The Caribbean singer will be star alongside Mos Def, Macy Gray, Anthony Anderson and Kerry Washington in the flick, following one family's journey from the red dirt of racially divided Mississippi to the Chicago ghetto in the 1930s.

The story centers around the main character, Otis Tilson - played by Stomp The Yard actor Brian J. White - who struggles to maintain his family in the underworld of Chicago; wading through alcoholism, pimping, sexual deviation and racial degradation. Rihanna will play a character named Carol, Tilson's sister.

The script, adapted from the novel of the same name by the iconic author and pimp, Iceberg Slim, is said to stay true to the original writer's voice.

The movie will be in theaters in 2009.