00:00What's up, y'all? This is Nas. You're watching Essence Live.
00:08Hi, this is Rachel with Essence, and we're here at the SVA Theatre in New York City
00:12for the screening of Nas' new film, The Land.
00:14How did you come up with the concept for the film?
00:16Is it a personal thing for you, or was it a creative thing?
00:19Like, how did the concept come about?
00:21It's a mixture of both.
00:22We came up with the, or I came up with the concept,
00:25due to a few kids that the movie's actually based off of in L.A.
00:29Two kids who's actually selling drugs as a way to sponsor themselves.
00:32But a lot of the relationships, of course, Cleveland, Ohio, is all personal.
00:35You know, it was like where I grew up, I actually wanted to show a city
00:38that wasn't really in the limelight, you know, before this, or at least films at that.
00:42You have films that always go out there and shoot stuff in or around Cleveland
00:46that's about different areas, and I was like, we don't have a Cleveland tale.
00:49You know, one of our voices is like where we grew up, the places we've been,
00:52and actually was a testament to the community and where we're at, you know,
00:56the people who are struggling back at home.
00:58The people are actually part of the land, our Cleveland.
01:00So, yeah.
01:01You said it right, the land.
01:03Oh, yeah, for sure.
01:04The land.
01:05The land.
01:06So, Manny, you know, you're a veteran in the game just like Nas.
01:09You know, why was it important for you to be here tonight to support this event?
01:12Because this is hip-hop.
01:13You know what I'm saying?
01:14You support what keeps food on your table, what puts your kids through college.
01:18So, you know, I'm here to support the homie as well as hip-hop.
01:21Given what's going on right now, you know, in the black community and everything like that,
01:24we saw August Alsina visited, you know, with Alan Sterling's family.
01:28And, you know, what is the mood down there right now coming from New Orleans?
01:32It's still New Orleans.
01:33Like, you know what I'm saying?
01:34It's probably the most dangerous place in the world to live.
01:37Most ratchet or whatever.
01:38But at the same time, it's mad love.
01:41Like, you know what I'm saying?
01:42If you're from family and friends or whatever.
01:44And, I mean, I'm glad you said August.
01:46Like, that's a perfect example.
01:47He's giving you a piece of his heart.
01:49Like, his essence and everything.
01:51That's him.
01:52So, you know, when you hear things about, you know, what August is doing, like, he's just being truthful.
01:57How was it working with Nas as a producer?
01:59No, for sure.
02:00So, Nas did more than just produce.
02:01He was also like the soundtrack curator.
02:03So, we sat together and actually went through the whole film and picked out music.
02:07But he was great to work with.
02:08It was like having a mentor on set.
02:10Someone who's been in the industry for so long.
02:12So, you know, so many people love you as an artist.
02:15What of that are we going to get to see from you as a producer?
02:17I guess, you know, the things that I like, that I would like to see in film.
02:22You're going to see me behind it.
02:24You're going to see me behind things that, like, things that are interesting to me.
02:28Things that haven't been told yet.
02:30Like, this story of Cleveland hasn't really been told.
02:33You know, I love Cleveland.
02:35So, you know, and I know this brother right here.
02:37So, I like to get involved with stuff that's like passion project things.
02:41You know what I mean?
02:42So, that's what it all is.
02:44Like, energy.
02:45Now, you're from Cleveland.
02:46So, you know, it's such a proud time.
02:48There's so much pride in the city going on right now.
02:50You know, it's just crazy.
02:51What's the response been to, you know, just talking about the film and, you know, just
02:55preparing for it and everything like that?
02:57No, for sure.
02:58With no disrespect to New York, but it's love.
03:01They played a big part even while we were shooting.
03:03You know what I mean?
03:04Like, they showed us love, of course, obviously from us being there.
03:07But, like, so far as locations and resources, they knew we were making a movie about our
03:11hometown.
03:12We had it.
03:13You know?
03:14So, it was love.
03:15And it's tremendous.
03:16So, I can't wait to go home and show this movie.
03:18Why should people check it out?
03:19Why?
03:20Because this is the time.
03:22This is the time to tell these kind of stories about a place that we all heard of.
03:27Not many of us have been there.
03:28You know what I'm saying?
03:29It's the time for us to connect.
03:31And with hip-hop music, it's sort of like, it's not a music film.
03:35It's not really, it's not about hip-hop or anything.
03:38But, to me, a lot of films that I like, they have a hip-hop element to it.
03:42It's a storytelling about the streets that we all can relate to.
03:46That's what this thing is.
03:47About the streets.
03:48About life.
03:49Well, congratulations.
03:50And, you know, I'm excited to see the film.
03:52And, you know, look forward to see everybody else's response and seeing it do really well.
03:56Alright, so that's going to wrap it up here for us at the SVA Theatre in New York City.
04:01Be sure to check out all of our red carpet footage from the land on Essence.com.
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