50 Cent’s New Starz Series, Black Mafia Family, Explores A Harsh 1990’s Detroit Spotlighting The Flenory Brothers

black mafia family on starz by 50cent curtis jackson

The Landmark Theater in Los Angeles hosted an advanced season one, third episode screening for fans of 50 Cent’s Black Mafia Family: The Rise and Fall of a Hip-Hop Drug Empire, BMF, on Oct. 6. While some attendees poured inside the theater in anticipation, others held a celebratory smoke sesh at their cars before heading in.

The Landmark Theater in Los Angeles

Drinks and popcorn in tow, watching BMF on a 30-foot screen and with theater surround sound increased the immersiveness. BMF follows the ascension of Detroit drug king brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and his younger brother, Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. 

Though the focus of the series is actually on the Flenory brothers, but Meech’s son, Demetrius Flenory Jr., portrays him in the series. Flenory Jr., 21, is an actor and producer also known under the moniker Lil Meech, in a similar vein to his father.


Filled with twist and turns, the series also included a special appearance featuring Snoop Dogg, who played Pastor Swift. According to the creators of the show, 50 Cent had a hard time getting Snoop to not smoke on set. But regardless of the cannabis smoke, Snoop’s portrayal of Pastor Swift showcased the rapper’s acting abilities that broke away from his traditional roles.

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At the end of the episode, actors Michole Briana White, Steve Harris, Shondalia White and Myles Bullock along with show creator Randy Huggins took centerstage for a fan-driven Q&A panel hosted by 93.5 KDAY’s morning show host, Romeo.
Though the viewers only got a sneak peek of episode three, Harris alluded to a special scene later in the series [episode five] with his brother Wood Harris.

The Harris brothers worked together on season five of FX’s Justified, in recurring roles, but according to Steve, the brothers have never shared screen time — arguing, until the Starz series.

But in the series, Steve costars as a dirty Ecorse Police Det. Vaughn Bryant, who is paid off for intel and assistance by the drug-dealing brothers, while Wood plays Pat, who is Meech and Terry’s drug supplier.

 

During the brother’s scene, Pat (Wood) offered to put him on his payroll and offended Vaughn (Steve), who turned him down and called him a dinosaur he’s going to “make extinct.”

 

Steve said the scene was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him and his brother; and expressed his gratitude to Huggins for providing the creative space for it.
White also shared she had an opportunity to meet with Lucille Flenory in anticipation and preparation for her role with the series. Lucille is Meech and Terry’s mother, known as a devout Christian, who tried her hardest to get her sons back on the right path. “I just have to say,” White said. “Watching this in a theater with all of you guys is so freaking good. I’m so proud to be a part of this. I’m blown away.”
White also added, when she met Lucille, she felt a sort of kinship with her as if they could have been related. And by portraying her in the series, she felt not only an honor to share her side of the story, but ecstatic to be her voice.
Actress Michole Briana White talked about her experiences portraying the role of Meech and Terry’s mom Lucille Flenory.
BMF airs on Starz at 8 p.m. on Sundays.