“Magic City: An American Fantasy,” premiering Friday on Starz, delves into the untold stories of Atlanta’s iconic Black cultural hub, Magic City.
Announced in April, the five-part docuseries showcases Shaquille O’Neal, rappers T.I., Killer Mike, and Drake, alongside producer/songwriter Jermaine Dupri, among other notable figures. Drake and Dupri also serve as producers.
Magic City Documentary: How To Stream
The “Magic City: An American Fantasy” documentary series is available for streaming on Starz. It premiered on Friday, August 15, 2025, and new episodes will be released weekly on Fridays on the Starz app and other on-demand platforms. On linear TV, it airs Fridays at 9PM ET/PT.
To watch the documentary:
- Subscribe to Starz: You can subscribe to Starz as a standalone service or add it to your existing Hulu plan.
- Stream on the Starz app: Once subscribed, you can access the documentary on the Starz app.
- Watch on demand: You can also find the episodes on other platforms where Starz content is available, such as Roku.
Magic City: A History
Magic City, an iconic strip club in Atlanta, was founded in 1985 by Michael “Magic” Barney, a New Jersey native who moved to Atlanta after graduating from Duke University with a history degree in 1978. Initially working as a toner cartridge salesman, Barney earned the nickname “Magic” due to his sales prowess.
His frequent visits to local gentlemen’s clubs, like the Foxy Lady Lounge, inspired him to create a better version of the strip club experience, focusing on higher-quality dancers, customer service, and professionalism.Barney leased a former print shop at 241 Forsyth Street in south downtown Atlanta for $10,000 a month, launching Magic City on October 2, 1985, with just one dancer.
He took on multiple roles—cook, DJ, and security—while enforcing strict standards for his staff. The club struggled initially but gained traction by the late 1980s, particularly after high-profile athletes like Deion Sanders and Dominique Wilkins became regulars, drawing larger crowds and elevating its status.
Barney’s hands-on approach and connections with celebrities helped transform Magic City from a modest operation into a cultural phenomenon.
By the early 1990s, the club became a hub for Atlanta’s burgeoning hip-hop scene, with DJs like DC the Brain Supreme (of Tag Team) testing tracks like “Whoomp! (There It Is)” at the club, cementing its role as a music industry tastemaker.
Magic City’s influence grew as it attracted artists like OutKast, Future, and Migos, becoming a launchpad for Southern rap and trap music. Its reputation as a cultural institution was further solidified by celebrity patronage from figures like 2Pac, Biggie, and Drake, and its ability to survive challenges like arson, Barney’s legal troubles, and the 2020 pandemic.