Wes is in his mother’s car rapping to the song blaring, which makes his mother angry, and she shoots him a look. He is 11 years old, and she asks him how long he’s known this song. He tells her not long, and she’s upset with his bad grades and having second thoughts about the supposed learning disability his teacher mentioned. She says if he can memorize song lyrics then there’s no excuse for him to not pay attention in English class.

Joy is furious despite not knowing that he checks into school for attendance and then leaves or that he doesn’t even show up at all some days. Shani is loyal and never tells on him. Mrs. Downs, his English teacher, tells Wes she doesn’t care if he never shows up because the class can go on uninterrupted. His mother warns him to fix his grades again and then she puts a tape in the deck after seeing him nodding to the radio. She pretends not to hear his groans when he complains about her music. He doesn’t want to listen to Whitney Houston; he wants to listen to hip-hop. The music is a crossover between his two worlds.