Sobechi's parents critique his debate practice every single night. He hears his mother's words as he captivates yet another crowd with his eloquence and stature. On the way home from a competition, the family sees new neighbors moving in. Sobechi goes to help them carry their belongings, and he meets Desiree (Dez), the first Black girl he's known who isn't related to him. She's carrying musical equipment inside and invites him to sit in on a jam session the next day. At the first blare of heavy metal, he fears his eardrums will burst, but as he gets used to it, he comes to love the fire and grunge of the music. Sobechi begins singing with Dez and listening to heavy metal through the night. His interest in debate slips away, and for a week he loses his voice and can't practice. He keeps asking his mother to tell him about the Nigerian Civil War, inspired by the political commentary in the music, but she shuts down every time he brings it up. When his mother finds his iPod, she is outraged, and Sobechi realizes he must give up music and return to his old life. Dez is hurt but shrugs him off. When Sobechi wins nationals for debate, everyone is ecstatic--except for him. In the midst of the joy, he asks his mother again about her experience in the war, and finally she describes to horror she lived through. The next day he makes an excuse to go to Dez's house and tells her he's working on a new song: a political one. Dez welcomes him back in the band.