JAY-Z, Kanye West, Eminem and more have been parodied in Affion Crockett’s new film A Hip Hop Story — watch the trailer below.
The musical comedy, which also stars Cedric the Entertainer, Lil Rel Howery and Lil Mama, focuses on a Hip Hop culture in crisis and will see various rap legends team up to save the genre.
The first trailer for the movie features caricatures of Kanye West (complete with a face-covering mask), JAY-Z, an early Eminem and various other figures including Snoop Dogg, Biggie, Diddy, Run-DMC, Russell Simmons, Salt-N-Pepa, Joe Budden and Chris Rock.
Crockett himself plays multiple characters, including Simmons who is the founder of Def Man Recordings — a spoof of his and Rick Rubin’s iconic Def Jam label.
Crockett said of the film: “A Hip Hop Story is our love letter to the culture that shaped our lives. It’s a comedy with a message that encourages all of us to see our value.”
Producer Charlie Mack added: “A Hip Hop Story is a wonderful journey over the span of 50 years, through the eyes of one of the forefathers of Hip Hop. The film explores where it came from and where the journey actually settles today.”
The film is released in the U.S. on February 23.
Affion Crockett had previously revealed his talent for impersonating Russell Simmons after he mocked the record executive’s love of yoga.
Last year, the comedian posted a clip of Simmons practicing yoga and performed a comedic voiceover of the Def Jam founder’s inner thoughts.
“This is so much fun, I’m bouncing upside down,” Crockett says while laughing and mimicking Simmons’ distinctive lisp. “I’m bouncing upside down. This little piggy went to the supermarket. I feel like an upside down turtle. This is crazy. Oh wait, starfish. Is my butthole supposed to itch? I can’t feel my balls. They lost gravity.”
He continued: “This is awesome. Is this massage vegan? What’s your name? Paul? Nice to meet you, white man who I don’t know.”
Simmons responded positively to the jokes, saying: “This is halarious [sic] i literally could have really said all of that silly shit Honestly im overjoyed at life im the luckiest man on earth.”
Crockett, who also impersonates JAY-Z in the film, previously recalled bumping into the rapper, who was aware of past parodies he had done of him.
“Hov loves the impression. The first time I met him, I thought I was going to get slapped, I ain’t going to lie,” he admitted. “I’m in the back … and then all of a sudden a wave of people come in down the stairs, and it’s Jay and his entourage, they about to go to the stage.
“He sees me and starts walking over to me. You know how in the movies when the camera’s coming towards you and you start to get smaller? That’s how I felt. I was like, ‘Aww shit.’ He walks up to me and he extends his hand, he’s like, ‘Yo, you be doing the Jigga man. I like that!’”
