Cinema Science

Rapper Jamal Woolard (a.k.a. Gravy) has landed the lead in the biopic Notorious, based on the life of rapper Notorious B.I.G., killed in 1997. Woolard won the role after a nationwide search that began online in August, and stars Angela Bassett, who plays Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace; Anthony Mackie (We Are Marshall), who's been cast as Wallace's rival Tupac Shakur; and Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher) as Sean Combs. George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor) will direct the Fox Searchlight film, which begins shooting March 24 in New York City. In 2006 Woolard was shot in the butt on his way to an interview at NYC radio station Hot 97 but finished the appearance before being taken to the hospital. I guess that means he has street cred.