INTERVIEW: O'Shea Jackson Jr.

·32 min·3 clips

O'Shea Jackson Jr. says the roles he was offered after Straight Outta Compton were 'bullshit' and didn't take him seriously.

The episode begins with the hosts, Jonathan Braylock and Jerah Milligan, joking about their missing co-host James III before introducing guest O'Shea Jackson Jr. They open by discussing the 2015 release of Straight Outta Compton and its Oscar snub during the 'Oscars So White' years, comparing it to Bohemian Rhapsody. Jackson reveals that after the film's success, he was offered limited, stereotypical roles that he describes as 'bullshit,' feeling Hollywood didn't take his performance seriously. He shares how he landed the role in Ingrid Goes West after a Twitter interaction with Aubrey Plaza where he texted 'Batman,' leading to a meeting and the part. Jackson explains this film helped break his typecasting by showing his versatility. He details the two-year audition process for Straight Outta Compton, which required him to leave the University of Southern California's film school. Jackson talks about his subsequent roles in films like Den of Thieves, Godzilla, Long Shot, and Just Mercy, emphasizing his goal to avoid being boxed in. He discusses his acting process, noting he takes biopics like Straight Outta Compton and Just Mercy more seriously due to portraying real people. For comedies like Long Shot, he appreciates the creative freedom given by directors like Seth Rogen. Jackson shares a candid story about the difficult filming of Den of Thieves, where he felt disrespected and negotiated for Kelly Price CDs to ease tension. He reflects on the challenges of fame, describing the 'mask' he wears in public to protect himself and his family. The episode ends with Jackson advising aspiring Black actors and filmmakers not to shy away from indie films and short films, citing examples like Michael B. Jordan and Kiki Palmer. He stresses the importance of collaboration and not letting formal education hinder practical learning in the industry.

As heard by us

A personal casting story opens into a sharp conversation about race, film school, and Hollywood's narrow idea of readiness.

O'Shea Jackson Jr.'s account of being asked to play his father in the NWA film gives this single episode its strongest shape. What first sounds like natural casting turns out to have carried real doubt behind the scenes, including studio skepticism that he says framed the idea…

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You want the story behind O'Shea Jackson Jr. being asked to play his father in the NWA movie? Press play.

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