According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.174 million household viewers and gained a 0.04 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, writing, visual style and social commentary.
Alfred is unconvinced by the idea, until they highlight how old he is compared to the new talent and that the crew at the record booth didn't even recognize him.
The guard then opens a tunnel and Earn crawls through it until he reaches another room, where a man claims to allow him to "experience D'Angelo".
Some time later, Alfred meets with Bunk and other YWA members at the Grammy Awards, having used a white artist, Yodel Kid (Tucker Brown), and making him more popular.
Earn leaves without mentioning the events at the waiting area and Alfred declines Darius' offer to join him at an after-party.
"I'm tired of all these old heads hating, just let me listen to my Italian drill music and blue eyed trap in peace.
In September 2022, FX announced that the third episode of the season would be titled "Born 2 Die" and that it would be written by supervising producer Jamal Olori and directed by Adamma Ebo.
The website's critical consensus, "While a meandering subplot may confound more than it ultimately adds, 'Born 2 Die' is altogether thrillingly alive as Paper Boi reckons with the evolving legacy of his music.
Blueblood is brought back in after the premiere's pensive scavenger hunt, but the Grammy hunters see the way he left the world as a shame.
In this episode, Al tries it their way and feels uncomfortable; at the same time, Earn sees D'Angelo, a man who deeply struggled with his popular image, turned into a vaguely-defined commodity.
"[6] Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone wrote, "So, no, Atlanta has never demonstrated much interest in the rags-to-riches part of Al's story.
Al's subplot in this season's premiere involved him realizing, via the unheralded death of his hero Blueblood, how fleeting this all can be.