I was 20 years old when I moved to L.A. from Detroit. My first audition ever was for Boyz n the Hood. I didn’t land a role.

Shortly thereafter I got the call to audition for Menace II Society. I was asked to audition for the lead role of Caine, the guy in the McDonald’s drive-thru, and the crackhead.

Before I auditioned I called and asked my grandmother what did she think about me auditioning for that particular role. She said, “You’re an actor. People will be smart enough to know that’s not really who you are.” I agreed.

I knew it would be controversial but I guess because it was so close to what I grew up in and around it wasn’t as shocking to me as I discovered it was to others after I decided to do it...