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1. Drake – Aubrey Graham
Source: www.aux.tv
For a Canadian-Jewish rapper, it’s no surprise his name isn’t that tough.
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2. Jay-Z – Shawn Carter
Source: s.wsj.net
Wait, there’s no J or Z in his name? He’s got 99 problems, and discerning which letters are in his name is definitely one.
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3. The Notorious B.I.G (Biggie Smalls) – Christopher George Latore Wallace
Source: edge-img.datpiff.com
His real name makes him sound like some former king of England, and the crown really pulls the whole persona together. Rest easy, Biggie.
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4. Wiz Khalifa – Cameron Thomaz
Source: hiphopandpolitics.com
Wholeheartedly upset that “Wiz Khalifa” isn’t just short for “Wizard Khalifa,” although the Z at the end of his name is pretty cool.
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5. Rick Ross – William Leonard Roberts II
Source: static.guim.co.uk
For a man who uses two first names in his stage name, neither are his real name. He also sounds like a King of the Britons.
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6. Gucci Mane – Radric Davis
Source: www.bbebookingagency.com
Very surprising his stage name is not “Rad Rick” because that’s what I would’ve done. Radric is a boss name.
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7. Busta Rhymes – Trevor Smith Jr.
Source: rollingout.com
Yep, Busta Rhymes is a way better name to rap under than Trevor. Trevor sounds like what you’d name a pet fish or gecko.
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8. Nelly – Cornell Haynes Jr.
Source: www.beyondblackwhite.com
Ohhhh, CorNELL…. NELLy…. I see what you did there…. 😉
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9 & 10. Method Man & T.I – Clifford Smith & Clifford Harris Jr.
Source: cdn.kidscreen.com
I’m thoroughly shocked that not one, but TWO rappers are named after the Big Red Dog that haunted my dreams throughout my childhood. Clifford The Big Red Dog was straight G, though.
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11. Ghostface Killah – Dennis Coles
Source: lh5.ggpht.com
SO upset that his mom didn’t name him Ghostface, as that would be a wonderful name for a child.
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12. Kanye West – KANYE WEST!
Source: static.guim.co.uk
Yep, that’s right, Yeezus himself does not go by a stage name! Congrats, Kanye, stay true to you, boo.
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13. Kendrick Lamar – Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Source: theendlessbummer.files.wordpress.com
Yep, our hero Kendrick dropped his last name, and who can blame him? No rapper would want to deal with that last name, and he must have been teased all the time growing up. Quack, quack, mothaf***a!
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14. Chamillionaire – Hakeem Seriki
Source: qph.is.quoracdn.net
With one of the most creative stage names in history, it’s no surprise that Chamillionaire isn’t his real name. Maybe he’s really into lizards?
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15. MC Hammer – Stanley Kirk Burrell
Source: www.arktimes.com
Much to the disappointment of his fans, the 90s phenom’s real name is not that of an item located in a toolbox.
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16. Flo Rida – Tramar Dillard
Source: danielsfunny.files.wordpress.com
While “Tramar” has dozens of options for stage names, Flo Rida was probably a better one. Bonus: the dude’s FROM Florida!
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17. LL Cool J – James Smith
Source: assets-s3.rollingstone.com
With a name as generic as James Smith, LL Cool J has one of the better stage names out there right now. It’s actually an acronym for Ladies Love Cool James. MIND BLOWING!
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18. Ice Cube – O’Shea Jackson
Source: everyinstrumental.com
If his first and last name were switched, he could’ve been Jackson O’Shea, potato farmer and amateur leprechaun enthusiast.
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19. Vanilla Ice – Robert Matthew Van Winkle
Source: www.thewrap.com
While it is inconclusive whether or not he is a descendant of Rip Van Winkle, Vanilla Ice seems to do more rapping than sleeping.
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20. RiFF RAFF – Horst Simco
Source: images.rapgenius.com
With a name that sounds like an infections plague, it’s a good that Mr. Jody Highroller came up with a pretty ‘swag’ name for himself!