10 Music Stars Turned Hollywood Producers
Many artists are also kind of a big deal in film and TV.
1 / 12
Music Stars Turned Hollywood Producers - Will Smith and Jay Z are proving to be a powerful combination. After the two East Coast natives linked up to produce the Broadway show Fela, they teamed up once again to go Hollywood for the movie Annie, which is set to come out later this year. Now, they're making a move to television. Jay, Will and electro-house singer/DJ Calvin Harris are producing a comedy for HBO — no joke. And they're not the first recording artists to have stepped behind the lens. Read on for more music stars who've also worked as producers on TV shows and movies. (Photos: Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
2 / 12
Queen Latifah - After a successful career behind the mic, Queen Latifah stepped in front of the camera. She’s earned much acclaim for her acting (including an Academy Award nomination), and has parlayed that into a role as a producer. She’s earned credits as producer or executive producer on roughly a dozen movies, in addition to TV shows like Let’s Stay Together and Single Ladies. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
3 / 12
Ice Cube - From a gangster rapper to a respected actor, Ice Cube’s evolution over the last 25 years has seemed improbable. He’s proven an ability to make box office draws and cult classics, and has served as producer or executive producer on the majority of the films in which he's starred, as well as the TV series Are We There Yet?(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images
4 / 12
MC Lyte - Hip Hop Sisters is a non-profit that was founded by MC Lyte to promote positive images of women. Though details are scarce, word is the veteran MC also has a show of the same name in development for a cable run. (Photo: Maury Phillips/BET/Getty Images for BET)
Photo By Photo: Maury Phillips/BET/Getty Images for BET
5 / 12
Jay Z - Everyone knows that Jay Z has his hands in all sorts of projects, from music to a sports agency to video game soundtracks. Hov's also dabbled in movie producing, though. From his own Fade to Black and Made in America documentaries to the upcoming Annie and HBO comedy that he's working on, Jay brings entertainment in all forms. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 12
Will Smith - Not only has Will Smith solidified himself as one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but the Philadelphia native also has a strong resume when it comes to producing. He's earned credits on some of his own mega hits, but also has served as a producer on films like ATL and The Secret Life of Bees. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
7 / 12
Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys has also made her transition to Hollywood as an actress, but she's quickly learning how to take on the role of producer as well. She got behind the The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete as executive producer.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Children's Rights)
8 / 12
Q-Tip - To date, Q-Tip has two production credits to his name: the 2001 film Prison Song, which he starred in; and The Hip Hop Project, a documentary from 2006. Word is, moving forward, the New York native has a major third already on tap — he's teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill to produce a new Native Tongues TV show. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
9 / 12
Diddy - Diddy has a lengthy list of TV shows which he's produced — from multiple seasons of Making the Band to Run's House. In addition to that, he served as an executive producer on the movies Notorious and Undefeated, the latter of which earned an Academy Award. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
10 / 12
Mac Miller - In 2013, Mac Miller starred in and produced his own reality show, Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family. Now he's getting ready to branch out, as he's signed on to executive produce a film about artist Daniel Johnston. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)
ADVERTISEMENT