YG Exec Producing ‘Don’t Come To L.A.’ Rapper Drama In Works At Amazon MGM Studios
EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios is developing Don’t Come To L.A., a drama series project from rapper-actor YG and writer-producer Damani Johnson (The Crossover, One Piece).
In Don’t Come To L.A., written by Keith Sweet II (Star Trek: Prodigy), when a low-level Los Angeles gangster is assigned to protect one of the hottest rappers in the industry by the crime syndicate security company he works for, he has to learn to navigate both the bloodthirsty gang world and the glitz and glam of the celebrity scene.
Johnson, who serves as showrunner, and YG are executive producing with Trevor Engelson (Snowfall) and Josh McGuire of Underground; Scooter Braun, James Shin (Dave) and Scott Manson of SB Projects; as well as Douglas Banker (Johnny Football) at Five All in the Fifth.
YG, real name Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson, and Sweet both hail from the Los Angeles County city of Compton. YG has released five studio albums to date. The most recent, My Life 4Hunnid, came out in 2020. His highest charting single to date, “Don’t Tell ‘Em”, with singer Jeremih, peaked at number 6 on the Hot 100.
Sweet participated in a mentorship program Underground founding partner Engelson has been running at the Verbum Dei Jesuit High School for years. It resulted in Sweet interning with Underground. He also interned at Bad Robot during college before landing a writers assistant job on Star Trek: Prodigy, working for showrunners (and Underground clients) Kevin and Dan Hageman. Sweet was subsequently promoted to a staff writer, becoming the youngest writer in the Star Trek franchise history. He is repped by UTA and Underground.
Damani co-created and is the co-showrunner of Disney+’s The Crossover. He is currently helping out on Sammy for Hulu. Damani previously was co-executive producer on Netflix’s One Piece, CBS/OWN’s All Rise, Paramount+’s Star Trek: Picard and CBS’ Salvation. His writing credits also include TNT’s Major Crimes, USA’s Necessary Roughness and Fox’s Terra Nova. He is repped by CAA and the Gotham Group.