Grammy® & Pulitzer Prize Winner Kendrick Lamar To Appear On STARZ PLAY’s Hit Series Power

Starz, a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), announced that the hit STARZ Original series “Power” created by Courtney A. Kemp will welcome Top Dawg Entertainment international superstar, Kendrick Lamar to appear in a guest role opposite 50 Cent in the not-to-miss episode 505. The episode will air on Monday, July 30^th at 9 am (UAE Time) on STARZ PLAY, the leading subscription video on-demand streaming service available in 19 countries across the MENA region, and will be available for download and streaming on the STARZ PLAY app.

Said executive producer Mark Canton, “Kendrick is a once in a generation talent and Courtney, 50 and I felt it would be exciting to create a role for him in ‘Power.’ Everyone involved is thrilled to have him join the family.”

Platinum-selling, Grammy^®-award and Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar is one of the rare artists who has achieved critical and commercial success while earning the respect and support of those who inspired him. A native of Compton, Calif., Lamar released his debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in October 2012 which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and earned him seven Grammy Award nominations. His second album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” released in March 2015 immediately earned rave reviews and topped the Billboard 200, garnering Lamar five Grammy^® nominations with a win for Best Rap Album. On April 14 2017, Lamar released his fourth studio album, “DAMN.” which sold 603,300 copies in its first week and remained number one on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks. Complex Magazine claimed it is his “most ambitious album to date” and Rolling Stone named him “the most gifted rapper of a generation.” Lamar made history earlier this year winning a Pulitzer Prize for music.

“Power” returned for its highly-anticipated fifth season on Sunday, July 1 more than doubling the record-breaking acquisition and viewership performance on the STARZ App over Season 4, and growing 40% in VOD viewing and 9% in total average audience season over season. The hugely successful New York-based crime drama from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and show creator Courtney Kemp continues to raise the stakes and in the upcoming episode 505 “Happy Birthday,” The St. Patricks celebrate Tariq’s birthday… the first time without Raina and Tasha finds a shoulder to cry on in Terry Silver. Ghost is on the outs with Tate and the Queens Child Project and discovers Dre is ready to replace him in the legitimate world, driving him toward reckless behavior. Kanan drops Tariq back at school, the two of them bonding over their shared mistrust of Ghost.

About “Power”

“Power” is a visionary drama that straddles the glamorous Manhattan lifestyles of the rich and infamous and the underworld of the international drug trade. The cast is led by Omari Hardwick as James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a man trying to escape his role as a drug kingpin for a legitimized life in the elite of NYC; Joseph Sikora as his brother in arms in the drug business, Tommy Egan; Naturi Naughton plays Ghost’s fierce wife Tasha St. Patrick; and Lela Loren is his first love, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Valdes.

“Power” is created by Courtney A. Kemp who executive produces alongside Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Randall Emmett, and Gary Lennon. The show is also produced by G-Unit Films and Television, the production company launched by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and Canton’s Atmosphere Entertainment MM.

About Starz

Starz (www.starz.com) a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and entertainment company that provides premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and distributes content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in the STARZ PLAY Arabia OTT service. Starz is home to the flagship STARZ^® brand and STARZ ENCORE channels and provides high-quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services, including the STARZ app. Sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming.