Rap music is a genre that has proven to be timeless and one of the most popular in the history of American culture. It's been around for decades, but it seems like rap never gets old. There are so many artists making new music all the time, which makes this genre exciting and fresh.
Why Do Rappers Love To Carry Weapons?
The relationship between rappers and guns is a complicated one. The majority of rappers are from disadvantaged backgrounds, and guns offer protection in what is typically an impoverished environment where gang violence runs rampant.
When you're surrounded by poverty-stricken neighborhoods riddled with drugs and gangs, shooting someone might be the only way to protect yourself or your loved ones. As stated at kmarmsusa.com, getting a gun to protect your family is the most important thing to do. With the proper paperwork, of course. Some of the popular rap icons with signature guns include;
1. Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur's trademark weapon was a Colt 45. He used this gun during his 1994 shooting and robbed the victims of their jewelry while holding them at gunpoint. In November 2006, Tupac's shooter revealed that he shot Tupac in self-defense after being attacked first by him.
2. Dr. Dre
The name Dr. Dre has been synonymous with rap music for decades. As an artist and producer, Dr. Dre has helped engineer a sound that is often imitated but never duplicated.
But what you may not know about him are his contributions as a gun-rights activist. Dr. Dre is one of the founders behind Beats By Dr. Dre headphones which carries endorsements from several firearms companies like Colt Firearms Group and Beretta Rifles Incorporated (a subsidiary company owned by Beretta Holding S.pA.).
Quite fittingly, since it's estimated that up to 75% percent of rap songs today contain references to guns, Dr. Dre is one of the top six rap icons with an arsenal of weapons that's as impressive as his career in music.
3. Eminem
Eminem has been considered one of the best rappers in history, and his lyrics have made him an icon for many. As well as being a rapper, he is also an actor, producer, and songwriter.
His album The Marshall Mathers LP was certified diamond by the RIAA and sold over ten million copies worldwide, making it not only Eminem's most commercially successful album to date and one of the world's all-time best-selling albums.
He has won 15 Grammy Awards thus far, which proves that Em first started on the right foot when entering into music at just 18 years old!
Eminem's signature gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 76 that he has had since he was 18 years old.
4. 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson)
50 Cent has been in the music industry for over 20 years. He has sold more than 30 million albums and signed to Interscope Records in 2002 after a successful release of his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin” (2003), which has been certified diamond by the RIAA.
50 Cent never used a traditional firearm in any hit records – he is often seen with an AK-47, Uzi, M16 Assault Rifle, and Tommy Gun modeled off their real-life counterparts, but only 50 uses model guns – not actual firearms.
His signature gun is the Glock 17, which is often seen in his music videos. The Glock was introduced to him by then-girlfriend and fashion designer Daphne Joy.
5. Snoop Dog
Snoop Dogg's name is a name that has come to be synonymous with hip hop and rap culture. His early life consisted of being mixed up in some gang violence, which resulted in his arrest at 19 years old.
His rap career began in 1992, and he has been releasing records ever since.
Snoop Dogg is one of the most well-known rappers on this list for his signature mix of rap, hip hop, reggae, funk, and soul. His signature gun is the Colt 45, a semi-automatic handgun, which he uses in many of his songs and music videos.
6. Ice Cube
Until recently, Ice Cube was known as one of the founding fathers of gangsta rap.
Born O'SheaO'Shea Jackson on June 15th, 1969, in Compton, California, Ice Cube attended Digital Media Arts College for three semesters before dropping out after receiving poor grades. He then enrolled at the University of Nevada Las Vegas but only lasted two terms due to financial reasons.
Ice Cube's signature gun is a Colt Python .357 Magnum.
Cube is an avid gun collector and has owned many guns over the years, including various revolvers such as Smith & Wesson Model 66 (a handgun that he's been seen frequently carrying) and Ruger Redhawk; shotguns such as Browning Auto-Five 12 Gauge Double Barrel Shotgun with Pistol Grip which is often displayed on his Instagram account; or even semi-automatic weapons like Heckler & Koch P2000sk.
He also owns several high-end automatic firearms, particularly FN Five-Seven – shown in this picture taken by Tom Medwell at Ice Cube'sCube's 38th birthday party.
We hope you enjoyed learning about some of the most famous rappers and their signature weapons. Rap music is a genre that never gets old because there are always new artists coming out with songs all the time.
