Mos Def cast as Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records

Whatever they’re paying Mos Def’s agent, it’s not enough. Fresh off his high-profile performance in Be Kind, Rewind, the mighty Mos has recently been cast as Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records, the upcoming film on the rise and fall of the influential Chicago label Chess Records.

Alongside him, Adrien Brody will play label founder Leonard Chess, Cedric The Entertainer will portray session musician Willie Dixon, Eamonn Walker will play Howlin’ Wolf, and, as previously reported, Beyoncé Knowles will do her best Etta James. Knowles will also contribute four songs to the soundtrack, though there's no word on whether they’ll be remakes of James material.

If you think about it, casting a hip-hop artist to play one of the most important figures in rock ’n’ roll history actually makes a lot of sense. Hip-hop and rockabilly are actually kindred genres. Don’t believe us? Have a look at this handy-dandy genre checklist, naysayer:

Songs about cars:
Hip-Hop: Check.
Rockabilly: Check.

Songs about fast women:
Hip-Hop: Check.
Rockabilly: Check.

Repetitive, often recycled instrumental tracks:
Hip-hop: Check.
Rockabilly: Check.

Songs that scare the pants off parents of teenage suburbanites:
Hip-hop: Check.
Rockabilly: Double check.