One of Atlanta’s most iconic establishments is Magic City, a strip club that made a name for itself in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, a major production is set to tell the story.
“Magic City: An American Fantasy,” a docuseries about the iconic Atlanta strip club Magic City, which has already completed casting, filming and is now in post-production or distribution phases.
The docuseries that premiered on Starz on August 15, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET/PT in the U.S. and 11 p.m. ET/PT in Canada, with subsequent episodes airing weekly on Fridays.
Directed by Charles Todd and created by Cole Brown, the series explores the history and cultural impact of Magic City, the iconic Atlanta strip club founded in 1985 by Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney.
What It’s About
The docuseries dives into Magic City’s role as a cultural hub and launchpad for Southern hip-hop, often called the “Black Studio 54.” It covers the club’s influence on artists like OutKast, Future, Migos, T.I., and Gucci Mane, whose careers were shaped by the club’s DJs and its reputation as a music tastemaker. The series also examines broader themes like Black entrepreneurship, women’s sexuality, crime, and socio-economic politics, featuring exclusive interviews with founder Michael Barney, dancers, and celebrity patrons including Drake, Shaquille O’Neal, 2 Chainz, Nelly, Quavo, Killer Mike, and Big Boi. It highlights the women who built the club’s mystique and its significance as a meeting point for music, sports, and politics, including its association with figures like Stacey Abrams and the B.M.F. drug gang.
Production Details
- Executive Producers: Cole Brown, Drake (via DreamCrew Entertainment), Jermaine Dupri, and Jami Gertz (Atlanta Hawks co-owner).
- Production Company: Scheme Engine, with showrunner Bayan Joonam and producers Devin Amar, Alex Kaplan, Ashley Brooke, and Marlowe Blue.
- Filming: Shot in Atlanta, with behind-the-scenes footage captured at Magic City. Filming wrapped in 2023, and the series premiered to acclaim at SXSW in March 2024.
How to WatchThe series is available on the Starz streaming platform, with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays. A standard Starz subscription costs $10.99/month, but a promotional offer reduces it to $4.99/month for the first three months. Starz can also be bundled with Sling TV ($5.50/month initially, then $11), Hulu ($10.99/month), or Prime Video ($3.99/month for three months).
Key Highlights
- The docuseries offers rare insider access, blending personal testimonies from dancers, DJs, and celebrities with cultural history, showcasing Magic City’s nearly 40-year legacy.
- It addresses controversies, such as a recent lawsuit by a former dancer, Gorgeous Doll, alleging tip misappropriation and an altercation with a prominent female rapper.
- Jermaine Dupri, an executive producer, created an accompanying album with Atlanta artists, inspired by the project.
‘Magic City: An American Fantasy’: Here’s What We Know So Far
“Magic City: An American Fantasy” is a five-part docuseries that explores the history and cultural impact of Magic City, a legendary strip club in Atlanta founded in 1985 by Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney.
Filming for this docuseries wrapped in 2023, with production led by Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment, Jermaine Dupri, Cole Brown, and Jami Gertz (actress and Atlanta Hawks co-owner), among others.
Directed by Charles Todd and produced by Scheme Engine, the project was shot in Atlanta, capturing behind-the-scenes footage at the club itself.
It premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW in March 2024 and was recently acquired by Starz for a summer 2025 debut, though an exact date hasn’t been set as of now.
Who Is Michael ‘Magic’ Barney?
Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney is a prominent figure in Atlanta, best known as the founder and former owner of Magic City, one of the most iconic strip clubs in the United States. Born and raised in Atlanta, Barney opened Magic City on October 2, 1985, at the age of 26, transforming a small bar called the Jolly Fox Lounge on Forsyth Street into a cultural powerhouse.
With just $25,000 and a vision, he created a venue that became synonymous with Atlanta’s nightlife and a cornerstone of the city’s hip-hop scene.
Photo credit: Instagram
Barney’s influence extends far beyond running a club. Magic City, under his leadership, evolved into a launchpad for Southern rap artists, earning a reputation as a place where careers were made.
Acts like Outkast, Future, Migos, T.I., and Gucci Mane either performed early gigs there, shot music videos (e.g., Jeezy’s “Put On”), or had their songs tested by the club’s legendary DJs like DJ Nabs or DJ Esco.
The phrase “If it bang at Magic City, it’s a hit” became a litmus test for rap success, cementing Barney’s role in shaping Atlanta’s music identity, often dubbed the “Black Motown.”
As a Black entrepreneur, Barney navigated a gritty industry—strip clubs in the ‘80s and ‘90s weren’t always glamorous—and turned Magic City into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
He sold the club in 2018 to an unnamed buyer for a reported $8–10 million but remains its public face and a consultant. His story reflects hustle and resilience, from dodging crime-related stereotypes (despite occasional brushes with law enforcement scrutiny) to building a legacy tied to Black empowerment and nightlife innovation.
Barney’s personal life is less public—he’s known to be private despite his outsized persona—but he’s a father and has been married, with his family occasionally mentioned in profiles.
Now in his early 60s (born around 1959), he’s still an Atlanta legend, featured prominently in the upcoming docuseries “Magic City: An American Fantasy,” set to air on Starz in summer 2025. The series, co-produced by Drake and Jermaine Dupri, showcases his journey and Magic City’s cultural footprint.
What Is ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy’ About?
“Magic City: An American Fantasy” dives into the club’s decades-long influence on hip-hop, its role as a launchpad for artists like Future, Migos, and Outkast, and its reputation as the “Black Studio 54.”
It also covers broader themes like Black entrepreneurship, women’s sexuality, crime, and socio-economic politics, featuring exclusive access to Barney, the dancers, and a roster of celebrity patrons including 2 Chainz, Nelly, Shaquille O’Neal, Quavo, Killer Mike, and Big Boi.
The series readies for release as a former dancer of the club files a lawsuit alleging that her tips were misappropriated while she worked there. The former strip club worker, who goes by the name Gorgeous Doll, says that a run-in with a prominent female rapper at the place exploded into legal action.
Final Word
Magic City is one of the top strip clubs in the city, but it’s not the only one. Our best Atlanta strip clubs guide takes you through the ATL’s night scene.
Cool events are year-round in the city. Every Atlanta weekend has something cool to do. The city has a thriving cultural, food, sports and music scene, with venues like the Tabernacle and the Fox Theatre hosting concerts and shows throughout the year.
The city is also home to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Opera, offering world-class performances for music lovers.Atlanta has a lot of cool things to do and places to eat, including some of the top soul food joints and remarkable Thai food spots.
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