The showcase is finally here and the Midtown artists must work hard to win. Relationships are tested, ruined, and sparked.

The girls receive a rude awakening when the fierce new label head, Ayanna, demands they rebrand their image in order to have a shot at competing with the label's other talented artists.

Star and Hunter take their relationship to the next level, while Rose returns to help Alex and Derek deal with the aftermath of a traumatic experience. Carlotta reveals her reasoning for keeping a secret to herself for all of these years, and Cotton does the unthinkable to the one person she trusts the most. Meanwhile, the girls have a publicity photo shoot with social media guru Rachel Wells, and someone is finally arrested and charged with Otis' murder.

After a spat with the label's social media expert, Big Trouble are left off the guest list for a party. Not to be deterred, they crash the stage and make a good impression. Cotton and Jahil bond over their respective cocaine problems.

Alex and Noah's staged romance becomes something more, threatening Star's own relationship with the singer. Brody learns of Hunter's treatment of his daughter. Carlotta resorts to violent means on Cotton's behalf. Ayanna steps in to help Simone.