London Brown: Power Moves

MUSA So you’re from South Central, L.A. What was it like growing up?

LONDON I’m born and raised in South Central, L.A. My mom tried to keep me involved in something so that I wouldn’t get caught up in street life in LA. I stayed in a gang infested area. So that meant being involved in church in High School. That meant being involved in artistic things. I was in the band, theater, played ball a little bit. So all these things were set up to keep me occupied. In the middle of working on these artistic things. I tapped into what I was passionate about and that was just being an artist. So I started doing theater very early on. After High School I went away to a small school. I continued my thing as an artist. I jumped into a little bit of some dance. I’ve always been involved in the arts. In High School I really got into theater. Which was the bridge into stand up.

MUSA So you’re a comedian and an actor. Which takes precedent? Which came first?

LONDON Theater came first but with my style they really work together. Ultimately If I had to choose one it would be stand up because I don’t need anybody’s permission to do it. And it’s my point of view and everything. I’m the writer, the director, the star, I’m the whole thing. But they work hand in hand because if I’m filming something I’m always able to incorporate my comedic timing within most of the characters. When I’m doing stand up I get to include some of the acting. So they both work together. Theater came first, stand up is a passion. But just being an artist as a whole is a passion.

MUSA You co-starred on the hit HBO series Ballers opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. What was that experience like?

LONDON Well at the time I didn’t have an agent or a manager. The fact that HBO was able to even get in contact with me was a miracle within itself. I was trying to find my way, doing choreography. It was all about survival taking gigs just trying to keep some steady income. So when they called me I remember going into that audition I was really hoarse. Because I was choreographing working on projects. I could barely even talk but they could hear enough to get me through the audition. So after I did the audition they initially wanted a bigger name. This audition took two months as they were fighting for a more well known name. But the people in the room, the writer and creator fought hard to convince them I was the guy. Initially the role was supposed to be a small role. Nothing big just the part of a good friend. They didn’t really plan for me to be there. Because I wasn’t written into the script that much. But I did a lot of improvising on the show. They were writing stuff in as we were going. And this ties back to my improvisational skills that goes back to theater. So they decided to keep me on. We shot the first two series in Miami. Then we came out to LA to shoot the rest of the series. By me being the antagonist by accident. It gave me everything I needed because all my scenes were with Dwayne. Even if you didn’t want to see me but you had to because all my scenes were with Dwayne. So they had to see me. So that worked out in my favor. I wanted to make a character that was annoying. Just to create enough energy around him that would make him interesting. The writers would write something I’d take it make it my own. The next best thing is if you can’t be the hero is to be the antagonist.

MUSA So you’re currently playing Marvin Thomas on the hit series Power 3: Raising Kanan. Now you’ve shifted gears so tell us about that type of role?

LONDON I play Uncle Marvin Thomas. I’m one of the people responsible for why Kanan becomes what he becomes. This is the prequel to Power set in 1991. I’m pretty much the muscle of the family. So whatever orders have to be carried out I handle it. But it’s also a power struggle between my younger sister and I. She’s younger but she calls all the shots. When I had my opportunity to do it I blew it. So now it’s something I have to deal with the family dynamic. Marvin is charming, he’s funny but he doesn’t waste any time protecting his family. What’s cool about this particular role is people get to see a nice range of acting. In the beginning of the series people think I’m the comic relief. And I’m not. But it’s good people think that because of how dark I take Marvin mid season. I take him way over to the other side. To the point where I’m a little nervous if he’ll be able to bounce back from some of these activities he gets involved in. He has some issues with the character who plays my daughter on the show. He’s a very complex character. People will some range from me through this character that will help with future situations.

MUSA So can play these complex dark roles. But you’re also a major comedian. You won the Best International Comedian at the Black Comedy Awards in the UK. And you are doing your own comedy tour. What does it take to be a great comedian?

LONDON Always wanting to take risks. You have to be comfortable failing. Be comfortable bombing. Which is difficult. Which is why a lot comics fall back into the same material. Because it takes so much time developing material that when you go out and do it. You’re standing right here in the same spot where’s it’s safe. But the only way you can advance is being comfortable taking an L so you can double back from the back end.

MUSA So Power 3: Raising Kanan is set in the ‘90s. What’s your favorite R&B group film and rapper from the ‘90s?

LONDON I’m going to with Mo Betta Blues and Menace 2 Society. One of those. R&B group from the nineties? I’m going have to rock with Jodeci. You can’t go wrong with them. Rap from The 90s era I’m from the West Coast so I’m rocking with TuPac. I’m thinking about the passion. But when we go to flow, lyricist we gotta go with Biggie. But I’m also a Redman kind of dude. If I had to go with one. I’m going to go with Redman.