# Yo! I need to create a 'Street Name' for myself. What are the Rulz? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301 "2009-11-04T18:10:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shallora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@shallora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shallora)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/1 "2009-11-04T18:10:12Z")
Don’t ask why (puh-leeeze don’t ask why), but I need to create a ‘Street Name’ for myself in the style of hip-hop artists and rappers. Are there rules involved – a ‘code’ of naming, if you will – that rappers follow to create a nickname? Or is it pretty much a call-yourself-whatever-sounds-good-at-the-time kind of thing? Word! DJ Lil’ Biggie-Cent Puffy Snoop Ice shallora ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/2 "2009-11-04T18:25:17Z")
[Here’s one way.](http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/namegen/7131/) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/3 "2009-11-04T18:51:01Z")
Chocolate Steam…inspired by Vanilla Ice. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/4 "2009-11-04T19:25:23Z")
If you’re seriously asking, then yes, the names mean something. Your own example: DJ = the guy who creates the beats, lays down the tracks, what-have-you. as opposed to the MC Lil’ = usually the remains of a childhood nickname, referencing the fact that there was someone older/bigger than you with your name already Biggie = one of Christopher G. Wallace’s stage names, because he was a big guy Cent = 50 Cent says his stage name stands for change (it’s a pun, son), but he also named himself after a notorious gangsta from Fort Greene. Puffy = he says it was a childhood nickname, because he would “huff and puff” when he was mad Snoop = his mom said he looked like Snoopy Ice = drug reference (though it could also be a reference to being able to afford plenty of diamonds, I guess) So, did you have a childhood nickname? Are you the DJ or the MC? Do you want to ride someone’s coattails by calling yourself Lil’ Whoever (not a good plan, probably)? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/5 "2009-11-04T19:40:17Z")
I would focus on using the first letter of your first name, plus any of the following words: Balla (as in Baller) Ghetto Money Pimpin’ Rolla (as in Roller) Daddy Shorty Biggie …_ad nauseum_ So, for example, if your first name was “Adam,” you could combine A with Balla and be A-Balla. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/6 "2009-11-04T20:33:34Z")
Since this is concerned with rap/hip-hop, it’s probably better suited for CS than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-i-need-to-create-a-street-name-for-myself-what-are-the-rulz/516301/7 "2009-11-04T22:37:43Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > So, for example, if your first name was “Adam,” you could combine A with Balla and be A-Balla. 2 Balla Makes ho Holla!