Lance "Un"
Rivera has switched hats, from record label CEO to movie director, jumping behind
the lens for the Queen Latifah penned "The Cookout."
Rivera, who used
to hustle on the streets of New York with rapper Notorious B.I.G., headed up
the Undeas, which he founded with Biggie and Untertainment, which at one point
had Cam’ron, Lil Kim & Junior Mafia and Charli Baltimore.
Shooting in New
Jersey, Rivera is directing "The Cookout" for Lions Gate Films. The
movie includes an all-star cast of rappers including Latifah, Ja-Rule and Eve.
The movie focuses
on a local basketball star who becomes the N.B.A.’s number 1 draft pick and
to celebrate, holds a cookout at his new mansion.
Rivera, who made
headlines when he was stabbed by Jay-Z for allegedly bootlegging the rapper’s
music, has directed a number of music videos, including Biggie’s "Juicy,"
Cam and Mase’s "Horse and Carriage" Junior Mafia’s "Get Money"
and "Players Anthem."