Rhyon Nicole Brown has been a major trailblazer in the entertainment industry, working vigorously to follow her dreams through acting, directing and singing. Brown ever so humbly shared with us at Urban her rewarding journey, which has led to her sought after role on hit show Empire and the upcoming release of her independent project Pretty Girl.
You’re twenty-five and most people in their twenties are just trying to get a grip on life. How do you manage to get through the growth of your twenties while also progressing in the entertainment industry?
Being that I’m still in my 20’s, I’m still going through that growth phase, but one thing that I’ve learned is to recognize that I’m always changing. The more you embrace that, the more open you are to not fight the growth, but to instead move with it. I’ve had a really great support system when it comes to family, friends, and even mentors. A big part of my growth in my 20’s has been community space.
You take on so much in the industry, so when have moments that are hectic what feels like home to you?
Honestly, my family. I also know, this is going to sound weird, but “hectic” is kind of home to me. I do a lot better when I have a lot on my plate. I don’t take it lightly that I have the opportunity to wake up and do what I love every single day. Being that I do have that opportunity and ability, the more grateful I am that there are things coming my way, doors being opened.
You attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts. How did your education equip you to be in your field?
So, growing up I was on a show called Lincoln Heights for the duration of the time we were on air and I had some really, really great mentors.They inspired me to get behind the camera and I promised my parents I would get my degree. I knew I wasn’t going to spend $250,000 on an education in theater because I had done that my entire life, so I took [USC School of Cinematic Arts] as my time to study everything behind the camera. Phenomenal school to go to. To be at an institution where I could actually put my hands on a camera and sit in classrooms where people wanted to see scripts written by me, really made me confident to go out and sit in front of people and give them my ideas! I had time in class to pitch my ideas and see on screen what worked and didn’t work. Outside of the classroom, I kind of lost myself a little bit. I found out I wasn’t who I thought I was and I had to find myself again. School helped me to have to a lot of personal growth and equipped me to have those meetings with [experienced industry professionals].
That leads to the next question. You’ve had the privilege of working with some notable people. Who has impacted you the most and why?
Oh! That’s a really good question! I have worked with a lot of really incredible people: Viola Davis, Russell Hornsby, recently Gary Oldman, but I’d have to say the one who has impacted me the most… Russell Hornsby. Probably because he’s the person I spent the most time around out of all of those people. Growing up with him as a father figure on [Lincoln Heights] for me, it couldn’t have been a better guy to be like a second dad! He has always been incredibly supportive, no matter how huge his career gets. He is the most humble person you’d ever want to meet and he really stressed to me how important it is to study my craft. He once wrote in a book he gave me a Mos Def quote, “It’s all about your future, yet it’s more about your past.” What that opened up to me, I think so many of us are focused on our future that we forget that what decisions we make now are what create that future. I would say, Russell Hornsby has been just a phenomenal light in my life, someone if I need to pick up the phone and call he’d be there!
You first appeared on the fourth season of Empire as Maya. What was it like switching from a one-time role to a recurring role on such a big hit series?
It was incredible for me! Most of my storyline was with Taraji and to be in so many emotionally intimate scenes with some who is a trailblazer not just for Black actresses but women in general in this industry was an incredible experience. I haven’t been able to experience much of the other cast, because literally all my scenes are with Taraji. But, it was awesome! She comes on scene ready to work and what she brings to the scene is not something that can be taught. [It is] only something you can feel. It has really been a dream come true! To be a regular this season I’m really ready to see how everything unfolds this season, not just with Taraji but also Terrence, Jesse, and the rest of the cast.
Besides Empire, you have an EP coming out called Pretty Girl. What has that process looked like among the other things that you do?
That has been quite the process. My goal has been to stay independent while I was doing it and thus far I have been able to do that. But my team on that side is very, very small. It’s really been us in rooms. Whether it’s been the studio, a restaurant, or somebody’s home,[we’ve been] planning step by step how we’re going to do things on a scale [that equates] to people who have financial support from major labels. It’s been interesting because when I’m acting it’s someone else’s story, but when it’s music it’s my story, my perspective, my truth and vulnerabilities that I’m just welcoming people to. I think the way it’s going to affect people and culture and women in the way they view themselves by society will be positive. That’s what I’m hoping for.
The people who have seen and heard the albums and [its visuals] have really been inspired up until this point. Actually not to long ago I was at a friend’s Cinco de Mayo party and I hear “Rhyon, Rhyon!” I turn around and it’s Kelly Rowland and she looks at me and she was like, “I just want to let you know [your producer, Harmony] showed me the visual you did to your album and oh my God!” She puts her arm out and was like, “I literally have goosebumps just talking about it! The platform you have is necessary… don’t stop!” For someone like Kelly Rowland to make her way to acknowledge me for my work and effort, it was a showcase for me that you can really do anything you put your mind to. It’s been quite the experience!
What is something else you want to teach to the outside world in an ever-changing entertainment industry?
It’s really that! There’s nothing too small for God! There’s nothing impossible and a big part of that is just believing you can do it! We don’t give ourselves credit and I think we are magic. There’s so many things that have happened to me in the past year… I spoke [them].
Your drive and kindred ways have not gone unnoticed. You were honored as McDonald’s “Rising Star” at this year’s Trumpet Awards. What was it like receiving that award?
It was incredible to know that there are other people are seeing what you’re doing. Sometimes when you have all these goals, you feel like you go a little unnoticed. You get these feelings like, “Man, I’m working so hard…” But then you feel like you’re kind of not acknowledged. So, to have an opportunity and moment like that where not only was I acknowledged but I was awarded something for my hard work was incredible!
Not to mention Angie Stone presented my award and she’s somebody who I held [as a mother figure]. I really kind of felt like the bell of the ball there. Just to be recognized is something I don’t take lightly.
Well thank you so much for talking with us at Urban, but before you go what can we expect next from Rhyon?
No, thank you! Well, the Empire season starts September 26. My Pretty Girl album will be out the month after. I did a film with Gary Oldman, Jessica Alba and Tommy Flanagan that I’m really proud of. I was the lead of the film called Killers Anonymous and it’ll be out next year.
By Sciler Williams
