Trivia: One of the most successful rap MCs of the early 2000s, Tip Harris (born Clifford Harris in Atlanta in 1980, and occasionally credited by his musical pseudonym, T.I.), earned the moniker "the Jay-Z of the South" for his ability (like the said East Coast rapper) to meld toughness and smoothness with great dexterity. With such album releases as the 2003 Trap Muzik, the 2004 Urban Legend, and the 2006 King, T.I. not only seemed able to do no wrong in terms of numbers, but attained such popularity that he could soon be heard within a couple of hours on any major urban radio station.T.I. segued into film work in the mid-2000s with two parts: the lead in the gentle, slice-of-life ensemble drama ATL (2006) -- a picture about a young man and his friends growing up amid a difficult and confusing life in Atlanta -- and a small role in the Denzel Washington-headlined period crime drama American Gangster (2007), directed by Ridley Scott.

Trivia: The son of diva-cum-actress Diana Ross and Norwegian shipping entrepreneur Arne Naess, and the half brother of actress Tracee Ellis Ross, Evan Ross followed in the footsteps of his show-business mom and sister when he debuted as an actor in the late 2000s. He began his ascent in 2007 with two projects that premiered within weeks of one another: the HBO cable movie Life Support (in a challenging supporting role as an HIV sufferer who contends with his illness by indulging in narcotics) and a small part in the inspirationally charged theatrical feature Pride. At about the same time, Ross signed to star opposite Hilary Duff in the interracial romance Greta (2008). He landed a recurring role on 90210 in 2010, and later joined the Hunger Games film series, playing a rebel in Mockingjay - Parts 1 and 2.

Trivia: A former music-video girl who appeared in clips by Pharrell and Ludacris before making her big-screen debut in ATL, Los Angeles native Lauren London possesses a small-town beauty with a distinctive smile and a slight city-girl edge. It was during London's stint in the Las Angeles public school system that the aspiring actress first began dabbling in theater and drama, and though she would later be home-schooled for her last three years of high school, the desire to perform never went away. Appearances in a handful of music videos helped to get London comfortable in front of the cameras, and when buzz began to build around the production of an upcoming film called ATL, she hired an acting coach and convinced director Chris Robinson's assistant to get her an audition. Despite being two hours late for the audition, London performed well enough under pressure to land the role of roller-skating rich girl New New -- who changes her identity and soon begins dating former high-school hotshot Rashad (played by hip-hop recording artist T.I.). With buzz around the rising starlet subsequently beginning to gain momentum, London next appeared in episodes of Everybody Hates Chris and Entourage while preparing for a role in the holiday-themed family drama This Christmas. She had a small part in Next Day Air, and landed a major role in the comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper. Two years later Tyler Perry tapped her to appear in Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family.

Trivia: After more than a decade in the business, hard-working actor Mykelti Williamson achieved true fame as Tom Hanks' army buddy in Forrest Gump (1994). Born in St. Louis, Williamson and his family moved frequently during his childhood, finally settling in Los Angeles when he was 15. After studying acting in high school, Williamson landed a recurring role on Hill Street Blues in 1983. Working steadily in TV and movies throughout the 1980s, Williamson appeared in a number of films, including Walter Hill's Streets of Fire (1984); the pilot movie for the stylish cop series Miami Vice (1984); and the Goldie Hawn football comedy Wildcats (1986). By the 1990s, Williamson added a bona fide sleeper hit to his credits with his role as a paternal cop in Free Willy (1993). His transformative performance as Forrest's ill-fated shrimp-loving friend Bubba in the blockbuster, 1994 Best Picture winner Forrest Gump then earned Williamson critical raves, propelling him into a varied range of high-profile films. After appearing in Free Willy 2 (1995) and playing a small but attention-getting role as one of Lela Rochon's unworthy suitors in Waiting to Exhale (1995), Williamson joined forces with Al Pacino in Michael Mann's Heat (1995). Continuing to work in TV as well, Williamson acted in several series, co-starred as Negro League baseball player Josh Gibson in the well-received TV film The Soul of the Game (1996), played a black cavalryman in the TNT Western Buffalo Soldiers (1997), and joined the prestigious ensemble cast of 12 Angry Men (1997). Williamson continued to ride high as Nicolas Cage's ill cell mate in the summer blockbuster Con Air (1997), but his 1998 movie work in Primary Colors and Species 2 was personally overshadowed by his legal troubles when he was arrested for stalking his ex-wife and stabbing her friend. Acquitted of the charges, Williamson returned to form with a blistering performance as an Army colonel in David O. Russell's critically lauded Three Kings (1999). Williamson reprised his role as Lt. Gerard in the second TV series version of The Fugitive(2000). Despite pre-season hype and the prior success of other Fugitives, the series lasted only one season. Williamson then made another onscreen splash when he reunited with Heat director Michael Mann to appear as the flamboyant, shock-haired boxing impresario Don King in Mann's ambitious biopic Ali (2001). Williamson is married and has three daughters.

Trivia: Actor Jackie Long made his mark with supporting performances in such big-screen outings as Idlewild (2006) and ATL (2006), then essayed a portrayal of Trotter in Tom Brady's farcical send-up of sports movies, The Comebacks (2007).

Trivia: Actor, singer, and voice actor Keith David has spent much of his career on the stage, but also frequently works in feature films and on television. A native of New York City, David first performed as a child, singing in the All Borough Chorus and later attended the prestigious High School of Performing Arts. Shortly after graduating from Juilliard, where he studied voice and theater, David landed a role in a production of Coriolanus at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. He starred opposite Christopher Walken. David made his Broadway debut in Albee's The Lady From Dubuque (1980) and, two years later, had his first film role in John Carpenter's The Thing. He would not appear in another feature film until he played King in Oliver Stone's Platoon (1986). In between, David alternated between stage and television work. He appeared in five films in 1988, including Clint Eastwood's Bird, where he gave a memorable performance as jazz sax player Buster Franklin. In 1992, David showed his considerable skill as a singer and dancer and won a Tony nomination for starring in the musical Jelly's Last Jam, opposite Gregory Hines. David's film career really picked up in the mid-'90s, with roles ranging from a gunslinger in Sam Raimi's The Quick and the Dead to a New York cop in Spike Lee's Clockers to an amputee who owns a pool parlor in Dead Presidents (all 1995). In 1998, David had a brief but memorable role as Cameron Diaz's boisterous stepfather in the Farrelly brother's zany Something About Mary. In one of the film's funniest scenes, David tries to help Diaz's prom date, Ben Stiller, extricate himself from an embarrassingly sticky situation. He is also well known to animation fans for his voice work in, among other projects, Disney's Gargoyles, HBO's Spawn, and the English-dubbed version of the Japanese-animated film Princess Mononoke. In 2000 he appeared in Requiem for a Dream, Pitch Black, and Where the Heart Is, as well as providing the narration of Ken Burns documentary on the history of jazz. He continued to work steadily in a variety of projects including Barbershop, 29 Palms, Agent Cody Banks, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and the 2005 Oscar winner for Best Picture, Crash. He also found work in Transporter 2, The Oh in Ohio, Meet Monica Velour, Lottery Ticket, and the 2010 remake of Death at a Funeral.

Trivia: From stage to screen to recording studios, Lonette McKee has worked as both an actress and vocalist. Although actors who also sing have been a dime a dozen since the earliest days of stage and cinema, McKee's groundbreaking performance as the first African-American actress to portray the character of Julie in a major American production of Show Boat would have earned her a place in entertainment history even if she hadn't gone on to earn Image Award nominations for her roles in To Dance With Olivia (1997) and As the World Turns. A Motor City native, McKee kicked off her career in the entertainment industry when she became a recording artist in her hometown as a young teen, releasing an album on the Detroit-based Sussex label before being drawn to the screen in the mid-'70s. Cast in a key role in the 1976 musical drama Sparkle, McKee made an impression as a drug-addicted singer in a Supremes-like band, and she quickly caught the eye of casting agents. Appearing in such features as The Cotton Club and Brewster's Millions during the '80s, it was also during this period that she essayed her Tony-nominated role in Show Boat. Spike Lee later cast her in three of his films during the '90s: Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, and He Got Game. After being voted one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" in 1995, McKee began a two-year stint on the soap opera As the World Turns. She also returned to the studio in 1992 to record Natural Love, her first album in nearly 20 years. The actress alternated between film and television in the early 2000s with parts in Men of Honor (2001), Honey (2003), and a recurring role in the NBC series Third Watch. McKee is married to a New York social worker and is the sister of dancer/actress Kathrine McKee.

Trivia: One half of the successful hip-hop act OutKast (along with partner Andre 3000), Big Boi (born Antwan Andre Patton) took the duo's act to the big screen with the idiosyncratic musical Idlewild. In addition to an appearance in the drama ATL as a drug dealer, Big Boi portrayed the lead in the golf comedy Who's Your Caddy? He has appeared in numerous documentaries about the hip-hop scene in Atlanta.

Trivia: Began singing in the church choir when she was 4 years old. Was discovered at the age of 12 by music producer Dallas Austin. Had her first hit single with "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" in 1995. Was the youngest female singer ever to have two back-to-back No. 1 hits on Billboard's R&B chart ("Don't Take It Personal" and "Before You Walk Out of My Life"). Her 1998 duet with Brandy, "The Boy Is Mine," spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Witnessed her boyfriend Jarvis Weems commit suicide in 2000. Another boyfriend, Corey "C-Murder" Miller, was sentenced to life in prison for a 2002 murder. Also models and acts.

Trivia: Earned the nickname "Bone Crusher" in high school. Worked as a chef at Atlanta's Yin Yang Cafe and at the Waffle House. At the Yin Yang Cafe, he occasionally performed with a band called the Chronicle. Beginning in 1996, he sold hooks and songs to such acts as Bow Wow, Too Short and OutKast. With his wife Aneesah, he started the First Chance Variety House in Smyrna, GA. Encouraged to become a contestant on the fourth season of Celebrity Fit Club by his rapper buddy Bizarre, who appeared on the third season. Started a record label, Vainglorious Entertainment, with his wife in 2007. Lost 51 pounds when he appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, and later released a workout DVD in 2008 called Battle of the Bulge. Hosted a fund-raiser in 2011 for the non-profit Boys2Men Home and Sanctuary for Youth in Georgia, which mentors males age 13-25.