From hip-hop to Hollywood, these multi-talented celebs have gone from spitting bars to sparking up the screen.
1. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
Coming from a rap-to-riches background, 50 Cent’s on-screen persona is as tough and hard core as his music. While he already has a slew of movie roles under his belt, his most interesting performance to date is his role as underworld felon Kanan in the hit show Power. Set within a busy nightclub scene, Power centres on the life of James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), a drug lord who does business under the nickname Ghost. Jackson’s portrayal of Ghost’s menacing antagonist is spot-on and absolutely thrilling to watch. The show is set to return on June 7, and word has it that Kanan is fresh out of jail and just itching to cause trouble. We can’t wait!
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Watch episodes of Power on Super Channel on Demand.
2. Bryshere Yazshawn “Yazz” Gray
Some actors spend years trying to land that one role that will catapult them into fame. Clearly that wasn’t the case for 21-year-old rapper Yazz, who – for his first acting job – snagged the coveted role of Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson’s bad-boy son, Hakeem Lyon, in the insanely popular show Empire. A show that’s all about the hip-hop music industry? Sounds like the ideal gig for any up-and-coming rap artist. Not only does Yazz give a solid performance as a frustrated young rapper with “mommy issues,” but his fiery rap numbers have also shown us that he’s capable of making it big both onscreen and on the musical stage.
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3. Dana Elaine Owens a.k.a. Queen Latifah
That’s right: the league of RTAs (Rappers Turned Actors) is not just a boys’ club. Often called hip-hop’s first lady, Queen Latifah has enjoyed a career as a rapper and an actress that has evolved with time. She started her rapping career in the late ’80s, starred in the hit show Living Single in the ’90s and since then has become a household name with box-office winners like Ice Age: The Meltdown, Hairspray, Beauty Shop and Chicago, for which she earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. All hail the Queen!
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4. Lonnie Rashid Lynn a.k.a. Common
With his poetic lyrics, movie-star good looks and charm, it’s no wonder Common translates so easily from music to film. Onscreen, the Oscar®-winning musician is best known for playing the quintessential tough guy in films like Smokin’ Aces, Street Kings and Wanted with Angelina Jolie. And rumour has it that he’s set to play DC Comics super-villain Black Manta in the highly anticipated comic-book movie Suicide Squad, alongside Jared Leto and Will Smith.
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5. Will Smith
Saving the best for last, we’re looking to the Fresh Prince himself. From emcee to beloved TV goofball to movie icon, Smith sets the bar pretty high when it comes to RTAs. After his successful sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air came to an end in 1996, Smith struck gold on the big screen with a steady stream of blockbusters like Independence Day, Hitch, Hancock and The Pursuit of Happyness, which earned him an Academy Award® nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. Though it’s been ages since he’s put out an album or a single (who can forget “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”?), we’re still hoping he’ll contribute to another film soundtrack, as he once did for Men in Black.
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