‘BMF’ explores rise of ’80s drug kingpins embraced by hip-hop
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson remembered hearing stories about how two brothers emerged from rough inner-city Detroit streets to become wealthy drug kingpins and eventually embraced by hip-hop culture.
Jackson heard Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory’s nickname mentioned countless times in rap songs by Jeezy, T.I. and Rick Ross. He became so intrigued by Flenory and his brother Terry’s rag-toriches climb — albeit illegally — that he wanted to develop a television series based on their life.
Now, Jackson is delivering their story in the new crime series “BMF,” which recently premiered on Starz. The eight-episode series airing Sundays delves into the 1980s back story of the two brothers, who started the Black Mafia Family, one of the most notorious drug trafficking organizations in U.S. history.
“It’s a lifestyle choice that people are familiar with on a street level,” said Jackson, an executive producer of the series. “Beautiful things do come out of the hardships or the hard lifestyle. This is what drew me to it. It made me want to work on it until I got it right.”
The “BMF” series falls under a deal between Jackson and Starz, where he executive produced and starred in the original “Power” series, which became one of the most watched shows in the cable network’s history.
Jackson said the intensity of “BMF” is different than “Power” because most will probably know the true story behind the Flenory brothers.
“When you watch the theme music play in the opening sequence, you see pictures of Terry and Meech flash pass them,” Jackson said. “It’s very rare you see that when it’s not a documentary. We tried to keep the story as close as possible to the true experiences.”
The Flenory brothers led a national drug ring with more than 500 employers who distributed thousands of pounds of cocaine worth more than $270 million in cities in 11 states including Detroit, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and Birmingham, Alabama. Their empire came to a halt in 2005 when authorities arrested the brothers along with 100 co-conspirators for drug trafficking and money laundering through Flenory’s rap label and promotional business, BMF Entertainment.
Demetrius Flenory, 52, is serving a 30-year sentence at an Oregon prison. Terry was released on home confinement last year.
The “BMF” series stars first-time actor Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. as his father and actor Da’Vinchi, born Abraham D. Juste, who portrays Terry, whose nickname is “Southwest T.” Russell Hornsby and Michole Briana White play the brother’s parents, while
Snoop Dogg makes appearances as their spiritual adviser. It also stars Arkeisha “Kash Doll” Knight and Eric Kofi-Abrefa.
Flenory Jr. said the series is not about glorifying his father’s drug-selling escapades. He said the show will focus on his dad and uncle’s motivation to make money with a “by any means necessary” mentality.
“I get to tell the story, the only story out there that shows people who my dad really was, and not just what they heard or opinions from others, not just all the glitz and glamour,” said Flenory Jr., who appeared in a few episodes in the second season of HBO’s “Euphoria.”
“I get to show people how he really started and what choices he made to become Big Meech. Da’Vinchi shows you the choices he made to become Southwest T. We get the show the whole origin story. That’s what I think is the most important.”
Flenory Jr. said his dad called him every night, which gave him the opportunity to learn more about him and perfect his portrayal. He said those daily conversations made their bond even stronger.