This weekend’s box office is almost sure to go to Notorious, Fox Searchlight’s much-anticipated biopic about rapper Biggie Smalls (aka The Notorious B.I.G.; aka Big Poppa; aka Christopher Wallace), who tragically met his end 12 years ago in a controversial shooting. So far, the reviews are mostly favorable, though even a 0% score on RottenTomatoes.com couldn’t keep people away from this film. Fans aren’t likely to learn anything new about the hip-hop star, and they sure won’t gain any fresh revelations regarding the mysterious circumstances behind Biggie’s death, but they’ll definitely enjoy seeing the icon portrayed on the big screen (partly by his own look-alike son, Christopher Jordan Wallace). Like Newsweek critic Allison Samuels, many moviegoers will feel like they’re “attending a 10-year high-school reunion and reliving the good old days.”

And with the success of Notorious, both Hollywood and hip-hop fans will probably be begging for more. So, in anticipation of the potential copycats, and in hope for the best, we’ve selected five deceased rappers who are also worthy of the biopic treatment.

Tupac Shakur (aka 2Pac; aka Makaveli)

Inspiring a poll over at MTV.com asking what other rappers deserve a biopic, Notorious co-stars Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie have suggested their onscreen counterparts — Sean “Puffy” Combs and Tupac Shakur, respectively. While nobody needs to see the former, a film about Tupac is certainly a good idea. And it’s only fair. In fact, a film about his life, which also ended in a tragic shooting, might have to be a straight prequel to Notorious. Mackie would reprise his role, as would anyone else appropriate to the second film, and it would also be directed by George Tillman, Jr. But of course it would be executive produced by Suge Knight rather than Combs.

Easy-E

In 1995, when Easy-E announced he had AIDS, it was still not commonly understood that heterosexual males were also very susceptible to the epidemic. So, on his deathbed, he wrote a statement directed toward his young fans warning of the non-discriminating reality of AIDS, telling them “it affects everyone.” Then, within days of that message, he died. That sounds like a very powerful and tearjerking ending to a biopic about the former N.W.A. member. The stuff that comes before Easy-E’s contraction of and quick demise from AIDS, such as his enterprising turn from drug dealer to record company founder and his feud with Dr. Dre, might also be interesting. But in movie terms his affect on HIV and AIDS awareness is the key to a sellable pitch of his story.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard (aka ODB; aka Dirt McDirt; aka Big Baby Jesus)

Some might not think Ol’ Dirty Bastard appropriate for a biopic. For one thing, the Wu-Tang Clan rapper wouldn’t be an easily liked protagonist. For another, his life story might not have been interesting enough, evidenced by Jamie Lowe’s recently published book Digging for Dirt: The Life and Death of ODB, which has been criticized for being more an explorative profile than a biography. And ultimately, of course, it would be very difficult to find someone who could portray him well enough. ODB was a total character, an erratic and profane individual possibly afflicted with mental illness, and it’s improbable that any actor could do him justice. Still, it would be entertaining to see a filmmaker attempt to capture his crazy life. If Oliver Stone can find someone to sufficiently portray Jim Morrison in a biopic, someone should be able to find a relatively suitable person to play ODB.

Left Eye

The life of TLC’s Left Eye Lopes is ripe for a generic biopic. There are the childhood experiences with abuse and alcoholism, the adulthood experiences with abuse and alcoholism, and the tragic conclusion involving her car accident death, which occurred at a time when she was preparing a new solo album and also setting up a school for children in Honduras. Then of course, in the middle, is the cinematically perfect incident in which she accidentally burned her boyfriend’s mansion to the ground. No matter how familiar the structure, though, her many fans will show up in droves to theaters, possibly with tributary black lines painted underneath their left eyes. And they’ll also watch the film every time it airs on VH1.

Big Pun (aka Big Punisher)

With Americans obsessed by weight loss, evidenced by the popularity of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, this is the perfect time for a biopic about Big Pun, who died as a result of his obesity. In fact, compared to the usual celebrity stories of drug problems and violence, a movie about Big Pun’s life struggle with his weight could be a welcome change as well as carry a necessary message about the issue of obesity in this country. There would have to be some violence, as well, since the Puerto Rican-American rapper was known to abuse — even pistol whip — his wife. But otherwise this biopic would be a relatable and potentially life-changing movie for all of us who’ve dealt with or are dealing with obesity.