Interview with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
‘Lord of the Streets’ a Tubi (pronounced: too-bee) Original premiered Friday, April 22, 2022. The film is written, directed, and executive produced by Jared Cohn, alongside executive producers: Demetrius Stear (“Vendetta”), Anthony “Treach” Criss (“Equal Standard”), Evan Forster (“Blacklight”), Michelle Schwarzer (“Move Me No Mountain”), and Jubal Ace Kohn (“Killer Advice”). The film stars Anthony “Treach” Criss as Jason “The Machine” Dyson, Khalil Rountree Jr. as Damon, AJ McKee as Tre “The Chosen One” Jordan, Quinton“Rampage” Jackson as Kane, Anderson Silva as Axel, Cheick Kongo as Franc “The Titan” Blanc, Richard Grieco (“21 Jump Street”} as Detective Kayes, and Rigan Machado as Crolen Belladon. Film Synopsis: When Jason Dyson refuses to make his prized fighter throw an MMA match, a notorious gangster collects his debt by killing the fighter and kidnapping Jason’s daughter. Now he must train a prisoner to endure five consecutive underground fights to save her.
I watched the film when it premiered on Friday, and I was not disappointed. I was actually surprised (respectfully). This was the first time in a while that I’d watched an MMA film, that felt like I was watching a movie, and not just a bunch of fight scenes. It didn’t hurt that the film starred “Treach” (Naughty By Nature) and “Rampage” (UFC Champion) as two of the main characters in the film. I enjoy their work, but I also have a lot of respect for the two of them, and the film just added to that respect. I got a one-on-one with MMA Fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who stars in the film as Kane. Here’s what Quinton had to say about the film:
FEMI MAGAZINE (Tyrane Hughes): “First off, I want to say that you did an amazing job in the movie.”
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson: “Oh did I? Thank you.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Yes you did, you really did. I thought to myself: “He gangsta like this for real” (I laugh, slightly joking.) And he shrugs his shoulders, hands out, palms up, with a grin on his face). I’m a fan of yours anyway (He thanks me). I would’ve definitely watched the film, even without the opportunity to do this interview. Okay, I have my questions, so that we can get into it, and talk about the movie. My first question is: How did the opportunity come about?”
Rampage: “One of my friends hit me up, and approached me, asking me if I was interested in doing a MMA movie. I was like I don’t know, send me the script. When he sent me the script and told me which character I was playing, I was playing, I was like, Yeah, I’m very interested in doing this film.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Definitely. You were so natural. I’m from Newark like Treach, so you know…but the character was definitely amazing. I’ve seen a lot of MMA movies, and I’m going to be honest…I thought it was going to be like any other MMA movie, but it was different because the plot was intricate. It was like you’re watching a film, but you still got that grit and grime-that fight. It was really good. There was so much going on, and it was all able to gel together. The cast was amazing. How did you feel working with the cast?”
Rampage: “It was great. I got to work really close with Treach. I’ve always been a fan of his, so it was great working with him. He’s great to work with. Working with Anderson Silva was good, AJ McKee, and Richard Grieco, that was all great. You know. The Director Jared was great. I had a great time, and I think I made some friends for life.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Yeah, you could definitely tell that the chemistry was on. The script, the plot, and all of the details of the movie were great. We wanted to make sure that you got a chance to say what you had to say about the movie. Especially to the fight world, and movie lovers, because I feel like this is something for all of them-So what would you like to say about the movie?”
Rampage: “There’s a lot I could say about this movie…but MMA fans, I think they’re going to want to watch it just because they’re MMA fans, and I think MMA fans stick together. Whether they wanna be negative or positive, they’re going to watch it to see how we did and to see Anderson Silva and I interact with each other in a movie. For the people who aren’t MMA fans, I think that this movie should make you an MMA fan. Even though MMA is nothing like what the movie portrays, you know we don’t fight to the death or anything. You know. There’s nobody pulling strings and making you fight. I still think that it shows how exciting MMA is. The storyline and the movie are great. So I think non MMA fans will enjoy the movie as well, and it will bring them over to the sport.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “I agree, and I’m glad that you said that. I was talking to LaTrice (she’s the Managing Editor of FEMI), and I said, “LaTrice, I’m not sure if you know this but I was a competitive boxer for four years.” (over 20 years ago, cough*-we both laugh)…but, even though there is some fantasy in there, fighting to the death and all of that stuff I didn’t care. I was really into the choreography of the fight scenes, all of the different moves, and the skills of the fighter. As you know, there are all types of fighting, so that’s what I was excited about the different styles of fighting. That’s what I was waiting for. I thought it was going to be straight to the point, but as I got into it, it gave me different emotions and situations. It even briefly touched on biases in the police world. You know. It didn’t get political, or disrespectful, but it showed certain things that happen. There were many different points and aspects like prison, parents not being able to see their children, guilt, redemption, and a lot of different things people could relate to in the movie. I gotta tell you, sometimes when you have MMA fighters do movies, you just see the fighter. Of course you’ve been in another film, but you were able to be versatile and believable. There was even some comedy. I felt like your character was funny at one point in the film. (What part was funny? He asks)…The part where you say, “I’ll give you five minutes-because I’m nice!” (We both laugh-You have to see the film to understand lol). I felt it was so enjoyable. I like to keep putting it out there, because some people may think because it’s an MMA movie there’s only violence. However, I feel like anyone can enjoy the movie.”
Rampage: “Yeah, I feel like anyone that likes action and other stuff like that can enjoy this movie. I’m going to have to make a confession…I haven’t watched it yet, I haven’t watched it yet. (You haven’t?! I asked, in surprise) No (he shakes his head).
FEMI MAGAZINE: “I wish I knew you enough to be able to call you and ask what you thought after you watch the movie! Like I said, I’m from the hood, and you know people like that (his character Kane). You had the charisma, the ability to put fear in someone’s heart, all of that stuff. Of course Treach did his thing. All of the characters. I don’t want to single anyone out. There was not one person on screen that looked like they didn’t belong there. No one made it cheesy. It could’ve been in theaters. That’s how much I enjoyed it. I didn’t just watch it by myself, I had my best friend watch it with me. I had a few different people watch it with me (within their own homes). The second time I watched it, I had some of my co-workers watch it as well. I did a slight experiment, so I want to tell you about that. Most of my co-workers are a little older than me. I’m 36, and most of my co-workers are in their 40’s and up. I texted some of them to watch the movie on Tubie. Four of them hit me back telling me that they watched the movie. They really enjoyed it, so I wanted to give you that feedback. (“Wow.” He says) They were between the ages of 45 and 56. So I wanted to tell you how I was sure that it’s for a general audience. (“Thank you.”) I don’t know how they would do it, but going forward I think that if they were to continue with it, it would be great. Just putting that out there. I don’t know, like an origin story or something like that. I want to talk about preparation. How did you prepare for your role in the movie?”
Rampage: “Well this is the first movie that I’ve done in a while, and I was kind of nervous about it, so I went to go see my acting coach. I have a great acting coach down in Orange County, and he kind of just broke the role down for me. I’ve never played a villain this bad, and I asked him about that. He was like, “You really gotta play it like in your mind you’re really not a bad guy because all of this stuff happened because you won that poker game. Treach’s character didn’t have the money to pay up, so in your mind, you’re not a bad guy.” That’s why it was funny to you that I said I was a nice guy because I won that poker game and I’m giving him the chance to kind of pay up. He didn’t have the money so, I’m doing him a favor. I could’ve killed him then, like how you gonna play poker and you don’t have the money…I’m just trying to get my money, and in my mind, I’m being nice about doing it. So he broke it down for me. I’m like, “Oh, okay.” So that’s how I prepared for it. I didn’t have to study no mean people or anything like that. I just figured this character was Suge Knight mixed with Nino Brown from ‘New Jack City.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “That’s the perfect analogy. I would definitely say that. Plus let’s be real, even if you’re a gangsta everybody has someone to answer to…and that’s his money, he needed his money. He had to do what he had to do. It got a little gruesome, but what can you do?”
Rampage: “Right. It was all about money to him at the end of the day. It was all about money. Jason cost him money, and he was being nice to him by letting him make up for it, instead of killing him.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “I mean that’s just the way the cookie crumbles when you get into stuff like that. You can’t be playing with people’s money. You can’t be in that world and not be prepared. I’m glad that the cast was put together the way it was. Even the cast members that weren’t starring, but were guest fighters during the fight scenes-it was all good. I felt like it was like a video game. I told my bestie, “I think they’re just going to get bigger and bigger.” And that’s exactly what they did. I don’t want to say too much, because I want people to experience it for themselves. I really do hope that Tubi decides to do more.”
Rampage: “Yeah, I agree. I think they did an awesome job. And I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t watch the movies that I be in. I only watched “The A Team” when I had to, during the red carpet. I normally don’t watch the movies that I’m in, but you kind of got me excited. So maybe I might watch it tonight.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Please do. I’m gonna be honest…normally I’ll watch a movie once, and I don’t know if it’s the fighter in me or what…but, I asked my bestie, “Do you want to watch it with me again? You know I gotta get my points right.” He was like, “I’m down to watch it again, it’s whatever.” And the second time I watched it, I noticed there was even more. I really think it’ll be an injustice to yourself if you do not see how well you did in that film. I understand not wanting to. As a writer, once I write something… I read it two or three times, and once it’s been out there, I don’t go back and read it again. So I can understand that, but I do think you should see the film. You did an amazing job with your character.”
Ramage: “Thank you. Was it a good touch having my dog in the movie?”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Awww that was your dog?! Let me tell you, I was like look at him with that little dog. Is it a girl or boy? (“It’s a boy.”) I saw his little green stripe. I was like, “I wonder if that’s his dog? They look so comfortable together.” He was like, “I don’t know. He was the only one I saw him chillin’ with. They look tight, like that’s his lil’ homie.”
Rampage: “Yeah! That’s my best friend. That’s Gizmo.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Is that what the green stripe was about?”
Rampage: “Yeah, yeah. He’s a Gremlin!”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “That is too cute, I love it! Okay, so we gotta big’up Gizmo as well (Shout out to Gizmo!!!). He did his thing as well (we laugh). You can tell he loves the ladies, by how he was chilling with them.”
Rampage: “Yeah, he loves the ladies. I think it was a good touch. My son had a small role in the movie. While we were filming the movie, my son had a little fight. His first amateur fight, and the cast and the crew, they came…Jared, Treach, the girl that played Treach’s daughter, she came. A couple other actors. I brought my dog to the show, and the guys were laughing because I got this little “girly” looking dog. They said, “Man put the dog in the movie.” I said, “Okay, I’ll do it.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “That is so cute. As far as your son, that’s a good scoop, thank you. Tell him congratulations. So is he going to continue to fight, is that what he wants to do?”
Rampage: “He said he is. He’s had two amateur fights so far, and he’s won them both. He said he wants to continue.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Okay! Well, I will definitely be on the lookout for that. Just last year we were watching reruns of an older MMA show that we watched you on a few years ago (just threw that in there-that was one of our favorite fight shows)…so again, letting Tubi know that it was refreshing to see an MMA movie that wasn’t cheesy…and I hope that I do get a chance to speak to other cast members as well. My mom is 56, and she watched it. She loves Treach, she loves “Naughty By Nature”, she enjoyed it. She knows you from when I was heavy into fighting back in the day, and I watched a lot of your stuff. What got me into you was when you tore that door down (he laughs). To see you go from there to where you are now, I am so happy for you, and everything you are doing. I hope that you continue to do it. I know you said that you were nervous, but I always feel like-like they said in the movie, nerves are a good thing. Nervousness is a weapon. Clearly, it worked out for you, and you did a wonderful job (“Thank you.”). I can’t tell you that enough…I don’t know, I don’t want to give anything away…”
Rampage: “I don’t think you’ve given anything away. I think you’re going to inspire people to watch it, because you inspired me to watch it.”
FEMI MAGAZINE: “Oh good, thank you. Well, I hope whoever hasn’t seen it yet is inspired to watch it. It inspired me to want to fight again. Not competitively, but recreationally. I think it will be fun. I miss it…So thank you for the inspiration, and thank you for taking your time out and doing this interview. Is there anything that you want to say?”
Rampage: “You’re welcome…and no, everything is good. You on the money.” (I thanked him again, and conclude the interview.)
Rampage was such a sweet person, calm, cool, and collected while answering the questions. I enjoyed this one a lot. I told him that I would include a couple of reviews from my co-workers! So here goes.
Rachel M. (47):
“It was great. I loved the ending!”
David G. (56):
“I haven’t seen Rampage since “The A Team” this one was good. Unexpected. I loved the guy from “Naughty By Nature” (Treach). It was awesome, my wife watched it with me.”
Megan T. (39):
“Never knew Treach could fight like that! This was pretty cool to watch. I didn’t know about Tubi, or that it would have so many great movies. This one was cool. I am debating showing my son when he gets back from his dad’s. He’s in High school, so this is his kind of thing.”
So there you have it. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, go check it out!
