Read This Before Watching Tonight’s Episode of “Queens” on ABC

Queens premiered last week with Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton, and Nadine Velazquez giving us all the feels.  Before hitting the couch to tune into Episode 2 of the sexy hip-hop musical drama, here’s a recap of Episode 1.

The series opens with a musical throwback to 1999 of the all-female hip-hop group, The Nasty Girls, on MTV in their heyday and segues to where they are today — post-breakup, boring 40-year-olds. 

Who’s Who

Eve plays Briana aka Professor Sex who is a stay-at-home mom that takes care of her kids and husband. Brianna caught her husband having an affair and we later find out he has brain cancer.

Naturi Naughton portrays Jill aka Da Thrill who is the daughter of a deacon, married, and a devout Catholic. Jill is not having sex with her husband and is having an affair with her best friend Tina and is afraid of coming out. She also has a history of doing coke back when she was in the group before she changed her life around.

Valerie aka Butter Pecan, played by Nadine Velazquez, was a talk show host before being fired in this episode for contaminating another host’s cup live on air.  We also learn that part of the reason the group broke up is due to Valerie dating the group’s manager Eric. 

Naomi aka Xplicit Lyrics, played by Brandy, is a “washed-up musician” still trying to find her way.  She has a daughter Jo Jo that she did not raise due to her struggling career. She also dated Eric which is why she and Valerie had a falling out. 

As Brianna leaves home after catching her husband cheating, she hears on her car radio a remake of the group’s hit song, “Nasty Girl,” by a rapper named Lil Muffin aka Lauren.  The remake causes a resurgence of interest in the band and the group decides to get back together after they are offered 50k to sing “Nasty Girl” at the BET Awards. 

The second half of the episode comes in strong as the Nasty Girls prove their lyrical prowess in a cipher rapping over Nas’ 2013 hit, “Oochie Wally.”

Meanwhile, rapper Lil Muffin gets schooled by Jill in the restroom at the BET Awards before she proceeds to do coke, which causes Jill to flashback to her former drug days. 

The girls meet up later with Lil Muffin who has OD’d on coke and rescue her, which results in the Nasty Girls losing their opportunity to perform in the show. Lil Muffin returns the life-saving favor and secures The Nasty Girls to perform in her place. During the performance, Jill stuns everyone when she comes out as gay, replacing her original lyrics with a rhyme about how she’s “kissed a girl.”

The show wraps with some beautiful vocals from Naomi singing a song about her daughter. After discovering that her husband has cancer, Briana decides that she will stick around for the kids. Jill is happy about coming out and calls her husband to confess. Valerie is still having entanglements with their manager. The ladies, including rapper Lil Muffin, are ready to go on tour with a new name, “Queens,” and a 2nd chance at greatness. 

Bravo Queens.