In 'Den Of Thieves', O’Shea Jackson Jr Becomes Hollywood’s Most Wanted

O'Shea Jackson Jnr's Hollywood hustle is just beginning

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Following in the footsteps of a famous parent was never going to be easy. Just take a look at the history here; Shawn Kemp Jr is doing his thing in the NBA G-League. Master P’s kid Lil Romeo dropped six albums nobody ever heard before resigning to his fate as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars. Marcus & Jeffrey Jordan never took basketball further than a few years with the University of Central Florida.

When O’Shea Jackson Jr followed his father into the world of hip-hop, few people paid attention. Granted, O’Shea Jr and his brother Darrell –OMG and Doughboy, respectively– started their rap careers at the tail-end of their father’s, debuting on Ice Cube’s 2010 album ‘I Am The West’, which received little fanfare.

While Jackson Jr was a competent rapper, few wanted to hear a 19 year-old Ice Cube mini-me who, instead of growing up in the crack-ravaged hell of Reagan-era South Central, was comfortably raised in the Valley by a multi-millionaire celebrity.

The second coming of Ice Cube’s second coming has so far been more successful. O’Shea Jackson presents a more compelling and competent prospect on the screen than he was on the mic. Hollywood might be plan B, but he’s following the plan to a T.

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When Ice Cube starred in Boyz N The Hood way back in 1991, the transition from stage-rocking MC to scene-stealing lead actor was unheard of. In his role as Doughboy, a hardened gangbanger from South LA, Cube was effectively cast in the role he’d been playing for years as part of NWA and on his solo album ‘Amerikka’s Most Wanted’. His performance was well-received, the critics raved, and a template was established.

Eminem followed the same path in 2003, playing a dirt-poor battle rapper with a dream in 8 Mile, and shortly after, 50 Cent attempted to put his lifetime in between the celluloid lines with 2005’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin.

Whether Em ever had Hollywood aspirations is unknown, but both Cube and 50 spent the following years between the studio and the set, each dropping several albums while appearing in multiple films. Cube’s filmography is surprisingly diverse; from action (Anaconda, xXx: State Of The Union) to family movies (Are We There Yet, Are We Done Yet). All the while, Cube was learning, negotiating the difficult terrain of the entertainment business. He established film franchises (Friday, Barbershop, Ride Along), a production company (CubeVision) and has become a power player in Hollywood.

There are parallels between Ice Cube’s smooth transition from rapping to acting and that of his son. O’Shea Jr first appeared on screens playing his father in 2015’s Straight Outta Compton. He wasn’t about to play himself (in the film sense, not the DJ Khaled sense) in his motion picture debut, but playing his father was the next best thing. And this time around, his uncanny resemblance to his father was an asset, not a hindrance.

Playing Cube gave Jackson Jr both ample screen time and one of the film’s most compelling and imposing character arcs to prove his abilities. His performance transcended any talk of nepotism; he had not only perfected his father’s menacing scowl but nailed the moments of despair, fury, revenge and occasionally, comedic timing.

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From Straight Outta Compton came Ingrid Goes West, alongside Aubrey Plaza. Playing the titular star’s Batman-obsessed boyfriend, Jackson was, despite limited screen time, a favourite of critics who told the world Jackson Jr ‘stands out’ and ‘shines’. One Vulture writer was so taken by his performance she documented five reasons Jackson Jr’s character was worth a big swipe to the right.

In 2018, Jackson Jr co-stars with Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber and 50 Cent in Den Of Thieves. While Butler’s toothpick-chewing cop and Schreiber’s stoic antagonist serve as the film’s muscle, it’s Jackson Jr who is unquestionably the film’s heart.

Critics highlighted Jackson Jr as ‘terrific’ and praised his ‘winning performance’ in the high-stakes heist thriller. Appearing in scenes opposite a seasoned pro such as Butler, famous for his roles in 300 and Law Abiding Citizen, he did more than simply hold his own; he often steals the whole scene.

In a nod to his father’s template, Den Of Thieves is a well-chosen role which falls directly into Jackson Jr’s comfort zone. The film takes place in his hometown of Los Angeles and is undoubtedly hip-hop influenced: the Kendrick-assisted trailer, the references to the Rampart Scandal of the Death Row era. Even the cops called themselves the ‘Regulators’. It all plays to the strengths of a kid who entered the industry via a rapper. But good fortune can only get a person so far; at some point he has to prove himself, in this case as a more than capable leading man.

It was never going to be easy to follow in his famous father’s footsteps, but O’Shea Jackson Jr is getting it right the second time around.

Den Of Thieves hits Australian cinemas February 1. Click here for all the info.

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