These Entertainers Are The Last People We Ever Expected To Rap, But It's Amazing When They Do
Coming off a 1.287 million sales week for her latest studio effort 1989, Taylor Swift uploaded an Instagram video of herself as a token of appreciation to her fans and other humans who decided to purchase the album. (THE. WORLD. IS. SO. GREAT. SOMETIMES.) Taylor expressed her immense gratitude the way that any pop star would – you know, by lip-synching to Kendrick Lamar’s “Backseat Freestyle”. Taylor is so good to us, fam. Expressing herself in the form of hip-hop isn’t new to Tay. Heck, she was even dubbed ‘T-Swizzle’ by T-Pain. While she may be the reigning champ of non-rapping entertainers who have fun rapping sometimes, Taylor isn’t alone. The genre (?) is comprised of so many greats. Surprise! Even Madonna thinks it’s cool.
Debbie Harry raps on “Rapture”
Legendary new wave and punk band Blondie scored a Number 1 hit with “Rapture” in 1980. (Which happened, like, way before you were born.) The famed track featured Debbie Harry spitting verses like any rock diva would – a bit awkwardly but super stylishly. Debbie scored major cred though, when she namechecked hip-hop pioneers Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash.
Aerosmith guests on Run–D.M.C.’s “Walk This Way”
Hip-hop pioneers Run–D.M.C. remade Aerosmith’s rock classic “Walk This Way” – which notably featured Steven Tyler and Joe Perry on vocal and guitars. In the track’s music video, Steven smashed a hole in the wall with a mike stand and screeched a lot. Yaaas.
Brandy becomes Bran’Nu
'90’s pop princess Brandy is known for her crooning on smashes like “The Boy Is Mine” and “Have You Ever?” But n 2009, she decided that that she was super bored with harmonizing and stuff and transformed into Bran’Nu – her short-lived, rapper alter ego.
Mary J. Blige becomes Brook Lynn
Mary J. Blige, the undisputed queen of hip-hop soul, decided to pump the breaks on the ‘soul’ part of her royal title and transformed into her rap diva, alter ego Brook Lynn for a few hot seconds.
Madonna raps as only Madge can
Err, even Madge took a crack at rapping once. On “American Life,” she, uh, rapped about pressing topics like soy lattes, yoga and her 3 nannies.
Taylor Swift raps “Super Bass”
Rewind to 2011, when the shy and cutesy version of Taylor Swift (yes, predating her 1989 fierceness) visited Nashville’s 107.5 The River and requested Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass.” Moments later, she was peer pressured into getting all ‘my, my, my, like, pelican fly’ and blushingly laid down a few quick licks from the track.
Natalie Portman raps for laughs
In 2006, Natalie Portman recorded the SNL Digital Short, “Natalie’s Rap.” In the clip, the normally reserved actress humorously confessed that she likes to drink, fight and bone all night. Don’t push her, because she may threaten to kill your dog for fun. No, but – really. She said that.
Nicole Richie and Kris Jenner “Shoop”
In a Keek video uploaded by Kim Kardashian – pal Nicole Richie and mom Kris Jenner took on Salt-n-Pepa’s 1993 hit “Shoop.” And by ‘took on,’ we mean badly butchered. But, hey. YOLO. Right, folks?
Chris Pratt nails “Forgot About Dre”
Chris Pratt—everyone’s favorite yoyo dieter—stopped by DJ Whoo Kid’s radio show on Shade 45 and professed his admiration for Dr. Dre – and claimed that he knew every word to the 2001 album. Later when he was asked to pony up, greatness happened – because Chris clearly didn’t forget about Dre. (Boom! Pun.)
Ariana Grande takes on Nicki Minaj’s “Bang Bang” verse
The big voiced and frequently ponytailed diva Ariana Grande took on Nicki Minaj’s verse while performing their hit “Bang Bang” during the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards. What can’t Ariana do – amirite, Arianators?
Nicole Richie becomes Nikki Fre$h
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At VH1's own You Oughta Know Live In Concert, Nicole Richie—along with her hype man, Naughty By Nature‘s Treach—performed as her rap star alter-ego, Nikki Fre$h. Performance note, Nikki rode a tricycle.