Don’t let the pretty boy smile fool you…
Rotimi is out here grinding. The Jersey native has his hands full from his music, including new summer banger “Lotto” featuring 50 Cent, to his role as “Dre” on Starz fan favorite series Power, but nothing seems to slow the musician down.
Although the rising star, born Olurotimi Akinosho, seems like an overnight success, starring in not only one but two Starz series in addition to celebrated mixtapes, he’s been paving his own trail behind the scenes for years. A protégé of hard work, diligence and genuine talent, Rotimi makes it clear he got next.
The Source caught up with Rotimi during his Chicago concert, as he dished on how he got involved with acting, advice to anyone who wants to follow his footsteps and what’s next for the superstar.
– Angela (@SheisAngela)
The Source: You’re the newest member of G Unit, how did everything come together?
Rotimi: I work with 50 on Power and when we got to working it became a friendship. I really didn’t bring up music at all, never brought up music while on set. It took 3 months to actually get him to know that I did it. I came to G Unit office separately from him and he ended up hearing the record and he was like,’ I got to get on this.’ I didn’t know you did this for real. At that point we just locked in and he said I want you to be apart of the movement and he has the same vision for my career that I have. So it’s the start of a beautiful thing.
So he’s like your mentor?
Yeah, he’s like a mentor- you know 50 is one of those people who explains a lot, but you also have to watch him to actually learn because he does so much to watching it first hand you became a spectator. So it’s amazing and I’ve learned so much about business and he’s on my new single now so we tied forever.
Speaking of your single, “Lotto” is out now…
Yes, it’s out now on iTunes and it’s going to be on episode seven of Power. We just working- performing at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
What can fans expect from the rest of the season of Power?
Season two is ten times better than the first season because now you’re invested in all the characters and y have new additions. With my character, he’s a mixture of Ghost and Kanan in terms of his personality and goals. He has a lot of similarities of both. As the season continues, he starts realizing who his loyalty should be with, and in doing that, some people may die, some situations may happen! So it gets really crazy for Dre.
Can you relate to your character Dre?
One thing I’ll say is how his focus is, he’s so ‘by-any-means-necessary I’m going to get this done.’ He already feels like he’s a young king. That’s how I feel like I have the same similarities, I have the same focus on what I need to do. No one will stop me and I feel like I’m a young king, so it’s the same type of mindset, but different lifestyles.
You model, you sing, you act, which is your first love?
Music comes way, way first. For me, I’ve been doing it for 20 years now, I started when I was six. That’s where I’m really comfortable. In 2011 was my first time acting so I’m really learning , I’m still a student of it, but I view it like class. When I’m on set, I study Omari [Hardwick]. Musically I study other people but I know who I am as an artist, so it’s more so what I feel.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow your career path?
I’d definitely say you need an amazing team first. If you’re spiritual, you definitely need God. You need to think of yourself as a talented person instead of putting yourself in a box, labeling yourself as an actor or musician. Do everything. There’s no limits, don’t allow yourself to be held back by anyone or anything. And believe in yourself. For me, I trust my first instinct, and that’s what got me into acting. I never had a true acting on screen class, but I trusted my instincts. So trust your gut in anything because it’s usually the right decision.
What else can fans expect from you this year?
We pushing “Lotto” right now, we’re up there on Billboard right now. I got a movie called Deuces coming out early next year with Meagan Good, Larenz Tate, and Lance Gross.
Then we’re about to start filming season three of Power. As soon as season two finishes, we start filming season three. We working.
