Atlanta, a thriving metropolis with a burgeoning industry in tech, film, and music, attracts residents from all over the world looking for new opportunities and a better life. However, beneath the glamorous exterior lies a deep-rooted problem that city officials are actively trying to address. In this feature, we examine Atlanta's increasing crime and gang activity post-pandemic and its perceived connection to a failing education system, "drill" style rap music, and heightened poverty triggered by the 2020 economic collapse. Our investigation will follow a high school student and his struggle to resist the influence of gang culture in his community, while his parents and teachers try their best to support him. We will also feature an upper-middle-class Buckhead resident and community activist, who is advocating for increased police presence to reduce theft and violent crimes. An Atlanta Police Detective will share his experiences of working with a newly appointed gang task force and building better community-police relationships with local youth. By interviewing several gang factions, we hope to offer a glimpse into their life struggles that led them to choose this lifestyle. Our expert interviews with popular rap artists, prominent activists, and leaders in education, politics, and judiciary will help further explain a range of topics, including mental health, government policy, civic responsibility, gun rights, pandemic effects on education, gentrification, rap's influence on youth culture, and the school-to-prison pipeline.