Exclusive: Magic City: An American Fantasy interviews with Jermaine Dupri, Jami Gertz, Cole Brown, Charles Todd
Premiering August 15 on STARZ is “Magic City: An American Fantasy,” a five-part docuseries that unveils the untold stories behind Atlanta’s most influential Black cultural hub, Magic City. For four decades, Magic City has been more than just a strip club—it has been a cultural institution, shaping the landscape of music, entertainment and business in Atlanta and beyond. Through an alluring, dynamic and artistic lens, the docuseries immerses viewers in the Magic City phenomenon, exploring its historical significance, its role in the rise of Southern hip-hop and its impact on women empowerment in the industry. Since 1985, Magic City has been a legendary launchpad for countless hip-hop artists, leading to the club’s reputation as the “Black Studio 54.” Now, for the first time, “Magic City: An American Fantasy” tells the full tale of the storied club’s rise to global prominence and how it became the definitive king-maker in the hip-hop community.
Nonetheless, with every ascent comes complexity. While the club birthed groundbreaking opportunities and cultural shifts, it also existed within an environment that fostered both triumph and turbulence. “Magic City: An American Fantasy” unpacks these dual realities, offering an unfiltered look at the good, the bad and everything in between, diving deep into the legacy of Magic City—where fantasy and reality collide.
“Magic City: An American Fantasy” is created and executive-produced by Cole Brown. Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment, Jermaine Dupri and Jami Gertz serve as executive producers. The series is directed by Charles Todd (Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase The Blues Away, Latin Grammy-nominated Romeo Santos: King of Bachata) and produced by Scheme Engine – a BIPOC-owned studio with a strong focus on women and minority representation – with showrunner and executive producer Bayan Joonam, executive producers Devin Amar and Alex Kaplan and producers Ashley Brooke and Marlowe Blue.
Blackfilmandtv.com's Wilson Morales talks to creator/executive producer Cole Brown, executive producer Jermaine Dupri, executive producer Jami Gertz, and Director Charles Todd on Starz's docuseries #MagicCityAnAmericanFantasy