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Rapping is a new skill Nadine Velazquez is learning and honing on the ABC series Queens, a new show about four ex-members of a defunct ‘90s hip-hop female band reuniting now in their 40s to recapture their former fame and swagger. So the actress is relying on her performing chops to nail her character and having a good time at it.
“I’d never rapped ever before the show, never, not once,” happily admits Velazquez, who plays Queen’s Valeria, a rapper that also goes by the name of Butter Pecan. “And now I love finding and listening to the music and studying rappers now and just hearing things that I didn’t hear before. So, I rely on my ability to act, because I’m not really pulling from any place other than that.”
The Latina artist joins music stars Eve, Naturi Naughton and Brandy in a series directed and co-executive produced by Tim Story, whose film credits include the comedy/drama Barbershop and the superhero Fantastic Four franchise and who has also directed music videos for artists like NSYNC, Tyrese Gibson and Sonique. The series is created and executive produced by Scandal’s Zahir McGhee and features original music performed by the stars at the direction of executive music producer Swizz Beatz.
Velazquez is particularly in awe of her co-star Brandy, the actress/singer who plays Brianna, aka Professor Sex. Brandy has had an amazing music career starting with her eponymous album in 1994 and years later had her breakout starring role in the Disney film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein television musical Cinderella in 1997. “Brandy has moved from Princess to being a queen on this show,” says Velazquez. “She is very powerful, badass and raw and beautiful. In fact, all three of the women are just so excellent and it becomes very apparent to me how much I am learning when we are in music and dance rehearsals.”
Asked about how she is adapting to learning choreography, Velazquez laughs. “It’s been like having two left feet,” she says. “But I’m getting it. I’m getting it more and more and more. And I can’t even describe the growth from the pilot to where I’m at right now just in terms of my comfort and ability to just, like, be free. But you’ll see.”
Born in Chicago, of Puerto Rican descent, Velazquez is best known as a model and actress, having been featured as Catalina Aruca on My Name Is Earl and Sofia Ruxin on The League. She has also appeared in films such as War, Flight and Snitch. She also was a cast member on the TV series Major Crimes.
For Velazquez, Queens is not a series dealing with female friendship versus rivalry. “It really is strong on both,” says Velazquez. “And that’s what makes it so special. The characters had their disagreements in the past, but now they’ve come together to hold each other up.”
Brandy chimes in, “It’s definitely more towards the friendship aspect of it. I think our show is about sisterhood and family. There’s always going to be a hierarchy that exists, but we do want to emphasize the friendship aspect more rather than focusing on rivalry or bickering or backstabbing.”
Co-written by co-exec producer McGhee, the series marries a passion for the female hip-hop legends of the ’90s with an in-depth exploration of womanhood.
When asked what made him feel this was the right time to introduce a hip musical to primetime series television, McGhee shrugs and says, “What makes this special and the right time is, number one, we have a lot of the real people who are doing hip hop now, which gives it a certain level of authenticity.” He then adds, “And we have the opportunity to tell the breadth of stories about the experience of women of color. They are varied; they’re great. And they are beautiful. I think that the time for this show was yesterday and the time is also today, and the time is even for tomorrow.”
Velazquez was certainly ready for the experience, even though she originally felt it was intimidating. “But I was ready to face the things that I’ve been keeping from the world. I am musical in my soul, I am a poet in my soul,” she states. “I have had such great support from the cast and the crew. They gave me life license to just bring my character out more and more. And so, like Valeria in the series, it’s like I have a second chance. It’s like an opportunity to become something more, to redefine myself.”
Brandy looks over at her new friend and nods her head in agreement saying, “Audiences are going to get a treat when they see Butter Pecan perform. This girl can do it.”
Queens debuts October 19.