Famous comedians have appeared in rap videos in roles ranging from a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo to the center of the joke. John Witherspoon brought his comic persona to several videos, while Sarah Silverman, Hannibal Buress, Druski, Pete Davidson and Shane Gillis showed up in more recent releases. Here are documented examples—not a definitive list of every comedian who has appeared in a rap video.
John Witherspoon appeared in at least five rap videos
Witherspoon’s appearances stretch from 1996 to 2003, and the roles vary. In some videos he delivers a brief bit; in Hitman Sammy Sam’s “Step Daddy,” he is central to the comic premise.
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| Video | Year | Witherspoon’s role |
|---|---|---|
| Goodie Mob, “They Don’t Dance No Mo’” | 1998 | A bit that riffs on his Friday persona. |
| Jay-Z, “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” | 2000 | A disgruntled neighbor tries to enter a house party, claiming to be Will Smith and Jay-Z. |
| LL Cool J, “Ain’t Nobody” | Not stated by Okayplayer | Appears at the end of the cameo-filled party video. |
| Field Mob, “Sick of Being Lonely” | 2002 | Advises the “young playas.” |
| Hitman Sammy Sam, “Step Daddy” | 2003 | Plays the stepfather and anchors the video’s comic premise. |
Okayplayer documents these five appearances in its October 30, 2019 retrospective.
Sarah Silverman and Hannibal Buress joined Lil Dicky’s low-budget spectacle
Sarah Silverman and Hannibal Buress cameo in Lil Dicky’s “$ave Dat Money,” alongside Mark Cuban. The video plays with the image of a lavish rap production, but Lil Dicky made it on a shoestring by borrowing locations and resources. The Guardian reported in October 2015 that the video had nearly 10 million YouTube views in its first three weeks; that is a historical figure, not a current view count.
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The same Guardian profile reported that Lil Dicky’s Professional Rapper had reached No. 1 on the comedy, rap and independent album charts at the time. That dated chart result provides context for the comedy-rap persona behind the video, rather than a present-day ranking. Read the Guardian’s October 20, 2015 report.
Druski became a recurring presence in rap videos
Druski’s video appearances include Drake’s “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” Lil Yachty’s “Oprah’s Bank Account” and Jack Harlow’s “Tyler Herro.” Billboard Canada also names his appearance in Harlow’s “Churchill Downs.” In Drake’s video, Druski described his role as comedic relief.
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Druski credited Drake’s casting with changing his career trajectory: “The thing that changed my life at the time was Drake calling for the ‘Laugh Now, Cry Later’ music video. Everything shifted after that because brands started to take me seriously,” he told Billboard Canada. XXL’s April 29, 2024 profile discusses hip-hop’s embrace of his comedy and his record-label plans; Billboard Canada also covered the Drake-video connection. See XXL and Billboard Canada.
Pete Davidson and Shane Gillis appeared in Eminem’s “Houdini”
Eminem’s 2024 “Houdini” video includes comedians Pete Davidson and Shane Gillis among its appearances, alongside major rap figures. TIME’s May 2024 report discusses the video’s reception, including the praise and backlash it drew. The comedians are among the guests in the video, rather than evidence of a starring role. Read TIME’s report on “Houdini”.
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These appearances range from cameos to central comic roles
The clearest distinction is how much each comedian shapes the video. Witherspoon’s “Step Daddy” role drives its premise; other appearances, such as the guests in “$ave Dat Money” and “Houdini,” are described as cameos or appearances. Druski’s repeated casting shows how a comic presence can become part of an artist’s video world, while his account of the Drake call describes a professional impact beyond the screen.
The examples here are selected documented cases, not a ranking or complete catalog. The available reporting does not provide comparable audience figures across these videos, so view counts cannot establish which cameo was most popular.
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