Darnell is a record producer whose career stalled over a decade ago after he was publicly outed on live television. Identifying as a queer Black man, he frequently feels isolated from both his family and the broader Hip-Hop industry. He is observant and musically gifted but struggles with deep-seated insecurity regarding his identity. Working with Harriet Tubman forces him to confront his past and reconsider his place in history.

A fictionalized version of the historical icon, Harriet has returned from the dead to record a culturally relevant Hip-Hop album. She is a devout Christian who moves with absolute authority and directness. Recognizing Darnell's internal emotional blocks, she takes it upon herself to help him achieve metaphorical freedom. She uses her music to bypass historians and tell her story directly to a new generation.

Dr. Slim is a highly successful rapper who operates within the masculine space of the early 2000s Hip-Hop industry. He struggles with the pressure of remaining a closeted gay man in the public eye. Driven by fear and self-preservation, he makes a destructive choice on live television that derails Darnell's career.

Odessa is a bi-racial, formerly enslaved woman who performs with Harriet's band, the Freemans. Having worked in a plantation house rather than the fields, she initially presents with a people-pleasing demeanor developed as a survival tactic. She quickly corrects Darnell's misconceptions about the realities of indoor plantation labor, detailing the constant threat of violence she faced.

Buck is an imposing and highly intelligent member of the Freemans. Quiet and observant, he frequently subverts others' expectations of him. He holds strong secular views, viewing the Christianity pushed upon enslaved people as a tool for white oppression. This perspective provides a sharp contrast to Harriet's faith and resonates deeply with Darnell.

DJ Quakes is the four-foot-tall DJ for the Freemans, an English emigrant, and a former abolitionist. As a devout Quaker, he believes there is a piece of God inside everyone. He holds a joyful passion for African American music and quickly develops a fascination with vinyl records.

Moses is Harriet's brother and the drummer for the Freemans. He is a kind, accepting man who shares Harriet's frustration regarding the historical exploitation of Black activists on the abolitionist circuit. He possesses a surprising knowledge of queer Black history, which he uses to help Darnell feel less isolated.

Suzzane is Darnell's music manager during the peak of his career. She is highly focused on industry success, pushing Darnell to capitalize on high-profile collaborations and publicity stunts without fully grasping the personal risks involved in the music industry.

Christian was a closeted gay Black rapper who mentored Darnell early in his career. To hide his sexuality and protect his image in a homophobic industry, Christian adopted a performative persona of extreme aggression, dying before he could ever live openly.