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While club anthems and swag music continue to dominate the airwaves, lyrics remain the foundation to any one picking up the microphone. Even with the acclaim that comes from spitting a strong verse, there are some rappers that have chosen to have others do the writing for them.

The disclosure of writing for others had always stayed taboo, but over the years details of who really created the magic behind some of Rap’s biggest hits have started to become public knowledge.

Specifically they are called ghostwriters and for the right price they can even make your sh-t tighter. Sure there are those rhyme impaired moguls and producers who need the extra help with their bars, but on the low some of your favorite spitters have been assisted by pen for hires. Ghostwriting used to mean that said person caught a big check in exchange for never mentioning their assistance.

However, keeping such secrets in Hip-Hop has proven to be a fool’s errand. So we present to you 11 rappers who have surprisingly (and allegedly) used ghostwriters in the following pages. The key word here is “surprisingly” (i.e. we all know Foxy Brown and Lil Kim got aid from Jay Z and the Notorious B.I.G., respectively), so let us know who on this list shocked you the most in the comments section.

Photos: BET, Ā Tommy Boy Records, Complex, Sony Music, MTV, The Source, Roc-A-Fella Records

Big Boi

Cee-Lo of The Goodie Mob, once claimed during an interview forĀ XXL Magazine that Andre 3000 used to write some raps for Big Boi. Since then Daddy Fat Sacks has denied such claims, though.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard

Fellow Wu Tang Clan member Method Man admitted in an interview with ComplexĀ that ODB used a lot of GZA and RZA’s old rhymes on his debut albumĀ Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version.

Ghostface Killah

In that same interview, Method Man admitted that he penned the Ā first verse from Ghost’s hit “Cherchez La Ghost”.

MC Lyte

Miami rapper Smitty, of “Diamonds On My Neck” fame, got his ghostwriting start by penning raps for MC Lyte.

Ma$e

After performing the classic song “Ghost Writer” uncensored, Skillz let it out he wrote some tunes for Ma$e.

Kanye West

Rhymefest has admitted to writing certain parts of Yeezy’s “Jesus Walks” (the first verse) and Consequence allegedly helped West with every one of his albums up untilĀ 808s & Heartbreak.

Big L

In a shocking disclosure, Ma$e explained to DJ Whoo Kid on Shade45 that he wrote some stuff for the late great Big L in the very early stages of both of their careers.

Memphis Bleek

As everyone knows Jay-Z wrote Bleek’s verse for the classic “Coming Of Age,” but Hov also wrote “All Types Of sh-t” for the Memph Man.

Queen Latifah

When Flavor Unit MC and Naughty By Nature associate Apache passed away, it was noted by Vinnie that that “Gangster Bi—” MC penned a couple of songs for Queen Latifah.

Snoop Dogg

In an 2008 interview withĀ XXL Magazine, the Boss Dogg gave proper credit toĀ Shawty Red who wrote the hit “Sensual Seduction.” Most recently West Coast rapper Problem shared with DJ Vlad that he has ghostwritten numerous songs for Snoop which ended up on hisĀ Ego Trippin’,Ā Menace n Wonderland andĀ Doggumentary albums.

Kurupt

In that same DJ Vlad interview, Problem let the cat out of the bag he also wrote some stuff for acclaimed rapper and Dogg Pound veteran Kurupt.