Katy Perry has certainly come a long way since releasing her eponymous debut in 2001. The daughter of Pentecostal pastors, Perry shed away her religious persona early on and has now taken on the role as a sex symbol. That, and she's putting out hits at a rapid rate. However, what may be the most unexpected transformation that has taken place for the 29-year-old singer is her connection with hip-hop over the years.
For starters, out of her nine No. 1 singles, three of those have featured rappers: "California Gurls" with Snoop Dogg, "E.T." with Kanye West, and "Dark Horse" with Juicy J. Katy Perry's name has also become a source for metaphors in rap. And what's more hip-hop than that?
From collaborating with Snoop Dogg and Juicy J to beefing with Chief Keef to even performing Kanye West and Jay Z's "Niggas in Paris," Katy Perry is more hip-hop than you think. And to celebrate that notion, here are her 14 most hip-hop moments.
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Katy Perry dates Travie McCoy for two years.
Katy Perry collaborates with Snoop Dogg on "California Gurls."
Katy Perry works with Kanye West on the remix of "E.T."
Date: 2/16/2011
Following her success with Snoop Dogg on "California Gurls," Katy Perry continued to collaborate with rappers, this time with Kanye West on the remix of "E.T." The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for five non-consecutive weeks in the spring of 2011.
In a surprising twist, Katy Perry later revealed the beat for "E.T." was originally intended for Three 6 Mafia. "I remember writing with Max Martin and Dr. Luke, and there's this producer they wrote with, named Ammo as well, and they were just showing me different samples of songs or tracks or beats," Perry told MTV. "They accidentally pulled up this beat, and it was for Three 6 Mafia." Talk about jacking for beats. This foreshadowed Perry's eventual work with Juicy J in a cosmic way.
Katy Perry works with Missy Elliott on the remix of "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)."
Katy Perry covers Jay Z's "Big Pimpin'."
Katy Perry teams up with B.o.B. on the remix of "The One That Got Away."
Katy Perry covers Kanye West and Jay Z's "N***as in Paris."
Katy Perry criticizes Chief Keef for "Hate Bein' Sober," to which Chief Keef replies, "I'll smake the s**t out of her."
Date: 5/23/2013
An otherwise innocent tweet from Katy Perry about Chief Keef's record "Hate Bein' Sober" escalated to verbal threats from the Chicago rapper. That's that beef we don't like.
"Just heard a new song on the radio called 'I hate being sober' I now have serious doubt for the world," Perry said. Keef heard about her criticism through the grapevine and responded, "Dat bitch Katy Perry Can Suck Skin Off Of my Dick" and later added, "Ill Smack The Shit out her." Thankfully they were able to resolve their issue.
Just heard a new song on the radio called "I hate being sober" I now have serious doubt for the world.
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) May 21, 2013
Dat bitch Katy Perry Can Suck Skin Off Of my Dick
— AlmightySo (@ChiefKeef) May 23, 2013
Ill Smack The Shit out her ✋
— AlmightySo (@ChiefKeef) May 23, 2013
New Song Katy Perry Coming Soon
— AlmightySo (@ChiefKeef) May 23, 2013
Katy Perry wears a gangsta grill at the 2013 VMAs.
Katy Perry collaborates with Juicy J on "Dark Horse."
Katy Perry goes on a date with RiFF RAFF.
Lil B dedicates a song and video to Katy Perry, which the singer praises him for.
Date: 4/29/2014
Lil B—the self-proclaimed Based God and man of the people—released a song and video dedicated to Katy Perry that received a warm welcome from the pop star. "Be my prom date," Perry tweeted at Lil B upon the video's release.
Before I lay my jet-lagged head down to sleep let me leave u w/a lovely #rare lullaby I came across today http://t.co/l6i5tDI9Q6 #taskforce
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 30, 2014
@katyperry i feel like its highschool again katy and i missed my prom so it wud mean alot, thank you love u have a good day - Lil B
— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) April 30, 2014
Welcome to the #taskforce #based @katyperry - Lil B
— Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) April 30, 2014And her name is also frequently referenced in rap lyrics.
Katy Perry's name has taken on a life of its own in rap, namely being used as a metaphor for cars and drugs. Check out some of the lyrics below:
"Two door Bugatti coupe, I call it Katy Perry/Wiz Khalifa papers smoking my favorite berries" - Rick Ross on "Made Men"
"I had Benzes 'fore you had braces The all-black Maybach but I'm not a racist Inside's whiter than Katy Perry's face is" - Jay Z on "Pound Cake"
"How much they hate it? very!/Kiss girls like Katy Perry" - Kanye West on "Hate"
"Still whipping that Katy, still whipping that Katy Perry till she ready, then I pass it, Tom Brady" - Juelz Santana on "Blog That"
