Get Rich or Die Trying, 2005
As the 8 Mile helped the world know a little about Eminem’s life, GRODT similarly introduced “Boo Boo” to the world. Boo Boo was the street name of Queens rapper 50 Cent back in the day in South Jamaica. The film, directed by Jim Sheridan and written by Terence Winter, brushed over a drug dealer who shifted his life from a life of crime to the limelight of emceeing. And with the same hustle that he applied to the streets, he pushed through to rock the mic on the optimal level.
The cast was rich — as rich in talent as the movie was rich in box office sales: Viola Davis played the rapper’s, played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson grandmother; Terrence Howard; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje; Joy Bryant, Omar Benson Miller, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Bill Duke, Russell Hornsby, and Mykelti Williamson.
There are hundreds of other films that could have made this list. However, these 30s will give you a well-rounded glimpse into the culture that birthed a genre of entertainment that speaks to people that made rap music live.