Rap + hip-hop: Bridging the gap

Although the rewards run high for an artist who decides to develop a TV or film career, the risks involved with succeeding at such an endeavor are equally great. Of many of the challenges inherent in making the switch, perhaps the biggest lies with perception. "Sometimes, it's very difficult for casting agents to see beyond the image that the artists have created for themselves on stage," comments Mona Scott, president of the Violator Management Group.