Once Bitten, Twice CHI: Luke James & Jacob Latimore
On Luke: Vest & Shorts Paul Smith, Shoes Sperry. On Jacob: Shirt & Pants Paul Smith, Sneakers Converse.
Luke James and Jacob Latimore arrive on set, and immediately, performance ensues. James flexes his vocal abilities as the playlist moves from song to song while Latimore tests the comfortability of every look with the Tshwala Bam shimmy, and black boy joy energy engulfs the room. It’s the perfect atmosphere to chop it up with the fellas about The Chi, streaming on Paramount+ --with the SHOWTIME Plan--, music, fatherhood and brotherhood.
Intro by Nigel Isaiah
Interview by Ammar Thomas
How are you guys?
Luke James: I'm magical, brother.
Jacob Latimore: I'm good.
The Chi season six second half is on now. How does it feel to be on such a long-running show?
Luke: It's awesome.
Jacob: We're blessed. It's been incredible. Every season has felt fresh, new, and challenging because shows can start to feel like you're always coming back to the same character. But, since our characters are growing, each season is a new chance for us to show a different range and variety of our acting ability and not get bored. Shout out to our series creator and EP Lena [Waithe] for that.
Interestingly, you mentioned character development. One thing about The Chi is that it's not the same season. Every season, you guys have developed a great deal. Your character, Victor (formerly Trig), used to be on the street and is now completely different. You've seen his character grow from that arc. How do you feel about the direction that your character is taking?
Luke: I loved it. It was always by design that Victor would evolve. I think that speaks to people in general. We all have different chapters in our lives, and it was cool to implement that within the story. Victor comes in as an estranged brother to Jake (Michael V. Epps) and a brother who knows right from wrong. He's in a space in his life to reflect on what he's done and what he's been a part of or is a part of, and trying to be a different force about peace, love, safety, and being a better man for his family. That allows me to expand and deal with the character in totality the way I see fit and how I do in my life.
And Jacob, concerning Emmett, there's a huge difference from where he started.
Luke: So huge, right?
A lot of personal development and a lot of development of the relationships Emmett has entered. How do you feel about your character's arc up to this point?
Jacob: It's been incredible. I put a lot of myself and my personality into Emmett. But, when you think about it, Emmett's life differs from mine. He has three baby moms and is trying to hold it down with kids. Now he's a part of street politics and activity. It's some shoes to fill that are always challenging and always new. In the first season, I was learning how to be a father on the screen because I didn't know how to make little EJ stop crying. I was nervous about that, but I was like, wait, this is how I'm supposed to feel. I'm supposed to be uncomfortable. I'm supposed to feel like I'm on the edge of my seat. I still don't have children in my own life, so every time I go on set, I still have that nervous, “Hey, stop doing that,' 'listen to the director,” energy, so I'm learning to trust in my fatherly instincts. That's been a challenge as the seasons go.
What’s Poppin and welcome to Kolor Magazine’s print with our inaugural issue of our bi-annual glossy. Similar to the artistic expression of our cover star Luke James and Jacob Latimore, within these pages is raw talent, passion that flows from editorial to editorial, and storytelling directly from the mouths of black and brown men, all dressed in the best of the Spring/Summer 2024 Collections.
Speaking into those paternal instincts, how much do you agree with Emmett's choices in how he's handled those relationships having multiple women with children with them?
Jacob: It's 50/50. I can understand, but I'm also like, 'bruh?' It's hard to judge because I'm not in that situation. I don't know what decisions I would make, and I don't know what I would do to protect my family. I don't know what I would do to try to get some money. I've never been in that type of predicament. It's entertaining to watch. It's nerve-wracking. I still get nervous at every table read we do. Emmett's choices always add new layers to my challenges of what I would do. Playing Emmett has taught me about what to do and what not to do.
You guys seem to represent so many different types of black men. Black men are not a monolith. Victor, for instance, his relationships are something we've never seen on TV. Can you speak to stepping into this character and knowing that you represent how vulnerable and open-minded Black men can be?
Luke: Victor is a very complex person, and I think within the seasons, especially this season, being centered around mental health, there's a bit of understanding that slowly reveals itself. Victor and all the characters need a space to feel seen, heard, and loved. And to feel safe. Although he loves differently from most, especially in our community, it speaks to his yearning to feel safe. For me, I like the complexity of such a dangerous entity, but also such a vulnerable human at the same time who's open enough to love whoever he needs to love to feel loved. I like the depiction of the human experience in totality. I'm grateful to be able to play a character that's not fleshed out on other television shows. I'm grateful to be a part of that lineage of people because I find myself as a vessel as an actor. This role's depth spoke to me. I know men like Victor, so it's not odd to me, but I can understand how it's different to the rest of our community. So, in that, I also see the relevance and importance of our show existing for our community. The Black experience must humanize us and how we think of inner-city Black people and children. Also, Chicago, with the name that it has, Chi-Raq, I think it's cool for the creators to decide to show the different diasporas of Black people in Southside Chicago. Ultimately, everybody is in search of love in a space of safety. When you think of everything from season one to now, everybody's journey, however they're trying to get there, is searching for their own space.
Shirt Paul Smith, Talents own jewelry.
Vest Paul Smith, Talents own jewelry.
How do you protect your personal space, or where do you find your personal space in your lives? How do you guys address mental health, personally?
Jacob: A big thing for me is therapy and setting boundaries in my personal life. I've always been a super nice guy and always welcoming. That's who I am, so I'm learning to have a big heart, be kind, and say no. “No, I'm not comfortable with that. No, this is my space.” All of this is off-limits for me, whether it's regarding family, relationships, or friendships. I used to view it as being rude or selfish, but it's okay to set limits. That's been a thing for me in the past couple of years. Sometimes, we carry too much weight, especially being from Milwaukee, and successful. Being successful within my family, and being a young breadwinner. I found success early, acting since I was ten years old and trying to take care of people.
Is there survivor's remorse?
Jacob: Yeah, there's a little bit of guilt in there, and I had to let that go. No one's on set with me reading these lines, putting the work in, and rehearsing. It's been a blessing to realize you can't save everybody, and it's not my responsibility.
Luke: I love what I do, in totality. I love it through and through. For me, it's therapeutic to wake up and say, “Oh, wow, I get to do this thing that I've always dreamed of doing,” be successful at it, make a great living at it, and provide for my family. That's helped me tremendously. I love what I do, and to express myself in many ways, though it's through character, allows me, in some cases, to let off the energies and all the things that I feel with the world to convey the passion and rage Victor feels within this universe. I spent most of my young childhood years in therapy. I had a very unique upbringing. For me, I wouldn't say my experience with therapy was traumatic, but it wasn't something I was uber excited to do. Also, I've found other outlets that allow me to release, breathe, and feel free, safe, and seen.
Acting and music for both of you would be those outlets?
Jacob: Yeah! When the strike happened, I thought, this was the perfect time to do some music, and that's what I did.
That's a great segue. You both are artists. Outside of acting, you both have vibrant music careers. Luke, it's been a while.
Luke: Yes, it has.
Jacob, more recently, I think 2023 was the last album, Closure.
Jacob: A small EP.
"Sorry," "Drop," and "Selfish" are some of my favorites. I'm from Jersey, so that club vibe is us. What's on the horizon musically?
Jacob: I still have some songs in the vault. I may find time to release something this year. But, right now, I haven't thought about it too much. I try to listen to all my songs in the vault, think about releasing them, and then get in my head about it, but I'll probably release something. I've been trying to tell myself to release something every year, even if it's one song or an EP. It doesn't have to be a lot because acting is a lot. So, I've been trying to tell myself to release something, every year on the music side.
Luke: I'm incubating.
Well, you've recently set the internet on fire in Tank's Tiny Desk Concert.
Luke: There are moments in life that constantly bring you back to your roots. Though I'm strong right now in filmmaking, which takes a lot of time, I make music all the time. I have my little setup and whatnot, and I'm constantly incubating. I put out an album three or three and a half years ago. I'm a person who likes to live with music, and I'd like people to live with my music while I go and live life and let those life experiences musically move me. So, I've been incubating, and it's just a matter of time before I put something out. I can never let music go. It's the one way I know how to breathe. I can't not sing or create. It's just a matter of when you give it to the world.
Vest & Pants ZEGNA. Talent’s own jewelry
What are some of the things inspiring you guys, whether it's television, film, or music? What are you guys watching and listening to?
Jacob: It's been hard to keep up with shows. I've been trying to live more. Take vacations, talk to family. I forget which actor said this quote, but he said, 'The best way to become a better actor is to live your life."
Luke: Sounds like Morgan Freeman, brother.
Jacob: It was not Morgan Freeman; it was Jeffrey Wright. But, trying to get into more activities. I've been trying to get in the kitchen more. I bought a piano. I've been trying to learn new languages and listen to different types of music. I've been heavy on Lo-Fi chill music. That's been my vibe. I'm reading this book, The Way of the Superior Man. It's a good book. It's hard to finish because there's some stuff, and it's me. But reading more outside of scripts because I wasn't before.
Luke: Man, I just had a kid. That's my inspiration. If I had been yearning for any inspiration, God laid a tremendous one on me, and I'm grateful. It allows me to understand life, time, and what love means. I'm re-evaluating my idea of love and how to love. It's a full makeover that I'm grateful for.
I've always said kids are the mirror of your inner self. When you see your kids because you raised them, you get to see parts of you that maybe you didn't know, knowing existed. I'm a father. One of the first things I learned about myself was that I was selfish. You must be selfless as a parent. Going back to the acting, how does that impact your acting? Or do you think it will, moving forward?
Luke: I see the world differently now since his birth. Since him being on the way, but then, seeing him come into the world, and now he's here. I see everything differently. Has it impacted my work? I'm sure, and I'm eager to see what it looks like now.
You also have another acting project that is out, Them, and it's getting rave reviews. It's a different genre, moving into horror now. How did it feel making that shift from Victor?
Luke: It was intense. It was very creative. You get to be a part of something that challenges you, and you feel the weight of that challenge. But this space you're allowed in and created for you is so safe that you can go to the unknown. And that's what I experienced on that project. Every day was on 100 but, I didn't feel like I was carrying it all by myself. Everybody was there creating this thing. It didn't feel like it was all on me to make this happen. It was the entire team. So, it was exciting. It was exhilarating. It was nuanced. It was very new for me. I'm grateful I dared to do it and committed. I'm still reflecting on how I feel about it, what it's done for me, and how it's changed me as an artist and a human being. It's expanded my empathy for people in general. The world is huge. There are so many different people in it and experiences they can be going through. I think all of us need to understand what grace means.
Shirt & Pants ZEGNA.
Similarly to Them, you spoke about how you depended on more than just you. The Chi also depends on the ensemble cast. That case has changed and developed some over the seasons. It's obvious that beyond the camera, you have a relationship. How much better is it that you guys have each other on set?
Jacob: Absolutely.
Luke: My brother. About how many years now?
Jacob: 10 plus, for sure.
Luke: To have done two projects together, and with everyone else, we understand each other. Everyone's very clear, and everybody gives space for everybody. We're very respectful of everyone and how they like to work. It's all love. It's family. We also are around, well, they're little young adults now, but we work around kids, and they've grown. That does another thing for us as the adults in the room. It's something that levels us up in the sense of how to be, but it's so freeing and full of harmony. It's nothing but jokes and all kinds of stuff while we get into the seriousness of things.
Jacob: I think outside of the writing and how they film our show, it's a testament to why The Chi has lasted so long. There is an energy on set. A guest star we have come to this season texted me and said, 'Bro, y'all's set is blessed.' It was interesting to hear his perspective because that's how we feel, but we don't like to boast about it. But he said, there's something different here on this set. The energy is good. It's very welcoming. It feels at home.
Luke: And it's not like that everywhere else.
Jacob: It was refreshing to hear that from somebody who came from the outside to join us.
What can we expect from this newest season of The Chi?
Jacob: Edge of your seat. Unpredictable.
Luke: Picking up from the first half of season six, it's intense.
Jacob: It's one of the most intense seasons we've had in a couple of seasons. The energy and tone differ every season, but season six has this energy that you don't know what's happening next. Nobody's safe.
Luke: Nobody's safe. I mean, you're watching all of us in our respective journeys. We all have major decisions to make, and no one's safe.
THE CHI season six episodes stream Fridays on the Paramount+ With SHOWTIME Plan
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Art Director, Photographer & Interview: Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal | Fashion Director: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah | Grooming: Camara Aunique @carmaraaunique | Location: The 9 Studios | Special Thanks: AM PR Group @amprgroup.
On Luke and James: Vest (L), Shirt (J), and Pants (L & J) ZEGNA, Talent’s own sneakers.
