Rapper T.I ("ATL"), John Ortiz ("Miami Vice"), RZA ("Wu-Tang") and Carla Gugino ("Sin City") have joined the cast of "American Gangster", which already stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe says Blackfilm.com.

"American Gangster" is the story of a 70s-era drug lord who imported his wares into the US via the dead bodies of slain American soldiers in Vietnam. The film is a loose biopic of real life Harlem heroin kingpin Frank 'Superfly' Lucas and narcotics lawman Richie Roberts struggle to bring him down. Lucas went on to help Roberts hunt down dirty cops and overseas connections.

With Brian Grazer producing, Ridley Scott is directing the picture after Antoine Fuqua left the project a few years ago. T.I will be playing Denzel's nephew in the film.