When Rappers Change Their Names
Take a look at the latest rapper to make a moniker change.
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What’s My Name? - Changing your name is definitely a rite of passage for rappers. In fact, those times when a rapper has done the whole name-change thing, it’s marked the beginning of a new era and reinventions are always welcome. This summer, another rapper joins the ranks of the name-changing elite with an interesting pick. You won’t be able to guess who the newbie is. – Jon Reyes and BET Staff(Photos from left: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for iHeartMedia, Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
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Young Thug to No My Name Is Jeffery - Thugger is the latest name-changer with a total revamp that involves going from Young Thug to No My Name Is Jeffery. In August 2016, the name-change was revealed to the world by Lyor Cohen during a stop at Rap Radar’s podcast. Apparently it’s really important because the head at No My Name Is Jeffery’s label added to the announcement by saying, “Please, respect us to actually segue and utilize his name going forward, OK? Because it’s important.” We wonder what No My Name Is Jeffery has up his sleeve – yeah, that new name is going to take some getting used to.(Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for The Vanity Group)
3 / 29
Astro Kid to Stro - Astro Kid first rocked audiences at age 14 on season one of The X Factor back in 2011 and the Brooklyn rhyme spitter hasn't cooled off yet. Recently switching his alias to Stro, the 18-year-old MC just dropped some new heat which takes a close look at the hip hop game and the industry called "Skrrr" and addresses radio politics and rappers wearing skirts and calling their homies "bae and boo."(Photo: Stro via Instagram)
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Lil Boosie to Boosie Bad Azz - It's official, Boosie back and he has a [old] new name. After months of testing the recently-released waters as Lil Boosie, the Louisiana rapper has decided that he prefers to go by his moniker "Boosie Bad Azz," a nickname he let fans in on in extended detail via his 2006 album Bad Azz.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)
5 / 29
Bow Wow to Shad Moss - Bow Wow previously dropped "Lil" from his moniker to signify that he was all grown up, and more recently, Bow announced this week that he was also dropping the name Snoop Doggy Dogg gave him as a tyke altogether.Hitting up Instagram, Mr. 106 & Park revealed, "After BET awards I will no longer go by Bow Wow! I’m going by my real name 'Shad Moss' we made a lot of history as bow wow. Now it’s time for the next chapter and challenge. Bow wow does not fit who I am today. I'm a father, business man, TV host, Actor, and rapper! Time for MR. Moss to take over!"(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)
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6 / 29
Tip to T.I. - T.I. was known in the 'hoods of Atlanta and on the mic as "Tip," but when he signed with Arista's LaFace Records back in 1999, he shortened it, so as not to draw confusion with fellow Arista label mate and fellow hip hop royalty, Q-Tip.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images)
7 / 29
T.I. to Tip - Speaking with Big Von on 106 KMEL, The Hustle Gang leader revealed last week when he dropped his 5 song EP Da Nic, "It's officially T.I.P. now. It's Tip... It’s about time, for the fans that been here since I’m Serious and Trap Muzik and actually stuck with me while I ventured out into doing my “Blurred Lines,” the “Why You Wanna,” and “Whatever You Like.” But now it’s time to dedicate some attention to them and I think with Tip, that’s the move.”(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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Terror to Pusha-T - Before Pusha T was peddling his cocaine raps, he wasknown as "Terror," when Clipse were signed to Elektra Records and their official debut Exclusive Audio Footage was permanently shelved. When they returned in 2002 with their first official release Lord Willin’ backed by the hit single "Grindin'," King Push was in full effect. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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Baby To Birdman - YMCMB boss Birdman was formerly known as "Baby" when Cash Money was on the rise. His first rap moniker "B-32" stood for "Baby with the 32 gold teeth in his mouth." Although still called, "Baby" by his crew, he officially switched his moniker with his solo album Birdman in 2002, shortly after The Big Tymers disbanded. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)
10 / 29
Kwame to K-1 Mill - Kwame made noise on the hip hop scene in the late '80s and early '90s with such hits as "Ownleeeue," "Oneovdabigboiz" and "The Rhythm." In 2000, he switched up his game and name when he morphed into super-producer K-1 Mill/ K-1 Million. He continued his career behind the boards producing hits for LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliott, and Christina Aguilera; and co-produced Lloyd Banks' smash hit song "On Fire" with Eminem.(Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
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11 / 29
Ruck to Sean Price - Sean Price first burst on the scene as Ruck, a member of Boot Camp Clik's duo Heltah Skeltah back in the '90s. The Brooklyn MC has been going by his government name since 2005, as he keeps his solo career going.(Photo: WENN)
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Malice to No Malice - The conscious side of Clipse changed his name to No Malice a few years back after having a religious conversion. Prior to Malice, he was called, "Malicious."(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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Jay-Z to Jay Z - His change may be minor, but when you're music royalty like Mr. Carter, the small things always matter. Beyoncé's hubby ditched the hyphen in "Jay-Z," officially changing his moniker to Jay Z.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
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N.O.R.E. to P.A.P.I. - N.O.R.E. changed his name to P.A.P.I., an acronym for Power Always Proves Intelligence, for his 2013 album, Student of the Game. "Sometimes if you’re lost, the best way to find where you’re at is to go to the beginning," he told MTV. "My mother doesn’t even call me Victor, my father has never called me Victor, my teachers didn’t even call me Victor. My name in Lefrak City and my name in Queens is actually P.A.P.I., it's not even N.O.R.E."(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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Young Dro to 3krazy - Young Dro took to Twitter back in 2012 to announce that he was officially changing his name to 3Krazy. "PSA no longer am I the artist 'Young Dro' I'm officially #3krazy," the T.I. affiliate wrote. "You can call me three u can call me krazy anything but young dro."He obviously reconsidered that thought as he went back to Dro soon after. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)
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16 / 29
Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion to Snoopzilla - Snoop Dogg's first major name change occurred back in 1998 when he left Death Row and joined No Limit Records and eliminated the "Doggy" from his moniker. In 2012, Snoop was in Jamaica working on a new reggae album and documentary when he says a Rastafarian priest christened him as Snoop Lion. He used the alias for his 2013 release, Reincarnated. Then, last December, The DPG leader switched it up again to Snoopzilla when he and Dam Funk released their collaborative project 7 Days Of Funk.(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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Therapist to J.Cole - The North Caroline-bred, Roc Nation-signed rapper rocked out with the name Therapist, which was given to him by a local group named Bomb Shelter. J. Cole went with the name for a few years, but later changed it after he felt it sounded like a wrestler's name. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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Tity Boy to 2 Chainz - 2 Chainz changed his name from Tity Boy to appeal to his female audience and to sound kid and advertiser friendly. Having rocked two chains around his neck since the eighth grade, the new name is fitting for him and the mainstream.(Photo: Jeff Daly/PictureGroup)
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Mos Def to Yasiin Bey - Dante Smith built a pretty solid reputation as the artist Mos Def, but the Brooklyn born rapper/actor started going by Yasiin Bey in 2012. "I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I've been going by Yasiin since '99," he told GQ magazine. "At first it was just for friends and family, but now I'm declaring it openly."(Photo: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup.com)
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Biggie Smalls to The Notorious B.I.G. - Christopher Wallace first became Notorious when a copyright claim forced him to drop his original moniker, Biggie Smalls. The new name had a larger-than-life quality that suited him well. (Photo: REUTERS/Fred Prouser)
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Lil J to Young Jeezy - Before he took up the business of motivating thugs everywhere, Young Jeezy was just Lil J from Atlanta. The "Lil" prefix is usually a source of regret later on in a rapper's career, so Jeezy was ahead of the game on this one. He also can't seem to make up his mind with the "Young" moniker, as he's added it and dropped it several times throughout his career.(Photo: Donna Permell/PictureGroup)
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The Game to Game - For unknown reasons, Game dropped the "The" from his name back in 2009. Perhaps he didn't want to compete with a certain popular TV series?(Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
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Puff Daddy to P. Diddy to Diddy - The most famous of all name changers, Sean Combs went from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy to Diddy in a series of switch-ups that seemed about as frivolous as an outfit change at an awards show, but still made headlining news. Recently, however, he clarified, the Big Homie has always been, and always will be, Puff.(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
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K. Dot to Kendrick Lamar - The list of rappers who go by their birth name is shorter than Bushwick Bill. Still, In 2009, Kendrick Lamar went au natural, and dropped the alias K. Dot. (Photo: C Flanigan/WireImage)
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Killer Mike to Mike Bigga - Despite his lethal skills on the microphone, Killer Mike is actually a nice guy. He dropped the "Killer" from his name and started going by "Mike Bigga" in 2010. Realizing you can't change who you are, the revolutionary MC went back to the name that made him. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
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