Earnest `Earn' Marks is broke, out of luck and living with his ex-girlfriend and their daughter. When he learns that his cousin Alfred is on the verge of rap success as Paper Boi, he sees an opportunity for both of them.
Having spent the last of his money to get Paper Boi's song played on the radio, Earn is broke, and troubled to learn that Alfred is still making a living dealing drugs.
A night in the Primal Nightclub doesn't quite go as planned or expected. The club is jumping but Paper Boi isn't getting the love or respect he feels he deserves.
Earn wakes up in a strange house, the site of which was an out-of-control party the night before, but his only concern at the moment is finding his missing jacket, and something of value that was in a pocket.
Five-O point the finger at an outspoken champion boxer from the mainland, when the brother of a promising local ringster is murdered.