‘Raising Kanan’ Exclusive: Joey Bada$$ Reflects On…
As Power Book III: Raising Kanan continues its fifth and last season, few characters have sparked as a lot dialog as the fly (and now fleeing) Unique, who followers just couldn’t appear to hate despite his methods.
Source: Starz / Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Played by Joey Bada$$, the Queens kingpin has turn into one of the franchise’s most beloved and unpredictable figures. So a lot so, he continues incomes a loyal fanbase despite his flaws, manipulative tendencies, and relentless pursuit of energy.
Now Unique’s had enough of the ability, and he’s targeted (for once) on his household. As seen in episode 2, after initially only transferring his household to a distant location and declaring that he would die in Southside Jamaica, Queens…
the road king finally fled with his girlfriend and son to security, making formally out of the sport.
Joey Bada$$ not too long ago spoke with BOSSIP’s very own Lauryn Bass about Unique’s appeal, his character’s evolution and why Raising Kanan continues to join with audiences across generations.
From the very starting, Joey had a feeling viewers would gravitate toward Unique.
“When I first read that he was damn near the flyest thing in Queens, I was like, ‘Okay, yeah, I’m gonna make people love this character,’” he said. ““Oh yeah, 1,000 percent.”
In fact, the rapper and actor deliberately approached the function figuring out that Unique would turn into the sort of character audiences couldn’t help but root for.
“I kind of had my sights on the fact that he was going to be the guy that people hated that they love,” he said.
Part of that appeal comes from Unique’s capacity to command consideration whenever he enters a scene. While the Power Universe is crammed with larger-than-life personalities, Joey believes his character’s allure and unpredictability help him stand aside.
“I think it’s definitely his charm,” Joey explained. “He’s so deceptively charming.”
According to the actor, Unique has mastered the artwork of manipulating the world around him, whether or not he’s gathering data, influencing other characters, or positioning himself for success.
“He has a way of maneuvering that’s kind of just pleasing to watch,” Joey said.
That unpredictability also retains viewers invested.
“We never know what’s next,” he said. “Y’all are kind of just interested to see what’s up with this dude.”
As the sequence reaches its conclusion, Joey said one of the most rewarding facets of portraying Unique has been witnessing the character’s full journey unfold.
For a lot of Raising Kanan, Unique has been pushed by ego, standing, and a need to be on top. However, Joey hinted that viewers will see a different perspective emerge as the story progresses.
“This was a man who was purely motivated by ego and power,” he said. “We finally come to a perspective in seeing what is important.”
While followers have spent years analyzing Unique’s choices, Joey believes there may be still a lot the viewers doesn’t know about the character.
“I think there’s misunderstandings about everyone,” he said.
The actor identified that viewers never totally see the experiences that formed Unique before the occasions of the sequence.
“Obviously something in the way that he was raised contributed to how he shows up today,” Joey explained. “Seeking that power, wanting to be number one so bad, wanting to be on top, wanting to be the center of attention.”
Although audiences could never get a full backstory, Joey believes understanding those influences helps clarify the person Unique has turn into.
“What made you Unique this way?” he said. “Because it’s cool to be fly. Unique is a different type of fly.”
When requested why Raising Kanan and the Power Universe continue to resonate with Black audiences more than a decade after the franchise debuted, Joey provided a simple reply.
“We love drama. We love drama. We love drama,” he said with a chortle.
At its core, he believes the sequence succeeds because it blends household dynamics, battle and compelling characters that viewers genuinely care about.
“When you take a concept that Black people love and then you mix it with a bunch of people who can play the characters, people that they already love who can play the characters, it’s just a hit show.”
Judging by the continued recognition of Unique, followers would doubtless agree.
A new episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan airs Friday on TV and the STARZ app.
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The post ‘Raising Kanan’ Exclusive: Joey Bada$$ Reflects On Fly & Fleeing Unique’s One-Of-A-Kind Connection To The Fans appeared first on GWN.
