I believe in equal opportunity for all people seriously I do. But I sometimes I become a bit disturbed when I see hip hop artists jumping into acting from music. I mean don't get me wrong you have some that are actually good actors ie. Mos Def, Will Smith(though some may disagree), and Mark Walhberg to name a few. 50 cent with Sam Jackson, then with Dinero I would never had expected that in a million years. Especially when Sam was quoted for saying, "I won't do a film with a rapper". Wonder how much he was probably paid extra to change his tune? lol! But now I'm hearing that little Wayne is allegedly to be starring with oscar award winning actor Forrest Whitaker. At times I feel like I'm being robbed because here I am 10yrs deep in this business honing my skills, training, and hustling day in and out to find work. Then here comes someone(little wayne) whose never acted before except for a fool,and get a role of a lifetime. Has Hollywood thrown away its integrity for the almighty dollar?
To most of them it's just another check, as to us it would be a pleasure to have said I've worked with such talents like Sam, Robert, amd Mark. It hurted me when I saw the television version of "Raisin in the sun " which P.Diddy exec. produced through his own Bad Boy entertainment company,not to mention starred in it too. Ah hell the man funded the whole thing (lol) the cast was great. I just didn't believe him as Young Walter Lee. Once again these are my views folks, but please share any thoughts on how you feel the craft that you work hard for is being portrayed?

Ok...so don't get me wrong here...I understand what you're saying but let's be honest. These rapper's already come with a fan base. That's guaranteed people to come seen them. Perhaps it's even a demographic who may or may not had planned to see the movie prior to their favorite rapper being in a film. That's the first one. Number 2. You just named a slew of rappers that could act. Leaving out Ludacris, who I think did a surprisingly great job in Crash. That's a pretty decent track record especially when you put Mark Walberg and Will Smith in there.

Think about it. These guys have the money for the best acting coaches in the world and they cna have them at their beckon. I don't know if you've noticed that a lot of musicians are pretty good actors...I'm not saying they are all great but they are very similar fields of entertainment. Memorizing lines...experiencing emotion through spoken word.

I hate to play devil's advocate because I'm a actor that would love to be in these guys shoes and have their opportunities not that I can rap or sing for that matter, but I'm not going to go hating on people that have made it..regardless of the way they made it.

You're saying they are doing it for another check. I mean I think they could survive quite easily without doing it. Who's says they aren't just living out a dream?
Lighten up...your time will come.

Nicely said bez! But, I can understand where BOTH of you are coming from. I myself listen to hiphop religiously. It has always been in my life and in my upbringing. I can't stand 50 cent and I don't think he has one iota of talent, in music, or in acting. But, the others mentioned, as well as eminem, tupac (RIP), bow wow (even though his music sucks too), Snoop dogg, LL CoolJ have charisma and talent in front of the camera. Also, don't discredit the fact that many of them have been in films before they performed with the big names. Yes, there are talented actors out there that get the shaft because they don't have name recognition. But think of yourself as a producer and as someone who is fronting millions of dollars to fund a film, wouldn't you want to get enough audience members in that theatre to pay off what you owe, and make a little profit off of it? I will refuse to see anything with 50 cent in it. I don't care if Deniro, Olivier, or even if Stanislavski himself rose from the dead to play along side of him. I just loathe that man, as well as P.Diddy. They are both talentless bags of trash who don't belong speaking in public. But, when it comes to hip hop, Ive heard some of the most intelligent, well-minded people speak their views through great poetry. In acting, we do the same, just through a different medium. Eh, just a few cents....not 50 though.

Busta rhymes said himself that the reason he did shaft is because it was the easiest million he ever made. Some dont really respect the craft. They have been eating for years rapping but I am out here starving. This is my dream their dream was to be a rapper.

Hey Bez your pops is right. Most people are sleep walking I encounter them daily. But that's another topic. But Chad calm down. We mustn't forget that this is a "BUSINESS" first. And investors, producers and such they aren't actors. They want to see a huge return on their investments. Yeah sure they can write off loses....so what. But they still want to take home some loot. I agree with you Cali P. relax though. Instead of frettin over them...create you own and blast it on all over the available mediums like everyone else is doing. Don't sit and wait for that knock. You obviously got a computer....type your own, stage your own. Find investors and create your own. The studios hire ready made talent to cross over the dollars to make more dollars to create a synergy of sort a conglomerate. There is plenty of work out there for the rest of us..just research and submit with thought out purpose and constantly get out there. Some artist do it for the quick buck but do you see them after the fact ...not really....those are the ones you don't follow. The ones you do see on a constant.....as Uta Hagen once said ...you say to yourself I see what they are not doing, but this is how I will do it. You learn from them. If all fails...go climb the New York Times building...get yourself on the news, put together a clip on YourTube and promote yourself into a feature film.....relax....the powers know what they are doing in your honor.

I don't care for famous rappers who want to be actors. They have no theatrical training, just music video experience. Now it's a different story if an actor who looks like a hip hopper
but he or she went to say Julliard and can be versatile and not one dimensional because that person is trained in theatre and knows what the heck is going on in a script.

I went to an event that was upperclass I was dressed in hip hop garb. I took the stage and people were expecting me to do a rap. I did a classical piece and they were thrown for a loop! One black female approached me and said she was expecting me to do a rap and I told her I'm not one dimensional like Sean Combs or 50 Cents. LOL! Black people claim to be so wide ranging and yet we have such limited minds. I hate being obvious and I do everything I can't
and won't fall in stereotypical nonsense black people always put themselves in. BTW, I do have theatrical training and have done all sorts of different types of theatre.

:-)

P.S. I used to listen to hip-hop, but not as much because the majority of it is superficial, materialistic garbage and if I do, it's Christian hip-hop.

:-)

Real hip hop:

Blackalicious
The Roots
Lyrics Born
Jurassic 5
People Under the Stairs
Mr. Lif

avidactor,

I just heard The Roots music for the first time last week (mixing a radio show about them) and really like their stuff!

~T

quote:

Originally posted by California P.:
At times I feel like I'm being robbed because here I am 10yrs deep in this business honing my skills, training, and hustling day in and out to find work. Then here comes someone(little wayne) whose never acted before except for a fool,and get a role of a lifetime.

Its gotten out of control. Rappers get all the lead roles without even being good actors. Queen Latifah is not that great an actor, she just mugs and acts silly for laughs.

quote:

Originally posted by Fluff:
avidactor,

I just heard The Roots music for the first time last week (mixing a radio show about them) and really like their stuff!

~T

Awesome! Yeah, good quality tunes. There's a lot of great hip hop out there, its just overshadowed by the garbage thats played on mtv. Its a shame.

I just listened to an interview with one of the guys from The Roots. It's at npr.org Really interesting to hear him talk about being influenced/taking place of Van Halen and other groups.

Their music is definately not the stereotypical rap/hip hop. Talking about global warming, child soldiers, etc. Very thoughtful stuff.

Unfortunately, as we all know all too well, fyi is right. This is a business and very few of the casting decisions made at the top levels (being discussed here) are made with any reverence for the craft. Movies, at least at the big box office hollywood level, are made to make money. And fame, the logic goes, begets money. Plus rappers/hip hop artists are linked to the precious young male demographic that advertisers and film investors are trying to reach. Luckily there are tons of other jobs out there--not the pie in the sky million dollar paycheck jobs, real acting work--where the list of names given here wouldn't stand a chance. And actors with real chops will have the advantage every time.

What we're really discussing here is fame, and if you want fame, I often think it's easier to get that in just about any other way than acting! Climbing a skyscraper like fyi suggested might help--although I suggest doing it nude for maximum exposure---not of your body, on the evening news!

Personally I think getting mad because a rapper doesn't have theatrical training is just kind of silly. Its the kind of thought process that really holds you back as an actor. It's the kind of negativity that stops you from being likable and charming when you meet these very same people you despise. Rappers and other musicians tell stories every day. Whether or not its an agry, sad or happy message. They are story tellers just like you and I. Don't worry about them. If you're starving...work. There's noone stopping you from eating. Audition like its your job...because it is and have some fun at the same time.

There are plenty of less talented actor's working because of this and that and this...but if you have a chip on your shoulder because of it...you are likely to miss some great opportunities.

quote:

Originally posted by Fluff:
I just listened to an interview with one of the guys from The Roots. It's at npr.org Really interesting to hear him talk about being influenced/taking place of Van Halen and other groups.

Their music is definately not the stereotypical rap/hip hop. Talking about global warming, child soldiers, etc. Very thoughtful stuff.

If you like the Roots, check out blackalicious! They are incredible.
I have no problem with rappers getting into film, as long as they possess integrity. people like 50 cent, and p.diddy have none. There are lots of folks out there that get work and don't deserve it. Its just the way of the world. Im gonna grease up and climb that skyscraper! haha.

Bez your right on some points I agree with you totally. But for the rest they are not telling a story it's the record labels. They are the ones telling that rappers story. There are only a few that is really doing what they say they are doing. For the rest of those rappers it's just a gimmack. lol !! But I appreciate everybody who chimed in on my topic. Thanks !! I enjoyed reading all views. FYI I'm out.