STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Naturi Naughton Talks Comparisons Between Power and Empire

Plus, the actress spills on Lil Kim, beef with 3LW.

Naturi Naughton was in a chatty mood during a visit to Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club on Friday (May 15), and the actress opened up about everything from her role on Power, the show's constant comparisons to Fox's runaway hit Empire and what really went down when she left 3LW years ago.
But even before getting into all that, Naughton went back to the beginning of her acting career, which popped off with a little film called Notorious. Naughton played Lil Kim in the biopic of Notorious B.I.G. — and as if that wasn't intimidating enough, she reveals that Kim wasn't exactly thrilled she was playing her on the big screen. "She just had issues with who got cast," Naughton says. "I was a new actress at the time. I tried [to reach out to her] but she never got back."

The actress has come a long way since then, with roles in Fame, Mad Men and the short-lived series The Playboy Club. Last year, Naughton was cast as one half of the ultimate power couple on Power, executive produced by 50 Cent. "It's an amazing show," she says. As for all those comparison's to that other hit show about hip hop, Naughton says, "Empire is a totally different show. Our show...we're gritty, we're in cable. They're doing they're thing. We have a really cool, gritty New York show about real hip hop. Power represents what's real." No shade!

| CLICK HERE FOR ON SCREEN GEM: NATURI NAUGHTON |

Most fans, of course, still remember Naughton as one of the founding members of girl group 3LW. Recently, she revealed that her dark-skinned "look" is what lead to her getting cut from the group. Naughton didn't deny the statement, but took a more diplomatic track on The Breakfast Club. "There was an issue with management, she didnt like my look, my persona... she didn't feel like I was the right fit for the commercial [market]," she says. "Long story short, it's over. I'm happy, i survived. If they hadn't pushed me out, I wouldn't be where I am."

Power's second season begins June 6, 2015 (Empire's begins in the Fall).  

Xperiment Rewind: Watch Naturi Naughton reenact her Lil Kim impression and find out why she brought her LeBrons with her in the clip below.

BET.com is your No. 1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.