Joey Bada$$ says Unique has a lot of feelings of resentment in the new season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan…but is revenge on his mind?
We meet Unique, who is the rival drug dealer of Kanan’s boss mother Raquel “Raq” Thomas, in jail at the start of season 2 after being framed by the Thomases at the end of season 1 for Howard’s attempted murder.
The actor and rapper opened up about how the complex dynamic between Raq and Unique isn’t the norm for what is portrayed between two adversaries on television.
“First, you know, it’s the opposite sex, so there’s that,” he told Shadow and Act in a recent interview. “And then, secondly, it’s the like-mindedness of both individuals, them being the alphas of their respective sides, them running things.”
"They got a lot more in common than they might want to believe, and I think that just kind of shows that connection, [and even] kind of foreshadows it a little bit," he added.
The Brooklyn native has solidified himself as an actor, taking on roles in series like Boomerang and Grown-ish, the Oscar-winning film Two Distant Strangers and more.
For him, morphing into different characters over a short period of time has not only helped him to continue to perfect his craft but it’s also helped him grow as a person.
"The biggest thing that I've learned is probably what my strengths are," he explained.
“I believe that my strengths, as it relates to acting, are charisma and instincts,” Joey Bada$$ continued. “I feel like I’m a very instinctual actor and usually the productions that I’m a part of recognize that, and they kind of give me room to follow those instincts.”
By leaning into that strength, he has learned the importance of interacting with the environment around him.
"When it comes to it, you could sit down and rehearse a scene or a line 1000 times, but it's going to hit different when you're on set, in position, and you have to interact with the environment around you," he explained.
As far as his role as Unique throughout season two, the 27-year-old artist is helping his character to work through picking up the pieces now that he has come back to discover that everything he has built and worked hard for is gone.
“[His mindset] is anger, it’s frustration, there’s resentment,” he expressed. “There’s seeking revenge, that feeling, because, to lose to your enemy is one thing, but to be falsely accused or framed for something that you didn’t do, that’s crossing the line.”
"I think Unique is gonna definitely be willing to get back to where he was by any means necessary," he continued.
Watch the full interview below:
