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2Deep: A Bunch of Rap Facts You May Have Not Known About

blame it on JES7 January 26, 2014
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It’s another slow day (before the Grammys pop off tonight) so I decided to compile a list of twenty rap facts you may (but more than likely don’t) know about. If you have any others, feel free to share them below in the comments.

  • Busta Rhymes was named after OK college football star Buster Rhymes by Chuck D.
  • Sauce Money wrote Puff’s “I’ll Be Missing You.”
  • will.i.am & apl.de.ap (of The Black Eyed Peas) were in a group called Atban Klann and were signed to Ruthless Records.
  • Biggie’s “Ten Crack Commandments” was originally a promo Jeru the Damaja created for Hot 97.
  • Dr. Dre & Ice Cube were originally supposed to appear on Pac’s “Can’t C Me.”
  • E-40 got his name for his ability to drink up to five 40s a day
  • The video for “Flashing Lights” isn’t the first rap video Spike Jonze has directed. He’s responsible for three Beastie Boys videos, Biggie’s “Sky’s the Limit,” Puff’s “It’s All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix),” Ludacris’ “Get Back” and Pharcyde’s “Drop.”
  • No Malice, Nate Dogg, Freddie Gibbs, MC Hammer, Donnis, Mystikal and Bambu are just a few Hip-Hop artists who have served in the military
  • KiD CuDi’s “Day N Nite” was inspired by Geto Boys “Mind Playin Tricks On Me.”
  • At one point, 50 Cent & Mary J. Blige were considered as members of The Firm.
  • Ja Rule is an acronym for ‘Jeff Atkins Represents Unconditional Love’s Existence’ [LOL]
  • Bone Thugs N Harmony used to go by ‘Band Aid Boys’.
  • Pharcyde appear in Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time.”
  • 71 rap artists’ faces appear on ATCQ’s Midnight Marauders.
  • Debi Mazar (who portrayed Shauna Roberts on Entourage) was a b-girl in the 80s (appears in multiple Madonna music videos as well).
  • Clearance quotes for Barry White samples start at $10,000.
  • Redman used to work at a Sizzler’s before becoming who he is today.
  • Luke once had beef with Kid N Play. AND Vanilla Ice.
  • Jeru the Damaja’s “Black Cowboy” was a diss to Pras and The Fugees “I heard some MC’s wanna bring it / But a female is one of their strongest men”
  • There is a ten minute version of Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride” that is worth every minute.
  • Sources: Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists, the internets and lots of digging.