00:00 What does it mean to be here today?
00:02 Oh, it means everything. I've always wanted to be a part of a show like this.
00:06 Watching it on TV, you never in a million years, you always hope that you're going to be here
00:10 because you're striving hard and you're taking the steps to get here.
00:13 But to actually be here and know that God has me, it's just an amazing feeling.
00:17 And to be around greatness, like this is awesome. This is awesome.
00:21 Like I'm walking by people that I've watched on TV for years that I want to act beside by. It's amazing.
00:27 Now, you did your thing in Insecure and now you are the leading lady in your new show.
00:32 What does it mean to step back into this comedy drama space?
00:35 It is amazing because my character on DR from Detroit, because Asha has so many layers,
00:40 I get a chance to show that and flex that. It's a beautiful thing.
00:44 Comedy is always second nature to me because I'm just naturally that girl that kind of could get it.
00:49 But it's just a beautiful thing to be a part of a show that I feel like is going to have longevity.
00:54 It's going to be great and it's going to be relatable. And I love my character.
00:57 She's so different than anything I've ever played.
00:59 Anything you can tease for us when they come see your character?
01:02 You know what? She is Detroit's finest. She is Detroit's 35 under 35.
01:08 She is a salon owner. She is a boss. She is celibate.
01:12 She is DR's best friend, mainly best friend. Don't tell nobody else.
01:16 She is the cousin of Suave played by Morris Chestnut. And she is that girl.
01:21 I actually want to be like her. But I see similarities of myself in her.
01:25 I love that. And this is a really big year for us when it comes to music, when it comes to TV and movies.
01:31 Who is your favorite leading lady or leading man?
01:34 With movies, I love Regina Hall. I think when people say that I kind of remind them of her as far as comedy,
01:42 it's the ultimate compliment. I love Regina Hall. Of course I love Issa Rae.
01:47 It's just amazing. I'm loving Dior Kilpatrick, who is now my boss.
01:51 So it's an amazing feeling. I love everybody, but those are my main people that I always name.
01:57 And a few greats are being honored tonight in the music space, like Usher.
02:02 How do you feel about the Usher-Raymond being honored?
02:06 You know, as I said before, Usher is actually a friend of mine that he was a fan of Insecure.
02:11 So to be in his space, the times that I have, it has been amazing. I always get nervous when I'm around him.
02:17 Don't let him know that. But he's just a great talent. He's great. And he's so deserving of this.
02:23 He's been entertaining us since we were like kids, since he was a kid.
02:26 So this is his year. It's his time. It's done.
02:30 There's slightly an older generation, but New Edition, they have classics on classics.
02:35 And the fact that they are being inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame, what does that mean for the culture?
02:40 It was supposed to have been happening, but it's okay because it's God's timing. You know what I'm saying?
02:45 I think that it's great. The world knows New Edition. Everybody knows New Edition songs.
02:50 Even kids, I literally saw an Instagram video of little elementary school kids singing, I forgot which one, "Can You Stand the Rain."
02:59 I said, "How do they know anything about 'Can You Stand the Rain?'"
03:02 These kids are little. It's amazing. That just let me know you're dealing with some legends.
03:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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