The Crossover: Singers Who Used To Be Rappers [Photos]
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It’s pretty easy for an artist to jump genres if they feel like it. Because of auto-tune rappers like Kanye West, 50 Cent, and French Montana, can easily play both singer and spitter, and personally lace their records with harmonies.
Don’t feel bad for the singers though, they can jump lanes too. Because the barriers between genres aren’t as wide as they used to be it’s more acceptable for an artist to crossover. Every singer in the game didn’t start out on a harmonic note, some dabbled as rappers and worked there way over.
The trend is a not-so-secret fact in the music industry, one that essentially says that where an artist starts doesn’t determine where they end up. Just look at Tyrese, he’s all over the place (no shade).
In the spirit of crossover, and not being put in a box, hit the gallery to see singers who started out on the rap side of things.
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Photo: YouTube
Aloe Blacc
Before he was “The Man,” Aloe Blacc was more into rapping. 50 Cent, and artists like him, changed Blacc’s mind because he “felt there was too much opulence, braggadocio and misogyny in hip-hop” and he wasn’t feeling it.
Al B. Sure
The wavy-haired R&B singer of the late ’80s and early ’90s didn’t just croon over a microphone, Al B. Sure also used to rap.
Erykah Badu
From what Common told us, Ms. Badu is talented on many levels, one being the rap sector. Peep her skills here.
Nico & Vinz
Afro-Norwegian singers Nico & Vinz used to be a rap duo called Envy, until this year. They signed a record deal, switched up their names, and made singing the priority. Their single “Am I Wrong” is currently No. 4 on the Billboard 100.
Estelle
British singer Estelle has a beautiful singing voice. One that we may not be as familiar with had she gone down her original career route of rapping on her first album, The 18th Day.
Trey Songz
Trigga started out rapping in high school before he made the move. He never really left that rap life completely behind though, he spits on most of his albums and mixtapes, and thinks he raps better than most rappers.
**Bonus : T-Pain
T-Pain is probably the best known “rapper turnt singer” –because that’s the nickname he gave himself. Teddy Pinhera**down isn’t vocally strong so he falls somewhere right in that middle category between singer and rapper.
**Honorary Mention: Future
Future is so far ahead of his time that he doesn’t fit into any specific category. He’s a rapper at heart but computerized- crooning took off first, and he’s pretty good at it. Be real.
