There was a time when Hip hop and Hollywood were seen as two separate lanes. The idea was preposterous when hip-hop/rap artists expressed a desire to cross over to Hollywood. Those who dared cross the lane were perceived to be inauthentic and mocked for their inability to choose one route and stick to it. The only movies that featured hip-hop and rap artists taken seriously were those constructed around the art form, such as Wild Style (1982) and Beat Street (1984). As the progression of our material world has proven, one never knows how great something can be until it’s done. And over time, artists have demonstrated that hip hop artist in Hollywood is hardly a joke. Talent is rarely linear. More often, genuine artists possess a multitude of skills.
Top Ten: From Hip-Hop to Hollywood Films
While many hip-hop artists have shown top-caliber skills in acting, others failed miserably, leading many to wonder why hip-hop/rap artists didn’t stay in their lane. However, this is life, and we must take the good with the bad. So here is a list of movies starring hip-hop/rap artists who nailed their performance to those that will forever live in infamy.
#10 Snoop/Method Man Soul Plane
The number ten spot for movies featuring a hip hop/rap artist goes to Soul Plane. Soul Plane was a film that premiered in 2004. The hour and 26-minute comedy about an airline owned and staffed by African Americans featured artists Snoop Dogg and Method Man. Other notable comedians in the industry rounded out the cast. One can argue Snoop played his role to perfection. The Dogg Father did what he did the best play himself. His smooth, laid-back demeanor as Captain Mack was his signature. Snoop has more than learned how to use his persona in Hollywood to his advantage. As Highsnobiety notes,
” Though Snoop has 163 acting credits, most of those appearances can be viewed as extensions of his brand. Often, he plays himself.”
Nevertheless, despite the hilarity, Soul Plane was not Oscar-worthy material, so it rests in the number ten spot.
# 9 Will Smith Wild Wild West
Undoubtedly, Will Smith has become recognized as one of the most versatile in the industry. Will has been a trailblazer in many instances. But for those who do and do not remember, one of Smith’s first serious roles was Six Degrees of Separation (1993). While it was one of the first instances that Will was able to exercise his acting chops on the silver screen, the most memorable of his earlier works was Wild Wild West. The 1999 film departed from his earlier drama and featured him in the lead role. Unfortunately, Wild Wild West was also one of his worst films to date and one he has too regretted. Smith told the Hollywood Reporter in a 2021 interview, “Wild Wild West is a thorn in my side.” Unfortunately, the bubblegum western came off as a farce. However, Smith lived it down and became one of the most prominent hip-hop artists turned actors. Good thing Smith’s entire career wasn’t predicated on this film.
#8 Big Boi & Andre 3000 Idlewild
The number eight spot goes to Idlewild, starring members of Outkast Big Boi and Andre 3000. Idlewild centered on small-town life in the deep south during the era of prohibition. But on a deeper level, the film explored the relationship between two friends traversing that terrain dealing with love, expectations, friends, and the come up from different perspectives. While a low-key movie compared to most, Idlewild allowed Big Boi and Andre to display the full range of their talents, proving that just as on stage, their flare and creativity were suited for more than the sound booth.
# 7 Full Cast Carmen Hip Hopera
Carmen Hip Hopera is one of the lesser known movies; however, it is one of the best revisioning of a classic film starring a predominantly hip-hop cast. Until Carmen Hip Hopera, few films boasted a primary hip-hop cast, let alone used the performer to recreate a classic movie for a wider audience. This film was a 2001 offering directed by Robert Townsend. Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Rah Digga, Wyclef Jean, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Shad Moss (Bow Wow), Beyonce, and Mekhi Phifer made up the cast. Impressively this group of talented performers was able to reshape the story of Carmen into a hip-hop work of art, displaying not only their acting talent but also their musical talent.
#6 Tupac Shakur – Juice
Juice takes the number six spot. This 1992 film is one of the best cultural films to be produced. Tupac Shakur, who played the role of Bishop, a no-nonsense dealer in the 1990s street of New York, proved that rappers could be serious actors. Tupac’s delivery was on point, and his poise was unmatchable. With this performance, it was undeniable that Tupac could effortlessly move through both worlds. Of relative importance was what the film did for the perception of hip-hop overall. As Independent notes,
“Juice was equally crucial for showing how uniquely enmeshed movie and rap stardom could become. “
#5 Kid n Play House Party
House party is hands down a hip-hop cult classic. Hip hop artist Kid n Play did their thing in the 1990 iconic comedy, making it one of the most memorable films. While neither Kid nor Play’s performances were Oscar-worthy, their performances were authentic. The chemistry was unforgettable, with Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, and Robin Harris rounding out the cast. The culture loved it, accepting the film for what it was, an iconic moment in cinematic history celebrating hip-hop on the silver screen. And the acting wasn’t half-bad.
#4 Queen Latifah –Set it Off
Set it Off falls in the top five movies starring a hip-hop artist. Set it off premiered in 1996, and it was fire. Queen Latifah showed the world how it was done. Her performance, along with the performances of the other three leading ladies, was noteworthy. No one could doubt whether each poured their essence into the characters of Stony, Cleo, Frankie, and Tisean because It showed. These women were as authentic and touchable as any. In fact, it was difficult to tell the character apart from the actor. And if it hadn’t been obvious before now, it was plain that Queen had what it takes to make it big in Hollywood. As a testament to her talent, according to Highsnobiety,
“With almost one hundred acting credits and nearly fifty producing credits to her name, Queen Latifah is now a Hollywood titan.”
# 3 Tupac Shakur Poetic Justice
While Tupac has been mentioned before, he again gains mention for his role in the cultural favorite, Poetic Justice. This 1993 John Singleton film wherein Tupac Shakur played the character of Lucky. This film, which premiered only a year after Juice, depicted Pac differently. In Poetic Justice, Tupac played the love interest of none other than Janet Jackson. While he remained rough around the edges, the character of Lucky depicted a man gentler in nature, a vast difference from Bishop. Poetic Justice was demonstrative of Pac’s range. If no one else had proved that rap artists could act, he did.
#2 Ice Cube –Friday
Friday is iconic. Ice Cube and Chris Tucker created a brand of magic on film that can’t be duplicated. This cultural favorite is arguably one of the most quoted films in hip-hop culture. While the film was pure comedy, Cube and Tucker hit every cue. Given what is known of Ice Cube, he is one of the few rap artists other than Tupac and Will Smith who have proven that some hip-hop artists could also dominate Hollywood.
#1 Ice Cube –Boyz N the Hood
The number one movie is none other than Singleton’s classic Boys N The Hood. This 1991 Drama cemented Ice Cube as a noteworthy actor. Cube took his place amongst some of the best in the business Angela Basset, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, and Cuba Gooding Jr. He demonstrated he was up to the task. And now, according to Highsnobiety, “Ice Cube has over 60 acting credits to his name spanning almost thirty years.” With that in mind, it is more than sure Boyz n The Hood proved that if no other rapper in the business could carry a role, Ice Cube could.
Hip Hop/ Rap Artist in Hollywood Are No Joke
Many more movies spotlight hip hop/rap artists, highlighting their talents beyond the mic. Although this list is nowhere near exhaustive, it is more than enough to confirm that hip-hop artists in Hollywood are legit, even in films that fall lower on the tier. But, of course, proper judgment can only be predicated on individual merit alone.
