Fighting an unlikely quest for glory in her downtrodden hometown in Jersey where her life is falling apart, aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Killa P, a.k.a. Patti Cake$ tries to reach the big time in the hip hop scene with original and affecting music. Cheered on by her grandmother and only friends, Jheri and Basterd, Patti also shoulders her mother's heartaches and misfortunes.