ATL tells the story of 17-year-old Rashad (Tip Harris) who was forced to become the man of the house earlier than most. Ever since his parents died, he has been responsible for himself and his little brother Ant (Evan Ross). While he tries the best he can to keep Ant in school and out of the trouble that’s always lurking just around the corner in their South Atlanta neighborhood, sometimes it seems like a losing battle. Because Rashad can’t be everywhere at once, his little brother Ant is dangerously close to falling under the spell of a blinged-out local dealer who promises fast money and the respect Ant dreams of getting.
Although a talented artist, Rashad doesn’t see any future for himself beyond assisting his Uncle George (Mykelti Williamson) as a janitor after school. Unfortunately he feels stuck in a job that is hard work for very little money, sometimes no money at all.
Lately it seems the only bright spot in Rashad’s life is New-New (Lauren London). She sees his potential and what he can be and, when the two grow closer, everything begins to change, and Rashad’s future starts to open up for the first time. But New-New has a secret that’s getting harder and harder to keep.
Behind her ghetto-fabulous front, New-New is actually Erin, a rich girl from the right side of the tracks who’s drawn to the music and vibrant life she sees in Rashad’s neighborhood. Her father, successful CEO John Garnett (Keith David), grew up on the south side of town, but made it a goal to get out of the bad neighborhood and stay out. Garnett doesn’t want his daughter “slumming” on the southside, and forbids her from going near his old neighborhood. So every weekend she leaves Erin behind, lying to her parents and sneaking around so that she can be New-New, the person she thinks she needs to be to find acceptance in Rashad’s world.
Besides New-New, there aren’t many people Rashad can count on. His best friend Esquire (Jackie Long) is an ambitious student who dreams of attending an Ivy League college, and is willing to do anything to make that dream come true. When Esquire runs into New-New while cozying up to her influential father for a letter of recommendation, he has to make a decision whether or not to blow her cover.
When Rashad finds out New-New’s real story, he doesn’t know who to trust anymore – it seems everyone in his life is lying to him, even the people he loves the most. As Ant gets pulled deeper into the life of a dealer and Rashad’s dreams for him begin to fade, Rashad is going to have to make tough choices about what he wants and where he’s going.
