The Chi

The Chi is described as following "a fateful turn of events that sends shockwaves through a community on the Southside of Chicago and connects the lives of Emmett, Brandon, Ronnie and Kevin in unexpected ways."^[9]

• Jason Mitchell as Brandon Johnson^[4] (seasons 1–2)
• Ntare Mwine as Ronnie Davis (seasons 1–3)
• Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington^[10]
• Alex R. Hibbert as Kevin Williams (seasons 1–6)
• Tiffany Boone as Jerrika Little (seasons 1–2), Brandon's girlfriend
• Yolonda Ross as Jada Washington,^[10] Emmett's mother
• Armando Riesco as Detective Cruz (seasons 1–2)
• Rolando Boyce as Darnell (season 2–present), Emmett's father
• Barton Fitzpatrick as Reg Taylor (season 2; recurring; season 1), Jake's older brother and gang leader
• Shamon Brown Jr. as Stanley "Papa" Jackson (season 2—present; recurring; season 1), Kevin and Jake's best friend
• Michael V. Epps as Jake Taylor (season 2–present; recurring; season 1), Kevin and Papa's best friend and Reg and Trig's younger brother
• Birgundi Baker as Kiesha Williams (season 3–present; recurring; seasons 1–2), Kevin's older sister^[11]
• Luke James as Victor "Trig" Taylor (season 4–present; recurring; season 3), Reg and Jake's estranged older brother^[12]
• Curtiss Cook as Otis "Douda" Perry (seasons 4–6; recurring; seasons 2–3)^[13]

• Lucien Cambric as Jason Roxboro (season 1)
• Jahking Guillory as Charles Frederick "Coogie" Johnson (seasons 1, 5, and 6)^[14]
• Brian King as Detective Wallace (season 1)
• Steven Williams as Quentin "Q" Dickinson (seasons 1 and 5), a kingpin elder
• Tosin Morohunfola as Trice (season 1)
• Byron Bowers as Meldrick^[15] (season 1)
• Sonja Sohn as Laverne Johnson (seasons 1, 3 and 4),^[14] Brandon's mother
• Cedric Young as Sonny (seasons 1–3), Q's brother and Emmett's boss
• LaDonna Tittle as Ethel Davis (seasons 1–3), Ronnie's grandmother
• Tyla Abercrumbie as Nina Williams (seasons 1–6), Kevin and Keisha's mother
• Hannaha Hall as Tiffany, the mother of Emmett's child^[16]
• José Antonio García as Mr. Gasca (seasons 1–2), Kevin's teacher
• Genesis Denise Hale as Maisha
• Mariah Gordon as Andrea (season 1)
• Chris Lee as Hannibal (seasons 1–3), Brandon's cousin
• Tai Davis as Tracy Roxboro, Jason's mother
• Common as Rafiq (seasons 1–2)
• Crystal Dickinson as Detective Alice Toussaint (season 2)
• Miriam A. Hyman as Dre (season 3–present), Nina's partner who is a high school counselor^[17]
• Jasmine Davis as Imani (seasons 3 and 4), Trig's girlfriend
• La La Anthony as Dominque "Dom" Morris (seasons 3–6)^[11]
• Judae'a Brown as Jemma (season 3–present)
• Kandi Burruss as Roselyn Perry (season 3–present), Douda's estranged wife^[18]
• Lena Waithe as Camille Hallaway (season 3), a mayoral candidate
• Lil Rel Howery as Zeke Remnick (season 3),^[11] Sonny's landlord.
• Ahmad Ferguson as Bakari (season 3–present)
• Tabitha Brown as Octavia (season 4)^[13]
• Jason Weaver as Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall (season 4–present)^[13]
• Vic Mensa as Jamal (seasons 4 and 6)^[19]
• Da Brat as LaPorsha (seasons 4 and 6)^[19]
• Cory Hardrict as Dante (season 4–present)
• Zaria Imani Primer as Lynae (season 4–present)
• Iman Shumpert as Rob (seasons 4–6), Tiffany's love interest
• Amari Ferguson as Britney (season 6)
• Kadeem Hardison as Professor Gardner (season 6)
• Lynn Whitfield as Alicia (season 6–present), Shaad's lover
• Jill Marie Jones as Bianca (season 6)
• Leon Robinson as Alonzo (season 6), Alicia's ex-husband, Rob's father
• Kennedy Amaya as Kenya (season 6), Papa's love interest & Zay's lover
• Aaron Guy as Zay (season 6), Kenya's lover
• Brett Gray as Damien (season 6-present), Darnell’s son, Emmett’s half-brother
• Rotimi as Charles (season 7–present; guest season 6), A church goes connected to Pastor Zeke^[20]

On January 30, 2018, Showtime renewed the series for a second season which premiered on April 7, 2019.^[73][74] On April 30, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a third season which premiered on June 21, 2020.^[75][76] On May 20, 2019, it was announced that Jason Mitchell would not be returning to the show for season 3 because of "misconduct allegations". His character was killed off in the season 3 premiere.^[77] On September 8, 2020, Showtime renewed the series for a fourth season which premiered on May 23, 2021.^[78][79] In March 2021, production on the series was paused due to a positive COVID-19 test.^[80] On August 2, 2021, after the conclusion of the fourth season, it was announced that the series was renewed for a fifth season.^[81] The fifth season premiered on June 24, 2022.^[82] On August 18, 2022, the series was renewed for season six before the conclusion of season five.^[5] On May 8, 2024, Paramount+ With Showtime renewed the series for a seventh season.^[8]

The Chi premiered on January 7, 2018, on Showtime.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 87% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Like an optimistic companion to The Wire, The Chi explores the complexities of life in the South Side of Chicago, with a tender touch and a clear affection for its captivating characters."^[83] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[84]

• Official website
• The Chi at IMDb