Actor G-Rod Rodriquez Breaks Down Season Finale of “Tales”, Shares What It’s Like Working With Irv Gotti

Gabriel “G-Rod” Rodriguez, who plays Detective Emilio Sanchez in tonight’s two-hour season finale of BET’s hip-hop anthology show “Tales,” makes a memorable impression with his witty lines and relentless pursuit of suspects.

Tales creator, hip-hop producer and mogul Irv Gotti, calls G-Rod’s Detective Sanchez character one of his favorite from the show’s first season, which features eight episodes.

Irv Gotti’s affection for G-Rod is reciprocated, as he speaking highly of the experience working with the Murder Inc. founder. G-Rod said Irv Gotti was able to provide a calm and productive work environment.

“He lets you do your thing,” said Rodriquez, who has also appeared on HBO’s “Ballers” and Starz’s “Power.” “We shot [the episode] in four weeks. It was fire from beginning to end. We got down to business.”

He said he was impressed with the way Irv Gotti managed the set and filming, especially because the mogul comes from a different industry.

“Irv makes you feel like he’s in your living room,” Rodriguez said. “Coming from the music background, and with all that pressure [of directing], Irv was able to balance that.”

Rodriquez was also able to insert lines without objection from Irv Gotti, which the actor appreciated.

Written by Joy Kecken, who is known for her work on “The Wire” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” the “Tales” season finale reimages Method Man and Mary J. Blige’s hip-hop anthem “All I Need.”

In the episode, “All Eyez on Me” actor Demetrius Shipp Jr. plays Kenny, who is willing to go up against anyone to protect the woman he loves. Actress Tami Roman of “Basketball Wives” and Harlem rapper Jim Jones are also featured in the episode.

Rodriguez teams with Sean Baker, who plays Detective Vaughn. The two are partners on the police force and share a bond in addition to several hilarious exchanges as they try to solve a case. Of the partnership, Rodridguez says “it hit instantly. It launched out of the gate.”

During the first season of “Tales”, some of hip-hop’s biggest records were brought to life, including NWA’s “F*ck the Police”, Notorious B.I.G.’s “I Got A Story to Tell”, Jay-Z’s “99 Problems, Meek Mill’s “Cold Hearted” and Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen.”

“Tales” also features a host of both familiar and fresh-faced actors. Among the actors appearing on this season’s “Tales” in various episodes include Woody McClain and Keith Powers from BET’s “New Edition Story”;Boris Kodjoe, Jennifer Freeman, Elise Neal, MC Lyte, Lance Gross, Christian Robinson, Matthew Noszka, Chet Hanks and Clifton Powell.

Watch the two-hour season finale of “Tales” on BET Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. EST.

Kenny (@dshippjr) is willing to go up against anyone to protect the woman he loves. Meet him tonight on the 2-HOUR season finale of TALES: ALL I NEED directed by @IrvGotti187. #TALESonBET pic.twitter.com/F24QcWuMU1

— #TALESonBET (@TalesOnBET) November 25, 2017