NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Hollywood and Hip Hop are one of the same these days. Hell, dating back a few decades it goes back as far as Wild Style, Breaking, and Beat Street. Back then, rappers had roles but Hollywood wasn’t quite ready to see them as leading men or women who could carry a movie, sitcom, drama, or stage play. But times have changed.
Hip Hop artists are everywhere now. Turn on a TV and you’re sure to see a rapper bursting on a TV show, making a cameo, or in a leading role in a movie. However, there are a few who have passed those stages and are more actors than they are rappers now. While Tupac was on his way before his death and 50 Cent is making waves himself, no one has held the torch like these 5 Hip Hop artists turned actors.
Will Smith
Without a doubt, Smith is the most prestigious of this group. Even during his Hip Hop career, Will was blazing trails in Hollywood with his portrayal of Will Smith in the hit sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. From there, Will would go on to star in too many Hollywood blockbusters to name.
During his career, Smith was robbed of a few awards and finally took home that elusive Ocasr in 2022. To say that he’s not one of the top actors is an understatement. It’s at the point now that many forget that Will was a Hip Hop artist. He’s now known for his acting chops more than spitting on a mic.
Ice Cube
To think that a founding member of possibly the hardest rap group (NWA) ever, would become such a huge power player in Hollywood is crazy. Cube carved his own lane in Hollywood with his successful Friday movies. While Cube will be remembered in Hollywood for playing Craig, many forget that he did pretty serious roles as well.
But what has set Cube apart from other rappers taking shots in acting is that Cube, much like Will Smith took matters into his own hands with his own production company called Cubevision. Hollywood did not see Cube coming and there is no debating the impact he would have after playing Doughboy in Boyz N Da Hood in 1991.
Queen Latifah
Latifah is a national treasure along with Smith and Cube. The Jersey native set the bar so high for her peers that no female MC can ever touch when it comes to acting. Latifah has been on the big screen, and small screen and has even blessed Broadway. She an icon. Much like her counterparts, Cube and Smith, Latifah is such a great actor that her career in Hip Hop often gets pushed to the back of people’s memories.
With a slew of hit movies under her belt and some of the most iconic roles to date, Latifah is still doing her thing on the small screen in the hit show– The Equalizer. Career-wise, not many can hold a candle to her resume in front of the camera.
Who Are The Top Hip Hop Actors
LL Cool J
What can we say about the Hip Hop career of LL Cool J that has not been said? LL is Hip Hop. He’s been around since the beginning of Def Jam Records. What was left to accomplish in the booth? It was only right that he gave acting a shot, especially with the success that Smith and Cube had in Hollywood. LL began with small roles then had his own sitcom titled In The House which really put him on the map.
From there, he would go on to start in a few films but it’s his role on NCIS since 2009 that made him a household name outside of the Hip Hop community. LL earned his rank on this list with his tireless grind.
Mark Wahlberg
Yup, laugh all you went but Marky Mark carved his place in Hop Hop with his group Mark Mark and the Funky Bunch. While his career wasn’t as long and successful as the others on this list, he still falls under the Hip Hop category. What he couldn’t do in Hip Hop, he surely made up for it with his acting skills. Starting with small roles, Wahlberg would grow into a household name with movies suck as Transformers, Ted, and The Italian Job
Now, Wahlberg is still a big deal in Hollywood and has even moved behind the scenes in a producer’s role. As good as the show Entourage was, let’s remember that was based on his life. While no one is checking for him to drop another album of even looking to stream his old music, Wahlberg can still bring fans into the theaters.
