The 20 Best Alter Egos in Pop Music History

The 20 Best Alter Egos in Pop Music History

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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There are stage names, and then there are alter egos. Many musicians adopt a moniker besides the one on their birth certificate to become performing artists and public figures. But a rare few in pop history have decided that even that initial public identity they’ve chosen to put forward doesn’t quite encompass their personality or their musical abilities, and create a new character or persona. Sometimes these musical alter egos have released entire albums of their own, sometimes they just pop up for a song and/or video here and there. Sometimes they sound radically different from the artist’s usual work, sometimes the distinction is subtle (or nonexistent). Here are The 20 Best Alter Egos in Pop Music History.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles)

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Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie)

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Camille (Prince)

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Buster Poindexter (David Johansen)

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Humpty Hump (Shock G)

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MacPhisto (Bono)

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Makaveli (2Pac)

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Dr. Octagon (Kool Keith)

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Slim Shady (Eminem)

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Chris Gaines (Garth Brooks)

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The Network (Green Day)

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The Black Parade (My Chemical Romance)

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Brook Lynn (Mary J. Blige)

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Black-Ty (Tyrese)

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T.I.P. (T.I.)

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Sasha Fierce (Beyoncé)

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Roman Zolanski (Nicki Minaj)

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Jo Calderone (Lady Gaga)

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Snoop Lion (Snoop Dogg)

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J Henny (Jhené Aiko)

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