Mid-Rap Crisis

Is rap really a young man's game? We take a look at 30 rappers over 30 who are still doing it big.

Plies - Hip-hop’s favorite goon turns 34 July 1. His new CD, “Goon Affiliated,” hits stores June 8.

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Plies - Hip-hop’s favorite goon turns 34 July 1. His new CD, “Goon Affiliated,” hits stores June 8.

Nelly - Nelly turns 36 later this year. He’s slated to drop his sixth album, “Nelly 5.0” later this year.

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Nelly - Nelly turns 36 later this year. He’s slated to drop his sixth album, “Nelly 5.0” later this year.

Fabolous - Fab turns 33 later this year. He’s presently working on “Loso’s Way 2” for a fall release.

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Fabolous - Fab turns 33 later this year. He’s presently working on “Loso’s Way 2” for a fall release.

The Game - Chuck Taylor may be 30, but he’s still going hard. His fourth project, “The R.E.D.” drops July 6.

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The Game - Chuck Taylor may be 30, but he’s still going hard. His fourth project, “The R.E.D.” drops July 6.

Snoop Dogg - Yet another legendary MC who started out in his teens, Big Snoop Dogg is now pushing 40. The West Coast juggernaut will turn 39 in November. Snoop has released 10 albums to date.

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Snoop Dogg - Yet another legendary MC who started out in his teens, Big Snoop Dogg is now pushing 40. The West Coast juggernaut will turn 39 in November. Snoop has released 10 albums to date.

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Rick Ross - The 34-year-old’s “Teflon Don” is set to hit stores July 6.

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Rick Ross - The 34-year-old’s “Teflon Don” is set to hit stores July 6.

Ludacris - A virgo as documented on his collaboration of the same name with Nas, Luda turns 33 later this year. The Atlanta rapper is presently still high on the charts with his latest offering, "Battle of the Sexes."

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Ludacris - A virgo as documented on his collaboration of the same name with Nas, Luda turns 33 later this year. The Atlanta rapper is presently still high on the charts with his latest offering, "Battle of the Sexes."

Lil' Kim - Don’t count Lil’ Kim out just yet. Though she hasn’t released a project in five years, the BET Award nominee for Best Female Rap Artist is rumored to be signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

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Lil' Kim - Don’t count Lil’ Kim out just yet. Though she hasn’t released a project in five years, the BET Award nominee for Best Female Rap Artist is rumored to be signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

Nas - Hard to believe the babyface lyricist from Queens is now 36. God’s Son just released a collaborative CD entitled “Distant Relatives” with Damian Marley.

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Nas - Hard to believe the babyface lyricist from Queens is now 36. God’s Son just released a collaborative CD entitled “Distant Relatives” with Damian Marley.

LL Cool J - Not many rappers can boast about being 26 years in and still be relevant. After 13 albums, Uncle L, 42, has now successfully transitioned into film and television. He currently co-stars with Chris O’Donnell on CBS’ top-rated "NCIS: Los Angeles."

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LL Cool J - Not many rappers can boast about being 26 years in and still be relevant. After 13 albums, Uncle L, 42, has now successfully transitioned into film and television. He currently co-stars with Chris O’Donnell on CBS’ top-rated "NCIS: Los Angeles."

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Raekwon - At 40, Rae is arguably in the best lyrical shape of his life. Still high off the release of his "Cuban Linx II" last year, he recently teamed up with Wu brethren Method Man and Ghostface, also in their late 30s, to drop "Wu Massacre."

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Raekwon - At 40, Rae is arguably in the best lyrical shape of his life. Still high off the release of his "Cuban Linx II" last year, he recently teamed up with Wu brethren Method Man and Ghostface, also in their late 30s, to drop "Wu Massacre."

Trina - The 31-year-old recently dropped her fifth album, “Amazin’.”

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Trina - The 31-year-old recently dropped her fifth album, “Amazin’.”

Jay Electronica - Arguably one of the game’s most sought after free agents, Jay Electronica is 33 years old and will turn 34 before year’s end. With singles like “Exhibit C” and “The Ghost of Christopher Wallace” featuring Diddy creating a deafening buzz, the world impatiently awaits his debut LP.

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Jay Electronica - Arguably one of the game’s most sought after free agents, Jay Electronica is 33 years old and will turn 34 before year’s end. With singles like “Exhibit C” and “The Ghost of Christopher Wallace” featuring Diddy creating a deafening buzz, the world impatiently awaits his debut LP.

Ice Cube - Cube hasn’t completely gone Hollywood. Scheduled to release his 9th album, “I Am the West” July 13, he’ll turn 41 June 15.

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Ice Cube - Cube hasn’t completely gone Hollywood. Scheduled to release his 9th album, “I Am the West” July 13, he’ll turn 41 June 15.

Flo Rida - The “Low” hit maker turned 30 last September.

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Flo Rida - The “Low” hit maker turned 30 last September.

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Jadakiss - Despite turning 35 on Thursday (May 27), Kiss can still hang with the young boys on the mixtape circuit. He recently released “The Champ Is Here 3” mixtape.

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Jadakiss - Despite turning 35 on Thursday (May 27), Kiss can still hang with the young boys on the mixtape circuit. He recently released “The Champ Is Here 3” mixtape.

Talib Kweli - The 34-year-old recently reunited with his Reflection Eternal partner, Hi-Tek, to drop “Revolutions Per Minute.”

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Talib Kweli - The 34-year-old recently reunited with his Reflection Eternal partner, Hi-Tek, to drop “Revolutions Per Minute.”

Fat Joe - Don Cartagena turns 40 in August. His new album, “The Dark Side Vol.1,” hits stores June 29.

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Fat Joe - Don Cartagena turns 40 in August. His new album, “The Dark Side Vol.1,” hits stores June 29.

Eminem - Marshall turns 38 this October. His new album, “Recovery,” hits stores June 22.

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Eminem - Marshall turns 38 this October. His new album, “Recovery,” hits stores June 22.

Black Thought - The Roots’super lyricist turns 39 in October. The group’s “How I Got Over” hits stores June 22.

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Black Thought - The Roots’super lyricist turns 39 in October. The group’s “How I Got Over” hits stores June 22.

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Young Jeezy - Jeezy turns 33 in October. His new album, “Thug Motivation 103” hits stores next month.

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Young Jeezy - Jeezy turns 33 in October. His new album, “Thug Motivation 103” hits stores next month.

Mos Def - The Mighty Mos Def turns 37 in December.

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Mos Def - The Mighty Mos Def turns 37 in December.

50 Cent - Fif turns 35 in July.

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50 Cent - Fif turns 35 in July.

Gucci Mane - Gucci said hi to 30 this past February while incarcerated. Now a free man, this 30-plus rapper is poised to be bigger than he ever was in his 20s.

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Gucci Mane - Gucci said hi to 30 this past February while incarcerated. Now a free man, this 30-plus rapper is poised to be bigger than he ever was in his 20s.

Bun B - Wise beyond his years, B-U-N-B, 37, plans on releasing “Trill OG” in August.

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Bun B - Wise beyond his years, B-U-N-B, 37, plans on releasing “Trill OG” in August.

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Diddy - While sources close to the deal have confirmed that Puff now manages Nicki, the Bad Boy mogul has yet to admit it publicly. “Me and Nick, we just cool,” Puff said in a YouTube clip this year. “I like her style. Rick Ross, that’s my brother. There’s no management announcements or none of that so everybody just worry about what you’re worrying about. It’s all right for people to know each other and have an admiration toward each other and you know, maybe pick each other’s brains for advice."

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Diddy - Back in 1997, Diddy predicted, “10 years from now, I’ma still be on top” on The Notorious B.I.G’s “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Try 13! At 40, the mogul/actor/rapper/producer is scheduled to release his new album, “Last Train to Paris” June 28.

15. Common - Com's first leading role in "Just Wright" and an appearance in "Date Night" made him $7 million last year.

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Common - Common, 38, is one of the few rappers who hasn't let his Hollywood success go to his raps. He's working on releasing his 9th solo album, "The Believer" later this year.

Kanye West - Yeezy turns 33 on June 8. His fifth LP, tentatively titled, “Good *ss Job,” is set to hit stores this fall.

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Kanye West - Yeezy turns 33 on June 8. His fifth LP, tentatively titled, “Good *ss Job,” is set to hit stores this fall.

Dr. Dre - Everything is cool. I haven't spoken to 50 in a long time. He's doing his own thing right now. Hopefully we'll get to work together again in the future but I think he's working on movies. As far as everybody else goes, I'm here. Everybody knows I'm working on my own thing. Once that's done, holla at me.

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Dr. Dre - Andre Young is 45 years of age. Should “Detox” finally hit stores this year, he’ll most likely become the oldest rapper to go platinum.

Jay-Z - Far from "Surreal Life" material, Hov is in the best shape of his life. At 40 years young, he’s still basking in the glow of his platinum "Blueprint 3" release and shows no signs of slowing down. Having performed at the World Series, and partnered with Eminem for a brief concert series in New York and Detroit, the Jiggaman is taking hip-hop to new heights.

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Jay-Z - Far from "Surreal Life" material, Hov is in the best shape of his life. At 40 years young, he’s still basking in the glow of his platinum "Blueprint 3" release and shows no signs of slowing down. Having performed at the World Series, and partnered with Eminem for a brief concert series in New York and Detroit, the Jiggaman is taking hip-hop to new heights.