“Paper Boi, Paper Boi, all about that paper, boy.”
These words repeat over and over throughout the first episode of “Atlanta,” a TV show written and produced by Donald Glover.
The generic, absurd rap song is the point of connection for the characters in the show, which satirizes the Atlanta rap scene.
FX Networks and Glover, who raps under the name Childish Gambino, have been working on the show for years. It was finally given a release date in July.
Before its debut, the storyline of “Atlanta” was virtually unknown.
Over the past couple of months there has been a lot of hype about the show, with only a little bit of information surrounding the plot.
Teasers that advertised the show only featured aerial views of the city and short snippets of the characters doing everyday things, like walking down the street.
The show premiered Sept. 6 and did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded expectations. “Atlanta” set a record as the most-viewed comedy show since “Inside Amy Schumer” premiered in 2013.
Glover plays Earnest Marks, or Earn as everyone calls him.
Earn, a Princeton University dropout, lives with his girlfriend and baby daughter, but only because it’s the last place he can stay. He asks for money so often that his parents won’t even let him in their home.
He’s a familiar kind of college-student broke, the kind of broke that only has enough money for a kid’s meal, the kind of broke where you order a cup of water and fill it with soda.
Glover has intricate knowledge of how to create a parody about the entertainment industry considering he wrote for the hit show “30 Rock” and starred in NBC’s “Community” for five seasons.
Glover grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and has been creating rap music since 2008 as Childish Gambino. His experience gives him insight into what it takes to become a rapper and the people you meet along the way.
Although Glover is both a rapper and from Atlanta, the show is not autobiographical at all. He plays a completely fictional character which is an important distinction to make. In fact, “Atlanta” can be thought of as a gritty satire that pokes fun at making it big in a competitive industry.
“Atlanta” starts when Earn learns that his cousin Alfred is a popular musician in the Atlanta scene who goes by the rapper name Paper Boi. Earn sets out to become his manager, convinced that he can make both of them rich.
Watching Earn struggle to prove he can be a manager, son, boyfriend and father to his young daughter is a journey. The pilot episode ends with a gunshot cliffhanger, prompting viewers to continue the series as soon as possible.
Even within the first episode, there are a lot of ups and downs. By the end of it you find yourself hoping that Earn is wrong in his belief that some people are just meant to lose.
While the show takes a stern look at what it means to be a rapper in Atlanta, there are certainly a generous amount of scenes meant to lighten the tone. The show strikes a balance between the two.
“Atlanta” retains the comedic element that Glover is known for. He doesn’t quite play the same goofy character as he did in “Community,” but Earn manages to keep the same comical demeanor that made Glover famous.
Earn is often making his girlfriend smile no matter how mad he made her or how badly he messed up.
“Atlanta’s” soundtrack is another notable aspect of the show. It features popular rappers such as Migos, Kodak Black, Yo Gotti, Young Thug and more.
In reality, the city of Atlanta’s rap scene served as the jumping-off point for many successful rappers including 2 Chainz, Lil Yachty and Gucci Mane.
There are not a lot of TV shows out now like Atlanta. It has the right mix of humor and drama, the cast is great a solid soundtrack complements each episode. Glover holds a mirror up to the complex and comedic world of rap, and we’re all the better for it.
You can tune into “Atlanta” on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX.
