Mos Def
Every year it seems like 10 more hip-hop stars decide they’ll give this whole acting thing a shot. But has there ever been one that’s taken the “craft” as seriously as the Black on Both Sides rapper? Shaping a chameleon-esque career that is earning him Gary Oldman-like admiration, every performance redefines his voice and persona — as well as what we expect from a musician/actor. Who else would have accepted the sci-fi comedy “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” never mind stole the whole movie? This year saw Mos Def developing a nasal New York accent for the Bruce Willis drama “16 Blocks,” blowing minds as a Brazilian dishwasher in the under-seen drug drama “Journey to the End of the Night” and even keeping it real in “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” with a spot-on portrayal of, well, his own amazing self.