*Tyrese is making moves with a new film and album that he says is like nothing he’s ever done before. In the action-packed movie “1992”, Tyrese plays Mercer, a man desperately trying to rebuild his life and his relationship with his son amid the turbulent Los Angeles rebellions in 1992 that erupted on the day of the infamous Rodney King police brutality case.
Across town, another father, played by the late, great Ray Liotta, and his son deal with their own strained relationship to plan a dangerous heist where Mercer works. As tensions continue to rise in the city, both families reach their boiling points when they collide.
Tyrese, who grew up in South Central, tells radio and TV personality Jazmyn Summers that it was deeply personal.
“This ain’t acting for me,” he said. “I lived this in ’92 I remember everything. I smelled the smoke. I remember the ashes all over the car and the ground. I was out there (in 1992) protesting.”
Tyrese continues: “There were Koreans on top of stores shooting Black people. So you ask why was I scared? In the middle of all that drama and toxic energy if someone in the militia kills you they not going to get prosecuted. It was dangerous man as yall can imagine.”
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The film took a while to get made and it wasn’t easy. Tyrese shared that info with an enthusiastic audience at a premiere hosted by Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur of allhiphop.com
“Nobody in Hollywood wanted to make this movie. I’m a movie star and I got 10 billion in the box office on my name so when I attach my name to something it happens,” he said.
But not this time. He got Snoop Dogg to executive produce it but still,
“No studio in Hollywood was willing to make this movie because of the realization that growing up in this Black skin is a f**ked up reality. Some studios couldn’t accept it. So it was made independent,” Tyrese revealed.
Finally, it was sold at a film festival to Lionsgate but the struggle didn’t stop there.
“They wanted it to go straight to DVD. They told me there was no money behind this film, no marketing, no premieres, no posters. Nothing,” the actor and R&B singer shares.
Tyrese continued: “I couldn’t accept that. Ray Liotta left us with his last piece of art in this film. That’s like doing a movie with (Fast & Furious co-star) Paul Walker and they trying to go straight to DVD with it. I’m not doing that, bro.” Tyrese said.
(Walker, who was friends with Tyrese, died in a car crash 11 years ago while filming “Fast & Furious 7.”)
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After pushing and lots of prayers, the film now has 5 premieres and will be released in theaters nationwide on August 30. The stakes are high Tyrese remarked,
“If the success of this movie is incredible it falls on my shoulders and if this sh*t bombs it’s also on my shoulders.”
He added: “It’s OK to be the little engine that could ‘cuz when God got his hands on you, you can win.”
Meanwhile, Tyrese is also dropping a new R&B album. He told Summers it’s going to, “Help keep a lot of couples together and be responsible for a lot of new babies” But he also shares his pain.
“I’ve never done anything on this level in my life. It’s 20 songs. Think about albums from 40, or 50 years ago. This is my ‘Songs in the Key of Life (Stevie Wonder),’ my Marvin Gaye’s ‘Here My Dear’ divorce album. Two years ago I lost my mom on Valentine’s Day (to Covid). The song ‘Wildflower’ is dedicated to Anyone who has lost their mom or pops. I know that feeling all too well. “Beautiful Pain” is about my divorce, about me finding love again.”
You can also find this interview on Jazmyn Summers’ YouTube channel. Please subscribe. Video and photos by Se7en of Revenue Entertainment. You can follow Jazmyn on Facebook and Instagram.
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