By Dee Lockett & Caitlin White
In the realm of the rap, much is left to chance. Some believe they are fated to become powerful, iconic entities, while others seem to stumble into the fame almost by accident. Then, there are those who seem to be on the path to success and have on moment that mars their career—some things just can't be taken back.
Have you wondered what your favorite rapper's star sign is? How their horoscope might effect their overall personality and life? Here's a collection of some of P&P's favorite rhymers along with some handy information about their star signs. And the results are fascinating—consulting charts and stars may not be as useless or meaningless as some people think.
1.Earl Sweatshirt
Star Sign: Pisces (2/24/1994)
Defining characteristic: Dreamy, imaginative and magnetic—an enigma unto yourself
In the research for this article we came across this scientific study, which almost unequivocally proves that a team of spirited Pisces will be assuming musical domination soon. With Earl's album swiftly approaching, most of his chart probably just counsels against not becoming too prideful in the face of success. Here's hoping he doesn't crash and burn and manages to maintain his dreamy enigma status.
2.El-P
Star Sign: Pisces (3/2/1975)
Defining characteristic: You'll find the beauty where others see only ugliness, giving you a cutting-edge lens on the world. You are a true artist, with a special talent for dance, music, poetry and photography.
A broken link on now mostly defunct Definitive Jux site suggests that the lofty producer and hip-hop figurehead El-P once deigned to dole out his own horoscope advice to the masses, but also no other traces of said advice could be salvaged in the annals of the web. It kind of makes sense that the link would be broken though, that the true artist intentions in El-P's star sign would lead him to erase these traces. It's also this Pisces instinct that probably helped spur the decision to release Run the Jewels for free.
3.Kendrick Lamar
Star Sign: Gemini (6/17/1987)
Defining characteristic: The driving force behind a Gemini's conversation is their mind. The Gemini-born are intellectually inclined, forever probing people and places in search of information
Kendrick is truly a rapper of the aughts era, he has a song about his star sign. The Top Dawg Entertainment rapper is a Gemini, and true to the moody sign that's represented by Twins, K.Dot raps about how he can flip personalities, emotions and overall demeanor in a split second. Hopefully he stays chill even with Mac Miller's slightly shade-infested assessment that ScHoolboy's debut album Oxymoron will be TDE's best release ever.
4.Kanye West
Star Sign: Gemini (6/8/1977)
Defining characteristic: For the best description of what a Gemini's traits are in reference to Kanye, let's refer to this handy definition from Urban Dictionary: "Gemini is a sign that runs from May 21st to June 20th. Geminis are Creative, artistic, Nice, Intellectual, Individualistic, Outgoing and Compassionate. On the other hand they can also be inconsistent, nervous, nosy and lazy at times.
Gemini's Likes include:
- Talking
- Writing
- Adventure
- Variety in life
Their Dislikes include:
- Boring things
- Labor (such as school)
- Repitition; being in a rut
- Conformity
- Strict People"
That bullet "labor (such as school)" is too good—did someone at Urban Dictionary write this in response to College Dropout? Is anyone surprised that Kanye's star sign is the dual natured Gemini? The Chicago rapper and producer is well-known for oscillating between joyous, celebratory party songs and intensely personal and political anthems, but his public life has also been a revelation of his quickly changing moods. The other place that astrology could play a factor in Ye's life? His high-profile relationship with Kim Kardashian—his girlfriend-recently-turned-baby-mama. Jezebel launched an in-depth investigation back when the pair first started dating—read their investigation to find out whether or not the stars will align for this power couple.
"'Cause I'm a Gemini with two sides and two rides/Y'all talkin' business, I'm peepin' her thighs"
5.Jay Z
Star Sign: Sagittarius (12/4/1969)
Defining characteristic: Creative people who have problems with controlling their egos. Pleasure-loving and benevolent, not diplomatic, very honest and outspoken
Jay Z is the only rapper on this list that's a Sagittarius, which kind of lines up with his positioning as The Best Rapper Alive etc.—although the hullabaloo over whether or not Magna Carta Holy Grail is a good album or not suggests that this title isn't going to be his for much longer. But as always, the more interesting thing about star signs for most people is how they apply to relationships, and his romance with superstar wife Beyonce has been examined at length on this front. There's also some pretty interesting reflections on the "sham" of astrology" and how readers should research astronomy instead. At this point in his career—and his marriage—Jay doesn't really need to check his horoscope, he probably just pays someone to write a positive one for him for each new day.
6.A$AP Rocky
Star Sign: Libra (10/3/1988)
Defining characteristic: Social, balanced, graceful, communicative and concerned with relationships refined.
From custom Raf Simons to his high profile friendship with Alexander Wang, A$AP's refined designer taste makes his closet one of the most enviable in the business. The self-proclaimed "Fashion Killa" even claims to have inspired Kanye's waxed denim obsession. Like a true Libra, A$AP's style—music and fashion—is all about balance. He mixes Southern beats with a New York flow and (sometimes) preaches LGBTQ acceptance to a homophobic industry.
7.Lil Wayne
Star Sign: Libra (9/27/1982)
Defining characteristic: Emotionally complex, passionate, friendly, happy.
Pulled from his extensive discography, here are just a few things Weezy's weighing on his personal Libra scale: sins, forgiveness, and his role (presumably in hip-hop). According to TLC, Libras are known for being charming, romantic lovers who tend to head straight to the alter after falling in love and marry young—and Wayne's no exception. He married ex-wife Toya Wright when he was 21 and has since reportedly gotten engaged to pretty much all of his baby mamas, girlfriends, and side chicks from Lauren London to current boo Dhea Sodano. Need more proof of Wayne's romantic side? Look no further than this:
8.Drake
Star Sign: Scorpio (10/24/1986)
Defining characteristic: Secretive, passionate, resolute, moody.
Jay Z recently called Drake the Kobe Bryant of hip-hop—a fitting comparison as Drake told GQ in June he wants to earn $250 million by 29, a mere $30 million more than Kobe's reported current net worth. Like most Scorpios, Drake's goal to acquire that "I'm a business, man" kind of wealth demonstrates a desire for unparalleled success. But in that same interview, Drake revealed something that's particularly un-Scorpio-like: he no longer cares about sex. Apparently Drizzy has abandoned strip clubs for time in the studio working on Nothing Was the Same, it looks like the next time we see Drake with a girl on his arm she might just be his wife.
9.ScHoolboy Q
Star Sign: Scorpio (10/26/1986)
Defining characteristic: Loyal, dynamic, ambitious.
Born just two days after Drake, Schoolboy Q's birthday defines him as a family man, a trait fans have seen countless times through glimpses of his four-year-old daughter in videos, interviews, and even his upcoming album Oxymoron—she reportedly even has a feature on the record. And it's this album that could potentially reflect his ambitious Scorpio nature—a big co-sign came from Mac Miller who recently dubbed Oxymoron "the best album to come out on TDE ever." Let's hope moody Gemini Kendrick doesn't start beef with Mac.
10.Pusha T
Star Sign: Taurus (5/14/1977)
Defining characteristic: Proud, stubborn, loyal, security conscious.
That last characteristic might explain Pusha T's nefarious drug dealer persona. Taurus' are notoriously resourceful and whether Pusha's actually pushed a ton of anything is questionable, he's sure to find any means necessary to achieve success. As a loyal confidant, it's no surprise that out of all G.O.O.D. Music affiliates, it's Pusha who Kanye has kept closest throughout the years, rewarding him the most verses on Cruel Summer and even sampling "Blocka" on Yeezus' "Guilt Trip." But we see that stubborn streak seep through from time to time, most recently with Pusha delaying My Name Is My Name another month insisting it's a classic that needs its own moment to shine outside of this summer's crowded hip-hop releases.
11.Killer Mike
Star Sign: Taurus (4/20/1975)
Defining characteristic: Loyal, dependable, secure, decisive.
It's no coincidence Killer Mike and El-P decided to link up for Run the Jewels, but rather cosmic fate. Pisces and Taurus possess a harmonious compatibility that when reflected in two top notch rappers like Killer Mike and El-P produces one hell of a rap collaboration. That same loyalty that's allowed fellow Taurus Pusha T to thrive in the industry has also led to Killer Mike's work with some of rap's greatest including Outkast, Jay Z, and T.I.
12.J. Cole
Star Sign: Aquarius (1/28/1985)
Defining characteristic: "Aquarians know to keep themselves motivated as they can get very lazy. Other traits of Aquarians are, they are artistic, poetic and are also prone to philosophical thoughts."—starnotstar.com
Also prone to letting their idols down (read: Nas) due to said unavoidable laziness. But the philosophical thoughts help explain why J.Cole came to the realization that his autism lyric was slightly offensive. The artistic and poetic traits are a no-brainer when it comes to describing J.Cole, who, despite his haters, has accumulated a solid fanbase and overall respect from his peers. The description for the Aquarius sign constistently mentions a need for alone time and space from others, to help foster the imagination. Perhaps J.Cole's horoscope would counsel relaxation, and he'll go take a spa day with Big Sean.
13.Tyler, the Creator
Star Sign: Pisces (3/6/1991)
Defining characteristic: Imaginative and sensitive, extremely intuitive rely on a sixth sense
Weirdly enough, there's actually a whole page on an astrology website dedicated to the horoscope of Tyler. Then again, it's not that weird considering the power of of the Odd Future fan base. And though many are quick to judge the rapper for offensive lyrics or off-color remarks, there's clearly a thoughtful person, even behind his nastiest lines. Pisces rely on their intuition, which seems to be a trait that Tyler has in spades—even if his instincts sometimes lead him astray. Regardless of small hiccups like getting his Mountain Dew commercial pulled, the natural leader of OFWGKTA has led the LA rap collective to internet fame and IRL appeal. The otherworldliness of the Pisces sign guarantees that despite his intuition Tyler will be out of touch with some of the practical aspects of reality—his chart might suggest centering himself keeping one foot in the real world.
14.Chance the Rapper
Star Sign: Aries (4/16/1993)
Defining characteristic: Open to new experience, courageous and confident. Ambition propels the Aries through life at a dizzying pace.
Aries are embodied by the ram, and like that aggressive animal, they tend to dive into things with headstrong momentum and without much planning. Extremely emotional, quick to trust and quick to get hurt, Chance's explosively popular mixtape Acid Rap reflects plenty of the fire and verve of an Aries. This sign tends to be impulsive and often rushes into things only to burn themselves out—but with the proper support an Aries can reach tremendous levels of success. Let's hope Chance is consulting his chart to make sure he's on the right track for the next step in his career: hopefully a record deal and a team of people to handle the logistics. Just let this boy cook up some more raps.
15.Curren$y
Star Sign: Aries (4/4/1981)
Defining characteristic: Courage, Strong sense of purpose, Leadership.
The only Aries on our list aside from Chance the Rapper, Curren$y displays some of the most typical traits of this hot-headed sign—he's emotional and wears his heart on his sleeve. He loyally stayed with Young Money for way longer than he should have, and started a million projects at once including his own clothing line—none of which really ever took off. Still, Curren$y is driven by his prolific nature and has released 14 albums all together counting collaborative projects. His chart might give him a better grasp and when, and with who, to collaborate successfully.
16.Gunplay
Star Sign: Cancer (7/18/1979)
Defining characteristic: Deeply intuitive and sentimental
Gunplay is the only Cancer on this list—it's a rare sign in rap. But once again, that shouldn't be too shocking given how unique Richard Morales Jr.—the man behind Gunplay—seems to be. Cancers are emotional and in tune with those around them, almost to a fault. They can be hard to get to know strictly based on how up and down they are, but once they are loyal Cancers are fiercely protective of those they love. Sound familiar? A member of the Maybach Music Group, Gunplay is closely tied to Rick Ross and the other MMG rappers, and Cancers treasure close bonds like this. But a downfall of the Cancer sign is their tendency toward manipulation... remember that gun-pulling stunt involving an accountant? Horoscope advice for Gunplay: find a new accountant.
17.Lil B
Star Sign: Leo (8/17/1989)
Defining characteristic: No joke this is exactly what the website says: "Warm, action-oriented and driven by the desire to be loved and admired, the Leo have an air royalty about them."
Let's face it, Lil B is a cultural icon. Whether you like his music or not, this Leo has risen above "the desire to be loved and admired" and actually is loved and admired by an endless hoard of internet users and #girltime devotees. Sure, many rappers have this kind of fanbase, but that's because their good at making music! Lil B is just good at making a cult of personality, and as a Leo that makes sense. This sign is optimistic and loyal, but also tends to be very egotistical—hence the need for worship. Leo's are also well known for their inability to take orders, which may be why Lil B appears at this point to have no real plans for record deals and managers. He's content to make songs with Keke and be an internet phenomenon. His chart would probably encourage a healthy dose of humility... to which Lil B would compose an ALL CAPS RESPONSE.
18.Danny Brown
Star Sign: Pisces (3/16/1981)
Defining characteristic:Usually intuitive, trusting, loving and creative.
Should've checked his horoscope on: April 26, 2013, which hypothetically read: "DO NOT GO NEAR THE OPPOSITE SEX TONIGHT." Or perhaps, "Tonight, practice decorum and strictly puritan behavior. There's a time and place for lasciviousness but what seems like an innocent flirtation could quickly escalate into something more serious." Okay, those two were made up, but this is a real excerpt from a real horoscope site for Pisces on April 26, 2013: "A romantic opportunity could crop up on Friday too, while you're traveling or close to home. The trick is to avoid putting too many future expectations on it. This might not be your happily-ever-after, but more a reminder of your powers of attraction."
19.Mac Miller
Star Sign: Capricorn (1/19/1992)
Defining characteristic: Responsible, sincere, modest and fun-loving.
Capricorn is considered to be an introverted sign, which is an aspect that Mac Miller either missed out on or attempts to shirk all together. His live show is proof that the rapper can be as extroverted to the extreme. Capricorns are also known for overcoming barriers, something that the 21-year-old Jewish rapper is familiar with, as he's fought hard to be accepted by the hip-hop community. A serious-minded sign with a dark sense of humor, Miller's chart will probably encourage him to lighten up and avoid coming off as condescending while he's still trying to oil the machinery that is the music industry and turn himself into a bona fide star. One site also notes that the most positive work environment for a Capricorn is an "urban environment with culture and style" and "anyplace where they are in charge." So rapping is probably a suitable and sustainable career for Mac.
20.Nas
Star Sign: Virgo (9/14/1973)
Defining characteristic: A constant drive to improve and perfect that often leads to extreme pickiness and finickiness. Meticulous, reliable, practical.
We know Nas has studied up on his natal birth chart because he made a whole song about how he's a Virgo. Oh wait, sorry, technically it's a Ludacris song, it's easy to forget because Nas' verse is so much more definitive. Which makes sense given the fact that he is a Virgo, a sign known for insisting on perfection. As many fans still claim that Illmatic is the greatest rap album ever made, this drive has certainly led the Queens rapper to success. His current horoscope might focus on letting go of one of his biggest failures—the dissolution of his marriage to R&B singer Kelis. Considering that last year's Life is Good centers almost primarily around that topic, it doesn't seem like he's moved on quite yet.