Hip Hop Classics: Before They Were Stars - SNL

On this show, you'll discover what TV roles today's hip hop stars had before they became famous musicians, such as Eminem (Taran Killam) on Felicity, Lil' Wayne (Drake) on Family Matters, and Rihanna (Sasheer Zamata) on Blossom. [Season 39, 2014]

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[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.

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]