1. Busta Rhymes – Chuck D dubbed his Long Island protege after Oklahoma college football star Buster Rhymes.
2. C-Bo – Short for “Cowboy.”
3. DMX – New York’s top rap dawg originally built his rep on his Yonkers home turfas a human beat box, taking his name as a funky homosapien answer to the classic DMX beat making drum machine—much like Just-Ice’s mid-’80s beat-box sidekick, “Cool” DMX. Wow, what a coincidence!
4. E-40 – Named for his ability to drink four to ɹve 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor aday.
5. Grandmixer D.ST – An abbreviation of the Lower East Side’s Delancey Street, where it was joked he used to boost clothes from shops.
6. Khujo (Goodie Mob)Named himself after an African slave who was granted his freedom afterbeing illegally shipped to the United States.
7. LL Cool – J Stole his name from DJ Cut Creator (Jay Philpott), then known as “CoolJay.”
8. Noreaga – Named after Panamanian ruler General Manuel Noriega.
9. DJ Quik – Quik is the name. But the “C” (as in Crip) was allegedly left out due to this real Compton G’s reputed one-time Blood gang affiliation.
10. Ras Kass – Inspired by a book about Menelik II, an Ethiopian king who battled a rival named Ras Kass for control of the kingdom of Shoa. That Ras Kass used the alias for his real name, John IV. Rapper Rass’ government name is John and he is also the fourth John in his family.
Source: Ego Trip Book of Rap Lists
Natalia is a Rap and Hip Hop enthusiast. After graduating from The New School of New York’s Public Relations Program and taking a course in Journalism at Michigan State University, she decided to dedicate her life to the music publishing business and to the discovery of new talent. She helps new artists gain exposure to the masses via online marketing and publications.
