Markuann Smith is the Producer, Creator, and Actor of hit TV Show Godfather of Harlem, an American crime drama television series starring Forest Whitaker as the 1960s New York City Gangster Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson. You have probably heard of Bumpy in the movie American Gangster. Bumpy was a close associate to Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington) and took over after Lucas had past. Did I mention that this is all based on his Godmother’s life? Crazy! As a man that grew up in Harlem, then Far Rock Queens, Markuann has seen and experienced quite a lot in his lifetime. However, he has taken these experiences and allowed them to power his creative mind as he built a career in the Media & Entertainment industry. Check out his accomplishments: 

• Attended Morgan State where he received a BA in Broadcasting and Communications

• Played a love interest in VH1's Let's Talk About Pep

• Worked in Marketing/Content across various companies including BET

• Has made appearances across shows and movies such as The Dave Chappelle Show, Juice, Poetic Justice, Code Blue and more.

• Godfather of Harlem won 2 NAACP Awards for Outstanding Drama Series (2020 & 2022)

• Godfather of Harlem won an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design (2020)

• Godfather of Harlem was recognized by the PeachTree International Film Festival for being “Generational Barrier Breaker”

In this interview, Markuann Smith walks us through his lengthy career in the Media & Entertainment industry. 

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Stay in touch with Markuann Smith:

Imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2745203/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markuann-smith-03b7544/

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Stay in touch with Jerlisa "Juju" Fontaine:

Instagram: @jujufontaine_

Twitter: @jujufontaine_

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerlisafontaine/

Contact: [email protected]

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Stay in Touch with HueCapitalPod:

Instagram: @huecapitalpod

Twitter: @huecapitalpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hue-capital-podcast/

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa69jtxXFFFRa2C1iiDr22Q

Site (Coming Soon): https://huecapitalpod.com/

Email: [email protected]

(0:00) Introduction

(8:02) Knowing your passion

(13:38) Lincoln Hall

(16:00) Life after touring with a Music Artist

(18:50) Skills you possess that have motivated you

(20:19) Being signed to Whitney Houston's Label

(22:02) Responsibilities as a Corporate Professional

(27:16) Transitioning into the Acting World

(28:45) Necessary traits to be great

(30:38) Pitching Godfather of Harlem

(42:17) Godfather of Harlem gets the Greenlight

(45:23) Responsibilities of an Executive Producer

(48:51) Diversity of roles and individuals on set (day to day)

(51:02) Advice for Creatives

(52:39) What does the future of Media & Entertainment look like?