TJ Atoms on Favorite MCs, 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga,' and More

ONE37pm: I made sure to do my research and check out the Bakery Boys, which is the Philly hip hop group you helped create. How did that rap collective initially come together?

Atoms: The Bakery Boys started with me and a few homies that skated in the city. At first, we were just recording raps over old-school hip-hop beats we found on YouTube. Then it kind of just took off from there – we started selling out shows around the city and the fanbase grew. This was before Twitter and Instagram really took off. We didn’t even know how to promote our music; we just had a movement.

ONE37pm: Who are some of the MCs that inspired you to pursue rapping back then? And who are some current artists that inspire you to keep making music today?

Atoms: Rappers that inspired me back then were Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang, Tupac, and Nas. I was a real hip-hop head and that’s all I really listened to. Currently, I don’t really have too many rappers or MCs that inspire me. I get inspired by life these days, real-time events, and things that happen in my day to day.

ONE37pm: I went ahead and looked up the music video for August Burns Red's "Fault Line" and peeped you in there wreaking havoc on that poor car. Take me through the process of you getting cast for that opportunity.

Atoms: I got cast in the August Burns Red video when I was about 18. I was reading this book about quantum leaping and manifesting the life you want at the time, and one day I was just sitting in a park when this woman came up to me and said I had this look she was going for this video she was casting. It ended up being “Fault Line” and that video changed my life. Shout out to August Burns Red for that!

ONE37pm: Your casting credits include some pretty major TV shows, such as Blue Bloods, Orange is the New Black, and Godfather of Harlem. Which TV role would you say was the most challenging thus far?

Atoms: Playing ODB is definitely the most challenging role I have had so far because he was such a presence. He was really hard to imitate.

ONE37pm: What has you excited about the second season for Wu-Tang: An American Saga?

Atoms: I’m most excited to see the group finally come together in Season 2. Some people might feel like this is really Season 1 because this is the first time we see the Wu-Tang clan together, making music and performing their hit singles. We get to see how people are supposed to unite for the bigger picture. Wu-Tang Season 2 is about brotherhood, comradery, and unity.

ONE37pm: Your next film project is Fels High opposite Omari Hardwick. How has it been working alongside him?

Atoms: Working with Omari was a learning experience because he’s a real OG in the acting world. He’s really like a teacher on set, helping actors reach their fullest potential in every scene. He’s a very respectable person and I was grateful to have had him a part of that project.

ONE37pm: Thank you for a great interview!