By Joyce

October 16, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

Your top six are very good choices. I have seen all of them in movies and was very delighted to see how well they are at two arts (music and film). I do want to mention that Enimem and 50 Cents surprised me in their debut film projects. They did very well. LL Cool J has been improving also.

By SA

October 16, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

What about Ice-T? He is not a movie actor but is very good on SVU.

By Matt

October 16, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

First of all, Ice-T is a movie actor. He was in New Jack City. Also, how can you neglect to mention good Will Smith movies, like Independence Day or Hitch. Anyways, my top 5: 1. Will Smith 2. Mark Wahlberg 3. Andre Benjamin 4. Mos Def 5. Ice T

By test

October 16, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

this is a test

By kindeya

October 16, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

My favorite is Mark Wahlberg. He was also in “Shooter”.

By itsmorenamorena

October 16, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

I just like looking at LL, myself….

Whew, lawd….fanning myself ;)

By Kimi

October 16, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

When did Mark Wahlberg become a rapper? Wasn’t he a backstreet boy or new kid or the block or one of those boy bands? He’s never been considered a rapper!

Anyhoo, I think they are all great choices, but Will & Queen Latifah are the best out of those choices.

P.S. - You should have added either Ice Cube or LL Cool J into this list before Mark Wahlberg!

By Craig

October 16, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

How can you forget Ice Cube!!!!!!!!!!!!

By SteveO

October 16, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

Kimi Mark Wahlberg was a rapper for a short period in the early 90’s. You’re thinking of his brother Donnie who was a New Kid.

I’ll go with that order, but I’ll switch Mos Def with Ludacris and I’ll slot Ice-T and Ice Cube above Queen Latifah.

By rarringt

October 16, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

Ice Cube is the greatest actor of his generation.

Consider: A short, chubby, bookish introvert with UCLA academics as parents manages to convince a ridiculous number of people that he was, in his previous life, actually a gangster.

Runner up: Probably Dr. Dre, formerly of the World Class Wrecking Crew (look at the guy with the plucked eyebrows and lip gloss), one year before NWA came out.

Honorable mention: Jay-Z, who spent all of about 3 minutes as a kid lookout/street hustler before falling into his entertainer shtick.

By lovelyliz

October 16, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Mos Def. He’s done action and indies.

And he’s done them well.

By jenn

October 16, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Some of your favorites are also on my list, but i do enjoy seeing the softer side of Ice Cube. He’s not to bad to look at too!! :)

By rarringt

October 16, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

So in a sense, 50 cent and Eminem are in fact acting when they’re in bio-pics. They’re playing characters they invented to gain street cred, which aren’t very similar to who they are/were in real life (whatever that is, anymore).

By MovieBuff

October 16, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

@Kindeya, Shooter was an EXCELLENT movie. Just saw it last month. WOW! Anyway, (1) Will Smith, (2), Mark Walberg, (3) Mos Def, (4) Andre Benjamin (surprisingly very good), (5) LLCoolJ, and (6) Will Smith…LOL.

By monique

October 16, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

The Queen.

By Kimi

October 16, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

SteveO - thank you!

By JT

October 16, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

Please do not forget Mos Def’s performanee in the HBO movie “Something the Lord Made” ..

And I agree with adding Ice Cube to this list..

By WTF

October 16, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

LL is good, not nearly as good to look at now-a-days, though. I wonder what happened……..he’s not as built (muscular), and not as sexy….bring back the LL from “In the House” days. Now he was FINE!!!!!

Ice T is good, and pretty good “eye-candy”!

Of course, Queen Latifah is good, she’s pretty funny, too!!

And TI is no more of a thug than Bush, he’s the ultimate THUG!!!!!

By Eddie

October 16, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

Such class WTF, comparing a little hoodrat to your President. I bet all your neighbors in Building C of the projects are proud of you. You’re so straight up gehtto yourself. You also type like you’re fat.

By sharon

October 16, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

The best acting Rapper without a doubt is Ludacris. Law & Order and Crash enough said.

By yatsidog

October 16, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

Eddie, all rappers are not thugs. Neither is everyone from the projects. Our president is a liar, thief, ignorant and arogant. How can you tell that someone if fat by the way they type. Sounds like you and the president both have a lot in common.

By sportsmommy

October 16, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

Ice Cube hands down.

By blah

October 16, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

If acting temporarily prevents them from rapping then they should all be given roles.

By Mark

October 16, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Guess who?

All (C)rappers are good actors. The act like they have musical abilities.

By jazzman

October 16, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

Will Smith is the best…no contest. No one has the film credits that Will has. In fact Will is more recognized now as an actor than a rapper.

He and his wife Jada are recognized as one of the true movie industry “power couples”.

By Edward

October 16, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Edward,,,,No doubt LL Kool J is the best actor. He’s been doing a while. He has some serious movies to his credit,and T.V.He has worked with the best!

By atl_native80

October 16, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

It is quite telling that the black community encourages its young people to idolize and worship criminals ranging from drug dealers, rapists, murderers, cop killers, and pedophiles. The black community offers up excuses that it’s “the man” who forced the criminal behavior on these people AND the individuals are ALWAYS innocent because black folks do no wrong. However, the black community vilifies Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, and any other African American who is not a card carrying democrat, accusing them of being race traitors. No, they just aren’t criminals, so I guess that makes them race traitors, huh?

By MovieBuff

October 16, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

atl_native80, you are an idiot to make such a blanket, broad statement about the black community. Not all blacks vilified CRice nor CPowell. What the hell are you talking about. There are things wrong with the black community and how things are handled, but believe you me there are a lot of things wrong with the white community and how things are handled there. No, CRice and CPowell are not criminals, but there are a lot of high-profile prolitical criminals going to jail that are WHITE!

By TRUTHFULLY

October 16, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

atl_native80 - Go away.. you just used this as an outlet for foolishness. So unneccessary.

By By Fatou

October 16, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Will Smith, is the best hands down he is a great rapper, and a wonder actor, plus he look good you go boy. I love you and your wife Jada…No contest he is the man. My second choice Ice Cube.

By Mark

October 16, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

atl_native80

Great post!!!

By By Fatou

October 16, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Will Smith, is the best hands down he is a great rapper, and a wonder actor, plus he look good you go boy. I love you and your wife Jada…No contest he is the man. My second choice Ice Cube.

By By Fatou

October 16, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Will Smith, is the best hands down he is a great rapper, and a wonder actor, plus he look good you go boy. I love you and your wife Jada…No contest he is the man. My second choice Ice Cube.

By By Fatou

October 16, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Will Smith, is the best hands down he is a great rapper, and a wonder actor, plus he look good you go boy. I love you and your wife Jada…No contest he is the man. My second choice Ice Cube.

By Mark

October 16, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

Fatou

We got it the first time.

By Big Dave

October 16, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Ice T Stinks……His acting is played.

By MovieBuff

October 16, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Big Dave, the only thing played about Ice T is his wife!!!!!

By Dan

October 16, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

Without question Lil Romeo and his mentor, mine as well, Master P. Anything with those brilliant actors is worth a look. Your lives will forever be changed. On the rock/rap side of things one cannot overlooked the mind-blowing performance by Kid Rock in the cinematic tour de force known simply as Joe Dirt. One can only hope he’ll see fit to pursue a lead role in the future. One can only hope.

By Mshlynnp

October 16, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

Hands down - T.I. is the best rapper/actor around.

By Mark

October 16, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

Mshlynnp

Too bad he won’t be aroung for long. He’s going to jail where all the rest of the punks/thugs go……LOL!!!

By Ron Mexico

October 16, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

All These rappers are good actors. They act like they are thug everytime they get on the mic. All of them deserve acting oscars if you ask me!!!!!!!!!!

By Yvette Carr

October 16, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

LL Cool J, without a doubt!

By Vette

October 16, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

Will Smith, LL Cool J, The Queen & Ice Cube, without a doubt!

By ncgirl

October 16, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

This Lady LOVES Cool James!

By doris

October 16, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

I’m waiting for T.I.’s performance in The King and I, which is part the talent show program at the Federal Penn.

By kechia wilkerson

October 16, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this

i think that all of the rappers that have dip and dab in the movie are great to be honest when many of the shoot viedos all they are really doing is acting. but i guess i will have to be my hometown favorite Mr. Clifford Harris aka T.I.

Yes, after the incident last week we all see that he has some more growing up to do. We all make mistakes and Clifford has made a big one he is a postive person when he is in front of the camera but remember when the bright lights go out and the microphones are off he is still a young man tring hard to walk in a mans shoes.

By joey

October 16, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

A mistake? Seems he has made several mistakes. He appears to have a house, car and a walk-in safe full of mistakes. Potentially deadly mistakes. How many times can you do something before a mistake is no longer a mistake and more of a serious problem? T.I. stands for Thankfully Incarcerated.

Aside from that I think Ludacris is pretty talented as an actor as well as Andre 3000.

By Peachy

October 16, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

Once again, spittin out assumptions and judgements before knowing the facts…but then again, I should expect this from folks who would rather see this or any other male’s, black or white, downfall instead of his upliftment. Let the case play out in court and not on this board. I know it’ll be hard for most of you but let’s give it a try…k???

my fav rappers turned actors…

will smith, queen latifah, ice t, ice cube, ll cool j…i would say TI but his roles have been limited and Fredro Starr from the group, Onyx, is pretty good too….

By mshlynnp

October 16, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this

All the people laughing about T.I. and his situation should be ashamed of yourselves. My gosh, have you ever heard the saying let he who is without sin cast the first stone? It amazes me to see so many of you get such pleasure out of other peoples trials and tribulations. You may not be hiding guns in your closet but I’m sure you have other skeletons in there.

You have no idea what that man goes through on a daily basis when the camera is not filming. And neither do I.

The day i start to get pleasure out of other people’s pain is a day i hope never comes.

By Ashley

October 16, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this

Response to “Eddie” you sound like a typical racist!

By Linda

October 16, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

Boy these blogs sure do bring out the undercover racist!

By myshlynnp

October 16, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this

Eddie - if everyone on here that isnt condeming TI must live in the projects, then I guess that means you live in a trailer park? That is how intelligent your line of thinking is. Funny thing is, if you DON’T live in a trailer park - you just got LUCKY because that is where you belong.

By n-dog

October 16, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this

myshlynnp - your last comment was GREAT! Linda - These people aren’t “undercover racist”… i bet they have plenty of black friends (which is a line most undercover racists use to convince themselves they aren’t racist).

By n-dog

October 16, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this

myshlynnp - your last comment was GREAT! Linda - These people aren’t “undercover racists”… i bet they have plenty of black friends (which is a line most undercover racists use to convince themselves they aren’t racist).

By me-me

October 17, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

What about ICE-T? He should have been in the list.

By Tagurit

October 17, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this

What about DMX?

By I'M JUST SAYIN'

October 17, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

Gotta go with Will Smith at No. 1, 2. Ice Cube, 3. Queen Latifah (Bringing Down the House and SET IT OFF!! She should have won an award for that…went out like a warrior), 4. Mos Def, that boy can act, 5. Ice-T, been a minute since he’s been in a movie, honorable mentions for Andre 3000 (Four Brothers), TuPac (for Juice, Bishop was a skrait Gangsta, Poetic Justice, Above the Rim), Busta Rhymes (Too funny in Halloween).

But let’s get one thang perfectly clear, Mark Wahlberg was a POP artist. Him and his funky bunch…. Heck of an actor, but he was a POP artist…Lawd…

By I'M JUST SAYIN'

October 17, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this

@ mshlynnp Yo, mami, relax about T.I. What people are doing is laughing at the stupidity he displayed in possessing weapons that he knows, better than anyone, that he was not to have in his possession. I’m certain that at his release from incarceration for the drug conviction that he was thoroughly advised that he was not to possess ANY firearm. What is STOOPID is the fact that he not only was in possession of them, he had some in his vehicle, he was attempting to buy more. Of course this is all alleged, but when are WE as a people going to learn that when you make millions, you have to leave that mentality behind. For what reason would he have a need for weaponry? I can’t fathom that, as most of us can’t. He has proven himself to be that person he describes in his music, A COMMON STREET THUG. We can no longer continue to allow that in our community. If you don’t beleive me, look at the alarming rate that young black men are killing one another and our daughters? You want us to feel sympathy for him?? I liked his music, it was cool, but I’m an ADULT. Most young folks emmulate what they hear and see, not realizing that for the most part its fiction. Most of the artists though, wind up beleiving their own hype and wind up living the chorus in their last rap, “I give it up for my homie..” By doing hard time for stupidity. Lawd, young folks, it ain’t that serious…..

By Mosi Saxton

October 17, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

HOW CAN YOU ALL FORGET ABOUT ANTWAN “BIG BOI” ANDRE PATTON!!!!!

He was in “Atl”, “Idlewild”, and “Who’s Your Caddy”. Lets NOT get it twisted - he did his thang in each and EVERY movie! He is a rapper last time I checked (One of the BEST might I add)

Can’t BELIEVE they forgot Daddy Fatsacks……The NERVE of them!

By WTF

October 17, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

A bunch of idiots who think that all people of any race/origin are the same. There’s some thugged out whites/blacks/peurto ricans/hispanics/etc.!!!! And our wonderfully thugged out Pres. Bush is the leader of the pact! He’s worse than Vick, TI, OJ all wrapped up in one!!!!!

Eddie, you’re a crackheaded idiot. Go back to smoking your meth!

Yes, Will is good, although I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite. He’s does get a #1 for me though on lyrics (nothing degrading).

By dirk diggler

October 17, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget about Darryl “Chill” Mitchell from the rap group Groove B Chill. That one was for all my old school hip hop heads. He’s starred in a ton of movies and t.v. shows the last one being Ed. He’s in a wheelchair now from an accident a couple of years back. He’s been doing guest parts now but he was around way before Will, Cube, LL and Queen.

By WitchyWoman

October 17, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

Naturally, I like and agree as to the ones listed and others mentioned in previous posts. But of course, “All Hail the Queen.”

By hmrpotter

October 17, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

I agree with your top five, but don’t forget Ludacris’ AWESOME performances in Law and Order: SVU

By Doug

October 17, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe no one has mentioned Common! He was the most credible thing in that over-the-top “Smokin’ Aces” movie earlier this year, and he has a few other movies coming out soon, including “American Gangster.” I don’t know why, but Common always seems to slip by unnoticed by the public, despite the continuing high quality of his work.

P.S. to atl_native80 and Eddie: Why did you guys feel compelled to play the race card in this blog. Not everything in this life is about race, especially when you’re talking about movies…

By IT's ME

October 17, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

First let me start by saying that some of the comments about T.I. are very negative and they do not pertain to the question. So basically keep those to yourself and just answer the question. Anyway here are my Top Rappers turned Actors: 1. Tupac 2. Will Smtih 3. Ludacris 4. Queen Latifah 5. Mark Wahlberg 6. Andre 3000 7. T.I. All these rappers turned actors have an amazing talent and I look forward to seeing 2-7 (Tupac RIP) in more emotional, wonderful, great, and different movie projects.

By Sheryl Jones

October 17, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

Someone asked this question recently on Yahoo Answers, and my answer was Will Smith was No. 1. I included Ludacris in my list, but regret to say I didn’t even include Latifah, Mos Def and Mark Wahlberg. Will, of course, has gotten the most press due to Oscar nom’s, but all are excellent.

By breed

October 17, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

dirk!!!!!!!!!!!!! you did it with Groove B. Chill!!! dang!!!!!!!!! who knows that besides us!!! LOL!!!!!

By Rapper

October 17, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this

I was sitting here trying to figure out who was M. Wahlberg. If you don’t remember him as a rapper He may not be a rapper.

By Jerome Johnson

October 17, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

My favorite five are; Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, Ice Tea and Big Boi. The lifestyle of anyone in this Blog is inappropriate.

By peacha

October 17, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

the best rapper/actor will forever be my baby TUPAC no matter what. R.I.P my love.

By Tyrone

October 17, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

Come on!! Mark Walhberg!!! Oh please give me a break, do not forget about 2Pac, Kid and Play, and DMX. 2Pac was a much better actor than some that is on that list , not as good as Will Smith or the Queen, but much better than Andre or Ludacris and for those that mention T.I. he is not even close but since this is a paper in the South there are those who will select without looking into it more the Top five are: 1-Will Smith 2-The Queen 3-2Pac 4-Ice Cube 5-LLCoolJ