Power Book III: Raising Kanan is a popular crime drama that debuted on the Starz network in 2021. The series functions as a prequel and the second spinoff of Power, charting the formative years of Kanan Stark as he climbs the criminal ranks as a drug dealer in Queens, New York during the 1990s.
Although Curtis "50 Cent" portrayed Kanan Stark in the original Power, his younger counterpart is portrayed by Mekai Curtis in Power Book III. With Raising Kanan slated to return for Season 3 in December 2023, it's time to (re)-introduce the main cast of characters and supporting players who stand out the most in the beloved TV drama.
Mekai Curtis as Kanan Stark
Mekai Curtis takes the lead as Kanan Stark. When the series begins in 1991, Kanan is a 15-year-old living in Jamaica, Queens with his mother Raquel Thomas. After being raised by gangsters and criminals his entire life, Kanan is determined to join the drug empire his mother runs. To help him achieve his goal, Mekai turns to his uncles Marvin and Lou-Lou. However, Kanan must reconcile with the fact his biological father is a police officer.
Curtis began his acting career by appearing in a 2013 episode of the hit sitcom Arrested Development and a 2014 episode of Girl Meets World. While Power Book provides Curtis with his first real mature role as an adult, he gained valuable acting experience by starring in the Disney Channel TV shows Kirby Buckets and Milo Murphy's Law.
Patina Miller as Raquel "Raq" Thomas
Patina Miller portrays Raquel "Raq" Thomas in the acclaimed Starz original TV show. Raq is Kanan's mother and one of the two biggest druglords in Queens. Despite her criminality, Raq wants to keep Kanan out of the drug business and protect from him harm at all costs. Despite her willingness to keep Kanan safe, Raq does what she needs to survive and isn't afraid of getting her hands bloody if it advances her business.
Beyond her sympathetic turn as Raq Thomas, Miller has appeared in many popular movies and TV shows. She began her career on All My Children before appearing in both Hunger Games: Mockingjay movies. She also recently played Queen Isola in The Sopranos' prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark. However, Miller's most famous role includes playing Daisy Grant in the political drama Madam Secretary for six seasons and 116 episodes.
Omar Epps as Malcolm Howard
Omar Epps plays Malcolm Howard. Malcolm is Kanan's biological father and a prominent NYPD Detective. Much of Kanan's conflict derives from believing his father is a notorious gangster named Def Con Stark. Meanwhile, Malcolm tries to keep his identity as Kanan's father a secret while he arrests various criminals in Queens who are affiliated with Raq's empire. As always, Epps delivers a nuanced performance.
Of course, Epps brings 30 years of acting experience to Power Book III. Whether starring in Juice, The Program, Scream 2, or Love & Basketball, Epps always stands out with natural onscreen command. Beyond his impressive filmography, Epps also proved he knows how to give credible TV performances by playing Dr. Eric Foreman in House and Issac Johnson in Shooter, two series that, like Power Book III, couldn't be more different.
London Brown as Marvin Thomas
London Brown depicts Marvin Thomas. Marvin is Kanan's uncle and Raq's older brother who serves as the aggressive, hot-tempered enforcer for his family's drug empire. Marvin may lack intelligence compared to his smart siblings but isn't shy about expressing his opinions about how the business should be run. Above all else, Marvin is loyal to a fault, which is demonstrated most when taking care of his daughter, Jukebox.
With a radiant smile that's hard to forget, Brown famously starred as Reggie in the HBO sports drama Ballers. He has also appeared in such TV shows as The Hustle and American Soul. Brown's big screen credits include Tales from the Hood 3 and Real Talk. Considering what a stellar turn Brown has given on the show thus far, it wouldn't be shocking if his role expanded in Season 3.
Malcolm M. Mays as Lou-Lou Thomas
Malcolm M. Mays plays Lou-Lou Thomas. Lou-Lou is the soft-spoken younger brother of Raq and Marvin. Although he appears shy and timid on the surface, Lou-Lou proves his loyalty time and again by doing dirty work for his family when needed. A shrewd strategist as well, Lou-Lou often serves as the voice of reason among his family, which has earned the trust of his confidante, Raq.
Mays has amassed an impressive resume since his career began in 2013. In addition to writing, producing, and starring in his own musical X in 2015, Mays also appeared in the stellar boxing movie, Southpaw. However, most TV fans will recognize his role as Kevin Hamilton in the crime series Snowfall, his second most prominent part after Power Book III. Mays also recently showed up in the disturbing Prime original horror series Them.
Shanley Caswell as Shannon Burke
Shanley Caswell portrays Shannon Burke. Shannon is the newly appointed partner of NYPD Detective Malcolm Howard. As such, she is one of the main enemies of Raq, Kanan, and Marvin who is dedicated to ridding the street of drug dealers and gang wars. However, Shannon is a bit too naive, and her lack of experience on the job tests her mettle throughout the series.
After beginning her career in a 2008 episode of Zoey 101, Caswell has appeared in many popular TV shows. They include Scorpion, S.W.A.T., and The Resident. After appearing in such horror movies as The Conjuring and Kappa Kappa Die, Caswell landed the plum role as Laurel Pride on NCIS: New Orleans. As such, going from playing the wife of a detective in NCIS to a rookie investigator in Power Book III isn't that big of a stretch.
Joey Bada$$ as Unique
Joey Bada$$ plays Unique in Power Book III. Unique is Raq's chief drug-dealing rival in Queens who serves as the main criminal antagonist in the series. Unique is charming and charismatic when it suits him and ruthlessly violent when he needs to be, and his sense of street smarts has kept him out of legal trouble and atop the criminal underworld. Other than the police, Unique is the biggest threat to Raq and Kanan.
In a current sea of mediocre hip-hop music, Joey Bada$$ is a truly talented rapper whose boom-bap style and poetic lyrics harken back to the golden era of the 1990s. He officially transitioned into acting in 2019 by portraying Rebel in Wu-Tang: American Saga. Quickly honing his acting aplomb, Bada$$ can also be seen as Leon in Mr. Robot. He also appeared as himself on multiple episodes of the hit Black sitcom, Black-ish.
Hailey Kilgore as LaVerne "Jukebox" Ganner
Hailey Kilgore depicts LaVerne "Jukebox" Ganner. Jukebox is the daughter of Marvin and the cousin of Kanan. When Power Book III begins, Jukebox tries to defend Kanan from bullies but is overpowered. By the time the events of Power take place, Jukebox grows up to become a member of the police force in Washington, D.C. Therefore, Jukebox's arc goes from conflicted ally to enemy as the Power universe unfolds.
As a relative newcomer, Jukebox ranks as Kilgore's biggest TV role so far. However, after appearing in the TV series The Village and Amazing Stories, Kilgore has steadily increased her visibility by starring in popular movies like Respect in 2021 and Cinnamon in 2023. Given how well she plays the role of Jukebox originated by Anika Noni Rose, Kilgore has a bright future ahead.
Toby Sandeman as Symphony Bosket
Toby Sandeman plays Symphony Bosket. Symphony is Raq's upstanding boyfriend from Jamaica. Smart, driven, and ambitious, Symphony is working to get his Master's Degree in Urban Planning while paying bills as a nighttime bartender. Despite being from a much different background than Raq, the two hit it off romantically. Symphony even earns Marvin's trust, which goes a long way in keeping him safe.
Sandeman is a British actor who has remained quite busy since his career commenced in 2017. After starring in The Royals, Sandeman has shown up in Love Is, She's Gotta Have It, and New York Undercover. To date, Sandeman's most significant role includes playing Garret Evans in the Paramount+ original sports drama, The Game.
Lovie Simone as Davina Harrison
Lovie Simone plays the supporting character Davina Harrison. Davina is the very first love interest in Kanan's life and someone he has had a crush on since second grade. However, when the series begins, Lovie is in a relationship with Buck Twenty, one of Unique's friends. Over time, Kanan and Davina become romantically involved, which only amplifies the rivalry between the two opposing druglords in Queens.
Before being cast in Power Book III, Simone gained a wealth of TV experience by starring in the OWN original series Greenleaf for five seasons and 60 episodes. Not limited to the small screen, Simone's most famous movie credits include the Prime Video Original Selah and the Spades and the popular horror sequel The Craft: Legacy. Simone can be seen next in the upcoming Morgan Freeman thriller 57 Seconds.