Rappers may have hardcore images to uphold, but they weren’t always as tough as they make themselves out to be. Once upon a time they were tiny little babies, the apple of their mothers eye. And their mothers named them so. Check out some of the more unusual and unexpected real names of some of the biggest rappers in the world.


Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr.


50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III


Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.


Flo Rida
Tramar Dillard


Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler


Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi


Lil’ Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr


MIA
Mathangi Arulpragasam


Tupac
Lesane Parish Crooks

P. Diddy
Sean John Combs


Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr.


Notorious B.I.G
Christopher George Latore Wallace


Big Boi
Antwan André Patton


Ice Cube
O’Shea Jackson


T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm


Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle


RZA (Wu-Tang Clan)
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs


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