The stars aligned last night at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, as Time Warner Cable hosted a red carpet premiere with the cast and celebrity supporters of the new Starz network original series Power, co-executive produced by 50 Cent and show creator Courtney Kemp.
Fresh off the 2014 Summer Jam stage the night before, a camera ready 50 (who also acts in the series) showed up with fellow cast members Debbie Morgan, La La Anthony (joined by her hubby Carmelo Anthony), Doug E. Fresh, Chris Rock, Russell Simmons and the recently reunited G-Unit clique (just to name a few).
Power is a visionary crime drama marrying all the lights and glamour of New York City to a scandalous mix of drugs and violence. Being Mary Jane heartthrob Omari Hardwick, who plays James “Ghost” St. Patrick, is a wealthy New York nightclub owner and stars alongside his on-screen wife, Tasha (portrayed by Naturi Naughton).
Hardwick is serving us yet another sexed up melodramatic love triangle. While catering to the NYC elite in his posh nightclub, Ghost also lives a double life in the streets as a drug kingpin. Throughout the series, it appears Ghost has it all: a loving wife, a luxurious Manhattan penthouse and the hottest up-and coming nightclub (ironically named Truth). Needless to say, Ghost’s truth is threatened in the midst of hiding the ugly reality of wealth, sex, drugs and power.
Power player Courtney Kemp Agboh says, “I think that the show is great for a bunch reasons. One is that it’s complicated. It’s got a lot of different moving parts. Obviously there’s a drug-dealing aspect, there’s a gangster aspect, obviously a family aspect. There’s a ‘one who got away’ love triangle at the center of the show. There’s cops and robbers. There’s a whole legal aspect to the show. The show has a lot of different elements, so there’s something for everybody and that’s why it’s unique.”
Omari Harwick mentions gracing one of the last JET magazine covers (“I’m very honored, forever humbled”) before explaining, “The show is about a journey of one man trying to figure out how to outrun his past of being a drug lord, a kingpin of the highest clientele in New York City. He’s Pablo Escobar meets Cliff Huxtable.”
Power will premiere on Saturday, June 7 at 9pm ET/PT on Starz.
—Eeshé White
