One of the downsides to being a famous figure is that what is done after becoming an established entity is not just judged by others in the field, but also the entire court of public opinion.  And because Hip-Hop is such a trendsetting part of culture, many people in it are not immune to the aforementioned drawback.

Therefore, here are 10 strange things that rap figures have done after stepping into the spotlight.  In some cases, the light dimmed down because of their activities.  And in others, it just got brighter.

10). Canibus Performs in Silver Body Paint at the 1998 VMAs:  Canibus was once poised to be “the next great emcee” after a legendary battle with LL Cool J.  But a series of missteps prevented that from happening.  Here is one of the biggest ones…

9). M.O.P. and L.F.O. Collaborate on a Song: M.O.P. is one of Hip-Hop’s most beloved underground acts, and so when Billy Danze and Lil’ Fame collaborated with boy-band L.F.O., it was strange to say the least.  Their song, “Life is Good,” fell flat.  And while the positive message can’t be faulted, the execution just sounded painfully contrived.  It’s difficult for people that are “stuck on the streets like car tires” to identify with people who name-check New Kids on the Block.  This song was the perfect example of a failed attempt to do so.

8). Gucci Mane Changes His Name to “Guwop” and then Back to Gucci Mane Almost Right Away: Gucci has had a few instances of strange behavior: the ice cream face tattoo, driving on the wrong side of the road, etc.  One of the most memorable for him though is when he changed his name to “Guwop.”

After an overwhelming backlash for the decision, Guwop was Gucci Mane again that same morning.

7). Kanye West Wears a Skirt at 12-12-12 Concert: At a televised show to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy, Mr. West took the stage wearing a black leather Givenchy skirt atop tight leather pants.  Because the broadcast reached a reported 2 billion people and Kanye’s fashion choice was so unique, it faced even more criticism than some of the commentary he has provided over the years.

6). 50 Cent Pens an Anti-Bullying Book: Considering that 50 Cent introduced himself to the music  industry via “How to Rob” and has seen more beef than a butcher in his career, it was very interesting in 2011 when he wrote a book speaking out against bullying.  And to his credit, he even took it a step further and used the book as an opportunity to evaluate how the problem starts.  “Playground” tells the story from the bully’s perspective and attempts to explore where the cycle of abuse begins. “The actual character, Butterball, he’s dealing with multiple issues,” 50 explained to the press. “He’s dealing with weight issues: He’s overweight, and you know how common childhood obesity is right now.”

5). Big Daddy Kane Poses for Playgirl: Big Daddy Kane projected an image of being a ladies’ man on many occasions, from the cover of his first two albums to his appearance in Madonna’s infamous Sex book with her and Naomi Campbell.  When Kane appeared in Playgirl though, it was particularly strange because homosexual men check for that magazine just as much (if not more so) than heterosexual women.

4). Warren G Endorses Male Enhancement Pill: During April of 2011, Warren G appeared in infomercials for AffirmXL- a penis enlargement pill.  In a statement to this site at the time of them hitting the airwaves, he said, ““I am the original Regulator; I don’t need nothing, but I believe in Affirm XL.”

3). DJ Khaled Proposes to Nicki Minaj: Months before the release of his album, Suffering from Success, in 2013, DJ Khaled asked Nicki Minaj to marry him during a segment on MTV News with a $500,000 ring.  Minaj later dismissed in a radio interview: “Khaled is my brother and Khaled was not serious with that damn proposal, y’all.”  However, Khaled told US Weekly, “I was serious.  She can take her time and think about it.  At least she knows how I feel now.”  Either way, it was very memorable and that’s saying a lot in today’s extravagant and flashy mainstream Hip-Hop landscape.

2). Eazy-E Has Lunch with President George H.W. Bush: In the spring of 1991, The L.A. Times ran a story about how Eazy had been invited to the White House for a luncheon in which the then-sitting
President of the United States of America, George H.W. Bush was going to be in attendance.  The hardcore Hip-Hop pioneer accepted which resulted in right-wing conservatives and people who knew the lyrics to “Boyz-n-the-Hood” by heart being equally confused.  In his memoir, Ruthless, N.W.A’s manager Jerry Heller recalled Eazy’s time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: “Nobody’s been that stoned in the White House since Gerald Ford’s kid Jack smoked dope on the White House roof.”

1). Daylyt Attempts to Take a Dump on Stage:  When he wasn’t getting a positive response from the crowd during a battle, rapper Daylyt decided to literally try and s**t on the competition.  “If I hear two more boos, I’m going to take a boo-boo on stage.”  He did, and so he tried.  But before he could finish, security escorted him out.

What do you think are some of Hip-Hop’s strangest moves?  Please share your thoughts below!