Algee Smith: Euphoria Secrets, New Edition Success + Acting Journey Ep. 90 | The Crew Has It

Let me just let me just prep us with this this episode will come out in three weeks from when we shoot it Okay, I just switched Nick's jerseys. They haven't won yet But we're gonna pretend if they have one and if they don't win They're gonna AI spurs jerseys on me, you know, nah you can't man Like I'm gonna AI spurs you down, bro. You can't no, I will kill myself Never in my life That's ones of the airport by breakfast All right, so we are going to the game on Saturday about y'all going we're going to the game Yeah, and so Mike passed out from that game last night he passed out in public He put on like real deal you passed out. I legit passed out Hey, which is hydrated. Nah, I was chill. I was Gucci, but like I think I think I was just like yelling too hard And then like I was yeah, I like I yelled and then I stopped yelling and like two seconds after I stopped yelling Like my head just like light heading. So like there's nothing in my brain Nothing in my school and I just was like Now that game was crazy. That was the crazy shit. It's a crazy. I think it's a crazy sports game I've ever seen. I don't know about you guys that game was crazy. I Don't know about the craziest, but that game was crazy for them to come back like that, bro Like for them to be a gotta be the craziest game Y'all from New York my team came back down 30 But then I see crazy games, but it was not they weren't my team. So they didn't really hit that Bro, take the great Taylor Swift, Hayley Bieber, but Mike who do we got in the building today? We got the boy algae smit in it. Come on. Look at the boys. We're bringing gems to you every week guys In the building honestly like sometimes I do research sometimes. I don't I felt like this a great episode We're like I just want to learn all about you Where you start and all that stuff and we'll see where this goes. I'm super excited to chop it up with you I we have a ton of mutual friends. I've heard nothing, but fucking awesome things about you Obviously Chris loften, you know, Chris well, Darryl who was just in here Everyone says the name is fuck you. You go for it. Yeah, who go for this verse? Who Chris Chris I love they love to go for this Chris the best now. What where where did you meet him? He knows everybody, but Chris do know everybody, bro. That's crazy I'm actually such a likable dude though, bro. He is bro. He is he's a he's a very you got a very good spirit Bro, very energetic spirit. He draws you to him. No ego. Yeah, no ego. He want to help everybody He want to connect the dots. Yeah, he's just just a good person, but I think I met him out here in the lace somewhere But we really tapped in when I went to Chicago. Oh, five. Yeah, yeah, what would you go to Chicago for? I just went to Chicago recently to shoot a I'm a pilot for show A show called American Blue is HBO show so you know prayerfully from across we get picked up like get the word I guess I'm like a couple weeks hell yeah, do you know like like who else is in it? It's been announced all that stuff. Yeah, yeah We don't got to talk yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, honestly. Well have you back when it comes out for show for show for show for show We go quick, but like so you're where are you from originally? I'm from Michigan originally second on Michigan Yeah, you know, we got sacks. We got Drake my green. We got you know Stevie Wonder You know, we got Serena Williams people thanks to anyone some content, but she was born and you know, you know, I know you let's keep the facts the facts No, it's like a hour and a half from Detroit fire. Yeah, the hockey team Saginaw spirit have you ever heard of them? I haven't I haven't I haven't I haven't Someone need a note. They're their guests. They're not that big. Maybe I need a note. Maybe I don't really watch hockey. Yeah You know, we don't watch no hockey. Yeah, did you watch hockey? I grew up playing hockey. Oh shit. Okay. He was nasty. I hockey Yeah, I was drafted semi-professionally in the in the league. No, the Saginaw spirit in the OHL I was drafted in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Okay, so they're like the same thing It's like where pretty much everyone plays before they go to NHL. Yeah, that's hard. Yeah, um, but No, I do I still play, but um, yeah, it's crazy. You know, you've never heard of that but I guess Saginaw's pop and they got Serena So so when did you move the LA? I moved to Atlanta first. So I left Michigan when I was like eight And then my family moved to the A and I grew up in the A so I didn't leave that I didn't leave Atlanta until I was like 21. I came out here to LA So I've been out here in LA for like maybe like 10 years Were you already working when you were in Atlanta? I Was working, but it wasn't the level of what it was when I got to LA. Yeah, because was Atlanta popping at this point? That's what I was gonna say. Yeah, well, it wasn't really Atlanta had motion, you know saying don't get it twisted, but it wasn't what it is now as far as for film Yeah, you know, and so at that point it was like, you know, the hubs were LA in New York. You know, just what it was And you know, I That's when I came out here to LA and man came out here. It didn't work the first time had to go back damn Yeah, so my whole family I want to I want to hear all that. Yeah, so my whole family my family was very supportive role mom and dad you know, they We packed up our expedition and drove from Atlanta to LA because we was like you know I'm saying we have a dream. You know, I'm saying we were very optimistic family Going to see what it was, you know, I had some auditions here and there for like some Disney and Nickelodeon things You know at that time you like 14 you thinking is okay my life could probably change for this I could probably change my family's life, so we came out here started to cut you up Do you did you have reps in Atlanta? Do you have an agent there or you moved out here and got an agent? Yeah, I had a rep in Atlanta joy her name is Joy Purvis. Oh Yeah, really it's joy man. I love Joy bro. So that's how I I got to LA because she had a sister agent out here by the name of Osbrink. Oh, yeah, I used to be with Osbrink as well Okay, yeah exactly so then I had a I had that out here So I came out here, but we quickly realized that LA is tough, bro Like LA is tough for a five person family, too, you know, I'm saying even when you trying to you can kick you with family Only but for so long when you got five people, you know, I'm saying so you got to try to maneuver that out So we stayed out here. I think for like three or four months and then we went back today and then I end up coming back out here by myself And then I ended up getting it, you know, so what was the first thing that like got you to stay? Did you have a job where you're out here? Like what was kind of the movements when you first got here? When I first got here it was just auditions and then I think I was in like this Disney was doing this thing at the time called like forget what it was called it was like Man, I forget what it was, but they were like take one person and make them like the face of the network, right And so it was those discussions going on and so it was auditions and meetings and different things like that And go into different things like that and just seeing what it was out here because I have never been in that market like in the circuit And so that's what that's what kept us out here and then I landed a cut like I think a couple of things I landed a Nickelodeon show that I did with like masterpiece daughter. Oh fire. Yeah, was it what's your name? I know, but it was that, you know, it was that before I had to come back out here and then really really uh, you know Get in a different way. What was the name of that show? It was called How to Rock. How to Rock. And how many seasons did it go? I think they went for like two seasons. Oh yeah, but you did just did like a couple of like five and um So Did you start to like how old were you at this point? I was like Maybe like 15. Oh yeah, so what were you doing for school? Um, I was homeschool and I was doing music so I started in music so I was doing music too So I was already like on the road and like doing different shows and going different places And I was homeschool so I had the flexibility to move around like that. Yeah, so it was just easy and then I graduated Graduated a year later when I was 16 right before I turned 17 So then after that it was easy to move around with without that. Yeah, so you booked that and then Is that giving you enough money here and there to like sustain yourself? You have a job of how you paying the bills? Yeah, uh, you know, I didn't have no bills at that time. Thank God, you know what I'm saying? I was still um I was um At that moment I was living with my homie his name is song guy And he was like a big bro. He was like a big bro to me. He stayed in Hollywood um Right by that. What's the name of that hotel that they say is haunted over there? It's like in Hollywood No, that's downtown. Yeah, that's downtown. He talked about the loads maybe No, I forget I forget but he had a apartment over there so he let me you know I'm saying kick it there with him. He's like big bro to me and all I had to do was just cover my own food I didn't have to pay for no bills and so that was that was love while while I was here being able to have that cushion Um, that's a blessing bro being able to be here and have that cushion. Why are you figuring it out is It is it's big man. Yeah, yeah because you know You got if you're spending most of your time working to make money to be an actor. When do you have time to be an actor? Yeah, yeah, a lot of people can can be fortunate in that it's hard or or whatever you do in a fashion designer right whatever bro like Yeah, LA is you got to figure it. You know if you if you have that that's a blessing So I might be able to you got couch serve for a little bit. So you figured out that's what that's a real blessing So after after you did um, uh, rock how to ride a rock. Yeah, what was after that After how to rock it was nothing after that for a minute and then I went back to Atlanta Um, a second time And then I was doing things in Atlanta, so I was like booking rows in Atlanta, I think I did something, I think I did a project called Saints and Centres, I did a TV show called Complications, like little guest stars in there. And then I booked a TV show called "To Hell and Back" and then there was Ernie Hudson, it was Kennedy McCullough, it was Vanessa Bell Calloway, she played my mom, and on that film of Vanessa Bell Calloway was like you need to go back to L.A. and you need to figure it out, you need to go to L.A. and New York and figure it out, because God I got something for you and you need to be there to be able to receive it, I'm like I ain't got no money to do that. You know what I'm saying? So that's when I had to figure it out, and again I called a homie, and they let me count serve. And I came out here and I figured it out, and then after that I started booking a booking audition after that, and then after that I just, I wasn't able to, I'm really still here off of that trip because I just started booking after that. And I ain't been able to leave since then, I'm like yo, are you still on the count you're missing by it now? Yeah, I'll be right there, I got the spot now, yeah, yeah, yeah, thank God, thank God, yeah. But no, it's dope because even all those projects I was able to, like, new audition that was musically involved, so I got to bring my music side in there when I did Detroit, I got to sing in there, I had a song on the soundtrack in there, you know what I'm saying, the hate you give. All that, you know what I'm saying? All that is still doing what I love to do authentically and just weaving it into it with my life path is going. What up, y'all, we're going to take a break from the episode and we're going to talk to you about our friends at Square. The perfect business platform to help your business become your neighborhood's favorite. From payments to online orders, staff, inventory, all of it, Square keeps it in one place. Now, whether you're getting up for a busy season or just trying to keep up with everyday's demand, Square helps it keep it simple and easy for your business. 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What up y'all, we're going to take a quick break from the episode. And we're going to talk to you about our awesome friends at prize picks. All right, yeah, the NBA Finals are in full swing right now. You know, they start on Wednesday. You know, I got all my money on the next minute. Now, you guys already know how simple the app is, but if you don't, I'm about to tell you. All you have to do is click more or less on a few different stats to make your lineup. And bang, it's locked in. And the best part about this is that prize picks is available in 40 states. And most importantly for us, New York fans is available in New York too now. Now, if you guys are fans of the podcast, you know I put a grand on Xiaomi to win the Oscar. I didn't win. But we do have a lot of cool things coming up. NBA Finals, the White House Card UFC baseballs in full swing. There's so many cool events to make sure you download prize picks and use the code crew. 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I played Ralph, which was in the story. Who, what character? He was one of the lead singers. Oh, fire. So you worked with Woody? Yeah, we're the little hell. Yeah, yeah, that's my dog, man. Yeah, man. Me and Woody were just in South Africa together. Oh, I did see him burn that. Oh, you tried a movie together. Yeah, yeah, I was it. It was fire, bro. It was fire. That was my first time in Africa. And so that experience alone was just, man, that was crazy, bro. How long was y'all different? How long was the shoot? I was out there for like a month and a half. That's fire. Yeah, that's some time they kick it and it's something. And then the crew out there was really good, bro. Like really on top of it, bro. South African crew? Yeah, fire. They was on top of it, bro. They was really on top of it. Dude, it's so interesting. I love working because I shot in Mexico City. So cool. And like I pray, like I love when other actors get to go do that, because it's such like a rewarding experience to see just like a whole full Mexican crew. It's like working, it's just dude. I just love doing that. It's like a new experience. And yeah, I love doing that. That's like one of my favorite parts about being actors, like that travel, yeah. That's real, right? He did a whole different country working as the crew. Yeah, bro. I mean, Michael did a one of his first roles, so I just-- Oh, no, which one? Which one? It's called-- it's an Italian film. It's called Leonardo Romundo. It means, like, it means another world. OK. Yeah, I was in Italy for like a year and a half. And then we filmed-- What? Yeah, we filmed three weeks of it also in Kenya and Africa. And I wrote the Kenya and Africa. So like-- It was crazy hard. It was like-- That's hard. Crazy Shakespeare. Imagine that being your first role. Yeah, right. That's a lot. I know what the hell was going on, but I mean, like-- How old was you? I was like 10. Wow, bro. Yeah, it's crazy. It was crazy. What's the-- what's the-- what is the favorite-- like, what is your favorite place that you've been able to go and experience? Like, while filming or just-- Even the outside of work. Yeah. Damn. I would have to say Amsterdam probably got to be one of my favorites, because I went there. I wonder why. Why? [LAUGHTER] He's like, no, I wasn't going to read, like, just for a little of a week. Yeah, OK, brother. Yeah. That was crazy to me. He said, that's a plus. That was a plus. He wasn't the red light district, because I was with my girlfriend at the time. But it was just, like, one of them places-- like, I didn't spend a lot of time, because I was in Europe. So I went to like three different places within, like, four days. So I was just, like, just traveling through, like, we were just taking, like, the trains to each spot. But I was just one of the places. I'm like, damn, I really wish I would have spent some more time. Like, I wanted to go back, like, instantly, so. That's how I invented Amsterdam. Yeah, obviously, Africa too, like, Africa and Italy, like, those are probably my two favorite places. For sure. What about you, bro? Dude, I love-- I have, like, trips that I've loved. Like, because when I go to Europe, I can't go there. I can't do the 14-hour flight and just go to, like, London and come back. I'd pop around. So I do that, because everything is-- It's a lot of stuff that's close. Yeah, I do that. I was talking to someone about this yesterday. I was like, who lives in the UK? And they were like, yeah, we never travel. I'm like, you understand our three-hour flight is San Antonio, Texas. Your three-hour flight is Greece. Yeah, you feel me? You should be doing it. You could take a three-hour flight. We could hop on a train for, like, an hour and a half, two hours, you'll be in the next spot. Yeah. And this is, like, is this super easy, bro? So I took advantage of that. I was on a train. We went from London to France to Amsterdam. And then we just moved. Yeah, it was moving. It was fine. Yeah, I have some cool experiences. We're, like, 50 brought me on on stage and, like, Poland. Just, like, weird, cool stuff like that, right? Like, cool memories. I love Ireland. You know, Portugal is one of my favorite places. But I just love travel. I just love travel. Prague. Prague's fire. Yeah, Prague's. I was just talking about that with Burdo. Yeah. Oh, yeah, Burdo. Did you ever walk-- have you seen power? Yes, he probably. Do you have-- do you see an R-Show book, too? I haven't seen all of books, too. I haven't seen all of it. Yeah, Burdo, who do you think? Burdo played Lorenzo Tahada, the dad. OK, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He's fire, bro. He's unbelievable. We're about to have about two again, bro. Spoiler-- he's on Yellowstone this season. He's been working on my crazy. I love him. But he met me out in Prague. 50 was doing a show there. He flew to Prague because he was shooting a metabend night agent in, like, Bosnia or something. He popped over. And then I also was with Alvin Secora, who's Joe Secora's brother replaced Tommy. And he was out in Prague with-- we just have crazy stories where people are in Europe. And 50 just brings everyone together. Did you go out there just for that? Yeah, I surprised 50 in this game, Poland. And then also, MGK was performing an Amsterdam. So I saw MGK one night, who I'm close with. Very good, dude. It's one of his videos. And then the next night, 50 was in Prague. So I popped over there and then went to another show in Poland. - I just be doing stuff, you know what I mean? - Like moving, moving, moving. - Are you guys-- Bro, I think that's like one of the one of the luxuries we have like I love filming for a certain amount of time and then And then being able to go do an experience. Yeah go playing. Yeah. What about you? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? I would probably I would probably say Italy I'll probably say Milan first because I got to take my mom's out there Oh, yeah, I went out there for a fashion show It was like a product campaign. Oh, you do fashion. Oh, it's a whole fashion week out there. Yeah. Yeah, but they brought it was like at night It was like a it was a campaign for product and I was like the I was like the one of the first black dudes to do that I can't like to do a campaign with him like that so it was fire being out there. I got to take my mom out there They got they let her go through the store picks some stuff. Oh, it was fire It was dope, bro. Yeah, those are the moments that are cool. Yeah, right? I'm the moments, but that you love Yeah, yeah, yeah, like me my mom is in Milan eating out here on the side like what the violin is playing over here It's crazy, but after that probably Africa bro to experience. I had that was spiritual in South Africa Yeah, yeah, I was I was walking on the um I went about a water and it was so many different like bands and singers playing and singing and bro It's just it's real spiritual seeing the sunset and hearing them sing Realizing that you where you come from and all that's crazy where where did they um and you don't have to if whatever But like where did they put you up and like where were you staying? What were the accommodations? How are you getting to work because I'm also all curious about how that works over there? Yeah, I was staying and um I was staying right by the the waterfront the VA waterfront Okay, so I was right over there and um we were shooting pretty much all over so they had we had like personal drivers So like a couple of the cast was there, so I said it like the van that comes we just had our personal drivers So sometimes they come get us and we got a job Imagine setting your makeup then forgetting it's even theirs Meet new grippy setting mist from Maybelline, New York Delta mist technology locks in your look for up to 24 hours with flexible all day comfy grip No tightness, no stickiness, no residue just plump Do we hydrated skin that still feels like your skin? Try new grippy setting mist from Maybelline, New York. Maybe it's Maybelline About two hours out and we got to be out there for 10 hours shooting. Yeah, we don't get back on the rose of 4 a.m. Coming back Another two hours back. Yeah Yeah, as well. You wonder what's so funny about I don't know how it was over there and tell me if it was but like Mexico City Like we had personal drivers too, but like it was like A Toyota Yarris or like a Camry They were putting like Sophie Turner who's like the lead-a-game of thrones and like one of the biggest just like in the back of a Yarris And it's like hour and a half drive go. Yeah, they for sure had us in the Suzuki way There's something to Bulgaria and it was literally that - it was just like It's just the driver's car. He's like getting he's like move the stuff over and get in. Yeah, you got chips on the bottom of the seat so After you go back you go you come LA you do that movie What was the thing that was able to keep you to really stay in sustain a career? It was new addition. Oh, it was new addition Yeah, it was new addition after that While I was filming while I was rehearsing for new addition actually I got a Car to do audition for Detroit with Catherine Bigelow. So I went to that audition and Then maybe like a week later of no, not maybe like a couple weeks later. I found out I got it and Then after that it's like the ball was just rolling. I know you feel like you're in that mode You feel like you're in flow state. Yeah, but you know how y'all know how that feels, right? It's just you Yes flow state, bro. Yeah, I feel like that right now too, bro. Yeah, I feel like that right now like I'm for sure in flow state I know you have like six things in that's about to come out, right? Yeah, it's a blessing, bro. That's a blessing, bro I'm I did a film With I did a boxing film with Jamie Foxx last year and a dope ensemble cast Xavier Mills, Tramick Brite, Shabazz, Mitch Edwards Malachai Beasley some dope some dope artist bro some really great artist Jameer But we we pretty much did a film based on the 1984 Olympic boxing team USA Olympic boxing team. Yeah And that's like a young Pernille Whitaker young Gavirna Holyfield. You had young Mike Tyson coming in and out I was Pernille young Pernille. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so We you know that story is really crazy because that team went on to win the 84 Olympics But they went on to honor the 1982 team that died on the plane crash going to the So, you know, it's a really emotional. Yo, I'll listen for that. I know yeah, yeah, yeah, bro I'll listen for that man. That's a blessing. So I'm excited about that when I got another one I see that I say gonna be fine. Yeah, that's gonna be hard. That's gonna be hard. I'm excited about that We got one coming out called Don't Ever Wonder. We're like Lorenz Tate and go and Neal on how cool is Lorenz, bro Lorenz is that guy little Lorenz is that guy, bro It's that guy, bro all of the aunties love the rinsed. Oh, dude You can't when we would go outside with Lorenz like if you're in New York or at an event or this night, bro He just be Damn, this guy's got swag. You know it. Yes, I have like a giant chain on and then the girls like get on the way like let's go - Just a little bit. - Just a little bit. - Just a little bit. - Just a little bit. - No, you'll have that APL. You go have an APL. - Yeah, right, right, right, right. - You go have a couple of of them, too. You go, you got a good rotation. You got a good rotation. - So when you, I'm curious about your audition process. How do you approach your tape when it comes in? 'Cause I'd love when people are booking and I'm like, let's hear it. - I wanna hear yours, too. This is a great question. - Yeah, I love it. - I, this is a great question. All right, cool, let's give some sauce. I just like to first read the breakdown. So I like to read what it is. I like to read the breakdown of the character that they give you. Obviously they're gonna give you clues in there. He talks fast, he's such and such. He's a quick thinker, he's whatever. So then you know, okay, cool. These are some things that I can bring into my performance that I just have in the back of my head. So then after that, I just read it, bro. I take the size and I read it so much. I will spend hours just reading it. And that's all I do, just to get it in my system so I can memorize and learn it. And then after I read it, while I'm reading it, I'm understanding what's going on as well. So I'm processing, okay, this is happening. Oh, this is what you mean? Oh, okay, I'll give you what you're saying. Then once I do that, I figure out what I want. I figure out, what am I trying to get? And then I figure out how am I gonna go about getting it? So if I'm trying to get, if I'm proposing to somewhere, you know, I'm gonna use some charm. I'm gonna use some, maybe some type of emotion. I'm gonna do certain different tactics to get there. So then I weave those tactics into my performance. And then that's what I'll do, bro. That's all I do. And I think it's just I like to also use the art of submission. So putting that character, like putting someone in the place of that character that I know. So I'm talking to somebody and I'm talking to him a certain way. I'm gonna, I'm maybe talking to my little brother. So I'm picturing my little brother one. So different things like that that we learn when you go to class and different stuff like that. But yeah, yeah, no, Mike, you can kind of go next. And I'll probably say the same thing, like you just, it also depends on how much, like whatever I get connects with me. Like certain things that I get, if I don't connect with it as much as I would like to, I probably won't do as much for it. But like certain things, if I get something I'm like, and I'm like, damn, like this looks like the character that I connect, one connect with. And also could enjoy being like, you know, in the shoes of for a good period of time, 'cause obviously if you, if you, you know, in a role, you're gonna be in that role for a long time. So you want to enjoy it. And like I said, connect with it. So I would say the same thing, like whatever the objective of the character is, like I try to just get a full understanding of that and you know, really just that. Like sometimes I'll read sides over and over and over and over and over. Like he said to like get it, like, you know, just in the system and sometimes I'll just like read it a couple of times. Just just to have it fresh. You know, just like like experiment with it a little bit and then, you know, have like a version of that and then another version of it just being strictly what it is on the paper too. So I'll rock with that 'cause everything ain't the same. That's what I wrote with that. Yeah. I feel the same way. I'm like, sometimes I over prepare and then I, which I don't love because then it becomes robotic. Sometimes I like. I'm like, I'm falling out of love with it if I over. That's what happens to me. But after Daryl's episode, I'm like, maybe I do need the whole thing. But, you know, he's like, yeah, man, that's my guy, man. I'm like, damn, I gotta, you know, he is. Yo, he's so elite, bro. Yeah, he is, bro. I could talk to him for days. Yeah. I'm about to start walking around the block two times before, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, he does his whole probably every time. Yeah. But he told us some shit. He was like, he doesn't read signs and like, he'll walk around the block once with some signs in his hand [BLANK_AUDIO] don't read the signs until he walks around the block for the second time. 'Cause he's saying he wants to get the walk of the character. Like, each character has different walks. So, like, he'll walk around the block as himself and then the second time he walks around the block, he's reading the signs or whatever and then, fuck around, he just have like a whole different walk to him. And it's subconsciously, he won't even know. And then, like, and that's kind of what bass, like, that kind of, like, his, his bass. - He gets in in his body, yeah, that's smart. - Smart, smart. - Yeah, I, he's just, like, on a different level. But they're, they're, David Fincher. I'm like, he's like probably one of my favorite directors. - No. - He's like, notoriously known for doing, like, 80 takes of something. - Mm. - And, I know, and people say that, all the 80 pieces, like, yeah, I know, is that nuts. All the actors are like, one through 15 are okay. 15 through 76. I wanna kill myself. 76 to 80, I hit the sweet spot. It's so strange, every actor that he's ever worked with says the same thing. - 76 to 80, I hit the sweet spot. - Yeah. - Yeah, it's just, it's just, it must be a great step point. - Yeah, I feel that, I feel that, I feel that, I'm done. - So I'm like, okay, maybe, maybe I gotta do a little more. - Yeah, man. - Yeah. So, new edition happens. And then, you feel like, do you start getting recognized and known and people kind of know who you are? - Before you, yeah. - Being that he brought up new edition, I wanted to act, 'cause I feel like movies like that are so interesting, where it's very musical, it's a lot of, obviously, performance and stuff like that. What is the rehearsal, like, what is the rehearsal, before filming and then during filming, how rigorous is that? Like, how, how, yeah, it was, it was, we had a month to learn what these dudes learned in 30 years. And so, we were spending eight hours a day in rehearsal, eight hours a day. That maybe a 30-minute lunch break, we couldn't just run and get water, bro. It was like water, maybe every, whenever they say we could get water. And then we was just running it back to back to back. And we would run that and then we would run scenes. And then we would run that and we would run scenes. And then new edition would come in, 'cause they was rehearsing for a tour, so then we would have to run it behind them. And then we messed up, get out, you know what I'm saying? It was, so you worked with new edition, bro. - Yeah, that's cool. - Yeah, bro. - That's tough. - The process was, rehearsing for a play month for a tour, but like eight hours a day for a whole month. That's like rehearsing for a play. - Yeah, that's a fact. It really is, yeah, that's right, that's real. - And was it hard to learn the stuff? Like, you had to sing, dance, was that difficult? Or was that rewarding? - Or both. - For me, it was rewarding because I do music, you know what I'm saying? So like, and then it's like, this music that I grew up on, bro. - You know what I'm saying? - So for me, it was rewarding because I'm in my element. I get to do everything that I do in the art form right here in this piece right here. I get to sing, I get to go to the studio. And we sung them records, you know what I'm saying? We was singing on them records. We sung, learning these dances. You fit me performing in these stadiums. We was really performing in the Pac-Dow stadium here. It was crazy, bro. It was crazy, it was dope. - That's funny. - Yeah, were you liking about two birds with one stone? - Yeah, it was dope, it was dope. - It's so funny 'cause I'll watch something and I will go, like I'll watch a hockey movie or I'll watch a football movie or I'll be like, oh damn, like how cool would that life it would be for that person? Or I'll even watch the next game last night. How cool would it be to be Jalen Brunson? - Yeah. - And I'm like, no dude, I'm the ultimate job to be able to do whatever I want. - Yeah. - So when you were doing that, did you feel like, was there any moment where you totally dropped in? Like I'm a fucking superstar singer dancer. - Yeah, for sure. - Like how cool would it show? - Like I want to be Justin Bieber, so yeah. - But I don't really, I will do a role where you get to do it. - Yeah, no, you have to do it. So you can feel what that feels like, bro. When you're hearing that, but like I said, though I had come from performing already, so I've, like I'm used to that type of rush and that adrenaline rush on stage. So it was just like going back to what I know, you know what I'm saying? - Yeah, that's so dope. So after you do a new addition, what was like the next move after that? Was your team starting to like bring you scripts? Did you have a little bit more say and be able to be more picky? Or was it just like business as usual auditioned right? - Yeah, you know what, I was always, I was always having my own say in being picky. And that's what I can appreciate. I had a really good team around me who I still have. My A1, day one, Yasmin Pearl. Been my agent since I was 16, you know what I'm saying? She was at Osbrink when I came out here with Joy Pervis. So I connected right there and then every since then we just stay connected with each other everywhere I went. Wherever she went, I went, you know what I'm saying? Wherever I went, she went. And she's still my agent to this day. And so it was, yeah, it was that, you know, it was me having, I always had say, so we were very particular about what we said yes to, you know, and it was hard to say no, so a couple of things. You know how y'all know how that is. But you know exactly, exactly, exactly. But you're like, okay, does this align with where I'm going? - Yeah. - Where I say I wanna go and do I wanna put myself and like Mike said, do I wanna be, am I gonna enjoy working on this for the next two years? Or am I just doing this purely for the money? - Or when I do the press tour, am I gonna be able to actually talk about myself? - Like I like it. - Yeah, you very good. So I've always, me and my team have always been very picky in particular about what we say yes to. - So what was the next thing after that? - It was Detroit after that fire. - And then that's Captain Bigelow. - Yeah, of course. - So that's the合 locker, that's zero dark 30s. - Well, what was she like on set? Like how was all of it, pro? - She's like a gentle giant. - I love that. - She talks like this, and I just wanna blow some things up today. - Yeah, next thing you know, you just got a whole street. Boom! - I'm just blowing up cars, blowing up. Like, okay, everybody's good, right? - That's the way I'm gonna take it. - Yeah, I will love it on the take, like, yeah, yeah. But she, you know what I'm saying, she shit up. - Yeah, bro. She made sure that she, that she cared for the artist. And even when I was pushing to get a song on the soundtrack, the film company was like, "No, we don't think so," and Captain was like, "No, I want him to have a song on there." So then I got a headless song on there. - And what was the song on? - That's what it was, it was the scene, kind of how did all that come together? - The song was called "Grow." And I got to do that, I got to do a video with the guy that I played in the film. His name is Larry Reeve. So he was a part of the "Germatics," which is the band that I played the least singer of in that movie, Detroit. Detroit is a wild movie, bro. It takes place in 1967, right? It's in Detroit in the night. And it takes place of a night that happened where, you know, a bunch of unfortunate situations, things happened to a young group of young black men. They got crazily, brutally beat by some police officers. They had a hostage in the room. And it was just crazy. So I played a one of the real life guys that went through that experience. And so I got to do that video with him and he got to be in the video. We got to smile with each other and, you know, saying and play piano, it was just dope. - So now that you've actually emulated, is that the right word? Emulated or played someone real multiple times? How do you approach that? Do you try and copy their walk? Or like, do you try and copy the way that they talk? Or are you just being like, as algae, I'm gonna be this person. - I think as Ralph, to be honest, as Ralph, bro, I just kind of fell into that, bro. I'm just smooth like him, bro. So it was like everything was kind of just already there, but I think I was overthinking it in the process. And I was overthinking it so much that I wasn't allowing myself to be free in it. He came to me, he was like, bro, you already got it. Like, you hear for a reason, you got it. You're doing everything you need to do. Just trust that, after that, it was off to it. But with Larry Reed in Detroit, it was much more difficult because he was also a smooth guy as well, but, you know, this was a very specific, very specific and traumatic thing that you wanna make sure you get really correct for him, because he wouldn't do that. You know, so it's ain't performing on stage. This is trauma, you know what I'm saying? - What were those conversations like? - I had a chance to, it was a lot of things going on while pre-production was going on. So I was trying to get to him and I wasn't able to get to him and that was frustrating me. And so I really made it a thing and I pressed and I hit Katherine, I was like, "Before I start filming, I want to talk to him." And so I got to go to this house and we got to kick it. And I just asked him what he wants, you know, what he wants to be said, how he wants to be betrayed, and what he thinks is important, how he was feeling. And I talked to him for like two or three hours, bro. He showed me his family photo books. I, you know, he said nephew's kids, called his kids on the phone. "Hey, you look what I got over here." You know, he from Michigan too, so that's the crib, like we connected in that way. So I'm glad I got to have those conversations, those private conversations with him about how he desired to be represented before I stepped on a set. - That's what every actor dreams about. That exact thing that you just said, going through the photo albums, like that's like in your mind as an actor, like the peak. - Yeah. I didn't get a chance to do that, so I did a film after that called Judas in the Black Messiah, where I play-- - Love that movie. - Black Panther called, named Jake Winners. And Jake Winners, you know, he went out of martyr, you know, he put himself, the line fighting that fight. So I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but I was able to talk to some of his family and some of the black pastors before doing that. But that's one of the situations where you don't get to talk to the person, but you just have to soak up every piece of knowledge that you can get and talk to the people that care about them. Was there any video of him or anything that you watched? No, it was just, it was like two pictures, bro, like newspaper pictures. Yeah, so all I could go out for was that like, he was in the army, he was a military guy, so he knew about guns really well, knew how to break him apart, put them together. He was like the gunsmith of the Panthers. Nice. And he was the youngest guy too, but he was like the most radical too. Yeah, did you, um, one of the most, I'm not going to say that one of the most. One of the most radical. Yeah, uh, who directed that? That was Shaka King. And how was it? I was working with him. Shaka's fire. Yeah, who? Shaka's fire, man. Shout out to Shaka. He is a brilliant visionary, you know, he knows how to not get in the way of what needs to be told, but also how to be collaborative, but also he has a strong vision too. Right. And so it was really dope. You know, Ryan, who there was a producer on that, Charles King, James Lopez, producer on that macro. Yeah. So at this point, Ryan had Ryan done fruit fail at that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think Ryan had already done like Panther too. Oh, damn. The first. Yeah. Well, that black, uh, that was juicy. Black side came out like 2021. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's man. That was the height of a lot of stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, you probably felt like there was like so much responsibility at that time. Yeah. Yeah. That was a lot. Yeah. It was a lot. And then Daryl was in that film with me. So me and Daryl, Daryl played one of the Panthers as well. So that's how me and him connected. Oh. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Oh, my God. That. And then you guys just like Langton. That was brother. Yeah. Where did you shoot that? We shot that in Cleveland. Cool. Yeah. Cleveland. Yeah. Where's where's your favorite place that you've shot in America? Ooh. Probably Detroit because I got to go to Motown before it was the new Motown now. So I got this like singing the spot where Mike's son Michael Jackson's son. All these legends like sung, bro. Like right on the mic in the room. Like. That's great. Yeah. It was wow. That's great. Probably. Yeah. So at this point, obviously, you're doing crazy films. Like you're you have a bunch of work to do. You have a bunch of stuff in your shoulders that you're executing. When did you when do you start feeling a accomplished? Be do you start getting recognized? Like when does that come into play? And does it affect anything? Yeah. Uh, yeah. Started feeling accomplished when I started booking. Yeah. For sure. Because y'all know how that is. It's like once you work for it for so long, bro. You hear no, no, no, no, no, no. And then you get the yes. It's like, oh, you know what I'm saying? Like, I wasn't. I'm not crazy. Yeah. Like, oh, no. It's a turn here. So yeah, after that, I started feeling accomplished. And obviously, yeah, you started getting recognized. But it was a blessing because I was getting recognized for different things by different communities. So for new addition, it was obviously music and all different type of cultures. Really, really black culture, but all type of cultures. New addition is worldwide. We're talking about Asian, Hispanic. Wherever you want to go, there's new addition. So it was that. And then the white people like new addition to. Yeah. For sure. No, no. Man. What? So there's so white man that copy new addition blueprint. You know, I'm saying. Yeah. But yeah. So it was a blessing to be recognized just by different communities. You know, the hatred gave when just like I get recognized by a lot of foreign, you know, countries for that movie. I didn't even realize. Well, that was what, what studio did that? That was Fox. I mean, that was like a, I remember that was like a big like almost, not, I wouldn't say teen, but like it had that. It put a lot of money behind those YA things. So, yeah, especially was Fox like, do you think that was the most commercialized thing you've done? At that point, at that point, I don't know. I feel like maybe, maybe, yeah, maybe at that point. And who is the lead? That was Amanda La. Yeah. How's working with her? Man, she's fired. I love Amanda. She's dope, bro. She's a really, she's really great. She's a really great person to start, but then her, she's actually, she's a fire fire. Yeah. And so then when, obviously, you're working with all these like crazy people. Are you, are you like picking and taking from all, you know, like soaking up stuff? Yeah. Yeah. I'm seeing. Yeah. I'm just, yeah, man. I'm just kind of just seeing, seeing and asking people about their process, how they, how they approach it. You know, I'm saying, and kind of just taking that game and I'm like, yo, where'd you go to school at? How was that training? Would you learn, you know, or can we work on the scene? You know, say, you want to read the scene with me and then seeing how they, what game they give you? When you open like that and people, and people really are not selfish, they're going to give game. Yeah. Did you have anything that sticks out to you or something like that? You really remember that someone told you about acting, about the business, about kind of, you don't have to give us a secret. It's just so good. No, it's not even a secret. I'm trying to think of, I'm trying to think of a good one. We can, you can take your time. We can cut, cut all this time too. Yeah. No, no, I like to, I like to try that thing moment. Um, about acting or about the business. Or even about life that helped you navigate through the business or helped you become a better actor. Yeah. I was just talking about this one recently. I think ironically will help you become a better actor and also will help you become a better musician and a better singer was taking pressure off becoming, becoming that. Yeah. If that makes sense. Yeah. So it's like, I was wrapping everything in that though. It's like, I got to get to the next. I got to do it. I got to do it. And then I wasn't no life outside of that. Like I love to play pool, bro. Like I love to, you know what I'm saying? I love to go on high exp, bro. I love to go to meditation sessions. I love to do those things. And so I wasn't doing any of those things. It was like only work, work, work. Yeah. So I was liking the balance, which then was causing the work not to be that great. Yeah. Because I'm not getting like the life experiences that I need. Yeah. And so I think that was that's even out nobody telling me, you know, that's something that I had to kind of learn and go through myself. Yeah. And it's like, I had to have stuff outside of this that, you know, this can't define me. Yeah. You know, I'm still, I'm out, I'm out of the outside of this. So, you know what I'm saying? So I can't, I can't put all my worth in it. And I think that's that's one of the biggest lessons because, man, you you wrap your worth up in the next thing. Good luck. Yeah. Good luck. Cause you on the win and come week, bro, we had Kobe and a strike. Yep. We was at the crib. It's a simple, is that everything for you? Yeah. It was a wrap, bro. And nobody working, nobody was working. So that's that's the, that's the things you got to have outside of what you say you do, like who you are. Yeah. It's kind of interesting. Cause like when I first started booking, I moved out here and I was work, work, work, work, work. And I did not let myself do anything else. And I was like squeezing the thing. And then someone told me was like, you should just like start playing hockey. And I didn't play hockey so long. And I was like, all right, fuck, I'll start playing again. Second, I started playing hockey. And I started booking everything. I was like, what's the correlation? It was just like, cause I like, yeah. So now like, I know I'm getting real white here. But now like, I'm, I started a golf. I'm starting to play. It's not right, bro. Everybody's starting to golf. I have a pickle balls, too, white. Uh, I, that will say that it's too white. But this is playing pickle ball. Not to make you play pickle ball. Jamie Jamie. I played at Jamie's house. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but so I'm starting to like, I, I agree with that. And it's also weird. Cause your team can tell when you send it to Tate. They're like, they're like, you okay? Yeah. Yeah. But they're like, you're doing like what's, and I'm like, I'll just play like pickle ball. Now, but that's funny. How did you get into pool? How did you realize that you like that? Mm, I've been playing pool since I was younger. My grandma, my granddad had a pool table in the crib. And so ever since I was a kid, me and my uncles have been, I was just getting whipped by them all the time until I figured out how to get good. You feel I'm saying? So, um, hate you give happens. Then what's the next thing after that? After that, after the hate you give, I think it was, man, was it for you? Oh, yes. I think it might have either been, it might have been you for you. Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, after the hate you gave, it was, yeah, it was for you. Yeah. Yeah. So what, uh, I, it's funny. I auditioned for you for you as well. A couple of different roles. I remember the room. There was like a class thing. Do you remember the audition? Oh, my, just go ahead. Tell me you. I don't even remember much. I went in for a couple of different roles. I got kind of a little bit somewhere and each different role. Um, and then I, I just never heard anything. But, um, and they cast to, they cast the right people for that show. That first season. Um, do you, but you were there season one? Yeah, I was there a season one, but my, I came in late at the audition process. And so I came in after the initial audition has had been ran. And then it was looking for, uh, my character. And so then, um, I sent in a tape. And then Sam Levinson reached out to me and he was like, I want to go to lunch with you. So we went to lunch and we kind of just started chopping it up about life and kind of how I view life and how he viewed life and he told me kind of his backstory and how you for you really was his life story in the sense. Yeah. Like he went through a lot of them, them traumatic events, that, you know, that you see. that you're seeing real kind of go through too. And so, you know, through relating to faith and different things in our life, I think you kind of just took a liking to me and then I came back to a audition process. I think it was on a, I forget what lot it was on, but it wasn't like it's just a small room. And it was me in there and then Sidney was in there and we maybe heard a couple of scenes together and then Jacob was in there and then we ran a couple of scenes together. But that was our audition process for Mito and then after that, I think I heard nothing for like three, three weeks. You know how that goes. - Yeah. - Easy to like, oh, let me just let it go, bro. Let me just let it go. - I think I saw something else. - I came back around, so I'm like, man, that's crazy. - So, when you chemistry read with Sidney and with Jacob, Jacob already, did you, they were already cast? - Yeah, they were already cast, yeah. - And was there anyone else chemistry reading for you were always just you? - No, it was just me. - How do you feel about a chemistry reading? - I think they're imperative. I think they're imperative. I don't like the audition process in general. I think it's, it doesn't always find the best actor. But I think that the chemistry is so important. - That's interesting that you say that the audition process doesn't always find the best actor. And I could agree with that because you hear a lot of times when they say, we still haven't found the guy. - Yeah, it finds the best, it finds the best auditioner. - Yeah, yeah. It's a toss up sometimes, you might not, you know? - But they've found the right way to do it yet. So, like, it is what it is that's how it's been forever. I think there are better ways to find, you know, maybe if they, I don't know. I don't have the answer, obviously no one else has. But I always, it's like the best auditioner is gonna get not always the best actor. I know some incredible actors that are fucking horrible at auditioning. - And vice versa. - Ooh, man, audition is a skill though, bro. - Of course. So sometimes people get really good at auditioning, but they're not great actors. - That's a fact. - Does that make sense? - That's a fact, yeah, but to your point, I think the chemistry read is very important. Chemistry reads are crazy though, because it's like, imagine it for the audience. Imagine this, right? You do the first audition and then you get your call back that says, okay, we rock, which we wanna bring you back. And then you do a second audition. And then they like, okay, we really rock, which you like. We wanna bring you back, it's only like two, it's only like two or three, y'all that we looking at right now. And then you get the call like, okay, now we want you to do a chemistry read. So in your mind, you like, oh snap, like, all right, cool, I'm one step closer here. - Right. - You're human, so you're gonna be thinking this, trust me. You're not gonna be thinking whatever happens happens. - I know. - You're thinking like, okay, I'm right there. - Yeah, if I got the chemistry, it's like-- - Yeah, that's what you're doing in there. - So then during the chemistry read, what happens is you have to, you know, I'm saying agree to, okay. If they like me after this, then I'm immediately picked up. So you dang near, you dang near, sign a contract. You dang near, like, so you go through the whole emotional thing of like, oh snap, I'm like, this contained, like, I'm proud of the contract. - Yeah, right, yeah. - So all that, but I think it's so important, because first of all, when you get to that step, you know that not everybody made it to that step. - Yep. - So one, you know that I'm doing something, right, my shots are, I'm putting up good shots. Let's not get that twisted. We putting up good shots. In that process, all the time, it's not about who had the better audition. It's about who fits the role better. - 100%. - I agree with you. - Maybe bruh is, maybe bruh is shorter how they like it, or maybe bruh needs to be taller. Maybe bruh needs to be a little skinnier. You never know what it is, but if you know you made it to that far, then you know, okay, I got it. So until your point, I think chemistry is our important, because you also, you know, you gotta, you gotta get in the room and feel that. You gotta be in front of all the directors and feel what that's like. - Also, I think it's imperative to like you, if this person's gonna be your love interest, - On a love interest? - No, fucker. I gotta know what it feels like to chemistry. The actual chemistry inside people needs to like, is their fireworks or not? And I said this a couple of episodes ago, I had maybe wish that. They did more chemistry reads in power with my love interest. Some I had chemistry with, some I didn't. And it shows on screen. - It do be showing, it shows. - It's so important, Mike. Did you ever read with anybody as a chemistry read on any power show ever? - Mm, not that I remember, I'm not that I remember. - I mean granted, like they do move so fast and stuff like that, but like, honestly, like that could make them break a show. - That could. - Yeah, it really could though. They really could make it break a show and that would take risk. - So when you got the call for you for it, where are you fucking like, but then again, you didn't know how big it was gonna be. - Yeah, we didn't know nothing, we didn't know nothing. When I got the call, I'm like, okay, it's another win. Good, check mark, all right for sure. But we didn't know what that was going to be, but we didn't know, but I think the script was so crazy that we knew that and Sam was telling us how he was planning to shoot it and all the different camera whips he was planning on doing in the angles and just the shots and so by knowing that and knowing, okay, HBO is gonna go all out for this, then we knew, okay, it could be something, but we'd never knew it was gonna be that though. - Yeah, how many episodes did you wind up doing? - I ended up doing like, tsh, I think over like eight, eight and one. - And it was through season one and season two. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - And where did your character end up? - And he ended up going to college. - Oh, yeah, yeah. - Did you ever think that they would maybe bring you back or kind of on that sense, or do you think sometimes-- - I didn't, yeah. - No, I didn't. I think once they closed the chapter, it was good to close the chapter. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, I feel like that person. - Yeah, that, I mean, what a show to be a part of and to have that in your resume and to do start feeling fucking famous after that. - It was. - I would just say it added to it. It's just a different demographic at that point. It's like, you're right smack dab in pop culture now. Like, you're in the zeitgeist of it, like, it's a rap, bro. Like, it's a rap. Every type of ethnicity, every nationality, every race, they're watching it. Every different age. - Yeah, they got stamps on that past point. - Yeah, as well, as well. - So you do those episodes, they come out, what are you popping around and doing now? - Still music on the road, putting out records. - Can I help you sell more tickets and do this and do that? - For sure, for sure. And that's how we do it. We garner, we make the whole ecosystem make sense. And fans that love me for this. When they love me for this, they don't love me for this too, 'cause they love me. So I was putting out record. We went number 10 on the iTunes charts. My album with no major promo, selling out shows. So it was always a combination of that. You know, still doing that when before it came out. - Did you work with Angus? - I did. - Do you had a lot of scenes with him? - I had a few, yeah. - But we had a lot of off screen time too. - Yeah, we was kicking him. - Bro, everyone just says he was just like so like the man and just like that. - Bro, that was my guy, bro. He was just a good, good dude man, good chill. Lay back, dude. And just he ain't having no ego. - Yeah. - And to make sure everybody was comfortable around him. He was very giving. If he had it, he was going to give it to you. - Yeah. - He was just a solid dude. - When you're on set with another actor, do you like talk about the scene? Like kind of what's your process when you step, like me and Mike, for example, like when we know we're not in the pocket, we're like fuck, like let's fucking go and we'll run it, we're like, and then we hit a sweet spot. Like do you have a certain process that you do with another actor or maybe specifically on Euphoria? Like, it just depends on the other person. Some people don't like to, you know, you can hope to God that you get a good scene partner, bro, and that you get somebody that's willing to work with you and figure it out with you. But when you do, yeah, that's what I love to do. I love to run it. I love to run it lines. I don't love to overdo it, though. Like let's run it two or three times to kind of hear each other do it. And then let's lead the rest to whatever happens on set. - Yeah, it's-- - We gon' have rehearsal, you know? - Right, yeah. - Yeah. - Yeah. Do you have some, um, do you have some favorite scene partners that you've worked with that you remember? - Oh. - Like, something like, really stick out to you. - Ooh, ooh, ooh, let's get it. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. (keyboard clicking) - Sanhala, then. - Oh, yeah. - Of course. - We did a really crazy emotional scene in this film called "Young Wild Free" I did. And the way she just-- The way she-- I love the way she handled, and handled it set, bro. I love that. And I love the way that she was able to deliver. After that, Jamie. - Of course. - Yeah, Jamie's wild. (laughs) - Jamie, next level. Jamie can be laughing with you one second. His action, huh? He dropped in, dialed in immediately. Immediately though, like, he was just making everybody laugh, literally though, but then soon his action come. I'm talking about the director's life action. He's still laughing, huh? - Yeah. - Dropped in, dialed in. - He's got to be one of the most talented people in the world. - Shay Wiggum. - Tight. - Yeah. - Master class acting. Master. the class. Man, I want to say we're going for the first time on boardwalk empire with Steve Bushin. Yeah, yeah, they filmed that right next to us at Steiner bro. He was he was so I was a fan of him then. And when I got to work with him, I'm already like, all right, I know he's nasty, bro, I know he's nice, but then seeing how he commanded to set and how it was about the craft and the detail that he would pay attention to and no, no, no, no, I'm not a master talking to director like, man, I know my strobe, but if I do this, then it's going to mess up the shop for the next two like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, my show. I need everybody out of my eye. I can't see you in this. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like, bro, it's just, man, I love that though, because I love seeing somebody deep into the craft, because I know with that light. Right. So when it's like, even with music, when I see somebody deep into the craft of figuring out a record or or singing the song and I'm filling the emotion, I know what that's like, so I can connect to it. Yeah. So yeah, I'm trying, probably some of my favorite singing partners. I'm trying to think of who else, I'm trying to give another good one. And Vanessa Calloway, 'cause she helped change my life. Of course. Yeah, I got to say her. Just, just, just a drop of feeling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's fucking awesome. So if you could do music with anyone who, who would you choose? If I could do music with anyone alive, dead or alive, or alive, yeah, alive, dead or alive. Dead or alive. If I could do music with anyone and Michael Jackson, for sure. Yeah. Of course. After that, Stevie Wonder. Fire. After that, man, I wish I could do music with Bobby Womack. I'm not familiar with it. Oh, bro, that's good. You got to listen to the song call if you think you're lonely now. It's fire. Bro, what? So Bobby was crying on the way home. If I think I'm fucking lonely. Yeah, bro. So so Bobby Womack used to write a lot of songs for Sam Cook. So he was like Sam Cook's, like Lil' Bro, in a sense. But just extremely talented. Who else? Obviously, everybody today, I want to collab with everybody. Everybody, bro. Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. So recently, you just, your newest thing that just came out was called the Gates. That just came out a couple months ago. Yep, yep, yep. And who was that with? That's with my boy Mason Goodin and Keith Powers. Fire, fire, fire, fire. And so what was it about and how, like how was it? What was it like shooting that? Yeah, the Gates is about us three young college guys who go on a road trip to go meet up with some shorties. We can all relate to that. That's the classic story. We get the text, yo, pull up, come through. That's me and Michael. Yeah, that's every one of us. We all do that. So we went on a road trip. We get on the highway. It's a crazy traffic jam. I'm talking about it's going to take us to this traffic on at least have us sitting there for two hours. So the homies like, let's take a detour. I'm driving. I'm like, I don't think this is a smart idea. We take the detour. We end up in this community that we're not supposed to be and we get locked into the community. We witnessed something happen in the community and we get blamed for it. And now we're getting chased in the community trying to get out. So it's like a psychological thriller action. Wow. That's fine. When you read the script, we like, this is fine. Yeah, bro. Yeah, I'm like, this is hard. Yeah, we shot that in Tulsa. Oh, fine. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What was it like out there? Was it dead? He's trying to be like, no, low key, where we was standing at it was it wasn't dead, bro, because it was like a big hard rock casino right there next to us. A waffle house that was always popping. So it was always traffic, but it wasn't okay. It wasn't like Oklahoma, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, it wasn't like in the city city city. I mean, you know what I'm saying, but yeah. So coming out next, you have a couple of films that are coming out. What can you say about them and what are they? And then obviously we'll have you back when they come out. For sure. So next I got a project called Don't Ever Wonder Coming Out with Netflix, which is like I say, with the rents taken near long, which is really dope. I also have the 534 coming out. Yeah, all those. Do you have dates on those yet or now? I don't actually get some days. Yeah, we try to get some days. I think I'm blanking on two types of shit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, you got a film called Boystrip coming out when we shot in Africa. And then yeah, the pilot that I just did. So when we get picked up, that'd be coming out hell. Yeah, when we get picked up the boys work. Um, bro, go watch the gates. I got to go watch it now. I think you got to tap in. Yeah, so I think it's on Amazon. Yeah, I got one question. Yeah, my question. No, please. You play the hell of roles. You play roles where you literally had to be someone else and you have to obviously pay homies. Yeah, you know, to who they were and what they went doing and all that. But Taylor make a role for yourself and like put yourself in a perfect script, put yourself in a perfect movie for you. Well, that will that look like I always. That's a good question. I would say I would say put me in an action romantic comedy. Hell yeah. And I say that because I can get my smooth sauce off with my charm with my, with my smooth shit. I can be allergy. I can also get my action fixed off where I'm shooting running and doing every saving the day. And I can also bring my human. I love it. Who's your favorite director that you want to work with? Oh, man. That's a great question. I just worked with David Ayer. Correct. David Ayer wrote training day. Yeah. It's insane. That's why he wrote in directed. I think it's suicide squad. Yeah. A bunch of others. He wrote in directed. What was it? End of watch. Yeah. Nasty. So that was on that was like one of my, you know what I'm saying, one of my things after seeing training day when I was younger, I'm like, yeah, I want to work with those people. So even Antoine Fuqua. I want to work with Ryan Kugler again. I definitely want to work with. I want to work with Scorsese. Oh yeah. How do all of those who would you have direct your romantic action comedy? Oh, man. Yeah, I just want to blow some shit up. Oh, dang. That's tough. Oh, wait. Because you just gave some, some legends that you got. Oh, wait. Oh, man. That's very specific. I would go with, I would go with Kugler. And I say that because he knows how to capture all those things. Yeah. He knows how to capture vulnerability really well in soft moments. He knows how to capture action, you know. I think that's it. How's he done a comedy? Um, I or like something that's slightly committed. I'm not sure. There's a couple funny moments in centers, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm interested to see that though, because I know he would, I know he could kill that. Yeah. I wonder what a Kugler comedy. Maybe we should, maybe we should all take that. Nobody should. No, we should write it and take it to him like you know, bro, you got the young, the young squad. We're trying to do it. That's all right. Mike yours would be Kugler too. Yeah, I'll probably say Kugler. I'm not going to lie. Kugler. Yeah. What was your, before we get out here, what was your film being? What would you know? I don't know. I do it. I have like so many. I'll wake up one morning and I'll go, I want to do this and I'll wake up the next morning and I want to do this. I do my mind too much. I just, I want to work with Fincher. Like he's like my goat. But I don't know. We'll see how I feel about it. Right now, I want to work with David Fincher. I mean, even like an American sniper type movie, like something like that. Hard. Hard. Zero dark 30. He's one of the greatest movies ever made. I can't believe you got to work with Kevin. He's crazy. So maybe something along the lines, but I'll feel differently tomorrow. Yeah. I want to, I want to do something hockey. That'll be tight, bro. That'll be tight. Next thing. I want to do something. Have you found a story yet about like a young hockey guy? Yeah. I'm, I'm, yeah. Okay. Do you think we see it? Yeah. That's like my, yeah. Mike, what would you pick? Blue sky, whatever you wanted to do. I like that blue sky. Yeah. I want to do something that's just like something like something similar to what he was explaining. Like the gates would be like, but I would say more, I would say less of that type of drama. I would, I would want it to be just like a, like a good ensemble cast, you know, the boys and just like some fun shit. Yeah, like, like a, like a, every common also. Yeah. Like neighbors or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like a mix between that, a mix between like hangover mix. Oh, yeah. Mix between all of that, like, all of that. Wow. I have a, I have a script that I, I'm currently, I'm trying to direct it. And it is very similar to what you just said, Mike, obviously you're going to be in it. And I'm just going to say, I'm saying, I'm just going to call my word. That's crazy. I'm saying my word, but it is. It's very similar to like Project X and hangover. We low key need one of those. Yeah. No. I'm working. I'm working. We need some more, like rush hours. We need some more things of that cloth. Like, it was very specific. Wow. Comedy's, man. We - Yeah, bro. - Wow, comedy. - I'll give you guys a little taste of what it's about to true story, don't take my idea. But I'm working on directing it right now. - Let me write this down real quick. - Oh yeah. - Oh yeah. (laughing) - You just watched that and so back. This is a true story, when I was in high school, there was a kid that came to my high school, my junior year, that he had diplomatic immunity. So we would throw parties at his house, but the cops couldn't shut the party down. - It's a true story, and the script's amazing. I wrote it, I'm not gonna tell you more. - But it is like a project x-type story. - Yeah, I'm big. - I'm big. - I'll be as old teaser. The cops can't show up. That's the one at the home we gotta say. The cops can't even show up. - They literally, they could, they would wait down the street for people to leave the party 'cause they couldn't come on the problem. - Yeah, that's wild. - It's a wild story. - That's crazy. - Micro-rated juniors, today we go. - It's a start. - It's a start. - Do you have anything else to plug? I know you got eight trillion films coming out, but any music, Instagram, all that. - Yeah, man, we got some music coming out. I'm actually dropped, this comes out when. - This will be out in three weeks. - Three weeks, okay, yeah, so. - The nicks have already won. - I'm dropping a single call on the way. It's coming out from a project I got coming out later this year, so I'm gearing up for that. And then there's a lot of, a lot more music content to show. - How are we doing? That's what we're doing until we gotta go back on set. - I love that. - I love that, bro. I'm so, I do, this is great. Just meeting you and chopping up. - I'm like, I appreciate it. - Well, I love doing this. You know, I mean, I'm sure we would have crossed paths at some point, but it's important to set it up though. - A hundred percent. - It's important to actually do it instead of just waiting across paths. I'm getting better at that too, like, it's happening. - Hell yeah, Mike, anything you want to plug, and then you gotta give us one. - Shout out my nicks, man. - Yay, we're going to get inside every once in a while. Back to the crib. We got the parade going crazy. But, oh, yeah, man, oh, we here, man. Who has it is here? Who has it? Who has it? - Algie Smith, look, we're going to talk as if it already happened. What a crazy championship game that was. Game 5% in total. Me and Mike got to see them with it, so. - Yo, I'm trying to come to the parade though. - Yeah, man, yeah, the parade going to be wild. That parade is going to be insane, bro. It's already insane with them winning and losing their names like that, bro. - Bro, that parade is going to be like, bro. They're going to flip New York upside down. - Bro, my boy. - My boy said they were saying online, if New York, if New York and Lewis is going to turn into Gotham City, bro. - Bro, it's going to be. - It's going to be when they lost another year. - Bro, it's going to be a year, bro. - No, no, I'm not even a mess at it. - I said it's Gotham City when they win. - Yeah, I'm not. Only win. Game 5 win, we saw it. It was unbelievable. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, bro. - All right, thank you, bro. Thank you for pulling on that, man. - Appreciate you, bro. - Bro, that's so scary. - Come on, man. - Yeah. - You're good, bro. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.