“Magic City: An American Fantasy” Shines Light on Atlanta’s Cultural Landmark
*For over 40 years, Magic City has been more than a strip club—it’s been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s cultural identity, influencing music, entertainment, and business far beyond Georgia. Now, the STARZ five-part docuseries Magic City: An American Fantasy pulls back the curtain on its history, power, and legacy.
Through bold storytelling and an artistic lens, the series explores how Magic City became a key player in the rise of Southern hip-hop, a platform for breaking records, and a place where women carved out power and independence within the industry.
Jermaine Dupri Brings Atlanta to the Screen
Atlanta music icon Jermaine Dupri serves as an executive producer on the project alongside Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment and Jami Gertz. In a conversation with EURweb’s Kenny Pettis Jr., Dupri shared how he approached his role and his thoughts on the docuseries’ storytelling.
“Not a lot. Once I handed it off, everybody has their own experiences in Magic City. Yeah. Everybody has their own stories. So my story is mine. You speak to 2 Chains, you talk to Big Boy … when you start talking to everybody else, my story is just one of millions, right? Once all of that started, I figured I’ll just sit back and wait until these guys put it together, because like I said, it wasn’t really much I could do.”
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Magic City’s Role in Breaking Records
When asked about the club’s influence on launching music careers, Dupri pointed to a specific era in Atlanta hip-hop.
“For me, the Jeezy rollout, period. Yeah, Magic City played a major role in the Jeezy rollout for those that was in that club. But I would say that all the strip clubs around the city provide this outlet for all artists. So the artist goes to Blue Flame, to Strokers. Each club has this same ability to do what has happened in Magic.”
This influence extends far beyond one venue, with the city’s strip clubs collectively serving as tastemakers for new music.
Unfiltered Stories and Magic’s Voice
The docuseries features appearances by stars including Drake, Shaquille O’Neal, and T.I. When asked about the wildest stories that didn’t make the cut, Dupri noted the importance of hearing from the man behind the club.
“I don’t know. ’cause I didn’t film everybody, so I couldn’t tell you, but I don’t believe Cole (Cole Brown, creator and executive producer) left anything out. I think that’s the beauty of this documentary is that, it pushes in places where people probably thought it wasn’t gonna get pushed. Magic (Michael ‘Magic’ Barney, owner/founder) is a quiet man. If you met Magic, you know, he’s not a very talkative person. He’s not a camera guy. So, to hear Magic talk and to hear Magic tell stories and tell his life story, that in itself was like, wow. You know what I mean? Yeah, so I don’t really think that anything was left out.”
What Jermaine Dupri Hopes Viewers Take Away
Dupri says the series offers a deeper understanding of Atlanta’s modern culture, which is often framed only through its civil rights history.
“I hope they understand Atlanta culture. Yeah. Because I think people for so long, Atlanta culture has been Jimmy Carter. Martin Luther King, Andy Young, Black civil rights leaders. And you know, with it being the first city to have a black mayor, it’s deeper than that. This is another part of the story.”
Meet the Team Behind “Magic City: An American Fantasy”
The docuseries is created and executive-produced by Cole Brown, with Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment, Jermaine Dupri, and Jami Gertz as executive producers. It’s directed by Charles Todd (Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase The Blues Away, Romeo Santos: King of Bachata) and produced by Scheme Engine, a BIPOC-owned studio focused on women and minority representation.
The creative team also includes showrunner and executive producer Bayan Joonam, executive producers Devin Amar and Alex Kaplan, and producers Ashley Brooke and Marlowe Blue.
When and Where to Watch
Magic City: An American Fantasy premieres on STARZ August 15 at 10:00 pm ET/PT. New episodes will air weekly on Fridays at 9:00 pm ET/PT. With a lineup of cultural heavyweights and a deep dive into one of Atlanta’s most influential institutions, the series promises to be a must-watch for fans of music, history, and powerful storytelling.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Exec. Producer Cole Brown Pulls Back the Curtain on Magic City in New STARZ Docuseries on August 15 | EURexclusiveWATCH
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