Powerwas created by Courtney A. Kemp in collaboration with 50 Cent, who is one of several rappers to appear in the acclaimed series.Poweris a crime drama starring Omari Hardwick as James St. Patrick, who is trying to leave behind his previous life of crime and become a legitimate businessman. Like many of thecharacters in thePoweruniverse, St Patrick is known by an alias (Ghost,) and struggles with his relationships with friends and family. This complex web of allegiances forms the basis forPowerand its spin-off series.
Powerand its spin-off series all have large casts with some memorably powerful villains and antiheroes, many of whom are not portrayed by full-time actors.Though the show is about the worlds of crime, family, and the overlap between the two, rather than music,Powerhas become known for its cameos by famous rappers. This is not as surprising as it may sound, as there’ve always been someexcellent acting performances from rappers in movies and TV shows. While some, like 50 Cent, play major roles in the show, others, like MC Lyte, have appeared in small roles.
1050 Cent
Plays Kanan Stark
Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, is one of the biggest names attached toPower.His debut albumGet Rich Or Die Tryin’was critically acclaimed, andJackson went on to have an extremely successful rap career. While Jackson is still best known as a rap artist, he has given standout performances in film and TV. His role as Kanan Stark inPoweris often described as one of50 Cent’s best TV show roles.
Jackson was nominated for a NAMIC Vision Award for his portrayal of Kanan, and the character was the focus of thePowerspin-off series,Raising Kanan.
Kanan Stark is Ghost’s dangerous and unpredictable former friend turned rival, and Jackson thrives playing the intense character.Kanan was such an iconic character that he became a main cast member in season 3, being released from prison with one main goal: getting revenge on Ghost. Jackson was nominated for a NAMIC Vision Award for his portrayal of Kanan, and the character was the focus of thePowerspin-off series,Raising Kanan.
9Kendrick Lamar
Plays Laces
More rappers have wanted a role inPowerthan there are roles available, which is why both Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis Jackson have been selective about who they choose. Both showrunners have stated that they wanted to feature people who would rather act than look cool, so when Kendrick Lamar asked to cameo, he was given a surprising role. Lamar played a homeless drug addict named Laces in episode 5 of season 5.
Laces was a very small role, and the character ended up getting shot dead by Kananafter helping him track down some henchmen. Lamar was virtually unrecognizable in the role, which is what he had wanted. Kemp toldEW, “Kendrick wanted the challenge. He wanted the next level of his artistry and his creativity to be challenged. He really wanted us to give him something.” Lamar was praised for his acting ability in the series and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Music in the same year.
8Method Man
Plays Davis MacLean
Cliff “Method Man” Smith has had an extensive career in the arts, being half of the duo Method Man & Redman, a member ofthe hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and appearing in over 100 film and TV shows. Though Smith has often appeared as himself when making cameos, his role inPowerchallenged his acting ability, giving him an interesting character to work with. Smith plays Davis MacLean, a major character inPower Book II: Ghost.
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MacLean is the suave criminal defense attorney who is at odds with the prosecutor Cooper Saxeduring Tariq’s murder case. The character could have been one-dimensional with more style than substance, but Smith portrayed him as a more complicated person. When the two rival attorneys began working together in the season 1 finale, the relationship between the characters kept audiences guessing. This is partly due to Smith’s performance, showing MacLean as a character always thinking a few steps ahead.
7Mary J. Blige
Plays Monet Stewart Tejada
Monet Stewart Tejada is the iconic matriarch of the Tejada family and one ofthe most dangerous characters in thePoweruniverse.The rapper Mary J. Blige rose to the challenge of the role, which is often considered one of the best inPower, as Monet is a multifaceted character with some key scenes. Blige was awarded two NAACP Image Awards for playing Monet as she juggled the different parts of her life, which revolved around her family and her family’s drug business.
Blige began her music career in 1988, and her debut albumWhat’s the 411?popularized her mix of R&B and hip-hop.Rolling Stoneranked her as the 25th greatest singer of all time in 2023, and many of Blige’s earlier movie and TV roles showcased her musical talent. Over time, Blige’s acting skills have proven that she can do both separately, andthough Monet is arguably her greatest role, she has also appeared inThe Umbrella AcademyandHow to Get Away with Murder.
6Joey Bada$$
Plays Kadeem “Unique” Mathis
Like many of the rap artists that have appeared inPower, Joey Bada$$ had already appeared in several TV shows and productions, not including his many music videos. Bada$$ played Leon in 13 episodes of the cyber-thriller,Mr Robot, and his role as Unique inPowerhas been his biggest role yet.Unique is one of the major antagonists in thePowerUniverse spin-off series,Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and the character is both dangerous and mysterious, with viewers wanting to know more.
Raising Kanantakes place before the events ofPower, and yet Unique does not appear in the main show.
AsUnique’s character is a formidable blend of calculating and violent, viewers have wondered what happened to him. Though Unique isaPoweruniverse character that could carry a spin-off, viewers may be about to find out his fate as the show has been renewed for another season. Bada$$ was nominated for a Black Reel Award for playing Unique.
5Freddie Gibbs
Plays Cousin Buddy
While Freddie Gibbs has not had the meteoric success seen in some of the rappers appearing inPower, he has had a solid career, with a dedicated fanbase, six studio albums, and many other collaborative projects.Soul Sold Separatelyreached number three on the US rap charts in 2022, and his collaboration album,Alfredo,was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001.Gibbs has been appearing in more onscreen roles after starring in the award-winning drama,Down With The King, including his small role inPower.
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Gibbs returned to his hometown of Gary, Indiana, to filmPower, where he played the cross-eyed kingpin Cousin Buddy inPower Book IV: Force. Cousin Buddy was Marshall Cranon’s cousin and potential business contact for Jernard. Buddy was an unpredictable wild card, and he was designed to make Gibbs look different from his usual style. Though he only appeared in three episodes of the show, Gibbs’s performance was praised.
4Rotimi
Plays Andre Coleman
Unlike many of the rap artists who have cameoed and starred in thePoweruniverse,Olurotimi “Rotimi” Akinosho is now better known as an actor than as a musician. Rotimi is a contemporary R&B artist and from 2009 onward, he starred in his own music videos before deciding to try acting in 2011. Rotimi got the first role he auditioned for, playing Darius Morrison in the crime drama TV show,Boss,and acted in movies includingDivergent, beforePowergave him his biggest role.
Rotimi plays Andre “Dre” Coleman inPower, who might not be the most likable character, but he is one of thePoweruniverse’s most interesting. Dre has played a central role in some ofPower’s best episodesas he is one of the most formidable villains on the show. Dre was mentored by Kanan and his loyalties shifted throughout the show. This made him an unpredictable character who was fascinating to watch until his death in season 6.
3LeToya Luckett
Plays Kenya Pierce
LeToya Luckett initially rose to fame as a founding member of Destiny’s Child, and she became one of the biggest names in R&B after beginning her solo career in 2006. Luckett had appeared in small TV roles since the late 1990s but starred inPreacher’s Kidin 2010, and she has since had major roles inSingle LadiesandGreenleaf. Luckett’s role inPowermay be small, but she is a key part of several scenes, playing Kenya Pierce inPower Book III: Raising Kanan.
Kenya is Jukebox’s complex and troubled long-lost mother, who made an impact on the show in just a few episodes. When Kenya returned in season 2 after leaving her daughter to try and make it as a singer, her character was one ofPower’s major talking points. Kenya was not likable, and her aggressively religious fanaticism made many of her scenes painful to watch asLuckett truly committed to the role.
2Jeremih
Plays Elijah Linden
Jeremih first collaborated with 50 Cent in 2010 for their song “Down On Me,” which received sextuple platinum certification, and the two appear to have been in contact ever since. It was not surprising then, that Jeremih would make a cameo appearance in thePoweruniverse.Power Book IV: Forcesaw Tommy Egan heading to Chicago, where he meets the CBI gang crew member Elijah Linden, played by Jeremih.
Jeremih played Jason Varela in the 2022 comedy-dramaNorth of the 10and played Elijah inPowerthat same year.
Jeremih appeared in five episodes ofPower, and the show was only the second occasion in which he has played a character other than himself. Jeremih played Jason Varela in the 2022 comedy-dramaNorth of the 10and played Elijah inPowerthat same year. While Elijah was killed in the show and it appears that Jeremih is not currently starring in any upcoming productions, he is still making music, releasing his first independent single in summer 2024.
1MC Lyte
Plays Jelani Otombre
The rap legend MC Lyte appeared in thePowerseason 5 finale as Jelani Otombre, a brief but important role that was very popular with fans of both her music and her acting. In 1988, MC Lyte releasedLyte as a Rock, making her the first female rapper to release a full solo album.Lyte as a Rockwas critically praised, and MC Lyte has had a prolific career as a recording artist ever since, including performing hip-hop at the White House.
MC Lyte is still recording music, with her ninth studio album,1 of 1, being released in 2024, after a hiatus since 2015. MC Lyte is a philanthropist and has mentored many other artists, working closely with other rappers and hip-hop stars. As she famously collaborates with other artists and has moved into acting too, it is not surprising that she would appear inPower, which has starred so many other rappers.
Power
Cast
Power, released in 2014, follows a successful New York entrepreneur who covertly leads a drug empire catering to wealthy elites. As he seeks to leave the criminal world behind and protect his family, he navigates the precarious balance between his dual identities.
