Cross-Overs: Five Unforgettable Musicians Who Switched Genres

Snoop Lion

This weekend sees the release of the new Tyler Perry film Alex Cross. The movie has been getting a fair amount of attention for not only being a Perry film where he's solely acting, but being his first foray into the action genre. That's correct, with no "Madea" in sight, Perry is attempting to enter the serious action actor realm.

This surprised us here at the Weekly, and reminded us of when some of our favorite acts in music have attempted to "Cross"-genres. It is with Tyler Perry's bold new world in mind that we bring you our five most memorable genre Cross-overs.

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Dee Dee Ramone does Rap (1987)

One of the most endearing qualities of punk rock is its unpredictability. Yet, even when rap was just starting to break into the mainstream, nobody could have seen Dee Dee Ramones' turn as Dee Dee King coming. While he put out a more rock-based rap album two years later, his 1987 debut single "Funky Man" remains one of the most unsettlingly baffling recordings ever composed.

Ween does Country (1996)

Ween's built a devoted fan-base through a discography so diverse, each album sounds like a masterful multi-genre sampler. Well, all but one does. 1996's 12 Golden Country Greats boasts ten tunes of nothing but country. Along with Ween's own gifts, what helps the album succeed is the assistance of some of Nashville's finest musicians, such as Charlie McCoy and The Jordanaires.