Actors have always wanted to be musicians (give it a rest, Russell Crowe!), and musicians have always wanted to be actors. However, none have enjoyed a better success rate than rappers. Overconfident, egocentric, and often angry, rappers are perfectly tailored to slip into an acting career. Of course, not every rapper has a critically acclaimed film career. Coolio?s résumé, including Pterodactyl and Dracula 3000, gives evidence of this. With that in mind, let?s take a look at the 7 rappers who have succeeded where others have failed: the movies.
7. Ice-T
At this point, he may be better known as an actor than a rapper thanks to his stint on Law and Order, but believe it or not kiddies, at one point Ice-T was actually a hardcore gangsta rapper. As he became more recognizable in the L.A. and national rap scene, he began appearing in movies ranging from the classically titled Breakin? 2: Electric Boogaloo to Leprechaun in the Hood (the obvious crown jewel of the Leprechaun series). However, it was 1991?s New Jack City that proved that Ice-T could actually act. As undercover cop Scotty Appleton, T delivered a convincingly complex performance and held his own with the likes of Wesley Snipes and even Chris Rock.
6. Eminem
As the most famous white rapper next to Vanilla Ice (Ice is coming back ? you just watch!), Eminem surely had many film offers that could have launched at least a mediocre acting career. But he did what most of his peers are unable to: say no to a paycheck (Cool as Ice, anyone?). Instead, he chose to star in one movie and do it well: 8 Mile. Of course, acting is a little easier when you?re playing a version of yourself as he did in this semi-autobiographical story of a young upstart?s struggle to become a respected rapper. But that doesn?t mean he didn?t deliver an impressive performance. Plus, the movie allowed Eminem to finally open up about his relationship with his alcoholic mother. He?s usually so tight-lipped about that.
5. Ice Cube
Ice Cube burst out of the rap scene and onto the big screen with his acting debut in Boyz n the Hood, which remains the high point of his acting career. As Doughboy, Ice Cube embodied one aspect of the inner-city community as a violent criminal still proud of his roots. Since then his acting career has taken interesting twists and turns, from the lead role in his self-written movie Friday, through a critically acclaimed part alongside George Clooney in Three Kings, and finally into his current career as family movie star in Are We There Yet? and Are We Done Yet? That doubles as a question, Ice Cube. According to The Longshots, his most recent family flick, it?s a longshot. Enough wacky antics with kids, Cube. Let?s see you in something Boyz n the Hood-quality again. And while maybe not in the true O.G. tradition, perhaps the forthcoming A-Team movie will bring Cube a little cred among people who don?t drive minivans.
4. Mos Def
Many people seem to think that Mos Def jumped straight from rapping to the big screen, but let?s not forget his work on the small screen, like on Bill Cosby?s show. No, not the beloved one. Mos Def played Cosby?s sidekick on The Cosby Mysteries, which was canceled after one season for not so mysterious reasons (it was terrible). However, Mos Def has had better luck on the big screen. In The Woodsman he acted as the suspicious detective that actually managed to make us feel bad for Kevin Bacon?s pedophile character. He also co-starred in 16 Blocks with Bruce Willis as a criminal-turned-baker that, judging by the nasally delivery of his every line, never breathed out of his nose. Most recently, he showed off his quirky comedy chops by helping Jack Black reproduce classic films with whatever they had lying around in Be Kind, Rewind.
3. Queen Latifah
Let?s go ahead and pretend that movies like Taxi and Bringing Down the House never existed. Not just for this list either. I think in general it will make the world a better place. Feels good, huh? Now we can move on to the part of Queen Latifah?s acting career that does deserve great applause. She discovered her true niche as the ? pardon the pun ? Queen of musicals. Her Oscar-nominated role in Chicago got her the attention of critics everywhere, and soon after she followed up with the funny, charming, and emotional role as a black woman amidst the civil rights struggle in Hairspray. With her musical hot streak, I half expected her to show up in Sweeney Todd.
2. Marky Mark
After bidding a tearful goodbye to his Funky Bunch, Marky Mark didn?t waste much time in his quest for a dignified acting career. First step: get people to stop calling him Marky. After that, Mark Wahlberg?s first big acting splash came with Boogie Nights, in which he played up-and-coming porn star Dirk Diggler. The name wasn?t the only memorable part of Wahlberg?s performance, and soon he was on his way to being a Hollywood leading man (even acting alongside fellow listee Ice Cube in Three Kings). Post-blockbusters like Planet of the Apes and The Italian Job, Wahlberg gave an Oscar-nominated performance as a hard-assed cop in The Departed, only to suffer through M Night?s The Happening. Fortunately, he's on the rebound as DEA Agent Max Payne. Oscar or not, though, he?ll always be Marky in the heart of a generation.
1. Will Smith
Aww, hell yes! Marky Mark is great and all, but no rapper has crafted himself into a box-office titan quite like Will Smith, who went from a goofy rapping teen to one of Hollywood?s leading men with relative ease. Whether an action star in movies like Hancock, Independence Day, or I Am Legend, or an honest to goodness thespian in dramas like Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, Will Smith always delivers a charismatic and captivating performance. It?s too bad he stopped trying to merge his acting and rap career, like he did with his rap singles for Men in Black and Wild Wild West. The one thing The Pursuit of Happyness was missing was a Big Willy-style rap session over the credits.
