Naturi Naughton Joins Eve in Hip-Hop Drama Pilot, 'Queens'

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Naturi Naughton and Eve will co-lead ABC’s hourlong hip-hop drama pilot, Queens. Written by Zahir McGhee (Scandal), the plot follows four estranged and out-of-touch women in their 40s who reunite to recapture their fame as their 90s hip-hop group, Nasty Bitches.

The Power actress will play Jill, known as Da Thrill, and one-fourth of the group. According to Deadline, “Da Thrill lived fast, had rugged rhymes and a troubling drug habit.” But in the present-day, that is no longer the case. Jill is married and living a quiet life in Montana as a devout Catholic. Nonetheless, everything isn’t as perfect as it seems.

Haunted by past secrets, Jill reunites with the Nasty Bitches to escape her issues at home. It isn’t until she resumes her persona as Da Thrill is she reminded of her painful past. With the aid from a young rapper with whom she has almost nothing in common with, Jill is able to figure out the person she needs to be.

The NAACP Image Award winner is no stranger to girl groups. In the early 2000s, she was a member of the trio 3LW until 2002 when she alleged she was forced out of the group.

During an episode of TV One’s Uncensored, Naughton revealed that the complexion of her skin played a part in her departure stating, “It became ‘Naturi’s voice is too soulful. You’re not crossover enough. Naturi your look is not hot right now. Nobody;s checking for a dark-skinned girl. Why would we put you in front?'”

As previously reported, Eve is set to make her return to scripted television as Brianna, aka Professor Sex — a proud wife and mother of five who used to rap about money, sex, and a glamorous lifestyle.

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