Black folks have always understood the power of HBCU marching bands. At some colleges and universities, they’re even more important than the institution’s athletic programs. A song really hasn’t hit its peak until we hear the marching band renditions. Within the bands, drumlines hold their own important significance. They’re the backbone and foundation of the group, creating some of the crew’s most memorable moments. Other communities didn’t really get the full impact of their cultural influence until the 2002 film “Drumline” was released.
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It starred Nick Cannon as a talented new recruit who must temper his cocky persona long enough to mature as a man and a musician. It’s a beloved Black classic that still holds up 22 years after its release, evidenced by its 82 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As we head into HBCU Homecoming season, we thought it would be fun to revisit the film and see what the cast has been up to since it high-stepped into theaters.
Nick Cannon as Devon Miles
Devon is talented, but his cocky attitude gets in the way of him actually learning be in the band. Frankly, he’s kind of unlikeable for most of the movie, but Cannon does a good job of giving Devon emotional layers.
Nick Cannon
After “Drumline,” Nick Cannon went on to become a household name with hosting gigs on popular competition series “America’s Got Talent” and “The Masked Singer.” He’s also the host and creator of “Wild’n Out,” the sketch comedy-slash-rap battle show that’s an impressive 21 seasons deep.
Zoe Saldaña as Laila
Devon’s love interest, Laila, is afraid to tell her parents about her dreams of a dance career. If we’re being honest, she’s way too good for Devon’s immaturity.
Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña has had the biggest post-”Drumline” career. She’s landed major roles in the “Avatar,” “Star Trek,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” film franchises, making her a star in four of the highest-grossing films of all time. She’s currently heading into Season 2 of her Paramount+ action drama, “Lioness.”
Orlando Jones as Dr. Lee
Dr. Lee understands the true importance of HBCU marching bands, emphasizing music and artistry over flash. He also stresses the teamwork involved in making the band look good with his classic “one band, one sound” speech.
Orlando Jones
The elder statesman of the cast has had a long and successful career, so we can’t list all his amazing credits here, but you definitely saw him in “American Gods,” “Sleepy Hollow” and most recently, “Abbott Elementary.”
Jason Weaver as Ernest
Ernest is Devon’s roommate and friend. He’s the comic relief between all the dramatic scenes of Devon’s self-sabotage.
Jason Weaver
Yes, we still know Jason Weaver as Young Michael in “The Jackson: An American Dream” and as Young Simba in “The Lion King.” Lately, he’s maintained recurring roles in the acclaimed Showtime drama “The Chi” and BET’s “Sistas.”
Leonard Roberts as Sean Taylor
Sean is the section leader of the drumline and is the one who is forced to bring Devon down to Earth. He’s the voice of reason amidst all the chaos.
Leonard Roberts
If you’ve watched TV at any point in the last 15 years, you’re familiar with Leonard Roberts’ work. His countless credits includes “Heroes,” “9-1-1,” “All American: Homecoming” and “American Sniper.” He also reprised his role in the sequel, “Drumline: A New Beat.”
J. Anthony Brown as Mr. Wade
The shady band director of Atlanta A&T’s rival, Morris Brown College, he’s more concerned with flashy tricks and winning than he is with musicianship and teamwork.
J. Anthony Brown
This comedian/writer has worked steadily for decades. He’s most well-known for regularly appearing on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” and “The Steve Harvey Morning Show.”
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