Don Cheadle joined the main cast of "Rush Hour 2" as Kenny, the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles and an informant for Carter. As it turned out, there was more to the character than what initially met the eye.
Partway through "Rush Hour 2," Lee and Carter visit Kenny's restaurant in Los Angeles to get information on a money laundering scheme. Kenny is frustrated by the duo's insistence and gets into a brief scuffle with Lee, during which he reveals that he knows a special kung fu technique called Twisting Tiger. The pair bond over their shared martial arts background and make a few jokes at Carter's expense before Kenny gives them the information they're looking for. It was a really fun scene and seeing Cheadle face off against Chan is especially cool in retrospect, but perhaps the most interesting thing about the actor's brief appearance was its influence on the work of another esteemed artist years later.
According to Fader, Cheadle's "Rush Hour 2" character actually served as a key source of inspiration for acclaimed rapper Kendrick Lamar on his 2017 album "DAMN." Throughout the album, Lamar refers to himself several times as "Kung Fu Kenny." As Cheadle eventually confirmed with Lamar, this alias was actually a reference to the actor's part as Kenny. It seems Cheadle's role in "Rush Hour" has had a compelling legacy all on its own, even if many fans don't remember this part of his filmography.
