With all of the flack the label is catching from the tragic police incident, Ayanna must quickly restore Midtown's image. Desperate for a spot in the showcase, the girls work on convincing hot recording artist Joyce Sheree to sing a featured verse on one of their songs. Carlotta continues to fight for custody of Simone, a misleading photo of Noah and Alex goes viral and Cotton juggles two relationships. Meanwhile, Brody's motivation for his return to Atlanta is revealed.

Star's jealousy finally kicks in when Noah and Alex begin spending more time together, both inside and outside of the studio. Ayanna throws a curveball, moving the showcase date up - giving everyone only two weeks to prepare. Worried about Cotton, Carlotta and Jahil team up to get to the bottom of her recent change in behavior. Meanwhile, Maurice steps in to help Noah get back on his feet, when he notices him struggling to catch a break.

Three months later, Star returns home from touring, and Alex and Simone's fates are finally answered. Carlotta and Cassie's sibling rivalry continues, as the two grapple with the aftermath of Cassie's big mistake, and Christine is caught in the middle. When Carlotta's back is against the wall, Midtown Sound's strength and future is tested by Mateo Ferrera, and Star's big announcement leaves a lot of questions unanswered.