Plot Synopsis

Executive produced by Queen Latifah and her partner Shakim Compere, THE RAP GAME is a one-hour reality series that follows five emerging young hip hop artists, ages 12 to 16 years old, who are given the opportunity to rhyme and flow in Atlanta with Jermaine Dupri, who has worked with some of the biggest young talents in the music including Bow Wow, Da Brat, Kris Kross and TLC. With high expectations, Dupri gives it his all -- and expects nothing less from the kids and their parents in return -- because one of these young artists will walk away with a record contract with his label, So So Def Recordings. Each week, special guests such as Usher, Ludacris, Da Brat, T.I. and Silento join Dupri to help mold the kids into the next big, young star. The young hip hop artists include: Lil' Niqo (age: 15; hometown: San Diego, CA), who has been making music history since he was 10, becoming the youngest rapper signed to Island Def Jams and having served as a correspondent for BET and MTV's red carpets -- with the help of his momager Nique by his side; Lil' Poopy (12; Brockton, MA), the youngest in the group, who has made over 200 videos, writes his own songs and has performed with Puff Daddy, Rick Ross and French Montana -- and gets help from his father and mentor, Luis Rivera Sr.; Miss Mulatto (16; Atlanta, GA), who began her career performing at birthday parties and has since made a name for herself in the Atlanta music scene, and whose mom, Misit, is always by her side at competitions, despite finding it difficult to infiltrate the tight-knit social circle; Supa Peach (12; Atlanta, GA), who raps, sings, dances and models, and has recently moved from the Virgin Islands with her mom Josetta, who wants to give her daughter everything she needs to launch her rap career; and Young Lyric (15; Houston, TX), whose hip hop career began when a video of her rapping went viral, allowing her to record her first song at seven and was named the "Best 14 Year Old Rapper" by WorldStarHipHop.com -- meanwhile, her parents, Olivia and Mitchell, do whatever it takes to get her to the next level. On Friday, February 19, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT, Lifetime premiered the season finale of THE RAP GAME, shortly after a seven-hour marathon (1-8pm) of encore episodes. In the season ender, "The Final Battle," Jermaine Dupri decides which child rapper to sign to So So Def; the artists go head-to-head in a rap battle and prove themselves in a live performance in front of industry insiders including Da Brat.

Season 2 of THE RAP GAME premiered on Friday, July 22, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime. To help mentor the young teens throughout the season, Dupri enlists the support from some of the most successful artists in the music industry including iconic singer Mariah Carey and legendary rappers Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Nelly, Bow Wow, Monica, DaBrat, Flo Rida and producers, Bryan-Michael Cox, Zaytoven and Mike Kalombo. The winner will receive a recording contract with Dupri's label, So So Def Recordings. Grammy and Emmy award winner Queen Latifah and her partner Shakim Compere are executive producers under the Flavor Unit umbrella, alongside Mechelle Collins and Kevin Dill of Intuitive Entertainment and Dupri. Season 2 artists include: Jayla Marie (12 years old; Raleigh, NC), who first caught the attention rapper Nas who shared her YouTube video, "If I Ruled the World"; J.I. aka The Prince of New York (14, Brooklyn, NY), who, with three years of rapping under his belt, J.I. brings a level of lyrical genius that's on par with some of the biggest names in the industry; Lil' Key (15, Baltimore, MD), who started rapping at ten years old when he performed a gospel rap in a church talent show; Mani (15, South Central LA, CA), who started spending time in the studio when he was six years old and released his first mixtape at twelve; Mini Barbie (12, Atlanta, GA), who, at the age of two, impressed her mom by singing Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" verbatim and since then, has performed all over Atlanta; Nia Kay (14, Chicago, IL), who began rapping at the age of eight and made her first music video by the time she was ten; and Tally (16, Nashville, TN), who discovered her rapping abilities accidentally, rapping the hook to a song her sister was singing.

The third season of THE RAP GAME premiered on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime, as Season 2 fan-favorite Tally returns for redemption to battle it out against four new young rappers. This season, social activist Bernice King, the daughter of Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr., makes a special appearance. Rappers Da Brat, Bow Wow, Rick Ross, Fabolous, Jon Jon, I Heart Memphis, Jeezy, and Jadakiss, singer Kelly Rowland, and producers Brian Michael Cox, Zaytoven, and Mike Kalombo, join Dupri to help guide the artists to victory with a recording contract with Dupri's label, So So Def Recordings. In addition to Tally, the rappers for Season 3 include: Nova (16, Reading, PA), who is managed by his uncle Ekko, willing to stop at nothing to help him achieve his dream of becoming the next big rap star; Al'Dreco 'King Roscoe' Jones (13, Atlanta, GA), who has an entire team managing him -- from an image consultant, to vocal coach, to his mom-ager Deishonna; Deetranada (15, Baltimore, MD), who, afterperforming in her seventh grade talent contest, knew she wanted to be a rapper; and Flau'jae (12, Savannah, GA), the youngest of the group, whose father Camouflage, an up-and-coming rapper with a record deal, was tragically murdered, but her dad's friends -- Master P, Birdman and Lil Boosie -- recognized her early talents.

Season 4 of THE RAP GAME premiered on Friday, November 24, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime. The new season captures five young rappers from different walks of life as they battle it out for the ultimate prize of a recording contract with Dupri's label, So So Def recordings. This season, Rappers Da Brat, Bow Wow, DNA, K-Shine, & Blessed, human beat-boxer Doug E Fresh, celebrity drummer Tony Royster Jr., actress KeKe Palmer, singer Teyana Taylor, producers Zaytoven & Bryan Michael Cox, DJ Toomp and director Benny Boom, join Dupri to help guide the artists to victory. he rappers this season are: Brianna Burns (aka "Lil Bri") (15; Houston, TX), who writes all her own lyrics, produces, choreographs, and even won the Arts and Humanities Award from Michelle Obama; Brazil 'RapUnzel' Barber (15; Richmond, VA), who started writing rhymes and rapping around age 9 and is a straight A student; Lyric Thomas (aka Ricci Bitti) (13; Atlanta, GA), who grew up watching her older sister navigate the rap industry and knew she wanted that same life; Jordan (14; Tulsa, OK), who is a mixed-race teen from middle America whose goal is to rap about issues that change the minds of listeners for the better; and Jeremiah (aka Street Bud) (11; Atlanta, GA), who is the youngest rapper this season and strives to be a positive influence for his young audiences by rapping about getting good grades and staying out of trouble.

The fifth season of THE RAP GAME premiered on Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 9-11:20pm ET/PT, as Lifetime debuted back-to-back new episodes. This is the time to shine for these six young rappers who will have to freestyle, flow and rhyme their way to a life-changing prize - a recording contract with Dupri's label, So So Def Recordings. This season, artists Will.I.Am, Lil Jon, Xscape, Killer Mike, Rapsody and Jacquees join Dupri to help guide these promising rappers to music victory. Season 5 artists include: Eli Triplett (15, Chattanooga, TN), a great boxer and basketball player raised by a single dad, but it's always been writing music that's helped him to cope with his stress; Lil Richye (13, Charlotte, NC), the youngest of the family, who is the star client at his parents; record label after he started writing his own rap music at age 10; Nya Kasan (16, Detroit, MI), a teen "girl power" rapper from Detroit, who is a master battler who's ready to destroy the competition; Queen Amayah (15, Miami, FL), a bold and unapologetic teen who's mix of Iranian, Puerto Rican and Cuban, bringing an east coast flare reminiscent of Biggie; Sire (14, Atlanta, GA), who considers himself a prolific writer, a great dancer, and an amazing live performer and whose family of 10 recently uprooted their whole world and relocated to Atlanta to support his career; and Tyeler Reign (16, Los Angeles, CA), who has nearly every adult in Tyler's life in the music industry, including an overzealous mother by her side, an dhow has opened up for big names like Busta Rhymes and Silento.
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On Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT, Lifetime premiered the Season 5 finale of THE RAP GAME. In the season ender, "The Final Battle," XScape and Rhapsody join as the remaining three finalists -- Nya, Tyeler, and Sire -- go head to head in the ultimate final performances. After ten weeks of grueling battles, challenges and eliminations, only one young artist will prove themselves worthy of the So So Def contract and chain.