What real-life person was modelled after Lamar Silas for the Starz BMF series?
Old school icon and SW Detroit street OG Layton “The Beast” “Dawg” Simon. The role of Lamar is portrayed by Eric Kofi-Abrefa.
Let’s find out who Layton “The Beast” “Dawg” Simon is, as many viewers of the Starz series BMF are intrigued about the real-life basis for Lamar Silas. Many viewers believe that the show’s creators were inspired by the Southwest Detroit urban legend.
Eric Kofi-Abrefa, a 35-year-old native of London, England, plays Lamar. You may also recognise him from his role as Mark Bailey on The One, a Netflix series.
The 2014 single OG Layton Simon was recorded by Psyke Sconi and Bigg Pauliee, two American rappers. Let’s find out who he is, as he was obviously a well-known figure on the streets.
About BMF
Currently airing on the STARZ network is the criminal drama BMF. There are actual members of the Black Mafia Family in this story. The Black Mafia Family was founded in 1985 by Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory in Southwest Detroit.
Through their Los Angeles-based drug supplier and direct links to Mexican drug gangs. They had established nationwide cocaine distribution sales by the year 2000. Demetrius Flenory oversaw distribution in Atlanta, and Terry Flenory handled imports from Mexico at the Black Mafia Family’s other main headquarters in Los Angeles.
Also Read: Is Lamar From BMF Still Alive? Will He Return In BMF Season 2?
Was a real person the inspiration for Lamar?
Kofi-portrayal Abrefa’s of Lamar on BMF is one of the most intriguing to follow. Similar to the character Omar on The Wire, Lamar was recently released from a mental health facility at the height of the 50 Boyz’ popularity in Detroit.
The inspiration for this persona comes from actual people. Huggins incorporated aspects of various persons who travelled the Flenorys world at the time to create a composite personality. Huggins stated to TVLine, “It’s not just a drug show.”
We explore Lamar’s mental health issues in depth. People like Lamar were let out of state-run mental health facilities in the 1980s when [President] Reagan shut them down, but they had nowhere to go. Perhaps he entered the asylum because he believed it would be less restrictive than jail. But in all likelihood, his mental illness was already severe when he entered.
Also Read: Charles Flenory, Is He Still With Us? All The Information You Need On The Big Meech Parents!
Who Is Real Life Lamar?
The character of Lamar created by Kofi Abrefa is a mash-up of various actual BMF competitors. But he was inspired by a real life gangster from Detroit named Layton Simon. The British actor benefited from Big Meech’s first-hand knowledge and understanding into his role.
At the age of 14, Layton met Harold Stinson in the 1970s, and by the time he was 15. He had used the money he had made from selling narcotics to purchase a brand new 1973 Cadillac. Harold bought Cadillacs for his entire team and offered to buy one for Layton as well. But Layton declined since he wanted to buy a car without Harold’s help.
Simon reveals that he began his career as a heroin dealer in the 1970s, working for Harold Stinson. Before he and Walter Cason had a falling out, Harold had Walter as his second-in-command. Bobby is Walter Cason’s nephew, and Linda is Harold Stinson’s sister.
After an argument, Bobby and Linda got into a physical confrontation. It was inevitable that the minor family dispute would lead to hostilities between Harold and Walter. And on July 1, 1977, Harold Stinson was gunned down.
Layton rose to prominence in the latter group, eventually becoming a major player in the drug trade in Southwest Detroit. Also, he learned of a group called the 50 Boyz who, in the 1980s, made a name for themselves in Detroit by peddling $50 bags of cocaine on the city’s streets. Simon was shocked to see how much cocaine was in a bag delivered by the 50 Boyz. And he quotes the price: “8 balls cost $50.” For Simon, “I rule 12th Street,” he explains.
Is Lamar Still Alive In Real Life?
The fictional cast of Blood Money is mostly based on actual people who knew or worked with the Flenory brothers. Many people make the connection between Lamar and Layton. Because of the similarities between their names and the fact that both have struggled with mental illness.
Like Layton, Lamar’s persona in the programme mirrors a very similar issue from the 1980s. When he was also taken by ambulance to a psychiatric facility. While Layton Simon’s current condition is unknown. The public is still in the dark about many of the actual BMF members. Similarly, Layton is one of the strange names in the game.
Exactly what is going on with Layton Simon right now is a mystery. There are a lot of interesting real-life BMF people to research in the free world.
Conclusion
Most of the BMF cast are based on actual persons who knew or worked with the Flenory brothers. Lamar’s mental condition has led many to speculate that he was inspired by Layton. Also, another figure with a similarly seeming name and role.
Like Layton, Lamar’s character was confined to a psychiatric facility in the ’80s. And their struggles mirror those depicted on the show.
