Best Rapper Turned Actors

If you close your eyes and thought about the most acclaimed actors of the last 20 years, would you envision Shakespeare-trained thespians or rappers? Nowadays, the once-shunned hip hop genre seems to produce some of the finest film stars in the 20th and 21st century. Here is a list of notable rappers turned actors in no particular order.

Will Smith- Will Smith may be an Oscar nominated actor three times over (Six Degrees, Ali and Happyness). But Smith's little story all about how his life got turned upside down reaches back into the 80's when his lighthearted rap songs like "Parents Just Don't Understand" hit the airwaves. Quincy Jones lined him up to star in a sitcom. Smith never had an acting lesson, but signed on anyway. Fresh Prince of Bel Air became a television hit that ultimately launched his movie career.

"Marky" Mark Wahlberg- Donnie Wahlberg's boy band New Kids On The Block also spawned success for his bother in the late 80s. Marky Mark began his rap career with the big hit "Good Vibrations". But as the boy craze died down, "Marky Mark" became Mark Wahlberg, actor. He received positive reviews for his role as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights and even an Oscar nomination as a fearless investigator in Departed.

Queen Latifah- Queen Latifah wasn't always on the big and small screens. At age 19 she released 1989's "All Hail The Queen" which produced the hit track "Ladies First". In 1992 Latifah won a role starring in the sitcom Living Single. Latifah also had guest spots on other television shows (to include Fresh Prince) and even her own talk show. After starring in smaller movies in both supporting and lead roles, Latifah earned critical acclaim as Best Supporting Actress in Chicago for playing a brothel owner.

Mos Def- Mos Def is probably one of the more versatile rapper-turned-actors, starring as an alien trying to save Earth (Hitchhiker's Guide) and a detective tracking a pedophile (The Woodsman). Born Dante Terrel Smith-Bey, Mos Def's hip-hop career started as an underground rapper with the group Urban Thermo Dynamics. He was also half of Black Star duo with Talib Kweli. Def's acting creds are also off-screen; in 2002 he played Booth in the Tony-nominated play Top Dog/Underdog.

Ice Cube- Ice Cube was known as a hard-hitting gangsta rapper with NWA, WestSide Connection and as a solo artist. His hardcore persona also showed when he played Doughboy in 1991's Boyz In The Hood. Ice Cube (born O'Shea Jackson) is now known for less-serious roles. He starred as unemployed Craig Jones in cult hit Friday. He's also played foil to future step kids in the road trip comedy Are We There Yet? To date, Ice Cube has more than 30 movie roles under his belt.

Ludacris- Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges is also a hit lyricist who continues to rap this day. Yet Ludacris is also building a pedigree of acting work by starring alongside other established thespians. Ludacris was in the 2004 Best Oscar winner Crash. He also starred opposite Terrence Howard in Hustle and Flow. In 2009, Ludacris played a rebel leader in Gamer, a movie starring Gerard Butler.

Ice T- Ice T was one of the very first rappers that helped launch hip hop into America's eyes. He released his first of eight solo albums in 1987, and even starred along with controversial rap-metal hybrid Body Count. Even though Ice T has more than 50 films to date, he is most famous for starring as Detective Fin Tutuola in Law and Order:Special Victims Unit for the last decade.

LL Cool J- LL Cool J was among the first to bring the lothorio lover attitude into the hip hop genre. After all, his name means "Ladies Love Cool James". LL has come along way from the streets to the screens, appearing with Robin Williams in 1992's Toys and as a football player with Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday. Smith is currently a big hit on the small screen, with a lead role in CBS' investigative drama NCIS:Los Angeles.

Common- Chicago-born rapper Lonny "Common" Lynn's social-conscious hip hop works are award-worthy. His 2005 album "Be" was Grammy nominated for Best Rap Album. But Common is now more frequently seen in scenes from movies such as Smokin' Aces, American Gangster (with Russell Crowe) and 2008's Wanted.

Tupac Shakur- Tupac Shakur's iconic status as a street tough rapper and one of the best lyricists ever in hip hop is ironic to his career's beginnings. Tupac was actually an inspiring actor before his rap career took off. Shakur studied poetry, ballet, acting and jazz at the Baltimore School For The Arts. Before his death in 1996, Shakur appeared in more than a dozen movie and television roles, to include 1993's Poetic Justice with Janet Jackson.