Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Samuel L. Jackson On 50 Cent

(This is a re-post from March 24, 2006)

INTELLIGENTSIA, THROW YOUR HANDS in the air! You made it through the grizzly to yet another Friday, so that's really what's up! Toss a couple back tonight in honor of yourself! Thanks for stopping by H2I today. You could've been anywhere in the blogosphere, but you're here with me. Much love!


Gonna kick off this Freestyle Friday edition with a hip-hop-related revelation. Samuel L. Jackson is not a hypocrite! After news broke recently that he'll be starring alongside 50 Cent in next year's Iraqi war drama Home of the Brave, Jackson had everybody scratching their heads in confusion. He's been adamant in the press for years about not filming with rappers, becoming most vocal last year when he refused to work with 50 in Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

"I've had conflicts with people in the music business because I'm not going to prop some rapper up in some movie," Jackson said. "I wouldn't prop 50 Cent up, I wouldn't prop Eminem up, I wouldn't prop any up." Meanwhile, he's seen on screen with Ice Cube (xXx: State of the Union), LL Cool J (S.W.A.T.) and Busta Rhymes (Shaft). And now, he signs on to star along side 50 after all. So what's the deal, Sam?

I interviewed Jackson in Memphis last September for anUNleashed magazine cover story, where he was very candid about working with rappers on screen. I think everyone after reading this will agree that Jackson's hip-hop sensibilities are more paradoxical than hypocritical.

What was the whole issue about not signing on with 50 Cent to do Get Rich or Die Tryin'?

SLJ: That whole thing that started between me and 50 Cent was something that someone created out of nowhere. Me and 50 talk. He’ll call me and be like [in 50 Cent voice], Sam, it’s small change . . . I go, [pondering] Oh, yeah, 50 Cent! Hey, what’s up, man! So we talk from time to time, and we don’t have any beef. Someone else is trying to create something that has nothing to do with us.

You’ve been very vocal about your opposition to working with rappers in lead film roles. But this year, the xXx sequel came out. Starring alongside you was . . .

SLJ: . . . Cube.


Ice Cube. So has your opinion changed about working with rappers in films?

SLJ: Not particularly. Cube has been in the business for awhile. From Boyz N the Hood until now, he’s developed a way of working. He’s done quite a few films that were very successful, and he does more acting than he does rapping. Kind of like Todd (LL Cool J). You’ll call him LL, I call him Todd. That’s what he says he wants to be called when he’s working as an actor, so I call him Todd when he’s on a movie set, and I’ve done movies with him. I’ve also done movies with Dana (Queen Latifah, in Sphere).

I’m doing this movie now (Black Snake Moan), and David Banner’s in it. When he came to rehearse last week, he sincerely said to me, I know how you feel about this [working with rappers]. If you would be kind enough – I’ll do anything you ask me to do – just help me get this right so that you’ll be comfortable with me doing this film. David is sincere about wanting to understand and respect what the business is. He’s not just showing up so he can sell more David Banner CDs. And a lot of times people are doing just that. So I would be doing a disservice to all the kids who go to college and major in drama, and go through the things that I went through to try and make their way in this business, if I just said, Sure, I’ll prop this cat up. That’s just not what I’m going to do.

But it seems like a natural progression these days. If you’re a hip-hop star, the natural ascension is eventually to films . . .

SLJ: Only because of the advent of music videos. Everybody thinks, Well I can act in my video, I gotta be able to act in a movie. Then somebody comes up to them and says, You outta be in a movie! Shit, just hold that gun sideways and talk like you talk! [lowering his voice as if talking in secret] Oh, and in the meantime, you think you can drop us a song for the soundtrack? And, Boom! They’re movie stars.

So to be a rapper and get down with Sam Jackson on a film, you have to be proven as an actor and show some sort of . . .

SLJ: Proven, for one thing, and also show some sort of sincerity for wanting to be a part of this business as a craftsman, and not just as an opportunist.

So, obviously, Jackson feels 50 Cent has "proven" himself with Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Bottom line when it comes to rappers working on screen with Samuel L. Jackson: (say screaming) It's a one-film minimum requirement for rappers to work with me, mothufucka! The others deserve to die, and I hope they burn in Hell!!


BE SURE TO TUNE IN on Monday when H2I goes head to head in a classic interview with G Unit soldiers Lloyd Banks and Young Buck! And don't get in any trouble this weekend! We've got enough problems right now!

Stay tuned, Intelligentsia . . .
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Joel is a New York-based magazine journalist who has penned articles for KING, VIBE, Star, Us Weekly, Black Enterprise, XXL, and GIANT.

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