“Nothing is going to teach you about yourself—about life, about what’s important—more than your kids,” David Oyelowo told Ebro in the latest episode of The Message. “I was very young [22] when I got married. I had my first kid at 25. You are still forming as a human being, even more so as an actor where you are programmed to be thinking about yourself all the time. So, one of the gifts my kids have given me is looking beyond myself.” The acclaimed actor (and father of four) sat down with Ebro on the heels of the release of Apple TV+’s Government Cheese, a new comedy set in 1969 San Fernando Valley, exploring the experience of a Black family living through their father’s calamitous return from prison. Oyelowo, who grew up in the UK, is especially proud to bring this story to life (he’s an executive producer in addition to playing the lead), reflecting on how until fairly recently, it could be difficult to find a home for ideas of this ilk. “When I was coming up, there was still this false narrative around that Black [art] doesn’t travel,” he says. “There was a very small sample size of people who were deciding and [who are] still deciding what gets made, what gets supported, what gets international distribution, and it wasn’t reflective of what the audience wants. Streaming came along and gave us hard data that they want to watch Squid Games across the entire planet. It doesn't matter that it’s in English or Korean.” For his The Message playlist, Oyelowo drew from the many inspirations of his life, his selections spanning his days as a young raver (The Prodigy’s “Breathe”), his appreciation for vintage jazz funk (Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew”), the personal and professional admiration he has for one of his craft’s most beloved talents (Cynthia Erivo’s “Stand Up”), and a little ditty from a person who might be his favorite working musician today (ASHER YELO & Sirusho, “i love you”). “ASHER YELO is my son, and he’s a great artist” Oyelowo says. “What I really love about his music is that he’s only 23, and he’s been doing this for probably about seven, eight years now. And there’s a maturity that belies his age, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. I just love that at this young age, he has values that are synonymous with what I deem to be what a good life lived looks like. And my pride for him knows no bounds.”