Ludacris doesn't regret turning down a role in American Gangster.
The US rapper is better known for his music than his acting, but with recurring roles in the Fast & Furious franchise he has established himself on screen too.
It's not so easy to blend both careers and the 37-year-old had to turn down a prolific movie role in the past so he could concentrate on putting a record together.
"I make sacrifices all the time for music or movies, just because I'm focusing on one. I was supposed to be in American Gangster with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, but I turned it down so I could finish recording Release Therapy. And I actually won a Grammy for that album, so that's something I don't regret," he told Billboard magazine. "I set out to win best rap album that year, and that's what I did. I can guarantee I would not have the album turned in on time if I took a month to do that movie."
He has another two Grammys to his name, as well as countless other accolades. And it's his years in music that have helped hone his acting skills.
"All rappers act to a degree; we're acting out our own thoughts. But acting is a craft, and it's not as easy as everyone thinks it is. When you're acting, it's someone else's script, so you're only taking on a role. It's more challenging to be in someone else's shoes," he outlined.
Ludacris concedes that when it comes to music, it's much easier to be yourself.
Fellow rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube has been on hand to share his advice on how to go about switching up careers.
"Ice Cube sat me down one day and said, 'Be patient and pick the right roles, as opposed to taking whatever comes to you.' He said that over time, it's going to pay off. That's exactly the path that I'm on: I'm strategic and selective about everything I do," he revealed.
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