Hollywood has a long-standing tradition of entertainers from various art forms transitioning into film acting. Musicians, in particular, frequently attempt to make the leap to the big screen, often with mixed results. For every Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls, there is a Mariah Carey in Glitter. However, one recent example of a musician stepping in front of the camera and immediately feeling like a natural is rapper A$AP Rocky, who, in 2025, has roles in two of the most well-reviewed films of the year. The Harlem-born MC not only stars in Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee‘s recently released NYC-based reimagining of Akira Kurosawa‘s High and Low, but he is also set to appear in Mary Bronstein’s highly anticipated A24 black comedy, If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You. This back-to-back would make for a banner year for even the most seasoned movie stars, as Highest 2 Lowest currently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Bronstein’s upcoming film, set to be released on October 10, has the potential to be one of the most acclaimed films of the fall after receiving rave reviews out of Sundance as well as the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year.
Neither Lee’s nor Bronstein’s film is Rocky’s big screen debut. That came back in 2015 when he starred in a minor but pivotal role in Rick Famuyiwa’s Dope. There, he announced himself to film audiences as a performer with a captivating and magnetic screen presence. Though he’s rarely acted in the decade since Dope‘s release, his impressive 2025 is an indicator that, if he wants it, a long and successful acting career awaits him.
A$AP Rocky Shined With Limited Screen Time in ‘Dope’
Dope is a coming-of-age crime comedy about three nerdy high schoolers growing up in a rough neighborhood in Inglewood, California, who get sent down a dangerous and illicit path following a mishap at a party involving a backpack full of drugs. The three teens at the center of the story—Malcolm (Shameik Moore), Jib (Tony Revolori), and Diggy (Kiersy Clemons)—are outcasts due to their interest in things like comic books, punk music, doing well in school, and, perhaps most importantly, ’90s hip-hop culture. Their love of that era of music informs much of their personalities, including the way they talk, dress, and act. Malcolm rocks a hi-top fade, writes thesis papers on Ice Cube‘s “It Was A Good Day,” and all three consistently use outdated slang throughout the film.
The film’s soundtrack is littered with ’90s rap classics, but its connection to hip-hop doesn’t end there. It was executive produced by Pharrell Williams, and its cast includes several rappers, including Vince Staples, Tyga, Casey Veggies, Kap G, and, of course, A$AP Rocky. Though casting these musicians in a film that’s so upfront about its hip-hop influence might seem like a gimmick, Rocky’s performance especially fits seamlessly into the narrative and never risks taking the viewer out of the experience. He plays a smooth, confident, and street-smart drug dealer named Dom, who sets Dope‘s plot into motion when he has Malcolm invite Nakia (Zoë Kravitz) to his birthday party on his behalf. In his performance, Rocky brings forth the natural charisma he possesses as a musical artist and entertainer, but leaves room for a fair amount of nuance as well.
The inclusion of Rocky and other real-life rappers on screen certainly lends the film an air of authenticity; however, they are never simply used as props or background decoration. While Rocky doesn’t get an overwhelming amount of screen time in Dope, there is a depth that comes across in the work he’s doing in the film that sets him apart from the typical musician-turned-actor. He handles the comedy exceptionally well but also adds to the film’s more tense moments by embodying his character with conviction.This was an impressive feat for his debut; looking back on it 10 years later, it’s not surprising that a filmmaker of Lee’s caliber chose to cast him in Highest 2 Lowest.
Rocky Has Stated He is Interested in Pursuing More Acting After a Successful Year
Diving into an interview with Variety previewing Highest 2 Lowest‘s debut at the Cannes Film Festival, Rocky responded to a question about whether he’d ever have any interest in doing an action film by saying,
“I’m down for whatever.I think I need to be the new Black James Bond. Like, why not?” When asked if he wants to someday make movies his kids could see, he stated,
“I want to do something for my children. Everybody’s doingDespicable Me andSpongebob, and sh*t like that. I want to do an original DreamWorks/Pixar film likeSoul“. And when questioned about whether he’d ever act alongside his partnerRihanna, he simply said,
“Hell, yeah,” before adding that he’ll “more than likely” direct that project as well.
Clearly, Rocky has big ambitions for his burgeoning film career. With one of the greatest directors alive recently singing his praises on a press tour, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t feel confident in his abilities. In a Rolling Stone interview forHighest 2 Lowest, Lee said,
“Rocky is not masquerading as an actor. He is an actor.” And onThe Tonight Show, theDo The Right Thing director gave Rocky maybe the highest compliment any actor could receive by saying he went “toe-to-toe” withDenzel Washington. Anyone who can walk away from a scene with Denzel feeling like they held their own should not turn their back on acting. It’s fortunate for all us film fans thatRocky has more cinematic goals that he wants to accomplish.
