Why Rappers Have Easier Film Transition Than Pop Stars

Russell Simmons explained to Gene Seymour of New York Newsday why he thinks hip hop stars have made the easy transition to film, unlike pop stars. “See, here’s the thing about pop stars, they’re fabricated, mostly, from things outside their own personalities. But not rappers! Rapper generally play characters who are close to their own hearts. They have to access the inside of their selves to throw it out for people to hear. So when they move from recordings to movies, they have their integrity tied to their personalities, to who they are. So when you’re asking me why rappers have it easy in the movies, that’s a big part.”