Nicole Lynn Tucker – Actress/Acting Coach
From the time Nicole Lynn Tucker was 5 years old she said she wanted to be in her words “Inside of the television”. Being born a child prodigy she believes in honing in on one’s craft constantly. Being born with talent is one thing, but the one who honed their craft to razor sharp precision becomes the star God created them to be. At a young age she dabbled in dance where she began to come out of her shell a little when previously she was bashful and didn’t have many friends. Another talented gift she was blessed with was playing the violin for the ‘First String Ensemble”. At the peak of the crack epidemic the young Nicole and her friend Dawn were being taught how to play Jazz by their teacher Ms. Wilkerson. Their first concert was playing Ms. Anita Baker’s album ‘Rapture’ where she recalls the strings melted together in a syncopated rhythm. She believes it was that day she became a true fan of the Legend Anita Baker. In her later years she would watch Phil Donahue at her Grams house and then a young Oprah Winfrey made her debut at 4pm. slot which gave Nicole that inspiration to get into journalism and radio in College. She loved the way Oprah commanded her audience and took control of daytime television. She wanted the same for her career and more. While a junior in Temple University under the tutelage of the late great radio personality E. Steven Collins, Nicole was proud to achieve an accolade that one can only graduate with. Her radio show was called ‘Black Arts Review’ on WDAS 1480 AM dial. She’s thankful for her mentor Mr. Collins for teaching her to be Informative, creative, enterprising and most importantly to be original. When PR’s With No Ego’s asked her if the black voice in Film, TV or Theater matters she said, I would ask those who believe it doesn’t have they ever walked in the shoes of any one of the characters that I played. Being from Philly she feels with the back of the gov’t she can offer the children and their residents a safe space to express themselves freely with no interruptions. Nicole expressed that so many children who’ve faced trauma before the pandemic faced more of it during its peak need a safe haven. A place where they’re being taught how to deal with crippled emotions while being taught about positivity, noticing potentials and most importantly being taught about social and emotional improvement. Being a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. for 24 years. With her pledge being in ’98 at Temple Nicole is about to become a Silver Star Soror which is given to members of 25 years plus receiving her first jewel honor. Nicole strongly believes that Theater is the training ground for actors plus it teaches you discipline and courage. The rush of knowing that she and the audience shares the same breath while she’s performing on stages is breathtaking. Some of the plays she’s been in are ‘Purlie Victorious’, ‘Swing’, ‘7 Deadly Sins’ & ‘Three Words That Changed The World’. Some notable organizations that are near and dear to Nicole are NAACP, Black Women In Sports Foundation, S.I.S.T.A.S. & her own which is ‘Act Write’. ACT Write is a place where a shy child can learn to be expressive and outgoing. A place where positive encouragement flows plentiful & learning is done at the pace of the child. Currently Nicole is a host on a vegan cooking show called “The Green Squad”. Not being a stranger to working behind the scenes, Nicole has recently took charge of directing her own project and has been the make-up artist for 20 films. A big break that fell through was a lead role she landed playing Wendy Williams in her own biopic. She was hand-picked by Wendy herself. Shadowing Wendy for almost a year when they finally started shooting. After filming for a week the crew took a break at the same time Wendy was going through her situation. When the Icon was going off air she announced to the world that Nicole Lynn Tucker will not be playing her in the biopic. She ended the segment with saying “Sorry Little Wendy”. That being a breaking point for Nicole she chose not to give up and use it as a lesson learned but she chose the latter. Recently she landed a role as an elder sister to Omar Gooding & long time mentor and friend Nakia Dillard in “Uncle Rufus Final Request” coming out soon. Her relationship with Nakia goes back to the 9th grade. They’ve shared stages, worked in front of and behind the camera plus he’s directed her in projects and also is her boss at Aikan Acts. He offered Nicole a position as the pre-teen/teen acting coach for his school Aikan Acts. Nicole says Nakia is a gem of a man in the classroom being a consummate professional who humbly helps anyone who wants to join the arts. He gives his time and his expertise effortlessly. Lastly, when asked what advice would she give a fellow actor playing a lead role in a film she said, “Work on developing the character to be a real person and don’t act like the character but be the person the character is supposed to be”. Good advice from an actress who’s climbing steadily in our industry of Acting. Visit her Linktree and follow her on Instagram.
Warren J. Smith – Actor
A young force not to be reckoned with Warren J. Smith has been busy since PR’s With No Ego’s last spoke with him. He recently came back from Chicago working on a film called ‘When on Mars’, just finished wrapping up a play called ‘Are you marriage material?’ and filming a short film called ‘Julius’. In September he’ll also be in Tennessee to film a movie as well. He recently won a lead role in a film by Aikan Acts. When asked how does it feel being a working actor Warren said, it’s feels amazing being on camera and meeting new people. The best part is traveling to different places and becoming different characters. Recently Warren performed in front of a live audience in his first play. He was scared a little but prefers being on set in front of a camera. His first experience in a play was via Zoom because of Covid-19 restrictions. Now that his feet stepped in the industry his advice to others is to work hard, don’t give up, be patient and most importantly take acting classes. Three of his most memorable moments was off camera while traveling to a gig in Chicago he visited the home that Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5 grew up in Indiana. He used to sing and dance to all his music plus Mike is his all time favorite entertainer. Another experience was filming a horror film with Thomas Walton. Expecting to be scared while filming he found out quickly that it was actually a cool and fun experience. His last experience to date was filming a video game trailer for Beamdog’s Mythforce at Player One Studios. He enjoyed playing the video games but mostly enjoyed being shown how to work the camera by crew member Gage. Being comfortable as an actor Warren occasionally gets advice from his acting coaches Nakia & Nicole on monologues but not as much for acting. Fans of Warren’s can see him on YouTube but can enjoy seeing him on a upcoming Hallmark channel production later this year. Warren said he’s been working so much that he’s sure the other roles will be on major platforms as well. So far no roles have been a challenge for him and he Thanks Aikan Acts for that. Aikan Acts coaches challenge the students by teaching various different acting styles to sharpen their skills. The biggest stars Warrens worked with so far is Miguel Nunez and Taimak in “The Fearless 3 plus Thomas Walton, David Raines & Brian A. Wilson in “Room 9 Sequel, They Turn Us Into Killers”. Besides being an actor Warren has dreams of becoming a professional football player. When asked would he consider working behind the scenes in the future he said, he would love to be a producer and a director one day. His dream audition would be to land a leading role on a new TV show. In ten years he sees himself winning an Emmy award for a lead TV series role that he also produced. I guess you can say Warren is definitely going places. When asked what’s the first thing he’ll do for his family when he’s advanced in the industry is buy them a house. Warren would like to thank God, his parents, his sister Ciara, brother Elias for helping him with his monologues, content, auditions & overall support. He would also like to Thank his top mentor Mr. Nakia Dillard and his acting coach Ms. Nicole Lynn Tucker. PR’s With No Ego’s will continue to be a leading source for this young mans fast growing career. Follow Warren on his Instagram page for constant updates.
Aaron Christopher – Consultant/Hospitality Specialist
In the industry of hospitality there’s one managing/consultant/specialist that stands out and that’s Aaron Christopher. His niche over his competition is experience that he’s gained working in the hospitality industry for some years now. Being a master at organizing events and overseeing all operations of any hospitality structured business, he sees what doesn’t work and immediately finds a solution that will. In some cases Aaron will change the whole ambiance of a restaurant from when you first walk in until you are served your meal. Even if a chef has to be replaced he has no issues getting a new chef to fit the mold he is constructing. When the pandemic struck in 2020 Aaron was general manager/hospitality specialist with Suite 704 in Bklyn, NY where he had to switch strategies to keep the doors open and revenue coming in. He helped them make hundreds of thousands of dollars while other restaurants in the area were suffering. Learning from his mistakes early on he’s very strict on delegating tasks & trains everyone under his tutelage to his high standards and skillset. Leadership is just as important to him as learning to separate friendship and business in the workplace. He specializes in making his employees better versions of themselves. When asked what’s his secret he replied that it’s being passionate about your craft and always be ready to learn because the industry of hospitality changes everyday. Currently consulting other restaurants in NYC Aaron is working on his own project in the Brooklyn, NY area which is being kept a secret. He loves working in NYC because it’s his home but plans to branch out into the hospitality franchise industry nationwide. He wants to take his skillset around the world because he doesn’t want to be isolated in one place with one concept which can limit his consumer base. In ten years Aaron sees himself opening more restaurants and most importantly being a beacon for others who are venturing into the industry. He loves to see his clients benefit from his knowledge and skills. He gets a kick out of seeing black entrepreneurs and supports all who want to join the industry. His goal is to raise the standards of African-Americans in the hospitality industries. Aaron is slowly changing the dining experience one table at a time. He’s a strong user of social media platforms to promote his exclusive dining experiences. His dream venue to book would be MSG because of its rich history and he feels the building represents diversity & greatness. As far as booking recording artists, Jay-Z would be at the top of his list. He remembers his first profitable event which was in Brooklyn called ‘Brooklyn Nights’. He immediately noticed that organizing people for events without anyone controlling your every move was for him. Later being mentored by Atiba Stevenson of Suite 704, Aaron was pushed to his highest level & was driven to achieve his goals. When asked what can we expect from Aaron Christopher in the immediate future he said, expect some of the biggest events in Nightlife to be thrown by him, his clients will continue to be profitable from his consulting & lastly opening restaurants in NYC and the Florida area. PR’s With No Ego’s will be watching this young entrepreneur very closely on his journey to dominate the hospitality industries worldwide. Follow Aaron on Instagram
Q&A With “Big Brotha A” – Artist/Rapper/Mental Health Activist
1. When you were growing up what did you picture yourself being?
I pictured myself being a successful music recording artist and performing in music videos. Eventually I saw myself being featured in a documentary. Whatever I dreamt of doing, I pictured myself being supported by a loyal circle of friends.
2. What made you choose to become a recording artist?
It started with my love for Dancehall and Hip-Hop music. I really love the lyrical phrasing of Caribbean patois, the rhythms used in dancehall Instrumentals, and both cultures. The fusion of these genres really influenced me to become a recording artist- so much so, that I studied patois and used the vocabulary in my songs with a Hip Hop and Reggae vibe which became my signature sound.
3. What is your favorite fusion with Hip Hop & why?
Hip hop and Dancehall fusion hands downs. The hip hop beats paired with dancehall instrumentals complement each other. This is what I was used to hearing back in the day. Greensleeves Rhythm Album Series Various Artists, John Shop Records- they were known for fusing hip hop and reggae music. This style of music became popular in music stores like Jam City Music in Bronx, New York.
4. Who inspired you to be a rapper?
Music programs like RockersTV with Rootsman Earl Chin, Video Music Box with video VJ Ralph McDaniels, and Earl Moodie from Moodie Records inspired me. They featured so many talented recording artists like Popcaan, Busy Signal, Cecile, Wayne Wonder, EPMD, Mary J. Blige, Redman, Method Man, Mona Lisa, Lil Mama, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Capleton, Luciano, Yami Bolo, to name a few. That’s what I wanted to do.
5. When did you first record at a professional recording studio?
I started recording my music in 1998 in Millwood, New York at Buddy Boy Studios with my producer, Jerry Wagreich. Later on in the early 2000’s I started working with Ghetto Beethoven AKA Shakezdaghetto with production and recording.
6. Did your family approve of you being a recording artist?
Thankfully my entire family supported me and my career as a recording artist.
7. Which big artists would you like to collaborate with- male or female?
Ms. Raindrop, Jaheim, Tiana, Cecile, and Popcaan are artists I would like to work with. I would go on
tour with Cecile, Tiana, and Miss Raindrop. I like their personality, their talent, and their music.
8. Have you ever done a major show or venue?
I performed a cover song from Jah Cure “What Will It Take” at SUNY WCC Jamaica Club. Steven Nardozi
and Ordained ran the club for a while.
9. What advice would you give another artist trying to get into the music industry?
Try to budget as best as possible when starting out and make time for yourself and your creativity.
10. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I want to settle down with a lovely Caribbean woman, get married and have a family to love and support. Also, I would like to work with organizations that address mental health issues, which is a major concern in our community.
Big Brotha A would like to thank his family for their constant support and PR’s With No Ego’s for showcasing him in this press release! Follow him on Instagram.
As usual this play was put together by PR’s With No Ego’s & Aikan Acts. This article is dedicated to my mother Natasha Jemmott & my grandmother Erna Jemmott who celebrate birthdays this month. May they both continue to rest in peace!
