The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email [email protected].
This Week's Rapper: Kritikal Rob Gullatte
This Week's Subject(s): Rappers changing their names
Ask A Rapper: First you changed your name recently. Why?
Rob Gullatte: Well, first off I started the process of changing my name from Kritikal about two years ago. I started Googling the name and there were so many rappers with the name Kritikal - even though my name isn't pronouced like the word critical - so I started to shorten Kritikal and call myself Krit.
Well, little did I know that Big K.R.I.T. would become one of the hottest new acts. Long story short, I thought it would be corny to come up with a brand-new alias, and felt like my last name was original enough to make people curious when they see how it's spelled as opposed to how it is really pronounced.
So officially I'm going by "Rob Gullatte" with the understanding that people will still call me "Kritikal." So when I send music to blogs and shit, I want the name to read Rob Gullatte or Kritikal, but all future music will be released under Rob Gullatte.
Rob Gullatte/Kritikal, "Trill Hip Hop" Rob Gullatte/Kritikal, "Trill Hip Hop"
AAR: Will there be any change to the way you make your music? Like, will you only be rapping about Christianity now?
RG: Nothing will really change about my music or my approach. If anything, the music will become even more authentic now that I am going by my real name. No, I will not become a gospel rapper.
AAR: Let's have you do this: List the six best (or worst) name changes that rappers have made. Also, if Scarface isn't on your list, a curse shall fall upon your house. Ready? Go.
RG: As far as best and worst name changes, I'll start in no particular order:
