Rapping Actors feat Jharrel Jerome

Rapping Actors feat Jharrel Jerome

From The Almanac of Rap by Donwill/Okayplayer

June 4, 2026 · 59 min · Season 4 · Episode 15

About this episode

Donwill interviews Jharrel Jerome about his journey from rap to acting and the influence of hip-hop on his career.

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Emmy Award-winning actor and recording artist Jharrel Jerome for a conversation about hip-hop, storytelling, acting, and the journey toward embracing music publicly. Known for acclaimed performances in Moonlight, When They See Us, and Unstoppable, Jharrel opens up about why rap was actually his first love long before acting entered the picture. From rapping for entry into Bronx basketball games as a kid to studying Eminem lyrics obsessively, Jerome reflects on how storytelling through rhyme shaped the creative foundation of his entire career. Jharrel breaks down: How his upbringing in the Bronx continues to influence his artistic identity. Blending cinema with rap visuals for his four “Pack” EP projects How artists like Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Fred the Godson, and Action Bronson soundtracked different stages of Jerome’s acting career. The emotional toll of filming When They See Us, physically transforming for Unstoppable, and his desire to help bring lyric-driven hip-hop back to the forefront. 🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an…

People in this episode

Host: Donwill

Guest: Jharrel Jerome

Topics covered

  • hip-hop
  • storytelling
  • acting
  • music journey
  • artistic identity
  • lyric-driven hip-hop

Keywords

  • Jharrel Jerome
  • Donwill
  • hip-hop
  • acting
  • storytelling
  • music
  • Bronx
  • Eminem
  • lyric-driven

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Moonlight, When They See Us, Unstoppable

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