Source: Robin Marchant / Getty
Before making a name for herself as a reality star on Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Karlie Redd, born Karlie Lewis, was trying to break into acting. We know she had a small role in B.A.P.S. and she appeared on the short-lived reality show Scream Queens as one in a group of unknown actresses competing for a role in a horror film. In between those efforts to get her big break, Redd also did a music video. She randomly revealed this in the comment section of a Shaderoom post.
A parody clip of two Black women recreating the drama-filled antics of ’90s music videos went viral over the weekend, with the girls standing behind thin curtains to the sounds of “I Deserve” by Tank (which actually came out in 2001, but that’s not that important). Redd popped up in the comment section to share that “I was the girl in this video” for Tank’s breakout hit. Looking back at the music video, it’s true. She was tasked with rolling around in the bed with the singer:
And while most people didn’t care, we love random, or “fun” facts as Redd called it. And it made us wonder who else had popped up in music videos before we really knew who they were. So we did some digging. Check out 10 other people who appeared in recent popular music videos before they were famous.
Masika Kalysha in “So What” by Field Mob feat. Ciara
Before her Love and Hip Hop Hollywood days, and way before she was fighting with Hazel E, Masika was helping to spread rumors in the video for the Field Mob hit “So What,” featuring Ciara. You can spot her within seconds of the video starting running off at the mouth.
Malaysia Pargo in “Splash Waterfalls” by Ludacris
Well before her marriage to former NBA player Jannero Pargo, which helped her then appear on Basketball Wives, Malaysia Pargo appeared in the video for this Ludacris hit. She can be seen skinny dipping in the pool with the rapper near the end.
Claudia Jordan in “I Wanna Know” by Joe
Who doesn’t appreciate a great Joe song? Claudia Jordan, now a talk show host on Fox Soul thanks to Out Loud and Cocktails With Queens, appeared in music videos early in her career. One of her most prominent roles was as Joe’s love interest in “I Wanna Know.” He scooped her up from her flunky boyfriend early on in the clip and woos her.
Kenya Moore in “Money Ain’t a Thang” by Jermaine Dupri feat. Jay-Z
After winning the Miss USA contest in 1993, Kenya Moore did commercials and got into acting, including appearing in classics like Waiting to Exhale. But we also know she appeared in music videos, too. One notable appearance was in Jermaine Dupri’s video for “Money Ain’t a Thang” as Jay-Z’s arm candy.
Draya Michele in “Walkin’ on the Moon” by The-Dream feat. Kanye West
Years before Draya Michele appeared on Basketball Wives and eventually moved on to bigger and much better things, she appeared as a beauty in space in singer The-Dream’s “Walkin’ on the Moon” video. She posed seductively in front of the camera a few times, but that was about it.
Angel Love in “Diced Pineapples” by Rick Ross feat. Wale & Drake
Another former Basketball Wives star, Angel Love (who is also a registered nurse by the way), has appeared in a number of music videos. She’s done so before and after appearing on the reality show. She was the object of rapper Wale’s affection in the video for the Rick Ross hit “Diced Pineapples.”
Rashida Jones in “More Than a Woman” by Aaliyah
In one of Aaliyah’s last music videos, actress Rashida Jones appeared. If that sounds super random, Aaliyah was close with Rashida’s sister, model and fashion designer Kidada. She also appeared in the video, as did Rashida’s boyfriend at the time, Grammy and Academy Award-winning producer Mark Ronson, who made a cameo as DJ.
Lauren London in “Stand Up” by Ludacris feat. Shawnna
Lauren London has appeared in a number of videos, including, most notably, Pharrell’s “Frontin'” when she was 17. Soon after that video had her “poppin in my city,” she went on to have a part in the video for the Ludacris hit “Stand Up.” She appeared in very dated ’03 fashions, and with a gold tooth.
Sanaa Lathan in “Don’t Say” by Jon B
Before appearing in Disappearing Acts or her star-making turn as Monica in Love and Basketball, Sanaa Lathan played Jon B’s girlfriend looking to take a break in the video for his song “Don’t Say.” The track appeared on his hit 1997 album, Cool Relax.
Nia Long in “Do Me” video by Bell Biv Devoe
Way, way, way before she was Debbie in Friday, Nia Long appeared in two music videos, and they were both by Bell Biv Devoe. She was in the clip for “Poison,” as well the video for “Do Me,” which she can be seen “playing” a bass in. She also caught the interest of Ricky Bell in the video.
![Why Actress Amber Iman Calls 'Goddess' A Love Letter To Black Women In Theater [Exclusive]](https://ionemadamenoire.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/05/17468188616796.png?strip=all&quality=80&w=102&crop=0,0,100,153px)
