About Godfather of Harlem

Godfather of Harlem is a gripping and compelling drama series released in 2019. It is a crime, drama series that depicts the life of infamous crime boss, Bumpy Johnson. Returning from a decade in prison, Johnson finds the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles and seeks to reclaim his territory from the Italian mob. The series combines real-life historical events with thrilling crime stories.

Making / Production

The production of the series took place in New York City. It was developed by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, featuring the directing skills of John Ridley and Guillermo Navarro.

Actors

• Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson: A compelling and driven portrayal of the notorious crime boss
• Vincent D'Onofrio as Vincent 'Chin' Gigante: Plays the temperamental and tough adversary of Bumpy Johnson
• Ilfenesh Hadera as Mayme Johnson: Gives a realistic depiction of Bumpy's supportive and resilient wife
• Nigél Thatch as Malcolm X: Brought to life the historical figure with nuance and depth

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series brings together historical figures and events from both the criminal underworld and civil rights movement
• Character Bumpy Johnson was previously portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the 1997 film Hoodlum
• It marks the first time actor Forest Whitaker has portrayed a real-life character in a series

Awards

While the series has not won any awards as of this write-up, it has been highly appreciated by the audience for its solid storytelling and performances.

Quotes

• "Harlem is mine." - Bumpy Johnson
• "The revolution is the only solution." - Malcolm X
• "This is our fight, Bumpy. Not yours." - Mayme Johnson

Music, Soundtrack

• "Aint It a Sin" - Charles Bradley
• "Just One Look" - Doris Troy
• "Just One More Day" - Otis Redding