Anyone who caught the third season opener of BMF (Black Mafia Family) knows that dinner at the Flenory household was a little larger than expected. According to star La La Anthony, it makes sense, as the series has always been about family.
“BMF, at the core, is a story about love and loyalty. People can easily say, ‘Oh, it’s a story about two brothers selling drugs.’ But it’s such a deep story about family,” shared Anthony, who plays Markeisha Taylor, at a private VIP screening in New York City.
BMF is inspired by real-life brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, one of America’s most influential crime families, who dominated the drug trade in the 1990s and made significant inroads in the hip hop industry.
“You see all of that being tested this season between the brothers and all the various relationships between this crazy love triangle going on between Terry, Markeisha, and Lawanda,” Anthony continues. “It’s just something that everyone can relate to. You want the best for this family and don’t want to see all this outside activity destroy these relationships. And I think this season, a lot of that gets tested.”
BMF also stars Demetrius Flenory Jr. as Demetrius “Meech” Flenory, his real-life father, in the series. Russell Hornsby plays Charles Flenory, Demetrius’ onscreen grandfather. And this season, a new face is on the scene to challenge the family: Henrietta/Henry, played by Ren King.
“Henry’s coming in Big Boss, coming in the business ten toes down and doesn’t care what you think. Henry’s going to come in and rip up the map or create a new blueprint,” King declared. “It’s like being in a family with many big personalities.”
Henry is also the first non-binary character in the series. “This is unlike any character that we’ve seen in the BMF universe, the first where we’re going to address the gender and sexuality question,” King said. “We’ll see a lot of the family dynamics with Henry’s family and issues of trust and loyalty.”
(L to R) Showrunner Heather Zuhlke, 2 Chainz, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., DJ Drama, Da’Vinchi, La La Anthony, Big Tigger and Da Brat. Image: Erik Carter.
EBONY also joined the cast and special guests for BMF: The Dinner, a roundtable conversation delving into the real cultural impact and “History in the Making” of BMF. Moderated by Big Tigger, the cast and hip-hop legends discussed the intersection of BMF with the music industry, the legacy of BMF, its impact on culture, and how the drama series represents real-life players and events, among other topics. Watch it on the Starz YouTube channel.
Catch BMF Fridays on Starz.
