Rotimi
Rotimi | |
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Rotimi "Boss" Red Carpet Premiere, November 2011 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Olurotimi Akinosho |
Born |
Maplewood, New Jersey, United States | November 30, 1988
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2011–present |
Labels |
Olurotimi Akinosho better known by his stage name, Rotimi, is an American singer-songwriter, actor and model. He's best known for his role as Darius Morrison on the Starz Network's Boss, and currently stars as Dre on Power.
Early life and education
Rotimi was born in Maplewood, New Jersey, to Nigerian parents– his father an investment banker of Yoruba origin and his mother of Igbo origin,[1] working for the government.[2] He attended Columbia High School, where he was a standout on both the varsity basketball team and the honors choir. He continued his studies at Northwestern University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in Business in 2010.[3]
Career
Acting
At his first with acting, Rotimi auditioned and subsequently got his first acting role on Boss as drug dealer Darius Morrison.[4] Rotimi also appeared in three episodes of ABC's Betrayal.
Rotimi made his silver screen debut in film Black Nativity (2013). Following this, he starred in Imperial Dreams at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival , which later won for "Best of NEXT".[5]
Rotimi next appeared in the high grossing film, Divergent (2014).
He was added to the cast of Starz' TV series Power as a series regular, in the role of "Dre", the quick-tempered young protégé of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's character.[6] Rotimi was also cast in a recurring role on Battle Creek as Danny.
Music
A contemporary R&B artist, Rotimi released two digital mixtapes, titled The Resume (March 8, 2011) and While You Wait (November 30, 2011). His videos have been featured on international and U.S. based entertainment media including MTV, MTV Base, and VH1 Soul.
Rotimi has performed on stage, opening for Jennifer Hudson, T.I., Estelle, and NERD; he also performed on BET’s show 106 and Park[7] and appeared in R&B singer Keyshia Cole's music video "Trust and Believe" as Cole's unfaithful boyfriend.
Rotimi garnered music placement with “I’m the One” on the first episode of Boss. In 2015, American rapper and executive producer of Power, 50 Cent signed Rotimi to his label, G-Unit Records.[8] He also released his first G-Unit single "Lotto" featuring 50 Cent.
In 2016, Rotimi released "Doin it", a single from his 5-track project, Summer Bangerz.[9]
Fashion
Rotimi is the lead model/spokesperson of rapper T.I.’s AKOO Clothing[10] 2012 Spring/Summer campaign, April 2, 2012. [11][12][13][14][15]
Discography
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Black Nativity | Officer Butch McDaniels | |
2014 | Divergent | Ezra | |
2017 | Imperial Dreams | Wayne | Completed |
2017 | Deuces | Face | Post-production |
2017 | Burning Sands | Edwin | Post-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011–2012 | Boss | Darius Morrison | Series Regular; 18 episodes |
2013 | Betrayal | Lil' D | 3 episodes |
2015 | Battle Creek | Danny | 2 episodes |
2015–present | Power | Dre | Series Regular |
References
- ↑ "FACTORY78: Rotimi talks about 'POWER' Signing with 50cent, and Collaborating with Nigerian Artists". Youtube. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/rotimi-hustler-actor-musician-jay-z-favorite/62527
- ↑ "Rotimi Akinosho". www.northwestern.edu. Parrish Lewis. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOdndmrdBvk
- ↑ http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/review-john-boyega-shines-in-imperial-dreams-one-of-the-most-overlooked-gems-of-sundance-screens-aug-9-in-la-20140731
- ↑ http://deadline.com/2014/09/annika-marks-the-fosters-abc-family-rotimi-akinosho-power-starz-835915/ Annika Marks Joins ABC Family’s ‘The Fosters'; Rotimi Akinosho In Starz’s ‘Power’
- ↑ "Rotimi Jack of all Trades". www.bet.com. Calvin Stovall. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6605451/50-cent-rotimi-g-unit
- ↑ Golding, Shenequa (17 July 2016). "Rotimi new song". Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "Rotimi is a King of One Self". www.globalgrind.com. Noel Walker. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ↑ "Rotimi Akinosho On His Role In Starz "Boss" [EXCLUSIVE]". The Urban Daily. November 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Cover: Rotimi Akinosho". Northwestern Magazine. Summer 2010.
- ↑ http://www.sheenmagazine.com/articles/article_rotimi_akinosho.php
- ↑ http://www.yenihsworld.com/2012/03/nigerian-american-singeractor-rotimi-is.html
- ↑ Spesh YH. "Hottie Alert: BOSS actor & AKOO Model Rotimi Akinosho". Speshs World.