FX is expanding the universe of its acclaimed series “Snowfall” with the premiere of a new spinoff, “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga,” set to debut Tuesday. While “Snowfall” focused on the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and the rise and fall of Franklin Saint, a drug kingpin portrayed by Damson Idris, “The Drop” shifts the narrative to the 1990s, exploring the emergence of hip-hop culture in Los Angeles.

The new series centers on Wanda Bell (Gail Bean), a character introduced in “Snowfall” who is determined to leave her past struggles with crack addiction behind and break into the burgeoning rap industry. She enlists her young cousin Lamar Kinsey (Asante Blackk), a musically gifted individual raised by devout grandparents, as her protege. Their story unfolds amid a backdrop of gang violence and cultural change in Los Angeles, capturing the tension between creative ambition and the reality of growing up in a community affected by crime.

“The Drop” aims to honor the legacy of filmmaker John Singleton, the creator of “Snowfall,” who passed away in 2019. Singleton’s original vision highlighted the social and economic devastation wrought by the crack epidemic within Black communities. The new series continues this thematic lineage while shifting focus to a different era and cultural movement. Executive producer and showrunner Malcolm Spellman, known for his work on “Empire” and “Bel-Air,” described the transition as a natural evolution, noting that crack’s social impact was intrinsically linked to the rise of hip-hop.

Bean and Blackk, who share a strong rapport both on and off screen, emphasize the show’s role as a “love letter” to West Coast rap and Los Angeles. They highlight the 1990s as a formative period for Black artists, marked by both risk and creativity. Blackk described “The Drop” as part of a broader renaissance of Black-centered television, which includes other recent shows airing on platforms like Netflix and Starz.

The spinoff retains much of the original series’ raw intensity, featuring on-location shoots, a hip-hop-driven soundtrack, and candid depictions of violence. With Idris not returning, the narrative’s focus on Wanda offers a fresh yet connected perspective. Spellman noted that Wanda’s arc represents a “phoenix rising” from the devastation of addiction toward a complex pursuit of success. However, her ambition brings new challenges, as the survival skills she acquired on the streets complicate her efforts to navigate the music industry and maintain personal relationships.

Lamar’s character also grapples with identity and expectations. Despite his musical talent and self-awareness, he faces pressure from his community to conform to a certain archetype of Black masculinity as shaped by hip-hop culture. This dynamic between Lamar and Wanda will be a central element throughout the season.

Bean reflected on the personal growth she experienced through portraying Wanda, particularly in humanizing addiction beyond stereotypes. She encouraged fans of “Snowfall” to embrace “The Drop” as its own story, saying, “One thing ends so that another can begin.”