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The Get Down

The Get Down has finally premiered on Netflix today with the first six episodes of its first season (the back half of the season drops in 2017). It is if nothing else a sprawling tale of New York City in the late 1970s, and in particular the South Bronx, where music and culture — already steeped in the disco era — were poised to birth something called hip-hop into the world.

The operative word up there is “sprawling.” There are a LOT of characters to keep track of, and especially in the series’ overstuffed first episode, that’s a daunting task. Allow us to help. Here’s a rough guide to who’s who in The Get Down‘s universe, so you’ll be able to tell your soulful poets from your disco divas, your crime bosses from your other crime bosses.

Ezekiel

Character: Ezekiel “Books” Figuero
Actor: Justice Smith

Ezekiel is a Bronx high schooler and poet, though he’s too embarrassed to read his stuff in front of the class. He lives with his aunt and her boyfriend, ever since both parents were killed by gun violence. He’s majorly in love with Mylene, but he’s also fascinated by the world of hip-hop, as shown to him by the enigmatic DJ Shaolin Fantastic.

Shaolin Fantastic

Character: Shaolin Fantastic
Actor: Shameik Moore

Shao is both a DJ and a ghost story as The Get Down begins. He enters Ezekiel’s life by some incredible happenstance, but Shao ends up being the one to introduce him to the world of hip-hop. Shao also works for the disco club owner and drug dealer Fat Annie.

Mylene

Character: Mylene Cruz
Actor: Herizen Guardiola

Mylene has dreams of being a disco diva, and she doesn’t want anything, from her restrictive pastor father to underachieving Ezekiel, to stand in her way.

Pastor Cruz

Character: Pastor Ramon Cruz
Actor: Giancarlo Esposito

Pastor Cruz is Mylene’s incredibly strict father. He’s a man of faith, but he’s not equipped to deal with the changing world around him. He’s also not thrilled that his brother is a shady criminal.

Dizzee

Character: Dizzee
Actor: Jaden Smith

One of Ezekiel’s pals. While his friends are getting into hip-hop, Dizzee is killing it as a graffiti artist.

Ra-Ra and Boo-Boo

Characters: Ronald “Ra-Ra” Kipling, Miles “Boo-Boo” Kipling
Actors: Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown Jr.

Brothers and members of Ezekiel’s crew. Two-fifths of the Fantastic Four Plus One, which is what the crew dubs itself after they discover Grandmaster Flash and hip-hop music.

Yolanda and Regina

Characters: Yolanda Kipling, Regina Diaz
Actors: Stefanée Martin, Shyrley Rodriguez

Mylene’s besties. Yolanda is Boo-Boo and Ra-Ra’s older sister.

Francisco Cruz

Character: Francisco “Papa Fuerte” Cruz
Actor: Jimmy Smits

A local councilman with a grand, restorative vision for the South Bronx, but also willing to skirt the law when necessary. Or expedient. Or advantageous. He’s also Pastor Cruz’s brother, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help make his niece Mylene a star.

Cadillac

Character: Cadillac
Actor: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

At first glance, Cadillac is a cocky disco prince; a good dancer, but foolish. But he’s more cunning and dangerous than he seems. He’s Fat Annie’s son and a rival for Shao within his mother’s organization.

Fat Annie

Character: Fat Annie
Actor: Lillias White

Fat Annie owns the disco Les Inferno, and out of that base of operations, she deals drugs and engages in other criminal pursuits. She’s got an inappropriate working relationship with Shao and a business rivalry with Francisco Cruz.

Grandmaster Flash

Character: Grandmaster Flash
Actor: Mamoudou Athie

The real-life hip-hop pioneer is a major character in The Get Down, acting as Shaolin and Ezekiel’s mentor as they get into the hip-hop world.

Roy Asheton

Character: Roy Asheton
Actor: Eric Bogosian

In the universe of The Get Down, Roy Asheton is a mind-bogglingly successful music executive, specializing in the realm of disco. His success quite obviously speaks for itself. He gets involved with Francisco’s efforts to set Mylene up as a rising disco star.

Jackie Moreno

Character: Jackie Moreno
Actor: Kevin Corrigan

Jackie’s a music producer who works for Roy Asheton and is tasked with helping Mylene make a record. He is dressed and styled like all the 1970s at once.

Malibu

Character: Malibu
Actor: Billy Porter

Malibu is a DJ performing at Les Inferno, the disco club that Fat Annie owns. In his own words: “They call me the best. I pass every test. I done ripped the ‘S’ off of Superman’s chest.”