Many well-known hip-hop artists of today are not only putting their names in their lyrics and on record label contracts.  They are also now putting them up on the big screens.  Whether it's a box office hit movie or TV show, you name it and they're doing it.

Beyoncé Knowels is apparently trying out all of her talents.  Many know her as a very talented and inspiring singer, dancer, and now actress.  First she was in Destiny's Child, then she went solo and made some big hits on the radio and in the movie theaters, and now she is back with her all girl group, Destiny's Child.  Seeing her on the cover of Austin Power's third movie, Goldmember, tells us that she can do pretty much anything.

50 Cent also seems to be doing the same thing as Beyoncé and moving up in both of his careers.  First he started out as a true gangster selling drugs on the streets, then he was a solo rapper, now he's with G-Unit and he is also starring in his own autobiographic movie, "Get Rich or Die Trying", which is all based on the hard ships of his life.  His movie is a box office hit.

Queen Latifah seems she doesn't know which career to choose.  She's an amazing R&B and hip-hop singer and rapper with 6 albums (2 gold) and 1 Grammy.  But she's also a very talented actress with 19 films, 1 Oscar nomination, and a hit TV series.  She's been in movies such as 'Bringing Down the House', 'Beauty Shop', 'Brown Sugar' which she played in with Mos Def, 'Chicago' where there was a scene where she sang, and many, many more.

Mos Def is one R&B/hip-hop rapper who has his heart set in more than one career.  He has 4 albums, and has been in 11 films.  He also has won an Obie award.  He is now partnering up with Last Poets and making some classic songs with them.  He is also part of the Black Power movement.

Ice Cube (born O'shea Jackson)  is said to be an 'all-purpose entertainment machine'.  He's not only a rapper but also an actor, producer, and screenwriter all in one.  He has 7 solo albums and 21 films.  He's starred in movies such as 'Boyz in the Hood', both 'Barber Shop' movies with Eve, 'Anaconda' with J Lo, and The 'Friday' series.  He also has produced and starred in 'Are We There Yet'.

Eve is said to be hip-hop's everything woman.  She has 3 albums, 1 TV series titled her name, and has played in four films ('The Woodsmen', both 'Barber Shop' movies with Ice Cube, and XXX).  She is a hard-core rhymer and has rapped in duets with Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keyes.  She has her own fashion line called Fetish.

Nelly has excellent talent in both acting and as a hip-hop artist.  He has 5 albums and 3 Grammy's.  Nelly (born Cornell Haynes Jr.) has a flair for catchy rhymes and hooks in his songs.  He is also an experimenter and came out with 2 of his albums at the same time which worked out very well for him.  He's been in 2 films; the latest was 'The Longest Yard' remake starring Adam Sandler.

Snoop Dogg is not only famous for his careers in hip-hop and acting but also for his own "Fó Shizzle" language, which he made himself.  Snoop has 7 albums, 4 platinum and 3 multi-platinum.  He's been in more than 20 films including the remake of 'Starsky and Hutch'.  He's also been in a few commercials using his language and has been in a couple lawsuits.