The Breakfast Club: Joseph Sikora, Isaac Keys, Kris D. Lofton on Continuing the 'Power' Story, 50 Cent Loyalty + More

Date: November 11, 2025
Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Guests: Joseph Sikora (“Tommy Egan”), Isaac Keys (“Diamond”), Kris D. Lofton (“Jenar Gennard”)
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God (with Lauren Larose)

Episode Overview

This energetic episode reunites Power Book IV: Force leads Joseph Sikora, Isaac Keys, and Kris D. Lofton for an in-depth, candid conversation about their show's final season, the real-life inspiration behind their characters, brotherhood, the nuances of loyalty, and their deep connection to 50 Cent. The hosts dig into acting challenges, street authenticity, the cultural impact of Power, and how the “Power Universe” might end—or keep expanding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Approaching the Final Season

[03:19-04:33]

• The cast describes the final season as “bittersweet” but motivating.
• They’ve pushed for higher intensity, “every episode had a bang factor.”
• Joseph Sikora, who produced the later seasons, emphasizes authentic Chicago portrayal, aiming to depict “the diversity within the diversity” of the city.

Kris D. Lofton: “Once we know it’s the final season, I think it makes us go a little harder… making sure every episode had a bang factor to it.” [03:28]

2. Authenticity and Research in Storytelling

[04:34-05:54]

• Sikora went back to Chicago to do research, speaking to cops, ex-gang members (“robbers”), to ensure realism.
• Cautions taken to avoid offending real-life people and situations, particularly gang affiliations.

Joseph Sikora: “I… met with cops and robbers... a city of gang nations... now with these renegade gangs… how would Tommy Egan survive in this?” [04:37]

3. Character Motivations: Tommy, Diamond, Jenard

[06:08-10:49]

• Tommy this season is driven by “revenge” and “hunger for power” but remains complicated by issues of loyalty, especially with Diamond and Jenard.
• Diamond is trying to navigate between “righteousness in a dirty world” and the lure of power, confronting the tension between moral codes and survival in the streets.
• Jenard, as interpreted by Kris D. Lofton, is “misunderstood”—he feels like the voice of local Chicagoans questioning why a white outsider (Tommy) should be accepted.

Joseph Sikora: “Can you have it all? …Tommy’s going for it all this time and is he going to sacrifice loyalty with Diamond?” [06:31]

Isaac Keys: “I feel like I’m the voice of the fans… the only one that got some sense. Why are we all so trusting in [Tommy]? …I created a whole backstory in my head to make some of this make sense.” [09:41-10:58]

4. Brotherhood, Family, and Forgiveness

[12:14-14:19]

• The brother dynamic between Diamond and Jenard is layered, reflecting complex real-world family relationships.
• Themes of forgiveness, ambiguous loyalty, and how hurt can only come from those close to you are explored.

Isaac Keys: “Forgiveness could probably be a thing. And love trumps all. And blood is definitely thicker than water… only people closest to you can hurt you.” [12:38]

Joseph Sikora: “But blood is finite. Water is infinite… water, that’s life giving, too.” [13:06]

5. Portrayal of Gangs and Community Responsibility

[15:23-18:57]

• The actors and power universe creatives avoid naming real-life gangs to prevent glorification or drawing negative attention.
• Isaac Keys shares about receiving DMs, even threats, over the portrayals—a mark of the show’s real-world resonance.

Isaac Keys: “There are some things that we don’t want to touch on because it’s too real. Like, that’s why they don’t mention, like, real gangs. We make up gang names because we don’t want to seem like we’re promoting actual gang violence.” [17:43, 17:52]

6. Staying in Character; Separating Art from Life

[19:17-19:36]

• The cast discusses how they compartmentalize their roles, emphasizing the discipline to “leave the character on set.”

Isaac Keys: “For me, it’s action and cut… I don’t really, like, take it home with me.” [19:23-19:32]

7. Spin-offs, The Power Universe and Its Future

[26:16-27:26, 41:29-42:45]

• Sikora and the others discuss what makes Force unique, primarily shifting the location from New York to Chicago.
• Expansion is the focus—international possibilities are teased; Sikora hints at hopes for a “final” Tommy movie.

Joseph Sikora: “Most talks are about expansion… we’re the only power show that takes place outside of New York. I feel like they’re gonna probably be thinking about a little bit of international expansion.” [41:36]

“Me and Gary Lennon are already starting to make an outline for a movie, for a feature that would be… the final, final chapter.” [42:19]

8. Loyalty, Betrayal, and Ambition

[33:51-35:04]

• A philosophical segment on whether “ambition with no loyalty” is more dangerous than “loyalty with no ambition.” The consensus: unchecked ambition is the true danger.

Isaac Keys: “I’d go ambition with no loyalty… that’s dangerous.” [34:04]

9. 50 Cent’s Influence and Loyalty

[31:06-33:43, 42:45-43:18]

• All guests express strong loyalty to 50 Cent (“Fif”), both personally and professionally.
• Isaac Keys humorously shares he unfollowed Ja Rule immediately after getting the role to avoid drama.
• Sikora details 50 Cent’s support—paying for actor’s classes, offering guidance, and notes he runs all major moves by him.

Isaac Keys: “The day I booked this role… I went straight to Ja Rule’s Instagram and pressed unfollow… Curtis Jackson will not choose to just be sitting down one day and go on Ja Rule’s page and see ‘followed by Chris D. Loft.’” [31:13-32:09]

Joseph Sikora: “Any move I make fif is all—I always have because it’s responsible… he’s owed it because he’s an executive producer and a creator. So he’s owed it twice… I realize how much I owe 50.” [42:45]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Authenticity in Chicago Storytelling

  “You don’t want people from the past popping up and being like, ‘yo man, why’d you put it like that?’” — Joseph Sikora [05:36]

• On the Tommy/Ghost Dynamic

  “It mimics… that hurt people hurt people… the sins of the father… there is this kind of reverseness that’s happening too.” — Joseph Sikora [08:16]

• On Coping with Acting's Demands

  “I just mind my business, man.” — LaQuan Jones [32:33]

• On the Power of Communication and Loyalty

  “If you just communicate with the person… you might have made him feel a little better… it’s the deepness… of what you’re willing to lose and sacrifice for what you want.” — LaQuan Jones [13:25]

• On Leaving the Character Behind

  “Could y’ all imagine if Joseph pulled up to pick up his kid from school? He pull up in the car [Tommy’s Mustang].” — DJ Envy (everyone laughs) [25:49]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:19] — Reflections on the final season: “Bittersweet”, raising the stakes.
• [04:34] — Sikora’s research for Chicago authenticity.
• [06:08] — Tommy’s motivation: power, revenge, loyalty.
• [09:41] — Kris D. Lofton on Jenard’s perspective and Chicago authenticity.
• [12:38] — On brotherhood, forgiveness, and family.
• [15:48] — Social responsibility: fictionalizing gangs.
• [26:26] — What makes Force stand out; Tommy’s evolution.
• [31:13] — Isaac Keys on personal loyalty to 50 Cent.
• [33:51] — Loyalty vs. ambition in real life.
• [41:36] — Future of the Power Universe; plans for Tommy’s ending/movie.

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is frank, energetic, and packed with comedic moments true to The Breakfast Club’s style. The guests openly discuss personal history, industry realities, and the pressures of depicting gritty street life with nuance—always grounded in authenticity and loyalty, both on screen and off.

Conclusion

This episode offers a rich, behind-the-scenes look at Power Book IV: Force as it reaches its conclusion, reflecting how loyalty, ambition, and authenticity intersect both in fiction and reality. The bonds among the cast and with 50 Cent shine through, and the door remains open for the Power saga to continue in surprising new directions.