1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: I have so much respect for those guys as human 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: beings and as artists and as professionals. You know, you 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: have a whole life's resume. So following I'm saying specifically 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: as black men, it's like, so we don't get to 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: make mistakes and be human because if you want to 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: have that conversation, I can sit here and list a 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: bunch of non black males who have done far more 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: heinous stuff that you're still throwing the millions of bucks 9 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: to continue on. So I don't want to hear that 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: part of the argument. It was a heavy Academy Awards, 11 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: but that is not what we will spend most of 12 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: our time talking about. We're celebrating the life, the career 13 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: and the accomplishments of actor Omar Epps. Hope you all 14 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: enjoy every champion, and every champion is to be a 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: happy on a champion and carry chappion and carry champion 16 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: on the champion and carry chappion and carry champion. Rafraider 17 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: and sports and entertaining can naked were in the world 18 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: were vulnerable considered, we come and remove the vail from 19 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: entertainments elite. It's a difference between what it's real and 20 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: with the public seats. So here's your favorite celebrities behind 21 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: the scenes. It's refreshing up. Then the whole story specific 22 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: life ought to rennivents, to shake the person that you here. 23 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: We gotta champion and carry champion, and girl, you didn't. 24 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: It's the greatest in sports and entertainment. Connect it with 25 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: every champion and carry champions. To be a champion a champion, 26 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: they carry champion and they can pappy chout the champion. 27 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: They carry champion and carry champion. Rad afraid. It's a 28 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: sports and entertain ak and naked Here everybody, it is 29 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: naked Season two. Welcome back. Thank you for listening, Thank 30 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: you for supporting. I am grateful. I want to point 31 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: out a few things to you all because I don't 32 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: know if I've shared this, but I do know that 33 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: we took a bit of a break. I stopped down, 34 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: and I think that break was good for me. I 35 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: just needed a minute to get my thoughts together and 36 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: launch a new show. That is the update. I have 37 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: a new show on CNN Plus. Do me a favor, 38 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: subscribe to see an m plus. It's me and my 39 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: girl Jamal, just doing what we do. We need all 40 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: the support that is possible. So that is what happened. 41 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: We take a break. We launched season two. You're listening 42 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: to the very first episode of season two, and in 43 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: the process, we also launched a TV show, We Being Me. 44 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: So thank you for your patients. It has been quite 45 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: a week, and when you hear this, it will be 46 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: approximately seven eight days since the slap heard all around 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: the world. I'm not going to get into it in 48 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: too much detail because I want to get to our guests, 49 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: but I do want to point out a couple of things. 50 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: Today's Guests is a proposed to answer this question, to 51 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: give perspective, to talk about what happened again briefly, because 52 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,519 Speaker 1: we are not here to to labor this this topic anymore. 53 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: But it was a sad day. It was a sad 54 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: moment for will Smith. It was an incredibly disturbing moment, 55 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: in traumatizing moment, I'm sure for Chris rock Um and 56 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: for everyone who attended the Academy Awards. The fallout afterwards 57 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: has been even more sad because there's a lot of 58 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: he says, she say blame. There are people who are 59 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: weighing in, who are suggesting that there should be arrest, 60 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: and it was and Oscar should be taken away from 61 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: Will Smith who won. Um, everyone's weighing in and I'm 62 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: tired of your opinions. I don't care. What I do 63 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: know is that I saw a man who, in my opinion, 64 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: had a nervous breakdown on live television. I saw a 65 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: man who has been pretending for a very long time 66 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: that everything is okay, and clearly everything is not okay. 67 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: I saw a man and Chris Rock really be a professional. 68 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: Like I'm a TV post our whole shows, award shows. 69 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: I could never imagine that ever happened to me, and 70 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: if in fact it did, that would not have been 71 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: my response. The response in which Chris Rocks did there 72 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: gathered himself and so let's just go to the nominees. 73 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: Whoa who does that? That is a true professional. Kudos 74 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: to you. However, if you're a part of this community, 75 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: you know very well what it means when you say 76 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: things about someone's wife, or you say something that someone 77 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: doesn't like, the culture will deal with you. I mean, look, listen, 78 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: I grew up knowing if I said something slick to 79 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: the wrong person, I could get pop. I used to 80 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: get popped by my mom if I said something slick. 81 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: So while there was no excuse for that behavior, I'm like, oh, 82 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: there you go, it happens. And that slap wasn't about Jada. 83 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: I wasn't about doing something in the name of love. 84 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: It's about something that Will Smith will one day talk 85 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: about and ask. Chris Rock said he will too. However, 86 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: today's guest, Oh is one of my favorites. He's one 87 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: of my favorites because I've interviewed him so many times 88 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: before and he is so so classy to me, and 89 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: he's so quiet and he moves so stealthily, and that 90 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: was one of my many, many questions for him. It's like, 91 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 1: you know, you're considered one of the greatest actors of 92 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: all time, especially for me, but you're so quiet, and 93 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if that is why you don't get 94 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: what I believe is the recognition you deserve because you 95 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 1: are so quiet. I'm talking about Omar Epps without further ado. 96 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:46,239 Speaker 1: Omar Epps very first episode season two of Naked. Now 97 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 1: y'all know loving Basketball, don't play with me him and 98 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: Sinai lythan y'all know Juice him in Tupac. Don't play 99 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: with Me? He did Juice when he was seventeen years old. 100 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: I couldn't even imagine seventeen years old having that role, 101 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: knowing what it would mean for the culture in the 102 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: community so many decades later, saying for love and basketball. 103 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 1: He literally in two six married Keisha Spivey. She was 104 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: a singer from the R and B group Total. I 105 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: know you remember that they have three kids together. We 106 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: talked about that relationship. UM and he's been in numerous movies. 107 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,119 Speaker 1: He has a new movie coming out called The Devil. 108 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: You know, we get into that. It looks amazing, as 109 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: with Michael Eally, another great actor. I need you guys 110 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: all to tune in and support. Right it's in theaters now, 111 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: but it will also be streaming. Support. Support support. And 112 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: with that being said, I talked to Omar Epps about 113 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: a few things. I talked to him about being an 114 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: actor that has created movies, that has been a part 115 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: of movies that really truly define a generation. And Omar 116 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: has been a part of films that now a new 117 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 1: generation can joy and I wonder what that feels like. 118 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: Who's his inspiration? And he talked about his inspiration. He 119 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: talked about being married. He's talking. He talks about UM 120 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: the slap, and he talks about grace and moving ahead, 121 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: and and also he shares his thoughts overall on what 122 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: it means to do what he does in the way 123 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: in which he does it. This is a great podcast. 124 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: You do not want to miss it. I will say 125 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: this as we get into it. I'm not going to 126 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: debate what happened at the Oscars between Will Smith and 127 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: Chris Rocket. Neither is Omar Epps. I think we both 128 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: agree that grace needs to be given to both men 129 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: and that what we witnessed was really sad. I mean 130 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: to see that happen at that level. This breaks my heart, 131 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: and people who don't have any empathy and people who 132 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: don't have any compassion will immediately land in one of 133 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: two categories. No, I'm not with Will, No, I'm not 134 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: with Chris. This person was wrong, that person was right, 135 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: And I ask you don't ever be on my my 136 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: jury because you ain't judging me. I don't need Joe help. 137 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: I want you guys to understand that there's always more 138 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: going on. There could be two and three things true 139 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: all at the same time, but without further ado Omar 140 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: Epps welcome to make it so. I want to talk 141 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: to you. I want to begin with um, Omar Epps. 142 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: What does Omar Epps mean to me? Um? As a fan, 143 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: I almost feel like I grew up with you. I 144 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: feel like your movies have punctuated so much of my life. UM. 145 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: And whenever thank you and whenever you get to new projects, 146 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: I always think to myself, it's a beautiful thing to 147 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: watch him evolved. But the most curious thing about you 148 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: is your personality. To me, you seem very and I 149 00:08:55,520 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: could be wrong, very um and I don't necessarily humble, yeah, 150 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: but quiet to yourself. You don't necessarily seek attention, but 151 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: what you do for a living obviously gives you attention. 152 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: Talk to me about your personality and and how someone 153 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: who seems very private it is so extroverted in their career. 154 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: That's um, that's a well. First of all, thank you, 155 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: and you know I've been a fan of you for 156 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: this whole run, and I'm proud of you and proud 157 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: to see your ascension as well. For me, you know, 158 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: I am kind of a naturally laid back, so I'm 159 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: the observer. Um. And it's just funny how life works out, 160 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: or there has to be a divine poetry in it 161 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: all because it's like, so, you know my brother, Marlon Waynams, 162 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: we grew up together. He's extrovert with explanation points, you know, 163 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: to the hundred degree, and I'm sort of a quiet observer, 164 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: always seeing what's really happening. Right. And it's interesting because 165 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: my wife is a people person. When I say I'm 166 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: not a people person, it doesn't mean I don't like people. 167 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: I just yo, I'm I come from Blue College, Brooklyn. 168 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 1: Like we you know, we sit back and you know 169 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, get the layer the land first, you know, 170 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: and then if we vibe, all right, I have a 171 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: conversation here and it but I'm not the you know. 172 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: And it's and it's interesting because my youngest daughter is 173 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: a lot like me, and then my my son and 174 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: my oldest daughter are kind of like people, you know, 175 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: just walk up and talk to anybody. And I'm like, 176 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 1: you know, maybe I don't know, maybe it's PTSD. I'm like, yo, 177 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: I'm on the eight train right now. You don't just 178 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: walk up to a strange and talk to him. You 179 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: don't know, you know, But it's it's it's been um. 180 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: So I read a quote from Sydney Port even before 181 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: I got the honor of meeting him when he said, 182 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: as actors, the less people know about you, the more 183 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: they're buying to the characters you sell. And that always 184 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: stuck with me. And obviously this is way before social 185 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: media and these type of things where you sort of 186 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: have to engage. The way you engage is it is 187 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: how you choose to do it. So you know, I 188 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: am in a way of like when people actually do 189 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: meet me or we sit and break bread or something 190 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: like that, they're always like, oh, I thought you were 191 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: like so serious, man, I thought you was some life 192 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: is serious. I'm cool, Like I just want to laugh 193 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: and have fun, you know, like everybody else. You do 194 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: have a serious energy about you. But I don't think 195 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: it's like not fun. I think it's about my business. 196 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: I don't know y'all, so I'm not gonna talk like. 197 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: That's why I feel like even when even you know, 198 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: when you're when I would interview at ESP and I'm 199 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: the last time I talked to you, I think I 200 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: was doing Sports Nation and we were being silly. All 201 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: of us have been still and You're like, that's because 202 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: it was probably so early in the morning. Was like, Okay, guys, 203 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: I'm not yeah, exactly exactly, I'm not here for this. 204 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 1: But okay, kids, whatever say but you weren't. You're never rude. 205 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: You just you about your business. I can of respect 206 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: and appreciate that. What attracts you when you talk about 207 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: your wife being a people person? Is that what attracted 208 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: you to her? That you're the opposite of that. Um, 209 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: you're not necessarily like you know what I mean? And 210 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,679 Speaker 1: she is no, no, no. What attracted me to her was, 211 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, the first time we ever the first 212 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: time we ever met, and we both remember it the 213 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: same basically, the same exact way. It's like the entire 214 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: room disappeared, and I was just staring at her like 215 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: you stare at a Rembrandt or the Boskiya, Like what 216 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 1: is that? And I was thinking to myself, God, you 217 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: make things like that too. Yeah, well you gonna, I'm say, 218 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to find my way over to that 219 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: part of the room. And he was like beautiful. He 220 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: was like what you say? He was like, what's your 221 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: what's your math? Na? No, Actually we laugh about this 222 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: now because I'm like, she kind of low key stepped 223 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: to me, so I kind of stepped to her, like 224 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: I went around her area. She was with her friends, 225 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: and I was just doing my I'm staring through your 226 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: soul things and we kind of sort of inched over 227 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 1: towards each other. But and we had like small bands, 228 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: and I just I just literally opening line. I was 229 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: just like, you're beautiful she and I said your eyes 230 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: are beautiful, and she said so were yours. And so 231 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: we had we had a little conversation, but I was 232 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: still a pup. So my thing is I never I 233 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: never was about having game. I was just about being honest. 234 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: But I also a very shy in that way, you know, 235 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: because my family is seventy women, so I know how 236 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: to you know, I'm used to that vibe. But in 237 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: terms of like hey, let me get your number, that 238 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: wasn't I was like, that's the shot part. So I 239 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: was kind of like, all right, the conversations kind of 240 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: at that you know point where where is it gonna transition? 241 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: And I was just gonna step off, and she was 242 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: just like, yeah, so we should talk. And I was like, oh, okay, 243 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: I think that's a clear opening. You know, and this 244 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: back when you had to, you know, do somebody got 245 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: a pen, you know, find a find a paper, napkin, right, 246 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: so you wouldn't got a pen and paper and wrote 247 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: down the math. Oh this is interesting, but you know, 248 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: I'm still a man. I had to hold my clothes. 249 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: I didn't call it for two weeks because because I 250 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: thought I was so enamored with her beauty. I was 251 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: like everybody, if she gives someone their number, she's used 252 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: to them calling the next day, the blah blah blah. 253 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: So I was like, no, I gotta be cool about this, 254 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: you know, And you know, I was a kid. I 255 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: was eighteen. I didn't know nothing. Men thing like that today, 256 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: Men thing like that today, there's a method. No, no, no, no, 257 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: because there's a method to that madness. Because even if 258 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: you do Let's say, if we met and it's like 259 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: I call you an hour later, I'm like, oh, I'm 260 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: no following. I'm going you're feeling that now, But then 261 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: you're calling your girls like a girl he called me 262 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: an hour later, all that ego soused kicking, and then 263 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: the first argument or disagreement that happens, that's the card. 264 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: You know, stop playing with me. You called me? You know, 265 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: that whole thing comes about, So you kind of gotta 266 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: set like, hey, you know we're we're both of Yeah, 267 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: that's why you leaning over. You just gotta. I was like, yo, 268 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: I gotta. I was trying to figure out how to 269 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: be a man, and I was just like, hey man, 270 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: you know, I gotta figure this thing out. And we're cool, 271 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: and but here we are, you know, thirty years later, 272 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: I respectfully disagree, but I do I do do understand. 273 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: When you're young, that is probably what you're thinking. But 274 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: today you wouldn't feel that way. If you met somebody 275 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: you were single, you met somebody you were enamored with, 276 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: you wouldn't wait two weeks because now we're like we're 277 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: in a in a stage of what's next. If somebody 278 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: weighs two weeks, you're like, okay, you're not interested. Hose. 279 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: What sucks about today is the layers of the layers 280 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: of how a woman could deflect, like she does she 281 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: give you her like when we was coming up, you 282 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: got the number, the actual number you called you you 283 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: call in her house where she lives with her her 284 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: family and stuff like that, so she can't now then 285 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: she's like, ah, he kind of cute, but I don't know. Yeah, 286 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: here's my I g They get to just deflect on 287 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: all of these levels of she really don't have to, 288 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: you know, so I'll be looking at the young cats 289 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: like damn son, that's that's a rough one. Who that 290 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: is a word? I single? You know, I've been in there. 291 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: I've been in a very long term relationship. But now 292 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: I'm single, and I think that you are correct. I 293 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: will give someone an I G in a moment because 294 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: that's translation to I am fuling, like I don't. I 295 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: don't trust you. So's people respond with emoji, I want 296 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: to kick the phone. That means there's no connect, like 297 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: comes up like, no, that's not what all the emotion 298 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 1: that went into that text and you just yeah. If 299 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: I see you page text and you respond with a 300 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: thumbs up, I'm talking and and but I'm the kind 301 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: of one it's like, don't emoji me, respond please, Like 302 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: I'll say that, like, I don't emoji me. I don't 303 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: spend ten minutes out of my day crafting this text. 304 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: You better reply, sir, Yeah, but you too. You you're 305 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: so smart. You know, a man got to think about 306 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: how he's gonna, you know, because you know how women 307 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: will y'all take thirty pictures to post one. That's the 308 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: same thing. That's why I don't like when they have 309 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: the bubble thing now, which because you know someone, you 310 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: can see you're responding, and then it goes away and 311 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: then that's that's how we feel as men. It's like 312 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: never to think this out. Let me not just impulsively respond. Okay, well, 313 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: thank you for giving me some insight, because if they 314 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 1: take two weeks to reply, they're thinking about how to reply. 315 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: I got it. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. Okay, 316 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: I'm here, he m Well, first of all, I love it. 317 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: I love that thirty years later you're still going strong. 318 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: It's not easy. I'm lit a couple of couples that 319 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: I bumped into and I didn't think to myself, I'm 320 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: so proud of you got and look, I know it 321 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: that the perfect. But like if I see, like the 322 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 1: other night we were at Shawanese and Flex were and 323 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if it was something at the Laker 324 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: it was a late it wasn't oh the New Addition concert. 325 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: Were you there? You know? Okay? And so yeah, So 326 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: I saw them and I thought to myself, that's beautiful 327 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: and they're so honest about their love and what they've 328 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,199 Speaker 1: been through. And I was like, that is because I 329 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: remember when Shanese used a holler at Bobby and it's 330 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: I was like, it's a full circle moment here, you 331 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:46,719 Speaker 1: know what I mean? Like I used to read the 332 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: Team magazines and be like so and so because my 333 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: mother wouldn't let me go to the Bobby Brown concert 334 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: because he was thrusting too hard, and be like and 335 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,719 Speaker 1: posted on the wall because I had to right, And 336 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: isn't it weird? Let's talk about this for a moment, 337 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,479 Speaker 1: like isn't it a weird? When we were young and 338 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:10,400 Speaker 1: we would watch these people who then become peers in 339 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: some random way where you get to go and talk 340 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: to them and say hi, and in your case literally 341 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: work with them, not my case, but in your case 342 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 1: literally worked with him. I get to interview you all, 343 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: but I don't get to work with you. How does 344 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: that feel to you at this moment? You know, when 345 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: you look at it, just it feels amazing. Um. I 346 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: think I was, you know, I was seventeen when I 347 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: did my first film, Juice, So I was literally like 348 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: literally a baby. I knew nothing about anything, and so 349 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: I viewed it from a different lens. It was like, 350 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 1: you know, you seventeen, you think you're invincible, You're gonna 351 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: live forever. Nothing's gonna ask you. You know, you don't 352 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: know anything about life yet. And I so and honored, 353 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: and at this point, I'm just so thankful. That's that's 354 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: the word. Like I try to walk in the state 355 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: of gratitude constantly every day because it's just it's still 356 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: amazes me. You know. I mentioned um Sydney Porcier earlier. 357 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: You know, I got the chance to meet him, um 358 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: a few times actually, but the first time I had 359 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 1: like a meeting in this hotel and he was in 360 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: the restaurant, part eating by himself. Graciously and eloquently asked 361 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 1: he would and and I was banned, boyed out, you know, 362 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: and I just couldn't. I was like already at that point, 363 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: you know, I forget I forget movie I had coming out, 364 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 1: but I've done a couple of films or whatever. I 365 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 1: had to shake this man's hand because he's literally like 366 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: my acting hero. He's one of the primary reasons I 367 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: felt that I had the things that it took too 368 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: not only become an actor, but make a career out 369 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: of this thing. And so I walked up to him. 370 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,400 Speaker 1: I said, hey, Mr Potier, I don't want to disturb you. 371 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: You know, that's like the worst thing you can say 372 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: to anybody when they're eating. I don't want to disturb you. 373 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: But and I'm like, you know, I'm a young actor, 374 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 1: and you know, I just I just I so admire 375 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: you and thank you so much for all that you 376 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: meant to me and given. And he was like, I 377 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: know who you are out sick. You do very good work. 378 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: That's all I After that I talk about Mike dropped. 379 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: My head exploded, like I was. I was floating, so, 380 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: you know, But but just every everyone that I've had 381 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: the privilege to work with, from whether it's Nia Long, 382 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: Gabrielle Union, the filmmakers, David Talbert, Charles Murray who you 383 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: know wrote and directed Devil, you know these it's it's 384 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: part of our journey. We're artists and to get to 385 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: play in the in the in the sandbox together is 386 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: a true honor. And to have been doing it for 387 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: three decades now. It was a cold day back in 388 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: eight not the truth, but you started so young, seventeen 389 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: years old, up still in high school, trying to fare 390 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 1: out what my prom dress gonna look like, so you 391 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: you started so young and you have I mean, and 392 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 1: that's not why you mentioned gotta love Gabby and and 393 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: that is another reason why I say about certain people, 394 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: like when you get to meet these people and maybe 395 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: get to hang out with them, I really see you 396 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: and your wife at these events. And when you choose, 397 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: it's it's curated. You choose how y'all move, you know, 398 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: which I think is is wonderful. And for you to 399 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,680 Speaker 1: mention Sydney Portier like that man is, you know, perfect, 400 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: he could do no wrong, like in growing up in 401 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 1: l A. Whenever I would see him casually, and I mean, 402 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: I've never wanted to be an actress or an actor 403 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,880 Speaker 1: brother because I just it's it takes a certain type 404 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 1: of person who is built to do that, and it's 405 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: such a craft that I admire. So when I would 406 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: see him so humble the same way that you just 407 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 1: so kind and you give that same energy and you 408 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: talked about earlier which I did not miss. You can't 409 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: tell too much of yourself or you don't believe in 410 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: telling too much of yourself paraphrasing, because people believe you 411 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: more in whatever role you're in. On point well, not 412 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: know too much. I eat Tom Cruise, I don't want. 413 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: I can't I know too much. I can't. I don't. 414 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: I can't believe that you're saying and the film, in 415 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: my opinion, right, you're not saying that I am, so 416 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: I think that that is something that is beautiful. So 417 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: I had a couple of of roles in which I 418 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: must ask you about what does Love and Basketball mean 419 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: to the culture, to the culture. I think people it's like, um, 420 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: it's a classic romance film. Um, you know, it's really 421 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: it's been such an amazing experience. Like you know, I was. 422 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: I was attracted to the film when I when I 423 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: read it, I got it. Gina Prince Blackwood, who I adore, 424 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: This was our first film and you know, first endeavor 425 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: black Woman, and I'm like, yeah, let's let's ride, like 426 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: you know. And but at the time, and it it 427 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: made its money back, but it wasn't like the splat. 428 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 1: It's almost like it got greater later, you know, because 429 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: in another generation comes and they're like talking about this 430 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: movie and then another and even like now, like my 431 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: youngest daughter is seventeen, like her peer group, they're like, 432 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: oh my god, your dad was that's my favorite movie. 433 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: And to me, I find that to be amazing because 434 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 1: as an artist, it's like we're to me, the power 435 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: of imagery is so important, and I think that I 436 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: finally understand the gravity of that. And because we through 437 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: our art get to transcend time, because it's gonna be 438 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: here long after I'm going, long after we're gone. The 439 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: things that we've done outlasted, and so to be able 440 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: to influence a younger generation um with positive, powerful black 441 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: imagery really means the world to me, and that's why 442 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: I take it. It always has. But I was I 443 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 1: didn't really I couldn't really understand what it was. But 444 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 1: for me, simply, I grew up without a father. So 445 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: when I was watching Good Times, even though they were 446 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: pouring into projects and and JJ never got the James 447 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: never got the job, at least their father was there, right. 448 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: But then Alone comes to Cosby show, I'm like, huh 449 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: the first time it's and literally it impacted my life 450 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: because it was the first time I saw a functional 451 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: black family that was happy with the mother and the 452 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 1: father in the house and she's a lawyer and he's 453 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: a doctor, and there's always food on the table and 454 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: everybody's always laughing, having a good time, and I was like, oh, okay, 455 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: so when I have kids, I want to do that, 456 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: you know. And I didn't even understand the power of imagery, 457 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:43,919 Speaker 1: you know. So now that the baton has been passed 458 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 1: to me, per se, I'm very I'm keenly aware of 459 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: that and that it means something to me because you know, 460 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: to have even like with Juice, you know, I've DJ's 461 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: come up to me all the time all around the 462 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: world like, oh I wanted to be a d J 463 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: after seeing this movie like put you know, it sort 464 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: of fueled them to follow their passion. And I think 465 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 1: that's a beautiful thing. All right, don't go anywhere, you know, 466 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 1: how we do we gotta pay these bills omar apps. 467 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: On the other side of the break, Every champion and 468 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: carry Champion is to be a champion, a champion and 469 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: carry Chappion and carry Chappion, A champion and carry Chappion 470 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: and carry Chappi and sports and then the team making 471 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: make it work, Harry, Champion and carry Champion is to 472 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: be a champion, a champion, they carry Chappion and the champion. 473 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: They carry Champion and carry Champion Sports and then the 474 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 1: team aknake. I don't want any judgment on my Tupac story. Okay, 475 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: thank you guys for coming back and paying attention while 476 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: we paid those bills. Here's more with Omar Epps loving 477 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 1: basketball and Gina went to u c l A. She's 478 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: a genius, so did I. We did not go to 479 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 1: school together, but when I found out she went to 480 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 1: u c l A, I just wanted to say, that's 481 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: why she's so perfect. Um, and I support y'all need 482 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: to play a one on one? Yeah, like I can't. 483 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 1: I love her so much, she can't do no wrong. 484 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,680 Speaker 1: And it's so funny. We we've never met, but it's 485 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: a social media friendship. But I always big. I mean like, 486 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: I'm just a f You got that competitive spirit, but 487 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: she got competitive. I'm super like, I'm ready. I would 488 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,400 Speaker 1: pay any amount of money to see y'all play one 489 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: on one charity or something. Hey, you know what, I 490 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: need to reach out to her and ask that I 491 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: think that two things I'll say this loving basketball. They 492 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: don't make that classic anymore. There are a couple of 493 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: black romance classics that have not been made. Loving basketball, 494 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: Brown Schaker like, all of these are classics where love 495 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: is centered. It just so happens that you were black, 496 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: and we don't do that anymore. It's such a it's 497 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,440 Speaker 1: so unfortunate for this generation because they can't see it. 498 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: And I hope that it comes back. I mean, there 499 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: are a few, but I just but it was much 500 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 1: more consistent. I think when I was growing up and 501 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: when I was in college, you talk about Jews, you know. 502 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: I met Tupac randomly, randomly. I was I had a 503 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: fake I d and I went into some club but 504 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: he was there. And I tell this Tupac story all 505 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 1: the time. Nothing bad happened, but Tupac was like, um, 506 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: how old are you? First of all, before I talk 507 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: to you, I was like eighteen, and he was like okay, okay, 508 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: And then it was beeper time. He was like, let me, 509 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: let me right, So he took my page here and 510 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: then I guess he called maybe a couple of days later, 511 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: but I had my friend replied, but there was a 512 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 1: message and after the number was his code was three 513 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: two too, too too. So my homegirl calls back, like, 514 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 1: who's this? Because remember you had to do that. People 515 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: who don't know what beepers were. Because I worked pagers 516 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: and he was like, this is Tupac and my friends 517 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: like yeah right, and handed me the phone. I have 518 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: that eighteen no boyfriend ever. I don't even think I 519 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: ever kissed a boy at this time. And I'm on 520 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: the phone talking. You're talking about nervous. I don't know 521 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: what to do with myself, crazy, right, But he don't 522 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: know that, and so I'm like, come and hang out 523 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: with me and my friend. It's like he's like, huh, 524 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: Like you're and your friends. You you know where I'm going. 525 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: But obviously we didn't get at it didn't go there, 526 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: or we didn't have an opportunity to talk in that 527 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: manner because I just had my friends around me because 528 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: I was so scared. But he was say what you want, 529 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: even in the minutes, the little, the tiny time I 530 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: had a chance to talk to him. And I reflect 531 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: back on it, he was so smart, He was so 532 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: ahead of his time. If you caught him out of that, 533 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: if you caught him out of all of that, if 534 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,080 Speaker 1: you caught him just to talk about art, about what 535 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: you want to do, how you want to live your life. 536 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: And I thought that that was really beautiful because he 537 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: took ten minutes to be like, so what you want 538 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: to do when you grow up? And I'm like, I'm 539 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: gonna be a TV reporter, you know, Like He's like, uh, 540 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 1: you know, what was your experience when you worked with him? 541 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: That's a great story. And it's um that that's I mean, 542 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: you know, the thing that I lead with all the 543 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: time when I when I reminisced about pot is that 544 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: is his intellect. He was so smart. And people overlooked, like, 545 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: you just, um, this iconic, you know, legendary figure, but 546 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: they overlooked the fact that you know, he did he 547 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: completed this body of work in six years. He was 548 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: nineteen when we did Juice, and in the transition and 549 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: from music to film, you just it's mind boggling. Um. 550 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: And he was and he was that so being that 551 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: you got to be in his physical presence. You know. 552 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: Tupac was one of those people that has an energy 553 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: that shifts the room. You know, there's certain people that 554 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: walk into a room and the energy ships, you know, 555 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 1: and he was he was one of those people. And uh, 556 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: and we were babies and and just uh, you know, 557 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: I miss him, you know. And and it's been interesting 558 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: because in this last prior to the pandemic would have 559 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,360 Speaker 1: you just sort of. I've been starting to reflect on 560 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: my own career and my own doings, and I think 561 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: about him because I'm like man in Tupac had An. 562 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: I gat a twitter like you know, I you know 563 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: what I mean, and and you know his legacy through 564 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: blood in terms of children and things that like he 565 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: never even got to actualize in a real way. And 566 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: and so I carry that mental but I know he's 567 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: still with me, pushing me on, like yo, I mean 568 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: this other realm and we gotta do so keep pushing 569 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: an inst room. And that's what it feels like to me, 570 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 1: not to get you know, to spooky about anything. No, No, 571 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: I'm here. I'm picking up exactly what you bring down 572 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: because it's real. I I believe that. I believe in that. 573 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: I understand what you're saying. That's a that's two part. 574 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: It was a different and now it's not like my 575 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: mom right. It was a different vibe and it was 576 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 1: a different energy than when I met him. I was 577 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 1: going to U c. L A. I literally had just 578 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 1: graduated high school. I met him out of high school. 579 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: So I was when I tell you, I was you 580 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: talking about shy and green and not know how to 581 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: live life. For me to have that moment said something 582 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: to me about what my trajectory was when I look 583 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: back on it and how I handled that moment. Does 584 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: that make sense to you? Because I met him twice. 585 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: I met him once when I was in a hair 586 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: Salona when I was like maybe sixteen, and he was 587 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: with Digital Underground, and he was very big and bold, 588 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: and I was like, I wasn't saying that that I was. 589 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: He was just he was very friendly, and you're right, 590 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 1: he takes the room like he took over the room. 591 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: And I was like, I don't know what that is. 592 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 1: I don't even I don't know how to identify that. 593 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: And I feel like when I think of the work 594 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 1: that you've done, you have that quality. What I've noticed 595 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:45,840 Speaker 1: is that perhaps people aren't as aware because you are 596 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 1: so and I don't want to say quiet, but you're 597 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 1: not like you know what you like, you do the work, 598 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: you do the work like I see you getting an oscar, 599 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 1: I see you, I see all these things. I think 600 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,600 Speaker 1: of every film you show up as the character and 601 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 1: I don't know anything else but who the character is 602 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 1: um And so you have this world where there's a 603 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 1: few of these black actors who've been able to survive 604 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: and live in different worlds like and now everything has changed. 605 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: TV is a big thing, Streaming is a big thing. 606 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: It's not necessarily movies were like the thing, but now 607 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 1: it's not about being a movie star. We're at home, 608 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 1: I want to watch I want to stream I want 609 00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: to watch um and. Yes we're still going back to, 610 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: you know, two movies. But how has your your your 611 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 1: your goals as an actor changed post pandemic Because it's 612 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 1: not about just being a movie star anymore. Yeah, it's 613 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: all to me, it's all about the evolution UM. At 614 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 1: the end of the day, I still love this thing 615 00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: about um and and I realized that UM the art 616 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 1: is a medium too that's pushing me towards my greater 617 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:56,280 Speaker 1: purpose um and and telling. And so when I say evolution, 618 00:33:56,480 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 1: you know, I executive produces film The Devil, you know, UM, 619 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 1: you know I've been writing a lot. You know, I'm 620 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 1: going to get behind the camera direct and and it 621 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: just sort of the progression of a career to me. 622 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: It's not like, oh, I'm trying to put on a 623 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:14,880 Speaker 1: different hat or do because it's like truth be told basically, 624 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: executive produced a bunch of movies and stuff that I 625 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 1: then get credit for or have or have co written. 626 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 1: But you know, because I'm a part of the creative process, 627 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:27,359 Speaker 1: like the collaborative process. But you know, so you know 628 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,840 Speaker 1: how that part of it goes. But for me, it's like, really, 629 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:33,839 Speaker 1: I just try to stay focused on you know, my 630 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 1: what is my greater purpose? You know, is this something big? 631 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:40,319 Speaker 1: And so even when we're reminiscent about Pockets, like when 632 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,880 Speaker 1: I think about him now, he would have transitioned into 633 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: something Obama like in my opinion, because he was he 634 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,279 Speaker 1: was articulate, he was a great orator, but he knew 635 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: how to he knew how to incite emotion, and he 636 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 1: came from the mud. So he had the people, you know, 637 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 1: and the people I feel akin to that in the 638 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:08,759 Speaker 1: sense of the people who have kept me on their 639 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: shoulders all of these years. You know, Um, when you 640 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 1: talk about these transitions that happened, like again I am 641 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 1: I'm an observer. So I'm watching the industry shift and 642 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: I'm like, intentionally, I'm going to do TV, you know, 643 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,440 Speaker 1: right out the gate, you know, hit him with the 644 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 1: house and that ran for eight seasons and and you 645 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 1: know this was before this is like I remember that 646 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 1: was like dude, I mean, I don't mean to interrupt, 647 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:38,280 Speaker 1: but house genius. Nobody saw it coming, thank you. Nobody 648 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:41,320 Speaker 1: saw it coming. And it's like constantly keep because and 649 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:44,280 Speaker 1: artists and artists and artists. It's just a different formats. 650 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,719 Speaker 1: And so you know, here, let's take this kid. This 651 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:48,279 Speaker 1: is how I was thinking about it. Like this kid 652 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 1: who had this you know, string of movies and played 653 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: a bunch of athletes and stuff that they because they 654 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:55,960 Speaker 1: were trying to box me into you're gonna be this guy. 655 00:35:56,320 --> 00:36:00,200 Speaker 1: It was just like nope, I'm gonna pivot and take 656 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: a chance, you know. And and and I was successful 657 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 1: at that, and that just fuels you to follow your instincts, 658 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 1: you know. And where we are at now, it's literally 659 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:16,239 Speaker 1: just the format right like what we call it streaming 660 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,880 Speaker 1: or like, you know, people still love having the communal 661 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:23,520 Speaker 1: experience of going to the movie. There's just that certain things, 662 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 1: in my opinion, that the eCos the ecosystem has gotten bigger. 663 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 1: So there are certain things that my kids I watched 664 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 1: my I just study my kids, and I'm like, they 665 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:35,240 Speaker 1: watched this on YouTube, and they like seeing it on YouTube. 666 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 1: They don't want to go to the movies and see that, 667 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 1: but this thing they want to know that we gotta 668 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,160 Speaker 1: go to movies. I want to popcorn, we gotta get 669 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,520 Speaker 1: my friends. So it's just but it's all in the ecosystem. 670 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:49,399 Speaker 1: It's just different parts of it. So there's a for me, 671 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 1: it's a it's an exciting time to be a creative 672 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: because they can't you know, they can't tie your hands 673 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:58,799 Speaker 1: behind your back, you know. And we know what the 674 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 1: corporate game is like like when when you were you know, 675 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:03,879 Speaker 1: the ESPNS and all of this is solved a part 676 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:08,960 Speaker 1: of a bigger Disney rules, regulations, guidelines, and that format 677 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 1: works for certain people and other people it's like kind 678 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 1: of feel restrained. But the point is now there's all 679 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: these other options that if that doesn't work for you, 680 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 1: we'll try it this way, you know, because the people 681 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: will come to you because they rock with you. That's true. 682 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:26,279 Speaker 1: But that's the beautiful of being a creative, beautiful thing 683 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: of being a creative. And this is for anybody listening. 684 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 1: There's no blueprint anymore. There's a brown print. There's a 685 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:33,840 Speaker 1: way to do it our way. We don't have to 686 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 1: do it a certain way there was this. There were 687 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: these strict rules in place, and I love that we 688 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: can deviate. I would be remissed if I didn't ask you. 689 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:47,839 Speaker 1: I want you, from Sunday to today to tell me 690 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:51,359 Speaker 1: how you've been able to process two heroes of our 691 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 1: community who have found themselves in a very awkward thought 692 00:37:55,719 --> 00:38:00,480 Speaker 1: about situation. As an actor, what I felt very sad period. 693 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:02,759 Speaker 1: That was just my thought. I was just sad. How 694 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: do you feel about that? As an actor? Well, I 695 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:07,719 Speaker 1: would say, I would say, it's how do I feel 696 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:10,239 Speaker 1: about it as a human being? Right, It's not just 697 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:13,360 Speaker 1: as an actor. And there's you know, I was actually 698 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: on the plane, so you know, once I landed, my 699 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:20,239 Speaker 1: phone's going off, and you know, the first hundred texts were, oh, 700 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:23,040 Speaker 1: they just pulled off the stunt. And then ten minutes later, 701 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 1: every everyone's like verified, Oh no, that was real, and 702 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 1: I'm I was so tired. I was like whatever, you know, 703 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:32,440 Speaker 1: But then the next morning I was like, oh, this 704 00:38:32,520 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: is serious. And then like I'm you know, watching like 705 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,840 Speaker 1: everyone else in real time, or at least I was, 706 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:42,080 Speaker 1: you know, sort of recanting what happened, and I felt 707 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: sad as well. But this is I feel I have 708 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,920 Speaker 1: so much respect for those guys um as human beings 709 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:52,680 Speaker 1: and as artists and as professionals. You know, you have 710 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: a whole life's resume. So following I'm saying specifically as 711 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:00,719 Speaker 1: black men, it's like, so we don't get to make 712 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,759 Speaker 1: mistakes and be human Because if you want to have 713 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 1: that conversation, I can sit here and list a bunch 714 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:10,960 Speaker 1: of non black males who've done far more heinous stuff 715 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:14,000 Speaker 1: that you're still throwing the millions of bucks to continue on. 716 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:16,040 Speaker 1: So I don't want to hear that part of the argument. 717 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:18,280 Speaker 1: I don't want to hear that. You know, you're setting 718 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:21,359 Speaker 1: us back, yo, people of human beings. People are going 719 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 1: through stuff, and no, I think it shouldn't have happened. 720 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:27,600 Speaker 1: It was wrong. So they should be able to sit 721 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:30,720 Speaker 1: down behind the scenes and hash that thing out because 722 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:32,720 Speaker 1: I know they got they both got love and respect 723 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: for one another. So I feel this is a time 724 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 1: for us, especially as a black and brown community, to 725 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:43,880 Speaker 1: have empathy and compassion and try to you know, you 726 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 1: know what, whatever if there's if there's counseling or help, 727 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,040 Speaker 1: whatever the case may be, that needs to be seen, 728 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:51,880 Speaker 1: let's get behind that. But we're not we're not throwing 729 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:55,279 Speaker 1: away the whole twenty something. You know, we were talking 730 00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:58,319 Speaker 1: about somebody like Will I'm like, yo, y'all forgetting this 731 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:01,480 Speaker 1: is technically the first rapper to when Grimm like, what 732 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:06,080 Speaker 1: are we talking about? The first you're not canceling nobody, 733 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, and we get to make mistakes that it 734 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:11,799 Speaker 1: was a mistake, it was wrong. So that's for him 735 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: to atone. But as a people, this is when we 736 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,480 Speaker 1: rally around. You know what I'm saying. He ain't he 737 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: ain't kill nobody, He ain't defiled, you know, violated. You know, 738 00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:25,359 Speaker 1: it's just like, what are we talking about here? Going now? 739 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:28,800 Speaker 1: By the way, I was on CNN and we Jamale 740 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:30,920 Speaker 1: and I did a hit on CNN and Jake Chopper 741 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:32,960 Speaker 1: you know, you know, he's doing what he has to 742 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 1: do because he has to question us. And I'm right 743 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:36,640 Speaker 1: there with you. I'm like, we're not come play who 744 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:40,319 Speaker 1: sends or worse. And in terms of actors, because I 745 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:42,719 Speaker 1: can go down the list, and if you get in 746 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 1: a business of policing morality, you don't want to do this. 747 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,080 Speaker 1: You don't know what I'm saying. You don't agree with that, 748 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:54,279 Speaker 1: And and to the beauty of our blackness was embodied 749 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:59,800 Speaker 1: in Chris's response. It was embodied in his response was 750 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 1: so immaculate. That's what I'm saying, Like, Yo, they're gonna 751 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 1: handle that behind the scenes, you know, but we're not. 752 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:10,080 Speaker 1: You're not. Yeah, you're not doing that because I feel 753 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 1: the same exact way what you just expressed is the 754 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,839 Speaker 1: same way that I've been feeling. It was a little 755 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:18,919 Speaker 1: bit latent for me, but I started getting mad at that. Yeah, 756 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:22,759 Speaker 1: like you know, because then the Brooklyn kid come out like, yo, 757 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 1: let dud the major billions from billions of dollars, and 758 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:28,879 Speaker 1: y'all trying to act like and I and you don't 759 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 1: have to say this because that's not your thing, but 760 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:32,560 Speaker 1: I'll go down the list. I was like, Okay, so 761 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 1: let's talk about Woody, Let's talk about Harry, let's talk 762 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:39,719 Speaker 1: about Harvey, let's talk about let's talk about Roman Polanski. 763 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:44,200 Speaker 1: Let's talk about Gipson sitting in the audience, He's already 764 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 1: told us how he feels about people. He was sitting 765 00:41:46,239 --> 00:41:48,960 Speaker 1: in the audience. Don't do this, not today, not with me, 766 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:50,719 Speaker 1: because I'm not gonna let you tear down these two 767 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:55,799 Speaker 1: black men. And more importantly, while my friend told me, 768 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:58,839 Speaker 1: I can't have other people said this one out. There 769 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 1: are people who you just said this out. If you weren't, 770 00:42:01,239 --> 00:42:07,640 Speaker 1: if you weren't outraged on one six Insurrection Day, and 771 00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:11,000 Speaker 1: you aren't tweeting on one six about what's so inappropriate, 772 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:14,760 Speaker 1: you can't have this conversation, sir, oh ma'am. You just can't. 773 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:18,279 Speaker 1: You can't because if I if, if we look at 774 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:21,160 Speaker 1: the totality, I know you want to, and I know 775 00:42:21,239 --> 00:42:24,880 Speaker 1: you feel obligated to, but if you look at the totality, 776 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 1: this is private business. And Chris's response, by the way, 777 00:42:29,719 --> 00:42:32,920 Speaker 1: f y I was so beautiful and so professional. I 778 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 1: am a host, I'm a television host. I can't tell 779 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 1: you I would have responded that way. That's I was like, 780 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:43,840 Speaker 1: he's doing his meditation, he centered, he's on something totally. 781 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:48,120 Speaker 1: He took a beat and continued to present. I don't 782 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:50,759 Speaker 1: even know who does that. I don't know who could 783 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:53,799 Speaker 1: have done that but us but him, And it was 784 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,719 Speaker 1: beautiful and I'm glad you said that, and I in 785 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:58,759 Speaker 1: your right, it's not about being an Actor's about being 786 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:01,319 Speaker 1: a human because it was a real human moment and 787 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:03,480 Speaker 1: everybody needs to heal. And if you don't have any 788 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:06,239 Speaker 1: compassion or empathy in this moment. I ain't fooling with 789 00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:09,120 Speaker 1: you now. You have to because listen, we're all going 790 00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:12,479 Speaker 1: to have mistakes or mishaps or whatever. But the whole 791 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:15,400 Speaker 1: you know, part of this uh, this journey and this 792 00:43:15,520 --> 00:43:18,719 Speaker 1: thing we call life is you know, you stumble and 793 00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:21,319 Speaker 1: you get back up and sometimes you need little help. 794 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:24,240 Speaker 1: And but it's for us to sort of continue to 795 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:26,640 Speaker 1: try to bring each other along. It's not for us 796 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:28,640 Speaker 1: to take each other down now. But you know, we 797 00:43:28,719 --> 00:43:31,080 Speaker 1: would have went and shot the man on stage and 798 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:36,560 Speaker 1: be like, well, yeah, you know what I mean, different conversations. 799 00:43:37,680 --> 00:43:40,760 Speaker 1: But that's why I just firmly believe that they're gonna 800 00:43:40,880 --> 00:43:43,719 Speaker 1: handle that behind the scenes as they should as groom men. 801 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:47,040 Speaker 1: And and I think it's a it's a learning moment 802 00:43:47,440 --> 00:43:53,160 Speaker 1: and a teaching moment. Yea generation there was a teacherbo moment. 803 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:55,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for um for doing the work. But I 804 00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:57,920 Speaker 1: know you do the work. I follow you. I follow 805 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:00,399 Speaker 1: you on the Graham and I know what you what 806 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:02,799 Speaker 1: what the work that is being done. I do have 807 00:44:03,160 --> 00:44:08,080 Speaker 1: UM a question. I saw the trailer for the movie good, 808 00:44:08,880 --> 00:44:13,320 Speaker 1: really good trailer. Okay, I'm locked in tell me about 809 00:44:13,320 --> 00:44:16,400 Speaker 1: this project. It's coming out in a couple of days, 810 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:21,319 Speaker 1: I believe, and how you decided this is something that 811 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:23,680 Speaker 1: you wanted to be behind creatively as well as being 812 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:28,000 Speaker 1: an actor. Man, it's it's been an incredible journey. Charles 813 00:44:28,040 --> 00:44:30,760 Speaker 1: Murray and I um was one of my close friends 814 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 1: and you know, he we were just having lunch one day, 815 00:44:34,719 --> 00:44:37,160 Speaker 1: told me about this concept. I was like, that sounds fire. 816 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:38,759 Speaker 1: What's up? Let me read the script. He was like, 817 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:40,440 Speaker 1: I haven't written it yet. And I'm like, then, why 818 00:44:40,440 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 1: didn't you just get me all riled up? And that 819 00:44:44,719 --> 00:44:47,080 Speaker 1: was That was about eight years ago, you know, and 820 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:49,600 Speaker 1: we got a lot of nose And I feel like 821 00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:51,720 Speaker 1: it's because the tone of the so so the film 822 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:55,160 Speaker 1: is it's a tale of a family. UM. You know, 823 00:44:55,640 --> 00:44:59,840 Speaker 1: it's for everyone. It's a tailor family, brotherhood, UM, morality, 824 00:45:00,080 --> 00:45:04,320 Speaker 1: redemption in these these type of um overarching themes. But 825 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:07,399 Speaker 1: you know, you just you don't get to see us 826 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:10,040 Speaker 1: in these type of films. You know, you get to 827 00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:14,040 Speaker 1: see the others in these type of films. And that's 828 00:45:14,080 --> 00:45:16,640 Speaker 1: what was important to me in terms in terms of 829 00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:19,640 Speaker 1: the toning of it and the pacing of it. And 830 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:23,839 Speaker 1: then underneath there's like this crime thriller uh thing that's 831 00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:26,880 Speaker 1: driving the piece because that that notion of family is like, 832 00:45:26,920 --> 00:45:29,719 Speaker 1: there's nothing like your blood. You don't choose them, right, 833 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:34,880 Speaker 1: And what would happen if, especially in our culture, you 834 00:45:34,920 --> 00:45:38,279 Speaker 1: know that the brother found out that one of his 835 00:45:38,320 --> 00:45:41,280 Speaker 1: brothers might have had something to do with something really horrible. 836 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:44,080 Speaker 1: What do you do with that information? You know? And 837 00:45:44,239 --> 00:45:48,799 Speaker 1: I've been saying that it's interesting because morality is relative, right. 838 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:52,960 Speaker 1: Everyone says what they'll do, but you truly don't know 839 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:55,560 Speaker 1: what you'll do until you're in the moment and it's 840 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:58,279 Speaker 1: happening in real time. You really don't know. You know, 841 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:00,440 Speaker 1: everybody you have, you have about this, but then in 842 00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:03,440 Speaker 1: these moments and it's like you know, and it's it's 843 00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:07,960 Speaker 1: it's an event that can fracture this family forever um 844 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:10,040 Speaker 1: And so we you know, we we we took the 845 00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:13,920 Speaker 1: plunge and I'm just really I've been calling it an experience. 846 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:16,440 Speaker 1: It's definitely one of one of those films where I'm 847 00:46:16,480 --> 00:46:19,680 Speaker 1: going to the screenings, people yelling at the screen and 848 00:46:21,400 --> 00:46:25,200 Speaker 1: that type of stuff. And also the conversations are continuing 849 00:46:25,239 --> 00:46:27,880 Speaker 1: after the credits roll, and that's the great part because 850 00:46:27,880 --> 00:46:31,520 Speaker 1: it's like it's really inciting those those type of man, 851 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:33,680 Speaker 1: what what would I do if this happened? You know, 852 00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:37,040 Speaker 1: you just really don't know. Um And and Michael Eally 853 00:46:37,280 --> 00:46:39,319 Speaker 1: was my co pilot on this, and we put our 854 00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:42,000 Speaker 1: hands in the pot. And um. Even like his role, 855 00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:46,040 Speaker 1: you know, people were like, you know, some critics were saying, well, 856 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:50,560 Speaker 1: you know, they were basically criticizing his role. But it's like, oh, 857 00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:53,400 Speaker 1: y'all get to do that, but we can't, you know, 858 00:46:53,760 --> 00:46:56,200 Speaker 1: And especially within black culture, it was like, you know, 859 00:46:56,440 --> 00:46:59,719 Speaker 1: there's that other layer, right, like, um, you know we 860 00:46:59,760 --> 00:47:02,440 Speaker 1: are you know what it is with our in a 861 00:47:02,560 --> 00:47:06,480 Speaker 1: in a general aspect, our relationship with law enforcement, and 862 00:47:06,560 --> 00:47:08,759 Speaker 1: so we thought it was important to turn that on 863 00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:10,719 Speaker 1: its head and like, well we got to make lead 864 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:14,279 Speaker 1: detective black. Yeah, how the black family deal with that? 865 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:19,240 Speaker 1: You know. So it's that's a tough role too though, 866 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:23,160 Speaker 1: right to be the black the black cop, especially when 867 00:47:23,200 --> 00:47:26,520 Speaker 1: it's for the culture, like how we because of our 868 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:29,719 Speaker 1: historical relationship as mentioned with police and how we feel 869 00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:34,000 Speaker 1: about them. This the devil you know, is in theaters. Win, 870 00:47:35,239 --> 00:47:39,000 Speaker 1: it's in theaters. Uh actually I think tonight, yeah, yeah, 871 00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 1: tonight it would be in theaters. Okay, AMC theaters exclusively 872 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:46,239 Speaker 1: and our second windows as they call them, and so forth. 873 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:49,000 Speaker 1: But um, yeah, just it's it's a film for the people, 874 00:47:49,480 --> 00:47:52,439 Speaker 1: and it's they can they can go and watch now, 875 00:47:53,640 --> 00:47:56,520 Speaker 1: and then what about the other options for us to 876 00:47:56,560 --> 00:47:59,279 Speaker 1: go check it out? Oh, it'll be you know, it'll 877 00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:01,880 Speaker 1: be on streams and all of that stuff. So, um, 878 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:05,560 Speaker 1: when we get this second roll out, uh, that is 879 00:48:07,760 --> 00:48:13,920 Speaker 1: they're waiting to see the numbers at longer. So hopefully 880 00:48:13,960 --> 00:48:17,239 Speaker 1: people come out and support and and and and obviously 881 00:48:17,320 --> 00:48:20,799 Speaker 1: we factor you know, it's a we're still sort of 882 00:48:20,880 --> 00:48:24,480 Speaker 1: coming out of the COVID thing. So you know some people, 883 00:48:25,600 --> 00:48:28,840 Speaker 1: you know, young people outside, yes, you know what I 884 00:48:29,680 --> 00:48:32,400 Speaker 1: fully but like you know, some of the older people 885 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:34,920 Speaker 1: a little apprehensive about do they go to theaters or 886 00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:37,239 Speaker 1: do they do this? So this is still that part 887 00:48:37,239 --> 00:48:39,520 Speaker 1: of it. Did you go to the Macro party? Were 888 00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:43,160 Speaker 1: you outside? I didn't. I didn't go to the Macro party. 889 00:48:43,200 --> 00:48:46,000 Speaker 1: But I've been in New York film until New York 890 00:48:46,120 --> 00:48:48,319 Speaker 1: is all the way outside, all the way outside. I 891 00:48:48,360 --> 00:48:50,799 Speaker 1: was outside at the Macro party. I mean I was 892 00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:55,319 Speaker 1: fully outside, like dancing and and and conversating that's not 893 00:48:55,360 --> 00:48:59,040 Speaker 1: a word that I'm making it one. And I'm conversing 894 00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:02,160 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh, I'm really outside. I got 895 00:49:02,239 --> 00:49:04,440 Speaker 1: scared and I went back inside. I was like, I 896 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:07,840 Speaker 1: don't know, I got scared. I was like, well, I 897 00:49:07,920 --> 00:49:10,440 Speaker 1: feel my throat is hurting like that. That's where we 898 00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:13,160 Speaker 1: at right now. But but I'm going to the movies. 899 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:15,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to the movies to see I'm going to 900 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:17,400 Speaker 1: New Orleans this weekend and I'm going to the movies 901 00:49:17,440 --> 00:49:20,000 Speaker 1: and I'm looking for a MC to see the Devil, 902 00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:23,359 Speaker 1: you know, because like I said before, I am a fan, 903 00:49:23,440 --> 00:49:27,799 Speaker 1: and I think that you definitely you definitely need more 904 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:31,080 Speaker 1: praise for what you do um and and how you're 905 00:49:31,120 --> 00:49:33,920 Speaker 1: good at the craft. But I I get also too 906 00:49:34,160 --> 00:49:36,440 Speaker 1: that my personality is seeing me I'm fine, I did it, 907 00:49:36,960 --> 00:49:39,839 Speaker 1: press the button, put it here. Your personality is like, 908 00:49:40,120 --> 00:49:41,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put the work out here for the people, 909 00:49:42,239 --> 00:49:46,080 Speaker 1: and I'm going I'm gonna be out here like this 910 00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:47,759 Speaker 1: for you because you're not gonna do it. I'm gonna 911 00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:50,440 Speaker 1: be like, I appreciate you. I appreciate you, and I 912 00:49:50,640 --> 00:49:53,239 Speaker 1: and I'm I'm very proud of you because I know 913 00:49:53,800 --> 00:49:55,800 Speaker 1: how hard it is to do what you do and 914 00:49:56,440 --> 00:49:58,560 Speaker 1: come through this road. So but you're still doing it 915 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:02,520 Speaker 1: and and own your space. And I mean that not 916 00:50:02,719 --> 00:50:05,680 Speaker 1: I'm not not personally in the business sense. I see 917 00:50:05,800 --> 00:50:07,880 Speaker 1: I see you men, like I see what's going on. 918 00:50:08,000 --> 00:50:11,879 Speaker 1: It's like, oh, yes, you're not going to own us anymore, 919 00:50:11,880 --> 00:50:14,680 Speaker 1: like you know what I'm saying, Like and I support 920 00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:18,439 Speaker 1: that fully, like I get it. And so it's like, nah, 921 00:50:18,520 --> 00:50:22,000 Speaker 1: y'all thinking it's something that is not because oh they're 922 00:50:22,040 --> 00:50:25,040 Speaker 1: not on the big Chinese set over here. It's like, yeah, 923 00:50:25,120 --> 00:50:28,360 Speaker 1: but they're really doing it what it really takes. You 924 00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:31,879 Speaker 1: can't applaud you. I applaud you. Thank you. It's hard. 925 00:50:32,040 --> 00:50:33,680 Speaker 1: It was hard. It was a hard decision, and you 926 00:50:33,719 --> 00:50:36,400 Speaker 1: know about hard decisions. But I have to be I 927 00:50:36,440 --> 00:50:38,360 Speaker 1: wasn't doing what I wanted to do. And I have 928 00:50:38,440 --> 00:50:40,960 Speaker 1: to tell our stories. I'm committed to telling black stories. 929 00:50:41,000 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 1: I'm committed to speaking truth to power. I'm committed to 930 00:50:43,680 --> 00:50:46,080 Speaker 1: highlighting people such as yourself who want to see us win. 931 00:50:46,239 --> 00:50:48,759 Speaker 1: And it's okay to have black people centered. It's not 932 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:51,560 Speaker 1: a faux pa and it's not a thing that you 933 00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:54,640 Speaker 1: can't do. It is okay to do that. Two things 934 00:50:54,680 --> 00:50:56,640 Speaker 1: can be true at once. Black folks should be centered, 935 00:50:56,680 --> 00:50:58,319 Speaker 1: and I can also get this money, and I can 936 00:50:58,360 --> 00:51:00,920 Speaker 1: also make differences, and I can also like we can 937 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:03,120 Speaker 1: do it all like like I and I, you know, 938 00:51:03,200 --> 00:51:05,400 Speaker 1: And I'm not even getting into what happened on Sunday 939 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:07,640 Speaker 1: at the Oscars, but I said several things can be 940 00:51:07,719 --> 00:51:09,920 Speaker 1: true at once. We don't live in a world anymore 941 00:51:09,960 --> 00:51:11,879 Speaker 1: where it has to be just one thing. It doesn't 942 00:51:11,880 --> 00:51:14,759 Speaker 1: have to be just black or white. And the more 943 00:51:14,960 --> 00:51:17,440 Speaker 1: people get on board with that and feel more comfortable 944 00:51:17,480 --> 00:51:20,520 Speaker 1: with that, then they'll and if they ever sat and 945 00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:24,800 Speaker 1: really did the research, they understand we truly can create 946 00:51:24,840 --> 00:51:27,399 Speaker 1: our own and write our own story right if it's 947 00:51:27,440 --> 00:51:31,000 Speaker 1: in truth and power. Nobody, you know, I think about Jamale. 948 00:51:31,040 --> 00:51:33,480 Speaker 1: Jamale didn't get on TV to be famous. I didn't 949 00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:35,680 Speaker 1: get on TV to be famous. We want to tell stories, 950 00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:38,480 Speaker 1: and we were black people who want to tell to 951 00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:41,920 Speaker 1: tell our stories that weren't being told. Not just that 952 00:51:42,280 --> 00:51:45,160 Speaker 1: it misses for me as an observer, it's the black 953 00:51:45,320 --> 00:51:49,160 Speaker 1: female point of view. It's a specific point of view 954 00:51:49,200 --> 00:51:52,480 Speaker 1: that wasn't being heard, you know, and and and and 955 00:51:52,520 --> 00:51:55,719 Speaker 1: I adore you guys for that, and have so much respect. Yeah, 956 00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:57,959 Speaker 1: because y'all with the backbone. I always say, black women 957 00:51:57,960 --> 00:52:01,560 Speaker 1: in the backbone of society, Like like, you know what 958 00:52:01,640 --> 00:52:03,759 Speaker 1: I mean, Okay, can you do me a favor then 959 00:52:03,760 --> 00:52:05,640 Speaker 1: hook me with one of your homies. You're singing homies. 960 00:52:05,680 --> 00:52:08,239 Speaker 1: That's not going way two weeks to call me? What 961 00:52:08,360 --> 00:52:13,279 Speaker 1: you saying? You know they all they washed, all of 962 00:52:13,320 --> 00:52:20,359 Speaker 1: them is washed. They all washed up. There you are, 963 00:52:20,680 --> 00:52:23,360 Speaker 1: you have been I mean literally a pleasure and you 964 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:25,359 Speaker 1: have been nothing but fun. I know I took over 965 00:52:25,440 --> 00:52:27,920 Speaker 1: thirty minutes because I told I had thirty minutes. But 966 00:52:28,160 --> 00:52:29,839 Speaker 1: is there anything else we need to look forward to? 967 00:52:29,920 --> 00:52:33,120 Speaker 1: And whatever you're working on? Yeah, I got some surprises 968 00:52:33,160 --> 00:52:37,600 Speaker 1: in store, so we're still cooking. You can't share them now. 969 00:52:38,120 --> 00:52:40,680 Speaker 1: I'll share them with you at another time. You know, 970 00:52:41,320 --> 00:52:43,359 Speaker 1: we're ready to blast off. But you know, from now 971 00:52:43,400 --> 00:52:47,759 Speaker 1: the devil you know, exclusively in AMC theaters, you know, 972 00:52:47,920 --> 00:52:49,360 Speaker 1: Like I said that, I think it's one that the 973 00:52:49,400 --> 00:52:52,160 Speaker 1: people are gonna enjoy it. And you know I always 974 00:52:52,239 --> 00:52:54,600 Speaker 1: enjoy you and um, like I said, I'm proud of 975 00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:58,239 Speaker 1: you and happy for yourself. I received it as the 976 00:52:58,480 --> 00:53:01,839 Speaker 1: feeling is mutual, um And and then I'll be there 977 00:53:02,040 --> 00:53:04,440 Speaker 1: when we get this oscar, because it's coming. All right, 978 00:53:04,719 --> 00:53:06,279 Speaker 1: let's do it, and I'm gonna be there when you 979 00:53:06,360 --> 00:53:12,239 Speaker 1: and Gina go head up, yes exactly. I'm gonna tell 980 00:53:12,320 --> 00:53:15,000 Speaker 1: you know that that's great. I appreciate it. Omar Epps 981 00:53:15,239 --> 00:53:18,720 Speaker 1: on naked, being naked, being his honest self, such a pleasure. 982 00:53:18,760 --> 00:53:21,000 Speaker 1: This made me happy. It made me happy. Interviews make 983 00:53:21,080 --> 00:53:23,400 Speaker 1: me happy. This made me happy. Thank you know, it's 984 00:53:23,440 --> 00:53:28,080 Speaker 1: always love. That went super fast. Like I asked my producers, 985 00:53:28,080 --> 00:53:29,440 Speaker 1: I was like, wait a second, do we talked to 986 00:53:29,520 --> 00:53:31,360 Speaker 1: him for enough time? They're like, yeah, just about fifty 987 00:53:31,360 --> 00:53:32,840 Speaker 1: five minutes. I was like, it didn't feel like fifty 988 00:53:32,840 --> 00:53:35,319 Speaker 1: five minutes, guys, I need more time. Um, Omar, thank 989 00:53:35,320 --> 00:53:37,960 Speaker 1: you so much for taking the time. By way of background, 990 00:53:37,960 --> 00:53:40,720 Speaker 1: I'll give you guys some some bts and behind the scenes. 991 00:53:41,800 --> 00:53:44,040 Speaker 1: I was in New York and I was supposed to 992 00:53:44,040 --> 00:53:46,640 Speaker 1: record this in New York. Omar was in New York 993 00:53:46,680 --> 00:53:49,440 Speaker 1: as well, doing promo for his new film The Devil. 994 00:53:49,560 --> 00:53:53,280 Speaker 1: You know, obviously everything is virtual. We had some problems 995 00:53:53,280 --> 00:53:55,920 Speaker 1: with tech. We couldn't do it. We were able to 996 00:53:55,960 --> 00:54:00,480 Speaker 1: get this done just in time for today's release. So grateful, 997 00:54:00,520 --> 00:54:03,319 Speaker 1: so thank you, Omar for making that happen in the 998 00:54:03,320 --> 00:54:05,600 Speaker 1: whole crew and staff, because my staff is so good. 999 00:54:06,160 --> 00:54:11,120 Speaker 1: Um and and listen, how crazy is it that at 1000 00:54:11,120 --> 00:54:13,640 Speaker 1: seventeen years old he did juice? Like I said, that's 1001 00:54:13,640 --> 00:54:16,640 Speaker 1: absolutely amazing, how even. But it's also crazy because we 1002 00:54:16,680 --> 00:54:18,719 Speaker 1: both have this story. When I was just out of 1003 00:54:18,760 --> 00:54:21,920 Speaker 1: high school, I met Tupac, like literally had just met 1004 00:54:21,960 --> 00:54:23,719 Speaker 1: Tupac when I was out out of high school and 1005 00:54:23,719 --> 00:54:26,840 Speaker 1: I'm and I had graduated arguably a few weeks beforehand. 1006 00:54:26,880 --> 00:54:31,759 Speaker 1: I've shared this story before, but he was a very special, 1007 00:54:32,040 --> 00:54:34,480 Speaker 1: talented man and that was all on display when I 1008 00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:37,040 Speaker 1: met him briefly. And so it's so interesting that I 1009 00:54:37,120 --> 00:54:38,920 Speaker 1: get to tell that story to someone who knows him, 1010 00:54:38,920 --> 00:54:41,520 Speaker 1: knows him and and and and they can be an agreement. 1011 00:54:42,239 --> 00:54:47,640 Speaker 1: Omar is ahead of his time, and I believe arguably 1012 00:54:47,640 --> 00:54:49,960 Speaker 1: one of the most genuine actors I've ever met in 1013 00:54:50,000 --> 00:54:53,000 Speaker 1: this business. And he stays in his lane, which is 1014 00:54:53,120 --> 00:54:55,600 Speaker 1: a lane of excellence, like I'm here to do to work. 1015 00:54:56,480 --> 00:54:59,719 Speaker 1: When he said Sidney Portier was his his you know 1016 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:04,080 Speaker 1: a star, it makes sense. Do your homework research Sydney Portier. 1017 00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:07,680 Speaker 1: That man is elegance, class personified. And all he wanted 1018 00:55:07,719 --> 00:55:10,160 Speaker 1: to do was do the work and just so wise 1019 00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:17,400 Speaker 1: um rest in peace, Sydney Portier Omar Epps. Meanwhile, and 1020 00:55:17,440 --> 00:55:22,840 Speaker 1: you are truly a gem. As I record this, I 1021 00:55:22,960 --> 00:55:24,880 Speaker 1: know that you talked about something that a lot of 1022 00:55:24,880 --> 00:55:27,000 Speaker 1: Hollywood doesn't want to talk about. So I thank you 1023 00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:30,080 Speaker 1: for being a voice of reason and sharing your take 1024 00:55:30,800 --> 00:55:36,120 Speaker 1: on the slab. And hopefully it is over. Hopefully we 1025 00:55:36,160 --> 00:55:38,560 Speaker 1: don't have to debate this for the next two three months. 1026 00:55:38,960 --> 00:55:42,280 Speaker 1: Hopefully by the time you're listening to this, a punishment 1027 00:55:42,280 --> 00:55:45,120 Speaker 1: has been administered and we're okay with whatever punishment it 1028 00:55:45,239 --> 00:55:48,680 Speaker 1: may be, and that that punishment doesn't create more chaos, 1029 00:55:49,239 --> 00:55:52,600 Speaker 1: and that we at home are using this as a 1030 00:55:52,600 --> 00:55:57,400 Speaker 1: teachable moment. Receive that message and don't always choose violence 1031 00:55:57,239 --> 00:55:59,480 Speaker 1: in the sense of I'm ready to fight everybody and 1032 00:55:59,480 --> 00:56:01,719 Speaker 1: go off on everybody because I don't like what they're 1033 00:56:01,760 --> 00:56:03,919 Speaker 1: what they're saying. You may not agree with what I said, 1034 00:56:03,920 --> 00:56:06,920 Speaker 1: but it doesn't mean that we have to be inheated debate. 1035 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:09,319 Speaker 1: You have your opinion on this and I have mine. 1036 00:56:10,239 --> 00:56:16,120 Speaker 1: Let's just heal and move on. Ray Ray Raise of Sunshine. 1037 00:56:16,680 --> 00:56:19,399 Speaker 1: Thank you guys so much for tuning in and I'm 1038 00:56:19,400 --> 00:56:22,040 Speaker 1: sending you nothing but love. Talk to you all next week.