(Photo: Kelvin Williams)

In their 1997 song “It’s Yourz,” legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan rapped the chorus: “The world in the palm of your hand.” Fast-forward some 20 years. Rising entertainment star Damani D. Sease has taken those words to heart. Quite literally, in fact, he played Lamont “U-God” Hawkins (the main rapper on the aforementioned hook) in Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga series.      

Sease hails from Brooklyn, New York, and is stepping into the national spotlight. Among other projects he’s starred in—including Prime’s original Cross series and the award-winning social justice project, CHAAW—his role in Wu-Tang has set a new precedent. “I manifested the U-God role,” he tells BROTHER.

“The same month I dropped out of college, my dad found out that they needed to cast Hawkins’ role for the series. He told me, ‘You look like him, you should start studying him.’ So, I was already studying before the show came out, and then the opportunity presented itself,” says Sease.  

Knowing most new actors rarely reach the big screen, Sease approaches each role and casting with positivity. He says, “I’m a very spiritual person, and I’ve been blessed to find my place in this industry in a short amount of time.” Even with speculation about Sease playing young Ghost in the upcoming Starz Power: Origins series—a role he auditioned for but didn’t get—he sent his friend and acting colleague, Spence Moore II., well wishes for winning the part.

Sease’s father (a seasoned stunt actor) has also encouraged Sease to continue with positivity on his trajectory, noting that he’s often seen actors ‘come-and-go’ not having attained a notable lead role in their careers. “My parents have always encouraged my dreams,” he says. “My pops told me about the BIH (Break Into Hollywood) Studios program, which taught me the basics of acting and helped me get to where I am today.”    

Reflecting on his pathway to success, Sease says, “When I was younger, I always wanted to do something in entertainment, not specifically acting, but singing and dancing, or sports.” He began playing football at a young age and throughout high school—having attended Whitehall High School in Pennsylvania—where he played alongside Superbowl champion Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles. “I got recruited to play football in college, but it was during college that I actually found my passion for acting. I had a real moment,” he recalls.  

“I called my parents one day and told them I wanted to drop out to pursue acting, and they were supportive. I’m blessed to have supportive parents, because my pops could have said: ‘No, stay in college!’ and I wouldn’t be here today.”

As a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister, Sease also credits his family for helping him to ground his footing in preparation for the Hulu series role. “I knew about Wu-Tang [growing up] but my parents are fans!” he said. “They grew up with them. U-God and I are from the same place (Brownsville, Brooklyn), and I had deep conversations with him while preparing for the role, learning a great deal. I read his book—Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang—and realized we’re just alike.”    

Having also learned some valuable lessons from industry veterans like Aldis Hodge (with whom Sease worked on Cross), he looks forward to continuing to sharpen his creativity and one day hopes to share screen time with stars like Omari Hardwick, Will Smith, and Michael B. Jordan.

As for now, Sease recently wrapped shooting a role for the upcoming independent romantic drama Hard Feelings, directed by Jo Hatcher and starring BMF’s Da’Vinchi, and All American: Homecoming’s Naomi Baker. Of his role in the film, Sease says, “I’m excited for everyone to see this movie as it’s something new that we haven’t had in a while.”

In Swahili culture, the African translation of Sease’s first name, Damani, means “thoughtful,” and it’s with a careful approach—along with “the power of manifestation”—that he’s taking the necessary steps towards achieving greatness within his career. Sease exclaims, “We carry endless possibilities within us, and it’s about realizing our own power because we hold so much control over how our story plays out.”

𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐒:

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𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌

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