Why Do rappers Use Lil’ In Their Names

The prefix Lil’ has become very popular as a stage moniker for rap artists. In fact, according to data from Spotify there are around 8,000 artists on their streaming platform using the prefix Lil’. 

The streaming service said in May that 33 of the top 1,000 songs on its charts in 2018 were from lil artists, a 100 per cent increase on the previous year. But the question now becomes why is the Lil’ name so popular? When did it start? And will this trend die down in the near future? We’ve got you covered for the answers.

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According to Tiger Webb, an ABC language researcher, the word lil first appeared in the 1800. “It’s in the form of a child’s nursery rhyme — lil boy bear, lil gal bear.” Webb goes on to say that “Some of those, honestly, you could transpose to hip hop names right now.” Although lil can be traced back to nursery rhymes dating from the 1800, Mr. Webb doesn’t think that rappers use it in a way that denoted lineage.

Why Do Rappers Have lil’ In Their Name

The term lil like most slang comes from the streets. Rappers in general use slang and terminology from environment they grew up in. In most hoods it was common to call someone lil who was following in your footsteps, “back in the day it was used by people that were coming up under someone,” said Hau Latukefu, host of triple j’s Hip Hop Show.` 

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“If they were your OG [original gangster], if they brought you up on the streets, you were like the second version of them.”

Case in point: Lil Bow Wow.

Real name Shad Gregory Moss, Bow Wow was given his stage name as a young rapper by Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg would mentor him on different aspects of the rap game, and work with him on his flow and lyrics. 

Over the years the term lil has become more popular than ever. Everyone from Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert and LIL Xan have attained major success within the music industry, and because of this it has created a major trend to use the name lil.

Artists, especially rappers, follow trends that are successful hoping to reach the same success. Will this trend die down? Maybe it will and when it does you’ll see less of the lil name being used. 

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List of Lil Names In Rap Music

Lil Wayne

Lil Baby

Lil Kim

Lil Uzi Vert

LIL Xan

Lil Skies

Lil Yachty

Lil Peep

Lil Tecca

Lil Dicky

Lil Mosey

Lil Durk

LiL Ronnie

Lil’ Mo

Lil’ Troy

Lil’ Flip

Lil Wyte

Lil Rob

Lil’ Will

Lil Bibby

lil aaron

Lil Scrappy

Lil Keke

Lil Reese

Lil Mama

Lil Tracy

Lil Snupe

Lil Deuce Deuce

Lil Silva

Lil’ C

Lil Silvio

Lil Supa

Lil Debbie

Lil Cuete

Lil Blood

Lil Boom

Lil Trey

Lil Trill

Lil Lonnie

Lil’ Cease

Lil’ Chriiz

Lil Happy Lil Sad

Lil Smoke

Lil B

Lil Pete

Lil Rick

Lil’ Jay

Lil Kesh

Lil Yase

LIL PHAG

Lil’ Fame

Lil Windex

Lil’ John

Lil Suzy

Lil Rain

Lil Bo Weep

Lil Mouse

Lil Phat

Lil Mosey

Lil Fetti Boi

Lil Duke

Lil Cray

Lil Dread Fdg

Lil Santana

Lil C

Lil Ronny Motha F

Lil Skate

Lil Yee

Lil Lippy

Lil Twist

 Lil’ O

Lil Wop

Lil Lano

Lil Prophet

Lil Haiti

7Lil AJ

Lil Toenail

Lil Rue

Lil Wicked

Lil Yung Pharaoh

Lil Eddie

Lil MG

Lil Skeet

Lil’ Louis

Lil Sheik

Lil Tweety

Lil Ugly Mane

Lil Los

Lil Zay Poppin

Lil June

Lil Goofy

Lil George

LiL MoCo

Lil’ Zane

Lil Coner

Lil Noodle

Lil’ Mack

LIL Fame!!!

Lil’ Chris

Lil’ Boss

LiL Lotus

Lil Nathan

 Lil Raider

 Lil Saint

Lil Gnar

 Lil West

 Lil GiGi

Lil Wil

 Lil Ru

 Lil Flash

 Lil CArchie Lee

 Lil Twon

 Lil Hookthurius

 Lil Ice

Lil Darrion

 Lil Romeo

LIL DUSTY G

 Lil Dude

Lil Yogi

Lil Cobaine

 Lil Taï Z

 LIL Sobbey

 Lil Blacky

 Lil Johnnie

Lil Eazy-E

 Lil Crazed

 Lil Toro

Lil Pip

Lil Cali

 Lil Mook

 LIL Kee

 Lil’ Boss Hogg

 Lil 1/2 Dead

Lil Bege

Lil Talibann

Lil Tunechi

Lil Stitch

Lil Jezzy

Lil Dads

Lil Playy

Lil Donald

 Lil Mister

Lil Rufus

Lil E

Lil Krew

Lil House Phone

 Lil Hank

Lil’ Goldy

Lil Chuckee

Lil Nickson

Lil Green

Lil’ Flex

Lil Menace

Lil’ Lixo

Lil Sicko

LIL ROG

LiL FLaMMe

Lil Ro

Lil Duval

Lil Ron

Lil’ Magdalene

Lil Cezer

Lil Dred

Lil Quill

 Lil Slugg

 Lil’ Bran

Lil Roc

Lil’ Shanice

Lil Nasty

Lil Jamez

Lil’ Z

Lil Gangster

 Lil Berete

 Lil’ Rascals Brass Band

Lil Greenwood

Lil Weeble

Lil Dash

Lil Tae

Lil Triangle

Lil Boi

Lil Crook

 Lil’ Larry

Lil Cheeze-It

Lil Son Jackson

Lil’ bråk

 Lil Brain

 Lil Broomstick

Lil Niqo

LIL TOOTH

Lil Perc

Lil Moncler

Lil’ Gotti

 Lil Geniuz

Lil Fate

Lil Traffic

Lil Spacely

LIL Tay

Lil’ Herb

Lil Koli