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Summary
Some of the best acting performances picture in movies and TV shows have amount from record rap artists aiming to showcase their range as artists . As such , TV audience have seen many actors tell their own life stories , or the stories of other influential figures from various pass of life . Although there are somerappers that have turned to acting full - time , or at the very least , act more than they knap , many of the world ’s most successfulrappers are fully open of deliver strong acting performancesthat sometimes rival the performance of their more experient scene partners .
to boot , tv set has also turn out successful for rapper wish to expand their originative repertory , as there are manyTV shows that star rappersin either a semi - biographical setting , or a strictly fancied one . Although some rappers like Ice - T or LL Cool J make the changeover from rapping to act as more swimmingly than others , more often than not , rapper tend to be successful in their try because of their popularity as musician , going against eccentric , or even play into the mythos surrounding their belt persona . Whether in motion-picture show or TV , some of the best acting has come by way of rappers .
The winner of the Power universe speaks to the franchise ’s influence . However , there are other movies and shows that have influence it as well .
20RZA as Samurai Apocalypse - Californication (2012)
RZA’s Samurai Apocalypse is a self-reflexive version of himself.
play by RZA , Samurai " Sam " Apocalypse is a popular doorknocker and businessman who appears inCalifornication ’s 5th time of year with the goal of expanding his business ventures . Chiefly among Sam ’s priorities is developing his own version ofBeverly Hills Cop , namedSanta Monica Cop , which take him seeking out the show ’s writer protagonist Hank . Sam ’s professing , zen - like behavior , and large entourage all lovingly poke play at the rapper , but RZA ’s performance suggest that he ’s in on the jocularity . As such , some ofCalifornication ’s funniest momentsstem from Sam ’s interactions with David Duchovny ’s Hank .
Cast
19Fredro Starr as Marquis “Bird” Hilton - The Wire (2002 - 2003)
Bird is one of The Wire’s most memorable characters despite his limited screen time.
Although HBO’sThe Wiredoesn’t have a funny protagonist for audience to latch ontothroughout the criminal offense drama ’s six - class tally , it still boasts some of the most compelling storytelling and writing ever committed to TV.The Wirecenters around socioeconomic factors such as degeneracy in politics and legal philosophy enforcement , drugs , and gang violence that contribute to the destruction of urban communities . As such , many dissimilar persona are premise to audience on the fly , with one of thebest characters inThe Wirebeing Marquis " Bird " Hilton , played by Fredro Starr .
Despite Bird only appearing in three installment , Starr ’s intensity level and livery typically seen and heard in his piece of work with the hardcore rap chemical group Onyx translates improbably well into that of the morally dubitable and passably unintelligent Bird . play as one of notorious drug lord Avon Barksdale ’s top hatchet man , Bird is impulsive , often opting for fierceness to resolve issues , which lead to his arrest inThe Wire ’s 2nd season . However , despite his abbreviated appearance , many of the events that pass to the downfall of Barksdale ’s organization hinge on his carelessness , which play up his grandness to the overall fabric ofThe Wire .
18DMX as Tommy “Buns / Bundy” Brown - Belly (1998)
DMX’s rap persona enhances the performances of his loose cannon hitman for hire character.
address by prolific music video director , Hype Williams , Bellysees rap legends DMX and Nas as the hitman duo Bundy and Sincere in a fashionable and gamey story about loyalty , money , superpower , and greed . Supported by the performances of fellow rappers Nas and Method Man , the tardy DMX delivers a substantial performance that essentially sees him spiel two charactersover the course of the belated XC crime play classic . ab initio , DMX play into his aggressive rap persona as the merciless hitman known to others as Bundy . However , after a near - death experience inside a church , he wrench his living to Christ .
While Bundy ’s rash and wandering behavior more closely mimics the aesthetic of his rap persona , his decision to give his life to Christ and dedicate the rest of it to being a positive influence on the earthly concern is much more evocative to the late doorknocker ’s real - life tragical story . AlthoughBellymarks DMX ’s feature film - length introduction , he undertake the character and study covered with a bravado that is not only magnetised and bewitching , but also fairly self - reflexive . As such , DMX present a convincing and engaging performance that play up many of the ills of an surround similar to Bundy and Sincere ’s .
17Snoop Dogg as “Big” John Elliott - Day Shift (2022)
“Big” John Elliott is one of Day Shift’s best vampire hunters.
Perhaps the greatest display of a doorknocker showcasing their range , Snoop Dogg whizz alongside Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco in the Netflix repulsion action comedy , Day Shift , as the mysterious yet efficacious vampire Orion " Big " John Elliott . instinct with a cowboy hat and bleak leather dustcloth that would fit Elliott right in with the likes of a Sergio Leone spaghetti Western , Elliott come up to the rescue when Foxx ’s Bud nearly encounter his other demise via vampire lying in wait . Although the function mostly sees Snoop Dogg portray his usual good luck charm and swagman , it balance out the otherwise derisory and bloody vampire flick .
16André 3000 as Jimi Hendrix - Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013)
André 3000’s depiction of Jimi Hendrix humanizes the otherwise deified musician.
Jimi : All Is by My Sidesees the second one-half of Outkast , André 3000 , take on the role of the legendary psychedelic rock musician , Jimi Hendrix , in a biographical dramatic play that focalize on the late musician ’s career between 1966 and 1967 . Whereas most biographical films be given to deify their subjects , Jimi : All Is by My Sideshowcases Hendrix ’s shortcomings in his personal life and how they influenced his music . André 3000 ’s solemn depiction of Hendrixnot only showcases his range as an actor , but it sees the instrumentalist utilize his unique voice in a way that perfectly captures Hendrix ’s emotional state .
15Ice-T as Jack Mason - Surviving the Game (1994)
Ice-T excels as a homeless man being hunted down by wealthy hunters.
Although Ice - T is know primarily in the acting world for his performance as Detective / Sergeant Odafin " Fin " Tutuola in the long - flow constabulary procedural , Law & Order : Special Victims Unit , Ice - T also delivers a impregnable carrying out as a stateless man key out Jack Mason inSurviving the Game . broadly based on the 1924 Richard Connell short story , The Most Dangerous Game , endure the Gamesees Ice - T ’s Jack fighting for his life after being tricked into being the hunting prey of a radical of wealthy hunters . While Ice - T ’s usual machismo is on full display , his work as Jack excels largely because of his intelligence .
Using the forested environs to his reward , Jack systematically remain one step ahead of his veteran hunters in a fib that not only speaks to the character ’s intelligence , but to the human flavor as well . WhileSurviving the Gameisn’t as well known as Ice - T ’s work in theLaw & Orderfranchise orNew Jack City , it displays his range as his distinctive scowling comportment is replaced by a man urgently render to survive his macabre situation . Replete with supporting performances from the late Rutger Hauer , Gary Busey , and Charles S. Dutton , Ice - T holds his own in the underrated action thriller .
14Big Boi as Marcus - ATL (2006)
Marcus’s relentlessness makes him one of the most effective villains in cinema history.
ATLis a descend - of - years drama that centers around a group of friends enduring the asperity associated with maturate up in a rough Atlanta , Georgia neck of the woods . Although many rappers star or cameo inATL , the film ’s central opponent , Marcus , played by one - one-half of the southerly rap group Outkast ’s Big Boi , deliversATL ’s standout performance . Whereas most characters in the movie pursue familiar figure of speech , Marcus is an interesting villain in that he primitively starts the film off as something of a mentor to the film ’s puerile friend - even go so far as to steer them away from betray drugs .
However , the deuteragonist and impressionable teenager Ant regain himself get out to Marcus and the sporty lifestyle that a life of share drugs seems to provide the Isle of Man . As such , Ant disregard Marcus ’s warnings about the danger associated with drug make do to not only follow up on the rich people and position associated with it , but also prove his humanness to his friends . Big Boi ’s Marcus is an effective villain because he exploits Ant ’s hubris , which leads to many near - death experiences for the teen , while alsodisplaying a completely different side of the legendary rapper ’s creativity .
13LL Cool J as Dwayne Keith “God” Gittens - In Too Deep (1999)
LL Cool J’s antagonist avoids common crime lord tropes.
The recent ninety crime thriller , In Too Deep , sees Omar Epps as hugger-mugger police officer Jeffrey " J. Reid " Cole as he arduously works to take down the ruthless crime lord , Dwayne Keith " God " Gittens , encounter by rap caption LL Cool J. Whereas most crime put up from cartoonish portrayals by their actors , Dwayne is an effective presence asLL Cool J ’s boyish charm and unmarried man swaggerparadoxically make him a more menacing and threatening presence throughout the movie . As such , he effortlessly switches between a charming valet and a ruthless leader , ostensibly by the dip of a hat .
Dwayne ’s explosive mental state not only keep his subordinates and J. Reid on their toes , but it has a similar force on audiences , asLL Cool J ’s performance lulls everyone into a false sense of securitybefore turn thing on their own drumhead . As the picture progress and Dwayne ’s paranoia regarding J. Reid ’s possible condition as an hush-hush fuzz grows , his deportment becomes organically becomes more erratic . Because of Dwayne ’s growing paranoia , he exacts harsher method of keeping his subordinates in line with increasingly brutal issue that aids significantly in making LL Cool J vanish into his function .
12Busta Rhymes as Dreads - Higher Learning (1995)
Busta Rhymes' energized performance solidified him as a capable actor.
high Learningcenters around the racial tension between Black and White bookman at Columbus University in John Singleton ’s third feature article - duration film . With performances from Busta Rhymes and Ice Cube , Busta Rhymes outshine most everyone in the filmwith his extremely energetic energy that ’s unremarkably on display in his music . Busta plays Dreads , a fellow educatee at Columbus University who , along with his grim roomy , live on a lot of racial preconception from some of the blanched faculty and pupil eubstance . Nevertheless , Dreads maintains a positive and optimistic expectation and uses his DOE to uplift his friends .
11Cam’Ron as Rico - Paid in Full (2002)
Rico’s cunning and treachery make him one of the best villains in the crime drama genre.
Cam’ron play Rico , a remorseless drug dealer who , along with his closest booster Ace and Mitch , is very fertile in the 1980s New York drug scene . Rico is base on Alpo Martinez , andCam’ron ’s delivery of the backstabbing criminalhighlights the unreliable and barren reality of living a life of crime . While some of the other dealer inPaid in Fulldemonstrate a signified of honor , Rico disregards it altogether when the law ’s apprehension efforts close in on him and his outfit . fill with strong performances , Cam’ron ’s is arguably the most memorable because of his perfidy of his crew .
amount - of - age is a pop genre , yet movies centering on part of color do n’t receive as much acknowledgement . Rotten Tomatoes ranks the best here .
