Recasting "Belly" in 2013

Who would play Buns and Sincere if they cast the movie today?

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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On November 4, 1998—15 years ago today—Belly hit theaters, marking Hype Williams' debut as a film director. The movie encompasses everything you love (and maybe hate) about a Hype Williams music video: flashy and entertaining, but ultimately a little superficial and far-fetched. The main question heading in was whether or not NasDMX, and a host of other performers-turned-actors could hold our attention (and their respective characters) for over 90 minutes. The answer is...well, it depends on your perspective. To some, it's the most leaden, cringe-inducing acting of all time; to others, the performances are part of what make Belly a modern-day cult classic. 

Regardless of the acting, the characters have stood the test of time in hip-hop lore, from the morally conflicted Sincere and the violent Tommy “Buns” Bundy to bit parts like the lollipop-sucking Kionna and the strip-club-shooting Shameek. (And damn, yo: Taral Hicks.)  So who would play these roles if Belly came out in 2013? The image above should offer some clues, but click on to see who else we would cast in our imagined remake...

RELATED: Rating the Performances in Hype Williams' "Belly"
RELATED: DMX Speaks on His Financial Struggles, Drug Problems & Criminal Past on "The Dr. Phil Show"
RELATED: 10 Ways Nas' "Illmatic" Changed Hip-Hop

Kendrick Lamar replaces Nas as Sincere.

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Meek Mill replaces DMX as Tommy "Buns" Bundy.

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Rihanna replaces Taral Hicks as Kisha.

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Alicia Keys replaces T-Boz as Tionne.

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Teyana Taylor replaces Vita as Kionna.

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Mavado replaces Louie Rankin as Lennox.

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2 Chainz replaces Method Man as Shameek.

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Nipsey Hussle and Freddie Gibbs replace Hassan Johnson and Oliver "Power" Grant as Mark and Knowledge.

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Fredo Santana and Bow Wow replace James Parris and Stan Drayton as LaKid and Wise.

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Earl Sweatshirt replaces Tyrin Turner as Big Head Rico.

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Tyler Perry replaces Benjamin Chavis as Rev. Saviour.

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