Rap game under the Peach Tree: FX’s new series “Atlanta”

The long awaited arrival of the new FX series “Atlanta” is making headlines all throughout the world. Donald Glover, rapper, actor and director, creates a work of art giving the world an inside look of what actually becoming a rapper in the capital of the peach state is. The plot that goes through the struggles of an up and upcoming rapper with the want and need to financially survive, the twist and turns that have many holding onto their seats. It is not to be confused with the hit show, “Empire,” because this show in particular has a deeper meaning than what is perceived to be.
The story follows three black men just is about trying to get by and pay rent while still promoting their music careers. Earnest “Earn” Mark is played by Donald Glover as a Princeton dropout who lives with his parents, the mother of his child/best friend, Vanessa, played by New York native Zazie Beetz. As an effort to try to redeem himself, he works as a salesman who gets paid less than minimum wage, but is desperate to find another “hustle.” While working, he discovers that his estranged cousin Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, played by HBCU graduate Brian Tyree Henry, is the new hot shot artist in Atlanta on the rise to stardom. Earn sees this as an opportunity to get rich, but is quickly turned away as Paper Boi sees right through the act. Having a falling out with Earn in the past, he decides to only trust his right hand man and music collaborator Darius, played by Selma actor Lakeith Stanfield. Determined to help his cousin make it big, as well as himself, he invests his saved money to get Paper Boi’s song on the radio which earns him the role of being Paper Boi’s manager.
As the story develops, it strays away from other hit TV productions. Many assumed it would lean towards hits such as “Empire” and “The Get Down,” but is actually built around the realistic idea of everyday people of color trying to make a name for themselves in a predominately white society. Atlanta provides characters who admire and look down upon the three men’s decision to take this route in life, much like in reality when chasing your dreams and finding obstacles in your way. Not being solely music based gives the audience a real world perception of their day-to-day life as the characters are not perfect, and all make decisions that can either make or break them.
Glover being an ex-comedian ensured that this project was deep, as well as including traces of humor and sarcasm. From the slick phrases under his breath, to full out arguments with fast food cashiers ordering a kid’s meal, he truly knows what to keep on the show without messing up the tone. Social media and various media outlets are extremely excited over the show, Glover might have found himself an award-winning production; which makes him a successful comedian, actor, rapper, and director in the hard-hitting media business. “Atlanta” has new episodes airing every Tuesday, at 10 P.M.