Whether you're looking for a rap name for yourself, a song title, or a new rap group, creating a good name is essential for your rap career to thrive. While there is no “wrong” name, you should think of a name that fits you and your career. There are literally millions of potential names out there, but maybe only one is right for you.
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Method 1 of 2: Naming Yourself
Step 1. Make it a short name
Your name should be easy to remember and pronounce in a song or during an interview. Long names are harder to remember, so choose one with one or two syllables. In fact, rappers with long names usually have a shortened version of their name (Notorious B. I. G → "Biggie," Lupe Fiasco → "Lupe," etc.)
Other examples: Nas, Snoop Dogg, Big Boi, Common
Step 2. Find a name that is easy to remember and has a melody
Names that make your tongue roll when you say them are easier to remember. Think about some famous rappers, from Rakim to Del the Funkee Homosapien, and notice how those names sound when spoken aloud. These names are memorable, melodic, and rhyming names.
The easiest way to do this is to match sounds, like Emin em and Kid D Cu di.
Step 3. Edit your real name
Many rappers use popular names that are variations of their real names or initials. Some rappers, such as Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West, have even gone straight for their own names.
- Eminem is also a variation of the initials of Marshall Mathers (M&M).
- Lupe Fiasco's name was made from his real first name, Wasalu.
- Lil' Wayne was born D Wayne Charter.
Step 4. Think of a nickname from your experience
Often, the most effective rap names come from real life. A good rap name is not only catchy but personal. This name sums up your style in a word or two, so a nickname is a great choice for inspiration.
- Snoop Dogg's mother called him “Snoopy” as a child.
- Waka Flocka Flame was given the nickname "Waka" by his cousin while watching Fozzy Bear from "The Muppets".
- The "rap" singer, The Game, was given the name "Game" as a child because he loved sports.
Step 5. Pay homage to your idol
Hip-hop is a genre that takes old trends and brings them back to life in the present, so it's no surprise that
- Jay-Z, known as "Jazzy" as a child, changed his name to Jay-Z in honor of his hero, a producer named Jay-O.
- 50 Cent chose his name by referring to the name of his friend, namely Kelvin "50 Cent" Darnell Martin.
Step 6. Look for inspiration from your everyday life
Sometimes, the best names emerge from simple things, or from your everyday identity. Think about your passions, goals, and rapping style and use those as inspiration.
- Ghostface Killah got his name from the name of his favorite kung-fu villain.
- 2 Chainz chose his name because in his 8th grade yearly photo, he was wearing two chains, and the name was attached to it.
- French Montana, originally from the former French colony of Morocco, moved to America and got his last name from the fictional drug dealer, Tony Montana, from the film Scarface.
Step 7. Use acronyms to include hidden meanings in your name
Acronyms have a long history in hip-hop, from Common's classic "I Used to Love H. E. R." to Kendrick's masterpiece, "Good Kid, M. A. A. D. City." If you're using an acronym, choose something easy to pronounce and think carefully about the meaning of each letter.
- Big K. R. I. T. stands for "King Remembered in Time".
- A$AP Rocky, and the rest of the A$AP crew said that the name stands for "Always Strive and Prosper".
Step 8. Create a symbolic name
A name with deep meaning shows that the singer's rap songs have deep meaning as well. For example, Kendrick Lamar said he chose to use his own real name because he raps about real things. His name is a symbol of his singing style.
- Rapsody is a pun on the words “rap” and “rhapsody” (rapsody) which means “epic poetry”.
- Wiz Khalifa got this name from his Arab uncle and his name means “knowledge”, and an Arabic word, “khalifa” which means successor.
- Raekwon the Chef chose his name because he views the writing process as cooking by mixing metaphors like food ingredients.
Step 9. Add “rap handle” to your name
There are many additions to the rapper's name that many rappers have used over the years as nicknames. Some additions to add to your rap name are:
- MC
- Lil'
- Big
- DJ
Step 10. Remember that the same rules apply to rap groups
Rap groups like N. W. A, Black Hippy, or Mobb Deep still have to come up with a unique, short, and symbolic name.
- The Wu-Tang Clan got its name from the group members' fondness for kung-fu movies.
- The Roots uses books and TV series as a reference by exploring the history of slavery in America that matches the songs and messages in their songs that voice social awareness.
- The name The Pro Era emerged from the popular clothing brand and the idea these rappers wanted to showcase in a new era of professionalism.
Method 2 of 2: Naming Rap Songs and Albums
Step 1. Think of the message you want to convey through the song
The title of the song is the first thing listeners will see, so the title of the song must be able to convey the content contained in the song itself. For example, read the track list on Public Enemy's acclaimed album, Fear of a Black Planet, and you'll know right away that the song is a protest against society that supports racism and the government ("911 is a Joke," "Power to the People").
- "Rising Down," by The Roots also conveys a theme song like poverty well, while they contrast that theme in their next song, "Rising Up."
- Nas' "Memory Lane (Sittin' in the Park)," tells the story of a little boy's life growing up in Brooklyn.
- "Bring Da Ruckus" from the Wu Tang Clan tells the story of getting ready for a party, and introduces the hoarse-voiced group to the world.
Step 2. Name the song from the "hook" section
The hook is the part of a song that is repeated frequently, either in the chorus or in the background. Most song titles come from hooks or shortened versions of those hooks, such as Outkast's "Ms. Jackson," Kanye West's "All Falls Down," or Joey Bada$$'s "World Domination".
If your song has multiple hooks, choose one that truly represents the song, such as Kendrick Lamar's "The Blacker the Berry," a song about racial relations in America
Step 3. Add guest rappers and producers at the end of the title track
This is a form of respect. You should cite all the rappers who are singing along to your song, such as "Slow Jamz (ft. Jamie Foxx & Twista)" (that is, the song "Slow Jamz" with Jamie Foxx and Twista). Even though the actual title of the song is “Slow Jamz,” you'll need to include the name of the artist who took part in the song so listeners can see who raps the song.
Step 4. Name your album from the overall mood of the song
The title of the album is what unites the theme of the CD. The title can be simple, like Lil' Wayne's The Carter, or complex, like Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. However, the album title summarizes all the songs in the album and gives direction to your album.
- The album title may refer to the rapper's style, such as 50 Cent's album title Get Rich or Die Trying.
- Most rappers have follow-up albums, such as Kanye West's album series College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation, these titles implying that the albums are related.
- Some albums directly use the title of one of the songs on the album. It's usually the most popular song on the radio or the album's “thesis,” such as Common's Be.
Tips
Complete the lyrics before naming a song, or create a title before writing the lyrics to help give the song a theme
Warning
- There's nothing more damaging to your career than stealing your name.
- The name you choose will instantly become a name that people will recognize you, and will be difficult to change in the future.
