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    Jharrel Jerome Talks Hip-Hop, Hollywood & Finding His Voice This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Emmy Award-winning actor and recording artist Jharrel Jerome for a conversation about hip-hop, storytelling, acting, and the journey toward embracing music publicly. Known for acclaimed performances in Moonlight, When They See Us, and Unstoppable, Jharrel opens up about why rap was actually his first love long before acting entered the picture. From rapping for entry into Bronx basketball games as a kid to studying Eminem lyrics obsessively, Jerome reflects on how storytelling through rhyme shaped the creative foundation of his entire career. Jharrel breaks down: How his upbringing in the Bronx continues to influence his artistic identity. Blending cinema with rap visuals for his four “Pack” EP projects How artists like Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Fred the Godson, and Action Bronson soundtracked different stages of Jerome’s acting career. The emotional toll of filming When They See Us, physically transforming for Unstoppable, and his desire to help bring lyric-driven hip-hop back to the forefront. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:12 - The Ballistics/ Rapper Actors 5:53 - Check out the Okayshop 6:03 - Welcome Jharrel Jerome 7:01 - First love: Music or acting 8:35 - Rap Aliases 10:55 - Who is Jharell Jerome 13:34 - Linking up with Kemba & Take a Daytrip 14:55 - Rap Packs EP’s 17:53 - Boots Riley 19:38 - Short films for the Rap Packs EP 21:28 - Coming back to NY to make music 24:03 - Working with other actors who rap 26:14 - Dramatic reading interpretation of Biggie’s “Warning” 31:23 - Bad script or a bad beat 32:39 - Writing scripts compared to writing raps 35:12 - Albums/songs that help get through acting projects 38:49 - When They See Us 40:03 - I’m a Virgo 42:48 - Unstoppable 45:16 - Musicals / Merging music & acting 47:10 - The big playback 50:13 - Outro/Credits 51:22 - Bonus Content / Lupita N’yongo Freestyle 🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️ Check out OkayPlayer: https://www.okayplayer.com/ Subscribe to OkayPlayer’s newsletter: https://newsletters.okayplayer.com/ Follow Donwill: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donwill Website: https://www.Donwill.me | https://www.donwill.substack.com Follow Jharrel Jerome: https://www.instagram.com/jharreljerome Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okayplayer Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/okayplayer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okayplayer Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@okayplayer_ Credits: The Almanac of Rap is Executive produced by Donwill, Isha Sesay & Travis Harris for Okayplayer Media. Created, written and hosted by Donwill; Directed by Travis Harris; Producer/Editor: Kobina Baffour; Art Direction: Kaushik Kalidindi; Production coordination: Bianca B. Ortiz; Technical Director & Audio Engineer: Compton Timberwolf; Audience Development: Hassan Spruill & Ashon McCollin; Audio Marketing Strategy: Faybeo’n Mickens; Camera Operators: Travis Harris, Kobina Baffour, Trigger Bowden & Compton Timberwolf; Graphic Design: Jefferson Harris; Associate Producers: Brianna Harris, Tyara Jackson & Javon Stephenson; Writing Assistant: Peter Berry; Social Media Producers: Taylor McGee & Michael Mais Jr.; Theme Music by: Von Pea. OkayFuture Labs: https://okayfuturelabs.com OkayAfrica: https://okayafrica.com
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