It aint easy being hardcore in these streets. If you grew up around hip-hop circles, you definitely had an alias at some point. How could you not? Whether you were a B-boy, MC, tagger or DJ (or if, like me, you were none but believed you were all), having an AKA just made things seem way cooler. Unfortunately, when you give yourself a pseudonym like ‘2 Pistols’, it sets such high standards that your civilian name will most probably be an anti-climax to the coolness of your persona when people find out that your momma-given name is Jeremy Saunders.
In light of all this coolness, we at Hype Magazine, have compiled a list of rappers with the slickest rap AKAs versus their government names. As well as an alternative career path one could mistake them for based on their real names. Check it out.
Rick Ross
Real name: William Leonard Roberts – An invigilator at the national Spelling Bee
Nelly
Real name: Cornell Haynes Jr. – Alabama maize farmer
Snoop Doggy Dogg
Real name: Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr – A villainous character in the video game, God of War
Nicki Minaj
Real name: Onika Tanya Maraj – Vegan spirtual advisor in really flowy clothes
Soulja Boy
Real name: DeAndre Ramone Way – Fifth member of R&B boy-band, B2K- greasy hair and oversized clothes included
Redman
Real name: Reggie Noble – Nerdy suburban eighth grade Science teacher
RZA
Real name: Robert Fitzgerald Diggs – Professor of Anthropology and Human Sciences
Wale
Real name: Olubowale Victor Akintimehin – A retired dictator trying to make a comeback in the game
Young Buck
Real name: David Darnell Brown (An overly optimistic High Court prosecutor)
Busta Rhymes
Real name: Trevor Smith – An extra in a Keanu Reeves film about absolutely nothing
Flava Flave
Real name: William Jonathan Drayton, Jr (A human being who is the complete opposite of Flava Flave)
Spaceboy-P