By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune and other outlets
August 8, 2023
For viewers wondering whether Daniel Augustin’s “Rap Sh!t” character will show any growth in the second season of the HBO Max series, the actor himself offered his opinion in an interview conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. No. “Maurice steady-stays on some sh*t, so you can come into [any] season [and] he’s going to stir the pot. When I first booked this role in 2021, I didn’t expect to do any of the things I got going on season two.”
Based out of Los Angeles, the actor stays in touch with fans on Instagram and Twitter.
Q: Do you feel like you can travel like you did pre-pandemic?
A: No. Things might be better now with the heightened safety precautions. A majority of travelers take things more seriously than ever before. Whether it’s someone wearing a mask, or people practicing social-distancing, traveling feels safer.
Q: Of all the characters you’ve portrayed, which fictional character would make a great traveling companion and, conversely, who do you think would be a nightmare?
A: Ian from “How I Met Your Father.” He’d help me get in the water on some real scuba sh*t. I’m willing to go somewhere I’ve never been, but sometimes being there can be enough for me. Maurice might have me in an illegal situation and I’m getting too grown for that kind of trouble. Maurice is more the kind of guy who used to be the homie, but now we need some boundaries, so we definitely can’t take a trip together!
Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: I went to Haiti with my parents. It was a fantastic experience traveling with my family like that and getting to know my parents in a way that I’d have to watch their biopic in hopes of learning. My parents took me to where they grew up. If they hadn’t done that, I would be less of who I am today. Haiti was always beautiful, mysterious and constantly undiscovered. There’s always another part of town I have yet to see or a different kind of beach where the type of sand you’ll see there is different, or a city where the slang is different. Some games were created because of a lack of entertainment and sometimes that’s the best way to get outside the box. Culturally speaking, everyone you see makes you look twice. I remember seeing people walk with baskets on their heads to distribute the weight they had to carry from town to town and drop buckets into a well to retrieve water.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: Pack light, and say yes often.
Q: As a visible minority, are there some places you’re wary of visiting?
A: Everywhere is dangerous. I’m trying my best not to see the danger as much as I know my reason for wanting to be there. I respect fear. It’s essential, but I can’t let it rule my life.
Q: Where are some places you had planned to visit this year?
A: Hawaii for my birthday, New Orleans for the Essence Fest, Vegas to catch Usher during his residency and I’m hoping to see one of my favorite jazz musicians – Michael Franks – on tour in San Diego, too.
Q: Do you speak any foreign languages?
A: I speak Haitian Creole. I must’ve picked that up while I was a child so it was easy. But as an adult, picking up another language isn’t easy. It’s easy in a sense, because I know I can find resources and if I have a script, I can rehearse it and get it to sound or feel like I picked it up quickly. But without a script or an audible app in my ear, it feels pretty sobering to see how fast I feel speechless.
Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A: L.A. reminds me of Haiti.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: London.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: Heating pad, a budget, chargers, a laptop, a book, Wi-Fi [or] personal hot-spot, toiletries and headphones you don’t need to charge.
Q: What would be your dream trip?
A: Flying one of those seaplanes to an island like the Bahamas or chartering a private plane.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A: Travel-size liquor bottles.
Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A: Is it all-inclusive? Do they have a spa? Do they have room service? Are they 24 hours? What’s the menu look like? Do they have good customer service? What restaurants are nearby? What’s the Door Dash service like? Can the Dashers come to my room, or do they need me to meet them downstairs?
Q: What is your best vacation memory?
A: My best vacation memory was these legendary beef patties I ate on a yacht in Jamaica. Since then, no beef patty I’ve had in the United States has been up to standard. None.
© 2023 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
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