He takes in his final few moments of tranquility when we meet him on the beach in the premiere episode, a strong juxtaposition to the violence he left behind on the streets of Queens. 

Raq comes to take him home despite his Aunt's suggestion that he go to school down south. On the ride back, we learn the shooting unsurprisingly profoundly affected Kanan. He's scared. His mother tries to reassure him, revealing Detective Howard doesn't remember anything. She confirmed with the hospital personnel he barely knows his own name. Everything should be fine.  

When they arrive in New York, the block is hot. The police are pressuring the corner boys, including one of Unique's former lieutenants, Worrell. But Raq has different plans for their organization: running the entire operation from the Baisley projects. She gives Kanan the rundown. While he was gone, they took over an entire floor. It's ingenious. They can see the police from the high rises, but the cops can't see them. More importantly, it's also extremely lucrative. They are clearing $75,000 a day. Now, she's ready to expand. 

Raq wants to reach out to Worrell, to help run their new franchise at the 40s projects. Lou and Marvin have some initial hesitation because of the war last year, but it's actually the best move. They can de-escalate the tension with the police on the street, make sure Unique is completely isolated when he's released from prison, and hire a strong earner. It's a win-win. But they have to deal with Scrappy. He's been a loyal soldier since they were kids and will almost certainly feel passed over if this new opportunity goes to a former nemesis.

Lou is torn between running a successful drug business with the family and trying to jumpstart his own company, Bulletproof Records. Him and his girlfriend, Jess, are fighting incessantly about her little brother, Famous', stalled music career. His mixtape didn't sell very well, and Lou doesn't want to keep investing more money into a losing project. The couple is at an impasse, and their relationship is caught in the crosshairs. 

In a chance encounter at a red light, Lou finds a new artist, Zisa, who looks a little too much like Jess. They immediately start recording together. Jess is floored. She finds comfort with Lou's business partner, Crown – they are secretly sleeping together. In post-coital bliss, Crown tells Jess he found her a job at a management company, but it's in Los Angeles. There isn't much keeping her in New York with Lou occupied and her brother refusing to write new rhymes. She strongly considers making the move.  

Detective Howard, fresh out of recovery, is a new man. He not only survived the shooting but is also in remission. His doctors were able to find a bone marrow donor and perform a successful transplant surgery. He's a "medical miracle." After almost dying, he feels reborn and wants to live his life right. His partner, Burke, is focused on finding out who shot him. Since Howard knows it was Kanan and doesn't want to send his son to jail, he conveniently sticks to the lie Raq heard from her inside sources: he doesn't remember anything.

While at the precinct, attempting to throw Burke off the scent, he sees Scrap in one of the interrogation rooms. He was apparently picked up for illegal gambling and became a CI.  

Unique is released from prison with little fanfare. Although he has a rock-solid alibi, the stench of the arrest is still on him. No one on the street wants anything to do with him. However, Marvin is keeping tabs on him. 

Jukebox continues to mourn the death of her girlfriend, Nicole, and ignores Marvin after their vicious fight in season one. Instead, she finds solace in her relationship with Raq, who's taken on a surrogate mother role in her life. She is, however, curious about her own mother. So after finding an old picture of her, she starts questioning Raq and doing some digging of her own. 

Kanan and Jukebox are as tight as ever. He shares his biggest insecurity with her: he begged his mother to be down with the drug game, but now he wants something else. Jukebox encourages him to be honest with Raq. He takes her advice, spurring a heart-to-heart between Raq and Kanan. His mother seemingly comforts him, promising she will protect him going forward. 

She starts with Detective Howard. They have their first face-to-face since she ordered Kanan to murder him.