Everyone is a villain in someone’s story, and today, NLE Choppa is the bad guy. The Memphis rapper lands his first film role as a villain in Black Heat, an action-packed drama with an important message about the lengths parents go to protect their children. He opens up about how this evil side is important to the overall story in a new interview with XXL.
The film, in theaters March 28, finds Choppa playing the character King David, a feared drug dealer and pimp who runs an apartment complex full of prostitution. When parents of a 15-year-old go missing, they go on a mission to rescue her, but have to infiltrate’s David’s system to find their child.
“He’s not the greatest guy, but he serves purpose throughout the movie to the overall subject, which is how are we gonna protect our children,” Choppa tells XXL of his Black Heat character. “How do we give them the best childhood, the best upbringing we can and, yeah, how do we break generational curses. Within the process of that and understanding that whole gist, I feel like my purpose in the movie is just as significant as the good in the movie so, you know, you gotta have that ying and that yang for the overall concept to be perceived.
Surprisingly, the 22-year-old artist didn’t even have to audition for the role. Director Wes Miller believed in Choppa’s acting skills without the need for formalities, and offered him the part. In the film, the charismatic MC goes head-to-head with another familiar face in hip-hop circles. Choppa worked alongside fellow rapper DreamDoll, who plays Alexis, a teen runaway’s mother stopping at nothing to be reunited with her daughter.
“Working with DreamDoll was special,” Choppa shares. “Just seeing her commitment, seeing how hard that she was going about to make sure that everything was perfect. Seeing the passion she had for it. I spoke briefly to her. I was like, ‘You know, you’re great musically, but I feel like this is a lane for you as well.”
While he’s in his acting bag right now, NLE Choppa’s music gets some shine, too. His new song, “Hard Life” featuring Carey Washington, serves as the soundtrack. The best of both worlds in Black Heat.
Get to know more about NLE Choppa’s new movie role in his conversation with XXL and listen to his new song below.
