Illustrations by Spiff Ellis
In 2009, Gucci Mane rapped the sticky-frat, party-floor anthem, “Sipping on purple stuff, rolling up stanky/Wake in the morning, 10 o’clock drinking.” Last week, at the Chateau Marmont, Paper magazine found him “trim and sober, seated next to a bed in head-to-toe Puma workout clothes.” In the years between 2009 and Gucci-in-matching-workout-clothes, taking care of yourself has become perhaps one of the trendiest (and tbh, most important) things a person can do.
Fewer and farther between are the days of rock stars and motel rooms, nights filled with debauchery, and liquor as meals. Today, self-care and wellness reign supreme—it's now cool to set reminders to drink water. Living a healthier, cleaner lifestyle is a progressive move in an industry that’s historically not known for lending itself to wellness. These 10 rappers bucked the trend and turned their life around for the better. It’s high time we salute them.