‘RAP SH!T’ Season 2 Episode 8 ‘Under Construction’
Entertainment Editor Bianca Gregg recaps the Issa Rae produced MAX series that follows rap duo Shawna and Mia through comedic and often difficult journey to Hip-Hop stardom.
Let me start by saying, what a season and what a finale! Please stream this episode FIVE more times because we need a season three! Did you guys hear me over there at MAX, we need and want a season three!
Listen, I still do not trust Francois but he came through on the Pardi link. I think we all need to admit, we ain’t believe him at all! The girls brief Pardi on who they are. Mia talks about some of her man drama and Shawna attempts to make herself sound boring until Francois brings up her legal issues. Is it just me or does Francois thrive on stereotypical drama he thinks he can market to the Black community — remember Reina Reign. The girls record a song over the Pardi produced track and it is a definite hit.
When Shawna and Mia leave the studio, Shawna expresses her issue with Francois’s idea to market criminality for streams. She also talks about GAT using what happened to Lord AK to platform himself. Mia has some news also, the song she recorded with Courtney will likely be released as a single. Shawna seems fake excited for her partner, but Mia reminds her that she should have came to the studio that night instead of chasing Maurice. We find out that Maurice will officially go to jail in two days. Mia jokes about Shawna getting his name tattooed on her neck to symbolize holding him down.
Shawna and Mia meet up with Chasity and Alex to discuss an official deal with Redbull. The offer is similar to an artist development deal with the promise of Shawna and Mia keeping their masters and also having a great deal of creative control. When questions about money come up, the girls start to doubt if this deal would be best for them. Alex also wants to bring in Lamont to produce the EP but we all know he and Mia are not on the best of terms right now. Alex promises to get the girls an answer on the money by the following week after she meets with her boss, Kirk.
Melissa’s birthday party is underway and the whole gang is present. When Mia’s card gets declined trying to pay for Melissa’s bounce house, she has to take back her stance and ask Lamont to cover the rest. Of course he accepts because Lamont is a good dad, Mia you fumbled him girl!
Chile, here go Shawna being laid up with Maurice. He invited her to his family’s going away party for him saying it would mean a lot to him for Shawna to be there. She admits that she needs to be at Melissa’s birthday party but she can do both. Shawna tells Maurice that she needs to try to convince Mia that the deal with Alex is best for the group and when Maurice questions her on it being best for the group or best for her — Shawna responds by saying what’s the difference. Oh girl, you can’t see the writing on the walls — but I do.
Shawna gets a call from Francois. He plays the finished Pardi record and it hypes Shawna up. She asks him to send the track over to her so she can present to the people at Redbull for the deal. Francois tells Shawna that if they take that deal, he keeps the Pardi record. He tells her that Chasity has to go otherwise he walks — with the record.
At Melissa’s party, Shawna updates Mia on what happened with Francois. Mia says they need to hear some security around money before they just walk away from the Pardi record. The girls tell Chasity what is happening and she scrambles to get in touch with Alex.
Meanwhile at the party, Tiffany and Lulu show up. Melissa complains to her mom about Lulu being there. Tiffany brings some cake-pops which bothers Mia. She plays semi-nice for the sake of Melissa.
Stanley comes to Maurice’s place to get him to go to the family party. Maurice says cries and admits he feels he has let everyone down. He wonders if he has made the right decision.
Lord ya’ll GAT has provoked Shawna to get on that live and yell at folks again! This mess turns into and entire back and forth between her and GAT, however she was right. I am glad she outed GAT for who he really is!
Chasity runs up on Alex during her meeting with Kirk and it completely goes left between her and Alex. Things look up though with the overall deal for the girls. Chasity is able to convince Kirk to offer the girls a nice sum to sign.
Back at Melissa’s party, things get out of hand during a dance competition with some Hip-Hop Minions, Melissa and Lulu. Mia eggs things on a bit resulting in Melissa hitting Lulu in the face by accident. and speaking of egging things on, Francois calls Shawna to compliment her on this internet beef with GAT. He sends her clips of both Rico Nasty and Flo Milli backing up her stance.
Shawna tells Mia that Francois wants them to release the Pardi track that night to capitalize on the internet traction. Mia does not want to let go of Chasity because she has been there for them before any one else was checking for them.
Mia tries to reconcile things between her and Lamont. She presents him with the offer from Redbull to produce their records. He declines the offer and says he wants to get things done on his on. He wishes her luck on everything she has going on.
Shawna ultimately flakes on Maurice and he watches her live going at GAT. At the same time she sends him a text apologizing and saying some stuff went down, she offers to see him in the morning.
The following day, the girls link up with Chasity. She tells them that she secured the deal with Redbull for them but Shawna and Mia decide to go with Francois. They tell Chasity they need to do what’s best for them and going with Francois will give them more attention. Chasity is heartbroken by the betrayal and admits she made them her priority over everybody. Baby, I got misty! How could ya’ll do your day one like this?
The last few minutes of the episode are very telling. Maurice gives Stanley his phone, likely with the Shawna recordings on it. Oh girl, you in trouble!
Chasity watches a video of the girls getting ready to record a video for their latest single. Francois is all in the cut — cheesing. Chasity throws her phone across the room.
We see Maurice taking his mugshot photos and Chasity has a meeting with GAT likely to discuss managing him.
In the final scene, Shawna and Mia have interview where Shawna brings up dismantling things in the industry — in the name of Lord AK. Mia also plugs the new song “BBW.” Looks like Shawna is doing exactly what she said she wouldn’t do.
