INTERVIEW: Cast of 'The CHI' Talks Final Season, Honoring Chicago, Connecting With Their Characters in Real Life + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club: INTERVIEW - Cast of "The Chi" Talks Final Season, Honoring Chicago, and Real-Life Connections

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (The Black Effect Podcast Network/iHeartPodcasts)
Date: May 19, 2026
Episode: Cast of 'The Chi' Talks Final Season, Honoring Chicago, Connecting With Their Characters in Real Life + More

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and dynamic interview, The Breakfast Club sits down with stars from "The Chi"—one of television's most seminal series about life, love, trauma, and resilience in Chicago—as they reflect on their journey through seven (actually ten!) seasons. Hosts Lauren LaRosa, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, and Mimi Brown dive deep with Ahmad Ferguson (Kevin), Michael V. Cortez Smith (Nuck), Zaria Emoney Primer (Lynae), Kevin Williams (Alex), Nicholas Ferguson, and other cast members. Together, they explore how the show's legacy has intertwined with their own lives, the authentic representation of Chicago, major character arcs, the healing power of art, emotional scenes, Black love and community, and what fans can expect from the final chapter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Impact and Legacy of "The Chi"

• Chicago’s Portrayal:

  • Michael:

    "We from Chicago, so to walk the streets… I filmed on some of the parts where I went to school at… This is crazy, bro." (03:31)

  • The show is praised for portraying Chicago authentically, beyond the stereotype of violence.

  • Zaria:

    "It showed love, community, family. We are more than just violent... it just showed that we have such positivity." (04:08)

• Changing the Narrative:

  • Michael highlights that while there's a stigma, "The Chi" brought forth images of Black love, family, and female strength.

    "We need to keep pushing that… black women, that's our backbone." (05:00)

2. Character Evolution, Trauma, and Healing

• Character Development:

  • Host reflects on how characters grew from “reckless” kids into nuanced adults.
  • Michael discusses Nuck’s “full circle” moments and how real-life experiences fueled performances:

    "Gangster have feelings too… Like, I had so many full circle moments with Nuck as well. He found out about the son through sickle cell. My father died from sickle cell." (05:55)

• Emotional Toll and Method Acting:

  • Michael confides that playing certain scenes forced him to revisit unresolved grief, blurring lines between art and real pain:

    "I had to walk down a path of what I thought I healed from, but I really didn't... It took me a little while to get back normal." (06:44)

• Mental Health:

  • The trauma depicted on the show is not just acting—mental health struggles are real for cast and community.

    • Michael is a mental health advocate:

      "Every June, we do a man's mental health run... Just get everybody together... get it off, bro." (07:56)

  • Hosts and cast stress the importance of breaking cycles of masculinity that suppress emotion, especially for Black men.

    "It's okay to say you're not okay. Especially being a black man." (07:53)

3. Brotherhood, Family, and Community—On and Off Screen

• On-Set Relationships:

  • Kevin working with his real-life sister on the show ("she's not a twin, that's big sister") and witnessing her transition from music back to acting (10:45)
  • Zaria:

    "It was such an honor... I'm gonna live life, continue to do my career, but always be able to say, like, I did a show—the longest running black drama—with my sister." (12:00)

• Support, Correction, and Real Conversations:

  • The cast shares how they coach and support each other—addressing tough scenes, holding each other accountable, and growing together as artists and people.

• Intergenerational Mentorship:

  • Working with legendary actors like Jason Weaver, Lynn Whitfield, Lala, and Felicia Rashad provided a “masterclass” and an example of humility and craft.

    "It's like getting paid to get a master class... they're just so down to earth and humble and so cool." (31:34)

4. The Show's Cultural & Social Commentary

• Addressing Grief and Healing in Black Communities:

  • The narrative intentionally avoids glorifying trauma; instead, it explores how families and communities work together to break cycles.

  • Zaria (on her character Lynae’s loyalty):

    "She sympathizes with him because of Jamal... girls don't play about their big brother, big brother don't play about them... she knows that Bakari can do that too." (17:03)

  • The importance of “men’s circles” and open vulnerability is highlighted both on the show and in their real lives.

• Representation and Inspiration:

  • Ahmad Ferguson on Kevin’s character arc:

    "Never let your circumstances define you... there is a change, you can leave, you can boss up and change your environment." (13:55)

  • The cast’s visibility has inspired youth from their neighborhoods.

5. Emotional Standout Moments & Real-World Parallels

• Toughest Scenes:

  • Multiple cast members cite Season 3 (Keisha’s kidnapping) and Season 2 as emotionally raw and triggering.
  • Ahmad recalls filming with Jason Mitchell:

    "Those scenes... we had to portray that story... doing the haircut, that was real emotions..." (23:14)

• Personal Connections:

  • Michael shares a personal tragedy—his cousin Kiera went missing in Chicago, paralleling the show’s plot:

    "My cousin named Kiera... got kidnapped about 2018 and she still haven’t showed up... Let's try to find her or at least act like we care." (27:57)

6. On Fame, Success, and Artistic Ambition

• Defining Success:

  • Cast members reject fame or money as measures of success.
    • Michael:

      "Consistency for me, though... Money gonna come and go. And then fame, you can buy fame... But you don't get to beat, like, certain... we're so blessed because we're able to be on set and we're able to learn, like, the craft." (37:03)

• Skills Beyond Acting:

  • Cast members are involved in music, production, and learning the ins and outs of filmmaking, beyond acting.

7. Working with Lena Waithe & Series Finale

• Lena’s Vision and Openness:

  • She’s celebrated for championing Black stories and being open to cast suggestions, though the final creative say is with her.

    "It's open. You can always reach out and be like, hey, I think this..." (40:50)

  • Her leadership style: combining mentorship, business acumen, and inclusion.

    • Ahmad:

      "I just opened up my production company... she's one of the first people I called... her confidence, you know, the effortless business of 'you got this.'" (42:51)

• Last Day Reflections:

  • Cast describes the last day as emotional and surreal, realizing the magnitude and longevity of what they accomplished together.

    "It felt like... a new birth and death at the same time." (44:47)

• The Ending:

  • While the final season offers some closure, there are still stories left untold.

    "There's still more story to tell." (45:07)

    • Zaria:

      "I think it provides the closure, but I still feel like how it ends is going to be like what is about to happen next?" (45:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Chicago and Changing the Narrative

• "Every city got a hood... but it showed black love, right?" – Michael V. Cortez Smith (03:50/04:07)

On Masculinity, Trauma, and Healing

• "We know how to mask it because we are taught to be tough... but it's like, no, we go home and we sob." – Michael V. Cortez Smith (07:26)
• "It's okay to say you're not okay. Especially being a black man." – Michael V. Cortez Smith (07:53)
• "Those man circles... us as men, whether you be young or old, we coming together... expressing what our character is going through." – Kevin Williams (Alex) (08:45)

On Character Growth and Inspiration

• "Never let your circumstances define you." – Ahmad Ferguson (13:55)
• "She just puts her heart on her sleeve and she... takes it... but I also do think there is a void... this season you're gonna see from her POV as well." – Kevin Williams (Alex) (17:52)

On the Show’s Emotional Toll

• "I had a cousin named Kiera... she got kidnapped... and we don’t talk about her no more. So this... is a shout out to her." – Michael V. Cortez Smith (27:57)

On Success and Craft

• "Consistency... money gone come and go... fame, you can buy fame... but you don't get to beat, like, certain… we're able to learn the craft." – Kevin Williams (Alex) & Michael V. Cortez Smith (37:02)

On Lena Waithe’s Influence

• "I never got to talk to her about it, but just knowing how she moves and... believes in us... she was already light years ahead." – Kevin Williams (Alex) (41:16)
• "She gave a speech and just walked us down a journey... whatever she says she is, she gonna do it." – Michael V. Cortez Smith (42:04)

On the Final Day

• "Everybody crying. You had Jason Weaver... that's when it hit me, like, it’s really over... it felt like a new birth and death at the same time, man." – Michael V. Cortez Smith (44:21/44:47)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:08: Reflections on starting and ending the show as “family”
• 04:07: Discussing how “The Chi” changes the narrative about Chicago
• 05:55: Michael draws personal connections in his performance (sickle cell, family loss)
• 06:44: On the emotional toll of reliving trauma for scenes
• 07:56: Mental health advocacy and men’s circles
• 13:55: Ahmad on breaking out of the neighborhood and defining your path
• 17:03: Zaria on “saving” Bakari and how her character’s loyalty comes from personal experience
• 23:14: Ahmad and others discuss the most emotional seasons/scenes
• 27:57: Michael shares story of his missing cousin, tying show themes to real life
• 31:34: The masterclass of working with Black Hollywood legends
• 37:02: What success means to the young cast—consistency, not money or fame
• 40:50: Lena Waithe’s collaborative approach and legacy
• 42:04: The emotional last day and the feeling of closure
• 45:07: Will the final season provide closure? (spoiler-free)
• 46:21: Lauren praises the cast for “embodying” their characters

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Closing Thoughts

This episode is an insightful, vulnerable tribute to the artistry and impact of "The Chi," with its young stars reflecting on how the series mirrored their own growth, tackled complex themes, and celebrated Black resilience and love. The discussion is a testament to the transformative power of representation and storytelling, both for audiences and the creators themselves.

Final Quote:

"You did such a great job... you really embody your characters. I feel like I know y'all, but I don't even know y'all in real life." — Lauren LaRosa (46:21)

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Listen for:

• Raw, relatable stories from rising stars
• Behind-the-scenes stories about acting, community, and Chicago pride
• Heartfelt tributes to Black women, family, and the healing power of art
• Encouragement for young people to define themselves beyond circumstance

Recommended for:
Fans of "The Chi," anyone interested in Black storytelling, acting, and the intersection of art and real life.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human streaming.

[DJ Envy]

May 22nd on Paramount. The acclaimed series from executive producer Lena Waithe reaches its final chapter. The Chi. For seven seasons, these stories, these streets, this community have stayed with us. Now it all leads to this. As friendships are tested, families evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried, one thing is certain. The Chi is more than just a series. It's a legacy. Don't miss the final season. May 22 on the Paramount Premium Plan.

[State Farm Agent/Advertiser]

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[Nissan Advertiser]

Pressure has a way of revealing what remains steady. In the latest Nissan campaign, the Nissan Rogue was tested to the extreme to demonstrate that it's built to last through durability and reliability challenges inspired by real tests conducted by Nissan engineers. Brutal potholes, a steady force of water, even a jet powered sandstorm. Each each challenge inviting a deeper look at how quality, durability and reliability hold their ground in real world conditions. Every test was 100% real. No CG, no AI. To see how the Rogue held up, visit nissan-duordability.com I get a lot of

[Shopify Advertiser]

questions about how I run my business and keep everything operating smoothly. And the answer is Shopify. One of the biggest advantages is discoverability. Shopify puts my products in front of customers wherever they're already shopping. And for my store, whether it's a mug, a shirt or a hoodie, all the raindrops can get something special to call their own. I'm so pumped because Shopify is going to show up at our Black Effect Podcast Festival this year in a big way for all of our small black owned businesses that partner with us. Build your store, own your audience, and create something that lasts. Start [e-mail] B.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Hold up.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Every day I wake up.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Wake your ass up.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done? Yes, it's the world's most dangerous morning show. The Breakfast Club DJ Envy Just hilarious. Charlamagne. The God Envy is not here today but Lauren LaRosa is here. Mimi Brown is sitting in as well. And we got the cast of the shy.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

You. What's the word?

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Everybody introduce themselves like y' all a group boy.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Nicholas Ferguson.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

I'm Michael V. Cortez Smith.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Zaria Emoney Primer and Alex R. Hber.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I feel like we watch y' all grow up, man.

[Interviewer/Host]

I know. I was so hyped to find out y' all was coming up. Oh, my God, look, so y' all here. 8th season shows don't live that long. We saw y' all when y' all were like little, little kids, when your little ass. I was so mad at you, you

[Ahmad Ferguson]

know what I'm saying?

[Interviewer/Host]

I felt like he was my real little brother and shit. How does it feel to like. To have, like, to be doing a final season of this long living show?

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

It feels great just to be able to start this and end with it and to be able to be a part of something that's bigger than myself and work alongside amazing people and be able to call them family now is just an amazing journey to be a part of.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, it's definitely a surreal moment because you gotta think about, like, we from Chicago, so to walk the streets. Like, I filmed on some of the parts where I went to school at, you know what I mean? So I was like, bro, I was 24 years old, having my first scene around the corner from my high school. I was like, damn, this is. This is crazy, bro.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Did the show accurately reflect Chicago to y'? All?

[Guest or Advertiser]

Yes.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, yeah. But it's, like, politically correct, though. It's like, we can't go too in depth in it, you know what I mean? It gets too controversial. We don't want to put a bad light on us. We already got a stigma on us. Like, we so dangerous. You know what I mean? Every city got a hood.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Do you feel like the show really helped change that narrative?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, it showed black love, right?

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

It show love, community, family. We are more than just violent. Like, I feel like a lot of people think Chicago and think just violence and guns and things like that, but it just showed that we have such positivity.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

I think you can see, like, it's a character for each person.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, sure.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

On this show, like, our ensemble is so. We got so many characters, and I feel like anybody watching can relate to anybody.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

And I feel like the shy. To your point, Zaria. Right to your point. I feel like it shows how the trauma starts, you know what I mean? Like, it shows how the trauma even gets inherited, you know? In. In black communities a lot of the time.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Yeah. But it also shows how to come up out of it. I like that because a lot of TV and movie just. Just shows the trauma and that's it. And that's where it ends.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

And you know what it shows? It shows like, family. Like, we all congregate and come together to get ourselves out of that trauma. And it really glorified the black woman in our show. Like, we need to keep pushing that because it's like we put the stigma on, like, black women. Like, they not need it, bro. That's our backbone. You know what I mean? We come from a woman, so we gotta get more respect to em for sure.

[Interviewer/Host]

Character development is very important in this show because, yo, I remember first seeing Nook, his role, I went from hating him to. It's like, damn, I love him. Because how you changed. Like, at first he was working for Duda and that's what she wanted to do, you know, Nook was like, all right, bad killer, killer, shoot him up. Bang, bang. But then you changed the perspective, like, the mindset of the business or whatever. And even with, like, Bakari, he wanna get out now, you know what I mean? And it's just wild. Like, seeing the character development over the seasons, it took turns that I didn't think it would take. Like, I thought Nook was gonna be killed for sure.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

For sure. And he made it in it.

[Interviewer/Host]

You just so reckless.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That boy playing chess, not checkers, man. He figuring it out. I don't know how he doing it, but he figuring it out. Nuck is so complex, bro, because it showed. Like, gangster have feelings too. You know what I mean? Like, and it just shows the product of, like, making the wrong choice in life. Like, I had so many full circle moments with. With Nuck as well. Like, he found out about the son through sickle cell. My father died from sickle cell. So it's like, it was like, literally it was a full circle moment with that, you know? Yeah, bro. It was hard work. Like, I had a scene where I had to walk through the door and see my son for the first time. I had it in my mindset, like, damn, what if my father would have had an opportunity to see me for the first time? Because he didn't have a chance till he died right after.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So you talking about when you walk in the house? Yeah, I remember that scene.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Wow. So. So after that scene happens, right? And you're also, like, in your real life pulling from that emotion. Like, you go home and like, what is that Like, I ain't gonna lie.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

I was, like, up for a minute, because even, like, playing that role and playing the moment when I took dude out, like, I had to walk down a path of what I thought I healed from, but I. I really didn't. You know, I mean, my uncle passed from gun violence, and I put my mindset, if. If I was in the opportunity to take the. The life of the. The guy that took my uncle away. So it's like to. To walk and just rip that band aid off and be like, man, I thought I was healed, but I wasn't. Like, it took me a little while to get back normal when to come to work and just be a, you know, an actor.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I'm glad that you say that, because a lot of people would think that if you're from Chicago, you're kind of numb to it, like. Like, that's. Gun violence is sort of the norm. I'm glad to hear you say it's not.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

It's not. It's not. We know how to mask it because we are taught to be tough. You know, we gotta have some type of character with that. But it's like, no, we go home and we sob. That's why a lot of people lean into drugs, because they try to cope and mask what they're going through. And it's like, nah, you need to sit down and unpack. It's not healthy and not cool to be like, oh, I can pop this perk, or I can sip this lane and get over. No, you fighting demons that you're not unpacking. And it start with the household. It's a foundation. If our foundation ain't right, then we can't be right. And we got to unpack that. It's okay to say you're not okay. Especially being a black man.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

You had to go to therapy, right?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

For sure. And I'm playing a role in that. Yes. And I'm huge on man mental health. Like, next month, I got a nonprofit called Cortez Cares. Every June, we do a man's mental health run and just get everybody together in the neighborhood. And we have a man circle that I, you know, I use from the shy man. We just come together and just. Whatever you got on your chest, just get it off, bro. It's a judge.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

I like those. Those man circles.

[Interviewer/Host]

I do, too, man.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

It was dope,

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

man.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

I'm mad I couldn't get on that, man.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I used to look forward to it in the show. Like, that was when they would. Like, after the show, they would Go through their feelings in real life. I mean, not in real life cuz the characters. But I, I was like, that was so genius to put that in. And it was early cuz BET even now has a show that does that. And then Kirk Franklin has like Kings Den. Right, that's kind of the same thing. And I was like, that was so fire to put in there.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Did you share your real feelings during or.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Yeah, well, we kind of like practiced before. But like being in the men's circle is so fun because off camera, like we talk amongst each other all the time. So like once we start getting those scenes, I think we were all excited because like we got to be amongst each other because each story is like, you know, it has those different storylines and different characters are with different characters. But those were like moments where it's like us as men, whether you be young or old, we coming together on the show and we expressing ourselves and expressing what, you know, our character is going through. But it's also fun off cam, just being on set. Those long hours with our big brothers and us just learning game from them and they hearing us and hearing what we going through and we just talking, yo.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

And speaking of big brothers, because Jake, your character has evolved so much, right? You went from being under two brothers to like becoming your own man and starting your own business. You know, talk to us about your development, you know, as the seasons went on.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Nah, that's one of my things I can't wait for y' all to see. Coming into this new season, you really gonna see Jake stepping more into his manhood and putting his foot down. But seeing Jake evolve over the years has been my favorite thing to see Aaron play. Because you see him go from the normal kid in the hood following in his big brother's steps to losing him, to then being being adopted and living in a house where he doesn't really feel wanted or doesn't really want to be there to. Oh, my new big brother comes in. So now it's more of a new change I gotta get used to. I don't really know him, but it's a big bro. So in a way I have to accept him. I have to harbor him, you know, so just to see Jake in his final season and finally see him kind of find that peace and happiness, I can't wait for y' all to see it.

[Interviewer/Host]

And he's smashing the first lady, you

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

know, he gets out of here. Hey, I'm so jealous of his character, man. He get, you know, he do his thing on that.

[Interviewer/Host]

No Bakari. All right, real quick. I keep coming,

[Lauren LaRosa]

right?

[Interviewer/Host]

So how was it acting with your sister? Like, your actual sister?

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

How does it.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Twin sister?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Well, she older than me by five years, but what. Everybody call us twins. That's big sister.

[Interviewer/Host]

Not really twins.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

No, that's big sister.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Y' all are looked.

[Interviewer/Host]

Wow.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Shout out to our parents, Gene Strong. But, I mean, I remember being on set, we were filming episode. We were season six. I don't know the episode completely, but I remember just filming, and Lena had sent me a dm. She like, hey, you know this because my sister also is an R B artist. You know this girl. So I'm like, I think she finna get a sync. Like, I'm thinking it's music. I'm like, okay. I text her like, I think your music gonna be on the show. She sent me a voice memo back. Like, you know, we want to keep growing your arc. Like, is y' all cool? Like, how does he feel coming on the show, playing? I'm like, what? Then my sister texted me because she was on tour at the time with Cash Page in Canada. So she like, I'm getting a text from Carmen Cuba casting. Like, what is this? I'm like, bro, you about to be on the show. But it was. It was such an honor. It was a blessing.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

For our legacy, for our bloodline. Coming from Gary, Indiana, you see those siblings with, like, Mike, Janet, stuff like that. But we just embraced the moment. And I also got to see my sister grow in another craft because we started, like, started off when we were young doing plays and stuff like that, but she transitioned into music. But you saw her over the seasons, like, really get a knack and a real love for. For acting again. So it was a blessing. And I'm honored that, like, you know, I'm gonna live life, continue to do my career, but always be able to say, like, I did a show. Not only a show, the longest running black drama with my sister.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Pop it.

[Interviewer/Host]

Popping.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

And OG was on it too.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

His mom sung on it too.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah, man, that's what's up.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, that's a fire. Y. Y' all's relationship on the show, it. It really spoke a lot to, like, you know, people be like, man, they just doing what they gotta do to figure it out. I feel like y' all relationship in a dynamic, and. Cause we loved her then we didn't. That hurt. Like, you know, it really spoke to two kids having to just figure it out because y' all ain't. Y' all didn't have Anybody.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

And we didn't have anybody. And also like with time, us being apart, it's like you get to see Bakari at first, be like you sis, but you ain't been here. Like, I've been out here figuring it out myself, living this life by myself, trying to make ends meet for myself. But I'm excited for the new season. Cause you know, you may see that relationship grow.

[Interviewer/Host]

So now, was it introduced to you before that? She was gonna be like a snake, you know what I'm saying?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Nah, it wasn't.

[Interviewer/Host]

Okay. So that was just something.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

That was, that was just something. We reading the script and she like, bro, they gonna hate me, they gonna hate me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I was so mad.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

I did.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I know.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, she dropped a dime on me too. It got me beat up, you know, kicked out the mob.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Back Door Britney.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, Back Door Britney is crazy.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Came in trying to take my girl, all type of stuff.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

That's right.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Yeah.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

You did take Kevin.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

See how to happen.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I already.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Jake knew what was coming with it though.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

He.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

He know you lose him, how you get him.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

So that's a fact.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So Alex or Kevin. So right in the show, when you decide to exit the show and you're headed to college and the gaming stuff is happening, what do you think is like the biggest lesson that kids who are afraid to leave their neighborhoods but need to take that step should learn from your decision to go away to college.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Never let your circumstances define you. Kevin went through so much, you know what I mean? And a lot of black boys have the same experience that I do. And a lot of black boys are different. We're not all the same.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

We not all play sports. And, you know, due to the music and all that other stuff, we have different goals and different things that we want to achieve. So I think Kevin in that sense and me playing that character holds an important part to the culture alone. And that's why I treat him with so much grace. And that's why as well, I departed the way I did because it is to show people that, you know, there is a change you can leave, you can boss up and change your environment regardless of whatever happens in this world, you know.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Is Kevin still a gamer in la?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Well, that's what. That's for the audience to interpret.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Okay.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

You know, all I can say is Kevin is thriving.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Okay?

[Lauren LaRosa]

He's doing well, and we're not gonna get like a little sneak peek. Nothing ever.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That boy is media trained. You see that? You know what I'm saying?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

22nd season eight.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

But I like what you were saying, though, because, like, the shy has always done a great job of showing, like the streets, but then like showing the emotional vulnerability. Right. How that can exist together. Why do you still think society acts like toughness and healing can't coexist?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

I mean, it's just. It's just what we intake, you know, that's what they promote when it comes to the music and all that stuff. That's all we seeing and hearing. That's all the youth is seeing and hearing. So that's why us being young black people that we are right now, we're here to change that. You know what I mean? Change that whole ecosystem, change that whole mindset, you know, just put on those younger kids. I even look at my nephews and my cousins a different way and talk to them a different way because I know I have a responsibility that I have to uphold. We all do. There's a big torch being passed down and we have to do the work and we got to be able to hold it up.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That's a fact.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

But it's like even, even sometimes it's like as a man or a male, they expect you to put on that front or it's like you can't have feelings or express or feel away, you know, like growing up in a house, that was something that I kind of heard as being a boy, you're told to suck it up, deal with, man it up. It's like cry, dang. I can't even feel the way that I just fell down the stairs that you just said this and it hurt me. So it's like that's kind of a weight that they just throw on us. Like, nah, you can't feel it. Like, you have to put on this front. You can't have. You can't feel your emotions. So that's also another reason why I feel like it's a lot of men out here that's been like, they can't be vulnerable with each other, especially.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, my bad. I'm gonna just add this in. Especially being raised by a single parent like me and you, you know, we just had our mom and you know, our mom gotta be ten times harder because we go out in these streets, we can't be feminine at all. We can't be sensitive or nothing. We gotta, you know, I mean, literally go out in the streets and give 110% and be more tougher than anybody. Because back at home we got a female that's raising us. You know what I mean?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Piggybacking off what you said just that. Community. I also feel like, you know, people don't really have somebody to listen and not just listen to respond. Like, really, like, listen and take in their feelings and emotions and where they are and the place they are in

[Nicholas Ferguson]

their life, you know, Zarya, I love your. Your character. You know, it's. You're so vulnerable and you're so helpful with Bakari and you give him chance after chance after chance. Where does that come from? Does it. Because what you've been through or you see something in them, does it remind you of your brother? Like, what is happening there?

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

I think she sympathizes with him because of Jamal. That is her brother. And I have a brother in real life. And, you know, girls don't play about their big brother. Big brother don't play about them. And you can see Jamal don't play about me. And even, like, I think her seeing Jamal come out of jail and now, like, you know, he's following God and he's really trying to change his life. He gets a regular job. He goes and marries Dom, played by Lala. I feel like she knows that Bakari can do that too. And that's why she doesn't give up, because she comes from that. So she knows what that's like. And she knows. She's from Chicago, so she knows, like, this is the system that we've been put in, but it's breakable.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

So she's just pushing him to get out of that.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

And you lean on her a lot? All the time.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Oh, yeah.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Does she feel a void for what Bakari's going through because he really doesn't have anyone.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

I think she does, but just that selflessness that she carries, you know, like. Like she said she thinks that Bakari can make it out and Bakari can change. So I just think that she just put her heart on her sleeve and she. She take it. You know what I'm saying? But I also do think that there is a void. But I think this season that you're gonna be able to see stuff from her point of view as well.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

So do you think that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Do you think your character. Do you think Lynae ever sacrifices too much for Babari?

[Nissan Advertiser]

Yes.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Every time. She should have never put them guns in her closet. She's a goofy.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

I needed help.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

I'm glad the cops didn't find it. It's not like it's love, but it's like dumb and love. And it is.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

She done put some guns in the closet before. Have you took a charge, though? It Was been that. I took a charge, too. You did take a charge.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

They had me in the stolen car on prom.

[Interviewer/Host]

You took one? I wanted to, but I did. I'm bad.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I was about taking the charge, doing something you could get a charge for, right? It's just as bad.

[Interviewer/Host]

No. Shut up.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Answer that question, Jess.

[Interviewer/Host]

First of all, have you ever done

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

something you could have gotten the charge for?

[Shopify Advertiser]

Talking about?

[Interviewer/Host]

The niggas that I was with, they was a criminal.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Allegedly. Huh?

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Allegedly.

[Lauren LaRosa]

When it was in the car.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Yeah. But that's why I love our relationship so much, because that is like the hood love story that, like, so many girls and, like, you find a good girl and meets the bad boy, and you just want to save him so bad. It's like, girl, let him go.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Hey, pretty, pretty. Women love them hood niggas, though. They love him.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

He told me to stash his guns, girl.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

One of them got a switch on it.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

You know, the show deals with grief a lot, right? Like, what role do you think unhealed grief plays in how people just move through relationships in their community?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

I think it's a lot of perspectives. I feel like you can look at it a lot of ways. Like, with my character, you saw him literally take someone's life because of grief and because how he felt, you know, Coogie was. He was the person in the neighborhood. Like, you know, he may not come from that walk of life, but, like, we know him. We respect him. Like, he off limits. You know what I'm saying? But obviously, you see wrong place, wrong time. A story that we all know in our communities. And you see him die, but you also see me come, you know, seasons later, right?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Cause we forgot that you. Well, the gangsters have to keep reminding you. Like myself have to keep reminding you. Like, I ain't running. But, you know, you done so much good, and we showed that you were just so lost in the community that you finding your way and you don't want to be that guy. You just want to survive.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

But that community that I talked about, you see shot, he didn't give up on you. Yeah, he didn't give up on me. You see, Professor Gardner, all these different characters. That community where I'm able to express myself, I'm able to express my emotions, and I'm also able to get corrected because of the foundation and the seeds that they planted. So now I'm hearing it out of love instead of, like, you know, because, you know, we got positive figures in our life, and sometimes we might not listen because we don't know how to receive, but I just feel like over time you saw his heart soften to just receive and listen. But grief can make you do crazy. Like, you seen me come in off the gate. Grief had me. I'm blowing.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

I kill him for sure. Grief made you do some stuff too. Like, you know what I mean? Like when you thought you lost your brother, but you know he came back,

[Interviewer/Host]

right?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That's how I said. And you let him back in your house. You know what I mean?

[Interviewer/Host]

You just came back and they want nothing to do with them.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I wonder how that impacts y' all in real life, because like you say, y' all are from Chicago, so I'm sure y' all have all dealt with different traumas, right? But then you all. Then you got to go be on a show where you still gotta play about trauma. Like, when do you ever get to really disconnect?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

You really don't, though.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

That's life, though. That's life and art.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

That's why I say you always got to prioritize your mental health. Because with this job, you gotta relive a lot of traumatic moments to and better your performance on screen. So it's like, if you already making sure your mental health is straight on a day to day, I really feel like you'll be able to maneuver through it.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Facts and keeping God first, man. God is real, bro. God is real. Manifestation is real, and God is real, man. Keep God first and just take time and ground yourself and stay grounded, bro. You know what I mean? And just go silent, Turn your phone off, turn the TV off. You know what I mean? Just sit in your thoughts and unpack the things that you went through. Because, man, that shit can turn you crazy, though, for real.

[Interviewer/Host]

The shot is definitely a very emotionally triggering show. Like, do y' all have a most emotional season? I'm gonna tell y' all what it is for me, and I ain't even on the show. Okay, so when Keisha was kidnapped, man. Yeah.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Season three.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yes. That was so, like, it hit home. I never been kidnapped, but, you know, friends and family and it just happens to young black girls all too often, right? And so much so don't nobody look. Don't nobody care to look. You know what I mean? And that's when I seen Kevin's character. Like, it was like he was bothered he was going through it, but he wasn't handling it like you would think he would. But that's when I saw, like, character development for you. I'm like, oh, no, he really. He. He going off in his mind about it. Like, he wasn't giving up, not expressing it exactly. Like, you know, you would see somebody else do it. Like, was that like, what was the most emotional I got a season for y'? All?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

The most emotional season for me was actually season two. It was a lot of pressure brought on to me. I mean, I was working with phenomenal actors at the time too, as well. Jason Mitchell and all of that. And those scenes that we had to go through. You know, I have my father in my life, but just even thinking about him not being there, yeah, you know, that kind of made me, like, feel a type of way. And we had to portray that story. And he was going through so much in that time too, as well, which I didn't know. So in that scene where you see us doing the haircut, that was real emotions. Both of us feeling things, you know, coming off the set and having a yo, let's debrief together, let's cry, let's be brothers together. And just, you know, bask in this moment away from the cast, the crew and everything like that. And we had multiple moments like that in season two and then season three when I had to kind of like, pick up that mantle.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

And it continued with those harsh, you know, topics that we were talking about. I just had to, you know, suck it up a lot. A lot of the best artists.

[DJ Envy]

Yo, what up, y'?

[Nicholas Ferguson]

All?

[DJ Envy]

It's DJ Envy from the Breakfast Club. Now check this out. The first phone call that ever happened happened over 150 years ago. 150 years. That's before any of this. Before radio, before social media, before all the ways we stay connected. Today, that one call really started everything. And fast forward to now. It's springtime, the weather's breaking, people outside vibes are right again. Thank God. And it got me thinking, who haven't you talked to in a minute? And you know, through all these years and all these conversations, AT&T has been there, connecting people in meaningful ways. This is more than a story of technological innovation. It's really a story about human connection. Real people, real moments and real relationships. So we celebrate over 150 years of connection. Let this be your reminder. Don't wait. Make that call, send that text, pull up on somebody you care about. Because at the end of the day, those connections, that's what really matters.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Connecting changes everything.

[DJ Envy]

AT&T streaming May 22 on Paramount. The acclaimed series from executive producer Lena Waithe reaches its final chapter. The Chi. For seven seasons, these stories, these streets, this community have stayed with us. Now it all leads to this. As friendships are tested, families evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried, one thing is certain. The Chi is more than just a series. It's a legacy. Don't miss the final season May 22 on a Paramount plus premium plan.

[State Farm Agent/Advertiser]

This past weekend, like every other Sunday, you were on the court with the guys playing ball. Just a quick pickup game, living out your hoop dreams. No triple doubles, but mean set of threes in between buckets. One of the homies mentioned he closed on a new crib. This is big. And while everyone's asking about housewarming and making plans to celebrate, you're asking the real questions. Like has he spoken to his State Farm agent yet about coverage? See, homeownership is one thing, but the right coverage is the real game changer. Even more than your last hot streak, it's how you protect your legacy. Dropping buckets and bars on the court. A State Farm agent can more than assist you with finding the right coverage for your new place. If you have a claim, your local agent can help you file it. Yep, that's right. Over the phone, in person, online or on the app, they are ready to help you and they don't drop the ball. You know what I mean? Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa and I used to think that if something worked for everybody else, it should work for me too. So I was just layering products on, trying every routine I saw online and my hair just stayed dry, undefined. And honestly, it was frustrating. It felt like I was doing everything right but getting no results. What I had to unlearn is that hair isn't one size fits all. Once I started focusing on my hair and what I actually needed, everything changed. My hair felt softer, stronger and I finally started seeing real growth. That's why I love Baskin Lather. Their products are made specifically for textured hair and you can feel the difference. The stimulating scalp and hair bomb keeps my hair hydrated without the heavy greasy feel and it helps reduce breakage while adding shine. And the hydrating hair mist? Oh, it's perfect for keeping my curls soft, detangled and refreshed, especially in protective styles. I have thick textured hair that leans very dry, so moisture and strength are everything for me and I've definitely seen an improvement in both even their before and after results. You can tell it's real growth and healthier hair and I love the fact that it's a black owned family operated Brand that started from a real need and real care. Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair for all types from Baskin Lather. Go to baskinlather co.com and use code Breakfast Club for 20% off. That's 20% off at bask and lather co.com?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

cold Breakfast Club just they. They have to suffer to put out the best work.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Oh, man, you gotta. Because acting is displaying realness. You know what I mean? Like you. You have to be authentic. When it and season three, the. To piggyback on that. Like, I had a cousin named Kiera Co man, she got kidnapped about 2018 and she still haven't showed up. No, no trace of it. She was pregnant. She was a. A mail carrier. If y' all ever heard about that. Happened in Chicago and we don't talk about her no more. So this a. It's a shout out to her to just like, let's. Let's figure out something. Let's try to find her or. Or try to like, at least act like we care because it was just a hot topic on Facebook they talked about a little bit and it just disappeared.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Yeah, but even Nook's character, when Keisha disappeared, went through a lot.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, he did, though.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Was that drawn from your cousin maybe missing your cousin?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Not at that. Not at that moment. Because season three was just like. It was so fresh for me. I was just like, so excited to be, you know, a part of something. You got to think about being an actor and entrepreneur. We get told know a lot. So once we get that, yes, we just like, I just want to be the best. I want to do the best thing I can do just to stay here and maintain. I didn't really start tapping into, like, my full potential until like the end of five.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Okay.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Season five and then six, when they really gave me a call and say, you, you're going to be in it. I was working a job. I was on a cherry pick at this warehouse. I ain't no shit about that, but I just like, I'm just not gonna be broken. I got that call and said, like, hey, you about to be on the whole season six. I said, oh, yeah. Took that little vest off. I said, yeah, it's over with. I'm gone.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But yeah, Alex, when. When Jason's character no longer was on the show and you like, moved on in different seasons, right? Because emotionally you guys had that tie together. Was it hard for you to kind of have that person that you leaned on on set? Because we watched y' all build such a relationship on camera.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

I mean, of course it's always hard losing a cast member and it's. It was confusing at the time. Everything happened so quickly and during the downtime, you know, but everything happens for a reason. And plus I had amazing people surrounded by me too as well, like Jacob Lattimore.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

I mean. Yeah.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Ronnie who. Who played Natara. I don't know what's full name, but Ntade and I just had amazing people surrounded by me as well to guide me too. And then even developing, we had Jason come in, you know, Jason Weaver and all of those other people just helped me and navigate it. I'm a person, I soak up the game. I'm always asking questions, always observing, always looking around. I mean, that's why I don't really talk much. Like I'm an observer.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

You know, as I listen to you guys, you keep dropping names. Jason Weaver, Lynn Whitfield, Lala. Like this cast.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Alaysha Rashad.

[Interviewer/Host]

Oh my God.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Facts. Yes, Leon.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

I mean, the amount of people like star power in this show and you guys growing up and watching that and being in it, you know, how was that as you're coming up as you know, you're acting?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

I think it was fun because also my character, I was blessed to kind of get one on ones with a lot of them. But just being in a presence and also seeing that they're real people and like they're even happy to be a part of like this.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

And excited to see us was crazy.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

So like, you know, like Alex said, just soaking up all the game that they giving you, but also understanding that, wow, you guys are real humans and that you guys lead with grace and love. But also on the acting tip, you guys helping me like in real time, growing my craft and get better. So, man, it was an honor and it was amazing.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Yeah, it's like getting paid to get a master class. It's like you like they're paying you to get a class, but it's also just cool to see that we look at them in such like this big light. Like they're like, we know that they're legends and they're just so down to earth and humble and so cool. And I love that they're just open to teaching, open to help. Like they're not like stuck up or like, you know, I've been doing this. Like they still have a love for the craft. They haven't like let it get to their head. So I think that's a great example to see as a young actress sure.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

And they say, we. We definitely had the best childhood.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

You see a lot of young child stars, they go through turmoil and all of that stuff, but we really feel like we have a cove over us.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

It takes a village. And because, you know, it wasn't just the cast either. It was just. It was crew that was taken care of. Shout out to Marcus. Like, that was our boss barber for several seasons. Like, that was like a real uncle on the set. Like, remember, I came to work late, and he was like, pull me to the side. Say, nephew, don't do this again. He was like, hey, you want to. You. You want to be here, right? I said, yeah. He was like, well, you got to lead by example. Don't come here late no more. And, bro, I'm like, oh, yeah, if he telling me that, I got to be on. On point. But the shot gave us an opportunity to have Hollywood come to us. We didn't have to go out searching to try to feel like we belong. They brought all of that that we've been looking at for years, like, and then brought it to us, like, seeing Lynn Whitford, I'm like, damn, that's Brandy. Like, answering, seeing Leon. Damn, that's David Ruffin, right? Jason Weaver. That's Simba. Whatever you want to pick, Michael Jackson. Whatever you want to pick, bro. That was. That was so amazing, like, working with them like these. These. I worked with them, too, on my first scene, and it was like I had to put a gun on them. And I was just so excited because I'm like, damn, these my favorite characters, bro. I got to put a gun on them, though. But it was, man, it's been a. It's been a hell of a journey, bro. It's been a. It's been a ride.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Now, question for Kevin and Michael, right? No, I called you Kevin.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Alex.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Alex. Alex. Michael, was there ever a talk of a spin off for Jake, Papa, and Kevin, especially early on?

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

None that we ever heard of or none that came across our table on probably talks behind the scenes or something,

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

because like you said, Cortez, those are my favorite characters, too. Early on, I always wanted to see more of them, especially after Jason left. I'm like, well, they turn.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Let them do this.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

But, you know, the people got the power. Power.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

So at the end of the day,

[Ahmad Ferguson]

we here to work.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Words are powerful. Speak it, y'.

[State Farm Agent/Advertiser]

All.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

We need a spin off.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Or if not a spin off, you know, we still got longevity in our career. We just started. So y' all look for sure see us on another Project.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Oh, for sure. You know, we working.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Did y' all know originally the. The three, Right. When everything first started, that people were going to love the crew so much?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

You know what's crazy? We weren't originally planned to even be in the seasons that long.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Really?

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Yeah, we just captured.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Y' all did it for us.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Yeah, we weren't planning to be on these seasons at all. I think I was guaranteed. Guaranteed like four or five episodes.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

I was only supposed to be in one. You know, they made me and Red's brothers, and that's what's shout out to ill with me. I gotta. I gotta say that the writers in that season, they really went to bat five characters and made sure that we was established to be who we are today.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

And took those notes as well. I remember Shaman, he would say certain things where it's like, we don't say soda, we say pop those notes. You know what I mean? And then us three, like, our connection was so easy. Easily, like, easily built. I remember after we would get off set, we'd be on the west side, kicking just outside with kids. They didn't know we were on the show or whatever. Just being kids, like, actually enjoying each other's presence and just getting to know each other, becoming best friends, you know? So all of that stuff that you seen on the camera is basically just us being ourselves and it's just recorded.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That's so crazy that that was so naturally done because we. I was like, they got the perfect clip to make you fall in love with the show. Like, we want to grow up with y'. All.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Ain't Papa coming back this season?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He definitely does. He ain't been nowhere. Yeah, okay.

[Interviewer/Host]

So how was the love in Chicago? Because all of y' all being from

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Chicago, there I stay getting free food.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

My name is not Daria.

[Lauren LaRosa]

They don't, like.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

They don't call us our names. We just look okay. Like, that's just how it is.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

I know they be stopping traffic when we be filming, interrupting the scene. But I be loving that feeling, though. Cause that just be like, they really love us.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

They be out they windows yelling down, like, shouting. Shouting while we filming. It's so great, like, to get love from this, the show, the city that you making the show about. Like, you know, you feel, like, validated, like, oh, okay, we doing a good job.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Like, if y' all wasn't repping the world, they tell you, yeah, they would.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Chicago.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Do not play Chicago, New York, Philly and dc, bro. Them. Them cities don't play when they come to.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

But it's also a sense of, like. It also gives you, like, motivation when you hearing people just constantly tell you. Because also, they calling us our characters, but they also seeing us and seeing the growth and seeing the. The work that we put in, and they telling us, like, hey, keep going. Like, keep doing your thing. So every time I'm hearing that, I just put a mental note that it's like, okay, like you said, I got a responsibility, and people are watching. So, you know, I love that, just hearing that. Like, okay, I'm sorry.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

And we help each other. Like, yeah, it don't even be no competition. Like, we literally had conversations and, like, hey, pick it up.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Hey, you.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

You was probably slacking right there, or. You know what I mean? Like, what's on your mind? Let's talk. And we come back and we just knock that shit out, bro. I'mma miss y'. All. I mean, not the show. We all rounded, you know, we. We family, but, like, just to being on that set and just keep creating that energy, bro. I'm gonna miss that, man. That shit.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

For sure.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

For sure. What does success even mean for young actors like yourself? Is it fame?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Is it money?

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

No, consistency.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Consistency, yeah.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah. Consistency for me, though. Yeah. Cause it's like, money. Money gonna come and go. That's liquid. You know what I mean? It's like water that's gonna come and go. And then fame. You can buy fame. You get the money.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

So it's like, anybody can be famous these days, right?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

You and do something crazy, and then now you famous.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

But you don't get to beat, like, certain. Like, we're so blessed because we're able to be on set and we're able to learn, like, the craft. We're able to. Okay, they doing three setups. It's three cam, different cameras, the different angles, like, the lighting. Every. Every. Like, I did, like, this season one of the scenes, I got to, like, focus. Do the focusing, like, making sure that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, you working with the cameras.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Oh, yeah, for sure. It was focus.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

But shout out.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Luke.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Luke James. I got to focus Luke. And just make sure that he's seen clearance. Like, but they just so open to letting us learn. So that's something that I think, like, most of our peers probably haven't got to experience. Just. Just being on set and really being in the moment and learning all the

[Ahmad Ferguson]

moving parts and even, like, add on to that question. I mean, in my terms of what I see successes for my career is just giving people a feeling. The first project that I ever did it gave people a feeling. It touched the world and it touched my people in a way where I'm telling black stories. But it's universal to everyone, and I want to continue to do that to the point where it's like I blend into these roles. And you don't even see Alex. Like, I did Good Burger, too. And a lot of people don't even

[Interviewer/Host]

know what the hell you wearing. Good Burger, too.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

I'm speaking to that.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

And a lot of people don't even know that, but I pray for that. I want to be one of the greats. I want to be next to those people, and that. That's what it takes, you know, blending into that role.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That's a fact.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Really diving in there. That's my. My point of success. You see your face right now?

[Interviewer/Host]

Because I saw that Kevin, he was the son.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

He was the son.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Okay.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

That. That's my. That's what I look at it as. And like, they were saying, like, those people are around us, giving us that game. And. And the further we go on in our careers, as you see us go past this show, it's just going to be like, wow, we really watch these people grow, grow and develop. Like they're killing it now. You're getting awards now, and you're, you know, and this is all the stuff that we manifested and we're going to talk about to this day.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

And there's so much talent, bro, across the board. Like, you got all these. These. Sing all them. You know what I mean? God ain't blessing me with that one, but, you know, they super.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I saw one of your videos a couple weeks ago. It was like a music video you shot.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And it was. It was all over my town. I forget what song it was, but I remember I was watching, I was like, oh, he really out here. Like, he was so viral. I saw it on Instagram and TikTok.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Yeah.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

That was last summer. That was the first time I dropped this on YouTube. And that was called effing it off. That was in. That was the first scene with the scene that you talking about. That was in my hometown out west.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

I took them back to the neighborhood where I'm from, and then we was just showing them the city, you feel me? And music, that's something that I've always had an interest in growing up. Like, music is something that I like. It calms me, gives me a peace of mind. It's a way for me to express myself, too. So, yeah, you're going to expect some more from me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That's tough, though, for y' all to be also talented and the other things that y' all are doing, people actually, like, it's actually moving because a lot of times once you act, if you do music, it's like people don't know what to. What to lean into. But I was like, oh, no, they. They outside for this song.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Host]

What's the relationship like with Lena? Does she allow, like, y' all to have. Or do y' all even have, like, Lena at six seasons for the script?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

No, she behind the scenes.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Lena. I'm just playing.

[Interviewer/Host]

I'm Lena.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I'm just playing, playing.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

We love Lena.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

We love Lena.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yes, we do. But I love. I love how she creates opportunities, you know, for young black creators and actresses and actors and things like that. Does she have y', all, like, if y' all want to suggest for a story, a different type of storyline or for a certain scene to go a certain way, is that up for, like, discussion? Or is it.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

It's always an option.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

It's always an option.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

It's open. You can always reach out and be like, hey, I think this. Or like, hey, you know. But it's not our show at the end of the day, so we don't have the final say. But it's always collaborative and you have the option to speak out on something.

[Interviewer/Host]

I love that.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Have you ever spoke to Lena and asked her, like, how does she feel about the shy being so successful? Like, being. Being from Chicago and creating a show about your city and having it being the longest running drama?

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

I never spoke to her about it, but I originally auditioned to be COOGY, like, in 2016, and I met Common from it. I almost really booked it, but the network said I look too young. But I remember Lena having dreads, and she's just telling me, hey, like, you're the start of this story. Like, her mental was already seasons ahead, you know, like, she was just telling me, like, hey, you're gonna be the starter of this story and, like, I need you to bring it so, like, because it's gonna open up a whole world and like, a whole thing. So I never got to talk to her about it, but just knowing how she moves and. And knowing how she believes in us so much, she was already light years ahead. Like, she already. She already felt it and she already seen it. And I think that just how the story was written, all of us can attest to, we was like, nah, we got a responsibility and we gonna bring it and we gonna make sure it does what it need to Do.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That's a fact. And she elaborated that y' all didn't see it, but we got a behind the scenes moment where the last day of filming, like, everybody came together, all the actors and cast, crew, everybody, everybody. And she gave a speech and just walked us down a journey of like how she even telling her story of putting her friends on. She got a best friend that Emmett. And you reflect off a lot and a lot of walks that she. That she took to get to this moment. Like, she elaborate that a lot. And she expresses through it, like you said, through us. Like, she expressed it like. I remember meeting her for the first time in November 2023, and she told me exactly what she was going to do. And you know, like me, I'm like, you know, I don't believe it till I see. I'm like, all right, I'm gonna just, you know, keep showing up. And when it happened, I'm like, damn right. Whatever she says she is, she gonna do it.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Yeah, that's my sis. So I. I just opened up my production company, Stelladon, and congratulations.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Awesome.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

And you know, she's one of the first people I called when it was like, listen, I need advice. You're one of the greatest to do it. And her confidence, you know, the effortless business of you got this, like, come on, bro. And if you ever need me for anything, I got you. And even when I was making my depart and all this other stuff, she already had things in mind and. And already ready for. For whatever was to come. You know, we went through so much and for her to still be here and where she's at now, it's.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's amazing.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

She keeps black people working. Young folks like yourself. Like you said, all the OGs y' all named earlier, Jason, we was the l. The Felicia Rashad. Like that. That. A lot of that don't happen without Lena.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

I love watching tv. So this is kind of like her playground now. Bringing all of those legends together with the young faces and putting them and making new legends too, as well. You know, people could enjoy on tv.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Yeah, she paid a lot of montage to her favorite shows and her favorite movies for sure.

[Interviewer/Host]

Even having Dwayne Wayne on,

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

you know, that's all company's called, Hillman.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Shout out to them.

[Interviewer/Host]

Man, that's so genius. Dope, man.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

I peeped the scene where Lil was on. On one of them.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Yeah, he was at smoking.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

I remember.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

She found a way. She found a way, bro. She found a way to get some people on for sure.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

You know, you brought up the last day of filming and I know that had to be an emotional.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Oh, bro.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Everybody crying. You had Jason Weaver. Like, that man was like sucking out to Jesse Jackson rp. That man was like. But I was like, damn, it's really over. That's when it hit me like, cuz we just been on the go so much and just keeping our head down and really just putting in that. That work. And it's over that fast, bro. Like, yeah, five years. Five what? How long it's been running? Like eight years, but five for me. Nine. Nine years. It's been five for me. Ten years.

[DJ Envy]

Really?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Ten? Yeah. Really? Yeah. Yeah, ten. So it's just like ten years and flew by so fast. And it's like this is the very end. Like, it was, man. It was. It felt like. I don't know, it felt like a new birth and death at the same time, man. Yeah.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Do you think the final season provides the closure that fans will be looking for?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

There's still more story to tell.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

I think it provides the closure, but I still feel like how it ends is going to be like what is about to happen next? Like, people are definitely going to be like, we got to see the aftermath

[Interviewer/Host]

of all of this or just walk

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

away with it forever. Just putting their own story to it. You know, a lot of. And that's what we are blessed too, because after every season, people then they become writers and thinking how the show should go and everything. You know what I mean? And that's what we can still lean on and be like, what if that helps us a lot?

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Anybody gonna die that we gonna be mad about?

[Interviewer/Host]

Stop. You can't ask them that till then.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

May 22.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

May 22.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

But I will say it's a lot of redemption in this. It's a lot of redemption. There's a lot of like. It's family and redemption and black love. I can say that is a focal point of this new season in full circle. Full circle for sure. Full circle for sure. Yeah.

[Interviewer/Host]

I know you like your question now. I ain't gonna lie. Because what if bought that again?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That'd be amazing, right?

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

What if he died for real?

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

You see what I'm saying, though? You see how that opened up the possibilities? He said, what if he was dead the whole time?

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

The whole time and everybody.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

It was a fitment of imagination of that never happened. He woke up from a dream.

[Interviewer/Host]

Oh, my gosh.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That would have been crazy.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's crazy.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

That's deep, though.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, y' all really embody your characters. I'm Just sitting here, I really feel like I know y', all, but I don't even know y' all in real life. But you guys, you did such a great job.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Yeah, Keep growing, man. It's Kevin Williams. Zaria Primer, Ahmad Ferguson, Cortez Smith, and Michael Vfs. It's the cast of the Shy Man.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Thank y'.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

All.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Appreciate it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

He's not on the paper, but you forgot you missed.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Al said Kevin Williams.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

His name Alex.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

Damn.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Kevin Williams.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

You gotta rerock that one.

[Jake (Character played by Aaron)]

We gotta redo that.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Hold on. Don't. Don't do it.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

My bad. Alex.

[Zaria Emoney Primer]

Alex.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Alex. All right.

[Nicholas Ferguson]

Do it again.

[Interviewer/Host]

Come on. Say it again, y'.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

All.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

No, we can leave that. That was stupid.

[Interviewer/Host]

It's fine.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Oh, good.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

Yes. It's the Breakfast Club.

[Ahmad Ferguson]

Hold up.

[Kevin Williams (Alex)]

Every day I wake up.

[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

Wake your ass up.

[Breakfast Club Host (possibly DJ Envy or Charlamagne)]

The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done?

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Yep.

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[Michael V. Cortez Smith]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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