The Real Names of Famous Rappers

Stage names are everywhere in hip hop, and plenty of the biggest stars built entire careers under names that are not on their birth certificates. These monikers often carry stories about family, hometowns, early nicknames, or even favorite artists who shaped their sound.

Here is a friendly guide to the real names behind some of rap’s most familiar faces. You will also see how they chose the names fans know so well, along with quick background details that help connect the person to the persona.

Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born in Missouri and raised in Detroit, where early battles and mixtapes set the foundation for his rapid technical style. His stage name comes from the initials M and M from Marshall Mathers, which he stylized to Eminem as he began releasing music.

He expanded beyond music with the Detroit story he brought to the screen in the film ‘8 Mile’, and he earned major awards for the song Lose Yourself from that project. His catalog grew through multiplatinum albums while he continued to use both Eminem and Slim Shady to frame different sides of his writing.

Drake

Aubrey Drake Graham grew up in Toronto and first found a national audience as an actor on the series ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’. He used his middle name for the stage and blended rapping with R and B melodies as he moved into music.

His early mixtapes and major label albums highlighted his connection to Toronto and to the OVO collective that he helped build. He has remained active across chart records, arena tours, and collaborations that keep his given name visible in credits and business ventures.

Ye

Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, where he produced for local and national artists before stepping into the spotlight as a solo performer. In 2021 he legally changed his name to Ye, a shorter form he had referenced in lyrics and album art over many years.

As a producer turned rapper he shaped the sound of mainstream hip hop with a focus on sampling and layered arrangements. He founded a label and fashion ventures while keeping both the birth name and the shorter legal name documented in filings and credits.

Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to Queens as a child, where performing arts schools and early recordings helped her develop a fast switching delivery. She adopted the stage name Nicki Minaj early in her career while keeping the Maraj surname for legal use.

After marrying Kenneth Petty she became legally known as Onika Tanya Maraj Petty while continuing to perform as Nicki Minaj. Her mixtapes and albums built a large global following and her features, alter voices, and characters are all tracked under the stage identity.

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth grew up in Compton and first recorded under the name K Dot on early mixtapes. He later decided to use his given names in full, which is why major releases and awards list him as Kendrick Lamar.

His albums trace personal and community histories tied to Compton, with writing that references his family name throughout the work. He also founded pgLang with creative partners, where official credits consistently identify him with the Duckworth surname.

Lil Wayne

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. is a New Orleans native who started recording as a teenager with Cash Money Records and the group Hot Boys. He shortened Dwayne to Wayne and added Lil to form Lil Wayne, a name that matched his age and size at the start of his career.

He has explained that he removed the D to distance himself from his father’s first name while keeping the Carter surname on legal documents and business entities. Decades of albums, mixtapes, and features list him as Lil Wayne while songwriting and publishing credits use his full legal name.

Snoop Dogg

Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. was born in Long Beach, where childhood nicknames inspired the Snoop part of his stage name. Early collaborations with Dr Dre helped introduce Snoop Doggy Dogg, which he later streamlined to Snoop Dogg.

In 2012 he briefly recorded reggae music as Snoop Lion before returning to Snoop Dogg on subsequent releases. His television projects and products use the Snoop brand while contracts and executive producer credits often include the Broadus surname.

Cardi B

Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, where social media clips and club performances first boosted her profile. Friends nicknamed her after the rum brand Bacardi, which led to the stage name Cardi B.

Before her debut album she appeared on the series ‘Love & Hip Hop: New York’, and after major chart success she married Kiari Cephus known as Offset. Public records and trademarks reflect the Almanzar surname while music and television credits show the Cardi B stage identity.

Travis Scott

Jacques Bermon Webster II grew up in Houston and spent part of his childhood in Missouri City, a Houston suburb. He chose Travis Scott by combining the first name of a respected family member with a nod to Scott Mescudi known as Kid Cudi.

He formed the Cactus Jack imprint and uses Jacques Webster on legal filings for business operations while releasing albums as Travis Scott. Festival appearances, fashion partnerships, and production credits consistently separate the stage and legal names across documents and liner notes.

Lil Nas X

Montero Lamar Hill was raised in Georgia and began releasing songs online before a breakout that blended rap and country elements. He selected Lil Nas X as a playful take on common rap prefixes with Nas as an homage and X as a marker of the unknown.

After his hit moved from social apps to radio he released further music while keeping Montero as both his legal first name and the title of his debut album. Television performances and award show appearances list him as Lil Nas X while publishing and royalty databases keep Montero Lamar Hill as the author name.

50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III comes from the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, where early mixtapes led to a deal and a quick rise on the charts. He adopted the name 50 Cent from a Brooklyn figure of the same nickname which he used as a symbol of change and independence.

He later expanded into film and television production and built a portfolio of spirits and media projects. Credits for acting and producing often read Curtis Jackson while artist and branding materials maintain the 50 Cent stage name.

Ice Cube

O’Shea Jackson Sr. grew up in Los Angeles and began writing rhymes as a teenager before joining N.W.A. The name Ice Cube started as a nickname from his youth and it became the identity he used on group and solo releases.

He moved into acting with films like ‘Boyz n the Hood’ and later co wrote and starred in ‘Friday’, building a second career in entertainment. Production credits and family related projects often use O Shea Jackson while recording and touring continue under Ice Cube.

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Jovon Ruth Pete is a Houston native who first built an audience through freestyles and campus performances. Her stage name comes from Southern slang where stallion describes a tall woman and she added Thee as an emphatic spelling.

She kept the Pete surname on legal documents and uses it on philanthropy and business filings. Music releases, tour posters, and award listings consistently identify her as Megan Thee Stallion while publishing databases reference Megan Pete as the writer.

Doja Cat

Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini was born in Los Angeles to a South African father and American mother and grew up around dance, internet culture, and early home recordings. She chose Doja from a slang term for cannabis and Cat from her long standing fondness for cats.

Her viral rise began with songs posted online before major label albums pushed her to global stages. Legal and songwriting credits use Amala Dlamini while the Doja Cat stage name appears on performances, merchandise, and festival lineups.

A$AP Rocky

Rakim Athelaston Mayers was born in Harlem and took his first name from the legendary rapper Rakim, which his parents chose in tribute. He joined A$AP Mob and adopted A$AP Rocky as his stage name to align with the collective and to honor that crew identity.

Modeling, film roles such as the movie ‘Dope’, and fashion collaborations broadened his profile while keeping the legal name present on contracts and design partnerships. Music videos, tour bills, and group projects list him as A$AP Rocky, and royalties and trademarks are filed under Rakim Mayers.

Share your favorite surprising real name in the comments and tell us which rapper’s story you want to see next.