It’s hard out here for a rapper trying to be taken seriously as an actor — but that’s changing.
The line between the recording studio and the silver screen has never been thinner. This year, a new generation of rappers is proving that musical talent and acting chops aren’t mutually exclusive, delivering performances that have critics buzzing and Oscar voters taking notice.
Leading the charge is Teyana Taylor, whose turn as Perfidia Beverly Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has positioned her firmly near the forefront of the supporting actress conversation. Taylor plays a French 75 revolutionary member who runs away from her family and maternal responsibilities, bringing a raw vulnerability to the role that showcases her dramatic depth.
This isn’t her first rodeo — she demonstrated her range in the indie drama “A Thousand and One” (2023), where she portrayed a struggling mother with heartbreaking authenticity. The multi-hyphenate artist is also celebrating her first Grammy nomination for best R&B album for “Escape Room.”
via Instagram
A$AP Rocky is having an impressive year, with not one but two notable turns. In Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” the A24-Apple crime thriller that reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low,” Rocky tackles the role of Archie/Yung Felon, lending street-level intensity to Lee’s characteristically bold vision. He follows that with a supporting turn opposite Rose Byrne in Mary Bronstein’s dark comedy “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” where he plays motel superintendent James, expertly balancing the film’s dark themes with unexpected humor.
The three-time Grammy nominee is building buzz not only for his acting but also for his highly anticipated fourth studio album, “Don’t Be Dumb,” set for release in January. Rocky’s chameleon-like ability to shift between genres and tones suggests an actor who understands that less is often more, letting silence speak as loudly as any verse.
Tyler, the Creator rounds out this year’s standout trio with his role in Josh Safdie’s anxiety-inducing “Marty Supreme” for A24. Credited under his birth name, Tyler Okonma, the 34-year-old plays Wally, a taxi driver and friend to Timothée Chalamet’s titular character, delivering a naturalistic performance that feels effortlessly lived in.
The two-time Grammy winner also is nominated for five Grammys, including album of the year and rap album for “Chromakopia.” His approach to acting mirrors his musical evolution: He’s unafraid to be strange, vulnerable and utterly himself.
These performances build on an overlooked legacy of rappers transitioning successfully to the silver screen. Ice Cube made waves in “Boyz n the Hood” (1991), establishing himself as a serious dramatic actor before building a comedy empire. Queen Latifah earned a supporting actress nomination for “Chicago” (2002), where she brought showstopping charisma to the role of Mama Morton. Will Smith won an Oscar for “King Richard” (2021), while Eminem received the original song trophy for “Lose Yourself” from “8 Mile” (2002), along with praise for his acting work. Ludacris won a SAG Award as part of the “Crash” (2005) ensemble. Donald Glover took home an Emmy for “Atlanta,” revolutionizing television comedy in the process, and Mark Wahlberg, who began as Marky Mark, earned a supporting actor nomination for best picture winner “The Departed” (2006).
What’s different about this moment is the volume of talent making the leap, creating a critical mass that’s hard for the industry to ignore. The stigma that once followed rappers into audition rooms seems to be evaporating, replaced by excitement about what these artists bring to the table. They’re not abandoning music for Hollywood — rather, they’re expanding the definition of what it means to be an artist today.
Hip-hop’s brightest stars aren’t just dropping bars. They’re raising them.
This week’s Oscar predictions are below.
*** = PREDICTED WINNER
(All predicted nominees below are in alphabetical order)
Best Picture
“Bugonia” (Focus Features)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“It Was Just an Accident” (Neon)
“Marty Supreme” (A24)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Sentimental Value” (Neon)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Train Dreams” (Netflix)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Jafar Panahi, “It Was Just an Accident” (Neon)
Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Actor
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Joel Edgerton, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon” (Sony Pictures Classics) ***
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent” (Neon)
Actress
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” (Focus Features) ***
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (A24)
Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Emma Stone, “Bugonia” (Focus Features)
Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
Paul Mescal, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Andrew Scott, “Blue Moon” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Supporting Actress
Ariana Grande, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Regina Hall, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Amy Madigan, “Weapons” (Warner Bros.) ***
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Original Screenplay
“Blue Moon” (Sony Pictures Classics) — Robert Kaplow
“It Was Just an Accident” (Neon) — Jafar Panahi
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
“Sentimental Value” (Neon) — Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Ryan Coogler ***
Adapted Screenplay
“Bugonia” (Focus Features) — Will Tracy
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Chloé Zhao
“No Other Choice” (Neon) — Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi and Jahyee Lee
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Paul Thomas Anderson
“Train Dreams” (Netflix) — Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar ***
Casting
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Nina Gold
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Jennifer Venditti
“Nouvelle Vague” (Netflix) — Stéphane Batut
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Cassandra Kulukundis
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Francine Maisler ***
Animated Feature
“Arco” (Neon)
“Elio” (Pixar)
“KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix)
“Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” (GKids)
“Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Pictures) ***
Production Design
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) ***
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Marty Supreme” (A24)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Cinematography
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“No Other Choice” (Neon)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Costume Design
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) ***
Film Editing
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Marty Supreme” (A24)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Makeup and Hairstyling
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) ***
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“The Smashing Machine” (A24)
“Weapons” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Sound
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Visual Effects
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios) ***
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios)
“Superman” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Original Score
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Alexandre Desplat
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Max Richter
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Jonny Greenwood
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Ludwig Göransson ***
“Sirāt” (Neon) — Kangding Ray
Original Song
“Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless” (Greenwich Entertainment)
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix) ***
“I Lied to You” from “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“The Girl in the Bubble” from “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
“Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Documentary Feature
“The Alabama Solution” (HBO Documentary Films)
“Come See Me in the Good Light” (Apple Original Films)
“The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix) ***
“The Librarians” (Independent Lens)
“2000 Meters to Andriivka” (PBS)
International Feature
“It Was Just an Accident” from France (Neon)
“The Secret Agent” from Brazil (Neon)
“Sentimental Value” from Norway (Neon) ***
“Sirāt” from Spain (Neon)
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” from Tunisia (Willa)
Top 5 projected Oscar nomination leaders (films): “One Battle After Another” (14); “Sinners” (12); “Hamnet” (11); “Wicked: For Good” (8); “Sentimental Value” (7)
Top 5 projected Oscar nomination leaders (studios): Warner Bros. (32); Neon (18); Netflix (15); Focus Features (14); A24 and Universal Pictures (8)
