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11-10-2023, 04:01 AM

Max’s Rap ***** Returns for a Hilarious and Heartfelt Second Season (https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/hbo-max/rap-****-season-2-review#:~:text=Season%202%20of%20Rap%20Sh,their%20position%20as%20Black%20women.)

By Kaiya Shunyata | November 9, 2023 | 10:54am

Max’s Rap ***** Returns for a Hilarious and Heartfelt Second Season
Coming off of the success of its first season, Max’s Rap ***** is back with a stellar second run of episodes. To give a refresher, the show follows two former high school friends, Shawna (Aida Osman), and Mia (KaMillion), who reconnect after years of not speaking. The pair end up making a rap song after a night of drinking, which eventually goes viral and turns their lives upside down. Both wanting more out of life, the duo decide to pursue this newfound dream, taking the reins on their destinies that seem to have been dictated by the powers at be rather than the women themselves. Though the two women are glaringly different, they have each other’s back, supporting each other through the messiness that comes along with being part of the music industry.

Rap *****‘s second season takes place immediately after Season 1’s finale, seeing Shawna and Mia still reeling from the success of their first track “Seduce and Scheme.” The dynamic duo finally get the opportunity to showcase their talent world-wide, once they’re asked to join controversial rap star Reina Reign (Kat Cunning) as openers on her tour. Alongside them is Chastity (Jonica Booth) who has finally decided to be the girls manager, as well as Shawna’s old friend and collaborator Francois Boom (Jaboukie Young-White), who serves as Reina’s manager. Though Shawna and Mia both understand that this tour is essential to their career, they struggle with supporting Reina, a white woman who wears grills and a blaccent with no shame.

Reina is egged on in her antics by Francois, and the two wreak havoc on the well-oiled machine that Shawna and Mia have created. Shawna, who used to rap under a pseudonym about political strife in the United States, thinks they’re too good for Reina, while Mia thinks they can push past the advisory and stay to further their careers. Their differing outlooks cause them to clash on tour, especially once their pasts begin to catch up with them. The scamming Shawna was involved in last season starts to rear its ugly head, and Mia’s love life is filled with strife as well. Taking tour buses and getting flown out by millionaires can be fun in the moment, but what awaits at home is ultimately going to be what Shawna and Mia need to focus on.

Season 2 of Rap ***** expertly highlights the constant struggles Black women face in the music industry. Their desire to garner respect clashes with the lure of money and fame, all under the weight of pressure they face because of their position as Black women. Shawna and Mia struggle with the idea that to get to the top, they may have to sacrifice their dignity along the way. The series masterfully weaves important commentary into its comedic aspects, allowing viewers to fully feel the notion that sometimes, you’ve got to laugh to stave off the tears. Though Shawna and Mia find themselves at odds with one another often, they ultimately always have each other’s backs when it counts.

Where this season excels is in the representation of Shawna, Mia, and even Chastity as flawed human beings. The three often put their own interests first before thinking of the group, but they always seem to push their conflicts out of the way when it comes down to the wire. They’re messy, power-hungry, and extremely driven, which makes it impossible for any of them to be perfect. Instead of punishing them for their imperfections, the show allows them to feel the consequences before they’re ultimately forced to keep it moving and strive to do better. It’s a refreshing representation of Black women in television, reveling in their flaws and showcasing how real they are, instead of positioning each of them as characters who can do no wrong.

The character of Mia is truly where the series’ authenticity shines, all thanks to KaMillion, the rookie actress who portrays her. She continues to be the beating heart of the show in Season 2, imbuing her character with a staggering genuinity and aiding in the show’s comedic themes along with its more serious tones. KaMillion carries herself akin to her acting peers who have been doing this for decades, and it’s shocking that her first acting role was in Season 1. Each time she graces the screen, it’s impossible to look away, as if she’s drawing you in like a magnetic force.

Season 2 of Rap ***** is even better than the show’s first, with the jokes getting funnier as the series progresses and the cast blooms underneath the cameras and neon lights. Characters whose time was unfortunately brief in Season 1 are finally able to shine here, with Jonica Booth and RJ Cyler delivering fantastic work alongside the show’s two central stars. The pair of them play Chastity and Lamont with such vigor it may be impossible to see them play anyone else in the future, and they mix with Shawna and Mia effortlessly. These central characters are easy to love, and easy to loathe when they make mistakes, but what Rap ***** understands is that the two go hand in hand. What comes of this is a heartfelt and hilarious second season that proves the show’s creative team fully understands what made the first so special, and leaves the viewer itching for the announcement of Season 3.