"Platinum" (2003) TV series

Director:

Jim Morrison

Writers:

Sofia Coppola (creator and story)
John Ridley (creator and story)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

14 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Music

Tagline:

Music is tight. Family is tighter.

Plot:

Two brothers try to handle all the problems of running a hip-hop/rap record label in New York.

Plot Keywords:

Record Label | Interracial Relationship | Brother Brother Relationship | Player | Rap

Cast

Sticky Fingaz	...	Grady Rhames (6 episodes, 2003)
Davetta Sherwood	...	Jade Rhames (6 episodes, 2003)
Kira Clavell	...	Lisa (5 episodes, 2003)
Kia Goodwin	...	Lady Bryce / ... (5 episodes, 2003)
K.C. Collins	...	Walter (4 episodes, 2003)
Karen LeBlanc	...	Kari (4 episodes, 2003)
Richard Yearwood	...	Shorty boy (4 episodes, 2003)
Jason Winston George	...	Jackson (3 episodes, 2003)
Lyriq Bent	...	Devon (3 episodes, 2003)
Balázs Koós		(2 episodes, 2003)
Wes Williams	...	Pharos (2 episodes, 2003)

Also Known As:

Empire (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:60 min (6 episodes)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

American Zoetrope

A Shortlived, But Actually Quite Good

You rarely see "black-shows" that aren't sitcoms. Platinum is one of these rare but good non-sitcoms. It evolves around a rap record company, and portrays the difficulties of working with troublesome acts, cutthroat competing companies, and everything else you associate with the rap industry.

You might argue that e.g. it's only realistic in a rap-video that every woman is full-bodied vixen, and not in real life. But forgive it its faults here and there and don't let it ruin the entire picture, because it doesn't fall for relying on stereotypes to make the characters interesting and recognizable or use of overly shallow plots garnished with hip hop glitter of which you've grown use to from watching music videos.

In my opinion it's really a shame this show didn't get extended. It was quite entertaining, and would have made for great TV, would it have continued and been allowed to add thicker plots and full bodied side-stories.