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WeirdWho’s Who in the ‘Beats’ Cast?
By Anna Menta
Published
June 24, 2019, 1:09 p.m. ET
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Get to know the cast of Netflix's new coming-of-age film.
Photo: NETFLIX ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
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Anthony Anderson
Who he plays: Romelo Reese, a former music manager now struggling to make ends meets as a high school security guard.
Where you know him from: We're certain you've seen Anderson as Dre the goofy dad on his sitcom Black-ish, on which Anderson is also an executive producer. Film fans may also remember Anderson from Kangaroo Jack, The Departed, and Transformers.
Who he plays: Romelo Reese, a former music manager now struggling to make ends meets as a high school security guard.
Where you know him from: We're certain you've seen Anderson as Dre the goofy dad on his sitcom Black-ish, on which Anderson is also an executive producer. Film fans may also remember Anderson from Kangaroo Jack, The Departed, and Transformers.
Photo: Netflix/Adrian S. Burrows Sr.
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Khalil Everage
Who he plays:August Monroe, a young musical prodigy suffering from PTSD after he witnesses his sister's murder.
Where you know him from: Everage is fairly new to the scene, but you may have seen him on YouTube's Karate Kid spin-off, Cobra Kai, where he plays Chris, one of Johnny Lawrence's trainees.
Who he plays:August Monroe, a young musical prodigy suffering from PTSD after he witnesses his sister's murder.
Where you know him from: Everage is fairly new to the scene, but you may have seen him on YouTube's Karate Kid spin-off, Cobra Kai, where he plays Chris, one of Johnny Lawrence's trainees.
Photo: Netflix / Elizabeth Morris
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Uzo Aduba
Who she plays: Carla Monroe, the strict mother to August who keeps him inside at all times.
Where you know her from: Who, two-time Emmy-winning actor Uzo Aduba? You know her from Netflix's Orange is the New Black, where she steals every scene as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren. You may have also heard her voice in the My Little Pony movie (as Queen Novo) or on Steven Universe (as Bismuth). Soon you'll see her as Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman in Congress, on FX's Mrs. America.
Who she plays: Carla Monroe, the strict mother to August who keeps him inside at all times.
Where you know her from: Who, two-time Emmy-winning actor Uzo Aduba? You know her from Netflix's Orange is the New Black, where she steals every scene as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren. You may have also heard her voice in the My Little Pony movie (as Queen Novo) or on Steven Universe (as Bismuth). Soon you'll see her as Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman in Congress, on FX's Mrs. America.
Photo: Netflix/Elizabeth Morris
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Emayatzy Corinealdi
Who she plays: Vanessa Robinson, the school principal, Anderson's boss, and his former lover.
Where you know her from: Corinealdi played the lead role in Ava Duvernay's 2012 critically-acclaimed film, Middle of Nowhere. She also played Tessie in the Amazon Original Series Hand of God, and played Belle, Kunta Kinte's wife, in the History Channel's 2016 remake of Roots.
Who she plays: Vanessa Robinson, the school principal, Anderson's boss, and his former lover.
Where you know her from: Corinealdi played the lead role in Ava Duvernay's 2012 critically-acclaimed film, Middle of Nowhere. She also played Tessie in the Amazon Original Series Hand of God, and played Belle, Kunta Kinte's wife, in the History Channel's 2016 remake of Roots.
Photo: Netflix/Elizabeth Morris
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Megan Sousa
Who she plays: Kari, August's sister who is killed in front of him.
Where you know her from: Sousa's had various bit roles, including a role as Sonia in the tenth episode of ABC's short-lived drama, Ten Days in the Valley. Beats is her first big role in a major film.
Who she plays: Kari, August's sister who is killed in front of him.
Where you know her from: Sousa's had various bit roles, including a role as Sonia in the tenth episode of ABC's short-lived drama, Ten Days in the Valley. Beats is her first big role in a major film.
Photo: Netflix
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Paul Walter Hauser
Who he plays: Terrence, a now-famous music producer that Romelo helped to get his start.
Where you know him from: Hauser is a stand-up comedian, so you've seen him pop up in some of your favorite comedies like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Superstore, Key & Peele, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Community. He also played Shawn Eckhardt in I, Tonya and Ivanhoe in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman.
Who he plays: Terrence, a now-famous music producer that Romelo helped to get his start.
Where you know him from: Hauser is a stand-up comedian, so you've seen him pop up in some of your favorite comedies like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Superstore, Key & Peele, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Community. He also played Shawn Eckhardt in I, Tonya and Ivanhoe in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman.
Photo: Netflix
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Dave East
Who he plays: Mister Ford, a rapper who decides to sign with Terrence instead of Romelo.
Where you know him from: Dave East is a rapper who has been signed to rapper Nas' label Mass Appeal Records and Def Jam Recordings. His debut 2017 album, Paranoia: A True Story, is best known for the single "Perfect," which features Chris Brown. He also starred in the Netflix rap docuseries, Rapture.
Who he plays: Mister Ford, a rapper who decides to sign with Terrence instead of Romelo.
Where you know him from: Dave East is a rapper who has been signed to rapper Nas' label Mass Appeal Records and Def Jam Recordings. His debut 2017 album, Paranoia: A True Story, is best known for the single "Perfect," which features Chris Brown. He also starred in the Netflix rap docuseries, Rapture.
Photo: Netflix
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Seandrea "Dreezy" Sledge
Who she plays: Queen Cabrini, a singer who sings on a beat made by August.
Where you know her from: Dreezy, as she goes by, is a Chicago-based singer signed with Interscope Records. Her first studio album, 2016's No Hard Feelings, featured guest appearances by artists like Gucci Mane, Wale, Jeremih, and T-Pain.
Who she plays: Queen Cabrini, a singer who sings on a beat made by August.
Where you know her from: Dreezy, as she goes by, is a Chicago-based singer signed with Interscope Records. Her first studio album, 2016's No Hard Feelings, featured guest appearances by artists like Gucci Mane, Wale, Jeremih, and T-Pain.
Photo: Netflix/Elizabeth Morris
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Ashley Jackson
Who she plays: Niyah, August's love interest.
Where you know her from: Save for a few roles in shorts and an Amazon pilot that was never picked up (A Kid Called Mayonnaise), Beats is Jackson's first big role.
Who she plays: Niyah, August's love interest.
Where you know her from: Save for a few roles in shorts and an Amazon pilot that was never picked up (A Kid Called Mayonnaise), Beats is Jackson's first big role.
Photo: Netflix/Elizabeth Morris
