Talani Rabb, the ‘Doin’ It’ girl
At 16, Englewood, Calif., native Talani Rabb was signed with Ford models. Then she met video director Hype Williams and became an MTV staple via Black Street’s “No Diggity” and Dr. Dre’s “California Love.” Rabb’s mother accompanied her underage daughter to these jobs, but didn’t for LL Cool J’s “Doin It.” As Rabb, who was 17 at the time, recalled, “My mom said, ‘Take care of my baby.’ [Hype] always made sure everything was proper and respectful.” Well, usually. “They had the lead girls try on bikinis and decide who would do a particular scene. They chose me and I was, like, ‘Crap. I don’t want to wear a bikini,’ ” Rabb recalled. “Then they told me I had to act like a cat and lick LL’s face. I was, like, ‘What?’ ” “My mom saw the video and said, ‘Wait a minute . . .’ And then she said, ‘Well, I guess that’s acting.’ ” Now 44, she’s married to and helps manage Wu-Tang Clan member RZA (far left).