NBC’s Saturday Night Live has been especially fond of Young Money with both Nicki Minaj and Drake taking on a mix of hosting duties, comedy sketch assignments and performing as musical guests. While Lil Wayne has opted to strictly appear as a performer, Drake and Nicki have both repeatedly shown off their acting and comedic chops.
But the show has been surprisingly open to non-YMCMB rappers since the Funky Four Plus One More became the first Rap act to appear on the show in 1981. T-Pain, Akon and a host of other cameos have highlighted both SNL and their signature series of Digital Shorts. Weigh in via the comment section with your vote for the best Rap cameos on Saturday Night Live.
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Photo: NBC/Universal
For reasons unknown, Akon’s 2006 musical appearance on Saturday Night Live was completely separate from Gwen Stefani’s. Despite sharing a hit in “Sweet Escape,” Akon performed “I Wanna Love You,” solo while Stefani opted for “Wind It Up.” The real win came with Akon’s appearance in an SNL Digital Short entitled “I Just Had Sex.”
For those keeping count, Kendrick Lamar has graced the stages at 30 Rockerfeller Center twice. His 2013 Saturday Night Live appearance featured performances of “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice,” while his 2014 appearance was highlighted by an ODB-inspired version of “i” and guesting with Jay Rock on “Pay For It.”
Beyonce has been the subject of many Saturday Night Live parodies, but Bey herself not only appeared but had to play second fiddle when she and Justin Timberlake were featured in a 2008 sketch based on her “Single Ladies video.” Timberlake joined her in donning the black leotard and pumps.
photo: WENN
We can only image how hilarious DMX would’ve been in an SNL sketch, since X opted to appear as a musical guest during his 2000 cameo.
Drake graduated from strictly a Saturday Night Live musical guest to a host and doing cameos in sketches, including holding down the opening monologue and nailing impersonations of Katt Williams and Lil Wayne.
Real life collaborators Ludacris and T-Pain were at odds during an SNL skit featuring Andy Samberg as Blizzard Man. Luda was hilariously out of touch, offering half his publishing to a rapper everyone else could see was garbage.
Kanye West has appeared on Saturday Night Live a handful of times despite a brief feud with NBC’s iconic sketch show, but he’s never done any skits. West’s latest appearance was in support of his Yeezus album, and he performed both “New Slaves” and “Black Skinhead.”
photo: WENN
Cypress Hill carries the dubious distinction of being the only Rap group banned from SNL. Lorne Michaels issued the ban after the group’s 1993 performance because DJ Muggs sparked up a joint on air during a performance of “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That.”
photo: WENN
Cee Lo Green showed off his multitude of talents while appearing on Saturday Night Live in 2011. Cee Lo and host Gwyneth Paltrow performed a cover of the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet “Islands In The Steam” and also made cameos in a hilarious bar mitzvah-themed sketch. Just for good measure, Cee Lo also performed a clean version of his hit “Forget You.”
Pharrell Williams basked in the popularity of his hit single “Happy,” but he also made a cameo in an SNL Digital Short with Andy Samberg entitled “Hugs” during his 2014 appearance on SNL.
Nicki Minaj surpassed mere Saturday Night Live musical guest status from day one during her appearance in the infamous “Bride Of Blackenstein” skit. Since then, she’s both performed as a musical guest and also taken on roles as Beyonce and Kim Kardashian.
