American rapper Vic Mensa has been cast in the upcoming hip hop biopic film African/American, based on the life of late South African hip hop legend, Pro (formerly known as ProKid). Vic will be playing Syd Money, who was Pro’s manager instrumental early on in Pro’s career, particularly in the crafting of Pro’s first album Heads and Tales. The film will chronicle this early period of Pro’s career, with a keen focus on the making of his debut album alongside Syd Money.
Thabang Moloba, known for playing Karabo ‘KB’ Molapo in Netflix’s original streaming television series Blood & Water as well as Gift Mabuza in the telenovela The Queen is attached to portray ProKid, with talks still ongoing.
African/American is being produced by famed costume designer Ruth E. Carter, whose decorated resume includes contributions to Spike Lee’s School Daze, Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X (earning an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Designer), Steven Spielberg’s Amistad as well as Coming 2 America, Black Panther (winning an Oscar for Best Costume Designer) and its forthcoming sequel as a costume designer, with African/American serving as her first foray into producing. The script is written by Jamie Burton-Oare and Skye Dennis, who will also direct. Lanre Idewu, who worked on HBO Max’s South Side will also produce the film.
The film is set against the backdrop of post-apartheid Rennaisance period in South Africa, which saw hip hop become the soundtrack of urban youth, with the Soweto Born ProKid as one of the centres of the movement. ProKid whose real name is Linda Mkhize passed away in 2018 at age 37 after suffering from a hemosuccus pancreaticus induced seizure.
