Rapper/actor Mos Def will star in the upcoming movie Mama Black Widow, which is based on the 1969 novel of the same name by writer Robert “Iceberg Slim” Beck. Mama Black Widow, which will also feature R&B songbird Rihanna in her big screen debut, tells the story of a black family’s migration from the Southern Mississippi field, to Chicago in the 1930’s.

The 1969 novel was a graphic tale about the character Otis Tilson, of a black homosexual "queen," growing up black, gay and poor in Chicago in 1946.

The movie, which is currently in pre-production, is being directed by Darren Grant and also stars singer Macy Gray, Brian J. White, Anthony Anderson, Kerry Washington and others.

Mama Black Widow is due in theaters in 2009.

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