Ten year-old Kwesi Boakye an A-lister as co-star in a new Tyler Perry film and TNT drama series
By
Eunice MoseleyThough only ten years-old actor Kwesi Boakye hasn't had an
overnight success with his co-starring role in the newest Tyler Perry film, "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," starring
actress Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and in the new TNT drama television series "Men of a Certain
Age," opposite Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), he has been acting for a while starting with a starring role at
the age of four in the drama "Strong Medicine."
"When
I was three or two I had to cry," Kwesi says to me when asked from where he draws his emotions for acting. "I had
a dog that got hit by a car and died."
In the film Boakye is
referring to he couldn't keep his dog and had to give it away, so the young actor (at 3 - 4 years-old at the time) draw from
his own painful dog experiences to evoke the tears and emotions needed for the scene. Even before then Kwesi was modeling
for Baby Gap.
Kwesi has also appeared in such television series
as "Boston Legal," "South Park," "The Shield" and "Days of Our Lives." He is also
the voice of Andrew in the animated series "Special Agent Oso," the voice of Mr. Hoppy in the Nickelodeons' "Ni
Hao Ki Lan," and in the 2007 Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winning animation movie "Happy Feet."
"I learned a lot of things. Tyler Perry is the King of ‘improvise',"
Kwesi said when asked with all his experience what he learned while shooting "I Can Do Bad All By Myself." "I
didn't know what that was. He said, 'Don't be scared. Say or do what comes to mind.' I was in a scene when I first get introduced
to Madea. (his character Manny and two other kids break into Madea's home and get caught) and me and Joe went at it, back
and forth, I was improvising that whole scene and as it went on it got easier."
When I asked the ten year-old actor to give other young artists trying to get into major roles advice he simply said,
"Don't quit..Keep doing what you do." (Photo Credit of Kwesi and Taraji P. Henson: Haa)
Hip-Hop/Gospel's Prayz1 shares his Urban R&B vocals in new project, 'Seat
Music'
"My faith in the vision that God gave me," was the simple answer to my question why Gospel Hip-Hop/R&B artist
Prayz1 continues to put out his independent CD projects. "God gives us dreams and visions and we give up sometimes, but
I still believe in the vision He gave me."
In his first national
CD release "Seat Music" (his debut "The Difference" was a regional release) Prayz1 surprises his fans
by sharing his vocal singing abilities, as well as, his unbelievable flow for rap.
"It was deliberate," Prayz1 said about singing on half the album. "We wanted it to come straight from
our creative box, what God gave us is what we do and live."
The
"we" Prayz1 refers to is his band, Tha Underdogz, a ten-piece ensemble that takes Prayz1 projects to a whole new
Hip-Hop/Gospel level with music of an alternative feel and sound. On "Faith" the music Tha Underdogz deliver is
almost Rock with its electrical guitar leading the way doing amazing things. Prayz1 also does some amazing things with his
Urban R&B style singing on this cut. On "Fly" you get to enjoy some real Hip-Hop with the beat-boxing.
Featured on the "Seat Music" CD release, aside from Tha Underdogs, is vocals
by Angela White on "Stronger," rapping by Tye Tribbet on "Better," and Jeromisha Lemar on "Hold On."
"Tye wanted to rap," Prayz1 said about Tribbet's support of his album by switching
roles - instead of Tye singing he is rapping and instead of Prayz1 rapping he is singing. "That's part of what I do is
sing. At first I wanted to do a double CD, one of me singing and one for my rapping. I wanted to show a taste of the different
dimensions they get with Prayz1."
Prayz1, who has performed
as opening act for such Gospel greats as Tye, JJ Hairston, John P. Kee and Kierra Sheard, offers the listeners 16 cuts on
the new "Seat Music" album. Aside from "Faith" and "Fly" some of my other favorites on this
CD include "Express Yourself," because I love his flow of rap and it has some heavy music to support it; "Numbers,"
driven by horns reminiscent of the days of Duke Ellington; "Hold On" with its great vocals by Jeromisha and its
uplifting message, and "Do Right" which also has a great message.
For more information on Prayz1 or his new "Seat Music" CD release log onto www.Prayz1.com, www.myspace.com/1Line or www.sonicbids.com/Prayz1.
