Rap Sh!t

***Rap Sh!t*** (pronounced "Rap Shit") is an American comedy streaming television series created by Issa Rae for HBO Max. The show is produced by Hoorae Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment and centers on two Miami-based rappers who try to find success in the music industry. The series debuted at the American Black Film Festival on June 18, 2022 and was released on July 21, 2022.

In July 2022, the series received $12.6 million in tax credits from the California Film Commission for job creation.

On September 12, 2022, it was announced that HBO Max had renewed *Rap Sh!t* for an eight-episode second season, which will premiere with two episodes on August 10, followed by one episode weekly, leading up to the season finale on Thursday, September 21.

## Premise

*Rap Sh\*t, which follows a female rap group from outside Miami trying to make it in the music industry.*

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Aida Osman as Shawna Clark, an aspiring rapper that hasn’t seen success and continues to work her day job at a touristy hotel.
* KaMillion as Mia Knight, a makeup artist and a single mother to a four-year-old daughter, Melissa, and works three jobs.
* Jonica Booth as Chastity Killens, a “sex work manager” who refers to herself as the “Duke of Miami.”
* Devon Terrell as Cliff Lewis, Shawna’s supportive but long-distance boyfriend who currently attends law school in New York. He met Shawna in Atlanta back when they were in college together.
* RJ Cyler as Lamont Diggs, an aspiring producer with a sharp ear for talent and the father of Mia's daughter.

## Production notes

### Development

In October 2019 it was announced that Issa Rae would produce *Rap Sh!t* for HBO Max, a comedy series about a fledgling South Florida-based rap group, with a tentative premiere date of May 2020. In February 2021 it was announced that HBO Max ordered the eight-episode half hour series.

*Rap Sh!t* is produced by Rae's company, Hoorae Media, and 3 Arts Entertainment. It is her first major project following the end of *Insecure*, which ran for five seasons. Similar to *Insecure*, each episode title of the season begins with the same phrase.

Rae is the show's head writer and executive producer with Montrel McKay and 3A's Dave Becky and Jonathan Barry. Syreeta Singleton, who wrote for *Insecure*, is also executive producer and serves as showrunner. Yung Miami and JT of rap duo City Girls are also co-executive producers with Kevin "Coach K" Lee and Pierre "P" Thomas (QC Films), and Sara Rastogi (Hoorae). The series is inspired by the story of the City Girls' founding and later success.

Production began in the summer of 2021. On May 5, 2021, it was reported that Sadé Clacken Joseph would direct the pilot. On August 23, 2021, it was reported that Devonté Hynes is set to serve as the series' composer.

In July 2022, the series received $12.6 million in tax credits from the California Film Commission for job creation. On September 12, 2022, it was announced that HBO Max had renewed *Rap Sh!t* for a second season. The renewal was signposted earlier this summer when, days ahead of its launch, it was awarded over $12.6M in small screen tax credits from the state of California to move the Miami-set series west for a sophomore run.

### Filming

Principal photography for the series began on August 8, 2021, and concluded on November 19 in Miami, Florida.

The first table read for Season 2 took place on January 10, 2023, with screen-testing and filming beginning a day later. Filming for season 2 began on February 17, 2023.

### Casting

On May 5, 2021, it was announced that Aida Osman and KaMillion will star in the lead roles of Mia and Shawna, and Jonica Booth will also star. On July 9, 2021, Devon Terrell joined the main cast. On August 6, 2021, Daniel Augustin, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, Amandla Jahava, and Jaboukie Young-White joined the cast in recurring roles. On August 16, 2021, RJ Cyler joined the main cast. Brittney Jefferson and DomiNque Perry were announced as recurring cast members on January 21, 2022.

## Release

The series debuted at American Black Film Festival on June 18, 2022. The first two episodes premiered as a double-episode release on July 21, 2022. The episodes continued to premiere weekly on Thursdays with episode 4 premiering on August 4, episode 5 premiering on August 11, episode 6 premiering on August 18, episode 7 premiering on August 25 and episode 8 premiering on September 1, 2022 on HBO Max. The series is also available on Binge.

The eight-episode second season will premiere with two episodes on August 10, followed by one episode weekly, leading up to the season finale on Thursday, September 21.

## Gallery

### Images

* Posters
* Promotional

### Videos

Rap Sh!t Season 1 Teaser - Rotten Tomatoes TVRap Sh!t Season 1 Trailer - Rotten Tomatoes TVRap Sh!t - Season 1 Full Episode - HBO MaxIssa Rae Answers Your Questions - Rap Sh!t - HBO MaxRap Sh!t Season 2 - Official Teaser - Max

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae & Mindy Kaling Set New Comedy Series At HBO Max
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Issa Rae’s New Series ‘Rap Sh\*t’ To Debut At American Black Film Festival 2022
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ‘Rap Sh!t’: Issa Rae Comedy At HBO Max Reveals Premiere Date And Teaser Trailer
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Issa Rae’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ Scores CA Tax Incentives To Move West For Anticipated Season 2 Of HBO Max Series
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Issa Rae’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ Renewed For Season 2 At HBO Max
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 ‘Rap Sh!t’ Gets Season 2 Premiere Date At Max; Watch Teaser
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 ‘Rap Sh\*t’: Aida Osman, KaMillion & Jonica Booth To Headline Issa Rae’s HBO Max Series, Sadé Clacken Joseph To Direct
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 ‘Rap Sh\*t’: Devon Terrell To Star In Issa Rae’s HBO Max Series
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 RJ Cyler Joins Issa Rae HBO Max Comedy Series 'Rap Sh\*t' (EXCLUSIVE)
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Issa Rae Comedy 'Rap Sh\*t' Gets HBO Max Series Order
11. ↑ 'Rap Sh\*t': Devonté Hynes Boards Issa Rae's HBO Max Comedy Series As Composer
12. ↑ Rap Sh\*t
13. ↑ SZN 2 filming has begun ! #ScreenTest today . Y’all said y’all was waiting & ready welp …. We BYKE ! 💋 #Rapshit #hbomax
14. ↑ 'Rap Sh\*t': Issa Rae's HBO Max Series Adds Four To Cast
15. ↑ HBO Max series 'Rap Sh\*t' adds Brittney Jefferson, Dominique Perry to cast
16. ↑ Rap Sh!t | WATCH ON BINGE