The year is 1978. The city, Roxbury, MA, just outside of Boston. Eleven year old Bobby Brown convinces some friends (Ricky Bell, Mike Bivins, and Ralph Tresvant) to perform in local talent shows in an attempt to win money (and girls). Once the group is formed, they convince a hot local manager, Brooke Payne, to turn them into talent show winners. The boys are eventually discovered by music impresario, Maurice Starr, who signs them to a record deal. They add a fifth member, Ronnie DeVoe, and their debut song "Candy Girl" hits #1 on the charts. Gary Evans, a manager from NYC, promises them a better deal, bigger stardom, and more money. When the boys get a new deal with MCA Records in L.A., things get off to an inauspicious start when MCA president Jheryl Busby, underwhelmed by his new signing, pushes them to deliver a hit album or else.

It's 1984, and New Edition is in L.A. recording their second album. Ralph, fully aware of the resentment from his band mates, requests more parts for them to sing. The album is a huge hit; but Bobby's behavior gets more erratic and outlandish while on the road. Eventually tensions erupt, and the group dynamic takes a pivotal change - the boys vote to kick Bobby out - and New Edition is never the same. Soon Ralph decides that he wants to go solo, leaving remaining members Ricky, Mike, and Ronnie stunned. Mike, the group's de facto leader, adds R&B singer Johnny Gill to the group. Everything comes to an ugly head when the group meets to record their next album. Ralph gets upset that he has possibly been replaced by Johnny Gill and lashes out at his group members. He leaves the studio and decides he no longer wants to be apart of New Edition.