Brooklyn's own Michael K. Williams is one of the most respected actors of his generation, famously name-checked by President Barack Obama for his role as Omar Little on HBO's The Wire. He is also arguably the definition of a 'hip-hop actor' in the best possible sense of the term; representing the stories of the street in ways both credible and complex. In this exclusive interview with Okayplayer TV, Williams talks about working with musical icon Erykah Badu in his upcoming role as Nat Love in the black cowboy epic They Die By Dawn. Williams goes in-depth on his on-set chemistry with Badu and the rest of the star-studded cast--including Rosario Dawson, Idris Elba, Giancarlo Esposito, Isaiah Washington and Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson--conjured seemingly out of thin air by first-time director Jeymes Samuel (already known to okayplayers as the producer and musical renaissance man behind The Bullits). Hit play below and look for more segments to come on Williams' other current projects, including Boardwalk Empire and the Ol' Dirty Bastard biopic Dirty White Boy, among others. Pass the popcorn.

Okayplayer TV: Michael K. Williams, Part 1

Credits:

Videographers: Emmai Alaquiva and Rory D. Webb

Editor: Allison Swank