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On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood became the focal point of a unique pairing between hip-hop culture and faith-based cinema. The Los Angles premiere of Moses the Black brought out a star-studded crowd to celebrate a film the reimagines the life of 4-century saint, Moses the Black, through the gritty lens of modern-day Chicago.
Unlike the traditional red carpet, the event featured a “black carpet,” setting a somber yet stylish tone that reflected the film’s themes of repentance and redemption. The premiere was an high energy affair, blending elegance with contemporary streetwear. In attendance were the film’s stars Omar Epps, Wiz Khalifa, Chukwudi Iwuji along with radio host and actor Big Boy, Kris Lofton and Gianni Paolo of the Power Series.
The film officially hits theaters nationwide January 30, 2026, tells the story of Malik based on the real-life experience of Reggie Akkeem Berry. The narrative is inspired by the 4th century saint, Moses the Black, a Nubian bandit who became one of the Desert Fathers and a symbol of radical repentance. In the film, Malik is haunted by visions of the saint after receiving an icon from his grandmother, causing him to confront his passions while rival gangs and corrupt law enforcement close in.
Moses the Black is more than a Hip Hop crime drama, it is a cultural checkpoint that challenges the tropes of the genre that offers a path towards spiritual healing in the tradition of the Orthodox Faith.
This article was written by Rev. Fr. Samuel Davis, who is the assistant priest at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, and serves as the director of the Apostolic Mission to the African Diaspora in the Americas, West Indies, and Caribbean.
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