LOS ANGELES (AP) - What's a rapper-turned-actor to do? Common says he tries to do the right thing when it comes to his new-found
craft. But both the industry and his fellow rappers who want to be
actors are making it hard for him.

He says he started out wanting to do tough-guy roles so he could "get it out of my system."

But it seemed the more he did them, the more he got typecast in those
roles. He says after "Smokin' Aces" and "American Gangster," it seems all his agents got were calls for tough-guy roles because producers see him as "coming from a rap background."

Common says what makes it harder is that some rappers who go into acting don't take it seriously, which makes it hard for everyone else who comes along. Still, Common says he'd like to take on a role where he can "show something different" to a movie audience, playing something like a superhero, banker or a priest.