"Rap Sh*T!: The Overview"

Issa Rae is back on HBO's platform with another creation she produced entitled, Rap Sh*t. This first season will debut eight episodes following the lives of two aspiring rappers in Miami, FL. Keep reading to find out why Issa's new project is #TheMove for a new show to binge watch (there will be spoilers).

The rap group is quite the pair. Shawna Clark is a front desk clerk at a hotel who aspires to be a rapper and Mia Knight is a reformed stripper turned web star trying to be the best mom she can while providing for her daughter and herself. The estranged best friends reunite for a night at the bar after life has frustrated them. They enjoy themselves so much that they go live on a platform, resembling "Instagram", to start freestyling.

Courtesy of the Shade Room

Shawna is amazed the next morning when she sees her and Mia fooling around resulted in them going viral. Shawna proposes to Mia that they form a group. But once the two start hitting creative differences, they realize this won't be as easy as they originally thought.

One pivotal point in the series is during Ep. 2 (S1), when Shawna switches her typical rap persona. She had been rapping for years in an African mask and covered up in her clothing as an attempt to have people focus more on her bars, but Mia suggests she gets a little more explicit. During this conversation Mia tells Shawna that rapping about your body doesn't always have to be sexualized, but can also be powerful.

After the session, Shawna leaned more into their scammer, IG model rap persona. It was exactly the vibe of their freestyle and first single 'Seduce and Scheme'. As their confidence and vision grew, so did the support.

Mia ropes in her down and out, producer baby daddy-Lamont-when she realizes he needs money. The two have a rocky relationship that normally consists of Mia getting in his ass for being a less than active parent. The two are normally going at it like cats and dogs. Lamont has been producing for a successful label, but is disappointed that the money isn't rolling in as he expected. When Mia approaches him about producing her and Shawna's song, he's hesitant. The last thing he wants his baby mama to think is he needs a handout, especially when he's supposed to be the breadwinner of the two. Nonetheless, he takes a chance and the song sounds great. Lamont isn't the only one getting in on the act either.

Part-time pimp, and self-proclaimed "Duke of Miami", invests in the rap duo's career after seeing their popularity on social media. Chastity aka the "Duke" has her own set of problems from her escorts being out of order to losing money consistently. She can't have that anymore. When she sees a lucrative opportunity to parade her girls in front of a bigger and richer crowd with-old friend-Mia, she doesn't hesitate to offer her services. In exchange for providing her girls an opportunity to work, she says she'll manage the group for free.

The trio hit the scene and start grinding in their own special way. Mia increases their social media presence, Shawna scams credit card numbers to fund their group, and Chastity is responsible for booking gigs. Chastity is supposed to get the girls their big break performing for a club, but her less than stellar connections become pretty evident. Chastity isn't a hustler for no reason. She hatches her own scheme of convincing a hot dj to play 'Seduce and Scheme' under the guise it's a request from another established artist. Before the rap duo know it, they're hit is being pumped from one of the livest club's speakers.

Courtesy of @Raedio

The video led to continuous success for the group. After a friend pulls some strings for Shawna, more for her own benefit than her belief in the group, the duo is invited to a Spotify party all the way in New York. The girls were getting FLEWED out forreal. The weekend ends in chaos with the biggest offense being Mia going viral for slapping an influencer. But, you can't keep a Miami girl down.

Despite the conflict, the girls get back on track with a much needed heart to heart that breeds another hit, 'Nann Badder'.

The two's success from their first hit, provides multiple performance opportunities, including mansion parties. They first take the stage at a mansion birthday party where they killed their performance. It definitely gave City Girls energy with a full out performance with plenty of twerk moments. Before the two could perform their second song, Shawna blows it by doing her own freestyle. It sucked. No one was feeling it at all and the DJ kicked them off the stage. Their big night was a big bust.

Needless to say, Mia and Chastity were frustrated. So much so that Mia told Shawna she was done with the group. The two had a brief falling out that came to an end when Chastity called a meeting. Prior to them meeting Chastity was getting scolded by her father. He said her pimping is slipping and she needs to step it up in so many words. So, when they met Chastity let the girls know that she made them poppin and she had no problem stopping them. She let them know nothing goes on in the city without her knowledge before walking away.

Courtesy of alexusrenee.com

Mia let Shawna have it too and told her to get her ego in check because she brings stuff to the group too. Shawna humbles herself and tells Mia she met with her old producer/friend (Francois) who is a now successful, well-known producer. He's offering them a tour along with his blackfish artist, Reina Rain. Mia agrees as long as Chastity is involved.

Things are finally looking up for the pair it seems. They're back on one accord and celebrate their new tour opportunity with Francois' people. They even get a toast dedicated to them joining the tour. Just when things seem to be going perfectly, the cops show up at the hotel lobby. They're looking for a Shawna Clark.

The show ends with this cliffhanger, so it's no wonder some may be craving more. This series talks about the grind to be successful, women and their sexuality, mental health, and more. Actress and Rapper Kamillion (Love&HipHop Miami) and actress Aida Osman put on a show in this series. They give their viewers a performance that makes you believe in their character's stories and struggles. With characters embodying the City Girl lifestyle, it's no wonder Issa Rae spoke in numerous camera interviews on getting rappers JT and Yung Miami involved with the project.

If you need a new show to binge then look no further. Rap Sh*t is the hottest new Move.

Sources:

Raedio Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S69nOSH_4rw

Alexus Renee: https://alexusrenee.com/rap-sht-season-1-episode-3-recap/chastity-on-rap-sht-season-1-episode-3/

The Shade Room: https://theshaderoom.com/exclusive-are-mia-shawna-rapping-seduce-scheme-to-empower-women-or-devour-men-tsr-investigates-special-report/

Seylon Edmundson

seylontania@gmail.com