LOS ANGELES, CA — The continuing spinoff of the insightful and great series Snowfall continues with ‘The Drop: A Snowfall Saga,‘ starring Gail Bean (Wanda Bell), Isaiah John (Leon Simmons), and newcomers to the series, including Peyton Alex Smith (James Kinsey), Asante Blackk (Lamar Kensey), Mykelti Williamson (Big Daddy Kinsey), Simmie “Buddy” Sims III (Artillery), and Brandon Mychal Smith (Darryl “DG” Grant), to name a few. The show is set in the early 1990s, when Los Angeles was rapidly changing culturally, economically, and physically. The music industry also moved from boardrooms to the streets, where executives used street knowledge and applied it to business. The series also picks up after Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) and Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson) use their CIA influence to wreak havoc across Southern California.
The series strongly focuses on Wanda Bell, who looks to rebound from her past struggles with drug abuse and build a fledgling career in the music business as both a talent and a business executive.
“I’m very excited just to embody the 90s L.A. You know, a lot has happened, especially the political climate we’re in, and a lot is about to come out in this series. You know, just how ‘Snowfall’ tackled a lot of things that were rumored,” Bean told Nitecast Media. “But we knew the facts, and we’re going to address a lot of that, and also going to have fun with this one. The 90s are my favorite era, so it’s a really good time. It’s a feel-good story, so expect to be on a high and not a drug high, but a music high, and it’s one of those things where you feel really good.”
To give the series more depth for an intrigued audience, it could remind you of that favorite song or album you must have in your collection at all times. ‘The Drop‘ takes the audience on a journey, with those who were alive and around remember, and those who are just understanding the journey today can really get a sense of the aroma of the streets of Los Angeles during this critical time in American history.
The music of that time became the soundtrack of the streets, from NWA to Above The Law, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short in the Bay, to Dr. Dre and Death Row Records, which immediately impacted the ears of audiences experiencing G-Funk. Bean explained the series’ musical side and how important it was to the filming process.
“I don’t want to say what kind or who specifically is being displayed, because once you watch it, you’ll see who the influences are, but we will see a lot of Wanda’s history, from her family to what influenced her with music,” she explained. “To even how she even gets into the music game. We’ll see a lot of her background, because we didn’t get to see Wanda’s family. We did a little bit when they went to her home [in Snowfall], but now we’ll see cousins; we’ll see grandparents. We’ll really get to know Wanda more.“
Viewers will also watch Leon Simmons and his on-again, off-again relationship with Wanda grow as he helps her navigate the pitfalls of the connections between the streets and the music business.
“Before, we saw a lot of Wanda and Leon together or Franklin and Leon. Now we’ll get to see some of Leon’s background and who he is, who he’s becoming. The man that he is and the man that he will be. Which I do really love. What he looks like when he’s not beside Franklin. What Leon looks like when he’s not beside Wanda. But him standing on his own as a man.“
However, with a rotating cast of characters set to return, such as Big Deon from Snowfall (Quincy Chad) and others, will the series reveal a guest cameo by Franklin Saint (Idris)? Bean wouldn’t comment, but her face lit up at the thought of him making a cameo in the new series.
“You never know who will pop in and out,” Bean said, smiling.
‘The Drop‘ shows how determined Wanda is to pursue her dream and help others like her accomplish theirs on the banks of a rising West Coast rap scene with the power to influence and revise American culture.
‘The Drop’ airs Tuesdays on FX and the next day on Hulu; check the listing for exact times in your area.
