and I agree. Isaiah Washington said something similar when Romeo Must Die came out. Unless the person has "chops" they shouldn't be getting lead roles in movies.

From ew.com:
Bad Rap


Samuel L. Jackson disses rappers-turned-actors. The ''Star Wars'' Jedi resents the trend of hip-hoppers taking roles away from trained thespians or working alongside established movie actors like himself by Gary Susman

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Jackson derides the current ''rappers who act'' trend


Samuel L. Jackson costarred with rapper Eve on the upcoming film ''XXX,'' but don't think he was too happy about it. In fact, he tells the Sacramento Bee, he so resents acting alongside rappers that he won't even read scripts for movies where rappers are being considered for lead roles. ''To take people from the music world and give them the same kind of credibility and weight that you give me, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne, Forest Whitaker -- that's like an aberration to me; you just can't do that,'' he says. ''It's not my job to lend credibility to so-and-so rapper who's just coming into the business.''

Jackson especially loathes the idea that rappers are taking roles from theater-trained thespians like himself or lesser-known trained actors. ''I know there's some young actor sitting in New York or in L.A. who's spent half of his life learning how to act and sacrificing to learn his craft but isn't going to get his opportunity ... because of some actor who's been created -- and you can use the word 'actor' loosely,'' he says.

Still, Jackson has appeared in movies where rappers held supporting roles, including ''Sphere'' (with Queen Latifah), ''Deep Blue Sea'' (with LL Cool J), and ''Shaft'' (with Busta Rhymes). And he even musters kind words for one rapper-turned-actor, Will Smith. Smith's role in ''Ali,'' for which he became the first rapper nominated for an acting Oscar, ''takes him out of that Fresh-Prince-is-saving-the-world-as-an-Air-Force-pilot thing and gives him some credibility as an actor,'' Jackson says. Nonetheless, he says of rappers, ''They do what they do, we do what we do. I don't think you can take your average rapper and put him in 'Changing Lanes' and it would be the same movie.''

If it's any consolation, some rappers feel the same way. On its new song, ''Playa Hata Degree,'' the duo MaddWest raps, ''I hate all these rappers in movies that shouldn't be actin'/Except for Will Smith, and that cat shouldn't be rappin'.''

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The question starts at: Why do studios continue to sign 'rappers' to movie roles?

Answer: $$$$$$ at the box office.

Think about it...Buta Rhymes in Halloween, JaRule in Fast and the Furious (and the sequel), there are people that are going to these movies JUST to see their favorite MC spit 3 lines in the first 3 minutes. Much better than casting Johnny No-Name from Idaho who's a great actor, but doesn't have any clout for a name. It sucks, but that's how it is.

Same goes for all these feature length cartoons. Can't have Betty Who's-That play the voice of the curious cat, it's gotta be Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston or Julia Roberts. Think about it, would you have gone to see Shrek if Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow weren't in it (well, maybe not John Lithgow)?

So in a sense, I kinda agree with Sam Jackson because I don't care for this new trend either.

https://digife.com

Your second point was retarded, it had nothing to do with the first

Yes it did.

I was simply stating that the name (or the aura) of the well known celebrity was selling the picture. If you can't see the relevance, you sir are the retared one.

https://digife.com

your point was poorly backed because I'm sure a lot of people didn't see shrek because of the voices. That's a retarded notion.

"I just wanna tape you...
all night"

he's absolutely right
especially since rappers are usually used in movies to add an
"urban" or "gritty" feel
but they suck as actors
with a few exceptions that don't come to mind right now.
oh...puffy was good in monster's ball...

Come puff daddy didn't do shit, but die in monster's ball. Mos acting was better than his. If you ask me Mos is the only rapper right now that should be considered for roles. If Dmx takes it serious and takes more acting classes he can have a better impact than most actors(like Pac). Also it it depends on what kind of movie it is because a lot of movies rappers don't have to act just be themelves. Really the transition from music to acting is understandable because rappers are telling stories trough music, and making there videos be the visual aspect of it. Just like people writing books, and then doin the a movie about it. Wonder what he thought when he played in Juice a truck load of rappers was in that.

Puffy wasn't that bad. He was convincing.
Like many posters said, it's all about the $$$.
If they are gonna have one token black actor,
they might as well go for a known face.
I remember how horrible Ray Allen was in "He got game"
and one of the supporting actors had a master's degree
in theater at Yale and he had a small role.

he was Booger well he has degrees from brown and harvard...crazy aint it? save for The Visit and City Of Angels, you havent seen him i much...

same goes for Roger Guenveur Smith (the drug dealer/kingpin in he got game) phd from yale talented actor yet how often do we see him??

its a sad state in hollywood right now...if you arent an actor or singer you can FORGET doing movies at this moment in time.

RC

Get Out the Room
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Could booger play Ray Allen's part. That's my point people want to see movies that are real some times under the circumstances. If you have a movie about a 6'5 guard's life in basketball. Do you cast booger as that guy? Or the best acting and believable basketball player you can find?

was that he needed the basketball portion to be more believable than what you usually see in sports dramas. In this instance, I'd say I agree with him. Too often in sports movies, it's just so hard to buy the story because the actors can't pull off the game.

You can get actors to play well enough for some weekend pickup games, or even something like White Men Can't Jump. But Spike was really concerned that this story about a top recruit have a player who you'd believe was a top recruit.

Generally speaking, we all can recognize top sports athletes better than we can spot top acting talent, so for something like this it's better to try to get an athlete to deliver his lines right than to get an actor to be convincing as top hoop star.

This is theory anyway, and Spike's argument as he presented around the time of the movie.

You have to judge for yourself whether or not he made the right choice.

But Hill Harper ain't but about 5'5", so it wasn't gonna be him.

RED
Ora et labora

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

thanks for the corrections. I guess only a real basketball player coulda played the role but he still sucked.
Yeah, I never see those 2 dudes except Smith in many Spike lee movies. Thanks God, there's OZ for black actors. I won't get in the jail issue....

i mean, they don't hire real assassins to play assassins...LOL.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

the star finally takes a shot?

All the audience is sitting there thinking, "if the camera cuts to the ball going in the hoop, we know he didn't really shoot that."

Same with stunt doubles. To wit:

EXT. HOOP COURT - DAY

CLOSE ON Johnny Hoop Star

as he takes the ball out, starting his dribble at half court. Denzel chooses to play off him, maybe force him left. Johnny drives him back to the top of the key, where

DENZEL swipes at the ball. Johnny pulls back.

CUT TO:

WIDE SHOT

Johnny (or at least we assume its him, but it's too far to see his face) goes into his killer crossover.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP of Johnny's face. He's working up a sweat from all the frantic dribbling, that we can't see in this shot.

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON Johnny's hands, dribbling between the legs, behind the back, everywhere but up high, so we can't see his face.

CUT TO:

MEDIUM SHOT of Johnny drabbling past Denzel, thanks to all the fancy dribbling his stunt double did. He makes the easy lay up (on the third take).

It's that sort of thing Spike wanted to avoid. I just think he should have found a better acting hoop player. What would have been cool would have been having an open casting call for college athletes to actually audition for the role, with hoop tryouts as well as acting tryouts.

I agreed with Spike trying to get someone with hoop skills, but I know someone had to be able to act better than Ray.

RED
Ora et labora

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

Too often in sports
>movies, it's just so hard to buy the story because the
>actors can't pull off the game.

Exactly. Example? Love and Basketball.

https://digife.com

have my babies...

oh...that's off subject.

hill harper is pretty cool. i've seen a few of his movies. i think he is talented.

"Rhythm is the architecture of being, the inner dynamic that gives it form, the pure expression of the life force. Rhythm is the vibratory shock, the force which, through our senses, grips us at the root of our being. It is expressed through corporeal and sensual means; through lines, surfaces, colors, and volumes in architecture, sculpture, or painting; through accents in poetry and music, through movements in the dance. But doing this, rhythm turn all these concrete things toward the light of the spirit. In the degree to which rhythm is sensuously embodied, it illuminates the spirit...Only rhythm gives the word its effective fullness; it is the word of God, that is, the rhythmic word, that created the world."
- from African Poet Leopold Senghor

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He did a good job in that flick, but he spoke too fast for a southern accent. Mos still can act his ass off...he has studied.

I find rappers are almost always cast as criminals or thugs and are allowing themselves to be represented in the stereotypicle roles. The movie makers recognise the popularity and influence of hip hop culture on the youth and will milk it for what it's worth. If Eminem is selling however 10s of millions of albums and only half of those people pay to watch a movie in which he stars, you can be certain to make loads of money. I see it as just another attempt to exploit the popularity of hip hop, but it is not only resticted to hip hop, artists of all genres have been known to act in major films.

1 - Mentioned in the article but LL and Busta both in Sam Jack movies was this what rubbed him wrong?

2 - Sam's roles have gotten so Deniro type-cast that I think someone who could do a decent Sam Jack impression COULD step into one of his movies and things would stay the same.

3 - I agree with him but I wish he and his list of "thespians" would make some good movies themselves and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing.

1,
BTW

i think that he is referring to rappers who step up into lead roles, not really supporting stuff.

so, that would lead to him being in roles with rappers, just so long as they're in a supporting role, not the lead role.........


anyone else pick up on that?


miss ellen

http://www.smellen.com - outdated, find me on facebook now

movies are about making money. if more people are going to pay to watch a movie with a rapper acting in it, than not, why would movie studios not want to cast the rapper?

....rappers/singers should not act...and if they are let them make their own movies together like Belly....

In Romeo must die you could see the difference in acting skill between Alyiah and Isiah Washington.....

*****************************************
http://mephonics.com/
*****************************************

Sounds like Sam Jackson trying to make sure he still can get a role. If he said that well I think actors shouldn't rap like will smith.

I don't think Sam Jackson would have a problem getting work these dayz.....he has an audience....whatever movie he's in people are gonna check him out...

*****************************************
http://mephonics.com/
*****************************************

How many white actors are losing roles to rappers?

I appreciate that he didn't blatantly pull the race card, but it's there nonetheless. Black actors have it hard enough breaking in without having to compete against non-actors.

But, yeah, it's a marketing issue.

RED
Ora et labora

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

†holy smokes & jesus†

www.uppitynegress.gov

_____________
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____________♌♀
goddess; small g.

White Movie Stars is more appropriate.

________________________________________
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http://twitter.com/Gator_Bell

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Why are black men over 50 so goddamn bitter?

he should be happy that niggas is gettin actin roles.......

------------------------------
Now lets take a moment to ponder the depth, brilliance, and emotional gravity of Mr Reds above statement.

He didn't say that White people should get roles over rappers, he said rappers shouldn't get roles over Black actors.

What Blacks who only act aren't niggas?

Shaun G. --- that last line sounds dumb but I'm leaving it in anyway.

Well he is making it sound like rappers are taking food outta some extra prolific denzel classically trained type nigga...where is the proof? Its not like someone looked at the script for a deep blue sea, or a halloween or a fast and the .....and said there just GOTTA be a black in this role, they bring in these kats cuz rappers have more charisma and appeal than alot of folk

------------------------------
Now lets take a moment to ponder the depth, brilliance, and emotional gravity of Mr Reds above statement.

The thing that the rappers are taking food out of the real actors'plates. It's not the rappers'fault per say but it's due to the fact that middle America can only withstand one black person at a time. If there are more than one, it could get all counfusing and stuff. So, in order to make it easier, they just get a familiar face. The fact that so many untrained actors get roles show how much some directors don't really care about real representation of blacks in the movies. The rappers jkust serve as props anyways.

>If it's any consolation, some rappers feel the same way. On
>its new song, ''Playa Hata Degree,'' the duo MaddWest raps,
>''I hate all these rappers in movies that shouldn't be
>actin'/Except for Will Smith, and that cat shouldn't be
>rappin'.''

they got that right. will smith should NOT be rappin'.

.

www.theforeignexchangemusic.com

and all those people who responded with "he should be happy that niggas are getting acting roles at all" are compete morons.

_____________________

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/287/6/c/the_wire_lineup__huge_download_by_dennisculver-d30s7vl.jpg
The man who thinks at 50 the same way he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life - Muhammed Ali

I guess that moron was me huh? eat a fat one, i was saying that some of those roles woulda went to a cracka cuz some of those rappers roles were tailored for the particular rapper..Could a white person have been in Independence Day, Eves role in XXX, or in Halloween? And another thing: its not like Mr Cheeks is gonna be starring in Othello anytime soon. Some of these rapper roles are shitty at best

------------------------------
Now lets take a moment to ponder the depth, brilliance, and emotional gravity of Mr Reds above statement.

>Some of these rapper roles are shitty at best

Well, that's the point. They are just being used as props...

"half the rapper's roles are shitty"

people like to argue that the "real" actors are just angry and jealous because rappers are getting the work, but what they don't realize is the way the influence of the "raptors" shapes the industry.

rappers invariably play rappers, drug dealers, criminals, athletes, or some other variation of their public persona. it's fair to say that they rarely actually "act" in these roles. like you said, nobody is casting a rapper as Othello... nobody is casting a rapper as Nat King Cole.

in an industry where star power decides which films get made, when all the black movie stars are rappers, it means we're only gonna see certain types of black characters and certain types of films. and that is NOT a good thing.

_____________________

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/287/6/c/the_wire_lineup__huge_download_by_dennisculver-d30s7vl.jpg
The man who thinks at 50 the same way he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life - Muhammed Ali

>Some of these rapper roles are shitty at best

HAHAHAHA I just found myself a new qoute!

- - - Begin Sig. - - -

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is that little voice at the end of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow.'" ~ ~ Anne Radmacher

co-sign. That is the dumbest comment I've heard in quite some time.

Sam ben saying that shit for a minute. But it is not a new trend at all. Sinatra, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Issac Hayes, Marc Anthony and Madonna have all done it. It is no different than the 70's trend of hiring football players to star in films. The difference is that the football films were usually bad and the rapper films are occasionally bad.


"The Devil is one man. True Evil is a colaboration of men" - Mulder

That's whats up.

http://www.myspace.com/tresequis

but its interesting to see rappers try and act, even if they usually are bad at it. for one, i'm interested to see how mr. marshall mathers fares in his new film, especially since early reviews have been saying that he did really well (even though i fail to believe brian grazer's claim that its oscar worthy).

+ ZERØ
- monkeybarsj5
= the words

be he an rapper then so be it
sayin actors shouldn't act is like sayin singers shouldn't act
which means many ppl frum broadway wouldn't be on the silver screen

sam should then refuse to work w/"raptors"...like when he did "shaft" w/busta rhymes

i find rappers-to-actors a whole lot more convincin than i do the singers-to-actors

& when is sam goin to start developin some projects, HUNH © juvenile

now i'll go read the article



†holy smokes & jesus†

www.uppitynegress.gov

_____________
Kamikaze Genes
____________♌♀
goddess; small g.

i stand beside my statement

u also ofcourse have the situation of director/writers developin roles for specific rap artists {singleton w/ice cube & tupac}...& yes, there are some ppl who are tryin really hard to get in the business & despite their trainin & hunger they still won't act...not like they think, or hope

& if all these ppl are goin to be offer'd by hollywood are bit parts {like drag-on's role in that dmx/segal film} they'll still be bringin me my lemon slices for my water & valet'n my ride




†holy smokes & jesus†

www.uppitynegress.gov

_____________
Kamikaze Genes
____________♌♀
goddess; small g.

He's right of course but what the hell is he doing in XXX? it's a money pic right? That's why people like Eve get roles in these movies and Ja Rule in Fast in Furious. These movies are about marketing and packing in the masses.

I would be more upset if rappers were getting roles in more serious films. And for the most part I think Busta did alright in Finding Forrester (i don't even remember lil'zane in the movie), Queen Latifah in movies after Set It Off, etc. Ok Dre stinked in Training Day but Snoop was on point.

on "inside the actors studio" a lil while back. he was asked why it was becoming so popular for rappers to be featured in movies, and he had a really good answer. i'll have to paraphrase because it was so long ago, but he basically said that the confidence, attitude, swagger, etc. that it takes to be a good rapper is exactly what it takes to be a good actor, and the camera reacts to that. i see the point Sam-yel is making, but i think he should let the young cats eat.

***
when I come around, they frown
then wanna dap me down
but when I leave?

quite a few of them shouldn't rap either.
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