“The Shield,” opened up the doorway to the FX network to be able to make other unquie television classics. These shows have the quality and prestige that would be found on HBO rather than the basic cable neighbors they’ve been unfairly competing with.

It seems FX has another hit in their lineup and it’s one of their most unique programs to date; Donald Glover’s “Atlanta.”

Glover (“Community”) plays Earnest Marks, a college dropout who is still filled with ambition. He’s doing his best to get by but he’s tarnished his reputation by  needing to constantly borrow money from family and friends. When he discovers his cousin Alfred, played by Brian Tyree Henry (“Boardwalk Empire”), is quickly becoming popular under his rap alias “Paper Boi,” Earnest tries to hop on the money train as Alfred’s manager. Alfred quickly sees through to Earnest’s intentions and gives an opportunity to truly prove himself and the three of them attempt to make their way through Atlanta’s rap scene. Keith Stanfield (“Straight Outta Compton”) stars as Darius, Alfred’s friend.

Glover created the series, but he’s involved beyond that. He stars, produces and writes the series while being the show’s executive music producer. He’s just showing off his array of talents. Even though Glover is largely known by younger audiences for his rap alias Childish Gambino, he got his start in comedy and that’s what is interesting about this series. He’s able to take his musical talents and blend them with his television background to create this strange environment for the characters to delve into.

The audience isn’t offered a traditional cinematic depiction of Atlanta, but an Atlanta where real life happens. We see the struggles of the community, the rough areas where some thrive in crime and even those in the suburbs hoping and praying for change.

“I wanted to show white people, ‘you don’t know everything about black culture’” Glover said to Vulture.

He proves that very quickly with the series’ second episode “Streets on Lock.” The series is about “hip hop,” but it offers so much more and that’s the real world for a black person encompassing even more social topics like mental illness, police brutality, poverty, crimes, drugs and guns. Donald Glover has been able to come up with half hour comedy that can pull off some of the most insightful and dramatic moments on TV. 

If only Glover would release an album to accompany the show. Both the series’ score and Paper Boi’s hit song “Paper Boi” are monsters of their own. The score compliments each scene and transition with a completely different sound each time. It’s as if Glover is creating genuine rap instrumentals to score the scenes that he could later use on a mixtape. “Paper Boi” sounds like it’d be as big of a hit in real life as it is in this fictitious Atlanta. Very simply… It’s dope.

Visually it’s dope too. The audience feels there, the cinematographer uses these techniques to make the audience feel like they’re walking with Darius, Earnest and Paper Boi. Better yet, the long set up shots and transition sequences are a TV lover’s dream, especially combined with the cool sounds that’re played along with them. Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” is clearly the fall’s best new series.