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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 29 March 2019
With 'Black Panther' and now 'Us,' Winston Duke is on a roll

By LINDSEY BAHR Duke is a formidable pres-
Associated Press ence on screen and off,
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Win- clocking in at around 6'5".
ston Duke went from rela- That physicality helped
tive obscurity to being inform both the brute in-
a household name with timidation of playing some-
his first film and he wasn't one like Abraham and the
even the lead, or second comedic side of Gabe,
or third performer listed for although Peele said some-
that matter. That the first times that came uninten-
film in question was "Black tionally.
Panther" didn't hurt, but "There are some laughs
that Duke still managed to where he's being himself
stand out as rival Wakan- and I don't think he realized
dan leader M'Baku amid how funny it was," Peele
such star power and spec- said. "Best example is when
tacle is all the more impres- he gets into this little bed
sive. in one scene and it lasts
But how do you follow that about 30 seconds of him
kind of breakout? For Duke, just getting ready, he thinks
it meant looking for some- he's going to get some.
thing completely different. And the first time he did it
The Tobago-born, U.S.- I was just cracking up. The
raised Yale master of fine bed was creaking and he's
arts grad had been toiling This March 12, 2019 photo shows Winston Duke, a cast member in the film "Us," posing at the The way too big for it. I don't
in television for years to get London West Hollywood in West Hollywood, Calif. think he was trying to be
this sort of chance, and he Associated Press funny, but I'm like, 'Dude,
was not going to allow any- this is the best, do it even
one to pigeonhole him. script for "Us," Jordan and his doppelganger The challenge of playing longer. Do it more.'"
"It was absolutely nothing Peele's follow-up to "Get Abraham. Plus, he'd be two roles got Duke's mind Gabe Wilson has a certain
but potential at that point," Out," about a family who getting to work with Peele, spinning about big themes "sitcom dad" energy to him
Duke, 32, said of his raised encounters murderous who was hot off of "Get of privilege, duality, the pa- that Duke said was inspired
profile following "Black Pan- doppelgangers, and he Out." triarchy and America. by characters like Carl Win-
ther." ''I was really itching knew it was the perfect fit. "Winston was on this perfect "Gabe is the perfect prod- slow of "Family Matters" and
for another job. I wanted "I said, 'Oh my goodness, level," Peele said. "He was uct of the American dream. Homer Simpson. He also
something that would test this is everything,'" Duke by no means an unknown He probably believes that suspects Peele wrote a bit
me but not be the same said. actor, but the range that if you work hard enough of himself into the charac-
as how I was represented It wasn't just that he'd be he has was untapped, at you can get anything. You ter. But the director and his
in 'Black Panther.' ...I know getting to show a different least in how we knew him. can pull yourself up by your star have differing opinions
the propensity for saying, side of himself as an actor. That presented this oppor- bootstraps and work hard. on that.
'Oh he's this kind of action He'd actually be playing tunity to continue to break He's that guy," Duke said. "He claims that a lot was
guy. He's this one thing." two roles, the all-American his talent on the world in a "Abraham is the American based on me," Peele said.
That's when he read the every-dad Gabe Wilson perfect way." nightmare." "But I can tell you a lot of it

Lion Babe creates easy-listening album 'Cosmic Wind'

By RAGAN CLARK experimental world of al- Hervey's hip-hop chops,
Lion Babe, "Cosmic Wind" ternative R&B. while "Hit the Ceiling" shows
(Interscope Records) The first-released single, off her range. With a voice
There's no doubt that Lion "Western World," fits the al- commonly compared to
Babe has created a col- bum's penchant for songs Erykah Badu, Hervey's vo-
lection of beat-driven, suited for the dance floor, cals are captivating. She
catchy songs in the duo's making a play on Pet Shop and Goodman prove in
sophomore album "Cosmic Boys' "West End Girls." Her- their album of three-minute
Wind." vey's sultry vocals coo grooves that they know
The album doesn't push through a tambourine-ac- how to create a catchy
too many boundaries with cented beat as she sings track.
the collection of R&B of culture's incessant desire While "Cosmic Wind" makes
tunes, rooted in pop and to never slow down: "In a good dance floor music,
electronic influences, but Western town, a Western it's slightly marred by the
there is a certain groove to world/ So hard to find some record's inability to create
the record that's hard not peace." Wu-Tang Clan's knock-out singles. Having
to like. Raekwon brings the song to few standout moments on
Jillian Hervey's strong, soul- a close with a guest verse, the album, songs struggle
ful vocals shine through, before Hervey rejoins with to distinguish themselves
accompanied by the pro- the chorus. from one another, at times
duction influence of Lucas "Anyway You Want To" is running together. Still, Lion
Goodman, who plays with simple lyrically, with a fat, Babe created a feel-good This cover image released by Interscope Records shows "Cos-
genre intersection without fuzzy guitar creating a slow record that is certain to mic Wind" by Lion Babe.
falling too deep into the jam. "Reminisce" shows off make the listener move.q Associated Press