No genre of music has produced more actors than hip-hop, and we have Will Smith to thank.
The man formerly known as the Fresh Prince wasn’t the first rapper to start acting. That distinction goes to Run (Joseph Run Simmons), of Run DMC fame, for his fearless performance in 1985’s “Krush Groove,” to which Smith also contributed a cameo.
But Smith, 43, was the first rapper with his own network TV show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” (1990-96), and the first to be nominated for an Oscar. He garnered the award for his role in the biopic “Ali” (2001). Since Smith paved the way, a number of other hip-hop stars have made the transition to the big and small screens, including Eminem, Queen Latifah, DMX, David Banner, Diddy, Method Man, Ludacris and Nelly.
And the list keeps on growing.
These days, Ice Cube, a.k.a O’Shea Jackson, 42, can be found in front of and behind the camera as the executive producer of TBS’s family comedy “Are We There Yet?” The show will return for a third season next year. Meanwhile, Mos Def (born Dante Smith), 37, just wrapped up an impressive story arc on Showtime’s serial killer series “Dexter.” Although his character, Brother Sam, is no longer on the show, his influence on Dexter can still be felt.
Here’s a list of hip-hop artists currently on TV:
Common
Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Chicago native Common has made the leap to the small screen in one of TV’s bravest and most inspiring roles as Elam, a former slave on “Hell on Wheels.” Catch the show Sundays on AMC.
Before this, Common, 39, was best known for his music and for his turns in comedy flicks such as “Date Night” and “Just Wright.” Look for him in the new romantic holiday comedy “New Year’s Eve,” which opened Friday.
Ice-T
Although he didn’t have any speaking lines, Los Angeles-raised Ice-T’s claim to fame is the dance movie “Breakin’ ” (1984), in which a young version of the gangster rapper spit lyrics at a dance -ff. Fast-forward and the 53-year-old, whose real name is Tracy Marrow, is a co-star on NBC’s beloved crime procedural “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He’s played tough-talking Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola for 12 of the show’s 13 seasons.
Never one to turn away the spotlight, Ice-T can also be seen alongside his wife on the E! reality series “Ice Loves Coco.”
LL Cool J
Don’t underestimate LL Cool J. The New York native can pull off some very convincing action scenes, something he does every week as Sam Hanna on the hit CBS military drama “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Also known as James Todd Smith, LL, 43, is a husband and father and is best known for parts in flicks such as “S.W.A.T.” and “Deliver Us From Eva.”
