BMF returns to Starz for Season 4 after an ambitious third installment that moved the true story of the Flenory brothers’ Detroit-born Black Mafia Family drug empire further afield than ever. Well, mostly true: while this series from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, original creator Randy Huggins, and executive showrunner Heather Zuhlke recounts the real-life exploits of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (played by his son, Demetrius Flenory, Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (Da’Vinchi), it’s always with an entertaining “a lot of this shit may have happened” disclaimer. And now, with T in the D and Meech having built out BMF’s influence in the ATL, the brothers Flenory are finding their ambitions – and their familial bond – at a crossroads. For Season 4 of BMF, Michael Chiklis and Jordan Alexander (Gossip Girl) join the cast.
Opening Shot: We’re in Mexico, it’s dark as hell, and the desert is angry. While they escape a spray of bullets with the help of Loco (Roberto Sanchez), Meech (Flenory, Jr.) and Terry (Da’Vinchi) soon discover that a poisonous snakebite is harder to shake.
The Gist: Now it’s six months later, and we’re back in Detroit. T is running the BMF drug game, with all of the Southwest D on lock and plans to expand. Plans with a carve-out Markisha (Alani “La La” Anthony) is fighting for – “If you want me up under you, then you’ll respect what I bring to the table” – and a snag in the form of J-Pusha (JD Williams) in St. Louis, who’s dragging his feet on payments. But while Terry’s efforting to consolidate his power, down to micromanaging his foot soldiers’ Adidas colorways, there’s one question he keeps getting. “Where’s Meech?” And for that matter, “What the fuck happened in Mexico?”
While the elder Flenorys divorced, Lucille (Michole Briana White) and Charles (Russell Hornsby) are still amicable, and united in their pride over the high school graduation of Nicole (Laila Pruitt), the youngest Flenory child. Lucille is also flattered to be nominated as the potential new pastor of New Cornerstone Church. As she offers a prayer to the hype crowd at Nicole’s graduation party (she’ll be attending Atlanta’s Morris Brown College in the fall), everyone’s overjoyed to see Meech roll into the banquet hall like he was never absent at all.
For Meech, last season was eventful. He coordinated BMF’s move into Atlanta, sparred with the city’s aggressive “Red Dogs” police unit, and even met Deion Sanders (Shilo Sanders) and Tupac Shakur (Mason Douglas). Of course, he also left violence in his wake, and here in Season 4 we see how some have not forgotten that. The Atlanta of the late 1980s and early 90s was also a hotbed for music and entertainment, a revenue stream Meech wants to further cultivate for the BMF coffers.
The Flenorys built their empire as brothers. And over the years, they made enemies as brothers – here in Season 4, Lamar Silas (Eric Kofi Abrefa) returns from BMF’s early days. But with everything that’s happened between them, and the ever-expanding challenges and dangers of operating a wide-ranging criminal enterprise, Big Meech and Southwest T are about to test the strength of their brotherly bond.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Starz is also home to the Power suite – a prequel, Power: Origins, is set to join the original series and its three spinoffs, all exec produced by 50 Cent – and FX’s announced plans to further the Snowfall universe include current BMF co-star Peyton Alex Smith.
Our Take: “We had cheated death before. But this time, shit was different.” As the dueling voiceovers of Jon Chaffin and Mustafa Harris detail the BMF history we’re watching, that of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and his younger brother, Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, it’s from a place of resolution. Real life facts tell us the DEA eventually caught up with the Black Mafia Family’s narcotics and money laundering operations. So in that sense, and through those past-tense voiceovers, we know the BMF saga is finite. But that only makes us more interested in the directions Season 4 will travel. How will new challenges – like the return of old rivals, or Michael Chiklis joining BMF as a guaranteed hard-ass DEA agent – impact what the early going seems to suggest is a schism on the horizon? A big part of Meech and T cheating death has been their mutual support. What happens when that wavers will be huge.
We’re also looking forward to more of the Atlanta side of things in BMF. While Michole Briana White and Russell Hornsby are both fantastic as Lucille and Charles Flenory, and continually highlight and strengthen the family roots of the series, the Season 3 business in the ATL had flash, violence, and its own take on an interesting era in the city’s cultural history. Season 4 of BMF feels bigger in a lot of ways. But it also feels more dangerous. More moving parts means a lot more shit to worry about.
Sex and Skin: Well, the Flenory brothers are never very far away from their many female admirers.
Parting Shot: As Meech returns to Atlanta, it’s with renewed faith in his purpose – “The only way to fulfill my destiny is to graduate to the next level” – and an era-specific ATL signifier. Towering above him and his sick Mercedes SL coupe is a billboard for So So Def Recordings.
Sleeper Star: The return of Eric Kofi Abrefa to BMF as Lamar Silas, old business rival to Meech and T, is handled quite powerfully as Season 4 begins. We’re excited to see how Lamar’s personal evolution – and lasting, stinging vendettas – might disrupt the Flenory brothers’ plans.
Most Pilot-y Line: “Now we about to take BMF to a whole ‘nother level…”
Our Call: Stream it! BMF is building on family bonds and busting them wide open as Season 4 begins. It’s not like running a multi-state drug empire was ever easy. But it’s even tougher when brothers are at odds with each other.
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.