Interviewed/Written By: Jason Taylor
When it comes to having fame and fortune but continuing to be humble every step of the way, there is one person that embodies that image — Sam Sarpong. He has been in countless movies, graced the pages of many fashion and entertainment magazines and has strutted on several catwalks for some of the fashion world’s biggest designers. Nevertheless, he has this composure as if it’s just another day. Sam Sarpong is an all around entertainer and he hopes to be a legend when it’s all said and done. He just recently became the new face for Jean Phillipe’s Mens line and Gsus Syndustries denim line for the Summer of 2011. This is one man that won’t stop even when the wheels fall off. He will be that man that is carrying the wheels in his hand walking to accomplish his next goal.
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–Los Angeles, Ca
The Soul Magazine: A lot of people don’t realize how big you really are. How does it feel that you have done so much for so many years but are still unknown to a lot of people?
Sam Sarpong: I’ll tell you like this. People recognize me everyday but they don’t know where it’s from. So some people will know me from “Yo Momma” and someone else will know me for being a Hilfiger model. Someone will know me for the movies that I’ve done. So what I’ve done now – I just signed with a company and I want you really plug them. It’s called Supastar Marketing. They have taught me how to bring my four worlds and make it one. Everything that has to do with Sam and making Sam Sarpong a brand, is through Supastar Marketing. Six months from now, all those people who didn’t know me – they’re going to know me. I think that’s what I was missing. For example, my modeling fans didn’t know I did movies. My hosting fans didn’t even know I did music. Now I’m connecting all four worlds through facebook, through my website, through everything.
Sam Sarpong
TSM: Which do you enjoy more? Modeling, acting, being an artist or being a host?
Sam: Out of everything that I do, hosting is what I love the most. I’m a people person. The thing that makes me a good host is I can make anybody feel comfortable and I’m real. When you real, you can get answers to questions out of people that would never come up. That’s why I would say hosting is what I enjoy the most.
TSM: What advice do you have for anybody aspiring to be a model, actor, artist or host?
Sam: I would just say be yourself. Always, always, always, always be yourself and most of all never, never, never, never give up. That’s the key. That’s the key to it right there. There’s going to be more dark times than good times.
TSM: We all know a lot about that [laughs]
Sam: I know a lot about that too [laughs]. We are on the same page.
TSM: It’s easy to see you aren’t the typical entertainer. So what makes you different from others who have let the fame overwhelm them?
Sam: I think what makes me different is that 1. I’m very grounded, I’m a chill cat. Modeling, acting and all that — that’s my job. I think most entertainers get caught up in the hype so they’re not able to separate the two. Sam Sarpong is your average cat. I’m the cat that goes to target, I’m the cat that wants to watch basketball but when I’m in that supermodel mode and I’m doing something like Versace — that’s my job. It’s a persona. Once I step away from that, I’m Sam Sarpong. Like I said, most people don’t know how to separate the two. People get caught up and I’m like “be real”. My biggest compliment is that all my old friends who see me they’re like “Dawg you ain’t changed one bit”. Even with people who hit me on facebook that I went to elementary with. I’ll be like “what up man? Remember when so and so”. It’s almost like they don’t know how to approach you because they see you doing all this big stuff. They think that you’re going to be different. I’m still the same cat.
TSM: That’s good. So what motivates you to keep pushing forward through the trials and tribulations you have faced throughout your career?
Sam: What motivates me is I want to be the best. By the time I die, I want to be a legend. It ain’t no joke to me. I want to leave my mark to where they’re like “Sam Sarpong was such a great all around entertainer.” So what motivates me is being the best. I don’t sleep. I sleep about 3 or 4 hours a night. While someone else is sleeping, I’m getting better.
TSM: I know this is a crazy questions but do you feel satisfied with where you are in your career?
Behind the scenes image from the Gsus Sindustries shoot/Photo by: EGlamour Photography
Sam: No. I have a long way to go. I want to improve a lot as an actor, that’s why I take classes. I work with my acting coach often. I just want to reach my full potential. We can only be the best that we can be but I know I have a lot of potential and I’m trying to reach that.
TSM: Now you have been on more runways than airplanes during the holidays. You are the first African American model to be on a Louis Vuitton runway and have been in many fashion magazines. How does it feel to be recognized as such an influential African American figure in the fashion world?
Sam: Well for me it’s actually an honor. I’ve been in the game for a long time and I’ve been blessed to be able to do some of the biggest campaigns out there. I also give a big shout out to Tyson Beckford because when I got in the game, he was my mentor. He took me aside and really told me like “This is how the game runs and most of the time you gon be the only black dude but just prepare for it.” The knowledge he gave me, I’m now passing on to other cats. I think it’s just about brothers just helping each other out. It’s only a few of us out there that are really getting to work.
TSM: We’re glad you are doing that because it’s always great to give back. A lot of people nowadays wish they had a mentor like you did.
Sam: No doubt
TSM: You have your own fashion line “Future Stars”, how will you implement what you have learned over the years to make your own line successful?
Sam: Marketing, knowing my demographic and knowing who to target. Our stuff is cool, hip — funky. The marketing is the main thing. I learned a lot from Tommy Hilfiger and I learned a lot from Ed Hardy. Christian is a good friend of mine, I’ve know him for years and watching how him and Tommy run their business has really helped me with Future Stars.
"L.A.'s Hottest In Fashion" Sam Sarpong's Summer Campaign Launch Party with Gsus Sindustries
TSM: The red carpet launch party coming up June 24th to help celebrate your collaboration with Gsus Sindustries is both a success on your part and the fashion world. How do you feel being the new face for Gsus Sindustries and Jean Phillipe?
Sam: Gsus and Jean Phillipe are two great lines. Jean Phillipe is more high fashion, couture and Gsus is denim. I’ve been rocking Gsus for 3 years, doing all their shows for L’Oreal Fashion Week. So it’s time for them to step it up and they made me the new face for the summer.
Quotes by Director of Operations -Everton :
“Sam fits our brand because of his free spirit and attitude”-“Sam encompass all three of our philosophies: Fashion, art and music. Because he is fashion forward, represents a fresh sound and art because he encompasses the film industry”“Gsus is a brand that never focuses on celebrity.We only work with people that actually love the brand and Sam has been wearing the brand in his films, on tour, television, appearances and has participated in our runway shows the past three years. That’s why he is the spokesperson.”Fact:The brand will launch in the United States and in the Caribbean in Spring of 2012
(Photo above: Gsus Sindustries Runway image – 2010 Loreal Fashion Week)
TSM: What can we expect to see at the launch party?
Sam: Just a good time. We are going to show the summer campaign, there’s going to be a lot of celebrities, a lot of press. We’re calling it “L.A.’s Hottest in Fashion.” So anyone that’s a model, stylist or photographer and they hot in L.A., they going to be at my party. “L.A.’s Hottest in Fashion” that’s the title.
TSM: Who will be in the house that night?
Sam: I got one surprise guest that I’m coming with. Kim Lee, star of “The Hangover 2” ; she’’ll be there, my boy Keith Robinson, who was in “Dreamgirls.” Meagan Tandy who was in Denzel’s movie “Unstoppable”, she played his daughter and she’s the former Miss California. Vanessa Evigen, very talented and young white actress. Xzibit is supposed to roll through. Yea we got some people coming through that night. It’s going to be packed.
TSM: With your fashion projects blooming, how do you find time to incorporate your music into your busy fashion
schedule?
Sam: Music is what I started with, I was doing music before anything that I’m doing now. So music is my passion, I do it for fun. My group “The League” has been huge in Asia for 10 years, touring and doing shows out there. I’m in the lab right now finishing my album. It’s called “Muzik of Tha Future” and the first single is “Fire” which is blowing up right now on the radio. We’ve been pushing that heavy.
- (Picture above: Behind the scene image from the Gsus Sindustries shoot/Photo by: EGlamour Photography)
TSM: At what age did you realize you wanted to pursue music?
Sam: 11. I grew up on LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane – classics! I’m real Hip Hop. De La Soul, Das Efx.
TSM: Tupac’s birthday just recently passed. What are your memories of him?
Sam: I was in a video with Pac. I’m in “California Love”, the one with Roger Troutman – the house party one though not the 5th element looking one. I was right next to Pac the whole video. I got to meet him, I got pictures with him. I got a bunch of pictures with Pac.
TSM: So how did It feel to be on set with Tupac?
Sam: It was cool man. Pac was amazing; he was a real cool dude. We spent the whole day just rapping it up, chopping it up on set. I’ll never forget that day.
TSM: Tell me about your single “Fire”
Sam: Fire is dance, electro and pop. It’s fun and it’s about that dream girl. Cool girl, down to earth, family – my shorty is on fire.
TSM: How does it feel to have a European tour coming up? You know some artists don’t even get the chance to tour a city block.
Sam: [laughs] I’m about to head out to London and Paris and a few places out there. All of August, I’ll be gone promoting my music. I’m coming out to Europe with Deane Boy and The Fashionaires. Deane Boy and The Fashionaires are a company in London that hosts different fashion shows. They are having me perform on a fashion tour so at every club there will be the top London fashion designers and at the end, I perform my single. It’s going to be a real nice tour. It’s called “The Muzik of Tha Future Tour.”
TSM: Taking on so many roles, do you find it difficult to transition from modeling to music, hosting and acting?
Sam: When I get into something I go into that zone. So right now this summer, I’m touring and I’m shooting three movies. I have the movie “Anchor Baby” that’s blowing up at all the festivals. We just screened at Cannes, it’s the LA premiere at the HBO at the New York Film Festival, July 22nd. Then I’m doing a movie right now that I just started filming called “No Weapon Formed Against Us.” That’s with Tiny Lister [a.k.a. Debo from Friday]. Tiny plays my dad. The movie is a family story. My dad’s a pastor, my wife dies of a drug overdose, I have a little daughter and I play a cop. So I leave the city we live in to go back to LA where my family is so they can help me raise my daughter and deal with the racism in the police department. It’s a deep movie. Then I’m doing “Lives of the Saints” with 50 Cent, Meg Ryan, Anthony Anderson and then I’m doing a movie called “Trigger” this summer and I co-star in that. Then I’m doing my own movie called “Love at First Sight,” which is an interracial love story. That’s four flicks right there [holds up hand with 4 fingers]. I’m grinding dude.
TSM: That’s crazy, you really are. By the way, congratulations to you, the cast and crew of “Anchor Baby” for winning best film at the 2010 Harlem International Film Festival and being featured in the New York Film Festival. Tell me about your experience filming ‘Anchor Baby’
Sam: It was great. I worked with a great director, Lonzo Nzekwe. First time director but he was amazing. Also Omoni Oboli, the girl from Nigeria that plays my wife. She’s one of the best actresses I’ve ever worked with. She’s already won three awards for best actress. Yea she’s dope.
TSM: So how did it feel to play a Nigerian character?
Sam: Man let me tell you something. I put in work. I gained 20 lbs. for the role, I hired a dialect coach, I grew my hair out and I grew a beard. The first thing the director said to me before he gave me the role was, “when you come on that screen, I don’t want anyone to know that’s Sam Sarpong. I don’t want them to think of that runway cat.” I look like an old man in this movie. You wouldn’t even recognize me and I killed it. In December, I did a Nigerian tour. I went to Nigeria for three weeks and we did a whole mall tour where we did 25 malls. We would surprise the fans after the screening. Omoni and I would just pop up and the everybody would go crazy. That was a great experience — being in Nigeria.
TSM: That’s dope. You have truly been grinding since Day 1
Sam: Yup I’ve been on a mission. I’ve been really busy, Thank God.
- (Photo to the right: Behind the scenes image from the Gsus Sindustries shoot/Photo by: EGlamour Photography)
TSM: I can see that God has truly blessed you
Sam: Let me tell you something, all this – I’m nothing without God. That’s how I work. I keep God first. I’m on my knees everyday. Also, I’ve had so many down times when nothing was crackin’. So you really appreciate it when something is crackin’ because you know it could be the other way. I know that feeling when stuff ain’t happening. Nobody calling your phone.
TSM: That’s apart of the journey. So if you could work with any actor, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Sam: I would want to work with Denzel. I love Denzel because of his range and because he’s intense. Laurence Fisbourne is dope. Lou Gossett. I actually know Lou. I would really love to work with Lou Gossett because he’s a legend. He’s a great person. We have the same publicist in Canada and I do a lot of charity events with Lou but I would love to do a movie with him.
TSM: What’s next for Sam Sarpong? What can we expect to see from you in the future?
Sam: what’s next for me is my reality show blowing up. It’s called “Life of an Entertainer”. “Life of an Entertainer” is a ten year documentary that I’ve been shooting. What’s next for me is that blowing up. That will be out sometime next year. Then I want this music – this album. I really want my album to do great. If I had one wish from God, I would ask that this album to just blow. Where everybody hears “Fire,” everybody hears “Model Man.” I just want my stuff to really blow because if you blow as an artist, you can get any movie role. You can get any hosting job. You look at Ludacris, you look at T.I.; these dudes are getting jobs left and right because of their music not because they’re the best actors. So with me, I’m actually trained. I’ve been doing this so imagine if my music took off, how many opportunities I would get. It would be a wrap. That would be my greatest wish.
- (Photo above: Gsus Designer,Ursula with Director of operations, Everton and the owner of Gsus Sindustries, Jan.)
TSM: I can see that everything is coming full circle for you. That’s definitely a blessing. You are doing your thang and you are successful at it. It’s a testament to how much God has blessed you thus far. Well I’m glad that you were able to sit down with us and talk to us.
Sam: No doubt. I appreciate you guys doing the story. Like I always say, every article you do or every time you do a TV interview, that’s that many people who didn’t know who Sam Sarpong was. That’s how I look at it.
TSM: The same goes for us as well
Sam: See the thing is this, especially now that my name is buzzing, if you google me and The Soul Magazine pops up, you going tso be like “Oh what’s this?” as you are reading my other interviews. That way we both help each other.
TSM: We appreciate that because a lot of people nowadays won’t even take the time to sit down with us
Sam: That’s crazy to me. Plus the thing about me is I’ve been in the biggest magazines in the world and I’ve also been in the smallest. So to me, I treat them all the same. I would give you the same love as if People Magazine were doing this interview. It’s no different to me. It’s like a big budget movie or a low budget movie, go to work and do the best job you can for that role. Don’t think cause it’s independent, I’m going to slack off cause if you have that strong mentality all the time and you treat it all the same, you’ll always find work. A lot of entertainers don’t look at it that way. They look at things like it’s either small or big. Like they say, there’s no small parts. You can have two scenes in a movie but if you KILL it, cats would be like “oh remember that dude who robbed that liquor store? Oh yeah that dude was funny” Just two scenes, he could have had one but you remember what that cat did. That’s how I approach life. Everything I put my mark on, I try to kill it
Photo above: Sam Sarpong and The Soul Magazine: June 16, 2011/Photo by: Black Definition Photography [Jason Taylor]
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