Earn and Paper Boi reach their breaking points in episode nine when the former proves to be invaluable as a manager. Throughout the season, Earn struggles to pull his weight and accept his responsibilities in managing Paper Boi's career. First, he pitches the rapper to a whitewashed Spotify-esque company. Then, he fails to book him and the crew — Paper Boi, Darius, and Tracy (Khris Davis) — a hotel room when Paper Boi is scheduled to perform at a college concert. But things come to a head when Earn and Tracy get into a scuffle and Paper Boi doesn't come to his defense.
The divide in their relationship continues until the end of the season, when Earn thinks his cousin is on the verge of firing him. That is, until Earn makes a move to not only save himself but to also prove he does have Paper Boi's back. While at the airport en route to Europe, Earn realizes the gold gun his uncle (Katt Williams) gave him in episode one is in his backpack. We later find out that he slips the gun into Clark County's bag, but Clark lets his manager take the fall. Paper Boi tells Earn he saw what he did and ultimately respects him for it. "You my family, Earn. You're the only one who knows what I'm about. You give a f*ck. I need that," he says in the finale.
Earn may have passed that test, but he'll still have to prove himself as a worthy manager in season three.
