Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Charm City Kings’ Kezii Curtis

Kezii Curtis is one of the breakout stars of Charm City Kings, a film that’s swept the nation with its raw grit and authenticity. Set in the backdrop of Baltimore, this coming-of-age tale follows three best friends and the life-changing decisions they make over the course of a summer. Kezii shines as Sweartagawd, the group’s level-headed peacekeeper who tries to keep his friends in line. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Kezii about his character, performance, and preparation.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Kezii: My older brother, Mekai, was on a Disney show called Kirby Buckets. There was one day in particular when he was on set and it clicked for me. I was like, “Hey, I want to do this too.” I’ve been in love with it ever since.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Kezii: It’s my family; they’re my biggest inspiration. I’ve been “fighting” for them. I’d also say Denzel Washington and Michael B. Jordan. I’m inspired by their technique. I’ve always been like, “Yo, that’s dope how they did this, how they did that.” I’ve always been in awe and inspired by them.

PC: Tell us about Charm City Kings, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Kezii: Charm City Kings is about three best friends, two choices, in one summer. That’s been the tagline of it. With the two choices, one’s good and one’s bad. They each have their own benefit, and it’s really up to Mouse, Sweartagawd, and Lamont to figure out if they take one choice, what happens to the other and what happens to them?

I play Sweartagawd. He’s the peacekeeper. He’s level-headed. He’s trying to bring Lamont and Mouse together to make a correct, cordial decision in aspects of their lives. He’s always joking. He’s always happy. He’s always fun spirited. He’s always a good time.

What drew me to this project is how it was written. At the first audition, they gave us the full script. I read it and I was like, “Yo, this story is really, really, really good.” It’s totally different than other stories with the same coming-of-age tale. That’s what drew me to this…and you know, Will and Jada [Smith] were attached to it.

PC: A big part of the reason why this film works so well is the chemistry between Mouse, Sweartagawd, and Lamont. How did you guys build that bond?
Kezii: It’s funny, I got a little bit of a story on that. [laughs] When we were at the audition, it was a group audition. It was in Los Angeles and throughout the day, people would come in and people would leave. Then, there was us three. We had an hour wait. They called us in the room and then we did it for Angel Manuel Soto [director]. He was like, “The chemistry is amazing. Have you guys met each other before?” We were like, “No! We’ve never met each other.” It was just natural. When they said “action,” all the lines came out naturally. Over time, that relationship grew, both on and off screen.

PC: Baltimore serves as the backdrop for this film and is almost a character in itself. How did you get acclimated with the city? How helpful was that in your preparation?
Kezii: The second day after we landed there, we went to a clothing store, and everyone was super nice. I was talking to people because we had to get the accent down, and I was talking and listening to how they said different words. It was a lot of fun. The community was really open while we were shooting. It was super nice for us and they were really inviting. If I asked a question, they would answer it. They’d be like, “Well you can’t wear your regular shoes on a dirt bike because you got to wear these socks, and you won’t be able to take off correctly. My preparation was really focused on talking to the locals.

PC: This is a breakout role for you. What was the biggest takeaway from the experience?
Kezii: Thank you for that breakout comment. I’d say that hope is great. Baltimore gets a lot of unwarranted slander. I’ve been there; I was there for three months of my life. Hearing and seeing all this stuff, it’s completely false. I hope this movie shows what Baltimore is really like. I hope the story of Mouse, Sweartagawd, and Lamont brings hope for Baltimore and inner-city kids who are stuck at a crossroads.

PC: This film has been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences?
Kezii: Black boys not being criminalized. We don’t see a lot of positive Black boy stories. They’re usually making a ruckus or being difficult, but with this film, we’re seeing a positive story for young Black men.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Kezii: Stranger Things.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Kezii: Charm City Kings. [laughs] I love this film. It’s that or Speed Racer.

PC: Favorite book?
Kezii: Dear Martin.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Kezii: One of my friends recently got me to watch Hamilton. It was so cool.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Kezii: Am I out of the equation? If it can’t be me, I would say Morgan Freeman. Hear me out! I say Morgan Freeman because I love his voice.

To keep up with Kezii, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Charm City Kings on HBO Max today.

Photo Credit: Tatiana Katkova