Watch the video: Jay-Z, Eminem, Pusha T, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent – what do the names of the rap stars mean?
Jay-Z, Eminem, Pusha T, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent – where rappers got their stage names from is usually not clear at first glance. In this video you will find out what is behind the names of numerous greats of US hip-hop.
Jay Z:
The stage name of one of the greatest rap stars of all time dates back to a nickname from his youth. Because Jay-Z sounds similar to “Jazzy” – that’s what the world star was called in his youth. The name is also a tribute to his mentor, Jaz-O, and a nod to the J/Z subway line in his home in Brooklyn, New York.
Eminem:
Eminem’s stage name comes from the initials of his real name, Marshall Bruce Mathers III. The Detroit rapper initially called himself “M&M” — a name he later pronounced as a single word. The artist, also known as “Slim Shady”, also called himself “MC Double M” in the early days of his career.
Pusha T:
Known for drug references, Pusha T hides a nod to cocaine sales in his stage name. Pusha T stands for “Push a ton”, which translates as “Vertick ne ton” means.
Snoop Dogg:
West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg got his stage name from his mother. As a child, he watched “Peanuts” excessively. His favorite character was the dog “Snoopy”. Because of this preference, his mother also called him Snoopy. As a rapper, he gave himself the name Snoop Doggy Dog, which over the years became short for Snoop Dogg.
50 cents:
Curtis Jackson is probably better known to his fans by his stage name 50 Cent. The gangster rapper’s name is based on the criminal Kelvin “50 Cent” Martin, a robber who made the rapper’s home, New York City, unsafe in the 1980s. In addition, 50 cents is change or “change” – which also means change in English.