Here’s How These Rappers Got Their Names

1. Jay-Z / Shawn Corey Carter

Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images

When Jay-Z was a kid, men in his neighborhood used to refer to him as “jazzy.” He thought the term was accurate, but a little outdated, so he kept the J and the Z and ditched the rest. The new name was also a nod to his mentor Jaz-o and the two subway lines, the J and the Z, that serviced his neighborhood.

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