00:00What up, family?
00:03Welcome back to Essence Fest.
00:05We are holding it down right here in New Orleans, in the Superdome.
00:09It has been an amazing night so far.
00:11I'm talking about amazing.
00:12Energy is unmatched.
00:14And coming up right now, speaking of family, this is what I like about Essence Festival
00:18because every time I come down, it's like a big family reunion.
00:22Family reunion.
00:23And we have the cast of The Shy here talking about family reunions.
00:27Thank you for having us.
00:28Yolanda Curtis, Luke.
00:29Yes, sir.
00:30Welcome home.
00:31Yeah, it feels good.
00:32It's nice and hot.
00:33Nice and hot.
00:34Just the way we remember, right?
00:35Just the way we remember it.
00:37What is it like for you to be able to come home and enjoy Essence Festival as an artist, as an actor?
00:43It's everything.
00:44It's like full circle every time.
00:47And just to see your people, people that I didn't know, that know, that appreciate the work.
00:53And this is home, so it means everything to get your flowers here.
00:56So it's love.
00:58You know what's so great about it?
00:59Before this interview, y'all prayed together.
01:02A family that prayed together, stayed together.
01:03And it still showed how closely bonded y'all are.
01:06And that's why the energy come across the screen in the shot like that.
01:09This is just great to see that.
01:10Yeah.
01:10To be able to witness that love that y'all share for each other.
01:12Well, I appreciate you saying that, man, because we don't take it lightly.
01:16The work that we're able to do, the work that Lena created for us to do, we are a family.
01:20We are a shy family, a community.
01:23It's all about showing positive representation of who and what we are as black people.
01:27As black people and who and what we are as actors and creators in this business.
01:31And so Essence Fest is some place that shows that and allows us to actually be who and what we are.
01:37So thanks for saying that, man.
01:38Yolanda, so tell me.
01:39So what do we have to look forward to for this final season finale of The Chi?
01:45Uh, you know I can't tell you.
01:48Well, tell me a little bit of a lot of it.
01:51I thought she was ready to say something.
01:52Well, she, the way she leaned in.
01:54I know, she was like, uh, that's why you're great at what you do.
01:58Jade have been decorating.
01:59Oh.
02:00Okay.
02:00She's been decorating for sure.
02:01That's all we get.
02:02That's as much as I'm going to be able to get out of them, y'all.
02:05That's it.
02:06That's all she's doing.
02:07But, you know, season finale, we haven't filmed it yet.
02:09Right.
02:09No.
02:09That far.
02:10We've, you know, we've been on strike and, you know, home strong with everybody.
02:15I don't think people realize how much that the writer's strike is affecting Hollywood,
02:19affecting our creators right now to be able to do the work that they do.
02:22So shout out to all the writers.
02:23If there is any watchers, we do support you.
02:25We're here with you.
02:26With you.
02:27But that's true.
02:27But everybody wants to see more of The Chi.
02:29Well, you got six more episodes this season.
02:31And more to see.
02:32Okay.
02:32More Chi.
02:33And one thing that you guys were saying, our Chi fam, it extends.
02:38Yes.
02:39Everywhere.
02:39It's all of them.
02:40It's everybody here today.
02:41Now, this weekend, a lot of things is going on.
02:44What are y'all looking forward to the most?
02:45You got the food.
02:46You got the music.
02:47You got some of the greatest actors, musicians going to be here.
02:50What are y'all looking forward to in New Orleans this week?
02:53Missy Elliott.
02:54Cole.
02:54Hello.
02:55Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:56Andre Cole.
02:57The birthday girl.
02:58Yeah, Missy for sure.
03:01I mean, also just rubbing shoulders with everybody.
03:03This environment is loving, especially when you spend all your time seven months out of
03:09the year working on something and then to come home and just get this love after all that
03:14work and appreciate it.
03:15That's what we look forward to, for sure.
03:17That's what it's about.
03:1850 years of hip-hop.
03:19What does hip-hop mean to you all?
03:22It means us.
03:23Us being recognized.
03:25Yes.
03:25Us saying who we are, what we are, showing the world.
03:29In the world, we are worldwide.
03:31Yes.
03:31Yes.
03:32It's our culture.
03:33It's our lifestyle.
03:34I mean, it's who we are.
03:36Hip-hop is part of us.
03:38So 50th anniversary is a beautiful thing because, I mean, without hip-hop, I don't think I'd
03:42be here.
03:43The way that I see things, the way that I think of things, artistically, in every kind
03:49of way and capacity.
03:50It's a community, right?
03:51It created another tribe for us all to band together, you think?
03:55So it's everything.
03:56Man, 50 years of hip-hop to me means that the sound of that audience right now and this
04:01space and this moment, man, it's electrifying.
04:03I was building me up and it's shouting me through.
04:05It's like going through my spirit right now, man.
04:07Rob Sanjante, LL Poojay, Umo D, Furious 5.
04:12Come on, man.
04:13Exactly.
04:13Beautiful.
04:13Yes.
04:14That's what I'm talking about.
04:15Well, guys, we're not going to keep you much longer.
04:18I know you want to get back to the party.
04:19We cannot leave without telling you congratulations, my friend.
04:24Congratulations.
04:24Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:25I love it.
04:25That's right.
04:26I'm going to be a father.
04:26Shai, everybody tune in.
04:28And get ready to sing your hearts out with one of the R&B's finest, Monica, hitting the
04:33stage right now.
04:34Come on, Monica.
04:35Let's go.
04:35Come on, Monica.
04:36Come on, Monica.
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