Thanksgiving, a day families congregate to observe their blessings, should be no different in practice for your favorite rappers. But as a precaution, Hip-Hop Wired took the time to list MCs, who in the words of the great “Prince Akeem” should be “very happy to be here.”
No, this isn’t a diss. If anything, it’s an homage of sorts. Managing to maintain success in Hip-Hop is a feat in itself, but this list of wordsmiths have experienced adversities in their careers that would have ethered most, for lack of a better term.
That said, these are 10 rappers who should be thankful to have a career. See our selections in the gallery on the following pages. Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments.
—
Photo: Instagram
French Montana
You have to salute the Bronx rapper for commandeering a wave started by the more popular (and more talented) Max B after he was incarcerated and taking it to another level. That’s called beating the odds, folks.
2 Chainz
The Hair Weaved Killer found a niche and stuck to it to find success. But by the time this happened, he was well into his 30s. That’s a feat in itself in this young man’s game.
Pusha T
The same MC who once spit, “I ain’t spent one rap dollar in three years, holla,” has turned over a new leaf since signing to G.O.O.D. Music. However, this spark in his career followed life changing occurrences that would have eaten many rappers alive. We’re talking label woes and potential indictments for drug charges that could have landed King Push, also 36-years-old, in prison for years. Clipse’s former manager Anthony “Geezy” Gonzalez wasn’t so lucky, though.
Snoop Dogg
A week after Doggystyle‘s 20th anniversary, it’s important to remember that Snoop made the album while facing life imprisonment for a murder charge. Imagine if things took a turn for a worst.
DJ Khaled
For a man suffering from success, most don’t have the slightest clue what his job entails. However, he didn’t flourish nearly as much while he was strictly deejaying. Isn’t that ironic?
Wale
Needless to say that the Washington D.C. rapper is doing fine, but such wasn’t always the case. His first album, Attention Deficit, flopped and he had subsequent label issues all while experiencing the growing pains new artists go through. Look at him now; he’s flourishing with MMG.
The LOX
Honestly, what artists to come out of the house Diddy built still have money and/or relevancy. That said, you have to tip your hats to the Yonkers MCs, who defied those odds and got their publishing back in the process.
Rick Ross
The Bawse is one of a short list of MCs who managed to garner more popularity after beefing with the human ether, 50 Cent. To top it off, the G-Unit rapper’s slanderous campaign exposed Ross’ previous career as a correctional officer, which could and perhaps should have marked the end of his career.
Drake
The actor-turned-rapper is a testament to the tolerance Hip-Hop has developed over time. Sure, you could reference Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), who entered the game under similar circumstances, but from the beginning, the Brooklyn rapper has never experienced the daily scrutiny that comes with a normal day in the life of your favorite Canadian, Aubrey Graham.
Kanye West
The concept of being an underdog is one the Chicago rapper knows all to well. From ghost producing to get a foot in the game to literally standing on tables to get his rhymes heard, West easily deserves a spot on this list. He arrived during a time when gritty, street rap was the preferred sound. No, he wasn’t signed to an indie label; he was with Roc-A-Fella, and literally thought to be an experimental signing.
Even after attaining success, Yeezy’s infamous comments about George Bush and the Taylor Swift fiasco should have bodied him.
