Wednesday, June 26, 2024

From South London to Hollywood: The Rise of Rapman and His Supacell Series


 Andrew "Rapman" Onwubolu's journey from south London to Hollywood and back is nothing short of a superhero tale itself. Known for his gritty narratives like Blue Story and Shiro's Story, Rapman now brings us Supacell, a sci-fi fantasy series with a twist: it's not about saving the world, but exploring what happens when ordinary people gain extraordinary powers.

Set in south-east London with a predominantly Black cast, Supacell introduces characters like Michael, a delivery van driver, and Andre, a struggling single dad. These individuals discover they have powers like teleportation and telekinesis, which they initially use for personal gain. However, as they uncover the source of their abilities, they realize the stakes are higher than they imagined, forcing them to band together.

Rapman's storytelling roots trace back to his upbringing in Lewisham during the turbulent "postcode wars" of the mid-2000s. His knack for spinning tales eventually led him to YouTube, where his series Shiro's Story gained millions of views and caught the eye of Jay-Z, who signed him to Roc Nation. Following the success of Blue Story, Rapman navigated the highs and lows of Hollywood, including a near-miss with a major studio project before doubling down on Supacell with Netflix.

Supacell blends London realism with epic-scale action, featuring iconic locations and a soundtrack curated by Rapman himself. It marks a significant expansion of Black British representation in entertainment, akin to Top Boy's impact on TV. With Supacell, Rapman continues to defy industry norms, writing, directing, and showrunning to ensure his vision remains authentic and impactful.

As Supacell premieres on Netflix, Rapman stands ready for the next big challenge, proving that his storytelling prowess knows no bounds.

Supacell arrives on Netflix from June 27th.

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