Hip Hop Cops

Rappers have a history of fighting crime.

Hip Hop Cops - Today (January 17), Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, hits theaters. In the film, Hart plays a dude who wants to marry Cube's sister, so Cube, a cop, takes him for a day on the job. It's not the first time that a rapper — or Cube, for that matter — has played a boy in blue in a movie. Here are some other rappers that have held a badge. (Photo: Cube Vision, Rainforest Films)

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Hip Hop Cops - Today (January 17), Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, hits theaters. In the film, Hart plays a dude who wants to marry Cube's sister, so Cube, a cop, takes him for a day on the job. It's not the first time that a rapper — or Cube, for that matter — has played a boy in blue in a movie. Here are some other rappers that have held a badge. (Photo: Cube Vision, Rainforest Films)

Ice-T, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Ice-T found himself in hot water with his 1992 song “Cop Killer,” released by his rock outfit Body Count. Turns out he warmed up to the fuzz, or at least to playing them, though. Since 2000, he’s been a main character on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, for which he’s won an NAACP Award. 

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Ice-T, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Ice-T found himself in hot water with his 1992 song “Cop Killer,” released by his rock outfit Body Count. Turns out he warmed up to the fuzz, or at least to playing them, though. Since 2000, he’s been a main character on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, for which he’s won an NAACP Award. 

LL Cool J - LL Cool J has showed the diversity of his acting chops over the years as he starred in the NBC comedy In the House for five seasons, starting in 1995, as a retired football player running a sports clinic with seasoned comedic actors Alfonso Ribeiro and Kim Wayans. After more success on the big screen, Uncle L returned to television in 2009 and has starred as agent Sam Hanna in the crime saga NCIS: Los Angeles for the past five years.  (Photo: CBS/Cliff Lipson /Landov)

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LL Cool J, NCIS: Los Angeles - It’s incredible that LL Cool J has been rapping for three decades, but equally as astounding is that he’s been acting for two. With major roles on both TV shows and movies under his belt, LL landed a starring role in NCIS: Los Angeles, where he plays Special Agent Sam Hanna. The show is now in its fifth season. (Photo: CBS/Cliff Lipson /Landov) 

Dr. Dre, Training Day - Training Day will always be remembered for Denzel Washington’s powerful performance, but there were a number of other performers of note in the film as well. In addition to artists like Snoop Dogg and Macy Gray, Dr. Dre scored a role in the 2001 film playing Detective Paul, who was part of the gang of crooked cops that ran with Denzel’s character. Dre also contributed to the film's soundtrack with "Put It on Me."(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Dr. Dre, Training Day - Training Day will always be remembered for Denzel Washington’s powerful performance, but there were a number of other performers of note in the film as well. In addition to artists like Snoop Dogg and Macy Gray, Dr. Dre scored a role in the 2001 film playing Detective Paul, who was part of the gang of crooked cops that ran with Denzel’s character. Dre also contributed to the film's soundtrack with "Put It on Me."(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Tupac Shakur, Gang Related - Known for being the last film that Tupac Shakur appeared in, Gang Related also starred heavyweights like James Earl Jones, Dennis Quaid and James Belushi. In the 1997 movie, the rapper played a detective who, along with his partner, tries to cover up a crime they’ve committed. (Photo: Orion Pictures)

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Tupac Shakur, Gang Related - Known for being the last film that Tupac Shakur appeared in, Gang Related also starred heavyweights like James Earl Jones, Dennis Quaid and James Belushi. In the 1997 movie, the rapper played a detective who, along with his partner, tries to cover up a crime they’ve committed. (Photo: Orion Pictures)

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Will Smith, I, Robot - In 2004, for his once-a-year-blockbuster, Will Smith chose I, Robot, a futuristic film where he plays a detective. As usual, it’s on Will to save the world. And as usual, he comes through. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Will Smith, I, Robot - In 2004, for his once-a-year-blockbuster, Will Smith chose I, Robot, a futuristic film where he plays a detective. As usual, it’s on Will to save the world. And as usual, he comes through. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

Will Smith, Bad Boys - Teaming with Martin Lawrence, Will Smith plays Detective Mike Lowrey, part of the Miami P.D., in Bad Boys. He’s funny, daring and ready to take it to whoever’s in his way. Smith and co. followed up in 2003 with the sequel. (Photo: Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films)

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Will Smith, Bad Boys - Teaming with Martin Lawrence, Will Smith plays Detective Mike Lowrey, part of the Miami P.D., in Bad Boys. He’s funny, daring and ready to take it to whoever’s in his way. Smith and co. followed up in 2003 with the sequel. (Photo: Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films)

RZA, American Gangster  - Denzel must like working with legendary producers. After sharing the screen with Dr. Dre in 2001’s Training Day, Washington was joined by RZA in 2007’s American Gangster. The Wu-Tang Clansman played Detective Moses Jones, while Common and T.I. also appeared in the film. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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RZA, American Gangster  - Denzel must like working with legendary producers. After sharing the screen with Dr. Dre in 2001’s Training Day, Washington was joined by RZA in 2007’s American Gangster. The Wu-Tang Clansman played Detective Moses Jones, while Common and T.I. also appeared in the film. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Xzibit, The X-Files: I Want to Believe - It definitely looks good on paper: Xzibit in an X-Files movie. That’s probably not the only reason that the MC was cast in The X-Files: I Want to Believe, the 2008 spinoff of the successful show, where he played FBI Special Agent Mosley Drummy. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Xzibit, The X-Files: I Want to Believe - It definitely looks good on paper: Xzibit in an X-Files movie. That’s probably not the only reason that the MC was cast in The X-Files: I Want to Believe, the 2008 spinoff of the successful show, where he played FBI Special Agent Mosley Drummy. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

50 Cent, Blood Out - In some ways, Blood Out was the exact opposite of Get Rich or Die Tryin’. The latter, which came out in 2005, was a hit, starring 50 Cent as a hustler from the streets; the latter, released in 2011, went straight to DVD and found Fif playing Detective Hardwick. Nothing wrong with expanding your roles. (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage)

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50 Cent, Blood Out - In some ways, Blood Out was the exact opposite of Get Rich or Die Tryin’. The latter, which came out in 2005, was a hit, starring 50 Cent as a hustler from the streets; the latter, released in 2011, went straight to DVD and found Fif playing Detective Hardwick. Nothing wrong with expanding your roles. (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage)

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Ice Cube, 21 Jump Street - This 2012 film (with a sequel on the way) stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as police partners, and their captain is played by Ice Cube. The West Coaster plays a fired up cop who says ridiculous things with a serious tone. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Ice Cube, 21 Jump Street - This 2012 film (with a sequel on the way) stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as police partners, and their captain is played by Ice Cube. The West Coaster plays a fired up cop who says ridiculous things with a serious tone. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Tone Loc, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - In the 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, starring Jim Carrey, Tone Loc plays his coworker, Emilio. He also added to the soundtrack with his cut "Ace Is in the House."(Photo: Morgan Creek Productions)

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Tone Loc, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - In the 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, starring Jim Carrey, Tone Loc plays his coworker, Emilio. He also added to the soundtrack with his cut "Ace Is in the House."(Photo: Morgan Creek Productions)

50 Cent, Freelancers - Starring alongside heavyweights Forrest Whitaker and Robert De Niro, 50 Cent was cast in 2012's Freelancers to play an NYPD officer. Fif teams with De Niro, who was his father's partner in the force. (Photo: INFphoto.com) 

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50 Cent, Freelancers - Starring alongside heavyweights Forrest Whitaker and Robert De Niro, 50 Cent was cast in 2012's Freelancers to play an NYPD officer. Fif teams with De Niro, who was his father's partner in the force. (Photo: INFphoto.com)