A definitive list of Hip Hop Actors

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 10 Say what you will about the direction his HipHop career has taken over the years, but there is no denying that the Fresh Prince is the King of HipHop actors in Hollywood. Highlights include : The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series) Six Degrees of Separation Bad Boys 1 & 2 Men In Black 1, 2 & 3 Independence Day Ali The Pursuit of Happyness Hancock Seven Pounds

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 10 Some may argue that as a rapper, his Hollywood career maybe softened him up a little. No matter, Ice Cube earned his respect in both fields, and his resume - consisting of both classic records and blockbuster film credits - speaks for itself. Side note, an NWA biopic is on the way and his own son and rapper in his own right, is cast as a young Ice Cube. Highlights include : Boyz n the Hood Higher Learning Friday 1, 2 & 3 The Players Club Three Kings All About the Benjamins Barbershop 1 & 2 Are We There Yet? (Movies & TV Series) 21 & 22 Jump Street

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 10 Queen of HipHop actresses in Hollywood, Native Tongue MC Queen Latifah has shown many talents, making smooth transitions from rapper to actress to singer to model to talk show host, and seems to do it all quite lovely. Highlights include : House Party 2 Set It Off Living Single (TV Series) Chicago Bringing Down the House Barber & Beauty Shop Hairspray Just Wright Joyful Noise

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 9 One of the earlier HipHop artists to make a serious go at acting, LL has an extensive list of credits from supporting roles to big budget films and a couple of prominent TV roles as well. Highlights include : Krush Groove In the House (TV Series) Halloween H20: 20 Years Later Deep Blue Sea In Too Deep S.W.A.T. Any Given Sunday Grudge Match NCIS: Los Angeles (TV Series)

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 8 Getting his start as a backup dancer/hypeman/part time MC with Digital Underground, it wasn't long before Tupac went solo and became an icon. As for film, had he lived longer, there's no telling how far Tupac might have made it in Hollywood. At the rate he was going and the talent he showed, Pac quite possibly would have topped this list. Beyond his acting, there are literally dozens of documentaries about Tupac. They are of various quality and mostly released posthumously. Highlights include : Juice Poetic Justice Above the Rim Bullet Gridlock'd Gang Related

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 8 Probably the first HipHop artist to make a big break in Hollywood. As a pioneer in HipHop, his transition into acting was a pretty big deal, at the time especially, and while not the greatest actor on this list, his credits keep growing. Highlights include : Breakin' New Jack City Ricochet Trespass Who's the Man? Tank Girl Leprechaun in the Hood 3000 Miles to Graceland Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 8 Although he made his name as an MC, little known fact is that Mos Def started out as an actor with some early TV credits. Since then he balances both nicely with both respected music and movie roles. Highlights include : The Cosby Mysteries (TV Movie & Series) Bamboozled Brown Sugar The Italian Job The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 16 Blocks Be Kind Rewind Cadillac Records Dexter (TV Series)

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 7 Garnering much respect as an MC, Common also has some decent supporting roles on his acting resume. From action to drama to comedy, he just needs to get cast in a few bigger roles and show off that versatility. He is also one of a few HipHop artists who holds an Oscar for music. Highlights include : Smokin' Aces American Gangster Street Kings Terminator Salvation Just Wright LUV The Odd Life of Timothy Green Hell on Wheels (TV Series) Selma Suicide Squad

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 6 Wu-Tang member with mixed reviews as an actor, he has his moments, but nobody will deny his skills as a producer. Aside from acting, RZA makes a name for himself with film scores, his love for Martial-Arts films, and tried his hand at directing. Highlights include : Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Coffee and Cigarettes American Gangster Life Is Hot in Cracktown Funny People The Man with the Iron Fists Californication (TV Series) G.I. Joe: Retaliation Gang Related (TV Series)

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 10 Although he had a huge hit and a couple albums before turning to acting, as a rapper - Marky Mark - he was a bit of a pop star joke, nobody is really gonna deny that. As an actor on the other hand, he found his true calling and thankfully was able to reinvent himself. Highlights include : The Basketball Diaries Boogie Nights Three Kings Rock Star The Departed Max Payne The Other Guys The Fighter Pain & Gain

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 5 Prolific musician, and though his film credits may be short, Andre 3000 has proven to be a pretty solid actor thus far. It's no surprise he has dabbled in some music based movies. Highlights include : Be Cool Four Brothers Revolver Idlewild Battle in Seattle Semi-Pro Jimi: All Is by My Side

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 6 Luda is a charismatic MC from the South with a relatively small but decent acting resume, including his ongoing role in the Fast & Furious franchise. Beyond that, he shows some range with dramatic and comedic roles as well. Highlights include : Fast & Furious 2, 5, 6 & 7 Crash Hustle & Flow Fred Claus RocknRolla Max Payne Gamer

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 7 One of a couple Onyx members to transition into acting, Sticky Fingaz has built up an extensive resume. He wrote and directed a couple of ambitious HipHop musicals along the lines of his 'Black Trash' solo album, which plays like a movie itself. Highlights include : Clockers Ride The Playaz Court Platinum (TV Series) Flight of the Phoenix Blade: The Series (TV Series) A Day in the Life Caught on Tape

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 5 Wu-Tang member, Method Man has turned up in solid supporting roles on bigger projects, and a few leading roles as well. Most notably perhaps was How High with partner in rhyme Redman, leading to a failed sitcom, but that didn't slow him down. Highlights include : Belly Black and White How High Soul Plane Method & Red (TV Series) The Wackness The Wire (TV Series) The Mortician The Sitter

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 5 More of a personality than an actor, Snoop Doggy Dogg has a large list of credits to his name, often typecast as comedic variations of himself, but every now and then they put him in something different. Highlights include : Half Baked Baby Boy Training Day Bones The Wash Starsky & Hutch Soul Plane The Tenants Mac & Devin Go to High School

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 5 With a highly successful rap career, and a semi-biographical movie - Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 seems to have since made a serious attempt in transitioning to movies. The results vary from low budget straight to video action to a few dramatic roles, often working with some pretty big names. Highlights include : Get Rich or Die Tryin' 50 Cent: Bulletproof (Video Game) Home of the Brave Righteous Kill All Things Fall Apart Gun Freelancers Escape Plan

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 7 One of a couple Onyx members to transition into acting. Lots of straight to video movies and TV appearances with some stronger roles mixed throughout, especially early on, Fredro has built up a ton of acting credits under his name. Highlights include : Strapped (TV Movie) Clockers Sunset Park Moesha (TV Series) Ride Light It Up Save the Last Dance A Day in the Life The Eddie Black Story

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 7 Childish Gambino is not related to Danny Glover, despite rumors. Multi-talented in writing, acting, music and comedy. Still relatively new but with an accomplished body of work already, give him a couple more years and a couple more big projects and he probably climbs this list into the top 10. Highlights include : 30 Rock (TV Series) Community (TV Series) Mystery Team The Muppets The To Do List The Lazarus Effect Magic Mike XXL The Martian

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 6 The overweight lover gained tons of respect as an MC before his untimely passing. Charismatic as he was it's no wonder his transition into acting was so smooth. No telling how far he could have gone in Hollywood if he were still here. Highlights include : New Jersey Drive The Deli Life The Cider House Rules Big Trouble Boston Public (TV Series) Larceny The Tracy Morgan Show (TV Series) Tower Heist

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 6 DMX had a decent run of action movies. The quality of those movies range from straight to video to big budget, but with an intense personality, action movies seems a logical fit. Highlights include : Belly Romeo Must Die Exit Wounds Cradle 2 the Grave Never Die Alone The Bleeding

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 5 Lively, charismatic, respected MC, it's no wonder LONS MC Busta tried his hand at acting. He even got a few solid credits in there, but as an actor at least seems to have slowed down some. Highlights include : Who's the Man? Higher Learning Shaft Finding Forrester Halloween: Resurrection Full Clip Breaking Point

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 5 Black Thought, highly respected MC from The Roots. Critically acclaimed albums and the official house band on Jimmy Fallon's talk show since 2009. Successful music career and respectable acting career, with roles as classy as his his rhymes. Highlights include : Bamboozled Brooklyn Babylon Love Rome Explicit Ills Night Catches Us Yelling to the Sky On the Inside Get on Up The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (TV Series)

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 8 Chill, from the group Groove B Chill, aside from maybe a couple early party jams, they never made much of a lasting impact in HipHop. He found better success in acting however, in TV especially, surpassing Kid N Play eventually, and even a paralyzing motorcycle accident can't slow him down. Highlights include : House Party 1 & 2 Here and Now (TV Series) The John Larroquette Show (TV Series) 10 Things I Hate About You Galaxy Quest Veronica's Closet (TV Series) Ed (TV Series) Inside Man Brothers (TV Series)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 5 Naughty By Nature front man auditioned for the role of Bishop in Juice but they cast Tupac. He did get an uncredited part, and since then has built a big list of film credits, often supporting roles, a couple low budget leading roles, even a porn film. Highlights include : First Time Felon (TV Movie) Oz (TV Series) Empire Love and a Bullet Conviction (TV Movie) Feast A Day in the Life

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 6 For a minute there, early 2000's, Ja Rule seemed to be everywhere. After his battles with 50 Cent as well some legal and financial troubles he fizzled out, but still pops up here and there. Highlights include : Turn It Up The Fast and the Furious Half Past Dead The Cookout 1 & 2 Assault on Precinct 13 Back in the Day I'm in Love with a Church Girl

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 5 A respected rap career with some modest movie credits to his name, Xzibit always seems to pop up in decent supporting roles. With a reality show like Pimp My Ride, his charisma shines. Highlights include : The Wash 8 Mile Pimp My Ride (TV Series) xXx: State of the Union Full Clip Gridiron Gang The X Files: I Want to Believe The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 4 Old school legend often credited as the first speed rhymer with Treacherous Three, Kool Moe Dee made a solid impact on HipHop before stepping away from the mic. His film career isn't outstanding, but with a memorable part in Beat Street, he's one of the first MC's to step in front of a camera. Highlights include : Beat Street Panther Gang Related Out Kold The New Guy

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 5 You can't play with my Yo-Yo, she first made her presence known working with Ice Cube and had a pretty solid debut album. As an actress she never had any big roles, but always pops up in bit parts in some of the most noteworthy HipHop movies. Highlights include : Boyz n the Hood Who's the Man? Menace II Society Strapped (TV Movie) The Breaks Paper Soldiers Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Video Game)

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 Perhaps not the household name as partner in rhyme Andre 3000, Big Boi can still stand on his own, still garners a ton of respect as an MC as half of Outkast, and has a few solid film credits as well. Highlights include : ATL Idlewild Who's Your Caddy? The Cookout 2 (TV Movie)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 4 One half of Dogg Pound and one quarter of 4 Horsemen, Kurupt made some serious waves as a HipHop artist. While never starring in anything particularly noteworthy, he has accumulated a good amount of acting credits over the years. Highlights include : Half Past Dead 1 & 2 Dark Blue Keepin' It Real Hollywood Homicide I Accidentally Domed Your Son Brothers in Arms Cut Off A Day in the Life

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 2 Highly respected MC, but not much of an acting resume at all really, limited to mostly cameos as himself, it's almost hard to even justify his inclusion on this list. I had to for his prominence as an MC, his oscar, and because of his undeniably huge role in 8 Mile. I'm surprised he never tried to capitalize on an acting career after that. Highlights include : The Slim Shady Show (Video) The Wash 8 Mile Da Hip Hop Witch (Video) Funny People The Interview

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 Highly respected HipHop artist from A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip doesn't have a huge acting resume, but made a noteworthy impact with his short role in Poetic Justice. Also noteworthy film wise is Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of ATCQ, the documentary about his music career. Highlights include : Poetic Justice Love Goggles Prison Song She Hate Me Holy Rollers Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of ATCQ (Documentary)

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 Love him or hate him, Drake's success in music is undeniable. He started out acting on Canadian TV before making that transition, but aside from the occasional cameo seems to have moved away from acting for the most part. Highlights include : Degrassi: The Next Generation (TV Series) Conviction (TV Movie) Charlie Bartlett Ice Age: Continental Drift Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 4 Often considered one of the best Female MC's to ever do it, and with a lengthy career to prove it, Lyte's music career is never in question. She dabbles in acting with a good handful of credits to show for it, but has yet to truly find her breakthrough role. Highlights include : Fly by Night An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Train Ride Civil Brand Playas Ball Half & Half (TV Series) The Dempsey Sisters

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 2 Arguably one of the most prolific MC's to ever touch the mic and still going strong. His main contributions to film may be the documentary about him, and his appearance in the hood favorite Belly. Acting credits are few, but given his success as an MC, it's no surprise Nas was able to dabble in acting a little. Highlights include : Belly Sacred Is the Flesh Ticker Black Nativity Nas: Time Is Illmatic (Documentary)

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 2 Huge rap career, Dr. Dre is one of the founding members of NWA and one of the most successful producers of all time. Can't say the same for his acting career, but has a few noteworthy credits. There is also an NWA biopic coming out about his life. Highlights include : Set It Off Training Day The Wash Pauly Shore Is Dead 50 Cent: Bulletproof (Video Game)

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 The Beastie Boys made some early movie appearances as a trio playing themselves. Outside of that, of the three, King Ad-Rock is the only one to have dabbled in acting. Highlights include : Krush Groove Tougher Than Leather Lost Angels A Kiss Before Dying Roadside Prophets A Day in the Life of Nathaniel Hornblower

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 2 Gifts Unlimited Rhymes Universal, the GangStarr MC is remembered as one of the most respected MC's to step in the arena. He racked up a few modest film credits as well before his untimely death. Highlights include : Who's the Man? The Substitute 2: School's Out (TV Movie) Train Ride 3 A.M. Grand Theft Auto 3 & Liberty City Stories (Video Games) Urban Massacre

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 One third of Run DMC, pioneers of the culture and some of the earlier Hiphoppers to try their hand at acting. Rev Run specifically, real life brother of Russell Simmons, had one of the lead roles in Krush Groove, and of course Tougher than Leather, the HipHop answer to the Blues Brothers. Aside from those bigger early roles, Run has a few bit parts and cameos to his name, and more recently, seems to have made a new career path in reality TV. Highlights include : Krush Groove Tougher Than Leather Who's the Man? Run's House (TV Series documentary) Red Dragon Rev Run's Sunday Suppers (TV Series)

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 One third of Run DMC, pioneers of the culture and some of the earlier Hiphoppers to try their hand at acting. DMC had a couple of big early roles in Krush Groove, and of course Tougher than Leather, the HipHop answer to the Blues Brothers. Aside from those, DMC has a few bit parts and cameos to his name, and video game voice work. Highlights include : Krush Groove Tougher Than Leather Who's the Man? Death of a Dynasty Roll Bounce The Warriors (Video Game)

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 1 One third of Run DMC, pioneers of the culture and some of the earlier Hiphoppers to try their hand at acting. Jam Master Jay had a couple of big early roles in Krush Groove, and of course Tougher than Leather, the HipHop answer to the Blues Brothers. Al though the legendary DJ barely had any lines, it is understood that JMJ speaks with his hands. He had a few other bit parts and cameos to his name before his tragic death in 2002. Highlights include : Krush Groove Tougher Than Leather Who's the Man? Death of a Dynasty

HipHop career: 4 --- Film career: 7 He won't go down in history as the greatest rapper of all time and fizzled out quickly after two massive hit singles, but he has that voice. For a while he was building a solid acting resume with good supporting roles in some big movies. Highlights include : The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Bébé's Kids Posse Poetic Justice Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Heat Freedom Strike Thieves (TV Series)

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 5 From Boston, known primarily in underground arenas of HipHop, Slaine is a solid MC who doesn't get enough credit. He has a not particularly huge but nonetheless pretty decent acting resume. Often playing tough guys he has been cast in a few big name movies, with more on the way. Highlights include : Gone Baby Gone The Town Bad Blood Killing Them Softly By the Gun

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 5 While perhaps not in a lot of big movies, Eve has built up some solid acting credits to her name and always shows true talent on screen. As a rapper she was solid, but I'll go so far as to say acting is her true calling, she should be getting better roles. Highlights include : Barbershop 1 & 2 xXx The Woodsman The Cookout Flashbacks of a Fool Whip It Bounty Killer

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 5 A businessman through and through, Master P was never much of a rapper or an actor. However with a quantity over quality approach, plus his hands in producing and directing, he stayed busy for the better part of the early 2000's. Highlights include : I'm Bout It (Video) I Got the Hook Up MP Da Last Don (Video) Hot Boyz (Video) Hollywood Homicide Repos (Video) Romeo! (TV Series) Uncle P Black Supaman (Video)

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career:4 Self proclaimed King of the South, T.I. stands at the forefront of a newer generation of HipHop artists. His acting resume, while not huge in numbers, has been continuously growing. Highlights include : ATL American Gangster Takers Boss (TV Series) Identity Thief

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 4 Ed Lover and his partner Doctor Dré, most notable for hosting Yo! MTV Raps, radio, and leading an all-star HipHop cast in Who's the Man?. They put out an album, and Ed was a member of No Face early on. He has an extensive radio career also. Highlights include : The Day It Came to Earth Juice Who's the Man? Gunmen Ride Undisputed The Hustle (Video) The Bahama Hustle (Video)

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 4 Doctor Dré and his partner Ed Lover, most notable for hosting Yo! MTV Raps, radio, and leading an all-star HipHop cast in Who's the Man?. They put out an album, and this Doctor Dré - not to be confused with Dr. Dre - early on he was a member of the group Original Concept. Highlights include : Juice Who's the Man? Gunmen Ride The Hustle (Video) The Bahama Hustle (Video) Miracle's Boys (TV Mini-Series)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 3 Graffiti artist, host of Yo! MTV Raps and all-round HipHop pioneer, Freddy first starred in Wild Style. His acting resume isn't huge beyond that, usually cameos or bit parts playing variations of himself, but he pops up in some big HipHop movies. Highlights include : Downtown 81 (New York Beat Movie) Wild Style She's Gotta Have It New Jack City Juice Who's the Man? American Gangster

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 Dark Gable, Juice Crew original and one of the most fierce lyricists of the golden era. Kane has a natural charisma, so it's no wonder the smooth operator took a chance on acting. Unfortunately his acting career never really took off, but he has a few credits. Highlights include : Posse The Meteor Man Dead Heist Just Another Day You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 3 HipHop's #1 Hypeman, Flavor Flav made a huge impact in music as part of Public Enemy. If Chuck is Batman than Flav is the Joker. As for his acting career, not so much, but he does have lots of credits. Mostly limited to bit parts and cameos with a few bigger parts in straight to DVD movies and lesser known TV shows, he also did the reality show thing for a while. Highlights include : Mo' Better Blues New Jack City Who's the Man? Confessions of a Pit Fighter Cain and Abel Flavor of Love (TV Series) Nite Tales: The Series (TV Series) YooHoo and Friends (TV Series)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 4 The most active member of the Fugees since their split, Wyclef tried his hand at acting and while he may not have a huge list of credits, there are a few worth mentioning. Highlights include : Carmen: A Hip Hopera (TV Movie) Shottas One Last Thing... Full Clip Nashville (TV Series)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 3 His credentials as a HipHop artist have always been debatable, but his success as a business man have been undeniable. While his film credits are average at best, it's no surprise Puffy chose to capitalize on his name. Highlights include : Made Monster's Ball Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (Video) A Raisin in the Sun (TV Movie) Get Him to the Greek Draft Day

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 3 Member of DITC, Terror Squad, and BDP, plus his frequent collaborations with the late Big Pun, Joey Crack has earned his respect in HipHop. He has a commanding presence, but his movie career is mostly limited to bit parts as thugs. Highlights include : Urban Menace (Video) Thicker Than Water Blazin' Prison Song Empire Scary Movie 3 The Cookout 2 (TV Movie) Narx

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 4 Lyrical beast with the physique of an action hero and an IQ so high it's not a number it's a sound, it surprises me that Chino isn't a household name with higher album sales and bigger movie roles. Criminally underrated, still, his respect is earned. Highlights include : Barrio Wars Vatos The Beat Crime Partners Gang Warz

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 3 Canadian HipHop royalty, Michie Mee has the distinction of being the first Canadian HipHop artist signed in the States. She had much national success for fer Reggae influenced debut Jamaican Funk—Canadian Style. She also fronted a multi-genre Rock/Reggae/HipHop band called Raggadeath. Her acting resume is small, with the highlight being Drop the Beat, a TV series about a HipHop radio station in Toronto. In Too Deep Hendrix (TV Movie) Drop the Beat (TV Series) Chicks with Sticks Baby Blues

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 5 Member of Black Eyed Peas, his HipHop credentials have been often questioned, more and more often over the years, but his success in the industry can't be denied. The majority of his film credits is in voice work, plus a small part in the X-Men franchise. Highlights include : Be Cool Instant Def (TV Series) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa X-Men Origins: Wolverine Arthur and the Great Adventure Rio 1 & 2

HipHop career: 10 --- Film career: 1 Made one of the biggest impacts on HipHop in its entire history, PE gets the utmost amount of respect. That said, Chuck D may dabble in acting a little, but in that forum he never managed to make much impact in the film industry, though his soundtrack work with Spike Lee is noteworthy. Highlights include : An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Video Game) Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (Video) The Quiet Arrangement

HipHop career: 9 --- Film career: 2 Hard to justify her inclusion on this list with so few credits, but the highly respected Fugee MC had strong reviews in Sister Act 2. After the success of her solo album L Boogie kinda stepped away from it all. A comeback may be on the horizon. Highlights include : Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Hav Plenty Restaurant Man in Wood

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 6 Kid, from Kid N Play, as a duo they had a solid run of comedy movies in their prime before it fizzled out, usually playing variations of themselves. Kid went on to fair slightly better than Play in the long run, far as acting credits and TV appearances go. Highlights include : House Party 1, 2 & 3 Kid 'n' Play (TV Series) Class Act The Temptations (TV Movie) War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave (Video) House Party: Tonight's the Night (Video)

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 5 Play, from Kid N Play, as a duo they had a solid run of comedy movies in their prime before it fizzled out, usually playing variations of themselves. Play kinda disappeared from the spotlight, but shows up with Kid now and then. Highlights include : House Party 1, 2 & 3 Kid 'n' Play (TV Series) Class Act House Party: Tonight's the Night (Video)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 2 Not as successful in Hollywood as partner in rhyme Method Man, Redman may not have a ton of big film credits, but he has tons of charisma, often playing comedic variations of himself. Highlights include : Colorz of Rage Statistic: The Movie (Video) How High Method & Red (TV Series) Seed of Chucky

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 4 After WC and The MAAD Circle plus a couple of successful solo singles, Coolio seems to have stepped away from the mic and into a career in Reality TV. He has a wicked huge ton of lower budget acting credits as well. Highlights include : Dear God An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Tyrone (Bad Trip) Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth The Beat Stealing Candy Gang Warz Grad Night Two Hundred Thousand Dirty

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 2 One of the more notable gangsta rappers to ever do it, this Compton's Most Wanted MC is a pioneer of the sub-genre. His film credits often have him in supporting roles similar to his music persona. Not a big acting resume to speak of though, most notably in a small but still prominent part in Menace II Society in which he also has the highlight song on the soundtrack, and his voice work in GTA San Andreas. Highlights include : Menace II Society Reasons Thicker Than Water 100 Kilos (Video) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Video Game) Who Made the Potatoe Salad?

HipHop career: 4 --- Film career: 6 As the son of Master P, prepubescent rap star Lil Romeo had both a rap career and an acting career handed to him. The rap career faded pretty quick but the acting is still going. Highlights include : Honey Still 'Bout It (Video) Romeo! (TV Series) Uncle P Jumping the Broom Madea's Witness Protection The Love Letter (TV Movie)

HipHop career: 8 --- Film career: 2 Juice Crew original, MC, human beatbox, action figure, still going strong as a DJ to this day, everybody loves the Biz. He was never much of an actor really, but every time he does pop up in something it's always memorable. Highlights include : The Meteor Man In Living Color (TV Series) Men in Black II Crank Yankers (TV Series) Yo Gabba Gabba! (TV Series) Sharknado 2: The Second One (TV Movie)

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 3 Maestro Fresh Wes made a huge impact in Canadian HipHop. While perhaps not a household name elsewhere, he made a serious go in the US, working with Showbiz from DITC. Film credits are limited to a few bit movie parts and a few solid stints on Canadian TV shows. Highlights include : Honey Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (TV Movie) Metropia (TV Series) Get Rich or Die Tryin' Poor Boy's Game Instant Star (TV Series) The Line (TV Series) Mr. D (TV Series)

HipHop career: 6 --- Film career: 4 Yet another artist to work with Master P on both music and movies, but unlike other No Limit artists, he branched out and did his own thing. He has a handful of movie credits. Highlights include : I Got the Hook Up Hot Boyz (Video) Makin' Baby 13 Dead Men Mac & Devin Go to High School

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 3 Affiliating himself with some heavyweights in 'the game', Game's rap career made a pretty big impact initially. So in this era, naturally the movie roles came in, but it hasn't quite panned out the same way. Not so sure if the face tattoo is hurting or helping. Highlights include : Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Video Game) Waist Deep Tournament of Dreams Street Kings Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club (Video) House Arrest

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 5 Prepubescent gimmick rap from when that was a thing. Bow Wow is a child star who has managed to hang on longer than the average child star, due to his successful transition to movies. Highlights include : Carmen: A Hip Hopera (TV Movie) All About the Benjamins Like Mike Roll Bounce The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Hurricane Season Lottery Ticket Madea's Big Happy Family

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 3 Member of Brand Nubian, Lord Jamar earned much respect as an MC. His acting resume isn't huge, most notably roles in big HBO shows. Being outspoken as he is in interviews as of late has been the cause of much backlash and internet arguments. Highlights include : Oz (TV Series) Funny Valentine The Sopranos (TV Series) They're Just My Friends Wifey (TV Movie) Buffalo Bushido

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 4 Fugees was a highly successful group of which Pras was the weakest link. They all went their separate ways and all tried their hand at acting, Pras built up some low budget credits and bit parts before it all seemed to fizzle. Highlights include : Mystery Men Turn It Up Go for Broke Go Go Tales Feel the Noise Mutant Chronicles

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 2 Known more as a Slam poet, Saul Williams may be underrated as an MC, but he has his loyal following. Not one to be cast off name recognition alone, his film credits may be small and mostly Indy films, but he has some solid acting chops. Highlights include : Slam King of the Korner K-PAX Aujourd'hui

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 2 Roc-A-Fella made a couple attempts at making movies, and Roc-A-Fella MC, Beanie Sigel was cast in the leads. He has since split off from Roc and continues to make music, but the movie credits died off pretty quick. Highlights include : State Property 1 & 2 Paper Soldiers Brown Sugar Death of a Dynasty

HipHop career: 7 --- Film career: 2 His initial impact in the world of music was massive, even if his authenticity was in question after wax battles with the highly respected KRS-One. While still active, he stepped out of the spotlight, but not before racking up a small list of film credits. Nothing particularly noteworthy except perhaps his supporting role in The Longest Yard where he held his own in a large cast. Highlights include : Snipes The Longest Yard Reach Me A Fall from Grace

HipHop career: 4 --- Film career: 5 Known worldwide for his pranks, his strange brand of comedy, his talk shows and his questionable acting. But before all that, Tom Green was MC Bones from the Canadian HipHop group Organized Rhyme. One hit wonder, but their album was legit. Green also put out solo albums, one under the name MC Face, had a memorable freestyle session on his show with Xzibit, and he hosted an early HipHop radio show in college. Highlights include : The Tom Green Show (TV Series) The New Tom Green Show (TV Series) Superstar Road Trip Freddy Got Fingered Stealing Harvard Bob the Butler Tom Green's House Tonight (TV Series) Tom Green Live (TV Series)

HipHop career: 4 --- Film career: 4 As a HipHop artist and an actor, Shaq-Fu made for one hell of a good Basketball player. Still, he does have a couple albums and worked with legit HipHop artists. Charismatic as he is big, usually cameos as himself, but he has a few leading roles. Highlights include : Blue Chips Kazaam Steel Good Burger Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series) The Wash Grown Ups 2 Blended

HipHop career: 5 --- Film career: 3 Brother of Master P involved in both music and acting. Never made much impact, but he did appear in a handful of low budget mostly Master P produced movies. He also fared better than their other brother C-Murder, who lived up to his name. Highlights include : I'm Bout It (Video) MP Da Last Don (Video) Corrupt Hot Boyz (Video) Still 'Bout It (Video) Little Girl Blue: What's Become of You?

HipHop career: 3 --- Film career: 3 One hit wonder who just can't stay away, Vanilla Ice was never taken seriously as a HipHop artist. Name recognition did lead him to tons of Reality TV and some movie credits, usually playing himself, in more ways than one, and he acts as good as he raps. Highlights include : Cool as Ice Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Da Hip Hop Witch (Video) The New Guy That's My Boy The Ridiculous 6

Honorable Mention Known primarily and almost exclusively as an actor, but before that Omar Epps did try his hand at a HipHop career. He was a backup dancer for Queen Latifah, put out a 12" with Da Wolfpack, and later, did a solo album. Music never took off, but his acting certainly did. Highlights include : Juice The Program Higher Learning First Time Felon (TV Movie) The Mod Squad The Wood Love & Basketball Against the Ropes House M.D. (TV Series)

Honorable Mention Hard to even think of him as a HipHop artist, as his rap career - he was ROM from College Boyz - was shorter than half a midget. Most people wouldn't remember, but that's where he started. He also played MC Hammer in a TV biopic, beyond that, his acting career has been infinitely more successful. Highlights include : The Château Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (TV Movie) The 40-Year-Old Virgin Baby Mama The Love Guru Saint John of Las Vegas Weeds (TV Series) No Ordinary Family (TV Series) Think Like a Man 1 & 2

Honorable Mention Bonz Malone has always been very active in HipHop, making his name as a writer. He wrote HipHop articles for a bunch of different magazines and a book called Hip Hop Immortals, he was a Graffiti writer, and he was an A&R signing HipHop acts on Island Records. Highlights include : Slam Life Whiteboyz Shaft Brooklyn Babylon 3 A.M. Bomb the System God Has a Rap Sheet Men Without Jobs (Planet Brooklyn)

Honorable Mention Graffiti artist, most known for his lead in Wild Style, the first HipHop movie. Lee didn't do much acting after that, but I added him anyway mostly out of respect, Wild Style was a big deal. Highlights include : Downtown 81 (New York Beat Movie) Wild Style Acts of Worship Bomb the System God Has a Rap Sheet

Honorable Mention Still in his teens, Caan started out as an MC in a group called The Whooliganz alongside rhyme partner, now highly successful producer the Alchemist. They were down with Cypress Hill. The HipHop career was short lived, for Caan at least, as the album they recorded was shelved and he moved on, however he did reconnect with Alchemist and Evidence for a new track in 2014. Highlights include : A Boy Called Hate Enemy of the State Black & White Boiler Room Ready to Rumble Ocean's Eleven, Twelve & Thirteen Brooklyn Rules Entourage (TV Series) Hawaii Five-0 (TV Series)

Honorable Mention On the surface perhaps one of the more unlikely candidates for this list, little known fact is that Balthazar Getty, most prominent as a teen film star, has been producing HipHop beats for several years, and quite well. His most recent group - called The Wow, Getty producing, alongside rapper KO The Legend - have been seeing some moderate success as of late. Highlights include : Lord of the Flies Young Guns II Where the Day Takes You White Squall Lost Highway Pasadena (TV Series) Sol Goode Ladder 49 Brothers & Sisters (TV Series)

Honorable Mention Always had the HipHop guests on Chappelle's Show, both performng and in skits, Wu-Tang financial, Lil John, etc, plus he used HipHop by Dead Prez as the opening theme music. Throw in Dave Chappelle's Block Party and Sir Smoke-a-Lot from Half Baked, Dave is clearly a HipHop head. Highlights include : The Nutty Professor Con Air Half Baked 200 Cigarettes Blue Streak Screwed Undercover Brother Chappelle's Show (TV Series) Block Party (Documentary)

Honorable Mention On the Chris Rock Show, he had Grandmaster Flash as his one man house band. He has movies like CB4 and Top Five, plus various HipHop related skits on SNL, pretty much the first to do that. He talks about HipHop in his comedy routine on occasion and in interviews, and it's clear he knows what he's talking about. He was even an extra in Krush Groove. Chris Rock is indeed HipHop. Highlights include : I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Saturday Night Live (TV Series) The Chris Rock Show (TV Series) New Jack City CB4 Pootie Tang Everybody Hates Chris (TV Series) Death at a Funeral Top Five

Honorable Mention A John Singleton regular early on in her film career, King went on to thrive as an actress with a strong list of credits. From working with Ice Cube a number of times, and Will Smith, plus her voice work on The Boondocks highly qualifies her for this list. Highlights include : 227 (TV Series) Boyz n the Hood Poetic Justice Higher Learning Friday A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Enemy of the State Southland (TV Series) The Boondocks (TV Series)

Honorable Mention With his documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of ATCQ, it's no surprise Michael Rappaport loves HipHop. He also dabbles, appearing in videos for Luda, Talib Kweli and Jay-Z, plus rhyming on How to Rob an Actor for the High & Mighty. Highlights include : Zebrahead True Romance Higher Learning Beautiful Girls Illtown Cop Land Bamboozled Boston Public (TV Series) Big Fan

Honorable Mention With his one-man show, CD and Book - all three of which are titled Jails Hospitals and HipHop - plus a number of his acting roles, most notably White Boyz, Danny Hoch clearly has informed opinions and wears his HipHop on his sleeve. Highlights include : SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground (TV Movie) The Thin Red Line Whiteboyz Bamboozled Prison Song Black Hawk Down Washington Heights We Own the Night Home

Honorable Mention An actor first, but Bokeem Woodbine has never been shy about his love for HipHop, as some of his roles depict. While never dabbling in a rap career himself, you can find him popping up in music videos on occasion, most notably for Wu-Tang and Tupac. Highlights include : Strapped (TV Movie) Crooklyn Jason's Lyric Panther Caught Up The Big Hit Life Ray A Day in the Life

Honorable Mention While not a HipHop artist himself, in going through some of his movie roles it's evident that Makhi Phifer has an appreciation for HipHop. He also gets mention in Eminem's Lose Yourself, and sometimes appears in music videos, most notably Eminem and 50 Cent vids. Highlights include : Clockers High School High Soul Food Shaft Carmen: A Hip Hopera (TV Movie) Paid in Full 8 Mile Honey A Day in the Life

Honorable Mention Might seem like an unlikely candidate for this list. But keep in mind Grandmaster B, his real life attempt at a rap career under the name D L'il, the Nas poster on Bud's wall, his appearance in the Krs-One MC's Act Like They Don't Know video, and his HipHop nightclub Balistyx. Highlights include : Married with Children (TV Series) Dirt Merchant The Heist (Shot Down - Video) MacArthur Park Killer Bud Puff, Puff, Pass The Hustle Boston Strangler: The Untold Story (Video)

Honorable Mention While not really a contributor as any kind of HipHop artist, Huggy always did a good job of representing it on screen, most notably in Juice. Unfortunately he ran into some legal troubles in recent history after his acting career slowed down. Highlights include : Lean on Me Juice Strapped (TV Movie) Phat Beach Bullet How to Be a Player Urban Massacre Zoo

Honorable Mention With his debut as a battle rapper in 8 Mile and his portrayal - though often critically slammed - of Tupac in Notorious, it seems fitting to add Anthony Mackie to the list. Highlights include : 8 Mile Hollywood Homicide Brother to Brother She Hate Me Sucker Free City (TV Movie) Crossover The Hurt Locker Notorious Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Honorable Mention With no albums and only one movie credit, it seems premature to include him on this list. I make the exception however, as he is an aspiring MC under the name OMG. More prominent, he was in the biggest HipHop biopic to date, playing one of the biggest HipHop icons of all time - his father, and also number two on this very list - and he nailed the part, probably the best performance in the whole movie. True, he had an advantage, but still no small feat or shoes to fill. Give him a few years and some more work and he'll be climbing this list for certain. Highlights include : Straight Outta Compton

Honorable Mention Not a big resume to speak of as of yet, but as a relative new comer, Jamal Woodward made a big debut when getting cast as the Notorious BIG in his biopic. Apparently he had aspirations of starting a rap career prior to shooting Notorious. Highlights include : Notorious Dice City (TV Movie) Battle Scars

Honorable Mention Comedian with a string of acting credits and work with Eddie Murphy, but most notable for being a talk show host. Chunky A fiasco aside, Arsenio Hall gets a ton of respect for always putting Hip Hop artists on his late night show when nobody else would. The infamous cypher on his final episode is a HipHop history lesson in itself. Highlights include : The Real Ghostbusters (TV Series) Coming to America Harlem Nights The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) Arsenio (TV Series) Martial Law (TV Series) Black Dynamite