BJ The Chicago Child seems in episode 708 of The Chi, premiering on Friday, July 4, on SHOWTIME, in a scene curated by the present’s music supervisor, Massive Tank. In a standout scene with Luke James and Hannaha Corridor, BJ performs his unreleased monitor, “The Sport.”
The efficiency provides depth to a milestone episode, as The Chi’s season seven premiere shattered information with 2 million cross-platform viewers. It’s now the most-streamed premiere in sequence historical past, up 2 p.c from final season’s debut.
Mixing heartfelt lyrics and soulful manufacturing, “The Sport” marks a strong on-screen second and a significant music highlight for BJ and Massive Tank. Talking with The Supply, BJ The Chicago Child and Massive Tank reveal the work that went into his cameo look.
The SOURCE: Massive Tank, are you able to stroll us by way of the artistic course of behind deciding on BJ the Chicago Child for this episode and the way “The Sport” grew to become the proper match for that pivotal scene?
Massive Tank: Sure, I knew we wished to make use of an genuine Chicago artist and BJ has a lot soul in his voice. I had to make use of him.
This season of The Chi has damaged viewership information. How do you method music supervision in a method that enhances Lena Waithe’s daring storytelling and resonates so deeply with audiences?
Lena and I are joined on the hip with regards to music. We trip with songs and have a historical past of creating nice selections collectively. She’s so artistic that it really works completely with somebody like me. I attempt to take the scene to the subsequent stage with the music, and she or he does the identical.
The present continues to spotlight native expertise and amplify Chicago voices. What function does music play in grounding The Chi in its cultural authenticity, and the way intentional was that with BJ’s characteristic this season?
BJ despatched over a number of songs, and “The Sport” simply stood out to me. I despatched it to Lena, and she or he cherished it as properly. As soon as Lena and I, the “The Dynamic Duo,” had been on the identical web page, we made it occur.
For you, BJ, your efficiency of “The Sport” in The Chi is highly effective and emotionally charged. What impressed the creation of this unreleased monitor, and the way does it join with the scene it’s featured in?
BJ The Chicago Child: “The Sport” is a really trustworthy music, produced by Jairus Mozee. Some days I’m Batman, some days I’m Robin, however we’re the 1, 2. Songs about two lovers, one desires extra and needs the opposite to understand it, caught within the feeling of it, desirous to make it actual, ultimate, perpetually. I really feel Luke and Hannaha’s character embody that very feeling. Seeing the scene, you possibly can see it of their eyes.
As a Chicago native, what does it imply to you personally and artistically to contribute to a present that authentically portrays life on the South Aspect?
Being part of The Chi has been a dream come true musically and visually. Shout out to Lena Waithe and Massive Tank for all the time preserving me in thoughts. I used to be round after they had been looking for the theme music for the present(shout out to COMMON). It’s loopy, each music I created for the theme has been used within the present. When it’s meant, it’s meant. Being the Chicago Child, it’s solely proper that I’m part of it, however I needed to give my greatest. Nothing much less. Extraordinarily pleased with them and completely happy to be part of it. Hell, I really feel like employees, too.
You’ve had vital moments in your music profession, however this on-screen second provides a brand new dimension. How did acting on The Chi differ from acting on stage, and what was it like filming with Luke James and Hannaha Corridor?
The stage will all the time imply severe enterprise to me, so it calls for the identical effort from me. So sure, I used to be singing for actual! hahaha. Luke is my brother. All the time an honor simply to kick it, so to share the display screen, makes it memorable. Hannaha is drop lifeless attractive expertise from my metropolis. Undoubtedly one for the books.