Episode 222 "Serayah"

the building. Man. We got the actress, singer, songwritererver Man. Surrea has been in like called classics. I'm gonna just say like from Empire, to be a math, to Woo Tang saga continue like cowboy, y'all. We got sa in the building and I appreciate the intro. Welcome to show. I'm good, how y'all doing? Were good though, But it's about you. It's all about you a matter of fact, Can you take us back? You know we met you

in twenty fifteen. I'm not sure if that's where you exactly started, but we met you on Empire twenty fifteen. Like and that was a time like an error, like when people was doing watch parties, like everybody was locked in the empire and we got to meet you and you would sing it dancing. You know. Sometimes people think like, you know, you just do that for the role, but you are actually doing music you know and everything. So can you take us back to that time, Like how

did you get into acting? Is that's something that you always wanted to do? Yeah? Performing in general, it's always been a passion of mine and my mom put me in dance at four, and I started writing music at like around ten. Um, and it's it's always been a super passion of mine. And I remember being um, I think five or six years old. Uh went I went to a Destiny's Child concert and I was just like, yep,

that's what I'm gonna do. Not even it was like I'm a survivor vibes and yeah and so um that was like the pivotal moment for me as far as I can remember. Um. And then ever since then, it's just been you know, a grind, a NonStop you know grind, just just always involved in it. In school, yeah, outside of school, um, but specifically in twenty fifteen, I had just graduated high school WOU a year before, and and that was my first opportunity at like a television or

being on TV. UM and so theatrically it was it was just different. It was it was a great opportunity. And because I've done modeling and and things like that before commercials, but not anything film and TV. So Empire was definitely my segue into the world I'm in. Now, how did you get that opportunity? My friend Dejean so Dejean Butler, I'm gonna just put that out there. That's my that's oh my gosh, that's family at this point. But so he gave me the tip off of like,

there's an audition. I know that you're sing, you dance this this this character has to sing and dance um, and they're looking for this role. See. So his mom is Leah Daniels, who is Lee Daniel's sister. She's a casting director. So he um, it was in the family, and he was kind of like, I'm about to put my friend on yeah, and so um, she liked my look and then I had to audition a couple of times and you know, it made its way through her.

It made it to Lee Daniels. Then I had to audition for Fox again, and and then I was shipped off to Chicago foming Empire. So yeah, it was. It was really crazy though, because you know, when I knew when I got the audition for the show, it didn't exist. Yeah, so so it was definitely a whirlwind. I didn't expect. How did your life change in that time? So much? Girl, so much like three sixty. I mean I grew up. I grew up struggling and just kind of like you know,

it wasn't easy childhood. I moved a lot. I have friends all over the country. Where did you start? And then, um, so, originally I'm from southern California, moved to La the Valley area. Then I moved here actually, and my dad lives in Seattle. As I live with my dad. I moved a lot as a kid, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot. So so it was that. And so when when Empire came, I was working, I was going to college and I was working at H and M and uh I had

what college were you at? Community college? And colleagues? Um, and and uh I was It's called Pierce Piers call it by the way. She didn't have a good time there. No, no, no, yeah, no, what I didn't want to. I didn't want to. I knew what I wanted to do, so um uh yeah, I was doing that working at Each and Them and I had just booked um a modeling agent CESD, so I was doing that on the side. Um and then yeah, once I got that call, I was like, you was like,

that was your first song acting? Um no, but pretty much yeah, pretty much on TV. I was very green for your breakout though, for Empire to be your breakout, like you did a thing like you was performing, like like when you and the Ryan Densities of the world, you know, y'all can like really put on and perform. When it came on, I'm like, damn, you got everybody locked in and y'all had the songs that like Lee Daniel should definitely have like a talent agency because drip

dropping all that stuff that y'all was. She didn't want to go back. I love H and M, but listen, working there is very different. Um. But No, you're right though, because Lee has a special eye for raw talent um and that's something that he I mean, it's proven over and over. So I'm very you know, grateful to you. I've been a part of that process. And other other you know, new or green artists were a part of the show as well. So it was this whole fresh

face type of thing. Um and and yeah, so performing is, like I said, my thing. But Tianna didn't start off as as that. She was actually supposed to be more of a Lauren Hill Aliyah type. Yeah that was that was the original character role and power. Why did it

evolve change? So? I um, they had they had a choreographer, but once again, it wasn't involved as she was this big performer, so it wasn't a big thing until I took it upon myself to make up my own dance for Keeping Moving, which was one of the first songs on the show. And once they saw me perform, and some of those moves I made up I choreographed. Once they saw me perform, the whole trajectory of Tianna changed. They're like, Okay, nope, she's not Elia, She's not this

no more. We want Hakim and Tiana to be jay Z and Beyonce. So it just it changed. And then ever since then, it was like Jamaica Craft, who was an amazing choreographer came in and she I was like in Jamaica's boot Camp. Okay, I got my whole entire life with her. Don't touch my body was like I can't move, but yeah, so that's how it evolved. You steal friends with any of the cast members from Empower, I am, I am. I'm friends with a lot of them.

I mean, we're all moving and working, so I tried my best to stay tapped in as much as I can. Speaking of friends. And around that time too, Taylor Swift, you was like in the Click like you was really popping, Like I mean you steal popping, but just starting was just like you just took off. I'm trying to tell you. Like that time in my life, it was like left and right, like I couldn't even Yeah, I couldn't really grasp what was really happening because everything happened so fast.

So yeah, when I got the call to be in her video, I was like this cannot be real. Yeah I was Taylor Swift. She's great, She's a very she's a girly girl. She's a girl's girl. I can think that um, and she takes pride in and having girlfriends and and women empowerment and all that type of stuff. So it was great being around those ladies because once again, like we're relatively here group, you know, but um, there are people I looked up to, like Taylor Swift, like

she's a songwriter. I was just kind of sitting sitting back like just you know, experiencing it at all. And I was nineteen, so rushed out of high school, rush of Taylor Swift. You're a cool kid man. Mentally, how was that for you? Because you know everything's going so fast for you at that particular moment, you're nineteen. I

know that's a lot to take in mentally. Yeah, I'm glad you asked, because, like with something like that drastically changing, um, you know, your whole entire like mindset is just like being challenged. And I'm fine. You know, friendships are changing, families changing, dynamics are changing, and now like you know, me finding out like once you get on TV, people look at you differently. You don't. I haven't changed, you know, I'm the same price asking for money. Yeah, in your pocket,

you got a million dollars tell you. I just want to say I've seen something that Taji put out there, and I love that she did this, because this is this is real life. When you are a guests are on the show, you're getting paid. Maybe I don't know what the running rate is anymore, but what I got paid was about maybe you know, eight or five in the episode five thousand episode. But then once you get your check, it's half of that. So and then I'm not in every episode. I'm only paid in the episodes

i'm on. People forget about taxes, okay, and so you know, just because you make it on TV, I'm I'm still, I'm still. I was doing bookings every weekend the first couple of seasons of Empire because I wasn't a regular, so I couldn't count on being in every episode. Therefore my money, right, rent, I gotta live. So I was I was flying, gotta look good, going to these events, makeup, wardrobe,

you know this. And so it's like, you know, I was doing a lot of club appearances for real, Like it was great the exposure, but I needed the money. So so you know what I mean, It's just it's what you said. Once you get on TV, people automatically like, oh, you're rich. Not the case, psych I'm arriving. I haven't arrived,

but I'm arriving. Asking with Michael B. Jordan. He just did an interview a million dollars worth the game and he was like, you know, they was they was talking to him about man, do you feel like you made it? And he was like, I finally feel like that I made And I'm thirty six and I've been acting for you know, fifteen years, and he I finally feel like I've made it with this Creed movie. I feel like I have arrived. So yeah, that says a lot about

this business. People just automatically think, you know, because you're on TV, you're making all this money and stuff like that, and that you could just take care of your whole family. Yeah, instantly, right, that's crazy question. So you're nineteen, This is changing, and mental is evolving, and relationships are changing. Are you in a relationship? Are you single at this particular time. We'll be right back with more of The Baller Alert Show.

You're listening to a special edition of The Baller Alert Show. What's up? It's Sireya and you're listening to the Baller Alert sh The question I'm trying to ask is everything is changing? What about your relationship status? What about if you are seeing someone, did that change? You know? I'm Sorea. You know everybody knows Srea, but now I'm sorry. On TV it's different, right, it gets a little, it just changes, you know. And in guys sometimes they feel a little

the ego be threatened. You're surrounded by celebrities, money and access, right, so now they may feel a way, you know, And so I've dealt with all of that. I mean, it's it's definitely a thing. But um, I was I did date. No one just didn't. No one knew. Okay, I'm very I'm a private person. You know. Even in my last situation, we were together for a year before we went public. So yeah, that's it's how did that even happen? How last situation did you go where you got somewhere together

or how did that even? How did y'all get together? You and Jacob? When did we meet? Yeah? Like, how did you guys connect? Like the point where you decided to be together? Oh? Okay, okay, So well, both of our shows shoot in Chicago, and I think there was just a specific summer where the Shy and some of the casts from Empire we all know each other. We shoot down the street from each other, by the way, on the studio film a lot. So we were just all hanging out for a summer, and it just kind

of happened that way. The friendship built into more. So you y'all were there on the summer. Was it a break or y'all were shooting? And then well empire always started right after fourth of July. Okay, so we were we were there shooting during the summer. Yeah, okay, y'all got bored and then he was like, yo, let's hang out. We don't know. I knew him for years before that, but so it just happened to happen that summer. So y'all started as like friends, and yes, evolved right, yes,

Like what's your type? Do you have any type? I don't have a type, honestly, I really don't. But I could say, um, someone who's confident and sure and evolving and uh, you know, is kind of aware of themselves and can can reciprocate energy that type of thing. Um, obviously doing his own thing, has his own thing going, and and I'm good, you know, I don't need to jump into someone's already made situation. I'm not interested in that. I um, because I'm doing my own thing. You're not

focused on your bag. But I do think it's important for both people to have, you know, their own things. Going to have a job, yes people say that, but realistically, like you had things that you like, right, Like you may like to travel, you may like life thing, So realistically, you're gonna want a partner that can appease that. Like, yes, you're not saying every day, right, but someone that can

compliment the lifestyle for sure. For sure. Yeah, I mean you're not going to go back to like your old neighborhood and just start dating Joe from down the street. Like it's got to be someone of some type of that for her, never via your neighborhood. So you got You didn't come out and say that you guys broke up. It was like a mutual decision, I guess, or you guys are apart. You said yeah, yeah, so are you

guys still friends now? Or I wouldn't say friends. Um, but we have had, you know, conversations afterwards, and I think that it's it's no bad blood. I think it's just um, something that we both realized that right now at this time, Um, he's focused on what he's doing, and I am too, and sometimes you just gotta be mature about it and be like, Okay, we're not gonna sit here and go back and forth all day. You know,

I still am rooting for you. I obviously love him and I have loved for him, and I want to I want him in, you know, a beautiful situation, and he's got things going on. Dropped a movie in theaters, you know what I mean. So it's just certain things where I don't want no bad blood. I didn't we didn't say anything on purpose. I didn't. I never wanted that, so but I do realize that with me saying nothing says a lot. So yeah, well I thought it did.

I think you guys did it so slightly when it was too quick obvious when the pres got deleted, that's when that's when I was like, yeah, they it's OK. Well, I know guys, when when the when the picture of Joey Badass came out there and they're like, oh, it seems like they look really good. That's why I was like, I was like, where is Jacob? No, So for me, I mean, I know Jacob, and you know, of course

I was able to see you guys. You guys were very public like, I mean, you guys went to a lot of events together, you shared photos of each other on social media. So for me, I did start to question at some point like, oh, they're getting a little quiet, like what what is happening? And I did not assume it was work or anything, because you guys are always working, but you still seem to find time to be with each other to support each other. So I definitely was like, Okay,

I don't the relationship is over. They're not all down. First, I think we just stopped posting together. Yeah. Yeah, it wasn't a bad breakup because I feel like to not. Maybe I'm a little different, but I'm friends with all my exes, like we are cordial. It's very mature. Listen, it ain't working. Doesn't mean that we don't have love and respect for each other, but as far as being in an intimate relationship, gonna leave that alone. Um, but for you to say that you guys are not friends,

are you friendly? Oh well yeah, like if I see him as hey, you know what I'm saying. It's not like we have that blood like I said, but um, friends with me like we communicate, which we don't. Got it. Only thing going on man, she gonna be a man, She would say, no so much other things to worry about, you know. And sometimes I'm very much like you where I can be Core Jones. Yeah, but everyone's not like that. You have to also respect that factor too, for sure. Yeah.

Everybody ain't like that. They might text you them, but like you miss me. Hell so the picture of you and Joey came out like what was your he don't want to he scared. I was very surprised. I um, I didn't expect that. He fools, I said, I had had me, had all of us fools? I said, she don't post them? Then it ain't really Then you posted, I said, Oh talking about that, I said, oh, oh gosh, I was, and I'm filming right now Kingdom business and how was that work? Like god, my phone is own

fire like I wasn't. I mean, of course, right, but I just wasn't expecting that. And then I wasn't expecting people to be like saying the things they were saying. And you know, I usually don't recomment what I say. It surprised you. I didn't know I had so many haters. Oh no, I was looking too, I seeing a lot. No, I swear listen. I don't know. Look, I didn't look at the shade room or maybe the big ones, but on his posts it was a lot going on. But I think, um, I think it was very interesting. It

was it was kind of funny. I was laughing a little bit. And you know the videos out, did you guys watch it? I haven't yet. Is definitely like a love story. So it's a really really dope video and concept. You had a soulful picture came up, Oh this guy, what's going on? See? No, he didn't. I was just like, man Jacob Joey Badass, so different, right, And then that's why I was like, what's your type? I don't have

a type. It could be someone who's like super clean cut, fashionable, and then it could be someone who might be a little edgy. So I believed it. I thought you were with him. But he he believes in polygamy. No, he believes in multiple girlfriends. Joey Badass. Aquarius is in general to me general, we're not met for like one person or one thing or one we got to move around. Aquarius is are real, like we like an entity. You

feel like Aquarius can't be monogamous. Well, I can't speak for all Aquarius, but you know, I do resonate with that person personally. You know, I'm not sure if relationship is necessarily for me one percent. I was like, I do not see her being a girl from one two three? I ask you this was like, we're gonna ask her this relationship and Octavia said, I don't think she's into that type of definitely not y'all know, girl, But I

was like, no way, come on. That was for his song show me Yes, and now you have a song that can we talk about that song? And it just fid Sexy went to her single release the other night and just hearing the song over and over and seeing different types of people vibe to it. Girl did that Yeah, I appreciate you, Yes, absolutely, but yeah, like it's one of my favorite songs right now. It just feels so good.

And I'm just in a space where, um, you know, releasing more music is upon you know horizons, yes, independently and um and yeah, I've been I've been in my bag, but I've been just working. I've just been in the lab. So yeah, and it's and it's starting to finally like blossom. You know, when you like when you plan to seed and it's just there, just water in it. I listen to a lot, so I'm talking about planning the seed. Um. And you know when you first start seeing that little

bit of something coming off the ground. I feel like that's where I'm at right now. And it's been a lot of years of just ever since the Empire, I've been in the studio for years. I just want to say, how do you find the time? Because your schedule is crazy? Yeah, I um, now it's super crazy. But like on Empire, whatever I had time off or anything, I would just be in studio. That's what I was doing. UM. And it's also an outlet for me, so it's very natural space.

But as far as putting music out, I I have developed my own vibe and what that is. And you know, I'm a performer, so has to be something that we can move to. And I happened to, you know, link up with this artist, Village Boy Prince in la Um. Check him out. Yeah, I gotta check him out and um and yeah, we just started vibing and it was a great vibe. I'm excited. When when will that be completed?

Were writing the date and I'm probably gonna be in be a minute though, because yeah, yeah, I don't have a date yet, but I am gonna put out another single in the summer for sure. We'll be right back. Stay tuned with more of The Baller Alert Show. You're listening to a special edition of The Baller Alert Show. What's up? It's Soreya and you're listening to the Baller Alert sh I have a personal question in a timeframe

of tattoos, I don't see any tattoos. You just can't say them, no, But I do have tattoos, like one here as most sleeves or anything's going to ever come probably not. I would. I really would love to do that, but I can't stand the pain. So that's why they're kind. Yeah, that's why they're little, and because you know, like just

it's just a lot. When you on TV, you gotta get your got to do that every t you know, a long time, some of my um some of my peers, actor friends have to go through that to come an hour early to get the host leave covered up. That's just too much. Yeah, why do you feel after all this time people are finally gravitating to your music, your sound? You know what, for a long time, I was Tiana

from Empire and hard to detach, I think. So I think it was hard and I fought it for a while and I was getting frustrated a little bit, but you know what, I started to just ride the wave and UM, be okay with that. And you know, it's a beautiful thing to be recognized for what you're doing. So I now I'm starting to feel like now that I'm kind of branching myself out of that into all these different avenues, people are able to you know, see me and kind of just see Sirea for what Sarrea is.

And you're growing up, like you know, on television and people are seeing you in a different light. And speaking of um, you're on the series BMF, how was your thought process going into something like that? Because with those type of shows, those fifty cent power and all that stuff, it's a lot of it's it's a little more heavier than an empire or a kingdom business. You know, it's a you know, you got the nudity, the sex scenes

and you just never know. I mean because cash Dog her first time on the thing was just you know, just bow in your face. So like, what was your thought process going into BAMF. I was so excited, y'all. I love gritty. They said no makeup. I was like, yes, yeah, you know, like I love being outside of what I'm used to or what people are used to seeing me as being a pop star for six years. It felt good to just jump into something that felt really grounded and real. And I got to you know, Lorie, she's

a tom tom boy. She plays ball, you know, so it was just a whole different thing that I was that I can relate to. You know, growing up, I played ball growing up. So yeah, so point guard grow um so so yeah, it made me feel excited, excited to jump into this new this other world. And also, um,

fifty cent is has amazing content. Yes, like his his I mean, but it is and it's so good and and it's it's grounded and it's real and um, you know, there's so many different avenues now to jump in with all the different shows Ye's going on, and I think at some point I was I was like, I gotta be on one of the shows. All the classics, yeah, are definitely a staple. What's crazy is I did a vision board some years ago and I always said, uh,

black classic. Yeah, when the picture was Nia Long and Lorenz and Love Jones and that was just so I feel like I kind of like, you just know, it's not a film, but it's a lot of different black classics shows. So I mean I kind of checked that off. Now I'm like, Okay, where's my action Yeah, diversify your portfolio, da um action packed. I really want to really, Yeah, that's that's my dream role that and Mark, are you afraid of like being in that bubble of like black actresses,

actresses who literally stay in that bubble. It's hard for some of them to dive versified, like the roles that they get or even the publicity they get the media outlets to talk about them, Like, are you ever concerned about being in that bubble? I think that it's natural to be concerned with that, right because I mean I can only speak for myself. But there are other things I want to do, such as Marvel, such as these things.

So but but no, I feel like it's beautiful. I mean, it's a thing that I feel like you don't realize until you get in the industry and you started like, oh, there's other things, and there's you know, but for me, growing up black Classics was everything, you know, and that's what I looked up to. So I take pride in being considered amongst the group that we consider, you know, black classic actors, because I think it's great work. Personally.

Before you came in here, VT, we were talking, I was just like you kind of like the way that you're taking over the screen is kind of like giving me near long vibes anyway, So Raz, we had a harder vision board because we just put me along here already. And I feel like, you know, as you continue to grow in your career, you're gonna be right there too,

and we're just so proud of you. And I'm just I just love seeing your face and I can't wait to see the more of you, and I just feel like we got to know a lot more of you in this interview. You know what I'm saying, just from where you came from to where you are now, and I'm just excited, Thank you, thank you. I appreciate you. You're so sweet. And also you know, it's we started

from the bottom for real. Yeah you know what I'm saying, And I think, yeah, thank you, And I take pride in that because there's so much that we all have to deal with whether where we're from because because of you know, our skin color, and you know, we fight. We fight all the time. We fight in to do whatever it is we want to do. And so I try to lead with that and and and stay grateful in the process, because there's always another level, there's always

another role. There's always something bigger and better and more money and more accolades and awards and everything, you know what I mean. But I love I love being grounded and touching the people and and relate and being relatable. So real quick, did people ever mess up your name all the time? I'm everything in the world, Soria Serena Williams Serena. Your real name, Well, it's weird say that's my government name, Sia. We appreciate you. Was talking about

a baller show anytime. Please come back. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much. I love it here. I can't get enough of baller Alert. Follow us on all social media platforms at baller alert. Go on to baller alert dot com.