By Odeisel

With Halloween around the corner, I think it’s proper time to take a look back at rappers and entertainers who appear to be something other than themselves. It’s a jungle out there and the entertainment industry is a gamble that craps out more often than not. Sometimes I guess people feel the need to adopt a proven formula in order to get that edge.

Familiarity breeds contempt (ask Das Efx who went from darlings to dog shit after everyone else copied their style and played it out), but a hint of it engenders feelings of nostalgia and conjures that loving feeling. Anyway, here’s a look at some entertainers who get their Halloween on everyday

Lady Gaga as…Madonna

While there are certainly many things about her that are cool, the fact of the matter is that Gaga took the right on Frost’s diverging road and took a little too much Madge on the way there. The whole kissing a girl bit, the music itself and the whole I’m different because I’m risqué (even though Grace Jones did it long before) shtick is in full effect. The playing around with religious allegory in videos thing is present, too. But the most glaring incident came at the MTV Awards when Gaga did the whole show in drag. Madonna in her post cool crazy Kaballah person has been edging closer to manhood for a few years now.

Rick Ross as…The Notorious B.I.G.
UGH…check
Dope rhymes featuring fabricated drug war stories…check
Impeccable style and label whoring…double check. And let’s not forget a dancing Diddy by his side.
Not many people remember William Roberts in his initial incarnation as Teflon a decade ago. Fewer still remember his jersey wearing phrase-flipping manifestation alongside Trina. But everybody knows the hu stl ing hu stl ing of his “Bauce” persona. His reinvention has made him a star and even pulled up the careers of his Maybach Mafia, I mean Music crew. It wouldn’t fly if Ross couldn’t actually rhyme, and Marvin & Tammy already told us there ain’t nothing like the real thing, but sometimes there ain’t no Pepsi at the party and you gotta drink that RC cola. Until he drops a 5 mic, the Bauce, as dope as he is, can just think he B.I.G. But he’ll have to settle for Big Meech.

Nicki Minaj as…The Queen B

“Damn that 3 to 9 fucked you up forreal tho” – Biggie, “Long Kiss Goodnight”

Her skid bid was more like a year but Kim was out of the rap spotlight for a grip. In that time, Nicki Minaj, the artist formerly known as the Remi Ma jilted lover, transformed herself gradually into Lil Kim 2.0. No more rapping in dirty staircases holding bundles in cheap purses. Now Minaj was rocking pink wigs, flaunting her curves and even mimicking Kim’s classic Hardcore era pose. I won’t mention battling over the Barbie thing because they’re both too old to aspire to be a plastic woman, but the stylistic similarities are way too gross to be swept away just because Kim’s rap career is finished.

Andre 3000 as… Jimi Hendrix

From cornrows and Braves jerseys to blazers and Punjab from Orphan Annie hats, to running around shirtless with a perm, Andre Benjamin has slowly been moving away from the hood. At first it was cute but as the transformation hit full tilt eyebrows began to be raised. Then came The Love Below and Dre pulling a Lauryn Hill by not rapping on his solo debut. In the ensuing decade he’s rapped less and less, edging closer to space cadet. Some blame it on the Badu, but I just think 3 Stacks is finished with Hip-Hop. That Outkast album is looking like Detox while Andre, still shirtless and hair all Idlewild preps for a role in a biopic about…Jimi Hendrix.

Jeezy The Snowman as… The Bauce?

You can’t be Big Meech that was my homie. That was cool to assert until Uncle Rauce said a rhyme that tucked that ass in, and Meech (and his momma) cosigned Ross like a loan on a Maybach. Ever since then, Jeezy has been leaking juice all over the place. The startling thing, as he picks himself off the mat, is that ALL of his recent music has sounded like Rick Ross from 2010. The Lex Luger beats, the half bar rhyme stanzas and the slow drawl are all in full effect. He even signed Freddie Gibbs on some Meek Mill shit. The Snowman had a good run which deserves its respect. But these Halloween hijinx running around like Rick on make him look bad.

And there you have it. Of course in this cut and paste industry you can find far more than these guys ripping off people’s personas. Add your suggestions in the comments and we’ll come back and drop another list if it warrants. Peace out, don’t take candy from strangers (or pills or drinks) enjoy your Halloween, end if you egg my door, you’re risking your life.

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