Created by Lena Waithe and set in her hometown of Chicago, The Chi is a riveting drama that explores the city’s South Side and the people, who are often overlooked due to the media’s focus on crime and violence. The lives of several adults and school children intersect as they try and navigate their daily lives in a city that is still very much defined by its neighborhoods and the past.
Take a deep dive into the stars of Showtime’s The Chi.
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Ronnie
The Farewell Amor actor starred as Ronnie, a man who lives with his feisty grandmother, Ethel and is determined to fix his past mistakes. Fans were shocked by Ronnie’s trajectory by the conclusion of Season 3 of the series.
Jacob Latimore as Emmett
A sneakerhead whose life is thrown into a tailspin when he is left to care for his young son, Emmett learns to mature much faster than he intended. Up next, you can catch Latimore in the latest Texas Chainsaw Massacre film
Alex Hibbert as Kevin
Hibbert stunned us all in his breakout role in Moonlight. On The Chi, he plays Kevin, a good kid who loves his friends and family but has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time on more than one occasion.
Yolanda Ross as Jada
With an extensive career in Hollywood, Ross has seen everything from Lila & Eve opposites Viola Davis to her portal as Robyn Crawford in Angela Bassett’s Lifetime film, Whitney. On The Chi, Ross stars as Emmett’s tough loving mother, Jada, who also happens to be a nurse and Ethel’s caregiver.
Shamon Brown as Papa
A good friend of Kevin’s, Papa is charismatic and carefree. He makes up one-third of the Kevin, Papa, and Jake trio. We could all learn a thing or two about his self-confidence and the way he treats the ladies in his lide. The Chicago-born actor has also been seen on Chicago Fire.
Michael Epps as Jake
Though he’s rarely seen without Papa and Kevin, the lure of his older brother’s life in the streets has threatened to push Jake out of his boyhood on more than one occasion. Raised in Chicago, Epps has also been seen on Empire and Chicago Fire.
Birgundi Baker as Kiesha
Baker stars as Kevin’s protective older sister Kiesha who is trying to navigate her own life while keeping her eye on Kevin and his group of friends.
Tyla Abercrumbie as Nina
Abercrumbie stars as Nina, Kevin, and Keisha’s loving but overprotective mother who doesn’t play about her kids’ education or being open and proud about who she is.
Sonja Sohn as Laverne
The Wire alum is a recurring actor on The Chi as Laverne whose alcohol addiction has threatened her entire life. In addition to The Wire, Sohn has been seen recently in Netflix’s High Flying Bird, Star Trek Discovery, and Utopia.
Curtiss Cook as Douda
We will soon see Cook in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation’s West Side Story. However, on The Chi, Cook stars as Douda, an upstanding businessman and aspiring politician by day who is a ruthless kingpin at night.
Miriam A. Hyman as Dre
Hyman stars a Dre, a high school counselor, and Nina’s new wife, who has taken on the responsibilities of helping to parent Kevin and Keisha.
Luke James as Trig
The singer/songwriter and The New Edition Story alum made his debut on The Chi in Season 3 as Jake’s estranged older brother Trig. Determined to do right by his bother, Trig tries to get custody of Jake, but his past makes things a lot more complicated. James also recently appeared in the 2019 film Little opposite Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, and Regina Hall.
Jasmine Davis as Imani
Newcomer and Chicago-born Davis stars as Imani, the Bonnie to Trig’s Clyde. She’s supportive of his attempt to get custody of his younger brother, and she’s quick to call out bs when she sees it. Kind-hearted and warm, Imani does not play about her man.
The Chi is set to return for Season 4
Photo: Showtime
