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This isn’t to bash rappers, nor is it to say that these artists aren’t allowed to pursue different career paths in Hollywood. With so many prominent rappers acquiring roles in television and movies though, it begs the question—why?
It’s not as if rappers in film and television is a new thing. In 1991, Mario Van Peebles cast Ice-T as a cop in "New Jack City," a film that is still beloved by many. That same year, director John Singleton cast Ice Cube as a Los Angeles gangbanger in "Boyz N the Hood." These two movies helped open the floodgates for rappers to enter the world of acting.
Soon, Will Smith went from rapping about “Summertime” to becoming the Fresh Prince of the summer box office. Queen Latifah successfully transitioned from her message of “U.N.I.T.Y” to the television series “Living Single” and movies such as “Set It Off,” “Chicago,” and “Hairspray.”
Not every rapper is meant for a life in front of the camera, though. For every LL Cool J and Ice Cube, there’s a DMX, The Game, and Ja Rule.
Why are rappers getting so many opportunities to act with successful Hollywood actors? Why are Common ,T.I., and RZA acting opposite Denzel Washington and Ruby Dee in “American Gangster?” Why is 50 Cent sharing the screen with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in “Righteous Kill?”
Some of the reasons are easy to understand. Rappers, in many ways, are natural actors. Through their music (and music videos), they portray an image—some of it true, some of it fabricated. Nevertheless, rappers exude bravado—they make money and sell records off of machismo. While country and R&B artists may be singing about unrequited love, rappers are allowing fans into their lives by telling a very raw, passionate, and often dirty narrative. Rap music is about pain, arrogance, and adversity—the same ingredients one must possess to become a quality actor.
Some rappers in television and film, too, are cast in stereotypical roles. In “Boyz N the Hood,” Ice Cube was cast as “Doughboy” soon after NWA’s album “Straight Outta Compton” was charged with perpetuating a gangsta lifestyle. In 2005’s “Hustle & Flow,” Ludacris gets “deep” into method acting as he portrays a rapper on the silver screen.
There’s also the appeal of what a rapper can contribute to a movie or television show off-screen. The benefit of casting DMX opposite Steven Segal and Isaiah Washington in 2001’s “Exit Wounds” is not just that it expands the demographic of the audience, but that DMX will contribute to the soundtrack of the album. In fact, though 2002’s “8 Mile” starring Eminem made over $240 million worldwide, the soundtrack for that film—which included a handful of tracks performed by Eminem like the chart topping “Lose Yourself”—went on to become the fifth best selling album of the year. And both Will Smith and Queen Latifah, starring in the 1990's sitcoms "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and "Living Single," both rapped the theme songs of their respective television shows.
Musicians in movies are not just a hip-hop related phenomenon, however. Elvis Presley went on to make thirty-one films as an actor. Madonna has starred in films such as “Dick Tracy,” “A League of Their Own,” and “Evita.” Even Beyonce Knowles has seen success in films like “The Pink Panther” and “Dreamgirls.”
It must be stated, too, that not all rappers-turned-actors are bad. Though his career was cut short due to his 1996 murder, Tupac Shakur’s acting ability had serious potential. Mos Def, in everything from “The Italian Job” to “Bamboozled,” has been a joy to watch. Andre 3000's stint on "The Shield" wasn't bad, and though his acting ability is not yet up to par, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs’ passion to become a dramatic actor is evident in movies such as “Monster’s Ball” and the 2008 ABC production of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
The massive migration of rappers towards acting is a bit concerning, though. Rappers make music—they aren’t trained thespains. The idea that Will.I.Am can star opposite Hugh Jackman in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” as a teleporting mutant is cause for anxiety. Just because Bow Wow can rap about being “eighteen” and “making more than your dad” on the track “Fresh Azimiz ” doesn’t mean that he’s at all qualified to act in "Roll Bounce" or episodes of "Entourage."
The one noticeable, sad fact is that producers in Hollywood are taking roles away from capable actors—mostly African-American actors—and giving them to rappers. The idea that T.I. is more qualified to play Frank Lucas' cousin in “American Gangster” over a trained black actor is preposterous. Should 50 Cent really be honing his acting chops opposite De Niro and Pacino when a talented black actor could’ve landed this breakout role? With a dearth of new black acting talent in Hollywood, these casting decisions by movie producers is an indictment on not just the perceptions of who minorities are, but who many believe should represent them in major motion pictures and television programs.
It’s interesting to note that in other areas of music, artists becoming actors is not as widely seen. When they do make the transition, though, it’s not merely a bit part in a film or television show. In fact, musician Rob Zombie, famous for founding the heavy metal band White Zombie, has found success in film behind the camera. He wrote and directed the film “The Devils Rejects” as well as the 2007 film “Halloween.” Fred Durst, who founded the American nu metal band Limp Bizkit in the mid-90s, recently has transitioned into directing as well. His second film titled “The Longshots,” starring Keke Palmer (Nickelodeon's "True Jackson, VIP") and Ice Cube (surprise?), was released into theaters last year.
The trend of rappers starring in movies and television will not change anytime soon (LL Cool J stars in an NCIS spin-off this fall)—there is simply too much money to be made by both film and television studios, as well as the artists themselves. Hopefully, though, more qualified actors will get the opportunity to showcase their talents. If rappers do barrage audiences with their presence on-screen for years to come, hopefully they mature and become successful enough to transition from acting to directing, producing, and even becoming decision making executives.
This isn’t to bash rappers, nor is it to say that these artists aren’t allowed to pursue different career paths in Hollywood. With so many prominent rappers acquiring roles in television and movies though, it begs the question—why?
It’s not as if rappers in film and television is a new thing. In 1991, Mario Van Peebles cast Ice-T as a cop in "New Jack City," a film that is still beloved by many. That same year, director John Singleton cast Ice Cube as a Los Angeles gangbanger in "Boyz N the Hood." These two movies helped open the floodgates for rappers to enter the world of acting.
Soon, Will Smith went from rapping about “Summertime” to becoming the Fresh Prince of the summer box office. Queen Latifah successfully transitioned from her message of “U.N.I.T.Y” to the television series “Living Single” and movies such as “Set It Off,” “Chicago,” and “Hairspray.”
Not every rapper is meant for a life in front of the camera, though. For every LL Cool J and Ice Cube, there’s a DMX, The Game, and Ja Rule.
Why are rappers getting so many opportunities to act with successful Hollywood actors? Why are Common ,T.I., and RZA acting opposite Denzel Washington and Ruby Dee in “American Gangster?” Why is 50 Cent sharing the screen with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in “Righteous Kill?”
Some of the reasons are easy to understand. Rappers, in many ways, are natural actors. Through their music (and music videos), they portray an image—some of it true, some of it fabricated. Nevertheless, rappers exude bravado—they make money and sell records off of machismo. While country and R&B artists may be singing about unrequited love, rappers are allowing fans into their lives by telling a very raw, passionate, and often dirty narrative. Rap music is about pain, arrogance, and adversity—the same ingredients one must possess to become a quality actor.
Some rappers in television and film, too, are cast in stereotypical roles. In “Boyz N the Hood,” Ice Cube was cast as “Doughboy” soon after NWA’s album “Straight Outta Compton” was charged with perpetuating a gangsta lifestyle. In 2005’s “Hustle & Flow,” Ludacris gets “deep” into method acting as he portrays a rapper on the silver screen.
There’s also the appeal of what a rapper can contribute to a movie or television show off-screen. The benefit of casting DMX opposite Steven Segal and Isaiah Washington in 2001’s “Exit Wounds” is not just that it expands the demographic of the audience, but that DMX will contribute to the soundtrack of the album. In fact, though 2002’s “8 Mile” starring Eminem made over $240 million worldwide, the soundtrack for that film—which included a handful of tracks performed by Eminem like the chart topping “Lose Yourself”—went on to become the fifth best selling album of the year. And both Will Smith and Queen Latifah, starring in the 1990's sitcoms "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and "Living Single," both rapped the theme songs of their respective television shows.
Musicians in movies are not just a hip-hop related phenomenon, however. Elvis Presley went on to make thirty-one films as an actor. Madonna has starred in films such as “Dick Tracy,” “A League of Their Own,” and “Evita.” Even Beyonce Knowles has seen success in films like “The Pink Panther” and “Dreamgirls.”
It must be stated, too, that not all rappers-turned-actors are bad. Though his career was cut short due to his 1996 murder, Tupac Shakur’s acting ability had serious potential. Mos Def, in everything from “The Italian Job” to “Bamboozled,” has been a joy to watch. Andre 3000's stint on "The Shield" wasn't bad, and though his acting ability is not yet up to par, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs’ passion to become a dramatic actor is evident in movies such as “Monster’s Ball” and the 2008 ABC production of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
The massive migration of rappers towards acting is a bit concerning, though. Rappers make music—they aren’t trained thespains. The idea that Will.I.Am can star opposite Hugh Jackman in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” as a teleporting mutant is cause for anxiety. Just because Bow Wow can rap about being “eighteen” and “making more than your dad” on the track “Fresh Azimiz ” doesn’t mean that he’s at all qualified to act in "Roll Bounce" or episodes of "Entourage."
The one noticeable, sad fact is that producers in Hollywood are taking roles away from capable actors—mostly African-American actors—and giving them to rappers. The idea that T.I. is more qualified to play Frank Lucas' cousin in “American Gangster” over a trained black actor is preposterous. Should 50 Cent really be honing his acting chops opposite De Niro and Pacino when a talented black actor could’ve landed this breakout role? With a dearth of new black acting talent in Hollywood, these casting decisions by movie producers is an indictment on not just the perceptions of who minorities are, but who many believe should represent them in major motion pictures and television programs.
It’s interesting to note that in other areas of music, artists becoming actors is not as widely seen. When they do make the transition, though, it’s not merely a bit part in a film or television show. In fact, musician Rob Zombie, famous for founding the heavy metal band White Zombie, has found success in film behind the camera. He wrote and directed the film “The Devils Rejects” as well as the 2007 film “Halloween.” Fred Durst, who founded the American nu metal band Limp Bizkit in the mid-90s, recently has transitioned into directing as well. His second film titled “The Longshots,” starring Keke Palmer (Nickelodeon's "True Jackson, VIP") and Ice Cube (surprise?), was released into theaters last year.
The trend of rappers starring in movies and television will not change anytime soon (LL Cool J stars in an NCIS spin-off this fall)—there is simply too much money to be made by both film and television studios, as well as the artists themselves. Hopefully, though, more qualified actors will get the opportunity to showcase their talents. If rappers do barrage audiences with their presence on-screen for years to come, hopefully they mature and become successful enough to transition from acting to directing, producing, and even becoming decision making executives.
