"Sometimes the rap game reminds me of the crack game." Nas said it first and a bunch of rappers have said it since. But it's 2010 and we think it's time for that truism to get an update. You know, something more like this: "Sometimes the rap game reminds me of the booze/clothing/snack game." Because as anyone paying attention to hip-hop can see, more and more rappers are taking their entrepreneurial spirit outside of the music business and into the product business. You're probably familiar with the Sean Johns and Vitamin Waters of the world, but for every massively successful hip-hop business venture, there's Ice T's Liquid Ice drink or Cam'ron's Oh Boy cologne. So here, for you, are seven of the strangest hip-hop hustles that have nothing to do with the rap game.
Ludacris' Cognac
Even though Luda's clothing line "CP Time" never saw the light of day (maybe it was the name?), he is using his fame to push Conjure Cognac to kids of legal drinking age. And whenever he's not disturbing the peace by popping bottles of Conjure, you can catch Luda at his second job on the big screen.
Ice T's Iced Tea
The original gangster from the West launched the clothing line Ice Wear and drink Liquid Ice in 2003. Neither was cool enough to catch on with fans. Lucky for him though, he's got a second hustle as Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." He's also probably getting a cut of the business done by his wife/personal manager/personal pinup girl Coco, who's rumored to be working on a clothing line of her own.
Master P's Community Service
Some may have thought that this No Limit soldier reached his limit some time after his record company went bankrupt, but you can't put a limit on a real hustler. Let the record show that it was New Orleans' finest who was one of the first rappers to start an empire, with No Limit Clothing, No Limit Films, No Limit Sports Management, PM Properties, Advantage Travel, and No Limit Communications. These days, Percy Miller (that's his real name) spends his time on his new record company Take A Stand Records and his community outreach efforts, P.Miller Youth Centers and P.Miller Food Foundation for the Homeless.
Bryan "Baby" Williams' Oil Company
The Cash Money millionaire is getting his second wind in the music game by endorsing his protégé Lil' Wayne's Young Money Entertainment, which is leading the new school of rap with acts like Drake and Nicki Minaj. But Baby doesn't need to fall back on rap for security. While everyone else is going green, he has started Bronald Oil & Gas, an independent oil company focused on identifying and using oil and gas reserves.
Cam'ron's Laundromats
The Harlem kingpin has owned four liquor stores and even had his own Sizzurp Cognac purple punch on the shelves. He also had two laundromats, and even had an "Oh Boy" cologne, named after one of his hit singles.
Paul Wall's Grills
Being the second most popular white rapper alive wasn't enough for Paul Wall, so the Houston hustler put his money where his mouth is and launched Grills by Paul Wall back in 2005. Against all odds, the business is still up and running.
Nelly's Tons of Things
You may not be hearing much music from Nelly these days, but he's not going broke. The St. Louis native has more side hustles than most rappers have albums. There was the men's line Vokal, the lady's line Apple Bottoms, the energy drink Pimp Juice, the part ownership of a NASCAR team, and his latest venture: an exercise tape.