Ranking the Best Rapper Appearances in 2015 Movies
50, Luda, A$AP... Who's the best actor of them all?
Image via Complex Original
14.
Rappers gonna rap, but sometimes rappers gonna act, too—especially when being multi-talented is an increasingly important quality in the making of a star. I probably know less about rap music than anyone in the Complex office, but what I do know is movies, and I can tell you this has been an excellent year for rappers appearing in movies. Not only was one of the biggest films this year a rap biopic (Straight Outta Compton) but we've seen multiple appearances from the likes of 50 Cent and T.I. (and, of course, Donald Glover, who is as much of an actor as he is a musician). In 2015, MCs have taken on roles both both big and small, from huge blockbusters (Furious 7) to small indies (James White) to everything in between. Who can spit bars best is a whole other competition, but let's rank the best film performances from rappers this year.
13.Iggy Azalea (Furious 7)
I distinctly remember coming out of Furious 7 and declaring it "the greatest film of all time" but I completely forgot about Iggy Azalea's brief-ass cameo and I'm still struggling to remember it. (I do vaguely recall that pink bomber jacket though, because I need that in my closet.) Otherwise it was an entirely unmemorable role, which I guess is a much nicer reaction than those who claimed that Iggy ruined the franchise. It's hard to ruin a film when you're that forgettable. SORRY.
12.Method Man (Trainwreck)
The Wu-Tang man shows up for, like, 30 seconds in the Judd Apatow comedy so it's very possible you may have missed him (I didn't make anything of him at the time either, whoops). But he is indeed in the film, playing an orderly at a hospital where Amy Schumer's dad is being treated for head injury. He speaks with an African accent for some reason and says he was a doctor in his native land before Bill Hader swoops in with his medical kit and stitches Amy's dad right up. Method Man is never to be seen again. Cya.
11.T.I. (Get Hard)
T.I. gets roped into Will Ferrell's white-ass bullshit in this bro comedy, playing a tough gang leader by the name of Russell (not a good gang leader name but whatever). My personal feelings on T.I. aside—'cause dude will say some sexist shit once in a while—he's a pretty fine actor and the few minutes in which he makes fun of Will Ferrell's whiteness shows that he could totally carry a bigger comedic role. That said, Get Hard is a struggle comedy and if anyone shines in it, it's probably Kevin Hart.
10.50 Cent (Southpaw)
Southpaw is a BAD movie that is an injustice to Jake Gyllenhaal and most of all to Rachel McAdams, whose recent projects have added up to be one giant shitshow (Aloha? True Detective season two? Every Thing Will Be Fine? Ugh.). But the only reason I kept watching was because of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who plays Gyllenhaal's boxing manager and wears several different kinds of fedoras. I had to stick it out 'til the end to see all his fedora looks, and I'm not completely mad about it.
9.T.I. (Ant-Man)
Look, I, too, am in love with Paul Rudd, but I can't deny that Ant-Man wasn't a forgettable flop. Though some cool fight scenes incited a few laughs throughout, it was surprisingly not Rudd as its titular character who carried the film. Rather, it was his three minions (I'm sorry, it was the year of the minions, okay?): T.I., David Dastmalchian, and, most of all, the hilarious Michael Peña. T.I. plays the cool, beanie-wearing Dave, who calls Rudd "homeboy" and helps him out in heists. Yeah baby.
8.Donald Glover (The Martian)
Whether you know him as the guy in Community or Childish Gambino, it's become increasingly harder to avoid Donald Glover on the big screen. This year, he appeared as part of The Martian's stacked cast, alongside astronaut Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, etc., and while everyone was super NASA-level professional, it was the scrappy, just-got-out-of-bed-and-falling-all-over-the-place Glover who figured out the genius mathematics to bring astronaut Damon back home safely. There's one particularly adorable scene in which he demonstrates his findings with a stapler.
7.Kid Cudi (James White)
I've always said that Scott Mescudi, a.k.a. Kid Cudi, could be my favorite actor. He flexes both musical and acting muscles in the acclaimed indie James White, which he scored and also starred in, as Christopher Abbott's gay best friend. With Cynthia Nixon (playing Abbott's dying mother) and Girls star Abbott in, surprisingly, one of this year's best leading male roles, Cudders doesn't exactly come out as the star. Still, his nuanced performance in the serious drama is commendable, and with his good looks and skills, he could easily play a lead.
6.Vince Staples (Dope)
Dope was a sloppy movie but some of its messiness can be super charming. Take Vince Staples, for instance, who basically appears as a version of his hilarious ol' self. One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when he tries to figure out what a "slippery slope" is (a chain reaction of events, basically), and asks his drug dealer leader A$AP, "Do it got anything to do with skiing?" He NAILS that line (in one take too, apparently!). Though Casey Veggies and Tyga also play small roles in the film, Vince's earnest goofiness is most worthy of note.
5.A$AP Rocky (Dope)
Two Dope roles back to back. While Vince Staples is like the goofy disciple, it's really A$AP Rocky that's the one to watch. Whereas his ex-girlfriend Chanel Iman almost single-handedly ruined the movie (oh man I cringe every time I think about her shitty acting skills), Rocky is so damn charismatic as drug kingpin Dom. The epitome of SWAG.
4.50 Cent (Spy)
I've been avoiding adding rappers who play themselves on this list (hence no Entourage) but 50 Cent's appearance in Paul Feig's Spy is just the cherry on top of a very delicious sundae. I mean, sure, he's just 50 playing a 50 show, but he does play a pretty big role in the final chapter of the action comedy. Plus, his chemistry with the British CIA lady is too damn good.
3.Ludacris (Furious 7)
Most of the world may know him as Ludacris, but I like to think of him as Chris Bridges, the esteemed actor of the Fast and Furious franchise. As one-half of the films' comic relief (his rapport with Tyrese Gibson is an onscreen treasure), Tej is a racer slash mechanic slash all-around talented dude with a great sense of humor. Also the Fast and Furious wiki page says "Tej is shown to be highly humble even after he becomes a millionaire"—how can you not love the guy??
2.Donald Glover (Magic Mike XXL)
It's hard to pick just one guy in the Magic Mike movies. I mean, this franchise is literally about HOT, SEMI-NUDE MEN WHO ARE REALLY GOOD AT DANCING. But when I saw the sequel, Magic Mike XXL, this year, I had my eyes on one guy, the non-stripper of the group: DONALD GLOVER. He's the guy who serenades you before the dirty, gyrating parts, making you feel like you're the only girl in the world. His signature look is a silver suit sans shirt and that is a tough look to pull off for most people but Donald Glover works it and then some. The best part is when he sings Bruno Mars' "Marry You" (before Joe Manganiello goes all "Fuck You Like an Animal" in BDSM gear).
1.Common (Run All Night)
I'm not sure how I feel about Common as a rapper but oh my god do I love Common as an actor. I mean, look at those movie star cheekbones! This man was born to be on the screen. In Run All Night—the underrated Liam Neeson thriller y'all slept on—Common plays a deadly assassin in a trench coat and glasses, and AY DIOS MIO. He is so scary and hot in it, he'll leave you all sorts of confused. Also I can't tell if he's REALLY good at his job or TERRIBLE at it because at some point he ditches sides and kills literally everyone in his way, including the very people that hired him. Pretty sure that wasn't the brief, but whatever. LET THE MAN SLAY.
Next year, Common will star in the John Wick sequel and I hope he basically plays the same guy he did in Run All Night, trench coat and all.