The Evolution of the Shirtless Rapper [Gallery]

 •  Hip-Hop Fashion  •  by XXL Staff  •  No Comments

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    The Evolution of the Shirtless Rapper [Gallery]
    Back in the day, if a rapper dared take his shirt off it was because he had enough ab muscles to back the move up. But these days a six-pack seems to be a thing of the past, with pudgy rhymeslingers like Rick Ross and Waka Flocka Flame, to list a few, and stick-figure types like Machine Gun Kelly, among others, baring it all in the name of performing.<br /><br />"I started that," Waka tells <em>XXL</em>. "Before wasn’t nobody taking they shirt off. They thought it was for R&B niggas. I’m a fat boy. I got what skinny niggas dream about having: extra weight."<br /><br />Atlhough Waka Flocka takes credit, there have been many others before him that have engaged in the all-too-familiar strip tease. From LL Cool to Fat Joe to Big Sean, <em>XXL’s Good Life</em> presents a gallery of shirtless rappers throughout the years. <em>Take your shirt off, twist it 'round your head...</em>—<em>Gina Montana</em>
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    Tyler's no longer bound to his deal with XL Records.
    "'Wolf' is the first of his albums to be released via a distribution partnership between Odd Future and Sony."
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  • T.I. “Drug Related” <i>The Leak</i> (2006)
    T.I. “Drug Related” <i>The Leak</i> (2006)
    “Why I’m trappin? Cause it’s the only job with fair taxes/ Keep a nigga tight to death in polos and air maxes”
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  • BET Awards 2008 - Show
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    JaRule
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    NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Waka Flocka attends DJ Prostyle's Birthday Bash at B.B. Kings on April 26, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
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  • BET Awards '11 - Show
    LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 26: Rapper Ace Hood performs onstage during the BET Awards '11 held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
  • © Geordie Wood 2011 www.geordiewood.com geordiewood@gmail.com 781-820-4555
    © Geordie Wood 2011www.geordiewood.comgeordiewood@gmail.com781-820-4555
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    NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Maino attends DJ Prostyle's Birthday Bash at B.B. Kings on April 26, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
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