Diddy started it all when he changed his name from Puff Daddy, then to P. Diddy and ultimately to just Diddy. Others have jumped on the name change trend too. Mos Def became Yasiin Bey in 2011. Snoop Dogg became Snoop Lion in 2012. And, in 2013, N.O.R.E. aka Noreaga is becoming P.A.P.I.
The Queens rapper is switching things up for his next album, dubbed Student of the Game. After mulling over several names that included “Superthug” and “Good Belt,” the C-N-N rapper ended up with P.A.P.I., an acronym for Power Always Proves Intelligence.
“Sometimes if you’re lost, the best way to find where you’re at is to go to the beginning,” he told MTV. “My mother doesn’t even call me Victor, my father has never called me Victor, my teachers didn’t even call me Victor… My name in Lefrak City and my name in Queens is actually P.A.P.I., it’s not even N.O.R.E.”
P.A.P.I. will be dropping his new video for “Tadow” featuring 2 Chainz, Pusha T and French Montana this Sunday. Check out a trailer for the music video below.