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Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg & Drake are among those who’ve donned the screen producer hat…
This morning we were treated to another trailer for The Idol, HBO’s buzzy upcoming series created and produced by The Weeknd. While the singer’s forthcoming show — which he’ll co-star in alongside Lily-Rose Depp — marks the latest entry into the musician turned Hollywood producer canon, The Weeknd joins a slew of fellow artists who also have film and television credits to their name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRyHnzFn4HM
Fellow hip-hop artists Drake and Snoop Dogg have likewise contributed to screen projects over the years, while the likes of Kid Cudi and Frank Ocean are set to create upcoming projects for Netflix and A24 respectively. In anticipation of The Idol, we;re counting down some of the most notable films and television shows created by musicians.
The Idol — Created by The Weeknd
While an official premiere date for The Idol has yet to be announced, the show’s eye-popping premise and starry cast has garnered much attention ahead of its release. The show, which is set to star Lily-Rose Depp, Troye Sivan, Hank Azaria and Moses Sumney, will follow the exploits of a cult leader, and is set within the glitterati of the L.A. music scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4so_R1Htt8
Alongside The Weeknd in his television debut, The Idol is co-created by Euphoria showrunner Sam Levision, and adds to the musician’s previous screen involvements including a cameo in Uncut Gems and co-writing credits for an episode of American Dad.
Euphoria — Produced by Drake
The Idol marks Sam Levinson’s second collaboration with a musician, having enlisted hip-hop artist Drake as an executive producer on the fellow HBO series, Euphoria. The teen drama on steroids aired its second season earlier this year, and received input from Drake in regards to its soundtrack and table reads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRvEtFB7uTE
The show’s lead actress Zendaya, once a musician herself, also produces the series. Upon the season one premiere in 2020, it was even reported that Drake dolled out bags of cash to attendees at the Euphoria wrap party. Elsewhere, Drake appeared on the CTV soap opera Degrassi.
Atalanta — Created by Childish Gambino
First premiering in 2016, FX’s Atlanta has since enjoyed a three-season run, all of which have been helmed by series creator Donald Glover AKA Childish Gambino. The series also stars Glover in the role of Earnest who, alongside rapper Paper Boi, navigates the rap scene of the titular Georgian city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB-jmFA1NMk
Atlanta has been a critical success since its premiere, most recently sweeping a stack of categories during this year’s Emmy nominations. Glover’s performance in the series adds to a list previous screen appearances, the most popular of which saw him play a college student on the beloved sitcom Community.
The Underdoggs — Created and co-written by Snoop Dogg
We’ve been treated to multiple updates this month regarding The Underdoggs, an upcoming film produced and co-written by Snoop Dogg. The comedy, expected to hit cinemas in September of next year, also credits Black-ish creator Kenya Barris as a screenwriter, and is based on the rapper’s past experience as a football coach.
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In a statement, Snoop said the film was a “real personal project” for him, referencing his decade-and-a-half run coaching football with the Snoop Youth Football League. Upon its release, The Underdoggs will add to Snoop’s sizable list of comedy film appearances, having made cameos in Brüno, Starsky & Hutch, and the Jamie Foxx-starring Day Shift.
Entergalactic — Co-created by Kid Cudi
Expected to hit screens by the end of this year, Entergalactic is an animated Netflix series co-created, written and produced by rapper Kid Cudi. The show, which follows two young musicians as they balance love and success in New York City, boasts a starry cast, with actors Timothée Chalamet, Vanessa Hudgens and Macaulay Culkin all lending their voices to the adult-focussed project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9vnzySyj0I
Fellow rappers Jaden Smith and Ty Dolla $ign also comprise the ensemble. In 2019, Cudi revealed that Entergalactic would form the basis of an upcoming album of the same name, following on from 2020’s Man On The Moon III: The Chosen.
Hustlers — Produced by Jennifer Lopez
In 2019, Jennifer Lopez joined Will Ferrell in producing Hustlers, a drama film following the swindling efforts of a stripper in New York City. The movie was also produced by Adam McKay, who’s previous films include the Anchorman series, The Big Short and Don’t Look Up, among others. Lopez enlisted a stack of fellow musicians to star in the film, with the likes of Lizzo, Cardi B and Usher all making cameo appearances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e67tHHEk5w
Wu-Tang: An American Saga — Produced by RZA
RZA, frontman of the rap collective Wu-Tang Clan, first ventured into the small screen in 2019, serving as the creator, writer and executive producer of Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga. The series, which released its most recent second season in 2021, chronicles the formation and ascent of the titular rap group in the early ‘90s, and stars Ashton Sanders as RZA. Last year, Wu-Tang: An American Saga was renewed for its third and final season, which is expected to hit screens sometime this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPXYFo8FIpM
Top Boy — Produced by Drake
Following the exploits of East London drug gangs, Top Boy’s credits include a producer nod to Drake. In fact, it was Drake’s interest in the series in 2017 that brought Top Boy back to life, following its cancellation after two seasons in 2014. Donning the producer hat, Drake spearheaded Top Boy’s transition to Netflix, where it has since aired two seasons in September 2019 and March 2022 respectively. The show has gone on to earn a stack of British television awards, and has confirmed that its upcoming fifth season will be its last.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9MSHl40z-g
Annie — Produced by Jay-Z
Defying expectations in 2014, Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z conceived of and produced the reboot of the children’s classic musical, Annie. Jay-Z created the project alongside Will and Jada Smith, and the trio sought to bring a hip-hop flair to the 1982 original. The musician released his own version of ‘Hard Knock Life’ for inclusion in the film’s soundtrack, and enlisted Cameron Diaz in what would be her final leading role before going on a years-long hiatus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-lw0Jtmzn8
Elsewhere, Jay-Z is currently producing Teddy, an upcoming film which will mark fellow rapper Kid Cudi’s directorial debut. The film is based on a script Cudi has been working on since 2013, and is described by the rapper as taking “the song ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ and [writing] a movie about it.
Untitled A24 Project — Written and Directed by Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean broke the internet earlier this year when news surfaced that he’d be directing his first feature film. According to reports, the project will be distributed by production company A24, who’s filmography includes Uncut Gems, Midsommar, and Euphoria, among others.
Ocean already has a connection with A24, having licensed his song Godspeed for inclusion in the film Waves. He also wrote the foreword to a published version of Moonlight in 2019. Details of the rumoured project remain scarce, but Ocean’s protege and fellow R&B crooner SZA recently joined the cast of another A24 project titled Tuna Melt.
