In a recent episode of the Lip Service podcast, hosts Angela Yee, Gigi Maguire, and Jordy Jor sat down with Grammy-winning producer Jermaine Dupri to discuss his latest project, a documentary series centered on Magic City, Atlanta’s iconic strip club, currently airing on Starz.
Originally intended to explore Atlanta’s broader culture, the documentary’s focus shifted once Dupri noticed a recurring theme in many Atlanta-origin stories: Magic City. To make the project a reality, Dupri had to gain the trust of Magic City’s owner, Magic, assuring him that the series wouldn’t portray the establishment negatively, but rather as a real part of JD’s own life and Atlanta’s cultural fabric.
Alongside the docuseries, Dupri also produced an album inspired by the club, after various artists declined to contribute to an official soundtrack. As a result, he created a separate body of work that includes features from Atlanta heavyweights T.I., 2 Chainz, and Young Dro, many of whom he hadn’t collaborated with before.
The album also features Wifey Baby, a rapper and dancer at Magic City. JD highlighted her inclusion as a nod to the authenticity that artists with real-life ties to the strip club scene bring to music. He referenced figures like Cardi B as examples of this genuine representation in hip-hop.
Co-host Gigi Maguire shared her own connection to Magic City, recounting her debut as a dancer at the club in 2005. She performed to Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” during amateur night and was hired immediately. Gigi became part of a group called The Snack Pack, a collective of petite dancers who had dedicated time slots at the club and even toured nationally as featured performers before eventually disbanding.
The conversation also delved into the business side of strip club culture. They discussed the standard pricing of $10 per song for private dances, a rate that’s remained consistent over the years. Gigi addressed common misconceptions about dancers, emphasizing that many are educated and entrepreneurial, often using dancing as a means to fund other ventures.
Jermaine Dupri added his perspective on the role of strip clubs as networking hubs and entertainment venues rather than purely sexual environments. The group echoed the sentiment that strip club culture, particularly in Atlanta, should be viewed as an integral part of the city’s hip-hop heritage.
Closing out the episode, the group reflected on Magic City’s 40-year history and its evolution from a local venue to a cornerstone of Atlanta’s music and cultural identity. JD’s docuseries aims to reshape the narrative around strip club culture by highlighting its artistic and entrepreneurial elements.
