Azealia Banks is well known for her theatrics on Twitter and in concerts. Now she’ll get to prove her chops on the big screen: she’ll make her major acting debut in the coming musical drama “It Doesn’t Have to Rhyme,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The project, produced by Lionsgate, will include several other hip-hop stars: RZA will direct the film, and Common and Jill Scott have been cast in acting roles.
According to The Hollywood Reporter the drama depicts a rapper (Ms. Banks) who is drawn to slam poetry after taking a college course, and is given guidance by different mentor figures (Common and Lorraine Toussaint).
Ms. Banks released her debut album, “Broke With Expensive Taste,” last year to critical acclaim. RZA previously directed the martial-arts film “The Man With the Iron Fists,” and Common has appeared in several films, notably “Selma” (for which he also won an Oscar for best original song) and “American Gangster.”