As hungry young screen hunters go, emerging star Keith Powers is comfortably in the lead of the driven-to-dream wolf pack. Commanding the coveted roles of LaDarius Pope on Yahoo! Screen’s “Sin City Saints” and Theo on MTV’s one-cam comedy “Faking It”, Keith will next co-star in the pre-screener/rave reviewed Hip Hop biopic “Straight Outta Compton” based on the local life and global times of pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A.
Premiering in theaters worldwide August 14th, the F. Gary Gray directed film marks the young actors big screen debut. In the movie, Keith plays legendary music producer and N.W.A co-founder Dr. Dre’s younger brother, Tyree Crayton. Due to the depth of the character and intensity of the era, Keith spent a substantial amount of time with Dr. Dre to research the role. “I learned that Dr. Dre’s younger brother was very protective of Dre,” Keith begins, sorting through street gear options at his DOPE cover shoot. “I am an older brother in real life, but I don’t have an older brother. So my first big brother is Dr. Dre and that’s DOPE!”
Adding accomplished model to the resume, Keith, 22, is represented by Wilhelmina agency and has shot campaigns for Sears, Target, Guess, Sketchers, and Calvin Klein among others. Also a talented athlete, Keith was a standout high school wide receiver known for having great hands, separation speed, and good size (6’2) with a knack for the big play. He was heavily recruited by Division 1 colleges around the country, but decided to pass, opting to pursue his passion for acting rather than act on his passion for catching touchdown passes.
Soon after, Keith touched down in LA and began pounding the pavement to attend auditions. His on-field competitiveness translated to on-screen confidence. Filmmakers quickly realized Keith’s intrinsic talents and limitless potential, considering him a natural actor. Weeks later he was cast as the lead for “House Party: Tonight’s The Night”, a Warner Bros.’ comedy released on DVD. It was official, one of the brightest futures in fresh faced Hollywood was illuminated and ready for the highlight reel.
The cool and charismatic poster boy for progress sat down with fellow Sac-Town native ToneSwep to share his thoughts on mastering your craft, ladies lovin’ actors, maximizing his potential, and even his NBA Finals prediction, in this fun DOPE Magazine exclusive.
Written by ToneSwep
Images by: Ben Miller
Styling by: Ali Levine
Grooming by: Anthony Pazos
Location: Mobli Beach House, Venice Beach, CA
(ToneSwep: TS) You’re originally from Sacramento, California. Sac-Town! Capital city of the state, but when you think “big four” popular cities in Cali you think San Francisco and Oakland in NorCal, then Los Angeles and San Diego in SoCal. Why isn’t Sac in that group?
(Keith Powers: Keith) Simply because for one, the Sacramento culture isn’t supported by the people in Sac. Most of Sac’s culture comes from sports. We have a ton of talented athletes. Actors like Ryan Guzman and Robbie Jones are from Sacramento. But most people don’t know that. We’re known more for football players, basketball players. The mayor, Kevin Johnson, played in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns. The Bay Area is more about the music, authors, artists, educators and so on. We took from their hyphy movement, Mac Dre was the leader in that but Sac was a huge part of it too. I want to be one of the young dudes who pioneers that new wave of talent coming out of NorCal. It’s just about the people coming together in Sac. We have the talent. And the city is growing fast.
(TS) In the MTV dramedy “Faking It” you play Theo, who we learn is an undercover cop. How would you describe the series and your character on the show?
(Keith) Theo first came to the series as a smooth guy who was very charismatic, sarcastic, and laid-back. And his love interest is a very bratty gossiping girl, but he was able to tolerate her attitude when no one else could. Throughout the season you could tell he had this sort of secret he was keeping from everyone. Turns out he was an undercover out to bust whomever was selling the weed brownies at the school. But he fell in love instead of doing his job, so he’s not super focused like he should be. He’s less about the job now and more about the relationship.
(TS) Shifting to “Sin City Saints”, you get a chance to tap into your athletic skills some there. You wanted to be an athlete originally, correct? What type of stuff does LaDarius Pope get into during the first season?
(Keith) Yup. I was definitely a football player, and I love all sports. I played them all, well, all the major ones… LaDarius gets into a lot of stuff; keeps everyone talking. He’s very naïve and childish at times. And he really doesn’t have a mentor, so he looks up to the owner of the team but that guy is an immature internet billionaire, not a good role model for a young man to have. How does LaDarius consider a guy a mentor when the actual guy he is looking up to is making his life a living hell? See, when you take someone who grew up around basketball their entire life and doesn’t know much about anything else, they become brats, mama’s boys, young minded, and end up not knowing much about life. And when he really learns about himself he is so shocked. You really have to watch the show. There are so many twists and turns throughout the season.
(TS) If LaDarius and Theo got into an argument? Who would win?
(Keith) Man! Theo, because he’s too sarcastic. He would win straight off his sarcasm and charisma. He would handle LaDarius with smarts. And he’s a cop, so he is tough and wouldn’t be intimidated. He has some toughness he doesn’t show off. It’s a quiet confidence.
(TS) The upcoming “Straight Outta Compton” film promises to be a classic. How did you prepare for your role?
(Keith) To get ready for it I tried to ask Dre as many questions as possible. I also worked with my acting coach. I learned that Dr. Dre’s younger brother was very protective of Dre. He’s watching his big brother become a star while he’s still growing up in the hood, you know, still at home with Moms. When he’d tell people who is brother was they didn’t even believe him (Laughs!)… I grew up in South Sac (Sacramento), so it wasn’t too much of a jump for me culturally to portray someone from Los Angeles. I am an older brother in real life, but I don’t have an older brother. So my first big brother is Dr. Dre and that’s DOPE! Me and all of my friends, we grew up on him and his music. Really the whole world did. And peep this, his little brother’s name is Tyree and that’s my middle name (Laughs!). Man, that’s a crazy coincidence.
(TS) You got an up-close and personal look at the iconic N.W.A group from the 80’s. How would you summarize the movie?
(Keith) It’s going to show a message that was presented in an art form of music, and that music happened to be gangsta rap. The first rebellious group cursing on records, but then being a rap group they were sending a message of consciousness. Its a million gangs in LA, so they were the first to fight for justice rebelliously. To fight for it without playing by the rules. They rapped about drugs, violence, and society. They weren’t having cop killings, beatings, bullying, and the injustice that was being handed down to the people from the officers. They woke America up. Even had the FBI watching them. Their message was to stand and fight for justice, and it is so relevant today and it becomes a reminder because it is so very important still today. What N.W.A was writing about and showing in videos then is still happening now.
(TS) This is your first major feature film. What types of roles and films do you hope to land in the near future?
(Keith) It’s funny, because when I first came into acting I felt drama was my strong suit. But now I’m also paying attention to comedy. My comedic timing is way better now just by studying sitcoms, reading books on it. I want to be versatile… a leading man in an action flick, a super hero, but also comedic. Like Robert Downey Jr. can be very witty and charismatic but will turn around and be hilarious but then still a tough guy. I don’t want to be boxed in just because I’m an African-American male and always have to play the athlete or the thug. I want to play the nerd, the villain, the super hero, the Heath Ledger Joker. Dark, edgy, funny, action-adventure, a thriller, even a romantic comedy. Different types of characters. That is what I want to do next.
(TS) As a model you have already landed some big campaigns. What’s next?
(Keith) The goal was to build my name along with the acting. So even when the screen projects began to pile up and my acting career really took off, I never neglected my name as a model. I’m just doing campaigns. I do a lot of clean-cut looks because that supports my public image. Supports who I am as an actor. I’m very GQ, Gap, Calvin Klein, like the All-American boy-next-door. That’s my style in the modeling lane.
(TS) Who gets more chicks: Keith the actor or Keith the model?
(Keith) At first I used to play the Wilhelmina model side. And girls are funny because they gravitate towards whatever they fantasized about when they were young (Laughs!). But every dude in LA is a model or musician, so being an actor is so DOPE. I’m a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio and how he carries himself on and off the screen. And I grew up in Sac, so how I talk and act is very different from most of the guys the girls here in LA are used to. But I don’t want to give people too much of me. I like how Will, Denzel, Brad, Leo; they don’t give too much of their selves away. Kinda good at separating personal and professional lives.
(TS) From the outside looking in, modeling seems much easier than it actually is. Most think the profession is just good looking people posing. Tell us about the male model grind. It’s a very hard career to break into.
(Keith) With modeling the toughest thing to get at first are the poses. You have to really concentrate. You have to know how to get out there and work the camera. People think you’re supposed to look classically pretty or handsome, but it’s more about certain facial features, your physique, and knowing how to model those to perfection. I look like the American Black young man, which is lifestyle. Models have to find out if they are high fashion or lifestyle. The hardest thing for me, like I said, were the poses. And then when I got to runway it was getting my walk down. The timing, the concentration. And it’s hard when you grow up playing sports because you want to be manlier. The art is in being freely posed but still looking masculine.
(TS) What other career paths are you interested in pursuing outside of acting and modeling?
(Keith) If I could sing, I would definitely do something musically (Laughs!). I really want to get into philanthropy and start an organization in Sacramento; do something for the community. I want to produce film and TV projects, help with the writing, getting the funding. I want to really get into that. And maybe even directing. I am in love with the whole idea of being an actor. Right now my main focus is being the best actor I can be.
(TS) You’re a big hoops fan. Who do you have coming out of the west, Warriors or Clippers? Who will they face in the finals? And how do you see that series playing out?
(Keith) From the Western conference, I want to say the Clippers because they’re starting to look like they’re getting back where they need to be. Chris Paul is almost 100% healthy and Blake Griffin is playing good. But if they see the Warriors right now, I mean… I think the Warriors would overwhelm the Clippers right now. But If Durant was with the Thunder, I would pick them to come out of the West, but he’s hurt. In the East, I would say the Cavs. The Hawks are a great team, like as a whole team goes, but in my opinion you need that one star player. And LeBron is that. So in the finals, Warriors vs. Cavs, and if the Cavs play defense against a team that lives and dies by the jumper like the Warriors, LeBron will probably be wearing another ring. But… but… but (Laughs!). If, and this is a big if. IF the Warriors play defense like they have been, and with every player scoring, and (Stephen) Curry taking over at the ends of quarters, they can beat the Cavs. They have home court advantage. It’s a tossup. Warriors in seven!
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