With Detroit on His Back, Issac Ryan Brown Is Chasing Success

Teen actor Issac Ryan Brown is charming Disney sitcom fans with his humor and undeniable talent. A Detroit native, Issac grew up singing in the church choir alongside his parents and other family members until the age of 4. It was around that time that he booked his first commercial. After gracing the America’s Got Talent stage and moving to Los Angeles to immerse himself further into his career pursuits, he booked Raven’s Home at 11. I sat down with the Disney star to discuss his career, current role, and future goals.

Mhonaé: What influenced you to pursue a career as an actor?

Brown: I think it’s fun. When I was younger, acting was just a default. My mom wanted me to play sports because my whole family was very sports-oriented, and I just didn’t pick up the torch. So acting kind of just happened. Now I’m older, and I realize that I have a passion for it. I’m not saying that I didn’t love it back then, but the older you get, the more you realize your love for it. I like the opportunity to entertain people. The idea of becoming someone else is exciting to me. So there are a lot of aspects of acting that I love, but how I got into it was that I lacked in the sports department.

Brown was humorously candid about his exploration of basketball, football, and baseball as a kid while jokingly admitting that not being an athlete was not due to his parents’ lack of effort. They persisted in leading him down a sports path, but it was clear that his calling was entertainment.

Mhonaé: Tell me about your character Booker Baxter-Carter.

Brown: After playing him for six or seven years, it’s been nice to grow up with him and do different things with him. My character has grown from being the butt of all the jokes to initiating the offense if you put it in basketball terms. Now, I set people up, and sometimes I finish and coordinate. It’s been fun to entertain people differently with him over the years. As a person, he’s lovable, funny, and caring. He’s still trying to figure out how to balance life with his psychic powers, although it’s gotten easier.

Mhonaé: What is it like working with Raven Symoné?

Brown: For me, it’s very fun. She has certain standards and expectations, but you just make sure you live up to those on stage, perform, and do well!

Mhonaé: Well, I am sure she expects the best from you, so I understand. Her guidance must be a big help for you as an actor, with her guiding you in the series and giving advice on navigating your career overall.

Brown: She definitely provided me with a great deal of advice. I mean things I will take with me in my career for the rest of my life. I couldn’t be more grateful to have a great mentor like Raven on the show with us.

Mhonaé: That’s So Raven is an iconic Disney sitcom. The reboot, Raven’s Home, has had a successful run of five seasons so far. You guys are gearing up for season 6, which should be premiering sometime next year. So how does it feel to be a part of an iconic Disney sitcom and the franchise’s legacy overall?

Brown: Well, number one, it’s a lot of responsibility, but we knew that coming in as far as dealing with the people who were stuck on T.S.R. (That’s So Raven) and understanding that well, we’re not going to be that. We’re never going to be T.S.R. (That’s So Raven). We will have to talk about things happening in this generation. We’re going to have to cater to this generation’s audience. It’s been really fun, but it’s definitely a lot of responsibility because when you have an iconic franchise like That’s So Raven and Corey in the House, and you’re carrying on people’s childhoods, they will get very possessive over their shows and their people. So, we had to ensure we did justice to the original fanbase and put a new swing on things.

Mhonaé: So, what is your takeaway from this experience?

Brown: Well, Raven has been working since she was 3, and I’m only 17. My takeaway is to work for as long and as great as possible and continue pursuing my career in all aspects.

Not only is he a talented actor, but Issac is also a singer and dancer who strives to heat up the R&B/Pop music waves. He faithfully pursued music when he was around 12 or 13 years old. Recently, his EP titled, What I’m On, was released as well as a holiday single which is his soulful rendition of “The Christmas Song.” Issac’s musical influences are Chris Brown, Usher, and Michael Jackson, which speaks to the blueprint he intends to follow.

Mhonaé: Have you always been passionate about music, or did that come a little later?

Brown: I have always had a passion for it. In my mind, I have always seen myself as a performer. I went on a very long stint where acting was my priority. From the age of 6 to 12, I was really focused on acting and just doing that in L.A., but once I booked Raven’s Home and I met Rae (Raven) and Rae (Raven) connected me with K Young, I realized how much I loved being creative and how much being in the studio really meant to me. So that’s where that started picking back up.

Mhonaé: Being a young artist in the industry can be challenging and exciting at the same time. You can be subject to a lot of pressure and positive and negative influences, which can be overwhelming for some. So what keeps you grounded?

Brown: Definitely my family! My mom and my sisters tell me when I’m doing the most and when I’m not doing enough. It’s definitely about your support system. Many people believe they can do it on their own, and it’s harder than people realize to be out here surrounded by people who won’t always have your best interest at heart. Many people have their own families to feed and things to take care of. So it’s not anybody’s job to look after you, but you think you have people around you that are there for you. Still, you have to realize your family or whomever your support system is, surround yourself with a good group of people, and then you should be cool. That is what keeps me grounded.

Mhonaé: You are the founder of the I Can Literacy Foundation. The mission is to encourage young people to set and achieve goals based on “I can” sentences like “I can read,” “I can run,” “I can fly,” or anything that they set their minds to. That is very profound! Tell me what inspired you to start this foundation.

Brown: What really inspired me is my own city. My little cousin was around 7, 8, or 9 and had difficulty reading. I sat down with him one day, and we were trying to sound out words, and I was like, “I don’t feel like this is normal.” Then I looked it up, and the literacy rate in Detroit is borderline 50% or something like that. I was like, “That is just kind of insane.” The percentage might be updated now, but the last time I checked, which was around a few months ago, it was low. So I was like, “What can we do?” My mom said, “Well, Issac, you can start a literacy foundation, and we can do backpack drives and hopefully try to encourage kids to read, and you can use your platform to spark that.” So that is why I started the I Can Literacy Foundation, and the backpack drive we do in August is to inspire and encourage kids to pick up a book and give it a try.

Issac is a triple threat with vast career goals. Inspired by heavy hitters such as Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Foxx, he aspires to grace the big screen and star in a Marvel action film and other blockbuster films. Yet, his ultimate goal truly resonates with the essence of his character. Above all, Issac wants to inspire people through his art. He is content knowing that as long as he touches one person throughout his career, he has fulfilled his purpose.

Mhonaé: What advice do you have for other aspiring actors and musical artists who want to break into the industry?

Brown: Remain humble and cook in silence. Many people are loud about what they do, and sometimes that may ruin a blessing in disguise. So for all of my young people out there, remain humble, be great at what you do, perfect your craft, and move like you don’t have anything.

Detroit is known for breeding some of the most talented artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs. The seeds from its soil are built with an elite hunger and hustle that reflects in their work ethic and success. Those roots are deeply embedded in the spirit of Issac. He specified his greatest strength as his will to never give up despite the doubt or rejection of others or the possibility of failure. He said that he would always come back and try again. Issac Ryan Brown is a star on the rise.