The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Rappers in Movies
Good guys, villains, and horrific deaths.
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Rappers in Movies\r - Rappers have successfully invaded Hollywood. Despite some hate from critics over the years, rap star have become some of the top draws at the box office. Rapper-turned-movie icon Will Smith recently popped up on Forbes’ list as one of the top earners in Hollywood. His success has inspired other wordsmiths to test their talents on the silver screen. Here, we take a look at some notable roles that rappers have played in film, five good guys, five villains and five horrific demises.
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The Bad — Tupac as Bishop in Juice - Description: In his career-defining role Tupac played the character Bishop so well in 1992's Juice that many say the typically non-violent Pac wasn't able to shake the character, and his life began to imitate art.(Photo:Courtesy: Everett Collection)
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The Good — T.I. as Rashad in ATL\r - Although T.I. probably didn't have to do much research to play a teenager coming of age in his hometown of Atlanta, he did surprise the audience with how well he played the straight-and-narrow, love-struck Rashad. \r\r \r(Photo: Everett Collection)
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The Bad — Snoop Dogg as Rodney in Baby Boy\r - Playing the ex-boyfriend from hell Rodney, Snoop Dogg showed his cold-blooded sided in the John Singleton film Baby Boy. The 2001 flick cast Snoop alongside Tyrese (Jody) and Taraji P. Henson (Yvette). \r\r(Photo by Courtesy Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)
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The Ugly — Saafir as Cousin Harold in Menace II Society - Saafir, who played Cousin Harold, took one for the team when he was gunned down in a drive by shooting in the classic film, Menace II Society. Break yo self fool!\r\r \r(Photo: www.myspace.com/saafir)
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The Good — Ice Cube as Calvin in Barbershop\r - A long way from his role as Doughboy in John Singleton's 1991 film Boyz in the Hood, Ice Cube plays the loveable barber shop owner, Calvin, in the 2002 film Barbershop. Although his character wasn't as soft as the one he'd go on to play in the family comedy Are We There Yet? three years later, it was still no where near Doughboy. \r\r \r(Photo: FilmStills.net / Retna Ltd.)
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The Good - Will Smith as Mike Lowery in Bad Boys - There was nothing bad about Will Smith's role as playboy detective Mike Lowrey in the 1995 film Bad Boys (or the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II). In fact, Smith alongside comedian Martin Lawrence made drug busts and shootouts seem fun, or at least funny. (Photo: Courtesy: Everett Collection)
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The Bad — LL Cool J as God in In Too Deep\r - Although it seems that off camera LL Cool J smiles and licks his lips entirely too much to be ever considered a criminal of any sort, these traits actually worked in his favor in his role as the charismatic underworld boss God in 1999's In Too Deep. Most villainous scene: Two words--pool stick. Ouch!\r(Photo: Miramax Films)
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The Ugly — Method Man as Shameek in Belly\r - Method Man’s role as Shameek was real gangsta in the film Belly. That is, until he died. Shameek goes to Tommy’s house (DMX’s character) looking to kill him but ends up getting killed by Tommy’s girlfriend, Keisha.\r\r(Photo: Courtesy: Everett Collection)
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The Ugly — Diddy as Lawrence Musgrove in Monster's Ball - Here’s an unlikely violent death played out by a rapper. Rather than get gunned down or play a drug dealer, Sean “Diddy” Combs, then known as “Puffy,” had a small role in the film Monster’s Ball as Halle Berry’s on-screen husband. Diddy was on death row and died by electrocution. Ouch.\r(Photo: Courtesy: Everett Collection)\r
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The Bad — Big Boi as Marcus in ATL - Big Boi plays the role of Marcus, the slick-talking, fancy-dressing, gun-toting drug dealer who recruits Rashad's (T.I.'s) little brother, Ant (Evan Ross), to hit the corner in 2006's ATL. Boy, stop!(Photo: Courtesy: Everett Collection)
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The Good — Bow Wow as Calvin in Like Mike\r \r - Back when Bow Wow still had the Lil' affixed to his name he played Calvin Cambridge, a teenage orphan with hoop dreams, in the PG film Like Mike. The star-studded, rags-to-riches film finds Bow Wow channeling previously unknown basketball skills that earn him a contract in this adorable fairy tale for kids. \r\r(Photo:Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
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The Good — Mos Def as Vivien Thomas in Something the Lord Made\r - Not that Mos Def is the most gangster dude in real life, but his role as Vivien Thomas, a lab assistant turned heart surgeon, in 2004's Something the Lord Made was surprising nonetheless. What's more heartwarming than a rapper saving lives?\r\r(Photo: Courtesy: Everett Collection)
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The Bad — Cam'ron as Rico in Paid in Full\r - Cam'ron played the flashy, hot-headed, fast-life-living turncoat Rico to a tee in the 2002 film Paid in Full. Taking place in Harlem at the early onset of the 1980s crack epidemic, Rico charms his way into a tight-knit circle of drug dealers before turning on them. \r\r(Photo: Loud Films)
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The Ugly — RZA as Winston Boyko in Derailed\r - When it comes to being gunned down on film, RZA is giving his fellow Wu-Tang Clan brethren Method Man a run for his money. The actor made his film debut in Derailed, starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston, and did such a good job, he fell into the rapper/actor category. It was more suspense than horror, but the Black guy still ended up getting killed.\r \r(Photo by Dario Cantatore/Getty Images)