Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an honor coveted by many a celebrity but one that few ever get to enjoy. And for rappers, the chances of getting a star on the Walk are even slimmer. To date, only 16 people in the hip-hop space have been blessed with a star.
Some of the biggest rhymers in the game have been enshrined on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, Ludacris, and even the late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur.
First conceived in 1953 and constructed in 1960 on both Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, the Walk of Fame is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable public attractions. When it first started, the Walk’s inductees were only motion picture stars, but the selection committee opened up its honoree requirements to include singers, athletes and television acts over the years. You don’t even have to be a human to score a star on the walk. TV’s lovable rescue dog, Lassie, for example, has a star on the Walk.
Queen Latifah was the first rapper to be awarded a star on the Walk in January of 2006 for her contributions to not only music but television and cinema as well. Let’s not forget the New Jersey native and Flavor Unit frontwoman has been honored with an Academy Award and received an Emmy.
All these major names rooted in rap music being honored in such a way proves that after more than 50 years since its inception, hip-hop will leave its mark everywhere. Here’s a look at each person in hip-hop who has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.