for their time and Netflix for setting the interview up.Set in Harlem, Monster follows a 17-year-old student named Steve Harmon (Harrison). But when we were in the scene, he was very wonderful and very giving with his wisdom and love to young aspiring artists.

So I didn’t really get to talk to him that much. When we were speaking, we were speaking, and then if we weren’t, I was probably trying to figure out what the next thing I needed to do was.

I kind of kept the relationships the way they were in the movie. So I was really just focused, and I didn’t really talk to people much off-camera. It was the first time I had a lead role in a movie. Everyone came in… It was a very tight shoot, so we didn’t have a lot of time to really chat. So behind the scenes, did he impart any knowledge there? How was it like working with him? I found Nas’ role in the film so interesting because he’s a source of knowledge, just like in his raps. It was really fun just being around someone who shares those common vibes. He’s an artist, and I think I really connect with that and identify with that.

I mean, musician aside, I think he’s just a great dude and his energy and his artistry as a person. It was really special.Īs a musician yourself, was it exciting to work with ASAP Rocky? How do people see me? How do I see myself? Am I allowed to be curious? What does it mean when I’m trying to explore different avenues in my life, and how am I being judged for that? What does it also mean to have privilege as a black man and to have certain allowances that may not have happened previously for my parents or my grandparents, or like some of my peers? I’m trying to navigate all of these things, and I think it really meant a lot to kind of have a story that highlights that and wants to talk about how difficult it is to navigate that and make sense of it for yourself. In terms of, I really identify with being 17, and even now, I’m like 26 and still trying to figure out who I am-my identity as a black man in the world. I think what I really love about the character of Steve is the fact that he was very much where I was at the time. It meant a lot to me at the time when I was doing it. Kelvin Harrison Jr.: I think it means a lot to me now. Can you speak to what it means personally to star in a film that tackles these matters with such care and nuance? Tyler Treese: The original novel Monster is such an important piece of young adult fiction, and it deals with some really important subject matter such as race issues, the legal system, and discrimination.

Monster steve harmon