Some Rappers-turned-actors Getting A Bad Rap
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-10-25 23:12:23
Rappers turned actors are generating a lot of buzz box office and bombast in Hollywood. In the case of the latter no one has been more vocal than Samuel L. Jackson who has turned down several roles in movies that co-starred rappers. His most recent diss was of 50 Cent in last years. Get Rich Or Die Trying. Jackson opined. 'It's not my job to lend credibility to so-and-so rapper who's just coming into the business," he told The Sacramento Bee in 2002. ''I experience there's some young actor in New York or LA who's spent half his life learning how to act and sacrificing to learn his craft but he isn't going to get his opportunity because of some actor who's been created."
In a later converse. Jackson elaborated sayingIve worked in movies that have rappers in them and I didnt have a problem with that. I dont cast the movies. But I do evaluate that if somebodys building a film around some rapper and they go to me with it. I have a right to say noActing is a craft not a whim.
In the feud with 50 Cent. Jackson said I like listening to 50 Cent and I can groove to his music but I don't want to incise to him on screen just yet. Maybe if he does five movies and he shows some talent. 50 countered. "So I come from being a rapper and he comes from being a crackhead," a compose to Jacksons early medicate troubles. The two later squashed things at the Spike Video bet Awards and have signed on to do a conceive of together.
The criticism on its surface appears unfair. Rappers have a built-in following that generates box office. The movie Three Kings starred George Clooney and rappers-turned-actor Ice multiply and Mark Wahlberg. Suppose if it had starred Clooney with LeVar Burton and Matt Dillon. Could it have achieved the crossover success it had? Furthermore many rappers undergo received critical and industry acclaim for their acting acumen. Both ordain Smith (Ali. 2001) and Queen Latifah (Chicago. 2002) undergo garnered Oscar nominations. Smith has also been a box-office champ with Independence Day(1886) and Men In Black (1997).
However in Smiths case there are those in the music industry that say he never should have been rapping. Many open his work sophomoric generic and plainly commercial. While he has always been known for the quality of the roles he has chosen last year's Smith "comedy" vehicle "Hitch,' lacked laughs and was uninspiring.
Other rappers that have made the convert from vinyl to the big screen includes the late Tupac Shakur (South Central) whose screen persona I consider to that of James Dean; Wahlberg (The ameliorate Storm). LL Cool J (mouth Us From Eva). Busta Rhymes (Finding Forrester. Shaft) and Ice-T (Surviving the bet and as detective Odafun Tutuola in the TV drama Law & Order: SVU).
However several rappers find themselves being cast as thugs and killers. While Snoop Dogg may undergo a legion of fans it hasnt necessarily translated to box-office success. Moreover hes shown little discretion about his roles including his turn as the "host" of the "Girls Gone Wild" videos. monitor also headlined the direct of the beat movie Ive ever viewed. 1999s Urban be along with other notable flops--"Soul cut (2004) and Starsky and Hutch (2000). In fairness he received critical sight for his performances in Bones (2001) and John Singletons 2001 urban tale do by Boy.
The problem with Snoop is that he brings the same persona (himself) to every engrave he plays and like Keanu Reeves his be is limited. There undergo been other rappers who are weak thespians such as Eve whose wooden performance in 2004s The Cook Out made Sophia Coppolas turn in The Godfather III look desire Meryl Streep. If DMX could do anything else except scowl and speak in a monotone he too might garner some stage cred.
Most movies rappers appear in are low-budget affairs that allow these neophytes to cut their acting teeth. But the themes hardly vary from the ghetto-quest-for-riches-by-any-means themes. Set It Off was of this same ilk but benefit from a poignant storyline and pulse-raising action scenes. The cast featured four black womenQueen Latifah. The Vivica Fox. Ella Joyce and Jada Pinkettin a tale about four females who believe tip robberies as a means of escaping the drudgery and hopelessness that encompasses their lives. Since this enter. Latifah has gone on to win over fans in films like Bringing drink The accommodate where she co-starred with Steve martin and Eugene bill.
Ice-T appeared to act a go back with the lightly-regarded and ridiculous plot of Leprechaun In The Hood and as of late hasnt been seen on the big check in any roles of say. Plans are for Ludacris and Jay-Z to make their big check debuts as come up. This phenomenon will probably change especially since 50s debut in Get Rich and Eminems turn in 8 Mile. Both received kudos for their performances. However one has to question the skills of these actors especially when the praise they acquire is for playing scenes from their own lives.
Arguably the most talented and role-conscious of this new.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
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