Out of all the various groups of celebrity, it’s the rappers who win the award for buying the most bling, expensive and over-the-top vehicles. I guess when you have an endless pit of cash and a ‘cool’ reputation to maintain, it’s hard to restrain for going for the most outrageous cars on the market.
Listed below are several shining examples of what happens when rappers buy rides.
50 Cent
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s first car came in 1994, where at the age of 19, he slapped down $53,000 in cash made from peddling drugs on the streets of New York for his grey Toyota Land Cruiser. To this he then added a rooftop bike rack, a new set of rims and a sound system with a massive sub bass that apparently boomed so loud it shook the license plate. He has since owned many Italian sports cars such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris – including an F50 – and a Rolls Royce, but I thought this Maserati MC-12 is easily the coolest of the bunch.
The Game
The Game is the real deal having risen from the notorious streets of Compton. After his brother, Jevon, was shot dead at the age of 17, he murder had a massive impact on his music. In fact, he almost died himself in 2001 after being shot at home in his own apartment. It was during this period in hospital, The Game decided to take life by the reins and turn everything around with his music.
Like most rappers, The Game owns more than a handful of cars, such as a Bugatti Veyron, a Bentley GT, a Rolls Royce Phantom Ghost, a Porsche Panamera, a Fisker Karma, a Custom Pontiac G8 and a Chevy Camero SS. Just check out the mock leather paint job on this Ferrari – yay or nay? Hmmm…
Jay-Z
There’s not a lot this guy hasn’t achieved in the music industry. The former Def Jam records CEO has sold over 500M albums worldwide, which equates to around $500M net worth. Now a highly successful businessman with fingers in all kinds of pies, Jay-Z knows what he wants, and this reflects in his cars.
Not happy with having perhaps the most beautiful wife in the world in the form of Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z has a fleet of stunning cars too. From his Porsche 911 Carrera to his Ferrari F430 Spider, from his Rolls Royce Phantom to his Jeep Wrangler, Jay-Z’s cars are pretty understated compared to some. The other cars worth mentions are his Bugatti Veyron and his $8M Maybach Exelero… wow.
Wyclef Jean
Apart from his solo stuff, Wyclef Jean is known for his band, the Fugees. Their debut album, Blunted on Reality was released in 1993 and their second, The Score in 1996. It was the second album that catapulted them to stardom, and Wyclef has been buying cars ever since.
This guy loves his cars, and judging by his collection, he knows a thing or two. He owns a McLaren F1, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Bentley Arnage, a cool Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, the lunatic Pagani Zonda, and a more pragmatic Mercedes-Benz G-Class – a car for every occasion.
Eminem
Slim Shady AKA Marshall Bruce Mathers III AKA Eminem is one of the best-selling artists in the world and also the best selling artist of the last decade.
Following the usual rap story of receiving a bad upbringing, Marshal grew up focused on rapping. In 1999 he won three Grammy awards for his major-label debut albums and made him first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs.
Eminem made $29M in 2002 with The Eminem Show LP, and as the CEO of Shady Records he has all the luxury and comfort in the world. Which is why it’s strange he doesn’t own a fleet of exotic cars.
Having once owned a Hummer, this rap star is happy with his black Cadillac Escalade. He has the 6.2-L V8 version that delivers a great sound track.
Snoop Dogg
Known as one of the finest rappers on planet, Snoop Dogg was born in 1971, in California, where he grew up spending a lot of time in prison for possession. After his first album Doggystyle, he gained a solid reputation for being a versatile rapper.
Using his laid-back rapping style, he released his second album “Tha Doggfather” in 1996 and cemented his status one of the most iconic rappers of 1990’s.
Snoop Dogg likes a mix of styles, from his modern Dodge Challenger to his 1967 Cadillac Deville. He also owns a 1967 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible.
Kanye West
Kanye West is one of the few who gained popularity after just a few years of his debut album. After he left college to pursue his musical career, he producing tracks for Jay-Z and released his first album The College Dropout in 2002. This not only won him the Best Rap Album award but he also became an overnight star.
Apart from being a rapper, West is also produces for Roc-A-Fella Records, which indecently belongs to Jay-Z. With a net worth of $80M he owns some of few most luxurious homes around the globe.
Although he’s now married to Kim Kardashian, West was buying hot cars way before Kim gave him his ‘murdered-out’ Lamborghini Aventador. The one car definitely worth a mention is his amazing McLaren SLR Stirling Moss.
Cars: Lamborghini Aventador, Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, Aston Martin DB9
Dr Dre
This list wouldn’t be complete without ex (N.W.A) “Niggaz with Attitude” rapper Dr Dre. N.W.A brought a revolution in the gangsta rap movement in the late eighties and early nineties. He also helped found Death Row Records, which became one the most triumphant rap record labels in history.
Dr. Dre makes tons of money and lives a typical rapper’s lavish lifestyle. He rubs shoulders with the elite and attends the town’s most exclusive parties.
Like Eminem, Dr Dre prefers sticking to one ride, and in this case it’s his H2 Hummer created by West Coast Customs. Although it’s big, it packs a punch with its Vortec 6.2L V8, producing nearly 400-HP and 415 lbs-ft of torque.
