Page 53 - AVN November 2016

electrified viewers in Behind the Green
Door and Sex World back in porn’s
Ever since the legendary Johnny Keyes
“Golden Age,” black male performers
have been an in-demand presence
in porn. But how do the men who
work in the industry feel about the
opportunities and challenges that they face? Read
on for comments from a dozen of today’s top
performers and fan favorites.
To supplement these interviews AVN asked
other veteran African-American professionals in the
adult industry for their opinions on the top male
performers and the state of the business they work
in.
Director LT was behind such top-selling Elegant
Angel lines as Big Black Wet Asses, Black Booty Worship
and Naughty Black Housewives, and also works as
talent himself. His movies are currently distributed
by Pure Play Media. LT got right to the point. “The
top black guys? LT, Prince [Yahshua] and Lex. Why?
Because we sell movies. Period.”
Something of a renaissance man, Tee Reel went
from working as talent to producing-directing to
being the first African-American man to start a fully
bonded talent agency within the adult industry.
“There are always going to be legends in the
business like Sean Michaels and Lexington Steele,”
he said, “and there are a handful of guys that have
solidified their names in the industry, like Prince
Yahshua, Flash Brown, Jon Jon and myself, for
example. These are guys that have good reputations
for strong performances, good chemistry with
talent, and giving solid scenes.
“There is a secondary rise of go-to guys as well,
like Chris Cock and Jack Blaque and some up-and-
coming outstanding talent like Isiah Maxwell.”
And what about the women who work on screen
with these men? We got some enlightenment from
11-year industry veteran Misty Stone.
“The top black performers as far as male talent
in my opinion,” she said, “are Prince Yahshua, Jack
Napier and Lexington Steele. They bring more to
the table as performers than anyone else I have
worked with. They not only perform, they put on
a show, something the viewers and fans can grasp
onto.
“These guys are extremely professional, giving us
girls—their co-stars—a pleasant sexual experience
(very respectful) on camera while portraying this
beast across the screen for the viewers. This is why
Photos of Lexington Steele, Sean Michaels and Mandingo
by Kevin Moore
by JAREDRUTTER
“The top black performers not only perform,
they put on a show, something the viewers
and fans can grasp onto.“
—Misty Stone
they continue to stay in high demand over many
years and have lasted for so long in this industry.”
Stone went on to point out that for many
African-Americans, male and female, porn work is
not always a level playing field.
“I would describe the state of the adult industry
as progressing over the years,” she said, “but still a
bit racist and unfair. We continue to improve as far
as more opportunities slowly for black performers,
but for some reason it is still not completely equal.
“For example, I have worked 11 years for my rate,
and as a black performer I have been challenged
many times about my worth. For some reason
companies feel no need to pay a black performer
as much or equal to a white performer. It’s just
very difficult to continue to make this stand on
our worth as black performers if we just go for
whatever. I know many black female performers
whose anal rate is equal to my B/G rate.
“I just want us to know we are worth just as
much if not more. There has to be a change.”
Director LT echoed her concerns, more bluntly.
“How do I describe the state of the industry? Racist
as ever.”
Asked to expand on that, he said, “Let’s see,
where do I start? I will make this short and clear,
because I can ramble on all day. I’ll say this: How
many black directors that are in the business right
now that are working? You can count them on one
hand. There’s me, Lexington [Steele], Mimefreak,
Prince [Yahshua] and Dreadneck.
“That’s pathetic. You mean to tell me out of
everything that’s being shot in L.A., Florida and Las
Vegas, that only five black directors are working?
That’s enough said right there.”
Reel cited the decline in DVD production and
online piracy as major problems. “In regards
to black male talent, the industry is in a rough
position. A lot of the production companies that
are not around have caused many black male
performers to make their exits from the industry
because there just aren’t enough production
companies shooting and it makes it more difficult to
have a career as male talent.
“Ironically,” he continued, “throughout the rise
and fall of the industry, niche-based content—
specifically interracial and black-on-black product—
created with attractive talent in a quality setting,
has always made money.
“It’s just very unfortunate that many of the
production companies that shot interracial or black-
on-black content weren’t able to maximize their
revenues with it or became victims to tube sites and
pirating. Some of them are just putting out horrible
product and in time the consumers turned their
backs on them.”
For two decades Mr. Marcus has been one of the
most prominent stars in the black and interracial
genres.
“When I started in ’94,” he remembered, “there
was me, Julian St. Jox, Sean Michaels, Devlin Weed
and Jake Steed. A few years later came Lexington
Steele, Brian Pumper and Justin Slayer. Today there
are brothas who work in the industry like Flash
Brown, Prince Yahshua, Isiah Maxwell and Jon Jon.
“If you’re working on features, doing specialty
scenes, maintaining a social media presence, really
nurturing and developing a career, then it’s highly
possible to operate and maintain on the level of a
top guy in the porn world.”
Of those interviewed, Mr. Marcus took the most
optimistic view of the industry. “When I look
at the adult industry in 2016 I see opportunity.
Even though times have changed, the industry has
managed at its core to stay the same. Young people
who have a strong appetite for sex dominate the
porn scene, while creative types can lead the way by
creating a sexual path that’s followed by performers
and fans.
“Supporting the part of the industry that is still
strongly inventive and imaginative is key—from
the camera operator to the editor and everything
in between—the entertainment value of porn is
ripe for developing and influencing with sex as
the inspiration. I’ve always believed that there are
infinite possibilities.” >
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