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Home · Celebrity

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen

More and more rappers are going from hip-hop to Hollywood these days: Azealia Banks is set to star in a new film directed by RZA from Wu-Tang Clan. Nicki Minaj is set to co-star in Barbershop 3 alongside Ice Cube and Eve, and Queen Latifah's take on the iconic Bessie Smith made waves last week. Let's take a look at who else has made the leap.
25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
Getty Images
By Essence · Updated April 10, 2021
01
Azealia Banks

Rapper Azealia Banks is making her big screen debut in a new film directed by Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA. Banks will play the title character in Coco, a drama about a twenty-something aspiring rapper who’s working toward her goal while going to college. The film co-stars Common, Jill Scott, Lorraine Toussaint and more.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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02
Queen Latifah
Coming to HBO in 2015
25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
HBO/ Frank Masi
03
Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill was the unforgettable lead in Sister Act 2 but before that, she was a recurring character on the soap opera As The World Turns.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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04
Nas

Nas made his feature film debut in Belly alongside DMX and T-Boz. He has since made appearances on TV in Hawaii Five-O and also in the musical film as Black Nativity as the Prophet Isaiah.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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05
Nelly

You may remember Nelly as a prisoner in the comedy-drama The Longest Yard. He’s expected to appear in the upcoming film, Fall From Grace.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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06
Will Smith

By far one of the most successful musician-turned-actor, Will Smith broke into acting in the 90s shortly after winning his first Grammy as The Fresh Prince. Over 20 movies later, he is considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, according to Forbes Magazine.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
07
Eve

Eve has come a long way from the girl who’s apple juice was stolen in the first Barbershop movie. She’s been in VH1’s Single Ladies and the Lifetime film With This Ring. She’s even had her own sitcom, Eve, on UPN

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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08
Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj made her big screen debut as the voice of a wooly mammoth in an Ice Age film. She’s since appeared in The Other Woman and will co-star in the next Barbershop film. 

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
Instagram
09
Common

Rapper-turned-actor and author, Common doesn’t believe in staying in any lane. The Grammy winner has over 10 movies under his belt, including “American Gangster” (2007) and “Smokin’ Aces” (2006). He won an Oscar for his musical contribution to the film Selma in which he also starred.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
10
Tupac Shakur

Who can forget Tupac in Juice or Poetic Justice with Janet Jackson? Tupac was as talented an actor as he was a rapper and social commentator. 

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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11
Diddy

Is there anything Diddy doesn’t do? You may remember Diddy from his role as Halle Berry’s husband in the Oscar-winning film Monster’s Ball. He also played the lead in “A Raisin in the Sun” and the latest Muppet movie. 

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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12
LL Cool J

The legendary rapper hung up his mic in the late 00s to pursue a career in acting. He currently stars in CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
13
David Banner

David Banner is probably best known for his role in The Butler but he’s also made appearances in This Christmas, Stomp The Yard 2, and Ride Along with Kevin Hart

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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14
Busta Rhymes

Busta burst onto the acting scene in Who’s the Man? (the film debut of Terrence Howard as well). He’s since been in numerous movies including Space Jam and Finding Forrester opposite Sean Connery. 

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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15
T.I.

The rapper has actively cultivated his acting along with his music career, starring in popular movies like “ATL” (2006) and “Takers” (2010).

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
16
Ice-T

This veteran rapper can currently be seen playing detective Odafin ‘Fin’ Tutuola on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” after starring in classics like “New Jack City” and “Ricochet” (both in 1991).

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
17
Ludacris

Ludacris made a name for himself outside of hip hop in movies like “Crash” (2003) and “Hustle and Flow” (2006). Most recently he starred in Furious 7, the latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
18
Mos Def

A talented emcee and actor Mos Def has cultivated a career in film that includes starring roles in “Monster’s Ball” (2001) and 2008’s “Cadillac Records” (where he played Chuck Berry). Most recently he had a recurring role on the Showtime thriller, “Dexter.”

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
19
50 Cent

You can always count on rapper 50 Cent to go the extra mile. For the movie “All Things Fall Apart” (2011), 50 dropped 80 pounds to play a cancer-ridden football player. He also starred and produced his own biopic, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” in 2005.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
20
Ice Cube

A Hollywood power player, rapper Ice Cube (far right) has not only starred in but also produced movies like “Friday” (1995) and ’Lottery Ticket" (2010).

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
21
Bow Wow

The former child rapper has recently dedicated all his energy to acting, starring in movies like “Roll Bounce” (2005) and “Madea’s Big Happy Family” (2011). These days, you can find Bow Wow on CSI: Cyber

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
22
Andre 3000

Rapper Andre 3000 has chosen films as eclectic as his music, from the action-packed “Four Brothers” (2005) to the musical film, “Idlewild” (2006) and the lead role as Jimi Hendrix in the biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
23
Big Boi

Big Boi appeared alongside Andre 3000 in the film Idlewild but before that, Big Boi was in ATL with T.I. 

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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24
Dr. Dre

This music superstar has had minor roles in Set It Off and Training Day alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest actors. 

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
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25
DMX

Since debuting in Belly, DMX has starred in Cradle 2 The Grave, South Park and Chris Rock’s hit Top Five.

25 Rappers Who Went from the Stage to the Silver Screen
Getty Images
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