“Power” creator Courtney Kemp isn’t using Kendrick Lamar‘s appearance to solely spark a few extra viewers. The TV executive has dished on landing Pulitzer Kenny for this weekend’s highly-anticipated cameo.
According to Kemp, the idea to introduce Lamar as a “Power” character came from fellow executive producer 50 Cent.
“The plan was not a guest star,” showrunner Courtney A. Kemp said about the character. “It wasn’t an idea of…trying to get more eyeballs. … It was about here’s an artist we respect, and he wants to come in.” During a panel for the Starz crime drama at the Television Critics Assn. Saturday, Kemp credited executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson for being the one to mention that Lamar wanted to be on the show. Kemp then got on the phone with him to ask who he would want to play, a favorite questions of hers, she notes. For Lamar, the answer was that he did not want to play a drug dealer. (Variety)
This week, the “Power” social media pages announced Lamar would appear in this weekend’s broadcast.
Starz has officially announced that Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar will appear as a guest-star on this week’s episode of Power, airing Sunday, July 29 at 8/7c. No character details have been released ahead of Lamar’s appearance, though the premium cabler hints that the rapper will share scenes opposite 50 Cent’s Kanan. Lamar is a bit of a famous Power fan, ever since he was seen rocking out to the show’s intro alongside 50 Cent in a July 2017 Instagram post. (TV Line)
It’s going down, fam. Don’t miss the one and only @kendricklamar on a new #PowerTV, this Sunday on #STARZ: https://t.co/On21xtNe0Y pic.twitter.com/DyJOt4ufwX
— Power (@Power_STARZ) July 25, 2018
Earlier this month, 50 Cent aired out frustrations over Starz having technical issues with getting his “Power” series onto its on-demand channel.
😬 Uh oh… 📸 @50cent @power_starz pic.twitter.com/qGsbiqCion
— SOHH (@sohh) July 8, 2018
Coincidentally, the G-Unit boss recently boasted over “Power” possibly strengthening Starz’s app numbers.
Big numbers… 👏🏾 📸 @50cent @Power_STARZ @STARZ pic.twitter.com/kuXqvFF0dn
— SOHH (@sohh) July 10, 2018