The series opens with the arrival of Jamal Grant and Chris Anderson to Manny High School. Both make different entrances with Jamal paying guys to walk him to school as his posse and Chris driving his Dad's car. El Train warns Jamal that he's dead meat if he even thinks about painting over his graffiti. Chris learns about it and proceeds to paint over it. In the end they both get assigned to do a video year book for the school year.

Chris' mom learns Manhattan High does not have a Music Department because of lack of money, she vows to throw a fundraiser at the Anderson home. When she learns of Jamal's musical talents, she invites him to headline the event. Chris, however, is jealous of the attention his mom pays Jamal. He tries to discredit Jamal by revealing Jamal's checkered school career. Chris and his mom argue at the fundraiser and he storms out of the house.

Shakespeare in the Park is playing the same time as Chris's Knicks and Lakers game. Chris and Jamal are expected to tape the play, but they get Dawn to tape the play. Meanwhile Cassidy, Jamal and Chris got to the game and get caught when Ms. Noble sees them on the tv. Chris and Jamal let Cassidy take the blame until they decide to admit the truth.

Alberto is delivering drugs for a drug dealer and doesn't know it. So the boys devise a plan to blackmail the dealer into leaving Alberto alone.

The Spring Dance returns to Manny High. Chris tries to get Cassidy to go to the dance with him. She rejects him and Chris encounters Jamal's sister. He asks her to the dance without Jamal knowing about it. El Train wants to go to the dance with Cassidy and gets the nerve to ask her. Al wants to DJ at the party, but Dawn refuses until Al gets rid of the competition. Jamal doesn't like his sister going to the dance with Chris. He tells Kaisha that Chris is no good for her and she responds to telling him to let her make her own choices.