Shannon Thornton prepared for her role in P-Valley, the Starz dramedy about the lives of dancers at a Mississippi strip club called the Pynk, by getting really into Southern rap—specifically, rap from New Orleans. “I was doing a lot of research, but it was Juvenile and the Hot Boys that made me go crazy,” she says over Zoom. “Now, whenever we want to have a good time in my trailer I put on Juvenile.”
Southern rap is the backbone of P-Valley, which launched its second season earlier this summer. From regional classics to smaller gems that will make you pull out Shazam, the soundtrack makes the location feel lived in. This season, a few of the memorable needle drops have included Memphis underground hit DJ Zirk’s “Lock Em in Da Trunk” and Rick Ross’ “Hustlin,” along with a guest appearance by New Orleans bounce legend Big Freedia. Meanwhile, one of the show’s characters is a rapper named Lil Murda—played by J. Alphonse Nicholson in a breakout role—and the original songs he performs actually aren’t terrible.
P-Valley’s first season was one of the welcome television surprises of the summer of 2020. The drama in and around the Pynk hooked me like a good soap opera and was my introduction to a deep-benched ensemble, including Thornton as a world-weary sweetheart named Keyshawn. The dancing was the most breathtaking aspect, though. Thornton remembers being put through an intensive bootcamp taught by award-winning pole dancers, including some who’ve worked in Atlanta’s famed Magic City, to develop her skills. This thoroughness extends to every aspect of the dance scenes: Often shot from the point of view of the dancers, the sharp choreography, mystical lighting, and fluid motion of the camera makes the moves look magical, while highlighting the physical demands of the athletic feat.
That keen eye for shooting the pole-dancing scenes has carried into the darker and more surreal second season, where Keyshawn has left the Pynk and built a money-making foundation of her own, under the watch of her controlling boyfriend. Keyshawn steps into the limelight in the season’s fifth episode, which explores her background and how she ended up in such a miserable and predatory relationship. It’s carried by Thornton’s vulnerable performance, as she goes from excited and full of ambition to broken and fearful in a snap.
From her home in L.A., with her cat jumping in and out of her lap, Thornton caught up with Pitchfork to discuss how being on one of television’s most musical shows right now has shaped her taste.
Janet Jackson: “I Get Lonely” (1997)
Shannon Thornton: I’m coming off a bit of a high right now. The cast of P-Valley and I got to go down to Essence Fest in New Orleans and it was the first time we’ve ever really felt famous. Best of all was I got to see a Janet concert and meet her backstage; oh my god, I almost died. I couldn’t even speak, I was so nervous.
She was my first concert, with Usher as an opener. But “I Get Lonely” has been one of my favorite songs since I was a kid; I think it has one of the most iconic videos ever. It’s about a breakup and there’s some desperation in her voice—it’s sexy and vulnerable at the same time. The beginning makes me lose my mind, when the instruments build up to that explosion. I went nuts as soon as I heard that opening at the concert.
D’Angelo: “Really Love” (2014)
I grew up in the era of neo-soul, back when they had the McCafé commercial with all the beautiful Black people in a little nightclub wearing different hues of brown and cream. D’Angelo came out when I was a kid, but I didn’t really understand him until I was older. This is just a beautiful, beautiful song about love. I listen to it when I’m cooking, when I’m getting ready for a night out, when I’m just trying to have a mellow evening.
Maxwell: “Bad Habits” (2009)
This April I saw Maxwell in concert. He sang everything! At one point he turned his back to the crowd and the crowd sang his song for him. “Bad Habits” is one of those songs that always makes me run it back to the beginning. When he sings, “Girl there’s no one as bad, no as bad as you” that part gets me high. I sing louder.
I like soulful songs since that’s what my mom used to play, especially Al Green. At first I didn’t understand it because I was like “This man sounds crazy,” but then I saw him perform “Love and Happiness” on Soul Train and it just made me melt.
Future: “Love You Better” (2022)
In the makeup trailer I would request Future all the time. Sometimes we would have DJ battles where you go head-to-head with someone playing songs and I always would pick Future. He just gets you ready, especially before you have to go do a big performance.
“Love You Better” is on his new album and I’m actually the love interest in the music video. In the video you see Future deal with the consequences of being toxic as he has a nightmare of what life would be like without me. It’s a switch-up for Future; I’ve never heard him speak about love in this way. All the women just look like goddesses and the men look like clowns. That’s just really cool.
