It is 2026, and if you're scrolling through your feed, you've probably seen the "Pynk Posse" losing their collective minds. P-Valley Season 3 is finally here. After years of strike-related delays and a wait that felt longer than a Mississippi summer, the doors to Chucalissa’s favorite club have swung back open. But let’s be real: while the acrobatics on the pole are top-tier, the reason we’re all actually glued to the screen is Lil Murda.
Played with an almost jarring level of soul by J. Alphonse Nicholson, Lil Murda—or LaMarcus, if you’re close enough—isn't just a character. He’s a walking, rapping contradiction. Honestly, he’s the most important thing to happen to prestige TV in a decade.
He’s a "trap rapper" with a grill and a Glock, yet he’s also a man who found his most authentic self in the arms of the non-binary, "mother of the Pynk," Uncle Clifford. That kind of nuance doesn't happen by accident.
Lil Murda P Valley: The Performance That Changed The Game
You’ve seen the "DL" trope before. Usually, it’s written as a tragedy or a villainous secret. P-Valley creator Katori Hall threw that script in the trash.
LaMarcus isn't a liar; he’s a man surviving. In the Deep South, where the heat is heavy and the "Hurt Village" gang ties are heavier, being a queer Black man in hip-hop is a literal death wish.
Remember the Season 2 finale? That fractured mirror scene?
Before he stepped onto that stage, he looked at the different versions of himself: the blue-haired rapper, the street soldier, and the man who just wanted to be loved. When he took those grills out of his mouth—his armor—and stepped onto that stage to perform "Seven Pounds of Pressure" acapella, it wasn't just a rap. It was a confession. He was claiming the death of Pico, sure, but he was also claiming his right to exist without the mask.
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Why J. Alphonse Nicholson is the real deal
It’s easy to forget that Nicholson is a straight man in real life. He’s been very vocal about being an ally, but it’s the way he approaches the intimacy with Nicco Annan (Uncle Clifford) that makes the performance "human-quality."
There’s no hesitation. There’s no "gay panic" in his eyes.
When Lil Murda fondles Uncle Clifford’s jewelry or kisses her in front of a crowded club, it feels grounded. It’s not a "statement" for the sake of Twitter; it’s two people who have been through hell—COVID-19, the loss of Big Teak, the threat of the casino—finding a soft place to land.
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The introduction of Big Teak, played by John Clarence Stewart, added a layer of history that explained why Lil Murda is the way he is. Teak was the personification of "what the world won't let you be."
Their love was old, rooted in prison cells and shared trauma. But Teak couldn't survive the outside world. He saw Lil Murda evolving, moving toward Uncle Clifford, and moving toward a version of fame that Teak knew he couldn't follow.
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The suicide in the car was devastating. It’s one of those scenes that sticks to your ribs. It showed us that for Lil Murda, choosing to be "out" or even "authentic" isn't just about pride—it's about the mental toll of carrying those who couldn't make it across the finish line.
The Stakes for Lil Murda in Season 3
So, what are we looking at now that we’re finally back in the Valley?
In the 2026 landscape of the show, the secrets are mostly out. But in Chucalissa, the truth doesn't set you free; it puts a target on your back.
- The Mane Problem: Mane is out of jail and he knows Lil Murda was the one who pulled the trigger on Pico. The streets don't care about your "authentic self." They care about "an eye for an eye."
- The Career: Can a queer trap rapper actually blow up? We’ve seen Lil Murda turn down a tour to stay with Clifford, but the music industry is a beast.
- Public Love: It’s one thing to kiss at a private party at the Pynk. It’s another thing to walk down the street in the Mississippi Delta.
The "Seven Pounds of Pressure" he rapped about wasn't just a song title. It’s the weight of the crown he’s trying to wear. He’s trying to be a king in two different worlds that usually go to war with each other.
Misconceptions about the character
Some people still think Lil Murda is "confused."
He’s not.
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As Katori Hall has pointed out in several interviews, he’s a man who loves a soul. He loves the "two spirits" within Uncle Clifford. He’s a "switch," as seen in the Season 2 bedroom scenes, which completely upended the traditional masculine/feminine power dynamics we usually see in Black queer stories.
He’s proving that you can have tattoos, a deep voice, and a hood pedigree while still being vulnerable enough to be "topped" by a non-binary diva. It’s revolutionary stuff, honestly.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans of the Show
If you’re trying to keep up with the chaos this season, here’s how to actually engage with the Lil Murda P Valley phenomenon:
- Watch the Lyrics: Don't just bop your head. The songs in P-Valley are the script. "Fallin" and "Seven Pounds of Pressure" tell you exactly what LaMarcus is feeling when he can't say it to Clifford’s face.
- Follow the Actors: J. Alphonse Nicholson and Nicco Annan often do "after-show" breakdowns on social media. They provide a lot of context on the "why" behind the more controversial scenes.
- Support Black Queer Media: This show exists because the audience demanded it. If you want more characters like Lil Murda—complex, flawed, and deeply human—you have to keep the streaming numbers high on Starz.
- Look for the Symbolism: Pay attention to the colors he wears. In Season 2, he moved from dark, muted tones to vibrant blues and blondes as he became more "himself."
Lil Murda is a reminder that we are all "fractured mirrors." We are all a hundred different people at once. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is put your grills in your pocket and let the world see the man underneath.
Next Steps for You: Go back and re-watch Season 2, Episode 6 ("Savage") and the Finale ("Mississippi Rule"). Pay close attention to the background characters in the club during the final scene—their reactions to Murda and Clifford’s kiss will tell you exactly where the conflict in Season 3 is going to come from.