Brian Tyree Henry’s character on “Atlanta” is Alfred. His full name is Alfred Miles, and he is better known by his rap name, Paper Boi.
Alfred is the cousin of Earnest “Earn” Marks, played by series creator Donald Glover. At the beginning of the show, Earn becomes Alfred’s manager after learning that his cousin has released a mixtape and is gaining attention as a rapper. Their relationship drives much of the series, combining family loyalty, business tension, and disagreements about ambition.
Alfred is not presented as a simple celebrity success story. As Paper Boi becomes more famous, he deals with depression, danger, moral uncertainty, and the pressures of commercial music. His quieter, skeptical personality contrasts with Earn’s restless schemes and Darius’s eccentric worldview.
A common mix-up is answering “Paper Boi,” which is Alfred’s stage name rather than his personal name. Both names refer to Brian Tyree Henry’s central character, but Alfred is the character’s given name and Alfred Miles is his full name.