Power Book II: Ghost was the first spin-off to be released after Power finished with its sixth season. The spin-off series is about what happened after the events of the original Starz series, showing what Tariq St Patrick (played by Michael Rainey Jr) got up to next. The show also welcomed a new character which came in the shape of actress and singer Mary J Blige.
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Power Book II: Ghost.
How did Mary J Blige’s mum influence Power Book II?
Tariq was desperate to help get his mum Tasha St Patrick (Naturi Naughton) out of prison, having stayed silent about him being James “Ghost” St Patrick’s (Omari Hardwick) real killer.
He needed to raise enough money to pay for top lawyer David MacClean (Method Man) to get her out of there and so he did the only way he knew how: by selling drugs.
With the help of friend Brayden Weston (Gianni Paolo), they developed a tutoring app that would act as a cover-up so the pair could sell drugs on their campus.
To be able to pull this off, they of course needed the drugs which is where Monet Tejadas (Mary J Blige) stepped in.
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Blige continued: “And everyone woman I know is a Monet, a hussler, my mum’s a hussler, a single-parent mum raising all of her children by herself in a hood, male-dominated.
“You know she made sure her kids had and she had so these women I know right now, they’re in my life right now, they’re my friends today.
“So I was completely inspired by everything I grew up around and it was easy to find that real character, to make this character come to life.”
Blige’s mum Cora has three children who she raised single-handedly in a neighbourhood that was filled with drugs and violence.
Born on January 11, 1971, in the Bronx, New York, Blige has won over millions of fans with her music. But before becoming a successful hip-hop singer, Blige endured a hellish childhood marred by violence, alcohol and drugs.
Speaking to Biography, Blige said she “ended up becoming” her environment and getting addicted to drugs, sex and alcohol.
However, thanks to her love of music, she was able to find a release away from her upbringing.
Talking about singing in church, Blige said: “I loved being there because I wouldn’t be hurt.
“I felt wanted and special, and when I was 12, I sang the hymn ‘Lord, Help Me To Hold Out Until My Change Has Come.’
I was praying as I sang it. I felt the Spirit.”
The Power franchise is available to watch on Starz.
Published at Sat, 22 May 2021 02:01:00 +0000
Power Book 2: How did Mary J Blige's mum influence Ghost spin-off?
