Avengers Assemble! 5 Awesome Rappers Turned Into Superheroes

Rap is music's ultimate bloodsport. It is a place where only the strongest survive and the weak are made to submit themselves to WorldStarHipHop. The battleground of the best means that above many, there are few. With those few, only a select handful are successful and thereby are the protectors of the industry we've come to know as rap. Growing up, our favorite stars were looked at as superheroes in the eyes of many. They were able to leap tall punchlines in a single bound; rhyme faster than the speediest Twista; and have vision that would make Superman envious.

Taking those similarities and applying it to the storyline of the New Avengers, these dark horse candidates are some of rap's most mighty powered MCs, even if you would beg to differ. For those not keeping score (or only familiar with the movie adaptation, The Avengers), in addition to founders Captain America and Iron Man, the team included surprise members such as The Thing, Spider-Man and Wolverine. This Hip-Hop line-up of genetically gifted wordsmiths are ones who launched the new era of the culture, and continue to make strides within the genre both seen and unseen.

So, with that said, suit up and get ready to assemble alongside Rap's Most Mighty Powered MCs!

Kanye West as Captain America —

An experiment turned 90 pound weakling, Steve Rogers, into the towering symbol of justice and integrity known the world over as Captain America. Similarly, an accident turned would-be producer-rapper, Kanye West, into a Grammy award winning, chart topping, controversial artist for the ages.

Armed with the shield of his convictions, West is able to be socially relevant ("Mitt Romney don't pay no tax!") while being America's favorite chart-topping boy scout across seas (see: Watch The Throne tour). Eager to knock out terrorists inside and outside the game, Martin Louis the King Jr. can also claim sole responsibility for everyone using Old Glory as a fashion statement.

Jay-Z as Iron Man —

If you were to remove Shawn Corey Carter's suit — what would you have left? Grammy award winner, philanthropist, billionaire genius. The Roc Nation CEO has been tinkering in his garage looking to find an alternative source of rap energy that would be influential, original and unique. And with his resources such as J. Cole, Rihanna, and Rita Ora, it looks like he's on his way to actualizing his dream.

Jay-Z is much like the Invincible Iron Man because he's a manic problem solver, equipped with numerous weapons to defeat his enemies (see: Mobb Deep's Prodigy at Summer Jam), and doesn't shy away from danger. The master of the triple entendre continues to make something out of nothing with his music and will prove to be more than just a rapper-slash-CEO when the Secret Invasion begins.

Jean Grae as Ms. Marvel —

There aren't too many lyricists like Jean Grae. Armed with the ability to deliver rapid-fire bars to crush the craniums of criminals worldwide, Grae may be named after Professor Xavier's most beloved student, but her dynamics on the M-I-C are purely superhuman. Whether she's showcasing her endurance on wax (see: "45 Minute Megamix"), her physical durability on stage; or her sheer strength of will, Jean Grae is virtually indestructible!

Similar to Ms. Marvel, Grae's "Seventh Sense" is her unique ability to connect by discharging explosive songs that blast right through the stale status quo of music (see: "U & Me & Everyone We Know"). She also, like Ms. Marvel, demonstrates the ability to absorb other forms of energy, but unlike the super-powered heroine, Grae magnifies her strength through the written word and life events — not nuclear energy.

Rah Digga as Spider-Woman —

One of rap's most prominent female MCs, Rah Digga is equally one of rap's most mighty powered wordsmiths. Her dexterity on the mic when coupled with her strong songwriting abilities makes her one to fear in any battle. Much like Spider-Woman, male rap fans instinctively sense her pheromones, and are attracted to her instantly. But in her own unique way, Digga never hyper-sexualizes herself for monetary gain or momentary fame.

Fighting alongside crews is also a strong point, as Dirty Harriet was one time a member of Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad, and led the charge as its only female warrior. When put alongside other female standouts, Digga Digga (birth name: Rashia) isn't shy when dispensing witticisms and lyrical diatribes. As one of the game's most superb bar-for-bar deliverers, Digga's "venom blasts" on the microphone make it hard for any would-be competitor to stand up to her might.

Jay Electronica as Doctor Strange —

Both Jay Electronica and Dr. Strange are "masters of Black magic," as evident by the former's song "Voodoo Man" (see: Jay Electronica's 10 Most Devastating Lyrics) and its usage of illusion. From the beginning of Doctor Strange's arrival, the world-renowned surgeon-now-magician hero, used charmed artifacts to augment his power, such as the Cloak of Levitation, the Eye of Agamotto, the Book of the Vishanti, etc. Jay Elect, on the other hand, utilized the lexicon and symbolism of the Black Moors, the Five Percenters and his own Down South roots to liberate the game and hypnotize weak rappers to shame.

Much like Stan Lee's favorite mystic, Jay is able to achieve virtually any effect he desires through the usage of his powers. Whether it means reading your thoughts (see: "Annakin's Prayer"), using teleportation as a means of travel ("Dear Moleskine" music video) or resurrecting the dead (see: "The Ghost of Christopher Wallace"), Jay ElectHannuakah's wordplay and flair for the dramatic are engaging tools when used in the hands of a Supreme Sorcerer.

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