Ice Cube and Kevin Hart busy co-stars of 'Ride Along 2'

It's only two years since breakout comedy "Ride Along," and already its time for reluctant Atlantan police partners James Payton (Ice Cube) and Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) to get back into the game in "Ride Along 2," which hits theaters January 15. But Cube and James have been nothing if not industrious in the meantime; find out what they've been up to.

Ice Cube

O'Shea Jackson rose to fame as a founding member of US west coast hip-hop group N.W.A., later branching out under his own name and only later crossing over into film acting with prominent roles in John Singleton's "Boyz n the Hood," David O. Russell's "Three Kings," his own screenplay "Friday" and then the "Barbershop" comedies.

2014's "Ride Along" was his 34th acting credit, a second consecutive cop comedy after supporting in Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum double act "21 Jump Street," and Cube has remained busy since.

"22 Jump Street" soon followed, as did a voice role -- and another Channing Tatum team-up -- in Dia de Muertos-themed animated feature "The Book of Life."

And one of 2015's biggest box office successes was "Straight Outta Compton," an authorized N.W.A biopic, and one which had Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., playing his father to critical acclaim.

He's producing and acting in both upcoming films "Barbershop: The Next Cut" and Charles Dickens adaptation "Humbug," and later in 2016 will be seen starring opposite Christina Hendricks and Charlie Day.

Kevin Hart

Philadelphian stand-up comedian Kevin Hart made a breakthrough in his early 20s when he landed a role in Judd Apatow sitcom "Undeclared."

Though only aired for one season, main stars included Jay Baruchel, Charlie Hunnam, and Seth Rogen, while among fellow recurring cast members were Amy Poehler, Kyle Gass and Jason Segel.

From there, Hart hosted increasingly successful comedy tours, and increasingly prominent film and TV roles: "Scary Movie" franchise entries 3 and 4, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "The Five-Year Engagement" and "This Is The End" were among parts booked before "Ride Along" came calling.

Since then, he's continued to produce and star in "Real Husbands of Hollywood," and appeared in half a dozen more feature comedies, including a "Think Like A Man" sequel, then headlining opposite Josh Gad in "The Wedding Ringer" and Will Ferrell in "Get Hard" (which, trivia fans, includes a segment spoofing "Boyz n the Hood.")

Up next will be Dwayne Johnson spy comedy "Central Intelligence," a leading role in animated comedy "The Secret Life of Pets," and another animated feature in the form of "Captain Underpants."