Rappers who found religion: Rev. Run, Snoop Dogg, more
Snoop Dogg
Credit: AP
Snoop Dogg, the West Coast rapper once known for lyrics including "I'm a gangsta, but ya'll knew that. Da big boss Dogg, yeah I had to do that," turned to the mellow sounds of reggae and changed his name, albeit temporarily, when he joined the Rastafarian movement in 2012, according to CNN.
Rev. Run
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The New York Times reported that DJ Run, of Run-D.M.C, converted to Pentecostalism in the 1990s and became a minister. He dropped the "DJ" and added the "Rev." title to his stage name.
Loon
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Loon, who rapped about needing a girl with P. Diddy when he was signed to Bad Boy Entertainment, converted to Islam in the 2000s, he said in an interview with Al Jazeera in 2009. "Bad Boy days are over, now I'm what you call a good boy," he said.
Busta Rhymes
Credit: Ana P. Gutierrez
"I live my life by Islam," Busta Rhymes told Hollywood TV in 2007. "At the end of the day I think that's pretty much what grounds me," the rapper said.
Yasiin Bey
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Yasiin Bey, commonly known by stage name Mos Def, converted to Islam at the age of 19, according to beliefnet.com.
Mase
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Hip-hop artist Mason "Mase" Durell Betha turned to Christianity and became a pastor in Atlanta in 1999, according to TMZ.com.
Kurtis Blow
Credit: PolyGram Records
ABC News reported that Kurtis Blow, the first rapper ever signed to a major-label contract and one of hip-hop's first stars, turned to Christianity in the 1990s. He went from rapping the famous words "Throw your hands up in the sky and wave 'em 'round from side to side," to releasing an album called "Kurtis Blow Presents: Hip Hop Ministry."
Adam Yauch
Credit: Getty / Bryan Bedder
The late Beastie Boy, Adam Yauch, converted to Buddhism, became involved in the Tibetan independence movement and helped organize the Tibetan Freedom Concert, he told Rolling Stone Magazine in 1998.
Shyne
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In an interview with the New York Times in 2010, rapper Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow said he became a practicing Jew while serving time in prison for his role in a New York nightclub shooting.
Ice Cube
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N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube began his career as a hard-core West Coast rapper and converted to Islam in 1992. In an interview with the Guardian, he explained his beliefs saying, "What I call myself is a natural Muslim, because it's just me and God. You know, going to the mosque, the ritual and the tradition, it's just not in me to do. So I don't do it."
Jin
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NBC News reported that Chinese-American rapper Jin was baptized in 2008 and began releasing songs with a Christian message. "Jesus is the truth, with Him freedom can be achieved," he rapped on the song "Welcome to the Light Club."
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