Why Do Rappers Fashion Themselves A Rap Name?

[mcZu]

Most of those rap names originate from their Childhood. And people refer to them with that specefic alias, so it automatically fades into a stage name/artist name.

[Wic Kid]

A: Who's your favorite rapper?

B: Marshall Bruce Mathers III!

...naw, I dont think so.

[Renee7931]

after MeathookSodomy's topic about rap names, i wondered this. for example, naming a band is understandable, because you can't call it by everyones name. but take RnB singers, i.e chris brown, omarion, rihanna etc, they all use their real names. pop singers, i.e robbie williams, again use their own names, as do most one-man artists. so that begs the question.

why DO rappers feel the need to make up a name for themselves? why can't they just use their own names? very few actually do this, i.e j.cole, drake, obie trice etc.

i understand that rappers want a name that reflects on their style. or personality. but c'mon, names like the following. soulja boy, 50 cent, 2pac, lil wayne, etc etc. are they really needed?

curtis jackson would have been a good name for a rapper in itself imo.

what are your thoughts?

Good question, but Drake isn't his actual name. It's Aubrey Graham. Just being nitpicky!

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

It's an alternate name for a somewhat alternate personality.
Plus, some names won't fit your music. For example my name, Ian, sends your mind directly to Scotland and Braveheart and shit. That would detract from my twisted, suicidal style. That's why I chose "Sorrow" as my stage name, so someone would know what they were getting into before hearing my music.

[Renee7931]

@ Scott M. I only know Drake's real name because I watched him when he played on Degrassi.

[BILI]

after MeathookSodomy's topic about rap names, i wondered this. for example, naming a band is understandable, because you can't call it by everyones name. but take RnB singers, i.e chris brown, omarion, rihanna etc, they all use their real names. pop singers, i.e robbie williams, again use their own names, as do most one-man artists. so that begs the question.

why DO rappers feel the need to make up a name for themselves? why can't they just use their own names? very few actually do this, i.e j.cole, drake, obie trice etc.

i understand that rappers want a name that reflects on their style. or personality. but c'mon, names like the following. soulja boy, 50 cent, 2pac, lil wayne, etc etc. are they really needed?

curtis jackson would have been a good name for a rapper in itself imo.

what are your thoughts?

Good question, but Drake isn't his actual name. It's Aubrey Graham. Just being nitpicky!

no its Aubrey Drake Graham

[Renee7931]

after MeathookSodomy's topic about rap names, i wondered this. for example, naming a band is understandable, because you can't call it by everyones name. but take RnB singers, i.e chris brown, omarion, rihanna etc, they all use their real names. pop singers, i.e robbie williams, again use their own names, as do most one-man artists. so that begs the question.

why DO rappers feel the need to make up a name for themselves? why can't they just use their own names? very few actually do this, i.e j.cole, drake, obie trice etc.

i understand that rappers want a name that reflects on their style. or personality. but c'mon, names like the following. soulja boy, 50 cent, 2pac, lil wayne, etc etc. are they really needed?

curtis jackson would have been a good name for a rapper in itself imo.

what are your thoughts?

Good question, but Drake isn't his actual name. It's Aubrey Graham. Just being nitpicky!

no its Aubrey Drake Graham

My bad. I didn't know it was his middle name!

[BILI]

^np

[BILI]

Most of those rap names originate from their Childhood. And people refer to them with that specefic alias, so it automatically fades into a stage name/artist name.

Lupe Fiasco
Papoose
Lil' Wayne
Soulja boy
Florida
50 cent
Eminem
Jay-Z
Immortal Technique
Andre 3000
2-Pac
T.I
Dr. Dre

i can't see them being originated from their childhood nicknames.

after MeathookSodomy's topic about rap names, i wondered this. for example, naming a band is understandable, because you can't call it by everyones name. but take RnB singers, i.e chris brown, omarion, rihanna etc, they all use their real names. pop singers, i.e robbie williams, again use their own names, as do most one-man artists. so that begs the question.

why DO rappers feel the need to make up a name for themselves? why can't they just use their own names? very few actually do this, i.e j.cole, drake, obie trice etc.

i understand that rappers want a name that reflects on their style. or personality. but c'mon, names like the following. soulja boy, 50 cent, 2pac, lil wayne, etc etc. are they really needed?

curtis jackson would have been a good name for a rapper in itself imo.

what are your thoughts?

Good question, but Drake isn't his actual name. It's Aubrey Graham. Just being nitpicky!

sorry, i was told in another thread that is was his real name. smh @ him.

and bout those name I think Eminem used M&M as a nickname at some early age

[mcZu]

Most of those rap names originate from their Childhood. And people refer to them with that specefic alias, so it automatically fades into a stage name/artist name.

Lupe Fiasco
Papoose
Lil' Wayne
Soulja boy
Florida
50 cent
Eminem
Jay-Z
Immortal Technique
Andre 3000
2-Pac
T.I
Dr. Dre

i can't see them being originated from their childhood nicknames.

Lupe=wassalu, Pe was one of his closests friends. And when he moved away he added that to the Lu, which makes it Lupe. The Fiasco was something he added later on.
Lil' Wayne=Obviously his father's name is Wayne so they nicknamed him Lil' Wayne
Eminem=M&M, which is Marshall Mathers, he used to sign his sketches with M&M as a kid. And people probably started to call him M&M 'cause it's shorter
Jay-Z=Jay-Z's first name was Jazz, 'cause his dad used to play jazz. People called him Jay (J), so he changed it into Jay-Z.
Tupac=His mother gave him that name when he was a little boy.
T.I=probably his initials.

From the top of my head...

[DƎRDYPK]

Drake's real name is Jimmy Brooks for fucks sake

[Renee7931]

Drake's real name is Jimmy Brooks for fucks sake

[BILI]

Most of those rap names originate from their Childhood. And people refer to them with that specefic alias, so it automatically fades into a stage name/artist name.

Lupe Fiasco
Papoose
Lil' Wayne
Soulja boy
Florida
50 cent
Eminem
Jay-Z
Immortal Technique
Andre 3000
2-Pac
T.I
Dr. Dre

i can't see them being originated from their childhood nicknames.

Lupe=wassalu, Pe was one of his closests friends. And when he moved away he added that to the Lu, which makes it Lupe. The Fiasco was something he added later on.
Lil' Wayne=Obviously his father's name is Wayne so they nicknamed him Lil' Wayne
Eminem=M&M, which is Marshall Mathers, he used to sign his sketches with M&M as a kid. And people probably started to call him M&M 'cause it's shorter
Jay-Z=Jay-Z's first name was Jazz, 'cause his dad used to play jazz. People called him Jay (J), so he changed it into Jay-Z.
Tupac=His mother gave him that name when he was a little boy.
T.I=probably his initials.

From the top of my head...

[Renee7931]

Drake's real name is Jimmy Brooks for fucks sake

are you being serious? because

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_(entertainer)

Have you ever watched Degrassi?

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

It's an alternate name for a somewhat alternate personality.
Plus, some names won't fit your music. For example my name, Ian, sends your mind directly to Scotland and Braveheart and shit. That would detract from my twisted, suicidal style. That's why I chose "Sorrow" as my stage name, so someone would know what they were getting into before hearing my music.

fair enough, but that doesn't answer why rappers do it, but not other genre of artists?

HA!
Look at black metal. The people in those bands give themselves names like "Pest", "Count Grishnackh", "Winterhalter", "Blood Moon Ausar" and shit.
It's not just rap.