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Atlanta's Paper Boi on race and rap stardom in the USA | Atlanta's Paper Boi on race and rap stardom in the USA |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Brian Tyree Henry is still getting used to being famous. | Brian Tyree Henry is still getting used to being famous. |
"I've lived in the same neighbourhood in Harlem for eight years, I love it. | "I've lived in the same neighbourhood in Harlem for eight years, I love it. |
"But recently people have started screaming 'Paper Boi' as I go in the building. I'm like, 'Guys, I'm still the same person'." | |
As the rapper Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles, Brian has become the breakout star of Atlanta. | |
The show, created by and starring Donald Glover, is a sharp satire on what it's like to live as a black person in America. | The show, created by and starring Donald Glover, is a sharp satire on what it's like to live as a black person in America. |
"As a black man walking the streets, sometimes you see people looking at you like you're a threat," says the actor. "That's how society is." | "As a black man walking the streets, sometimes you see people looking at you like you're a threat," says the actor. "That's how society is." |
The Fox TV programme focuses on Paper Boi's rise in the Atlanta rap scene, and the combination of judgement and jealousy that can bring. | The Fox TV programme focuses on Paper Boi's rise in the Atlanta rap scene, and the combination of judgement and jealousy that can bring. |
"He's trying to navigate how to move in the world of celebrity and fame, while trying to keep it real," explains Brian. | "He's trying to navigate how to move in the world of celebrity and fame, while trying to keep it real," explains Brian. |
Take the episode Sportin Waves, when we see the humiliations Alfred has to go through to impress music executives at a streaming service, as an example. | Take the episode Sportin Waves, when we see the humiliations Alfred has to go through to impress music executives at a streaming service, as an example. |
Performing his hit Paper Boi to a room of silent, uninterested office workers - one of whom's eating a banana throughout - is a particular low point. | |
"He can't really do anything to fight it because his career depends on being liked. His family depends on it," says Brian. | "He can't really do anything to fight it because his career depends on being liked. His family depends on it," says Brian. |
"But the looks I give, the side eyes, the smacking of the teeth - those things convey the frustration he's feeling on the inside." | "But the looks I give, the side eyes, the smacking of the teeth - those things convey the frustration he's feeling on the inside." |
The 36-year-old's performance has earned him an Emmy nomination - for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - one of 16 awards Atlanta could take at the ceremony in September. | The 36-year-old's performance has earned him an Emmy nomination - for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - one of 16 awards Atlanta could take at the ceremony in September. |
"It feels so damn good," laughs Brian. "For Alfred to get his time like this makes me so happy." | "It feels so damn good," laughs Brian. "For Alfred to get his time like this makes me so happy." |
The actor says Atlanta's team set out simply to reflect their own experiences. | The actor says Atlanta's team set out simply to reflect their own experiences. |
Undoubtedly, though, the racial discrimination, petty crime and poverty that blight the lives of its main characters are recognisable to the audience too. | |
"We know we're not the only people in these situations," says Brian, who went to university in Atlanta. | "We know we're not the only people in these situations," says Brian, who went to university in Atlanta. |
"Because it's in the South, below the bible belt, there are so many things in Atlanta that are extreme - the religion, racism, sexism, all that crap." | "Because it's in the South, below the bible belt, there are so many things in Atlanta that are extreme - the religion, racism, sexism, all that crap." |
In the 1960s, the city became central to the civil rights movement. It's where civil rights leader Martin Luther King was raised. | In the 1960s, the city became central to the civil rights movement. It's where civil rights leader Martin Luther King was raised. |
"It's the birthplace of civil rights. It's the black mecca, as they call it," explains Brian. | "It's the birthplace of civil rights. It's the black mecca, as they call it," explains Brian. |
"A city where black people can go and be creative in music, fashion and food. It's a place that fosters that kind of creativity." | "A city where black people can go and be creative in music, fashion and food. It's a place that fosters that kind of creativity." |
And it has produced a remarkable number of successful musicians - OutKast, Usher, TLC, Ludacris, Migos, Future, Killer Mike, Childish Gambino - we could go on all day. | And it has produced a remarkable number of successful musicians - OutKast, Usher, TLC, Ludacris, Migos, Future, Killer Mike, Childish Gambino - we could go on all day. |
Brian hadn't met Donald Glover before his audition, but says the two clicked immediately. | Brian hadn't met Donald Glover before his audition, but says the two clicked immediately. |
"We just played off each other, we ad-libbed, and that's how it is on set, like one big family." | "We just played off each other, we ad-libbed, and that's how it is on set, like one big family." |
He says it was "just a matter of time" before Donald's politically-charged artworks like Atlanta and song This Is America got mainstream attention. | He says it was "just a matter of time" before Donald's politically-charged artworks like Atlanta and song This Is America got mainstream attention. |
The song, performed under Donald's musical moniker Childish Gambino, has been watched more than 340 million times on YouTube, and earned widespread critical praise. | The song, performed under Donald's musical moniker Childish Gambino, has been watched more than 340 million times on YouTube, and earned widespread critical praise. |
Brian says that with Atlanta, the team "got the opportunity to tell our story the way we want to, without watering it down". | Brian says that with Atlanta, the team "got the opportunity to tell our story the way we want to, without watering it down". |
"We created our own lane. That's the greatness Donald does. He's constantly trying to create his own lane, instead of the lanes that have already been driven on." | "We created our own lane. That's the greatness Donald does. He's constantly trying to create his own lane, instead of the lanes that have already been driven on." |
The show has been commissioned for a third season, and Brian hopes there will be more. | The show has been commissioned for a third season, and Brian hopes there will be more. |
"The way America is going, we're going to have a lot to say." | "The way America is going, we're going to have a lot to say." |
Season 2 of Atlanta (Robbin' Season) concludes on Sunday 22 July at 10pm on FOX. | Season 2 of Atlanta (Robbin' Season) concludes on Sunday 22 July at 10pm on FOX. |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. |
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