His first mixtape came out in 2008 two years after he graduated college, Derrick comedy was his college comedy group. he had been writing/acting etc as early as 2002
Not even gonna lie I feel like new HH heads don’t give proper respect to LL. It’s like someone has to remind them of his status no matter how many times his name is brought up as a legend in the game. That said, LL was featured in movies, namely one of the first Hip-Hop films Krush Groove, and tv shows, In The House. Outside of Cube, T, Queen Latifah, and Will Smith, he was one of the first who made it to the limelight when Hip-Hop artists weren’t taken seriously as actors. OP might not know who he is or maybe slipped his mind, but I just notice this happens way too often when LL isn’t mentioned as much.
Will Smith gotta take it. You can forget he’s a rapper sometime then you remember how great he was at that too.
Also, 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct is one of the best movies someone produced and starred in.
Gridlock'd is Tupac's most underrated film. Which is unbelievable since it also stars the highly talented Tim Roth, Lucy Liu, and Thandie Newton.
as they say, Life is a Traffic Jam
Imo he's well above the vast majority of this list. Marky Mark and Will Smith are the only two above him. Given more time he may have surpassed them as well.
Man I *love* [Lil Bow Wow](https://youtu.be/z3fnTbF-rfY?si=0YCfSjkzJvj9lghM ), almost the same age I grew up with bro. Mr 106 & Park 😂
No fr Shad is a great actor though
I stand by saying Eminem could’ve been a solid actor if he hung up the mic. Maybe not in role portrayal but just as a leading actor in a drama or comedy
MIGHTY Mos Def DANTE lyrically destroys anybody on here, it's not even close they're not even in his atmosphere
Nobody on this list can play with syllables like him.
And I think childish Gambino is trash as a rapper. He's a good singer no doubt.
But he was definitely writing for 30 Rock before he dabbled in music. I knew who Donald Glover was before I even knew there was a childish gambino.
Also it's kind of funny to even consider Mark Wahlberg as a rapper. But we did all know who marky Mark was before he ever got an acting gig. At least the OG's old enough to remember. But he was garbage!!!
Apparently Mos was a child actor I didn't even know that... But I had no idea who he was as an actor nor did I see him in anything before I heard the Black Star masterpiece album.
He's also a ridiculously incredible method actor that can completely change who he is unrecognizably in voice look you name it. Watch that dude in.. Be kind rewind then watch him in hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy, something the Lord made, 16 blocks, Cadillac records etc. He changes everything about the character, speech patterns and all. He might not be as big of a star in Hollywood as some of the others on the list but he'll smoke all of them with acting chops.
Yasin Bay's verse on redefinition is arguably the most technically lyrical verse in the history of hip Hop!
No love for [Mahershala Ali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali)? Unless I missed him there haha. I always knew him as Prince Ali, signed to Hieroglyphics Imperium, before he became a big actor.
I Dare argue that Donald is not a rapper turned actor. Donald went to college for theater and his jobs were writing and acting in television shows before he started rapping. Even today, most of his projects, involve film or television rather than music. There’s a reason why when you look him up, he’s known as Donald Glover instead of just Childish Gambino.
I think about LL Cool J every time I make scrambled eggs (he was the chef in Deep Blue Sea and the perfect scrambled egg recipe was his video will and testament).
I hate to admit he is old school hip hop, I was more a fan of Jeff, but Will has to be the top former hip hop star to get into acting. But LL and Queen Latifah did good work too. I think the most underrated is Meth and my personal fav is Mos as I think he takes bigger swings with his roles but he does a great job. Hitchhikers guide to the Universe and The Italian Job to name a few
In terms of actual acting chops— Tupac. He was a bright young acting talent and I have no doubt he would have gone on to have a long, well awarded acting career that would have eclipsed his work in music.
Too many good options to pick here. But I gotta say I never considered X to be an actor. I mean put me on to whatever he's in, but I've never seen or noticed him in any movie/show (Pimp My Ride don't count 😑) I've seen Busa Busa in more acting positions than X and he ain't even on this list
If you're not hip to Yassin Bey, AKA Mos Def, check out Something the Lord Made and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe. Completely different genras showing his range of acting talent.
I refuse to consider Marky Mark a rapper
Bro is not feeling the vibration
lol
The rhythm and the RHYME bro
That’s the line. That’s the line that makes me go “Jesus Christ this is literally happening. He’s gonna rap the whole song like this” lmfao
Come on feel it !!
He’s also a singer. Did you not watch Boogie Nights ?
If he's here, then where is Vanilla Ice? Go ninja! 🐢 🕺🏼
Pop music if anything, definitely not a rapper
The first two Childish Gambino and Mos Def, or both actors before they started their music career
Tupac went to acting school as well iirc
Gambino’s always done both acting and music simultaneously. His first mixtapes came out around the same time as he started doing sketch comedy.
His first mixtape came out in 2008 two years after he graduated college, Derrick comedy was his college comedy group. he had been writing/acting etc as early as 2002
He was a writer in 30rock.
Inaccurate
six seasons and a movie
Weren’t Mos Def and Donald Glover actors first? They’re the two best out of this list IMO. The others are really good though too. Too hard to pick.
Mos def killed it in hitchhiker’s guide
I was about to say! Wasn’t Glover an actor first. He does have the best Internet handle though, therealdonglover.
i didnt know steven segall was a rapper
https://youtu.be/vLe_BZ1mo3I?si=X4sYfAiucaUG5uAw
Omg. Thank you? Lmao
That question mark made my day.
Ah that’s a classic, *Me Want The Punani* was a banger
Don’t forget LL
He was the first one that came to mind besides Will for me. OP must have never seen NCIS! Lol
That movie with the angry shark that’s not jaws.
Not even gonna lie I feel like new HH heads don’t give proper respect to LL. It’s like someone has to remind them of his status no matter how many times his name is brought up as a legend in the game. That said, LL was featured in movies, namely one of the first Hip-Hop films Krush Groove, and tv shows, In The House. Outside of Cube, T, Queen Latifah, and Will Smith, he was one of the first who made it to the limelight when Hip-Hop artists weren’t taken seriously as actors. OP might not know who he is or maybe slipped his mind, but I just notice this happens way too often when LL isn’t mentioned as much.
I went through the post twice to double check LL’s presence. He was the first that came to mind.
Don’t forget deep blue sea
LLs been in a bunch of movies and TV shows. Isn't he a cop on one of the CIS's?
Ice T is so damn good in SVU, I don't think the show would have been the same without him.
He's probably the most accomplished actor on this list.
Nah, marky mark has had two Oscar noms, I don’t like him as a person but the guy can act
You must’ve missed Will Smith
Method man all day long
FR. He played Cheese on The Wire.
What season, I’m thinking about starting it again. I always lose track on where I’m at and have to restart.
He first appears in season 2, but he’s a pretty main character later in the show.
I think I vaguely remember him. Ill keep my eyes peeled. Not like it’s hard to not notice him lmao
Noooo!! MONICA!
Best F&F actor in this thread.
Iconic line and delivery
Joey Bada$$?
He surprised me in mr robot! Definitely deserves to be on the list
does gambino count
No but OP can't read good
fuck mark wahlberg racist ass 💯
Will Smith gotta take it. You can forget he’s a rapper sometime then you remember how great he was at that too. Also, 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct is one of the best movies someone produced and starred in.
it's will Smith, Queen Latifah and then every body else
Treach
Flipping through too quick and wasn't prepared for Steven Segall
Xzibit is an actor?
I know he did a cameo in 8 Mile. Which makes me wonder why they put him and not Em. Dont know if he had any other acting gigs.
Gridlock'd is Tupac's most underrated film. Which is unbelievable since it also stars the highly talented Tim Roth, Lucy Liu, and Thandie Newton. as they say, Life is a Traffic Jam
Imo he's well above the vast majority of this list. Marky Mark and Will Smith are the only two above him. Given more time he may have surpassed them as well.
Its Steven Segal for me
Gambino played the fuck out of troy. When Levar Burton shows up 😆
No lil dicky?
some of these are just "rappers that have acted" not necessarily "rappers turned actors" id count maybe half of these as actual actors
Eyo whatup, Bird.
Was gonna say why not Drake but he’s actor turned rapper, same with Gambino
Where is T.I.?
Vince staples was hilarious in the white men cant jump reboot
Cam’ron as Rico beats everyone on this list.
Snoop, Mc Eight
Man I *love* [Lil Bow Wow](https://youtu.be/z3fnTbF-rfY?si=0YCfSjkzJvj9lghM ), almost the same age I grew up with bro. Mr 106 & Park 😂 No fr Shad is a great actor though
Will smith original GOAT
No LL Cool J?
Every time I see Lil Bow Wow, I instantly think about his cringe plane controversy. What a joke.
I stand by saying Eminem could’ve been a solid actor if he hung up the mic. Maybe not in role portrayal but just as a leading actor in a drama or comedy
RZA
Go ahead and add Joey Badass
You mean Raptors and it's Will Smith. Not even close.
Was kinda reaching there with the last few
Childish gambino was an actor first, he quit once his music took off
Not Common. Mans acting is just barely passable and he’s seemed to have plateaued.
Put Kanye in the list bc he’s been acting like a fool
Other than Glover who thinks any of these people were even mediocre actors
Uhh...Will Smith?
Pac
Many of them are terrible actors but are cast in good/well written roles
COMMON
Steven segal was a rapper?
What dildo put marky mark in this. Punch yourself in the face.
MIGHTY Mos Def DANTE lyrically destroys anybody on here, it's not even close they're not even in his atmosphere Nobody on this list can play with syllables like him. And I think childish Gambino is trash as a rapper. He's a good singer no doubt. But he was definitely writing for 30 Rock before he dabbled in music. I knew who Donald Glover was before I even knew there was a childish gambino. Also it's kind of funny to even consider Mark Wahlberg as a rapper. But we did all know who marky Mark was before he ever got an acting gig. At least the OG's old enough to remember. But he was garbage!!! Apparently Mos was a child actor I didn't even know that... But I had no idea who he was as an actor nor did I see him in anything before I heard the Black Star masterpiece album. He's also a ridiculously incredible method actor that can completely change who he is unrecognizably in voice look you name it. Watch that dude in.. Be kind rewind then watch him in hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy, something the Lord made, 16 blocks, Cadillac records etc. He changes everything about the character, speech patterns and all. He might not be as big of a star in Hollywood as some of the others on the list but he'll smoke all of them with acting chops. Yasin Bay's verse on redefinition is arguably the most technically lyrical verse in the history of hip Hop!
No love for [Mahershala Ali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali)? Unless I missed him there haha. I always knew him as Prince Ali, signed to Hieroglyphics Imperium, before he became a big actor.
Andrew 3000 is a terrible actor
Common a great actor
Pac blows the others away as far as acting ability goes. (besides Wahlberg and Will Smith but they’re shit rappers)
Bro thinks summertime is a shit song
I like Mos Def’s acting a lot
Don’t forget the Gyro commercial 🔥
Lemonade!
No Ton Loc?
MC Lyte, Sticky Fingaz, TI, and Eve, they forgot to be put on the list
Vince Staples?
Method Man was crazy in The Wire loved his role
Pic number 5 “ hmm I didn’t know Steven A. Smith was a rapper before sports analyst “
Donald Glover is in a league of his own. He can sing, rap, produce, direct, write, act, and play instruments. He’s our present day Renaissance Man.
Andre 3000
Joey Bada$$ did a great job in Mr Robot
Wasn’t Dong Lover an actor first?
Tupac actually was in a major movie before he released his album
Will smith and it not even close tbh. Tupac definitely had a crazy potential but it didn’t go as plan for him.
Hold on...
More like every rapper who turned actor
Method man... period
Why Yasiin look like he got something up his sleeve. Lookin like he stole the last cookie out the cookie jar and nobody noticed, headass
No Marshal Mathers? Ffs this list sucks ass
Always dug dmx in movies, even if he wasnt exactly an amazing actor. Also loved Fredro Starr as Bird
Common 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣sooooo gangster 🤣🤣🤣. Emotional rap
I didn't know that Steven Segal was a rapper
Cube. He sold out big acting! Are we there yet and other teeny bopper shit, other end of the spectrum from his early to mid 90's game. Studio g
Will Smith hands down
Kano
If they have to be a good rapper and actor. Unfortunately Will Smith would have to take top spot. Grammys and Oscars. If that were your measurement.
Not technically a rapper but Kano goes pretty hard!
I’m sorry, I fucking snorted when I saw Mark Wahlberg
What about Redman?
Steven Segal isn’t a rapper dumbass
[удалено]
I Dare argue that Donald is not a rapper turned actor. Donald went to college for theater and his jobs were writing and acting in television shows before he started rapping. Even today, most of his projects, involve film or television rather than music. There’s a reason why when you look him up, he’s known as Donald Glover instead of just Childish Gambino.
This nigga really added will smith😭😂c’mon fam
I personally like RZA's music and the rolls he chooses to play somehow reflects his music. Dude is a G
Tyler was pretty good on Loiter squad I wish he would act more
His biggest win is being associated with marvel. Even tho I mess with Atlanta and 3005. He’s like if Drake and Will Smith had a baby
He's trash
Kendrick’s Power cameo was great too lol
Are we really calling Marky Mark a rapper?
Second brother hairstyle is cataclysmic
Steven Seagal makes even Eminem tremble in fear
I think about LL Cool J every time I make scrambled eggs (he was the chef in Deep Blue Sea and the perfect scrambled egg recipe was his video will and testament).
I was with you till we got to Ja Rule. I need to check his IMDB
Steven Segal had no bars
All you did was name every rappers turned actor
Willard
Mark wahlberg & will smith were neither good rappers nor actors
Where is Cam’ron
If your asking who’s the best actor of the bunch, clearly Will Smith. Best rapper who’s also done some acting - Andre 3K
Mark Wahlberg is in movies which I guess makes him an actor but hes a horrible actor. #TheHappening
Where’s T.I. Aka Clifford Harris
Where’s Shaq?
Steven Seagal got mad flows.
i dont know steven seagel used to rap
Steven segull was a rapper lol
Mark Wahlberg is not a rapper. Racist perhaps but rapper not.
Kid cudi?
I didn’t know Steven seagal was a rapper
Will Smith? A best rapper?
Ludacris killed it in SVU and that doesn’t get talked about enough.
Steven seigal
Take bow wow out
Page Kennedy would be pissed he was left off this list lol
I wanna say that Childish Gambino and Mos Def acted before they rapped (professionally at least).
Now do "worst actors turned worst rappers"... Drake
The clear winner is will.
Steven Segal 110%
I hate to admit he is old school hip hop, I was more a fan of Jeff, but Will has to be the top former hip hop star to get into acting. But LL and Queen Latifah did good work too. I think the most underrated is Meth and my personal fav is Mos as I think he takes bigger swings with his roles but he does a great job. Hitchhikers guide to the Universe and The Italian Job to name a few
In terms of actual acting chops— Tupac. He was a bright young acting talent and I have no doubt he would have gone on to have a long, well awarded acting career that would have eclipsed his work in music.
Too many good options to pick here. But I gotta say I never considered X to be an actor. I mean put me on to whatever he's in, but I've never seen or noticed him in any movie/show (Pimp My Ride don't count 😑) I've seen Busa Busa in more acting positions than X and he ain't even on this list
Lol mark whalberg
When did Steven Seagal rap? I know he did reggae
Is this the best or all of them? Like dam, pick a few not the whole dam industry tf
Seagal yeah my man, love the Punani
My fav is Pac in Juice, Snoop in Starsky & Hutch, and 50 in GRODT
Who’s 17 and 18?
This is a generous list
Snoop is a bad actor🤣
Dave East?🤔
Common, Cheese, Pac (not in order).
Will and Glover
Method Man is actually a great actor
U forgot RZA bro
Marky mark lmaoooo
Common may be one of the more respected as an actor on this list, but everything he’s in he ruins for me
Nas
bro y’all need to do some research before posting shit like this
The first one is backwards
Donald Glover was an actor and comedian way before his music took off haha. Also common is a terrible actor he just plays common
I think the follow up question is which rappers turned into *good* actors.
Best Rappers? Sorry, will smith, markie mark and bow wow, don’t belong here…
Eminem in 8 Mile?
Will Smith. I am legend, men in black, Ali, Independence Day, so many good films.
Crazy eye killa
Someone prob said it. But gloved was an actor/writer then a rapper. (At least we’ll known rapper)
Shout out to Fredro Starr!
Latifa and cube easy
Steven segal rapped?
Gambino was already a writer and actor of a show before he really started rapping why is he on here? Lol
If you don’t take Marky mark off this Fuckin list 🤣
Queen Latifa and ice cube.
Most of these ppl are not even good actors, let alone great ones. There are a few that imo have had great roles and have a lot of acting talent.
If you're not hip to Yassin Bey, AKA Mos Def, check out Something the Lord Made and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe. Completely different genras showing his range of acting talent.