| Most of us don't even bat an eye when we refer to | | | | not a rapper, he is responsible for bringing some of the |
| rappers by the names of some of the world's most | | | | most popular ones to light, such as Jay-Z, DMX, and |
| notorious drug lords and mobsters. The fascination with | | | | Ja Rule. |
| the gangster lifestyle has become a fixture for these | | | | South Florida's very own Rick Ross has released his |
| artists and building these names are vital to their | | | | album, Teflon Don, which was John Gotti's nickname |
| career. | | | | after being acquitted so many times. Ross has many |
| But what is the purpose of renaming yourself after | | | | nicknames which seem to all be affiliated within the |
| someone who has already existed and infamously at | | | | same realm. |
| that? Why would you want to live up to someone | | | | As the self-proclaimed "Biggie of his city" said, "I think |
| else's name and reputation? | | | | I'm Big Meech, Larry Hoover, whipping work, hallelujah". |
| Perhaps naming themselves after the gritty figures will | | | | Larry Hoover, the alleged leader of the Gangster |
| bring them the same respect and fear of those who | | | | Disciples gang, is currently serving a life sentence for |
| held the name before them. Maybe these gangsters | | | | drug conspiracy and extortion. Big Meech is the leader |
| are whom they truly look up to as these infamous | | | | of the Black Mafia Family (BMF) and is presently |
| people did have more money than most of us would | | | | incarcerated. Ross also has a song called BMF, which |
| see in a lifetime. | | | | stands for Blowin Money Fast. The rapper has |
| One of multi-platinum rapper Nas' names was Nas | | | | tweeted that Meech "embraces his joint and |
| Escobar, whose real name is Nasir Jones. He named | | | | movement" |
| himself after the Columbian drug lord, Pablo Emilio | | | | Though, not everyone is happy with Ross' many |
| Escobar Gaviria, who became so rich that Forbes | | | | aliases. The main name we all know Rick Ross by |
| Magazine named him the seventh richest man in the | | | | actually belongs to a drug kingpin who ran quite a drug |
| world. This status is a far cry from where Nas lived in | | | | empire with thousands of employees. Initially sentenced |
| the projects in Queensbridge and quite possibly, which | | | | to life in prison, he was released after serving twelve |
| could be his reason for choosing such a name. | | | | years. The original Rick Ross is now suing the rapper |
| Noreaga, a platinum solo rapper as well as half of rap | | | | for his identity. |
| group Capone-n-Noreaga, named himself after the | | | | In addition, John Gotti's grandson, Carmine Agnello, has |
| infamous military dictator of Panama, Manuel Antonio | | | | also expressed his dissatisfaction towards the rapper |
| Noriega Moreno, who was detained as a prisoner of | | | | for using his grandfather's nickname, Teflon Don. In the |
| war and tried on counts such as money laundering and | | | | New York Daily News, Agnello has stated, "I think he's |
| drug trafficking. He is currently serving a seven-year | | | | a great artist, but you can't start calling yourself that to |
| sentence in Paris. | | | | sell records. He wants to go for that whole image, but |
| Even historic figures are included. King Tut, known as | | | | hey, be yourself". Gotti's grandson also added, "Only in |
| the Pharaoh of Egypt, was worshipped as a god. Two | | | | America can you go from being a corrections officer |
| men in the hip hop industry have renamed themselves | | | | to calling yourself Teflon Don". |
| after this king. | | | | It appears that some rappers have such an admiration |
| This first is Walter Johnson, who is more popular for | | | | towards these figures, they forget that the youth looks |
| being involved in Tupac Shakur's shooting in 1994 | | | | up to them and wants to emulate what they do. It also |
| rather than the music business. Johnson was killed in | | | | seems as they neglect to portray the other side of this |
| January of 1997. The second is more well-known as a | | | | life, the side where many of them spend a great deal |
| music figure. Darnell Brittingham, a rapper among | | | | of their lives in jail or wind up dead. A lot of them don't |
| Camron's group Dipset, also renamed himself as King | | | | hear what the original gangsters they named |
| Tut. Recently, he made news for allegedly stabbing a | | | | themselves after are now saying. |
| female and then shooting himself just forty eight hours | | | | The original Rick Ross alongside Frank Lucas, whose |
| after being released from prison. | | | | life was portrayed in the movie American Gangster, |
| Real or fake, rappers seem to name themselves after | | | | has been encouraging the youth to stay away from |
| the most notorious characters. One of the arguably | | | | the hustlers. Ross has been quoted saying, "You have |
| best rappers, Notorious B.I.G., referred to himself as the | | | | to think long term and know what's going to benefit |
| black Frank White, who was a drug lord in the movie, | | | | you in the long run". |
| King of New York | | | | Lucas, who is now confined to a wheelchair, told a |
| Scarface, solo rapper, member of rap group Geto | | | | New York Magazine interviewer, "I have remorse". He |
| Boys, and former president of Def Jam South, named | | | | currently tells kids to go and get their education and |
| himself after the ultimate gangster movie, Scarface. It | | | | "stop listening to the guy on the corner with the gold |
| is a remake of the 1932 movie portrayal of gangster, | | | | chain and big Cadillacs". |
| Al Capone. | | | | Wu-Tang rapper and leader, Rza, played a detective in |
| Al Pacino who plays the main character, Tony | | | | the movie American Gangster. He wants those that |
| Montana, gives a riveting performance about the | | | | glorify these characters to remember what happened |
| ultimate come-up and his character is revered as a | | | | in the end. As stated in L.A. Focus, "Even though Frank |
| symbolic figure on how to rise from nothing. It is no | | | | Lucas only did fifteen years jail time, if you meet him |
| wonder that a lot of rappers who came from poverty | | | | on the streets now he's basically crippled. Life will get |
| make constant references to Montana. Lines from the | | | | back at you." |
| Scarface are constantly repeated in hip hop songs | | | | Rapper 50 Cent, who named himself "after a stick-up |
| from artists as Lil' Wayne and G-Unit. Fat Joe has | | | | kid from Brooklyn who used to rob rappers", made an |
| gone so far as to get a tattoo of Al Pacino as Tony | | | | insightful statement on this topic in the book, From |
| Montana. | | | | Pieces to Weight. "If I was going to take a gangster's |
| It seems as though many rappers name themselves | | | | name, then I want it at least to be that of someone |
| after leaders of crime families, especially the most | | | | who would say "What's up" to me on the street if we |
| recognized name of all, John Gotti. | | | | ever crossed paths. I couldn't see Gotti or Escobar |
| Irv Gotti, whose real name is Irving Lorenzo, used this | | | | giving me the time of day. |
| stage last name in honor of John Gotti. Although Irv is | | | | |