<Li> Amiyah Scott as Cotton Brown, Carlotta's transgender daughter . She works at her mother's salon and helps the girls kickstart their career . She also has a troubled relationship with Carlotta, as the latter has not accepted her daughter's transition, and is not understanding or fully supportive of the difficulties she faces as a trans woman, although she slowly comes around . After stealing money from her boyfriend Elliot, Cotton is sent to prison, but eventually gets released . </Li> <Li> Quincy Brown as Derek Jones, Alexandra's boyfriend who lives next door to the girls . He is a civil rights activist affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement, and is committed to civil disobedience . After a car accident leaves him paralyzed from the waist down, their relationship becomes strained . Derek ultimately breaks up with Alex to start a relationship with his physical therapist . </Li> <Li> Benjamin Bratt as Jahil Rivera (seasons 1--2), a talent manager who believes Take 3 is his ticket back to the top . However, he is hobbled by both a cocaine addiction and money problems . In Season 2, it is revealed that he faked his death with the help of Carlotta to avoid being framed for Hunter's murder . He ends up forming a new duo with his nephew Angel to compete with Take 3 . In the mid-season 2 finale, Angel fires him as manager and he goes on a drug - fueled bender before briefly slipping into a coma . He is later shot in a drive - by shooting while shielding Andy and dies in season 2 . </Li> <Li> Queen Latifah as Carlotta Renee Brown, the owner of an Atlanta beauty salon, who worked with Mary Davis in the R&B duo Mixed Harmony back in the 1990s . She becomes a surrogate mother to the three girls, even though she doesn't approve of their musical dreams . At the end of Season 1, she takes over as manager from Jahil . Her attempts to make Take 3 a success prove largely ineffective as the girls struggle with their own problems, and in the mid-season 2 finale, her salon is burned down . She is eventually promoted to a senior position within Midtown by Ayanna . </Li>

Who faked their death in star season 2