For many of us, we've watched Keke Palmer blossom from a talented child star into a powerhouse who is a force to be reckoned with. Always one to watch, she keeps her finger on the pulse and uses this intuition to inform her work and the endeavors she is involved with.
In celebration of Women's History Month, Palmer dropped Big Boss, a new short film which aired exclusively on the Amazon Music app. Coupled with the release of an empowerment anthem called "Standards," the cinematic journey took us into the experiences she's witnessed in the entertainment industry and in life, with a dope soundtrack to match.
The new mother spoke with EBONY about her newest projects and what it means to be a "big boss" as a multi-hyphenate creative.
EBONY: You've always been a multifaceted "It Girl" but now you have transformed into a big boss. From your perspective, how do you define being a big boss?
Keke Palmer: Man, I think it's defined in so many ways. For me, I define it by being in a position to be able to invest in my own ideas and really creating something fully. I don't necessarily do this solely on my own because I do think part of being a boss as being able to assemble a team, work within a team and definitely being able to start something and see it to the finish. You can't be afraid to move to the beat of your own drum, and you don't always have to go looking for someone to give you permission to do something.
What excites you most about being a creative and being able to put out the visions that you've executed out into the world?
Being able to share it and get the feedback because it inspires you for the next time. It gives you different perspectives that you can add and bring to a project, while seeing how people react to the different things that you share. That's the whole point of art—to share it and to see how it moves, impacts or touches people.
Why was it important for you to show us who Keke Palmer is, especially through the themes that are included in the short film?
Well, number one, I think that a lot of people have experienced a lot of what is prefaced in the film, whether they're in music or not. I think that a lot of people have experienced the feeling of not being accepted, looking for respect or validation, or trying to be a part of something. I felt like even though that particular story is specific to me, the themes resonate with everyone and I wanted to to bridge both my music and my acting together. It was something that I used to run from or felt like wasn't possible or that people wouldn't understand. As I began to mature into what I now call a "Big Boss," I'm not afraid of all those things that make me, me. I'm willing to actually allow them to be what makes me different.
Across social media, we know you always spill the tea and tell us what's up. With your podcast, Baby, This is Keke Palmer, what topics can we continue to expect you getting into?
Oh my gosh, so many things! The most exciting part about it for me is just all the different experts that I get the opportunity to talk to. Just recently, I talked to an expert on psilocybin, and we're talking about mushrooms and psychedelic trips, how they can be impactful and what the zeitgeist has become around them now in this millennia. But we tackle everything across the board, from dating to forgiving your parents to life after death. There are so many different topics. I'm always looking for a new expert and a new conversation to explore and be curious with.
