For the first time since you caught an eyeful of those fly cargo pants your friend was rockin’ back in 1992, the word “dope” is reentering your daily vocabulary.

That’s because a new movie called Dope is heading to theaters on June 19, and trust us when we say it very much lives up to its title and more.

 

 

 

1. So who are we talking about here?

We’re talking about Shameik Moore, Kiersey Clemons and Tony Revolori -- the three lead stars of Dope.

 

2. Can you tell me a little about Dope first?

Sure. Think of Dope as a bit of a throwback to some of your favorite ‘90s-era “hood” movies like House Party or Friday, except the film takes place in contemporary times. So I guess you can say it’s a ‘90s movie with 2015 sensibilities.

Moore, Clemons and Revolori star as three self-proclaimed “nerds” navigating the complexities of living in a rough, crime-ridden neighborhood when an invite to an underground party sets the trio on a dangerous course where they’ll have to rely on their “street smarts” more than ever before.

 

3. Why does Tony Revolori look so familiar?

 

That’s because his big breakout role came in last year’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, where he played Zero opposite Ralph Fiennes.

Remember this?

 

4. I feel like I’ve seen Shameik Moore somewhere before. Who is he?

You may have seen Shameik Moore before, though in terms of movies he's a relative newcomer -- and Dope is pretty much his breakout role.

Moore has been entertaining for a few years now, not just as an actor but as a rapper, dancer, model and singer. He had his own Web series for a while called "Meaksworld" where you'd find stuff like this 2009 video in which a baby-faced Moore and his pal Jacob Latimore did a little dancing.

 

5. Ooh, now that you teased it – can we see him dance some more?

Sure! Here's a great video from 2010 where Moore danced to a Chris Brown song in order to impress a girl outside a movie theater. We bet he had no idea back then that he'd be in a movie playing in that same movie theater five years later.

 

 

6. Okay, I’m sold. Tell me about Kiersey Clemons – what’s her deal?

If there's one thing you'll notice about Dope, it's that many cast members also dabble in music. Clemons is another of the film's up-and-comers, performing in bit parts on various TV shows since 2010. Lately her star has been on the rise, with roles in Transparent, Extant and MTV's Eye Candy, as well as a major part in Dope playing a tough teenage lesbian with a colorful imagination.

Clemons is also a bit musical, too, and you can see some early video of her performing in a staged version of Grease below. Her vocals can also be heard on a number of tracks in the movie Dope.

 

7. So in the movie these kids are from the hood and in a rock band?

That's right -- amusingly enough, this hip hop-centric film features its main trio of stars in their own garage band. They call themselves Awreeoh, and practice after school. They had four songs written for the band for the movie, and all four were scribbled down by none other than Pharrell Williams. Expect to hear them on the film's dope soundtrack.

 

 

8. Who else is in the movie alongside these three?

Dope is pretty packed with familiar names. Aside from Moore, Revolori and Clemons, you've got Zoe Kravitz, Forest Whitaker, Blake Anderson and Keith Stanfield. The film also features a number of real-life rappers and music artists, namely A$AP Rocky, Chanel Iman, Vince Staples, Casey Veggies and Tyga. Quincy Brown, Sean Combs' son, is also featured in the film. 

A$AP Rocky (pictured below in Dope) is probably the most well known out of that rapper bunch -- and there's a pretty amusing story behind his role in the film, via Entertainment Weekly. Originally he was assisting his girlfriend Chanel Iman with her own audition, but decided he wanted to be a part of the movie, too, and reached out to filmmakers. This will be A$AP Rocky's big-screen debut. 

 

Don't know who A$AP Rocky is? Here's one of his more popular tracks, assisting Sam Smith on the song "I'm Not the Only One."

 

9. Is Dope destined to become a hip-hop classic?

It's definitely possible. The combination of Dope's love of old-school hip-hop mixed with its new-school sensibilities leaves you with a movie that feels both refreshing and nostalgic at the same time. Plus it's fun, hip and it has something to say, not just about our love of the past, but also about our tech-heavy obsession with the future.

Come for the Naughty by Nature songs, but stay for the nerdy bitcoin conversations. 

 

10. For this last one, can you just post more videos of Shameik Moore dancing?

Of course! Here are five of our favorites.










 

 

Dope hits theaters on June 19. Pick up your dope tickets right here.