Shine On: From Protégé to Star

Drake isn't the only MC who "started from the bottom."

Shine On: From Protégé to Star  - Is Drake hip hop’s biggest star? It sorta felt that way last Friday, when he dropped his new attention-grabbing single, "Started From the Bottom." Last night, Drizzy released the video to the buzzing track just before the start of the Grammys, cause when you’re on Drake’s level, you do what you want, when you want. It’s a reminder of how far he’s come — from Lil Wayne’s underling to his own superstar. But Drake isn’t the only rapper who started from the bottom. Click on to see other MCs who graduated from protégé to star.  (Photos from left: Allison Joyce/Getty Images, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Shine On: From Protégé to Star - Is Drake hip hop’s biggest star? It sorta felt that way last Friday, when he dropped his new attention-grabbing single, "Started From the Bottom." Last night, Drizzy released the video to the buzzing track just before the start of the Grammys, cause when you’re on Drake’s level, you do what you want, when you want. It’s a reminder of how far he’s come — from Lil Wayne’s underling to his own superstar. But Drake isn’t the only rapper who started from the bottom. Click on to see other MCs who graduated from protégé to star. (Photos from left: Allison Joyce/Getty Images, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Drake - Drake got an early cosign from Lil Wayne, collaborating and touring with him before finally signing to the star's Young Money imprint in 2009. But in 2010, his debut album, Thank Me Later, handily outsold his mentor's album that year, I Am Not a Human Being.  (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Drake - Drake got an early cosign from Lil Wayne, collaborating and touring with him before finally signing to the star's Young Money imprint in 2009. But in 2010, his debut album, Thank Me Later, handily outsold his mentor's album that year, I Am Not a Human Being. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Jay-Z - Jay-Z came into the game under the wing of fellow Bed-Stuy reppers Big Daddy Kane and Jaz-O before he became a star in his own right with his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. (Photo: Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images)

Aaliyah - The late Aaliyah started out as the 14-year-old protégé of R. Kelly, who produced, wrote and appeared on her triple-platinum 1994 debut, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number. After rumors of a secret marriage with Kelly broke, Aaliyah split with him, both romantically and musically, but kept up her massive sales and critical acclaim on follow-up albums One in a Million and Aaliyah.  (PHOTO: FITZROY BARRETT / GLOBE PHOTOS INC.)

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Aaliyah - The late Aaliyah started out as the 14-year-old protégé of R. Kelly, who produced, wrote and appeared on her triple-platinum 1994 debut, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number. After rumors of a secret marriage with Kelly broke, Aaliyah split with him, both romantically and musically, but kept up her massive sales and critical acclaim on follow-up albums One in a Million and Aaliyah. (PHOTO: FITZROY BARRETT / GLOBE PHOTOS INC.)

Lil Kim - Lil Kim was the Notorious B.I.G.'s primary protégé — and on-the-low lover — when she made her debut alongside him on Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s "Get Money." With her double-platinum 1996 album, Hard Core, aided by Biggie's guest verses (and alleged ghostwriting), she blew up solo and remained a star even after his death a year later.   (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

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Lil Kim - Lil Kim was the Notorious B.I.G.'s primary protégé — and on-the-low lover — when she made her debut alongside him on Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s "Get Money." With her double-platinum 1996 album, Hard Core, aided by Biggie's guest verses (and alleged ghostwriting), she blew up solo and remained a star even after his death a year later. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

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Snoop Dogg on if being openly gay will be accepted in rap music:  - "I don't know if it will ever be acceptable because rap is so masculine."   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images For DirecTV)

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Snoop Dogg - Dr. Dre gave new jack Snoop Dogg a starring role on his debut solo single, "Deep Cover," and album, The Chronic — the perfect set-up for Snoop's 1993 classic Doggy Style, which became the first album by a debut artist to bow at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images For DirecTV)

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Eminem - Dr. Dre gave Eminem a legendary cosign when he inked him to his Aftermath Entertainment imprint in 1998. However, when The Slim Shady LP dropped a year later and went triple platinum, it actually gave his mentor a boost, introducing Dre to a new generation of fans and building anticipation for his sophomore solo album, 2001, which featured several Eminem verses. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Kendrick Lamar @kendricklamar - Tweet: "1 more song// SNL."Kendrick Lamar tweets late night about his stellar performance on Saturday Night Live. The West coast MC is set to have another incredible year on the heels of his critically-acclaimed debut album. (Photo: Steve Mack/Getty Images)

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Kendrick Lamar - Kendrick Lamar was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment in 2011, but his major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d. city, already hailed by many as a classic, debuted at No. 1 and went gold with minimal input from his mentor — Dre mixed a few tracks, rapped on two, and didn't produce any. (Photo: Steve Mack/Getty Images)

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Poppin Bottles - Big Sean helps Nas celebrate his new No. 1 album. The Detroit MC poses with a bottle of Armand de Brignac Gold Ace of Spades champagne.     (Photo: Koi Sojer, PacificCoastNews.com)

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Big Sean - Big Sean met Kanye West in 2005 and signed to his G.O.O.D. Music imprint in 2007, but he didn't put out his own star-making album, Finally Famous, until 2011. (Photo: Koi Sojer, PacificCoastNews.com)

A Map of His Past - Compton-born rapper Game is perhaps known as much for his tattoos as he is for his music. Keep reading for a look at the Grammy-nominated MC's most infamous ink. By: Britt Middleton  (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Game - Game was first signed to Aftermath by Dr. Dre, who then placed him under the stewardship of 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew. However, even after a heated beef with 50 led him to switch labels and drop both mentors, Game landed his second No. 1 record, Doctor’s Advocate, in 2006 all by himself. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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50 Cent: July 6 - The rap superstar is gon' sip Bacardi like it's his 38th birthday.  (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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50 Cent - Dr. Dre and Eminem signed 50 Cent to a joint deal in 2002, but 50 already had his mind set on his own empire. After his debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, sold 8 million copies, he quickly went about establishing G Unit Records and releasing a series of albums by other artists. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj went from just another artist on Lil Wayne's Young Money roster to a pop superstar — selling millions of records, appearing as a judge on American Idol, and leading her own army of Barbz.   (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj went from just another artist on Lil Wayne's Young Money roster to a pop superstar — selling millions of records, appearing as a judge on American Idol, and leading her own army of Barbz. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Rihanna - Rihanna was initially signed by Jay-Z in 2005 when he was president of Def Jam, and he still manages her career via Roc Nation. But eight years later she has 12 No. 1 hits — that's eight more than Hov.   (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Rihanna - Rihanna was initially signed by Jay-Z in 2005 when he was president of Def Jam, and he still manages her career via Roc Nation. But eight years later she has 12 No. 1 hits — that's eight more than Hov. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Mase - Mase first gained fame dancing in shiny suits behind Diddy — until his 1998 debut, Harlem World, went triple-platinum. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

Big Pun - Born Christopher Lee Rios in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Big Pun was one of the first Latino artists to truly break through to the hip hop mainstream. Ranked #19 on The Source's 50 Greatest Lyricists of All Time, Pun frequently included references to his Puerto Rican upbringing. Morbidly obese for most of his life, Pun died in 2000 of a heart attack, at age 28.    (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.)

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Big Pun - The late, legendary Big Pun debuted on a B-side to a Fat Joe single as a member of his Terror Squad before his own debut, Capital Punishment, established him as one of the nicest in the game. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.)

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Foxy Brown - Jay-Z put on Foxy Brown, recruiting the then 17-year-old to appear on his hit 1996 single "Ain't No N---a." Later that year she stood on her own two with her debut album, Ill Nana, which has sold over 3.7 million copies worldwide.   (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images For IMG)

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Foxy Brown - Jay-Z put on Foxy Brown, recruiting the then 17-year-old to appear on his hit 1996 single "Ain't No N---a." Later that year she stood on her own two with her debut album, Ill Nana, which has sold over 3.7 million copies worldwide. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images For IMG)

Bow Wow - Today, Bow Wow raps, acts and hosts 106 & Park, but we first met him as the 11-year-old protégé of tween-rap star-maker Jermaine Dupri.   (photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Bow Wow - Today, Bow Wow raps, acts and hosts 106 & Park, but we first met him as the 11-year-old protégé of tween-rap star-maker Jermaine Dupri. (photo: John Ricard / BET)

Da Brat - Da Brat was also blessed by Jermaine Dupri’s platinum touch, but she left her own mark on the history books as the first solo female rapper to go platinum with 1994’s Funkdafied.  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Imagesfor Universal)

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Da Brat - Da Brat was also blessed by Jermaine Dupri’s platinum touch, but she left her own mark on the history books as the first solo female rapper to go platinum with 1994’s Funkdafied. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Imagesfor Universal)

Beanie Sigel: March 6 - The rapper celebrates his 37th birthday. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Beanie Sigel - Beanie Sigel got on with the stamp of approval from Jay-Z, who signed him to Roc-A Fella in 2000, putting the Broad St. Bully at the forefront of Philly's State Property movement.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Meek Mill @MeekMill - Tweet: "Tony story movie coming soon! Big boy budgets! Straight outta pocket! #DC #flavorunit"Meek Mill is ready for his closeup as he alludes to an upcoming film with Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit productions.(Photo: Randy Smith / BET)

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Meek Mill - Meek Mill went from yet another one of Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group rappers to breakout star when his songs “I’m a Boss” and “Tupac Back” (both of which featured his, well, Bawse) outshined all others on the Maybach Music Group compilation Self Made, Vol. 1.   (Photo: Randy Smith / BET)

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J. Cole, @JColeNC - Tweet: "Born Sinner June 18"J. Cole started something this week when he moved his sophomore album release date up to compete with Kanye West. Mac Miller and Kelly Rowland's albums also drop that day. We'll be watching the charts to see what it do.(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)

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J. Cole - J. Cole toiled for years under the watchful eye of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, but he when he topped the Billboard 200 with his 2011 debut, J. Cole: The Sideline Story, he did it with only one low-key Jay-Z feature on an album track. (Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)