LisaRaye Talks How Landing A Spot In Tupac's Music Video Led To "Player's Club" Role

BY Erika Marie 7.1K Views
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LisaRaye McCoy
She seized her opportunity.

In the mid-1990s, LisaRaye McCoy left her hometown of Chicago and made her way to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a star. She was auditioning as much as she could looking for her big break, but she hadn't landed the role that she felt could change the course of her career. In 1996, she heard of an opportunity that could gain her more exposure, so she decided to make her way to the audition. It would be a move that would change her life.

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"I remember this one particular video that was huge," she told TV One. "It was Tupac's video 'Toss It Up' with Danny Boy and Aaron Hall [and K-ci and JoJo]. I said, 'I am gon' audition for this and I'm gon' be very directable. They gon' want me! So I went in there and I did my best little [sexy dance moves]. And the man said, 'You got the part.' I was like, 'Yes! Really, I'm an actress, here's my resumé.' He looked back and he said, 'You got this job as the actress and model in this video.' Oh, okay. Not a problem. But that's okay, because a couple of months after that, I get a call for an audition for Player's Club."

Her friend, actress and comedian Kym Whitley, said that LisaRaye was excited about the prospect of landing a part in Ice Cube's directorial debut, Player's Club. However, Kym didn't know why anyone would be excited about getting naked on camera for the world to see. LisaRaye added, "I just wanted to be in a movie. I came to Hollywood to be famous. I just wanted to make some money, and I knew that this was Ice Cube. So, when they told me that I was playing a stripper, I was okay wit' it."

LisaRaye shared that she knew her body looked good and she didn't care what anyone thought because she was going to have a film with Ice Cube, Jamie Foxx, and Bernie Mac on her resumé. "I was alright with it. Matter of fact, I brought my daughter to set to let her know that this is a way of life sometimes." The actress also said that Ice Cube made sure that her nude dance scene was done tastefully, on a closed set, and he only made her film it twice. Check out her full interview below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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