Page Kennedy is making a Splash with his music

This interview was conducted on June 27th; before the SAG-AFTA Strike was implemented on July 14th!

Page Kennedy is a multi-talented entertainer who excels in various aspects of the industry. As an entertainer, he infuses his craft with his life, story, and passion. He consistently strives to become the best version of himself and sets new career goals that he consistently achieves. He is currently experiencing an exhilarating period in his career as both an actor and rapper, having recently achieved his first song placement in a high-budget film. It is truly remarkable how opportunities can arise unexpectedly. It is important to always be prepared so that you do not have to struggle to get ready. Page Kennedy experienced exactly that with his song “Chomp” being featured on the soundtrack of “Meg 2: Trench,” a movie in which he also has a starring role.

Cox: Page Kennedy, you do it all when it comes to the entertainment industry, from acting to rapping. What would you consider yourself to be?
Kennedy: I would call myself an entertainer. My start in entertainment started when I was a little boy and saw the effect Michael Jackson had on the crowd when he performed. I wanted to be able to do the same thing. One of the biggest things I remember about him when I was younger was seeing him perform at concerts. Seeing how people couldn’t control themselves while watching him was so interesting to me.

There was that time when he just stood on stage and didn’t do anything. And everyone was just panting. I was like, This is happening, and he isn’t doing anything. Seeing this was so impactful to me as a kid. I started doing Michael Jackson impersonations. I was doing it all the time, even at birthday parties.

This eventually led me to start my own journey in music with rapping. My brother encouraged me to do it. Then I even started writing my own raps. And that’s how I became a rapper early on.

Cox: So, acting came second?
Kennedy: Yeah, I was ten years old when I did a rap performance as a special guest at the State Fair in Detroit. I tried to do the acting thing when I was in high school, but I was playing football then. And in Detroit, there is no huge platform for acting. But then, when I got to college, I was able to really get a start on honing my skills as an actor.

Cox: When you go from rapper to actor, do you have to get into different mindsets or modes?
Kennedy: When I’m in any space where I’m being creative as a rapper or actor, I can’t concentrate on anything else outside of what I’m doing. I’m very epicurean like that when I’m working on a project, from my latest album to my next television or movie role. I want whatever I’m doing to be great.

Cox: Let’s get into your new album.
Kennedy: This album is called Book of Pages. It’s about showcasing the different sides there are to me as an actor slash rapper. I have so many pages in the book of my life that I want to show them all. There are straight bars in this album; that’s a given. But there are also stories. It’s conscious music with social commentary. You have songs on this album you can just vibe out to anytime.

On this album is the song Chomp. It made it into the soundtrack for Meg 2: The Trench. The original is on the album, and the remixed version is in the movie. It’s my first placement in a big-budget movie like this.

It’s pretty exciting!

Cox: Congratulations! Is there anything else happening with your music that we should expect?
Kennedy: I have two new singles out right now: Speed and Her Song. They both have videos as well. Her Song is a sweet love video that I know people are going to love. And I have two more songs and videos coming out soon, too.

Cox: You know we have to get into Meg 2: The Trench. What about this franchise made you say I had to be part of it?
Kennedy: I felt like this would be the new generation’s Jaws since the first movie. You remember what Jaws meant for us growing up. So, it was a no-brainer for me to join. And I had already worked with the director on Rush Hour, the television series. I knew I would be in good hands with this opportunity.

My two eleven-year-olds know what Jaws is and that it’s iconic. And I asked them if they had ever seen it, and they said no. I made the whole family sit down that weekend to watch the movie.

Cox: Is there any significant difference from the first movie?
Kennedy: You know this movie has a different tone than the first. It brings even more comedy. But it also has a more serious tone.

Cox: You play the character of DJ. Can we expect to see the same DJ as last time?
Kennedy: DJ has been upgraded this year. He isn’t coming back the same way as in the first movie. He looks different because he has been training. He can swim now! There are a bunch of things he couldn’t do or didn’t know how to do in the first film. So, I’m excited for the audience to see all the cool new things that DJ can do.

Cox: What are some new skills you had to learn?
Kennedy: I had to learn how to fight on camera and even how to dive.

Cox: How does it feel as an actor to play a character in a film that has evolved since the last time, we saw them?
Kennedy: It’s awesome. As an actor, you want to have those nuances and moments of the vicissitudes of life with a character. That’s what makes it exciting because, just like in real life, things are constantly changing. And you never know what’s coming next. I love the fact that with DJ, he comes back completely different based on what he went through in the first film.

Cox: DJ is also a character like no other that you have played before. What does that mean for you as an actor who has been in many projects?
Kennedy: For me, it’s something I have always aspired to have as an actor in terms of opportunities in the roles I can play. It’s disheartening at times because I’ve seen my white counterparts get to play so many different roles. They get to express themselves in an array of ways with the different characters. But for us, the majority of the time, we are relegated to the same types of roles. And that can get stale for anyone as an actor. It’s cool just to be able to get outside of that and not have to be cliché.

Photography Credit: Adrian Sidney