When The Chi returned in the present day for its extremely anticipated seventh season, it didn’t simply decide up the place it left off; it plunged headfirst into the aftermath of heartbreak and detailed the rise of a mom searching for payback. 

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

For stars Jason Weaver and Hannaha Corridor, this season of Showtime’s South Facet saga feels totally different and it’s extra emotionally charged than ever.

Supply: Chris Lowe / Paramount+ with Showtime

“I’m basking in a variety of gratitude,” Corridor tells BOSSIP. “We’ve obtained some actually, actually good tales to inform this season that I feel are going to maintain folks concerned and engaged. However greater than something, I’m simply extraordinarily excited and grateful.”

 

Weaver, whose portrayal of Shaad is equal components life like and hilarious, echoes the sentiment.

“I feel all of us who’re concerned on this present—solid, crew, writers, producers, administrators—we’re simply all very pleased with the work we’re doing,” he says. “We’re proud to current some genuine storytelling. One thing our group can take delight in.”

That authenticity takes heart stage this season as Corridor’s character, Tiffany, reels from the sudden and violent demise of her boyfriend Rob (Iman Shumpert), a story cliffhanger that left viewers shocked final fall.

“I struggled with it slightly bit,” Corridor admits. “I’ve by no means personally skilled that form of grief from a big different, so I didn’t need to diminish the burden of it.”

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

To painting Tiffany’s sorrow with integrity, Corridor grounded herself within the emotional timeline.

“This actually simply occurred the identical day as Thanksgiving. They’d simply shared this second of household and love, after which…this. So it was about staying dedicated, understanding what she misplaced; not only a companion, but additionally her future and her enterprise companion. It’s an enormous loss in a number of areas of her life.”

However Tiffany isn’t grieving alone. Her once-contentious relationship with Rob’s mom, Alicia, performed with searing depth by Lynn Whitfield, undergoes a profound transformation as each girls mourn.

“They want one another now,” Corridor says. “Earlier than, Alicia didn’t actually need something from Tiff. Now she does. And Tiff wants her, too. It’s a season in each of their lives the place they’re pressured to lean on one another, even when that dynamic continues to be sophisticated.”

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

Sophisticated is placing it evenly.

“Alicia’s nonetheless harmful,” Corridor provides in regards to the girl who personally wished to take Douda out earlier than Nuck (Cortez Smith) beats her to it. “Tiff needs a wholesome relationship together with her, however she additionally is aware of Alicia’s not essentially protected.”

For Weaver’s character, Shaad, Alicia brings her personal set of complexities, and a shocking alternative for transformation

. “After what occurred to Robb—his physique actually being left on the doorstep—it’s clear there’s a major problem,” Weaver says. “And Alicia sees one thing in Shaad that not many others have: potential.”

Working so intently with a titan of movie and tv like Whitfield stays an expertise each humbling and empowering for Weaver. He performs not solely her proper hand, however her love curiosity.

“There was a degree of intimidation at first, for positive,” he says. “However after day one, you notice she’s a group participant. She informed me straight up—‘Jason, we’re simply two actors going to work.’ Her grace and humility made her much more of a legend in my eyes.”

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

He laughs, recalling how surreal a few of their extra intimate scenes felt.

“I’ve had a crush on Lynn Whitfield since Skinny Line, man. To be in a scene together with her, grabbing her neck, and have her say, ‘Preserve it actual, Jason!’—I imply, come on. That’s a second.”

Jason Weaver & Hannaha Corridor Talks Nuck’s Rise To Energy On The Chi

This season additionally introduces a brand new menace within the type of Nuck (Cortez Smith), moving into the vacuum left by the departure of longtime antagonist Douda.

Each Weaver and Corridor opened as much as BOSSIP in regards to the shifting energy dynamics following Douda’s demise and whether or not Nuck ought to be feared simply as a lot—or extra.

Weaver identified that Nuck’s shut ties to the youthful technology make him a distinct form of menace, particularly given Shaad and Nuck’s historical past.

“One of many first folks to take [Shaad] out for a drink and ask if he wanted some work was Nuck,” Weaver shared. “So from Shaad’s perspective, he’s simply form of within the center, observing. Is Nuck going to take up this mantle and be a menace on the road like Douda? Or is he going to be the man I’ve at all times identified?”

Supply: Adrienne Burrows / Paramount + with Showtime

Weaver defined that within the streets, loyalty can shift relying on who rises to energy, and Shaad’s place is all about watching how issues play out earlier than making any onerous selections.

Corridor, who performs Tiff, believes the true hazard nonetheless lies elsewhere.

“Douda will at all times be extra harmful to me,” she mentioned. “Nuck is zealous, he’s bold, however Douda was extra strategic. He had far more connections and knew the way to go about issues higher.”

However Corridor added that, in her eyes, Alicia (Lynn Whitfield), could be essentially the most harmful character of all.

“Alicia is so strategic—far more strategic than Douda,” Corridor mentioned, referencing Alicia’s chilly and calculated try to take Douda out. 

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

“To do one thing that low down and to be so intentional about it… that’s the true villain you gotta look out for.

Regardless of Alicia’s maternal attraction, Corridor warned,

“She has that villainous sense, however she’s additionally all the pieces reverse of that as properly.”

Supply: Leon Bennett / Getty

Hannaha Corridor Talks The Chi’s “Ghetto Black Brady Bunch” 

Elsewhere within the dialog, Hannaha Corridor dished on the present’s “Ghetto Black Brady Bunch”: Keisha, Emmett and Tiff, who’ve an advanced dynamic to say the least.

This season, Corridor defined, viewers will see that trio operate as a makeshift village, particularly as Tiff continues navigating her grief journey.

“You’re going to see, there’s going to be a variety of group. There’s going to be that sense of household,” Corridor says.

Whereas Tiff will lean on Emmett and Keisha for help—significantly with the children—she’s nonetheless decided to seek out her personal approach.

“It’s typical Tiff to attempt to make a approach out of no approach,” provides Corridor. 
 
 

Jason Weaver Talks Shaad & Bakari’s Bond On The Chi 

Jason Weaver additionally spoke to BOSSIP about Shaad’s dynamic with Bakari, performed by Ahmad Ferguson, and the way their relationship mirrors real-life generational vitality between OGs and the youthful technology.

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

“You’re going to see them undergo some form of attention-grabbing intervals with each other all through the course of the season,” mentioned Weaver. “And what’s so dope about it’s it truly is like the present dynamic between the Uncs or the OGs and the YNs. We discover that, we contact on it in and I feel what the writers did was stunning. They touched on it in a really playful approach.”

Weaver additionally praised Ferguson, highlighting their real-life chemistry that bleeds into their characters. 

“He and I’ve a really shut and funky relationship the place it’s form of like that very same factor—like I’m Unc, he at all times addresses me as Unc,” mentioned Weaver. “And us having the chance to play these scenes collectively, it’s at all times actually, actually enjoyable.”

The veteran actor additionally famous their collaborative vitality on set, saying,

“There are issues that I share with him so as to improve his efficiency, and on the similar time, there’s a fair alternate of artistic vitality.”

Supply: The Chi / Showtime

He added that Ferguson usually contributes genuine perception to raise the realism of their scenes. “

He’ll be like, ‘Hey, you thoughts if we strive it like this, as a result of often the way it goes…’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, you’re proper.’”

In accordance with Weaver, these takes usually find yourself being those that make it to air.

“For me as a veteran performer, to work with him and to see him proceed to ascend and to get higher and higher and sharper and sharper, every episode, every season–it’s simply superior to
see that and superior to be part of his development and his evolution as a younger man and as an actor.”

The Chi Season 7 is now streaming on Showtime.