Michael Rainey Jr.'s career is taking off as he's starring in the new action thriller 211.
TheYBF.com chopped it up with the fresh face about his role in the film and how it compares to his character Tariq in "Power," his feelings about cops these days and more. Get it all inside...
Michael Rainey Jr.'s acting career is taking off and it's showing no signs of slowing down. TheYBF.com got the chance to talk with the 17-year-old actor who's making a name for himself in Hollywood and on the silver screen.
For his latest project, Michael plays a young civilian, named Kenny, who gets caught in the middle of one of the longest and bloodiest bank robberies in police history in a new action thriller titled 211, starring opposite Cory Hardrict and Nicolas Cage. The film was actually inspired by a real bank robbery that happened in Los Angeles in 1997, dubbed the "Battle of North Hollywood."
We asked Michael, if his (annoyingly problematic) "Power" character 'Tariq St. Patrick' was in his 211 character Kenny's shoes, what would Tariq do if he was caught in the middle of a police shootout with brutal bank robbers?
"If Tariq was being bullied, it would be a totally different story," he told TheYBF.com. "I wouldn't even want to talk about that. Tariq would have bugged out. That would be cool to see how Tariq would handle it."
Wouldn't it? Tariq probably would feel right at home if he was involved in a shoot out with police with the way he's been acting on the "Power" series.
In his personal life, the young actor said he hasn't really had any interactions with police, so he doesn't really have an opinion on them. However, he's quite aware of everything going on, particularly with black people.
"I don't really have a outlook on cops because I don't encounter police," he explained. "But, I see the bad cops and I see good cops as well, so I really don't have a set outlook. If I encountered bad cops, then obviously I would have a bad outlook on them. If I had a good experience, I would have a good outlook on them."
With Drake's new album SCORPION dropping tomorrow, Michael's got an opinion about the rapper's beef with G.O.O.D. rapper Pusha T. He said he wasn't picking sides, but he def feels like Pusha murdered Drizzy on wax.
"I can't even say I'm on a team, but I'm not even going to lie, Pusha did body Drake," he said. "OMG! I don't even know why Drake fans are trying to argue that. He murdered him. I'm still waiting for Drake's response, but I don't think he can top Pusha's diss." We agree.
By the way, the youngin' isn't stopping at acting. The YBF Teen is about to make his directorial debut. Yes, before he's even 18.
"This summer I'll be directing a short film," he revealed. "It's going to be my first directing job." Michael will be making his directorial debut this summer as he'll helm a street drama about a kid with an older brother who has gone off the wrong path.
That's all the details he would spill about the project, but we're interested in seeing what he comes up with.
211 is in theaters now!
Also, catch Michael in the new season of "Power," which returns on July 1st at 9pm EST on STARZ.
Photo: Getty
