3 Rap Songs You Didn’t Know Were Almost Recorded by Someone Else

The world of popular music looks different on the outside than it does behind the scenes. On the face of it, things often seem smooth. An artist performs a song, it rockets up the charts, and everyone goes home happy at the end of the day. But the reality is that there are a lot more moving pieces behind the scenes than what meets the eye. Case in point: the following three rap songs. These three successful rap songs were almost recorded by other artists. Didn’t know that? Well, let’s explore the stories of these three prominent tracks. Indeed, these are three rap songs you didn’t know were almost recorded by someone else.

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“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa from ‘Furious 7: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ (2015)

Written by a triumvirate of composers, including pop star Charlie Puth, who features on the track, this song was originally sent to rapper Eminem. Meant as a tribute to the late Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker, Eminem decided to pass on the tune to instead work on a project with 50 Cent. As a result, the tune fell into the hands of popular lyricist Wiz Khalifa. Ironically, the song spent 12 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, tying Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” for the second-most weeks at the top behind Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road”.

“My Humps” by The Black Eyed Peas from ‘Monkey Business’ (2005)

Originally written for the pop group The Pussycat Dolls, The Black Eyed Peas artist will.i.am decided to keep this song for his pop rap group. (In its place, he gave TPD the song “Beep” instead.) Meanwhile, Black Eyed Peas and their new singer, Fergie, turned this silly song into an international hit. Released in 2005, the sexy tune hit no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was something of a cultural phenomenon. Legions of fans were lip-syncing the song in dance clubs all over the world.

“Nothin’ On You” by B.o.B. from ‘B.o.B Presents: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray’ (2009)

Cerebral rapper Lupe Fiasco recorded a version of the B.o.B. song “Nothin’ On You”. However, that track never got off the ground for the Chicago emcee. Why? Well, because his label at the time denigrated his performance, as he explained to The Guardian. That really got under Lupe’s skin.

“It was less about the bruised ego but more the audacity of it,” he said. “It was mentally destructive. I say it with a certain laissez-faire now because I’m past it, but back then, hearin’ that s**t, it f**ked me up. I was super-depressed…”

The tune, which was released by B.o.B. as his debut single, went on to hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Well then!

Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage