Top Takeaways from 'City Girls The Series'
The world could not have prepared for the full-throttle force on its way from Miami, FL. It may be hurricane season, but JT and Yung Miami, born Jatavia Johnson and Caresha Brownlee, are the ones to watch. The rap duo touts female empowerment with tracks that speak to young women all over the world about playing the self-proclaimed players: men. ‘City Girls The Series’ was released ahead of their highly-anticipated second album City on Lock to lets fans into their world as they navigate life in the public eye.
Yung Miami Carried a Group and a Baby at the Same Damn Time.
Though “Fu*k Dat Ni**a” was released and recorded in 2017, it’s safe to mark 2018 as the dawn of City Girls. Their debut mixtape, Period, was released in May with “Take Yo Man” and “Where the Bag At” leading them to victory. But when JT turned herself in to the authorities in June, many questioned whether this would be the end of the group before they truly began. The answer arrived 11 days later: guest vocals on Drake’s “In My Feelings”. Though uncredited, the No. 1 single’s mainstream success set them up for a slam dunk by November when their debut album, Girl Code, hit.
With Yung Miami being the only visible member, she was forced to bear the brunt of the overnight spotlight on top of balancing her responsibility as the provider for three at 24 years old. When Yung Miami’s mother was incarcerated, she took on responsibilities to ensure her siblings’ survival. “God put me here to do this. I don’t want her to get out and have to do wrong again and have to keep going back to jail to provide for her family,” she said. “I’m in position, and I’m gon’ make sure I get us everything they’ve ever prayed for.”
That three turned into four in 2019 when Miami announced she was five months pregnant. In the second episode of ‘City Girls The Series’, QC’s Coach K & Pee read a doctor’s note outlining Miami’s new set of limitations in response to her experiencing complications on a video set. The clips are placed parallel to Yung Miami preparing for the 2019 Bet Awards, her first televised performance. She delivered the best performance she could, but disappointment from Quality Control executives echoed criticism from the public. The doubts resurfaced, but this time the answer was not Drake, or even JT’s return though presented as such. It was Yung Miami’s starpower. As she performed solo and collected a host of solo features, she made sure the world knew she had no desire to be a solo artist because of her loyalty to her sister. She spoke JT’s name every chance she could. Yung Miami’s remarkable job of ensuring the elevation of City Girls made JT’s return in October seamless.
“When she comes home, it’s gonna be bigger than ever. It’s a minor setback for a major comeback and that’s just period.”
Being a City Girl is about Prioritizing Authenticity.
“I wasn’t always no motherfucking City Girl. I just lived in the city. I had to turn into a City Girl.”
Contrary to popular belief, a City Girl is far more than a superfluous lifestyle and luxury handbag. City Girls embody self-determination, unclockable confidence, and reclaiming power. Their stories mirror the realities of many girls, especially from Florida, who would rather make something out of nothing than be confined or defined. Yung Miami and JT are real women whose real lives reflect the trials & tribulations of other real women. Nothing about that is one-dimensional or easily consumable, so how can anyone expect them to be?
“Everybody wanna have the lifestyle. But in reality, a lot of people go through the struggle, and I feel like that’s what we showed. We showed where we was from; We showed we was from the hood; We showed that we didn’t have nothing,” Yung Miami said. “You know, JT shared her story and I shared mine. We put it out there, so I feel like it was just relatable for a lot of people. A lot of people don’t just speak on their struggle, and we did, and we told our stories…”
Though City Girls keep their private life as such, the glimpse they share with the world is a genuine gift because it’s them. JT explained it best in “Enough”: “City Girls ain’t changing. But shit, how could you blame me? Bein’ me made me famous.” As long as they continue to show up as themselves, their value will never decrease. That’s what a City Girl is.
Female Rap is an Expression of Womanhood that Requires Compassion & Consideration.
The creators of the documentary should not be assigned blame for broadcasting the truth, but the mere fact that Yung Miami’s pregnancy was presented as a pitfall attests to the way women in Hip-Hop are treated. In episode one, “Yung Miami’s Secret”, she reveals to Coach K and Pee that she is expecting. The news of her child evokes fear of the world’s reaction. She becomes emotional at their quiet response. Even though Quality Control eventually expressed support, the underlying doubt continues to eat away at Miami. Her pregnancy seems like a roadbump instead of a milestone because it was coupled with constraints instead of congratulations.
The fact of the matter is, women who rap deserve courtesy. Not to be confused with a silver-spoon or consolation prize, because that would negate the 100% fact that women grind harder than men in Hip-Hop to barely touch the same goals (I’ll explain that later). A courtesy, if properly executed, could change the scope of female rap and the world at-large. A courtesy would finally invite – not broaden, because we’re past that – the ever-growing spectrum of female rappers. A courtesy would teach young people to embrace femininity.
“That’s one of the reasons that I hid my pregnancy because I didn’t want people to feel like it’s a limit to what I can do.”
“As a woman, we get judged for everything we do,” Yung Miami said. “We can’t never just have fun and be ourselves and express ourselves without getting backlash. Meanwhile, men can make music about whatever they want. But when we make music it’s like you’re a prostitute, or you’re a hoe, or you don’t got no self respect so it’s like – ‘no that’s not true.’ Why we can’t say the same thing that they saying?”
The conversation is much bigger than pregnancy, or Yung Miami. It’s about the fundamental principles that this shithole country was built on regarding women. While this specific example included anatomy, I do not believe that is what defines a woman because we are more than that. Honestly, we should be light years ahead of that concept. But here we are. Society’s gaze of becoming a mother and a star may be tried, but it is no longer true. And that’s on period.
Supporting the Ones you Love Extends Friends & Family.
Yung Miami & JT may have more screen-time in ‘City Girls The Series’, but the conclusion spotlights someone else. The one who helped Yung Miami push passed the naysayers and kill every stage. The one who stuck in the back of JT’s mind telling her to push through long nights in the studio. The one who continues to welcome the ladies with open arms. The one is you. The one is me. All of the people who watch every video and read every interview. At the end of it all, the unwavering love from fans has helped them, and many other artists presumably, last.
In the age of social media, artists are expected to be musicians and personas, which makes being “likeable” directly influence marketability in the early stages of stardom. So part of what keeps City Girls on top is the demand that their audience consistently provides. Some may say JT’s heightened sociability in comparison to Yung Miami makes her a fan favorite. Some may say motherhood makes Yung Miami more relatable. But their collective charisma is what makes them the perfect extrovert-introvert duo. This balance has proved to be a strong foundation to thrive on.
Pressure Makes Diamonds.
The bulk of the documentary’s beginning builds suspense around JT’s release from jail. Drake, Trina, Megan thee Stallion, and more trumpeted “Free JT” along with hundreds of thousands of fans. And her first moments translate everything we all anticipated. Still in inmate attire, JT traveled from Tallahassee to Atlanta on QC’s custom studio bus surrounded by her team and, of course, Yung Miami. She activated tunnel vision to record the perfect, all-encompassing freestyle: “First Day Out”. There’s a sigh of relief after she finishes the track.
Stripping JT of her prison sweats and draping her in diamonds & labels ushered in the new-old City Girl. Like a true tag team, Yung Miami is alleviated from her showrunner position and JT assumed the position. But with spotlight comes pressure. As QC quickly asserts her second home is the studio and fans express agitation from awaiting her arrival, JT has to readjust to the world around her. “I know that I’m able to get a nice place to stay and I’m able to get a nice bed, but I’m limited to the things that I’m able to do because of my situation,” said JT during a session. “I’m walking into a halfway house with this chain on, my rolex on, but bitch you’re going in a halfway house.” The true metamorphosis unveils when she officially leaves federal custody in March and finally returns to Miami to put the finishing touches on the album. According to Rolling Stone, Yung Miami traveled from her home in Miami, FL to Atlanta, GA throughout recording City on Lock. Returning to Miami felt like redemption to JT. “We ‘bout to make y’all real proud,” said JT. “And ain’t nobody fucking with the City Girls.”
From their Billboard Magazine cover to reaching new heights on the Billboard 200 with City on Lock, this debut induced sentiments far deeper than pride. They have survived hardships that separated and silenced groups preceding them with ease. Though the road was not – and may never be – ideal, City Girls are in for the long haul. Now it’s time for total domination. Besides, nothing can break a City Girl – not even a pandemic.
“We believed in them, and it was a pretty good gamble.”