godfather of harlem

First Look: Rome Flynn Joins “Godfather of Harlem” as Frank Lucas

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First Look: Rome Flynn Joins "Godfather of Harlem" as Frank Lucas

MGM+ has unveiled a first look at actor Rome Flynn in his role as rising crime boss Frank Lucas in the hit drama series “Godfather of Harlem.” Flynn joins the critically acclaimed series in its fourth season, stepping into the prominent role previously held by Denzel Washington in the 2007 film “American Gangster.”

Created by Chris Brancato and the late Paul Eckstein, “Godfather of Harlem” is inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, portrayed by Forest Whitaker. The series explores Johnson’s return to Harlem in the early 1960s after 11 years in prison, only to find his neighborhood in disarray and new powers rising. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the show delves into the collision of the criminal underworld and politics of the era.

The released photo captures Flynn exuding a potent mix of charisma and danger, perfectly encapsulating Lucas’ rise to power during the 1960s and 1970s. With Flynn stepping into the role, the show promises to expand its rich depiction of Harlem’s tumultuous history.

In Season 4, Bumpy Johnson continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival in Frank Lucas. Following Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic death, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers. The new season is set to deepen the show’s exploration of power, loyalty, and survival in a changing world.

The post First Look: Rome Flynn Joins “Godfather of Harlem” as Frank Lucas first appeared on The Source.

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‘Godfather Of Harlem’ Will Expand on Drug Lord Frank Lucas’ Origin Story In Season 4

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MGM+ Renews Fourth Season of 'Godfather of Harlem'

Daytime Emmy-winner Rome Flynn, known for his role as Zende on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” has secured a new recurring role in season 4 of “Godfather of Harlem” on MGM+. According to Deadline, Flynn will portray none other than real-life gangster Frank Lucas.

The hit series explains Flynn’s character as “a country boy from North Carolina who ventured to Harlem and, after initial friction with gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), eventually rose to become Bumpy’s fierce defender and right-hand man.” Unlike Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Lucas in “American Gangster,” 

Flynn will depict an earlier part of Lucas’s life, starting ten years before the film’s events, so we can call this Lucas’ origin story of sorts from the perspective of the series storytellers.

“Godfather of Harlem” follows the story of crime boss Bumpy Johnson, played by Forest Whitaker, who returns to Harlem in the early 1960s after 11 years in prison to find his neighborhood in disarray. In the fourth season, Flynn’s character, Frank Lucas, emerges as a new gang leader challenging Bumpy Johnson.

As expected, Flynn expressed his excitement about joining the show, stating, “I’m filled with gratitude! Thrilled to be a part of the ‘Godfather of Harlem’ universe and breathe new life into the legend of Frank Lucas. I have so much admiration for Forest Whitaker. Working opposite him, led by the brilliant creator Chris Brancato, is truly a gift. An actor’s dream.”

“Godfather of Harlem” co-creator Chris Brancato praised Flynn, saying, “When I saw Rome’s audition, I immediately knew we’d found our man – equal parts charming and ruthless, savvy and suave. Rome is a wonderful actor who can go toe-to-toe with Forest Whitaker and our other great performers.”

Since leaving “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Flynn has taken on notable roles in “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Chicago Fire,” “Raising Dion,” “Dear White People,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “MacGyver,” and more. Congrats on the continued success!

The post ‘Godfather Of Harlem’ Will Expand on Drug Lord Frank Lucas’ Origin Story In Season 4 first appeared on The Source.

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MGM+ Renews Fourth Season of ‘Godfather of Harlem’

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MGM+ Renews Fourth Season of 'Godfather of Harlem'

Production will kick off next year in New York for the fourth season of the epic series Godfather of Harlem, starring famed actor and series lead Forest Whitaker. 

Co-created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Season 4 picks up the story of Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker) and his violent campaign for the lifeblood of Harlem against the Mafia families of New York. Along the way, he will face the rise of upstart Frank Lucas. After the assassination of Malcolm X, played by Jason Alan Carvell, Johnson wrestles with his daughter Elise’s (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) connection to the movement of the Black Panthers.

Straight from MGM+, Godfather of Harlem is the number one acquisition-driver for the growing streamer and one of the most popular original scripted series.

Forest Whitaker adds, “After such a long time away, I’m so excited to be returning to set alongside such an incredible cast, crew, and creative team, under the powerful leadership of Chris Brancato. We’re so appreciative of Michael Wright’s support at MGM+, and thrilled that Godfather of Harlem has resonated with fans around the world. We can’t wait to get to work on season four!”

The highly anticipated Season 4 will bring back Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It, Baywatch), Lucy Fry (Bright, Vampire Academy), Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Geechee, Passing), and Erik LaRay Harvey (Boardwalk Empire, Luke Cage), and more cast members.

Produced by Disney-owned ABC Signature, the dramatic series is executive produced by Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, and Markuann Smith. Swizz Beatz serves as executive music producer, adding his iconic musical production to the score.

The post MGM+ Renews Fourth Season of ‘Godfather of Harlem’ first appeared on The Source.

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Snoop Dogg & Denaun (AKA Mr. Porter) Team Up On “Tomorrow”

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Snoop Dogg and Denaun (better known as Mr. Porter) have joined forces, thanks to Swizz Beatz, for the latest offering from Godfather Of Harlem. Since the series began, Swizz Beatz has brought forth a slew of hip-hop’s biggest acts to set the vibe for the series. Though the show actually takes place during Bumpy Johnson’s reign, Swizz brings some of hip-hop’s greatest acts to add a modern touch. Each week, the show has debuted a new single that accompanies each episode. This week, Snoop and Denaun come through with heat.

On “Tomorrow,” Snoop and Denaun tap into a higher consciousness and spirituality for a slow, downbeat record. Snoop takes the lead as he reflects on remaining resilient in the face of adversity while looking to God to give him strength. Though it might reflect Snoop’s own relationship with the higher powers, he ultimately taps into the mindset of Bumpy Johnson over his verse. Meanwhile, Denaun holds down the melodies and production alongside Fredwreck.

Swizz Beatz Brings Snoop Dogg & Denaun Together

The latest offering from Swizz Beatz comes towards the end of the third season of Godfather Of Harlem. Since the premier, Swizz continued to bless fans with a plethora of excellent offerings with a wide-range of artists. Jadakiss collided with Swizz on “Hustle, Repeat,” Busta Rhymes and Bibla joined forces on “Murda,” and Swizz Beatz returned to the fold alongside SAINt JHN, Fivio Foreign, and BIA for “Street Opera.”

As for Snoop Dogg, he’s revving up for a big summer ahead. Earlier this month, he announced that the Death Row catalog was finally coming back to streaming services after securing a fair deal. However, he also revealed that he and Wiz Khalifa would reunite for the sequel to Mac & Devin Go To High School. This time, it’ll be the high school reunion. No word on when that’ll drop but Snoop’s clearly keeping busy.

Quotable Lyrics
Straighten up the bow tie, I just wanna know why
I just gotta know my people get treated the same
See, we just gon’ beat ’em the same
I’m tired of seein’ the flames of hatrеd, take it and take it

Swizz Beatz Joins Forces With BIA, Fivio Foreign, & SAINt JHN On “Street Opera”

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With Godfather of Harlem currently playing out its third season, Swizz Beatz continues to deliver hot new beats for the show. The Bronx native already contributed his song “Just in Case” as the opening theme song, and has also pushed out a few singles to add the ambiance of this New York City crime series. Most recently, Swizz dropped “Hustle, Repeat” where he teamed up with Yonkers rapper Jadakiss. Now, he’s back with another pumped-up track.

“Street Opera” features BIA, Fivio Foreign, and SAINt JHN and further adds to the series’ NYC roots. Fivio raps in his verse, “yeah, I’m from Brooklyn, huh (I’m from Brooklyn, grr) / But I keep a bad bitch from Harlem (Huh).” BIA and SAINt JHN keep the same energy throughout their bars, both of which allude to a life of crime in the city. SAINt, who sings the chorus, adds “when the phone goin’ up, trap’s goin’ up /This is just the normal life for the block / Rollin’ around, high to the low.” The beat of the track switches from a haunting grime beat to a hard-hitting dance vibe in the chorus.

Swizz Adds “Street Opera” To His List Of Tracks For “Godfather Of Harlem”

As a whole, “Street Opera” checks all the boxes and only adds to Swizz’s superb contributions to Godfather of Harlem. His other additions to the series’ soundtrack include “Please Forgive Me” featuring Larry June and “Waiting On Me” with Giggs, YG, and BIA, both of which made an appearance in season two. Season one included “Just in Case” alongside Rick Ross and DMX, and “Been To War” with DMX and French Montana.

Needless to say, Godfather of Harlem boasts an excellent curation of music, mostly created by Swizz and other rappers from NYC. Starring Forest Whitaker, Nigel Thatch, and Ilfenesh Hadera, the third season is approaching its conclusion. Be sure to keep up with more hip-hop news here on HNHH.

Quotable Lyrics:

It’s too risky, I’m really important
I call and it really get sorted
When it come down to it, don’t care if CCTV had a recordin’
I had ’em singin’ like they got a record deal
You got no homies, they left to squeal
I gave ’em dro with the sex-appeal
I’m a Leo, do I got a hot spliff? I’m a hot-head (Hmm)
Roof off the top ’cause I’m drop dead

[Via]

Dave East Puts On For Harlem On “DAMN”

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Dave East brings Harlem’s flare with the spirit of Brooklyn’s King MC on his new single, “DAMN.”

Swizz Beatz delivered the second single for the third season of Godfather Of Harlem featuring Dave East this weekend. “DAMN” puts Dave East center stage as jazzy percussion and airy vocal samples — handled by Mike Keys and DJ Khalil — lead the record. The rapper takes fans on a trip from the days of mobbing through Harlem, detailing some of the hardships he faced along the way. At the same time, he also pays homage to Biggie with an interpolation of “Warning.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 07: Dave East attends The NOW Launch on December 07, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Though he isn’t directly mentioning Bumpy Johnson, Dave East channels the famed drug trafficker’s energy with a nod to Green Day. “We was born as kings/ Cruising through this boulevard of broken dreams,” East raps on the record. It’s an exemplary display of East’s vivid lyricism and gritty delivery that turned him into one of NYC’s most compelling lyricists since his mixtape run.

While he remains one of the busiest men in showbusiness, Swizz Beatz continues to serve as the executive producer of Epix’s The Godfather Of Harlem soundtrack. Every week, they debuted a new single prior to each episode. Ahead of the season premiere, Swizz Beatz previously enlisted Jadakiss for their new collaboration, “Hustle, Repeat.“

Dave East blessed fans with his last body of work, Book Of David in November. The project served as a collaborative effort alongside DJ Drama and Buda & Grandz.

Check out Dave East’s new single below and sound off in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics
I was watchin’ out from lobbies, rooftops, and was in between
Took a 12 hour drive to Atlanta to pick up hammers
Police scanners, in the dashboard, rearview mirror came with cameras
Gotta eat before we hit the road, we ain’t stoppin’ for a sandwich
If they pull us, the driver never panic, he start talkin’ Spanish

Swizz Beatz & Jadakiss Join Forces On “Hustle, Repeat”

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With the third season of Epix’s Godfather Of Harlem set to debut this Sunday, Swizz Beatz is back at the helm of the soundtrack. This week, he unveiled a brand new single for the show titled, “Hustle, Repeat” featuring Jadakiss.

Swizz Beatz concocts a cinematic beat that oozes urgency, furthered by Jadakiss’ delivery. The LOX wordsmith’s gritty bars and slick wordplay takes center stage over Swizz Beatz’s production while detailing the criminal underworld. Though Jadakiss isn’t making blatant references to Bumpy Johnson, the resilient attitude mirrors the Harlem kingpin’s.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 16: Actor Forest Whitaker (L) and Executive music producer Swizz Beats attend the “Godfather Of Harlem” New York Screening at The Apollo Theater on September 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Swizz Beatz explained his role on Godfather Of Harlem during a 2019 interview with the Grammys. In the interview, he explained how he wanted to bring the feel of old-school Harlem with a modern twist, hence collaborations alongside artists like Dave East, A$AP Ferg, and more.

“The whole concept was to make the music have the heritage of the time period, but also give it a ‘today’ handshake,” Beatz said. “It’s like meeting heritage with today.”

Swizz Beatz previously enlisted Rick Ross, Pusha T, DMX, 21 Savage, Skip Marley, and more for season 1 and 2.

The Godfather Of Harlem explores Harlem during Johnson’s reign in the 60s. The show stars Forest Whitaker, as well as Nigél Thatch, Ilfenesh Hadera, Vincent D’Onofrio, and more.

Check out Swizz Beatz and Jadakiss’ new collaboration, “Hustle, Repeat” below. The Godfather Of Harlem season 3 debuts this Sunday, Jan. 15th on Epix.

Quotable Lyrics
You put the knife in right, you get a clean cut
Yeah, hopefully, I hit an artery
How it’s supposed to be ain’t usually how it gotta be
If you live to see thirty, you hit the lottery
And I don’t need you to hit a button to follow me

MGM+ Releases The Trailer For ‘Godfather Of Harlem’ Season 3

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EPIX Releases Trailer for 'Godfather of Harlem' Season 3 Premiering on Jan. 15

Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) who in the early 1960s returned from 11 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. 

MORE: Tekashi, Nipsey and Bumpy Johnson: Forrest Whitaker Gives New Slant On Harlem Notorious Black Gang Culture

Season Three will find Bumpy Johnson continuing to battle for control of Harlem with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. Taking on the Cuban mob will put Bumpy, his loved ones, and his community in the crosshairs of not only the rival Italians but ruthless Latin assassins and, ultimately, the CIA. Godfather of Harlem is a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history. 

In addition to Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) as star and executive producer, Season Three cast members include: Vincent D’Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil), Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It, Baywatch), Lucy Fry (Bright, Vampire Academy), and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Geechee, Passing), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian) and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act, The Color Purple) as Miss Willa. 

MORE: Nia Long Lands Role In Roxanne Shante Biopic

Additional new cast members include Michael Raymond-James (Sweet Girl, Law & Order) as Joe Colombo and Jason Alan Carvell (NCIS: New Orleans, The Baker and the Beauty) as Malcom X.

Produced by ABC Signature, the series is executive produced by Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith, and Joe Chappelle. Swizz Beatz is an executive music producer. 

Godfather of Harlem’s second season was EPIX’s best-performing season of all time, and the series broke records for any single title streams in a single day across EPIX’s digital platforms. The season two finale was EPIX’s best-performing finale episode to date. 

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[WATCH] EPIX Releases Trailer for ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 3 Premiering on Jan. 15

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EPIX Releases Trailer for 'Godfather of Harlem' Season 3 Premiering on Jan. 15

Godfather of Harlem is set to return for season three. The series continues to tell the story of Bumpy Johnson, who returned from 11 years in prison to pick up the pieces of the neighborhood he once ruled.

In season three, Bumpy will continue the battle for Harlem against the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. The new battle will place him in the eye of the Cubans but also the Italians and the CIA. The battle is set in the midst of the civil rights movement.

Starring alongside Forest Whitaker will be Vincent D’Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil), Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It, Baywatch), Lucy Fry (Bright, Vampire Academy), and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Geechee, Passing), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian) and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act, The Color Purple) as Miss Willa.

Additional new cast members include Michael Raymond-James (Sweet Girl, Law & Order) as Joe Colombo and Jason Alan Carvell (NCIS: New Orleans, The Baker and the Beauty) as Malcom X.

You can see the trailer below. The new season begins on Jan. 15.

The post [WATCH] EPIX Releases Trailer for ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 3 Premiering on Jan. 15 appeared first on The Source.