Here’s another rumor to file in the appropriate category – rapper/actor The Game is being prepped to play B.A. Baracus in the upcoming The A-Team movie.
As an actor, he’s only got a few credits under his belt, but he was pretty menacing and intimidating – two qualities that any actor needs to play a man who goes by the name, Bad Attitude – in Street Kings. He may also have the lightness of touch to play a man who, thanks to his aversion to flying and fondness for punchy one-liners, isn’t your average muscle-bound tough guy.
I wonder how he feels about flying. Mr. The Game, would you like some buttermilk?
20 Comments
See… Mr T. was an absolute BAD ASS (hence the name B.A.)… but all these rappers are just bad actors… they don’t hold a candle to Mr. T.
Also… face tattoo. That is all.
How fortunate we are that such a cliched’ marginalized, angry, muscle-bound minstrels are roles Hollywood is willing to reprise. Thankfully there are enough cliched’ angry, muscle bound gansta/thug personas for movie executives to cast. Nothing guaruntees street credibility and “urban” market share like stunt casting and characters like B.A. Baracus. It makes those “urban” people feel like they, too, have a place in the world.
Hmm… Honestly, let’s look at B.A. Baracus for a moment.
He’s a standard issue late 70’s/early 80’s big tough guy, with the added dimension of being African-American. His basic characterization seems to be predicated on a rebellion from the norms (in this case, the norms of being in the army and being accused of a crime he didn’t commit blah blah blah fishcakes) and putting up a big front of ultimate intimidation.
I don’t know Mr. The Game, but that image makes me think that, if nothing else, he looks the part. And since Mr. The Game hasn’t acted in very many things, we really don’t have a lot to go on as to whether he’s any good or not, so I wouldn’t necessarily prejudge his abilities.
And is a face tattoo any more or less edgy than a seven inch mohawk and fifty pounds of gold around the neck?
Why is it that everytime a rapper is posted on this site, ridicule is followed closely by? Its just a rumor first off, and whats wrong with a “gansta/thug persona”according to Brent, stepping out of the rap game for a little bit and trying something new? What exactly do you mean by “urban” Brent? Im extremely curious, if i were to assume i would think you were talking about black people, and black people have a place in the world and the movie world as much as anybody else. Learn how to spell Brent also.
CMonocle, all rappers are not bad actors. Common can act, Ludacris can act, Ice Cube can act. I love major spoilers but Im really tired of all rapper bashing.
mosdef: it should be pointed out that it isn’t Major Spoilers doing any bashing.
That being said, I have seen Street Kings, and he was good in it.
I know Stephen. Its the readers and the commentors. Most of the time its the same ones, and Street Kings was full of bad-assery. I LOVE MAJOR SPOILERS
oh and Stephen please stop referring to The Game as Mr. The Game lol.
mosdef:
I’m sorry, but Common has done nothing to prove any acting ability. I am a very big fan of his music though. Ludicrous did surprise me in Crash, and Ice Cube has made a movie career for himself, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. Actually, I think the best rapper turned actor is MosDef… appropriately enough.
I don’t bash rappers just because they are rappers. I just think that there are gazillions of wannabe actors out there that might do a better job, and famous people will get stunt-casted ahead of them. I listen to a lot of HipHop and have respect for the craft… I just don’t think that entitles them to acting jobs. It reminds me of a Mitch Hedberg quote:
“As a comedian, they want you to do other things besides comedy. They say “alright you’re a comedian, can you write? Write us a script. Act in this sitcom.” They want me to do shit that’s related to comedy, but it’s not comedy, man. It’s not fair, you know? It’s as though if I was a cook, and I worked my ass off to become a really good cook, and they said “alright you’re a cook… can you farm?”
I never get involved in comment “skirmishes”, but it seems like you are being a little hypocritical here. You are condemning us for being negative (not wanting “The Game” as our “B.A. Baracus”)… Meanwhile, you are getting very defensive and making accusations.
The funny thing about this is… Mr. T can’t act OR rap. He’s just a BADASS.
To CMonocle & All: I think you are missing MosDef’s original point…..which he was really trying to POLITELY make. Let me start with my disclaimer….I LOVE THIS SITE and I don’t presume to speak for Mosdef. But I happen to know he is a poster who happens to be African American like myself. I don’t care if people bash potential actors in upcoming roles. But when posters make sweeping statements such as saying all rappers can’t act or start calling black men thugs and minstrels it does become offensive. Sometimes it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. It’s not about me being overly sensitive or asking people to be politically correct…but I would ask that people THINK before they post a comment that touches on race, religion, politics, sexuality, etc. because we all represent a valid perspective and worldview. Some people need to learn how to make their points without being vitriolic and acerbic. Matthew and Stephen do a great job of moderating this and all discussions but I’m sure they must cringe every now and again when they see some of this stuff….
I cringe with every post, not just the offensive ones.
It seems that I have somehow entered a racial debate?!? Definitely not my intention. I am talking about rappers turned actors. We can talk about Eminem in this bunch too. (He’s white, by the way) I was in NO way talking about anything racial. Have you seen any Toby Keith movies?!? He can’t act for shit either. My point has NOTHING to do with race. Please read my second comment again… I never made any sweeping statements about a race of any kind.
I always try my best to be as polite as possible here, and if I offended MosDef or Brother129… I am sorry. I assure you, it was not my intention.
I think that one of the best things about this site is the comment threads and people sharing their opinions and I respect yours. Let’s just not get off track… we’re supposed to be talking about Mr T and the (most likely terrible) A-Team movie here.
Also… sorry, Stephen. I know you like those Toby Keith movies!
Ah yes… Broken Bridges, and Beer for my Horses… i weep a little each time I watch these masterpieces of television gold… :P
And on that note, let’s keep it friendly and fun everyone.
CMonocle…no need for apologies. I only wanted to clarify and make a couple of points. I know you meant no ill will. Here’s to keeping it fun and friendly:)
Thanks, Brother129. I didn’t want to offend anyone.
CMonocle i wasnt directly talking to you. You didnt really say anything offensive unlike Brent. All you said was rappers cant act, i understand that sentiment completely. Its nice just to have a friendly arguement some times aint it? I dont wants no bef with CMonocle, maybe Brent lol, but not you.
Right-o! I loved you in Be Kind Rewind, by the way.
I wasn’t calling all rappers minstrels and thugs. But I AM saying that with too few exceptions like Common and MoscDef, it is ONLY the minstrels and thugs who get first crack at celebrity. That is a travesty because there are so many other talented, trained African American actors and unknown rappers who don’t promote that image. Yet they will never get the breakthrough roles or the crossover sales.
Secondly, why is it that B.A. Baracus or any muscle-bound, peripheral bad-ass HAVE to be the only black guy? Heck, why are these roles being written over and over again? Not only are black actors and rappers competing for too few roles, but those roles are a only variations on the same old ‘the one black character’ themes, i.e. the Magic Negro (look it up), the Thug with a heart of gold, the henchman, the asexual Mammy, the rude, neck rolling Sapphire.
Unlike most of people reading this post, I can’t get the same satisfaction from TV, movies and reading comics because the minority characters are almost always portrayed within the narrows confines of the stereotypes or misinformation in the minds of lazy writers. I grew up on the Mike Grell era Legion of Superheroes. Though I was happy to see Tyroc’s rare appearances, I had to make a conscious effort to push past the cheesy blaxploitation treatment. Ditto trying to watch the A-Team. I loved the JLU cartoon, but couldn’t stand how John Stewart was intellectually demoted from being an architect in comics to “the gruff military guy†in the cartoon. Why couldn’t he have been an architect in the cartoon? And did Luke Cage really need a babymomma? Was it so necessary that he marry his girlfriend only after they had a kid? See the pattern? These are not depictions black people are asking for…these are not depictions that the more famous rappers would protest…this is what we all are accepting as consumer.
I wouldn’t mind it B.A. Baracus or The Game so much if there were sufficient COUNTERBALANCES in the same show/movie/book. There is room for just one minority on a team, so when that slot is consistently filled by snarling “badasses†like Mr. T or The Game, that’s the only image of black men, aside from athletes, preachers and entertainers, that Americans are accustomed to seeing in mass media, minorities included.
For example, for this new A-Team movie, did anyone think that “the leaderâ€, or “the smart guy” or “the suave handsome guy” could be a black actor? Why not cast a white boy as the “badass†yet woefully inarticulate B.A. Baracus? Nope, that’s “Brother†territory, right? Someone call Tiny Lister or Michael Clarke Duncan, we need a big Negro, stat!
We all subconsciously accept that the “hero” with the romantic past, a fully fleshed out back story and clear motivations, well, that guy has to be white. And the shady/angry/no family/no back story/tear-stuff-up-just-for-the-heck-of-it guy may or may not be a minority, but certainly that’s the most likely way writers will put a minority in the mix. Don’t believe me? Then explain Skids and Mudflap in the new Transformer movie. Seriously, there was no need for that minstrelsy, other than to express the assumptions of the movie’s writers.
@Mos Def: I was being snarky about how producers of mass media underestimate what THEY call the “urban” market. That is the marketing industry phrase for black people, so yes; I was talking about black people, duh. But you missed the point by a mile. The Suits think all black people are a monolith. They assume that they only need to cast the “hot rapper of the moment”, and automatically the urban market edgier kids from suburbia will support their product. Heaven help you if you are black AND you care about character development of black characters. Look at TV commercials, TV shows, even comics. They take the ensemble formula from “Friends” (the hot guy, the hot girl, the smart guy, the smart girl), add JUST one arbitrary Black or Latino…an Asian if you are feeling exotic…maybe a gay to really spice things up. Simmer, stir and .presto! There’s your new super team. And by making the lone black character the most “street”, The Game and others will do splendidly at the movie audition.
Thank goodness I can rely on Tyler Perry, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and others to wear drag and show us all an alternative image of black men.
Uh, that was sarcasm again for those who missed it.
Mm.
While you have some good points, Brent, I think the problem lay in the phrasing. What you meant as a condemnation of the characterization and what you percieve as lazy writing really did seem to be a shot at the actor and (by extension) his ethnicity. B.A. Baracus is nearly a thirty-year-old character, which does undermine some of your points about today’s marketing, at least for me.
Also, it has taken me a long time to realize this, but sarcasm is damn near impossible to translate in a purely text medium. Your mileage may vary…
Okay, well Brent, i hear your arguement very well…..and i agree with it. Your ealier post said NOTHING like that at all, which is why it flew over my head. I based my comment on your earlier post, and hey if i was wrong about it apologize. Reread your comment and see if you can somewhat recognize where i thought you were coming from.
“Unlike most of people reading this post, I can’t get the same satisfaction from TV, movies and reading comics because the minority characters are almost always portrayed within the narrows confines of the stereotypes or misinformation in the minds of lazy writers.”-I have so say i once again agree with you. Blacks in media are downplayed tremendously and are always given the “angry, loud, cursing” role. What is going to be done about it? Nothing, until more actors like Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Mos Def etc speak up about it and try to fix the problem themselves.
and once again your first post really didnt say what your extremely well written counter-arguement said at all. i still love you like a major spoilers brother tho.