Image via Complex Original
One of the best scenes in Back To The Future is when Marty McFly first travels back in time to 1955 and runs to Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown’s house to tell him he’s from the future. Of course, Doc doesn’t believe him and it leads to this hilarious exchange:
Dr. Emmett Brown: Then tell me, future boy, who's President of the United States in 1985?
Marty McFly: Ronald Reagan.
Dr. Emmett Brown: Ronald Reagan? The actor?
It’s funny in retrospect, but in truth, in 1955, it just didn’t seem possible that an actor like Ronald Reagan would go on to become the most powerful man on Earth (ditto for Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming the Governor of the largest state in the union). But that's what happened.
Over the years, the unlikeliest of rappers have become G.O.A.T. contenders, the most gangster rappers have gone soft, and the epicenter of rap has moved in directions we didn’t even think existed. At this point, nothing would surprise us. We’ve learned to expect the unexpected and never say never. Here are the events that taught us that:
The 20 Hip-Hop Moments We Thought We'd Never See.
RELATED: The 50 Most Outrageous Rapper Quotes
RELATED: The 40 Biggest Hip-Hop Moments in Pop Culture History
RELATED: The 50 Greatest Fashion Moments in Rap Video History
In 1987, if you told us that KRS-One and Marley Marl would make an album together...
In 1988, if you told us that the guy who made "Parents Just Don't Understand" would become Hollywood's most bankable star...
In 1988, if you told us that Public Enemy's Flavor Flav would be the star of a reality TV dating show...
In 1989, if you told us that Jaz-O's sidekick would be an all-time great, half-billionaire MC...
In 1989, if you told us that Luke would run for Mayor of Miami...
In 1990, if you told us that the hardest rapper in N.W.A would make family-friendly vacation films...
In 1990, if you told us that Digital Underground's back-up dancer would become the most successful rapper out and get murdered in the same year...
In 1992, if you told us that "Cop Killer" Ice-T would play a cop on TV...
In 1993, if you told us that Snoop Doggy Dogg would have an endorsement deal with Hot Pockets and songs with Katy Perry...
In 1994, if you told us that three years later Biggie would be dead and the guy producing and talking on his records would be rap's biggest star...
In 1997, if you told us that Florida C.O. William Roberts would own the summer with "B.M.F." 13 years later...
In 1998, if you told us that Lil Wayne would skateboard and wear leopard jeggings...
In 1998, if you told us that the white guy in Unsigned Hype would become the best-selling rapper ever...
In 1998, if you told us that the guy who made "Horse & Carriage" would have droves of young men wearing pink...
In 2001, if you told us that the most popular rapper would be the half-Jewish Canadian kid who starred on Degrassi...
In 2001, if you told us that Jay-Z and Nas would perform and make music together before the decade was over...
In 2002, if you told us that Rocafella's new producer would completely change the way hip-hop sounded and dressed...
In 2003, if you told us that the guy standing next to Ludacris in the "Stand Up" video would be bigger than him 10 years later...
In 2004, if you told us that the "Khaled" guy Fat Joe shouted out on "Lean Back" would become one of the most important people in rap...
In 2005, if you told us that Gucci Mane would star in a movie with Selena Gomez...
