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Parents' Guide to

Rap Sh!t

By Marty Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Music business comedy features sex, profanity, social media.

TV Max Comedy 2022
Rap Sh!t TV show: Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

RAP SH!T follows high school friends Shawna (Aida Osman) and Mia (KaMillion) as they work toward ditching their day jobs and building a successful career in the music industry. Shawna is disillusioned after dropping out of college and moving back home. Despite a breakout viral video a couple years back, her rap career has stagnated. When she reconnects with old high school friend Mia, who's stuck working three jobs to support her daughter, the two discover they have a synergy and charisma, so they decide to make a go of it as a duo.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

Sometimes the hook that makes a show unique is also the very thing holding it back -- here that's the near-exclusive use of phones and social media to tell the story. Viewing Shawna and Mia's stories through the lens of their public personas opens up a lot of thematic possibilities, and it feels appropriate to the story writer-producer Issa Rae wants to tell. But it's also exhausting, the way that social media itself can be exhausting, making the story feel over-long and often redundant. Having a great hook doesn't always matter if the music and lyrics aren't exciting enough to support it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the music industry. How is it portrayed in Rap Sh!t? How do different characters represent different aspects of the business?

  • What is the role of technology and social media in Rap Sh!t? What do the characters' use of social media reveal about them as people? How is the story different than if it were just presented from the outside?

  • What are the obstacles that Shawna and Mia face in trying to launch their careers? How do they deal with those obstacles? Are they able to successfully overcome them? Why or why not?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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