Joey Bada$$ reflects on his unique performance in ‘Raising Kanan’

Unique’s charm and unpredictability make him a standout character that audiences can’t help but root for.
Unique’s journey from being driven by ego and power to finding what’s truly important will be explored in the final season.
The ‘Power’ franchise resonates with black audiences by combining family dynamics, conflicts and compelling characters they truly care about.

As Book of Power III: Raising Kanan continues its fifth and final season, few characters have provoked as much conversation as the fly (and now running away) Unique, who fans just didn’t seem to hate despite his ways.

Played by Joey Bada$$The Queens boss has become one of the franchise’s most beloved and unpredictable figures. To such an extent that he continues to gain a loyal fan base despite his flaws, manipulative tendencies, and relentless pursuit of power.

Now Unique has had enough power and has focused (for once) on her family. As seen in episode 2, after initially just moving his family to a remote location and declaring that he would die in Southside Jamaica, Queens…

The street king eventually fled with his girlfriend and son to safety, officially exiting the game.

Joey Bada$$ recently spoke with BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass about Unique’s appeal, the evolution of her character, and why. Raising Kanan continues to connect with audiences of all generations.

From the beginning, Joey had a feeling that viewers would gravitate toward Unique.

“When I first read that it was almost the classiest thing in Queens, I thought, ‘Okay, yeah, I’m going to make people love this character,’” he said. “Oh yeah, 1,000 percent.”

In fact, the rapper and actor intentionally approached the role knowing that Unique would become the type of character audiences couldn’t help but root for.

“I had my sights set on the fact that he was going to be the guy that people would hate and love,” he said.

Part of that appeal comes from Unique’s ability to turn heads every time she enters the scene. While the Power Universe is full of extraordinary personalities, Joey believes his character’s charm and unpredictability help him stand out.

“I think it’s definitely his charm,” Joey explained. “It’s so deceptively charming.”

According to the actor, Unique has mastered the art of manipulating the world around him, whether it’s gathering information, influencing other characters, or positioning himself for success.

“He’s got a way of maneuvering that’s nice to see,” Joey said.

That unpredictability also keeps viewers interested.

“We never know what’s next,” he said. “You’re all interested to see what happens to this guy.”

As the series comes to a close, Joey said one of the most rewarding aspects of playing Unique has been witnessing the character’s entire journey unfold.

For much of Raising KananUnique has been driven by ego, status and the desire to be on top. However, Joey hinted that viewers will see a different perspective emerge as the story progresses.

“This was a man purely motivated by ego and power,” he said. “We finally come to a perspective to see what’s important.”

While fans have spent years analyzing Unique’s decisions, Joey believes there is still a lot the audience doesn’t know about the character.

“I think there are misunderstandings among everyone,” he said.

The actor noted that viewers never fully see the experiences that shaped Unique before the events of the series.

“Obviously, something about the way he was raised contributed to his current appearance,” Joey explained. “Looking for that power, wanting to be number one so much, wanting to be on top, wanting to be the center of attention.”

Although audiences may never get a complete story, Joey believes that understanding those influences helps explain what man Unique has become.

“What made you unique this way?” said. “Because it’s cool to be a fly. Unique is a different kind of fly.”

When asked why Raising Kanan and Power Universe continue to resonate with black audiences more than a decade after the franchise’s debut, Joey offered a simple answer.

“We love drama. We love drama. We love drama,” he said, laughing.

At its core, he believes the series is successful because it combines family dynamics, conflicts and compelling characters that viewers truly care about.

“When you take a concept that black people love and then mix it with a group of people who can play the characters, people who already love and can play the characters, it’s just a successful show.”

Judging by Unique’s continued popularity, fans would probably agree.

A new episode of Book of Power III: Raising Kanan airs Friday on TV and the STARZ app.