.
- Shall we?
Wait, wait, wait.
Who taught you how to dance?
- What's wrong with the way I dance?
- Seems like I got to teach my girl everything, don't I?
Listen, put your arms around me like this.
Get a little closer.
Just move to the beat.
- Ace?
Show time, man.
- Look, I gotta go.
You can come to the club, but you can't make enough
money?
You can come to the club, but you can't pay me my money?
Take this nigga out.
(gun shots)
- Chariote.
Let's get out of here, I've had enough.
(sirens wailing)
- What the hell is this?
- You Ace's girl, right?
- I ain't nobody's girl.
Now get the hell off my property.
- Oh, shit.
Little girl had a big mouth.
- And I got something she can put in it.
(chuckling)
- Just tell your boy Detroit said to watch his back.
- Oh!
- Bitch!
You touch me again, it's gonna get worse!
- Chariote!
Are you okay?
Who was that?
Who was those guys?
- [Voiceover] I should've been pissed at Detroit and those
two clowns he called a crew.
But I was more pissed at Ace for dragging me into
his bullshit.
(knocking on door)
- Motherfucker!
Get up, and don't come back!
- Yo, why you flippin' on me like this?
What's wrong with you?
Oh, fuck.
What happened?
- What happened?
You happened, Ace!
Got me all caught up in your shit!
- Who did this to you?
Who did this to you?
You know what, don't even tell me that, come on.
I said come on!
- [Voiceover] I'm not even sure why I got into the truck
with Ace.
I had never seen him like this before and the whole
situation felt bad.
But I was along for the ride and there was no going back.
- Today, today.
Them nigga's is dead, B.
You gonna slap my fucking girl?
You know what I'm saying?
Do you know who the fuck I am?
- [Voiceover] Kush was already at Ace's house when
we got there so Ace roped him into it too.
Kush was the goods man, he wasn't a killer,
so this whole thing was going from bad to worse.
- Hey yo, hey!
Hey where you going?
Chariote?
What the fuck is the matter with you? Where you going?
- I can't be here, Ace.
I don't want to be here.
This is your business, not mine.
- These motherfuckers made it their business when they
stuck to you like that.
Don't nobody disrespect me or mine!
Look at your fucking face!
Them nigga's is dead today, you hear me?
Today!
Alright, listen, everything's gonna be alright.
I got you.
Just trust me.
Here, take it.
- I don't want it.
- Just take it.
Look, all you have to do is point and shoot.
- But I don't want to point and shoot, Ace!
- Let's go.
We gotta pick up Snapp.
- [Voiceover] Detroit used to hang out around 79th
and Kingsmen.
Ace took the back way behind Rainbow Terrace
so no one would see us coming.
- Show time!
(breathing heavily)
- The type of shit that we do to take over the whole project
and you do that (mumbles).
- Yeah, send a message to 'em!
- Would you look at this shit?
Yo, what up fool?
- Are you out of your fucking mind?
Who the fuck told you you could put your hands on my
girl like that?
- Fuck you and that bitch.
- Fuck you and that bitch?
(gun shot)
(gun shots)
- Oh, shit!
- So you the motherfucker that touched his girl.
- Man, that bitch shit was tight.
(gun shot)
- Okay, okay.
Hey yo, Snapp, let's go, man!
Snapp, let's go!
(gun shot)
(screaming)
It's gonna be alright, baby, it's gonna be alright!
You did good out there!
- Fuck you!
Fuck you!
- [Ace] Yo man, drive to my house, Kush.
- No Ace!
I just want to go home!
- I can't let your grandmother see you like this.
Yo, just run through all the fucking red lights, man,
just keep going.
(I Know You Want Me To by RnB Meech)
Drink this.
My girl, having my back and all.
That's what's up.
You know, them fools never knew what hit 'em.
You know what, Chariote?
You need to shut that shit up.
Yous a woman!
You ain't no little bitch, you hear me?
- God damn it, Ace!
I just killed someone.
Don't you understand?
- Of course I understand.
But them niggas had no right to touch you like that.
Hell, if them niggas never touch you,
they'd still be breathing right now!
But what's in the past in the past and ain't nothing
we can do to change that.
(I Know You Want Me To by RnB Meech)
(gasps)
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
- Hey, babe.
Just get yourself something to eat, you know,
watch TV whatever 'til I get back.
I'll be there in a few, bye.
- Chariote, where have you been?
- I was, I was over at Lilly's last night.
- Don't lie to me, young lady.
Lilly's been calling here all morning for you.
Now, where were you?
- Gram, I just really want to lie down.
Can we talk about this later?
- Just because you graduated from high school
don't mean I won't hesitate to put my foot up your ass.
Go lie down.
- That's right, that's right. 103.6 WWOL.
That's right, Jonny Specials, never relax while the news
is rocking on the wax.
I like to say what's up and a special salute out to all
the young people graduating this weekend from the
high school.
Ya'll be safe.
We're at the brink of a very warm summer so let's keep
the attitudes very cool.
- Chariote, you okay?
- Yeah, Kush, are you?
- Yeah, I'm cool.
Listen, I want to thank you for last night though.
Here, take this.
It's not much but.
- Thanks, Kush.
- It's on.
- Damn.
What you doing out here?
- Oh, I got to have a reason now?
- Nah, I just figured that you was gonna stay in for
the rest of the night, that's all.
So how you feelin', you feelin' better?
- Not really.
- Well give it some time.
You'll be okay.
Listen, if you ain't doing nothing later,
can I come to see you?
- Hey Ace, what's going on?
- Hey Simone, how you doing?
Ya'll two know each other right?
- Mhmm.
Sorry about your girl.
So Ace, am I gonna see you later tonight?
- Yeah, Ace, are you gonna see Simone tonight?
Motherfucker.
♫ You can have the world
♫ And everything that's in it
♫ You can have the world, world
♫ You can have the world, world ♫
Come in.
- Chariote, where have you been all day?
Girl I been calling you.
Are we still going out tonight or what?
- I don't know, Lilly.
I was with Ace and the guys when they went to see Detroit.
- You were there?
- Yeah, I wish I hadn't been, though.
- Chariote, what happened?
You saw everything?
Chariote.
It's okay.
It's gonna be okay.
- Ace said he would take care of everything.
I just don't know what to do, Lilly.
- Girl, don't even think about it.
Don't dwell on it, just put it out of your mind.
Where did you stay last night?
- At Ace's.
- Girl, all night?
- Yeah.
And we...we did it, too.
- Chariote, no!
Well, how was it?
- Jesus, I don't remember!
I was too upset.
- What you mean you don't remember?
You was there, wasn't you?
Must not have been that good then.
(both laughing)
- Thank God I still have you, girl.
I don't know what I would do without you.
- Me too.
We're always together.
Even though it's different now.
I miss Shannon, Chariote.
- I know, girl.
I know.
I miss her, too.
(I Do This by Scrillogy)
- Damn it's crowded in here!
Girl, get me a Pink Moscato and I'm gonna find us a table.
- Can I get a rum and coke and a Pink Moscato?
- Yeah, that's a big drink right there.
You sure you can handle that?
- Are you stalking me or something?
- I don't know, could be coincidence.
Or it could be fate.
- Or it could be a mistake.
- That'll be eight fifty.
- Keep it.
They're playing our song.
- We don't have a song, Ace.
- I beg to differ.
Come on, let's dance.
Show me what I taught you.
- I think I forgot.
- I think you remember.
- So why you not dancing with Simone?
- Because I'm dancing with my girl.
- You think you're the slickest motherfucker out here,
don't you?
- Why don't you tell me?
- Chariote, we over here!
Where my drink at?
- Girl, I forgot.
I'm sorry.
- Then go back and get it.
You see who I'm here with, girl.
I'm trying to get fucked up. (mumbles)
- Come here.
Hey, Al, I'd like to introduce you to my lady,
Chariote Lowe.
- Nice to meet you, Chariote.
- Likewise.
- It's all yours, girl.
- Yo, man, I appreciate you setting all this up for me,
you know what I mean?
- So what kind of return am I looking at?
- I can guarantee that you'll double your investment.
But I believe it's gonna be even more than that.
- Shit, kid.
Ain't no guarantees in this business.
You pissing in a cup and calling that shit lemonade.
- Hey yo, man, think what you want, Al.
But you know Detroit and his crew of bitches is ghost.
And who you think taking over they territory right now?
- You know, I don't know if you that smart,
or just a cocky little prick.
- Let's just hope that I'm a little bit of both.
- So Chariote, what is it you see in this guy anyway?
- Honestly?
I don't even know.
(laughing)
(Nod Yo Head by Ray Jr.)
- [Voiceover] Gram had been working double shift at
the hospital, so when she finally had a day off I tried
to get a jump on things just to help her out.
It was the least I could do and I felt bad sometimes
that she was working so hard at her age.
That was one of the reasons I was going to college.
I was going to study law and make something of myself
so that gram would be able to retire finally
and enjoy the rest of her life.
Lilly came by the house to pick me up.
She was the only person left in my life that could make
me laugh and keep me grounded.
I needed to spend time with her, if only for that.
(Weed And Swishers by Superior Streets)
What are you still doing here?
- I'm your mother, I have every right to be here.
- Last time I checked this wasn't your house.
- You listen to me.
I heard some shit on the streets about that nonsense
that went on on valley projects the other night.
Word on the street is you were there.
- Are you crazy?
Why would I be there?
- You tell me!
- There ain't nothing to tell.
- Where'd you get the money for all this?
- I been saving up.
- Bullshit!
- Yeah.
Like you know me so well.
Look, I ain't go time for this right now.
Just see yourself out.
- Chariote, wait!
I need $20.
- Are you kidding me?
You tricking for free now days?
- Chariote, please, I just need the $20!
- Are we done here?
(Weed And Swishers by Superior Streets)
I always hated the fact my mother and I didn't have
a normal relationship.
And when she was drunk, it was even worse.
Most days I just wanted to hate her because I thought
it would be easier, but it wasn't.
Please, Lord, bless the food that we are about
to receive that was prepared by my lovely hands.
- Amen.
- Amen.
(phone vibrating)
Hello?
- Chariote, it's me.
I need you to come over to my place as soon as you can.
- I'm eating dinner right now.
- As soon as you can.
I'll see you there.
- Who was that, Chariote?
- It was Lilly.
She thinks she left some of her college paperwork here
and wanted me to drop it off.
- Oh, I see.
You want some more potatoes?
- No, I'm okay.
I ate a big lunch, think I'm finished.
(banging on door)
- What up, ma?
- What's so important that you had to interrupt my dinner?
- I just wanted to see you, that's all.
- Are you fucking with me?
- Actually, I am, I ain't gonna even lie to you.
Look, I just need a little favor from you.
- This better not be no more of your bullshit, Ace.
- Look, it's nothing, I just need you to go with Tripp
and just play the role, alright?
Nothing's gonna happen to you.
- Then why I got to go?
- Look, me, Snapp, and the boys got something to handle
across town.
Right now, I don't want Tripp going alone.
It'd be better to have somebody there with him.
Besides, it's just over at Big Al's, that's all.
- Big Al's?
- Yeah, the dude that you know, I introduced you to
in the club.
C'mon, man, don't give me that look, man.
You got my back?
- Alright.
- Alright then.
Let me introduce you to a couple niggas.
- [Voiceover] Ace thought it was time to introduce me
to the rest of the crew.
Bobby Digits was the numbers guy.
Snowball was the main cook.
Slick was in charge of the street runners.
And Big Black Dave was the extra muscle.
- Let me know if you need anything, Chariote,
I got you.
- Here, take this.
- What the hell is this?
- Insurance.
Talk to you later.
See ya.
- Come on, let's go.
Yeah, we here for the pick up.
- [Voiceover] Tripp was another one of Ace's main guys.
He didn't have his shit together as much as Snapp,
but he was loyal and that counted for something.
I just wanted to get this shit over with.
In and out like a Friday night ho.
- Where's Ace?
- He couldn't make it.
- What the fuck you talking about?
- He had a previous engagement.
- Are you serious?
What is this, amateur hour at the Apollo?
Come back when your balls drop, kid.
- Tripp, let's go.
- Yeah, Tripp, the lady wants to leave.
- Come on, Al, you wasting my time.
- Your boyfriend must really love you,
send you here with this knuckle head.
What you worried about, Tripp?
You think I'm going to shoot you?
(cackling)
- Tripp, on yo left!
(guns fire)
- Shit!
- Bitch, get out!
(gun shots)
Tripp we gotta go, now!
- Ya'll fucked up, bad.
- Them niggas blew down on us,
we had to handle that shit.
- Chariote, what the hell happened?
- It wasn't our fault, Ace!
It was a goddamn ambush.
They asked for you and when Tripp said that you wasn't
gonna be there, they whole thing went south!
- Dirty motherfuckers.
Damn, baby, look I'm sorry, you alright?
- Yeah, thanks for asking.
- I'm just saying, though, I'm still trying to wrap
my head around it all.
- Just do me a favor and take me home.
- Yeah, alright, sure thing.
(water running)
- [Voiceover] The first time I killed someone was a surreal
experience.
It was almost as if I was watching someone else pull
the trigger.
But when the shit went down at Big Al's,
I didn't even have to think about it.
There was a reflex buried deep down inside of me
that kicked on and I reacted with a force and precision
I didn't even know I had.
After it was all said and done and my heart slowed down,
I realized the gravity of it all.
And that scared the shit out of me.
(retching)
The next morning Lilly asked me to go over to Carver Park
with her.
She wanted to retrieve and outfit she loaned to her
cousin, Simone.
Simone was the last bitch I wanted to see,
but I didn't want to leave Lilly out there on those
crazy ass streets by herself.
That's when I saw Lil Man sitting outside his building.
Everyone knew him and everyone knew to stay away from him.
Lil Man was crazy, didn't give a fuck,
and was always up to no good.
- Yo, Chariote.
What's up girl, how you been?
- What's up, Lil Man, how you been?
- You know me, chillin'.
- So.
- So what?
- Word on the street is you was around when Detroit and
his boys got popped.
- I heard that rumor too.
But it ain't true.
- That's your boy over there?
That dude, Ace?
- I don't got time for boys, Lil Man,
I'm getting ready for college.
- That's good.
You make sure you get there.
I don't want to hear any more of this bullshit.
Oh, Chariote.
Remember what I said, now.
- What was that all about?
She better be home, I need my shirt.
- I ain't got time for your cousin.
She better be cool.
(knocking)
- Last time she weren't here.
- Bitch, you trying to get my man Ace?
- Uh, you just fucked with the wrong one?
- Chill man.
Hey yo, chill, chill.
Simone give me my shit so we can leave.
- You stay the fuck away from my man or I'm gonna
come back around here and whip your stank ass
into a coma.
- Yeah alright, bitch.
- What the fuck was that?
- You better get your cousin.
- Don't bring your stankin' ass around here no more.
- I got your number, Simone!
- Bitch, I got yours!
- Funky ass bitch!
- Just go back in the house, Simone.
What the hell was that about?
She just threw my shit on the ground.
What the fuck?
Oh hell no!
I'm gonna go back and whip her ass myself,
do you see this shit?
- No, come on.
- Do you see my shirt?
- Don't even, I know. - [Lilly] What the fuck!
- [Voiceover] We were all going out that night
and Ace told me he wanted me to look my best,
money was no object.
Ace had it and he didn't mind spending it on me.
As we were leaving, the mall security stopped us
and asked to see a receipt.
Ace showed them everything they wanted to see,
but I could tell he was heated.
Had they stopped us because we had so many bags,
or was it just because we were black?
- What the hell are you doing in my room?
- I was just trying to make your bed for you.
- Get the fuck out!
Get your ass out!
Shit, if you want money so bad, take your ass out on
the street and do what you do best!
- You simple bitch!
- I told you never to touch me again!
- Oh no, bitch, you think you tough?
You think you boss, bitch?
You done fucked up now, you done fucked up you dumb bitch!
(crying)
- Chariote, are you okay?
- What?
Yeah, yeah I'm fine.
- Dinner's at six and I need you to drive me
to work tonight.
- What?
Gram, I got plans!
- They'll have to wait.
I'll see you downstairs in a little while.
- [Voiceover] Ace was supposed to pick me up at
nine o'clock and gram wanted me to take her to work
at eight thirty.
She could've very well driven herself,
but I knew she was just trying to mess up my flow.
Whatever, I just have to let Ace know to pick me up
around 10.
I got gram to work five minutes early and drove back
to the house as quickly as I could so I would have enough
time to get ready before Ace picked me up.
I bought three dressed that day.
The black and white seemed the most elegant.
It was a surprise special occasion and I intended on
making a big impression.
- Listen, girl.
I can't be fighting you like you some bitch on the street.
I'm your mother.
Whether you like it or not.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that our relationship has been a disaster
all these years.
And I know you might not believe it,
but I'm really trying to get things together, Chariote,
I really am.
You're my only child and I've put you through enough.
Besides, your grandmother, she's not gonna stand for
any of this shit.
You look beautiful, Chariote.
- Thanks, mom.
(horn honks)
That's my ride.
I'll see you later.
- Mr. W.
- Ace.
Thank you for coming.
- Thank you for having me.
- I see you have excellent taste.
- I see you do, as well.
This is my lady, Chariote.
- Chariote?
- Yeah, as in swing low mother fucker.
(whispering)
- Now, I see you have something for me.
- Indeed, I do.
- Ladies.
- I mean, it's all there, you can count it if you wish.
- There's no need for that Ace.
We're all friends here.
- Hey!
Put your hands back on the table!
- Chariote!
- She is a fire cracker, isn't she?
- Yeah man, you gonna control your woman or what?
- Are you gonna put your hands back on the goddamn table?
- Now tell me, how are you able to move as much weight
as you do while all of your competitors lag behind?
- Well now, if I told you all my secrets,
then where would that leave me?
- You're a smart man, Ace, I can see it in you.
All you have to do is keep your wits about you
and you'll go far.
- Thank you, I appreciate that.
Now, what's good on the menu?
(guns firing and screaming)
(cackling)
- Amazing work, Chariote!
I'm impressed.
I'm wondering, what do you do for an encore?
Good girl.
You know that's the only way out of this, don't you?
(gun fires)
- Oh my, Chariote what was that?
What was going on? - [Chariote] It's gonna be ok.
Trust me, trust me, okay?
It's gonna be okay.
Where the fuck is he going?
- Shit.
Ace, you okay, big dog?
- Yo Chariote, what the fuck was that?
- What the fuck was what?
I just saved your ass back there.
- Look, you just blew nine months of deals
that was gonna catapult me to the very top of this city!
Nine fucking months!
I don't even know how I'm gonna fix this shit.
- Fuck you, Ace.
You want me to have your back or not?
Because next time, I'll just let your bitch ass get shot!
- Whoa, whoa, Ace chill out!
Chariote is right, man, you didn't see what was
going on in there.
- Yo, Snapp, what the fuck are you talking about man?
- It was a setup from the beginning not to let us leave man.
Mr. W had your attention, but the dude on the right
was going under the table for his biscuit.
Plus, in the back corner of the room was the cover man.
Chariote saw his ass lurking in the shadows.
Snapp caught the dude on the left because his ass was just
too slow.
(gun shots and screaming)
This whole shit was a setup, Ace.
- Maybe so, but now we're really fucked.
And between this and Big Al.
Chariote over here getting a little too trigger happy.
- You know what, Ace?
Fuck you!
- Chariote, what happened?
- [Voiceover] The nerve of that motherfucker calling me
trigger happy.
Who was the nigga that put the gun in my hand
in the first place?
I never wanted a part of any of this shit,
and now he's gonna blame me?
He could eat a bowl of dicks.
- Hey, baby.
- Hey.
- Did you have a good time?
- I don't even want to talk about it.
What you still doing up?
- Your gram just called.
She said she'd be ready for you to pick her up
in 30 minutes.
- Can you go pick her up, please?
I just want to go and take a shower and lie down.
- Chariote, I ain't your lap dog.
Your grandma said for you to pick her up
and you gonna pick her up.
No time for that.
I'm gonna go pick your grandmother up.
(knocking)
- Who is it?
- [Ace] It's me.
(S.E.X.Y. by The Real Rude Boys)
- Did you leave this door open?
- No, mama, I didn't leave your door open.
Maybe Chariote left it open.
(moaning)
- Oh my God!
Get the fuck out of my house this instant!
- Gram, watch your mouth.
- You shut your goddamn mouth before I put my foot
up your ass!
He's not even wearing a condom!
- I'm sorry, miss, I was just, I was just showing your
granddaughter how much I love her.
And she was good.
- Boy, get the hell out of my house right now!
- [Voiceover] Only after I saw the look on grams face did I
realize how badly I had messed up.
This wasn't the Chariote she had raised.
I was growing up fast, for better or for worse.
And it was all up to me to do the right thing.
The next couple of weeks were tough.
Gram didn't even want to look me in the eye after what
she saw.
But I played it cool for her sake and stayed away from Ace
and the craziness of the streets.
(knock on door)
I figured it was the least I could do before I went
away to school.
Dave, what's the matter?
- Chariote, it's Ace.
They fucking shot him.
- Give me a minute.
Gram I got to go, I'll be back in a little while.
(machines beeping)
- [Voiceover] When I got to the hospital it finally hit me
that I didn't even know Ace's real name.
I had to describe him to the nurse in the ICU
just to find out where he was.
He had been in surgery all morning and they said
that he was lucky to still be alive.
- Baby, I'm gonna find out who did this to you.
- [Voiceover] I had Snapp take me home so that I could
let gram know that I was okay.
But what I really needed was a couple of minutes
to sit down and get my mind right.
- Chariote.
- Chariote, what is going on?
You running out of here in the middle of cooking dinner?
- Gram, I'm sorry, but I had to go.
Ace has been shot!
He's in the hospital.
- Listen to me, you're not about to get caught up
in this mess.
That's what that fucker gets!
- Easy, mom, okay?
- That son of a bitch been selling drugs to our own people!
He got what he deserved!
- Did we or did we not sit in the lords house today?
- Ever since you meet that bastard he's been had you
in all kind of predicaments.
- Jesus, gram, just mind your own business.
- Bitch, I will stuff a hole in your ass, Chariote Lowe,
you are my business!
- Your grandmother's right.
Don't get involved in this mess--
- Back off, mom.
I don't need it from you, either!
- So it's like that?
I had to watch you ruin your life.
And now I got to watch my baby do it, as well?
I can't take this.
(Gotta Give The Peeps by Public Enemy)
- [Voiceover] Lilly's mom was throwing a going away party
before we left for school so I tried to get over there
before anyone else arrived.
- Chariote, don't start no shit, okay?
- Look, I just need to talk to my girl, that's all.
- Don't bring that bullshit over here.
- Hey girl, I was just about to call you.
Look what Snapp bought me.
I know you'll like this, you can borrow it any time
you want to.
You like it?
'Cause I like it.
- Lilly, Ace has been shot!
- What? When?
- They found him this morning.
- Oh my God, Chariote.
Is he still--
- Yeah, yeah.
(mumbling)
But he's in pretty bad shape.
- Oh my God, are you gonna be okay?
Are you gonna be okay?
- Yeah.
- Come on, I just rolled one, let's go smoke.
(Pass the Patron by J-Swinn)
- I had a feeling Simone was going to be there,
but at least I could watch her like a hawk.
If she was there with me, then she couldn't be at the
hospital with Ace.
- Girl, you better than her.
She is gonna start some shit.
(Doin Fine by Brothers)
- Let me pick which one I want to see later on.
- [Voiceover] Sly was the neighborhood mouth piece.
If it happened in the hood then Sly probably knew about it.
His information wasn't always the most reliable,
but it was a good start.
- Well, as you all know, somebody shot the motherfucking
Ace man.
Ya'll hear that?
I don't really know what happened, but they say Lil Man
and his crew did this shit.
That's what I heard.
But ya'll know Sly man, that's me,
I ain't gonna tell you no lie and I ain't gonna
take no shit.
The word I said it real as long as I got this bottle
in my hand.
Well?
- Chariote.
- Hey.
How is he?
- Shit, I mean, he's doing alright.
Sleep right now though.
- Listen, Snapp, I just seen Sly over at Lilly's
and he said word's going around that Lil Man shot Ace.
Revenge for Detroit or some shit.
- Motherfuckers.
Snapp knew that shit too.
(phone ringing)
- Hey girl, what's up?
- Chariote, where are you at?
- At the hospital with Ace.
- Look, I'm about to beat Simone's ass.
My mother had to break us up twice today.
- For what, what's going on?
- Girl, Sly told me he saw Snapp giving Simone money
and then Simone would be like,
"Well girl, you know I got to pay my rent."
Bitch, you live in the projects.
You only got to pay a percentage of it anyway.
- Girl, I told you, cousin or not,
that bitch is no good.
- Come on, bitch, I took your man's money once,
I'll do it again.
What you gonna do?
- Okay, I gotta call you back.
I gotta whip this bitch ass.
- Hey Chariote.
You want to know why your motherfucking man's
in the hospital?
- What bitch?
- He shouldn't have been fucking with us.
That's why Lil Man popped his ass.
- Give me the goddamn phone!
Give me the phone, Simone!
- Your girl, Simone, just spilled it.
It was Lil Man.
She said some shit to him about what happened with
Detroit that night.
You know, Simone and Lilly have been fighting all day
over you.
What was you thinking?
- Snapp fucked up.
- Yeah, you did.
And so did Ace.
Both of you knuckleheads messing with that funky bitch.
Just round the crew up.
Meet me at Ace's house later on.
- [Voiceover] I stayed with Ace for about an hour after
Snapp left.
By that point I was already well on my way to planning
Lil Man's demise.
And Simone was gonna have to go too
because there was no way I was gonna let her get a pass
on this shit.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
You're goddamn right.
- Tomorrow night Lil Man and his boys
are gonna get what's coming to them.
Be careful because they gonna be expecting some kind
of retaliation.
We just gotta catch 'em with they pants down.
- If anything changes Snapp let you all know when he know it.
Other than that, ya'll know what to do.
- [Voiceover] Yo, this is your special man Jonny Specials
right here on 106.3 FM WWOL.
That's right, playing it to you 'cause we have to stick
together.
We got to tell a story that also changed the world
and changes our community for the better, alright?
So hey, young people understand we need ya'll
and we got love for you.
- [Voiceover] I slept well that night for the first time
in a long time.
Which was good because I had a busy day ahead of me
and I needed to stay on point.
It was my move now and I planned everything down
to the letter.
- Chariote, what is this?
- It's breakfast, gram, have a seat.
- But why?
- Because I wanted to apologize for the way I acted
yesterday.
Hey ma, you can sit right here.
- [Voiceover] While I was having breakfast, Big Black Dave
was across town picking up some extra fire power
for the day's big event.
There were four guys on our list.
Lil Man was number one, the ring leader of the group.
His cousin, Cowboy, was his second in command and he
was just as dangerous.
The third guy was a shit talking nigga they called
Smooth Operator.
He was quick with the ladies, but a ruthless motherfucker
to boot.
The last guy was Tubbs Jackson.
Everybody always thought Tubbs was quiet,
but those are the niggas you really got to watch
and I wasn't about to take any chances.
Slick's job was to get the warehouse ready.
We were gonna need somewhere to hold these guys
until we got them all together.
You see, the plan was to grab each one of them,
one by one, throughout the day,
but we had to do it on the low.
- [Voiceover] Hello?
- Yo, Tripp, where you at?
I got everything setup, man.
How long it gonna take for you all to get here?
- [Voiceover] About an hour.
- Alright, cool.
Watch your ass too, man.
- Yo, you sure you don't want Snapp to take care of this?
It's pretty cold out there.
- It's only cold if you feel it.
(chuckling)
- Well goddamn, Chariote.
The fucking spunk on you.
- Motherfucker, you knew this shit was coming.
You can't be surprised.
- Well shit, if I'd have known you had this in you,
I would of had you my damn self.
But, you know, you and your bitch ass boyfriend
always sitting in that fucking truck.
Got all these motherfucking fuckers out here doing his
goddamn business for him and shit.
Hey Snapp, who you taking orders from now, huh?
Who you taking orders from now?
You fucking dickless faggot, you answer me when I talk
to you, piece of shit.
Do you fucking hear me?
(chuckling)
Oh, and Tripp, you think you so buff now
It's 'cause you spend half your damn 20s in the pen
lifting weights and shit.
You fucking bitch.
Both of you make me fucking sick.
Unstrap me, goddamn it!
Before I get really fucking pissed.
- Are you through?
(spits)
- I'm just getting started.
(gun shot)
(dramatic music)
(gun shot)
(whispering)
- Alright, come on ya'll, let's go.
Chariote, come on, we got to go!
Chariote, let's go!
- [Voiceover] I really needed to see Ace.
But Ace wasn't in any kind of shape I needed him to be in.
I needed him to be strong, to take me in his arms and
make love to me.
To make me feel something undeniable.
But it wasn't going to happen.
So I had to keep it together on my own.
(alarm buzzing)
I wanted to call Snapp just to make sure there wasn't
any heat coming down on us from the night before.
Lil Man wasn't going to disappear quietly.
A nigga like that was gonna be missed,
but I had serious doubts that anyone really wanted
him back.
A week later they took Ace of the respirator.
I was anxious to see him, but I didn't have any intention
on telling him about Lil Man.
- Hey, babe.
Come here.
That's what I needed.
- How you feeling?
- Feel like I got shot.
- Smart ass.
- Babe, tell me something, though.
What happened last week?
- Who told you?
- Tripp was here this morning.
- Look, we was just taking care of business.
Nothing for you to worry about.
- But I am worried about you.
Look, you need to lay low.
Streets are talking.
- I just got one more thing to take care of,
then I'm off to school.
- What thing?
- It's nothing.
- Chariote, what thing?
- I got to take care of Simone.
- Man, let it go!
- What?
- I said let it go!
- That funky bitch is part of the reason you in here
right now!
The fuck I'mma let it go!
- Chariote, she's gone, alright?
She's gone!
Snapp took care of it!
- She's dead?
- No.
Look, you got a lot of heat on you right now.
We had to get her out of town, but she knows never
to come back!
- Where is she?
- It's none of your concern.
What is it?
- Mother fucker.
- Hey look, it was the only play that we had!
Chariote, you gotta be smart about this!
Chariote! Chariote!
- [Voiceover] They say that you see your entire life
flash before your eyes when you're dying.
It's amazing how vivid the memories are.
I remember the morning I left to go to college.
It was warm and the sky was clear.
I remember thinking that it was a crime that Shannon
wasn't going with us.
I hid a blunt Kush gave me in my gym bag and I had every
intention on saving it for a special occasion.
But what I remember most from that morning
is that my life had possibility.
It was all on me and I never thought that I would end up
bleeding out on the kitchen floor.
Like my father before me, I never saw it coming.
Maybe I deserved it and for my sins I would have to pay.
But we'll get to that later 'cause that's a whole
other story.
- [Voiceover] Good morning, Cleveland.
It's your man Jonny Specials on 106.3 FM WWOL.
We're about to fall right back into fall, ya'll,
so keep the kids in school, teach 'em right,
and be a loving parent to your child.
Because they're supposed to be our future,
not a memory in our past.
Believe that.
(How Lowe? by Public Enemy)
-I'm Jonny Specials, 106.3 FM, W.W.O.L.
Keep it safe, Cleveland.
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