First moniker and names rappers had before being established
Before Los Angeles rapper, Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, was known as Earl Sweatshirt, he originally went by the moniker Sly Tendencies.
While known under the moniker Sly Tendencies, Earl released his first mixtape titled Kitchen Cutlery. The project was released 2009 and had 11 songs on it. The project leaked in 2011 and featured songs from Earl’s myspace between 2007-2009.
Before the Grammy Award-winning rap group, Naughty by Nature, which consisted of Treach, Vin Rock, and Kay Gee was known as Naughty by Nature, they originally went by the Moniker, The New Style.
In 1986, The East Coast group, Naughty by Nature, was formed in East Orange, New Jersey as The New Style and the group first made noise when they released their debut album, Independent Leaders on MCA Records, under that same name.
The group was once managed by Queen Latifah, who also gave them their new name after the release of their debut album and they had their first hit with O.P.P.
“We basically were on 18th Street in East Orange, New Jersey chilling in Treach’s house or KG’s. We were all sitting around in the room, and they were doing something mischievous I’m sure. Once again we were all young and wild.” explains Latifah. “I was like, ‘Y’all just naughty by nature.’ They used to be called The New Style… [I said,] ‘You know what you should be called Naughty By Nature.’ They liked the name. Shakim liked the name, so they became Naughty By Nature. You’re welcome.” – Queen Latifah told Jimmy Kimmel in an interview.
Read: Queen Latifah once managed OutKast, LL Cool J, and Naughty By Nature
Read: Queen Latifah gave Naughty By Nature their name
Read: Naughty by Nature’s “Poverty’s Paradise” was the first album to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys
Before Queens duo Salt-N-Pepa, (Salt (Cheryl James) and Pepa (Sandra Denton)) was famously known as Salt-N-Pepa, they were originally known as Super Nature.
The East Coast female duo met at Queensborough Community College in New York City where they studied nursing and they worked together at Sears before joining together to create music after being recruited by Hurbert “Hurby Luv Bug”. The group was formed in 1985 along with DJ Latoya Hanson, who was replaced by Deidra Roper as “DJ Spinderella and Wendy Williams was almost a member. After the release of their first song “The Show Stoppa”, the group changed their name to Salt-N-Pepa. The successful release of their single “Push It,” off their debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious would solidify them. This made Salt-N-Pepa the first female rap group to go platinum.
Read: Nas’ first rap name was Kid Wave
Read: Joey Badass’ first rap name was JayOhVee
Read: Mobb Deep’s first rap name as a duo was Poetical Prophets
Before Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep (Prodigy and Havoc) was famously known as Mobb Deep, they were originally known as Poetical Prophets
The East Coast rappers both met at New York’s High School of Art and Design, where they both attended. The two would team up and start rapping under Poetical Prophets. They then changed their name to Mobb Deep and sign to 4th & B’way Records.
In 1993, Mobb Deep released their debut album Juvenile Hell with production from DJ Premier and Large Professor. In 1995, they released their second studio album, The Infamous, on Loud Records which would solidify them thanks to their successful single “Shook Ones Pt. II”
Read: Nas’ first rap name was Kid Wave
Before Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones was famously known as Nas, Nasty Nas, Esco, or Escobar, he was known as “Kid Wave”, the more famously “Nasty Nas”.
Born and raised in New York, Nas started his career with his friend and then upstairs neighbor Willy “Ill Will” Graham. Ill Will became Nas’ DJ and Nas initially went by the nickname “Kid Wave”.
Read: Joey Badass’ first rap name was JayOhVee
Before Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott was famously known as Joey Badass (also styled Joey Bada$$), he was known as JayOhVee (also spelled Jay Oh Vee).
Born and raised in New York, Pro Era founding member, Joey Badass built his name with the release of his debut mixtape, 1999, in 2012. Long before that, at the age of 15-years old, Joey Bada$$, then under the name of JayOhVee, freestyled over Mos Def’s classic record Umi Says. Listen to the 20 Miles Freestyle below.
Joey Badass had a ReverbNation account under his name JayOhVee where he uploaded 3 tracks.’ Joey Badass is sometimes also referred to as Joey B.
Read: 2 Chainz’s first rap name was Tity Boi
Before Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. was famously known as T.I., he was known as Tip (also spelled T.I.P.) and sometimes is still referred to as Tip.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, T.I. built his name with LaFace records, where he was label mates with Q-Tip. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, T.I. built his name with LaFace records, where he would be label mates with Q-Tip after Arista acquires La Face.
T.I. started his music career with the name Tip which was a nickname given to him by his grandfather. He would later change his name out of respect for his label mate Q-Tip.
T.I. is also known as Rubber Band Man.
Before Daniel Dumile was famously known as MF DOOM or DOOM, he went by the moniker Zen Love X. Born in London England, and growing up in Long Beach, New York, MF DOOM was part of a rap group called KMD (Kausing Much Damage, or A positive Kause in a Much Damaged society) where he performed under the Zen Love X moniker.
MF was in the group with his brother Dingilizwe “DJ Subroc” Dumile and Rodan, who later got replaced with (Onyx the Birthstone Kid). The group dissolved after the death of his brother in 1993, in which MF DOOM took time off before coming back and starting his solo career, releasing his debut album Operation: Doomsday in 1999.
Some of MF DOOM’s nicknames also include Doom, King Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, Metal Fingers, and Metal Face. MF Doom passed away on October 31, 2020. Rest in Peace Daniel.
Read: MF DOOM was born on July 13th
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