Since the 1950’s the Hollywood Walk of Fame has recognized celebrities who make significant contributions to the entertainment industry. Yet only .005% of the stars are hip hop artists.
On June 7th, the thirteenth star was added. It was to honor none other than Tupac Shakur, 27 years after his death. This is not surprising since the criteria for receiving a star is extremely difficult.
To receive a star, a celebrity or their sponsor must submit an application to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The application requires a biography of the nominee. Also needed are letters of support and a commitment to attend the star’s ceremony if selected. Nominees are then reviewed by the Hollywood Historic Trust. The final selection is made by the Hollywood Chamber’s board of directors.
Today, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a major tourist attraction and an iconic symbol of the entertainment industry. Here are the 13 hip hop artists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Queen Latifah
The “Queen of Rap” was the first hip-hop artist to receive a star. However, her hit songs like “U.N.I.T.Y.” or “Weekend Love” weren’t the main reasons for her recognition. On January 4, 2006, Dana Owens, better known as Queen Latifah, was honored a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was honored for her film appearances in Set It Off (1997) and Bringing Down The House (2003).
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Diddy is one of the most multifaceted hip hop artists. He is involved in Broadway’s A Raisin in the Sun (2004), and multiple television show appearances. He is also the CEO and founder of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment and Sean Combs Enterprises, and of course, hip hop. With hit songs like “I’ll be Missing You” and “Bad Boy for Life” there’s no doubt as to why he was the second hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams is best known for his versatile musical talents in his own work like “Frontin’” and “That Girl”. However, he is most praised for producing major hip hop hits of all genres. From Britney Spears “I’m a Slave 4 U” to Migos “Stir Fry”, Pharrell has proved why he deserved a star.
LL Cool J
His platinum selling song “Hey Lover” was just one of the many reasons beloved hip hop artist LL Cool J received his star in 2016. His career was filled with major acting debuts in NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-2022), Any Given Sunday (1999), In the House (1995-1999), and more.
Pitbull
Pitbull is one of the most internationally recognized artists of all time. He has Number 1 singles in more than 15 countries. He also sold over 100 million singles throughout his career. This Cuban musician received his star in 2016.
Ice Cube
Another multi-talented hip hop artist, Ice Cube’s credentials have a huge range. He created one of the most influential rap groups N.W.A. with a major hit “Straight outta Compton”. He also appeared in timeless movies such as Boyz In The Hood (1991), Friday (1995), The Players Club (1998), and Barbershop (2002).
Snoop Dogg
King of the West Coast, Snoop-D-O-Double G had a notable ceremony when cementing his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was the 25-year anniversary of his hit album “Doggystyle”. This groundbreaking album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 800,000 copies in the first week. In addition to being one of the most influential rappers of all time, Snoop Dog is known for his work in all areas of the entertainment industry. This includes TV show appearances, his own cooking show alongside Martha Stuart, and established Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL). The football league was started to give children the opportunity to participate in youth football and cheer.
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill was the first latin hip-hop group to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The trio: B Real, Sen Dog, DJ Muggs, and Eric “Bobo” Correa broke records for being the first Latin-American rap group to get RIAA certified platinum and multi-platinum albums. Their hit songs like “Insane in the Brain“ and “Superstar” are internationally renowned. Their songs are sampled by some of the hottest artists today like Jay-Z and A$AP Rocky.
50 Cent
Dominating both the music and television industry, it’s no surprise that 50 Cent was awarded a star in 2020. On his hit album“Get Rich or Die Trying” which included songs such as, “In da Club” and “P.I.M.P.”, sold over 12 million copies. He soon transitioned into media with his hit show Power in which he not only co-stars but also serves as executive producer and director.
Missy Elliot
Second and last female hip hop artist Missy Elliot was awarded her star in 2021 for her contributions to the rap, song writing, and fashion industry. This award was just the tip of the iceberg for Missy. She has received four Grammys, been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a handful of VMA awards. Her hit songs like “Work It” and “1,2 Step” are just some of the brilliant creations that Missy Elliot contributed to music history.
DJ Khaled
This Grammy award winning producer, author, and record executive, received his star in 2022 after hit album “God Did” released earlier that same year. He is known for banning together some of the hottest names in the industry. His songs featured Travis Scott, Kanye West, SZA, Eminem, Quavo, City Girls, and more. His hit songs “I’m The One”, “Wild Thoughts”, and “All We Do Is Win” have all received at least triple platinum status making him one of the most famous and successful emcees in the music industry.
Nipsey Hussle
A legend in Crenshaw and around the country, Nipsey Hussle was not just a Grammy award winning rapper. He was also a philanthropist dedicated to helping underprivileged children and communities across the country. Although his star was given posthumously, his contributions to the music industry and the world did not go unnoticed. His album “Victory Lap” was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards in 2019 with hits such as “Victory Lap” and “Grinding all my Life”, it’s no surprise that just that next year he would receive a Grammy for posthumous songs “Racks in the Middle” and “Higher”.
Ice-T
There’s a 50/50 chance you either know Ice-T from his iconic role in the longest-running primetime drama series of all time: Law and Order SVU as Fin, one of the police officers in the show. Or you may know him from hits such as“Cop Killer” (1991) and “New Jack Hustler” (1991). He’s credited for gangster rap in Los Angeles. His music, however, speaks about his life growing up in turmoil in Los Angeles. He also is a voice actor in some of the most famous gaming programs like “Grand Theft Auto” series, “Gears of War 3,” “Scarface: The World Is Yours” and “Borderlands 3.
Tupac Shakur
Last but certainly not least, Tupac Shakur. There’s much debate over whether he could’ve been one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. Unfortunately, he was tragically murdered at 25. Still, the music that he was able to release granted him numerous accomplishments including this star. In such a short amount of time, he imprinted himself as one of the most poetic rappers to this day with hits like “Dear Mama” (1995) and “Keep Ya Head Up” (1993). Current legends like Dr. Dre continue to honor his legacy. Through hologram, Tupac was in Dre’s 2012 Coachella Music and Arts Festival Performance.
