HBO Max may have rebranded as Max, but one thing has definitely remained the same: A steady stream of cancellations. Rap Sh!t, a hip-hop comedy series from Insecure creator Issa Rae, is the latest victim of the ongoing bloodbath at the streamer.
While fans were hoping that Rap Sh!t would return for Season 3, Max has confirmed that the series is no more in a statement announcing its fate.
“We are extremely grateful to Issa Rae for creating Rap Sh!t, a one-of-a-kind comedy with compelling social commentary that reached viewers in a way only Issa’s talents can accomplish,” a Max spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. “A huge thank you to Issa, showrunner Syreeta Singleton and the teams at Hoorae and 3 Arts Entertainment for introducing us to Shawna and Mia, a duo whose journey fans have been invested in and who they have continued to root for through everything. We’ll never get ‘Seduce and Scheme’ out of our heads and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Rap Sh!t joins a growing list of recent cancelations at Max, which now includes Warrior, Julia, and Our Flag Means Death. However, HBO chief Casey Bloys has confirmed that the creators of the Taika Waititi pirate series are free to shop the show to another platform. As of this writing, no such plans have been announced for Rap Sh!t. Yet.
(WARNING: Spoilers for this week’s Rap Sh!t episode will be found below.)
The events in the first episode of Max’s Rap Sh!tseason two, titled “Yield,” are soundtracked by songs that help to accentuate the emotions behind each scene. You can find a list of them below and details about the scenes the records were heard in.
Reina Reign — “Tongue”
We hear this record during the opening scene of “Yield” as Reina Reign, Shawna, and Mia are shooting a video for their remix of “Tongue.” The trio are in a pink-lit kitchen for a video and they’re all directed to show their sex appeal while working with kitchen items, something that Shawna struggles to get the hang of.
Shawna & Mia & Raedio — “Seduce & Scheme”
This is the theme song of Rap Sh!t. It plays around the 2:17 mark in “Yield.” The song originally debuted in the inaugural episode of Rap Sh!t and it was the first song Shawna and Mia made after establishing their rap duo. An official full-length version of the song was recorded in season one, episode two.
Raedio, Ben Reilly, Bryant Taylorr & Tim Gent — “Fish & Grits” Feat. Cam & China
This song plays around the 6:26 mark as Mia tries on some outfits for tour. She also discovers that her friend will not be able to watch her daughter Melissa for the full month she’s on the road. We then shift to Duke who meets with one of her top sex workers who warns her of future troubles and proposes that she watch the rest of the girls while Duke is on tour with Shawna & Mia.
Fana Hues — “Float”
Fana Hues’ Flora + Fana record can be heard around the 7:57 mark as Mia meets with her Melissa’s father Lamont to ask if he can watch Melissa for two of the four weeks she’s on tour. There’s some tension between the two following last season’s events, but Lamont agrees to prioritize Melissa and take care of her during Mia’s tour.
Ice Spice — “Bikini Bottom”
Ice Spice’s hit song “Bikini Bottom” plays around the 9:08 mark as Shawna, Mia, and Duke meet at Francois’ house ahead of the tour. It’s here that Shawna, Mia, and Duke learn that the duo will only be able to perform one song, their “Tongue” remix, during their slot as the opening act for Lord AK. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that Shawna, Mia, and Duke will make money. Despite Duke’s frustrations and objections, Shawna & Mia decide to still go through with the tour.
Enchanting & Gucci Mane — “Issa Photoshoot”
Around the 12:52 mark, this record plays during a going away party for Mia with her friends and family. The drinks are flowing but the tension between Mia and her mother is still high as her mother is upset that Mia won’t let Melissa stay with her while she’s on tour. Mia and her sister also share an emotional moment before Mia’s mother gives a drunken speech.
Jordan Ward & Joony — “IDC”
Jordan Ward’s Forward track plays as Shawna and Francois hang out in the latter’s pool around the 15:22 mark. The two play a game of Never Have I Ever and reminisce about the memories they had as a former music duo as well as the things that happened after they split.
Jacques Laine — “Little Haiti” Feat. Seddy Hendrix
We hear this song around the 17:11 mark as Mia takes a dive into the pool and Francois joins her shortly after. We then transition to Lamont showing up to Mia’s party with Throat Coat as a going-away gift for Mia’s tour.
Rayn Lenae — “Skin Tight” Feat. Steve Lacy
Ravyn Lenae’s Hypnos record plays around the 22:12 mark during an intimate moment between Shawna and Maurice. It comes after the two shared a toast ahead of Shawna’s tour where Maurice wished her luck and celebrated her accomplishments.
Jean Deaux — “JD’s Revenge”
This track plays to close episode one after Maurice meets with his friend Stanley to let him know that he’s been called in for questioning by the police concerning the fraud investigation that’s ongoing at the old hotel Maurice and Shawna worked at. Maurice assures Stanley that Shawna did not snitch on them to the police, despite not having any proof of that, and Stanley warns that he will throw Shawna under the bus if it comes to it.
New episodes of ‘Rap Sh!t’ are available on Max on Thursday at 3am EST/ 12 pm PST.
Since the first season aired last year, fans of the comedy TV show Rap Sh!t have clamored for a second season. Thankfully, the show, produced by Issa Rae, is not going anywhere. Over the years, Issa has gained renown for producing acclaimed Black programming, and Rap Sh!t has now seamlessly joined the ranks. Following a successful first season, which featured some amazing music, the show will return soon with an all-new season.
Season 2 was initially intended for an August premiere on Max. However, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike prevented that from happening. As a result of the strikes, the release was delayed by several months. With an updated premiere date, here’s what we know about the second season of the acclaimed show.
In September 2022, Rap Sh!t was renewed for a second season. Issa Rae took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news. She later said in a statement to Variety, “We’re so happy to play in the world of Rap Sh!t for another season with this incredibly talented team.” Showrunner Syreeta Singleton shared the same sentiments. She stated, “This show and cast are one of a kind, and I’m thrilled to get to do this again with them. We’re going bigger and harder!”
Picking Up Where They Left Off
The series was partially influenced by Jermaine Dupri’s criticism of female rappers. Rap Sh!t is primarily centered around Shawna and Mia, played by Aida Osman and KaMillion, respectively. In season one, the two reunited years after graduating high school in Miami and decided to form a rap group. After eight episodes, the season ends with the pair finally starting to see the results of their hustle. However, their journey to fame and superstardom has only just begun.
In the upcoming season, the hustle continues as Shawna and Mia are set to head out on a nationwide tour. The season promises new misadventures for the pair and a deeper exploration of their characters. Viewers will see how they deal with the pressures of being on tour and their struggles to reach the top. Certainly, it must be tough being the opening act for the controversial rapper Reina Reign (Kat Cunning). Who knows how that will play out…
The Cast of Rap Sh!t Season 2
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 13: (L-R) Suzanna Makkos, Aida Osman, Jonica Booth, KaMillion, Issa Rae, Syreeta Singleton and RJ Cyler attends the HBO Max original comedy series “RAP SH!T” premiere at Hammer Museum on July 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
Alongside the two leading ladies, many familiar faces from season one will return. Jonica Booth as Chastity, RJ Cyler as Lamont, Daniel Augustin as Maurice, and Devon Terrell as Cliff Lewis are all confirmed to star in the show’s new season. In addition, Jaboukie Young-White, Kat Cunning, and Amandla Jahava, among others, will be starring in supporting roles as well. New recurring cast members can be expected to debut in the new season.
Release Date
The new date for the season premiere of Rap Shit season two is set for November 9, 2023. The first two episodes of the season will be released as a pair on the same day. Subsequently, an episode will drop every Thursday for the following six weeks. This season is slated to run for eight episodes until December 21. In the meantime, you can catch up on season one on Max!
