Dr. Dre will be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024. Others to be celebrated will include Gwen Stefani, Def Leppard, Brandy Norwood, Charles Fox, Darius Rucker, Glen Ballard, Sammy Hagar, and Toni Braxton, among a total of 31 others.
Selection committee member and radio host, Ellen K, reacted to the final list, as noted by Uproxx. “The committee did an amazing job choosing these very talented people,” she said. “We can’t wait to see each honoree’s reaction as they realize that they are becoming a part of Hollywood’s history with the unveiling of their star on the world’s most famous walkway.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: (L-R) Dr. Dre, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and Eminem attend the ceremony honoring Curtis. “50 Cent” with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 30, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Dr. Dre has participated in the ceremonies honoring numerous other hip-hop artists over the years including 50 Cent, Ice Cube, and Snoop Dogg. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest producers in the history of the genre. Dre began his career as a member of the iconic rap group, N.W.A. Critics often credit him as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk in the 1990s. The Library of Congress has selected his debut studio album, The Chronic, for preservation in the National Recording Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” In the 2000s, he shifted his focus to helping other artists with their own careers, signing both Eminem in 1998 and 50 Cent in 2002.
In addition to his music career, Dre is also the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He also co-founded and previously served as the president of Death Row Records. The Hollywood Walk Of Fame has yet to announce an exact date next year for his star unveiling ceremony. Be on the lookout for that announcement on HotNewHipHop.
The 2024 Class of the Hollywood Walk of Fame has some heavy hitters throughout the entire entertainment world. Dr. Dre and Angie Martinez are two from the rap corner looking to solidify their legacy as all-time greats. On Monday, the selection committee announced those being honored, with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board ratifying the selections that same day. Other honorees include Otis Redding, Toni Braxton, Chadwick Boseman (posthumous), Gwen Stefani, and Carl Weathers.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a celebrity honor, but it’s definitely for the fans. Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame ceremony producer, said in a Billboard interview, “This [award] is on the sidewalk. [Fans] can sit next to it. They can pose with it. It’s an interactive award.” For some, it’s as close as they can get to touching superstardom. Luckily, fans of Dr. Dre and Angie Martinez will be able to flash smiles and rock-on hand signs next to their stars soon.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Angie Martinez speaks on the Main Stage at CultureCon at Duggal Greenhouse on October 08, 2022, in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for Netflix)
Andre “Dr. Dre” Young is a mainstay in the rap game. Previous co-founder and president of Death Row Records, Dre is responsible for discovering the musical talents of Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige. Truthfully, he has too many hit singles to count. He began with the rap group NWA in the ’80s and ’90s. His most recent big-time performance was the SuperBowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show, which brought out all of the above artists in a tribute to L.A.-based hip-hop over the decades. Even without the Walk of Fame star, we’d never forget about Dre (just like the song says).
As for Angie Martinez, her radio presence and brief rap career got her the nickname “The Voice of New York.” For two decades, she was the main host of HOT 97’s Afternoon Drive with DJ Enuff in NY. In 2014, she joined cross-town rival Power 105.1. Born in Brooklyn, she was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2020. Musically, she signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation back in 2014. However, she doesn’t make much music these days. Instead, she opts for radio interviewing the stars of hip-hop today. Honestly, both Dr. Dre and Angie Martinez are rap icons well deserving of this prestigious honor.
Chadwick Boseman tragically passed away in August 2020 from colon cancer. The actor was only 43 years old and in the midst of a surging career that saw him be Black Panther in the Marvel movies and an Oscar nomination for best actor in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom after his passing. Now, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is immortalizing the beloved Boseman with a posthumous star on their famed boulevard. According to Pop Hive and RapTV Instagram accounts, the HWF decided to give Chadwick Boseman his flowers for his cultural impact.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame announces new additions at regular intervals. The most recent additions are mostly titans of the music industry. Last ceremony, Blake Shelton, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Ming-Na Wen, and Tupac Shakur got their stars. Tupac and Boseman are both getting their stars after untimely deaths, but both were pivotal to pop culture.
Chadwick Boseman had a great career even if the window was cut too short. Other than playing King T’Challa in the Black Panther franchise, he was also Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in Get On Up, two major African American historical figures. He won the SAG Award for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role for the part of Levee Green in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a sign that the actor was looking for more roles of a serious nature. Chadwick Boseman was a big part of the movie world, and that world mourns his loss to this very day.
The Walk of Fame Class of 2024 is studded with stars from all over the entertainment industry. In the film category, Boseman, Marvel frontman Kevin Feige, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Michelle Yeoh are receiving stars. TV stars Ken Jeong and Eugene Levy, along with sports legends Billie Jean King and Carl Weathers, made the list. For the music stars, recipients include Def Leppard, Sammy Haggar, Darius Rucker, Gwen Stefani, and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young. Otis Redding is getting a posthumous star as well in the Live Performance category.
Tupac Shakur has finally received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Today, a ceremony was held in honor of the late icon joining the growing list of rappers to receive a Hollywood star. The ceremony was hosted by Big Boy, and Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, accepted the star on his behalf. The event also featured speeches from Tupac’s godfather Jamal Joseph and the director of the recent Dear Mama docuseries, Allen Hughes.
Tupac’s star lives at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, joining stars for Missy Elliot, Nipsey Hussle, DJ Khaled, and more. Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Ana Martinez shared a statement with LA Times about the star. “Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor, activist, poet, and revolutionary,” Martinez stated. She continued, explaining, “This iconic artist has continued to be part of the zeitgeist for decades after his passing and will continue to be an important cultural figure for many years to come. Surely, as one of L.A.’s own, Tupac’s star will be added to the list of most visited stars.”
Rapper Tupac Shakur poses for a portrait at Club Amazon on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Recently, various artists have taken to social media to share their thoughts on Tupac just now receiving his Hollywood star. “It took them 25 years + to give Tupac a star on Hollywood Blvd?” YG asked last week, “Y’all got him f****ed all the way up.” Boosie Badazz also chimed in, writing, “Tupac ain’t ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME?” He also said, “WTF THE DISRESPECT,” adding, “Don’t worry he saying F**K YALL from the Grave.”
Last week, Tupac’s biological father, Billy Garland, opened up about his feelings on Hughes’ recent Dear Mama docuseries. “We did an interview for about two hours,” he revealed. He also went on to say, “After I saw the interview in the documentary, I was slightly disappointed, let’s just say that. I didn’t like it. It was more about something else, than about 2Pac, if you know what I’m saying. If I knew it was about Dear Mama, I might’ve still did it, but I probably wouldn’t have. Not for nothing.”
YG took to social media to share his opinion on Tupac receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame just recently. He thinks it’s messed up that the iconic rapper hadn’t been honored at the landmark up until now, and he’s not the only one. Several other social media users flocked to the comments section to agree with him. “It took them 25 years + to give Tupac a star on Hollywood Blvd?” YG asked. He then claimed, “Y’all got him f****ed all the way up.” “I completely agree!” one user wrote, adding, “Should have given him one a long time ago.” Another agrees, “mf the biggest star to come outta rap other than snoop, jay, & em from that era.”
Another artist, Boosie Badazz, also shared his thoughts about the star on Twitter. “Tupac ain’t ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME?” he wrote, “WTF THE DISRESPECT.” He also said, in typical Boosie fashion, “Don’t worry he saying F**K YALL from the Grave.”
It was recently announced that Tupac will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame sometime next week. Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame spoke to LA Times about the star. “Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor, activist, poet, and revolutionary,” Martinez stated. She also went on to explain, “This iconic artist has continued to be part of the zeitgeist for decades after his passing and will continue to be an important cultural figure for many years to come. Surely, as one of L.A.’s own, Tupac’s star will be added to the list of most visited stars.”
Tupac’s star will be located at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard, alongside Big Boy, Missy Elliott, Cedric The Entertainer, Nipsey Hussle, DJ Khaled, Taraji P. Henson, Avril Lavigne, Jean Negulesco, and Jack Paar. The late rapper’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, will officially accept the star. Big Boy is set to host the ceremony, and Tupac’s godfather, Jamal Joseph, is also set to speak at the event.
The athlete to actor pipeline is real. Many popular sports stars go onto star in films and some of them even have genuine acting careers. While the line between actor and musician is and always has been blurry, the line between athletic person and actor is getting more blurry by the day.
More and more athletes move into Hollywood and they’re also doing it more successfully. Here are a few of the top examples.
Dave Bautista: Former athlete with genuine acting ability
Dave Bautista is a former WWE star, but pretty soon he’ll be known only as an actor. He’s taken quite the career turn and proved that he has real talent. The Guardians of the Galaxy star has anchored the comedy of those and other Marvel films since 2014, but he’s also got an incredible dramatic side.
Viewers saw a little bit of it in a brief role in Blade Runner 2049, where he gave his role the brevity and depth it demanded. Bautista once shared that he hoped he would one day be remembered for his versatility.
“She said, ‘Lee’s amazing, Lee [Pace] can do anything.’ I can remember the way she said that with such confidence, and I want people to say that about me. I want people to speak to me in those regards: ‘Dave can do anything,’ and that’s what I want to be my legacy. Not even a specific character, I just want to leave behind a legacy that Dave could do anything, he did any genre.”
Dave Bautista via TooFab
He would also star in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller Knock at the Cabin. The movie wasn’t a hit critically, but Bautista’s acting drew praise.
Juancho Hernangomez and Anthony Edwards: Actors to watch?
Netflix hasn’t always put out the best movies, but they tried it once more with Adam Sandler and a bunch of basketball players. That’s a huge risk in and of itself. Sandler can act, as he’s proven a few times, but NBA stars? What made Netflix think they could carry a film?
With Hustle, two NBA stars acted opposite each other as rivals- Juancho Hernangomez and Anthony Edwards. Edwards, the runner-up to Rookie of the Year in 2020, was the antagonist to Hernangomez’s undiscovered gem.
Both brought real acting ability to the screen. Hernangomez played a struggling basketball player balancing his real life responsibilities and fears with a dream of playing in the NBA.
Edwards was his bitter rival, and he played the role so well it made audiences wonder if he was this cruel in real life. Neither are probably going to foray into Hollywood full time right now, but either one probably could.
Ray Allen is still Jesus Shuttleworth
Ray Allen is a retired NBA star and he hasn’t done much in the film industry. However, in 1998, he starred opposite Denzel Washington in He Got Game. Washington is a titan of industry and many believe him to be one of the best actors of all time.
Allen was up for the challenge and that alone proves his acting mettle. To further cement that, Allen went on to play and be an all-time three-point shooter in the NBA for 17 more seasons after the movie. Nevertheless, he’s still known as Jesus Shuttleworth to this day.
It certainly helped that the role was similar to Allen’s expertise and it drew on things he had experienced, but acting alongside Washington successfully is a feat nonetheless.
Dwayne Johnson: Athlete to movie star
There are real arguments that Dwayne the Rock Johnson can’t really act, but the former WWE star has charisma on screen at the very least. It’s true that he often plays very similar characters, but that’s not a problem for Ryan Reynolds, so it’s not one for Johnson either.
In terms of former athletic stars who went into acting, no one has had as many big movies as Johnson. The former wrestler has starred in:
Black Adam
DC League of Super-pets
Jungle Cruise
Jumani: Welcome to the Jungle
Jumanj: The Next Level
Moana
Skyscraper
Furious Seven
Baywatch
Pain & Gain
Tooth Fairy
Get Smart
Johnson has been in a lot of major movies and that’s not going to change any time soon. He may not be winning any awards, but he’s got one of the best careers of a former athlete in this industry.
Tom Brady: Acting future?
Tom Brady is arguably the greatest athlete to ever play football, but could he have a future in acting? He’s already made a few forays into the industry and could have more on the way.
He made a cameo in Ted 2 and was the subject of the recent film 80 for Brady. He hasn’t really tested his acting chops in anything yet, but the groundwork for a future career in Hollywood is certainly there.
John Cena: The best former wrestler to act?
John Cena is arguably the best actor that used to be a wrestler. The former athlete has established himself as a genuinely good actor with range. The actor come a long way from being the father on the Fred movies.
He’s been in major franchises like Dwayne Johnson has, even starring in F9: The Fast Saga in the franchise Johnson joined a few years prior. He’s also been in the DCEU like Johnson, with the latter playing Black Adam.
In that universe, Cena was Peacemaker. His turn in The Suicide Squad (2021) showed his comedic timing, but he offered a more dramatic portrayal in the spin-off show.
He also starred in Blockers, Daddy’s Home 2, The Wall and Trainwreck. He’s got a nice career for himself and has the brightest future in Hollywood.
Several athletes have moved from a sport to the set, and these are so far the best of the best. Which sports stars will join them in the future?
During her recent piece on The Cut, Nia Long discussed a lot of heavy and broad topics concerning her illustrious career. While her much-publicized split from Ime Udoka turned heads, the entertainment icon also expressed frustration with her place in the industry. Moreover, Nia Long questioned a lack of consideration in Hollywood conversations when it comes to casting. Although she said she’s been in some great films, she can’t help but feel a tad blindsided. Also, she gave an example of the kind of role and visibility she feels deserving of or excited about.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 20: Nia Long attends the New Nobu Opening during the Atlantis, The Royal Grand Reveal Weekend, a new ultra-luxury resort on January 20, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal)
However, Long made it clear that she’s not throwing shade or contempt at other successful actors. “I’ve felt passed over on things, for sure,” she expressed. “There have definitely been moments like, Why wasn’t I considered for that? Like, why wasn’t I considered for Avatar? I think Zoe’s amazing. But I wasn’t even a topic of discussion, you know? A lot of times, to be fair…” In addition, she tried to jumpstart a few ideas of her own recently. Recently, she said she’d love to do another romantic comedy with Eddie Murphy. They just starred together in the Netflix comedy You People.
“There’s been so many times in my career where I was close to working with Eddie and it just didn’t quite happen,” she shared. “Okay, so this time I actually got a chance to work them. I wanna do it again because I feel like there’s like a rom-com or something later on.” Still, Nia’s interview on The Cut held more pained and tough reflections on her life. For one, the cheating scandal involving her ex-husband, she recounts, took a huge toll on her and her family.
“My only focus right now is my youngest son ’cause he’s having a really tough time,” she confessed. “I’m sure I have some things that I’m suppressing, but I have to do that to take care of him first. That’s the giving. It’s natural. I’m sure I’ll have to circle back with myself several times to reconcile things. But the one thing I’m trying not to harbor is anger.” Regardless of Hollywood’s casting ignorance, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news on Nia Long’s career.
Margot Robbie detailed the “hunger” she had to make it in Hollywood while discussing her career on EW’s The Awardist podcast. She says that in order to make it in show business, “you need to want it more than everyone else.”
The conversation arose while discussing her character in Damien Chazelle’s upcoming film, Babylon. She says she connected with her character, Nellie LaRoy, over their mutual drive for fame and success.
“I’ve always had that hunger,” the 32-year-old Robbie says. “I still have that hunger. I remember, especially when I was back in Australia, that feeling of: I just have to get there. How do I get a foot in the door? How do I make it to America? How do I get a plane ticket? At the end of the day, you need to want it more than everyone else.”
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 02: Margot Robbie attends the photo call for Columbia Pictures’ ‘Peter Rabbit’ at The London Hotel on February 2, 2018 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
Robbie’s appearance on The Awardist comes ahead of the release of Babylon. In addition to Robbie, the movie stars Brad Pitt, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Tobey Maguire, and Li Jun Li.
Babylon follows various people working in the 1920s entertainment industry as the era of the silent film comes to an end. Robbie has previously described it as being crazier than The Wolf of Wall Street.
“There’s a dizzying amount of debauchery,” she told Empire in a recent interview. “One of the most disturbing, chaotic scenes I’ve ever witnessed is in this film. It involves a fight with a snake. I won’t tell you who wins or loses that fight, but trust me, it’s insane.”
