[upbeat hip-hop music]
- Hey, yo, what's up?
I'm Sway.
If you black, you know me from "The Wake Up Show."
If you white, you know me from this hat.
Today on "Hip Hop Classics,"
we look back at artists who got their start on camera
before they went behind the mic.
By now, everyone knows Drake appeared
on the Canadian teenage drama
"Degrassi: The Next Generation."
But did you know Drake isn't alone
in his transition from the small screen
to hip-hop royalty?
Before Eminem was a hard-core rapper,
he showed a softer side
on the coming-of-age drama "Felicity."
See if you can pick him out.
[light instrumental music]
- Hey. - Hey.
- Hey!
- Thank you both for meeting me here,
in my giant dorm room.
- What? I can't hear you!
- I love you both, but I can only choose one.
- Choose yourself.
Your internship's important!
- Okay.
Now, "Family Matters" was,
for many people with terrible taste,
the best show of the '90s.
But before Jaleel White starred as the iconic Steve Urkel,
he was played by Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.,
better known as Lil Wayne.
[upbeat saxophone-driven music]
- Dad, I need the car.
- Uh, you don't need the car,
because you're grounded.
- But, Dad, the dance!
- Y'all got any cheese?
- It's in the fridge.
[gunshots]
- Did I do that?
- Steve!
- [chuckling]
- [laughing]
[applause]
Now, what I like about the line, "Did I do that?"
was that the answer was almost always, "Yes, you did."
Okay, now, before Rihanna was an international superstar,
she starred in a Barbados television reboot
of the early '90s classic "Blossom."
Here are the opening credits.
[upbeat piano music]
- [singing] Don't know about the future
- [singing] Eh-eh - That's anybody's guess
- Oh, la-la
- And no good reason for getting all depressed
- [vocalizing] - Fire up your pad and pencil
- Ooh - I give you a piece of my mind
- Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
Umbrella, eh-eh-eh-eh
- And in my opinionation
The sun is gonna surely shine
- [singing] What's my name?
- Now, a few years ago,
the hip-hop community was abuzz
when it was discovered that Rick Ross
had worked as a corrections officer.
But did you know he was also the red Teletubby?
- Time for "Teletubbies." [baby giggling]
- Tinky-Winky. - Tinky-Winky!
- Dipsy. - Dipsy.
- Laa-Laa. - Laa-Laa.
- Rick Ross!
[upbeat music]
Rosé!
- Teletubbies!
- Rosé!
- Hello!
all: Uh-oh!
[applause]
- Many pop stars got their start with the Disney Channel--
Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus.
But it seems history has forgotten
the short-lived classic "That's So 2 Chainz."
Here's a clip from the talent show episode.
[upbeat music]
both: [singing] Me may my may moe
- Wow, they are good.
We're never gonna win.
- Sydney, it's not about winning or losing.
It's about having fun.
- You're right, 2 Chainz.
That's why you're the big brother.
- Exactly, yeah.
- 2 Chainz, you're in the talent show?
I guess they let anyone in these days.
- What the [bleep] did you just say to me?
- What? - Huh?
- I didn't-- - What did you say?
Huh? What did you say?
- I didn't say anything.
- You ain't say nothing.
Say it again!
That's what I thought. What you looking at?
[upbeat music]
- Interesting fact: "That's So 2 Chainz"
still holds the record
for the Disney show with the most bleeps.
Now, long before Jay Z was the king of rap,
as young Shawn Carter, was a guest on "Mr. Wizard."
- All right, Shawn, today you and I
are gonna make a volcano.
- Ha-ha, Hov. - That's right.
Now, I power my volcano with baking soda and vinegar.
- Ha-ha-ha, Brooklyn.
- Now, why don't you go ahead and pour that in there?
- Oh, that's crazy. - Oh, look at that.
- Yo, that is crazy.
[rapping] M-to-the-ister
Wh-to-the-izard
Mr. Wizard, get your damn hands up
- Like this? - Yeah, just like that.
- And now we're having fun.
[laser zapping]
- And finally, we take a look
at the original pilot to "The Wonder Years."
See if you can recognize the '80s hip-hop legend
who provided the voice-over.
[crickets chirping]
- Flavor Flav in the house!
- I'm sorry.
About Brian.
- Who's Brian?
Yo, give her your coat.
Give her your coat. Give her your coat.
Yo, give her your coat.
Yee-ah...yee-ah...
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Yeah, boy-ee!
- In the end, producers felt that Flavor Flav
wasn't believable as Fred Savage's adult voice.
[cat meows]
What?
You just ate.
[cat meows]
Okay, um, I'm not saying
that there's a cat on my head, but, uh...
if there is, I have to feed it.
For "Hip Hop Classics," I'm Sway.
[upbeat hip-hop music]