The 9 Best Comeback Stories in Hip-Hop

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After thriving on the fringes of the mainstream for years, Memphis’ Three 6 Mafia got catapulted to mass stardom with the release of “It’s Hard Out Here for A Pimp,” the lead track off of Hustle & Flow. In 2006, the group made history not only by performing the song on the Academy Awards’ stage, but for also snagging an Oscar for Best Original Song. But, when you hit a peak, the only place left to go oftentimes is back down. Three 6 began to dismantle, with various members focusing on solo projects, including Juicy J, who struggled to find mainstream success. Pushing 40, you’d think a veteran rapper would hang it up. However, he came back bigger than ever. By 2012, he was back on top of the charts with “Bandz a Make Her Dance,” the lead single off his critically-acclaimed third studio album, Stay Trippy. Today, Juicy stays collaborating with hip-hop’s biggest names, mentoring newer artists, and building his own personal brand with various side ventures.

We need more dudes like Kid Cudi, who’s always made mental health advocacy part of his musical mission. After dropping several classic albums and building an eccentric reputation, Cudder made the brave decision to publicly detail his struggles with anxiety and depression on Facebook, before signing off and checking himself into rehab in the fall of 2016. After a month of healing, the Cleveland MC made a triumphant return to the stage at the first ever ComplexCon, hammering home the importance of self-care. What followed was the release of his album Passion, Pain, and Demon Slayin’, that poetically aired out all of his personal struggles. Fast forward a couple years later, a spiritually rejuvenated Cudi is still on the up-and-up, fronting one of the most talked about collabs in the last decade, Kids See Ghosts, with Kanye West.

Never forget: Before JAY-Z built a kingdom with Queen Bey. Before Roc Nation became an entertainment empire. Before Tidal. Before 4:44. Shawn Carter retired. In 2003, after dropping countless award-winning solo projects, Hov announced that he was no longer making his own music. The plan was to instead focus on creative collaborations—notably, working with Linkin Park and becoming president of Def Jam. But with JAY being JAY, retirement was never really permanent. He had a legacy to manifest. After three years off the grid, he returned as a solo artist with 2006’s Kingdom Come. And while his musical output has since been more sporadic than his heyday, there is no doubt that some of JAY’s most thought-provoking content has been released post-retirement and his star power is even brighter now than ever.

A pioneer of trap, Gucci Mane started as a button-pushing rapper infamous for his insane antics. It wasn’t until he remixed “Obsessed” with Mariah Carey and released trap classic “Lemonde” (off of The State vs. Radric Davis in 2009) that he reached mainstream success. Just as he was coasting, even making an appearance in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, Gucci was sentenced to prison in 2014, which threatened to stall his meteoric rise. Despite being incarcerated Gucci dropped over a dozen projects, but it was his release from jail in 2016 that unveiled a completely different Guwop. He lost weight, transformed into a more positive, self-aware version of himself, and showcased all that on his new BET reality show The Mane Event, which documented his journey to the altar for a $1.7 million wedding with his longtime partner, Keyshia Ka’oir. The good vibes translated into even bigger music success, as his first album out of lock-up, Everybody Looking, was his highest-charting release to date.

Here’s one gigantic way to come back: perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. That’s exactly what Missy did in 2015, when she joined Katy Perry on stage. This exposure lit a fire under her otherwise dormant career, with Missy’s old music shooting up the charts, and landing her a Top-10 spot on iTunes. Her streams on Spotify surged astronomically as well. Mind you, it’d been 10 years since the Virginia rapper had a hit; ”Work It,” “Get Ur Freak On,” and “Lose Control” were big for millennials in middle school. Now, Missy is easing back into the spotlight, with giant endorsement deals (see: the hilarious Super Bowl LII spot with Morgan Freeman and Mountain Dew) and choice collaborations (she hopped on Ariana Grande’s track “Borderline” off of Sweetener). As Missy slowly teases more music, fans stay buzzing on social media as they await her highly anticipated seventh studio album.

Dr. Dre was never meant to disappear, so let’s call his comeback a return from sabbatical. Considering he co-founded N.W.A., released The Chronic, formed Death Row, and mentored Snoop Dogg all before he was out of his 20s, homie needed a break. Which is why, in his 30s, Dre gave it all up and started Aftermath Entertainment. As time went on, it was clear Dre found his new purpose in fostering upstart talent that would change popular music forever, including Eminem, 50 Cent, and Kendrick Lamar. His renewed confidence and keen business mind led to the founding of Beats By Dr. Dre, a headphone company-turned-content empire that he sold to Apple for over $3 billion. He even applied that business acumen to his personal music, releasing his comeback album Compton with his self-produced N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton, which grossed over $200 million at the box office. Mogul status certified.

As Rick Ross’ protege, Meek Mill was a voice to be heard. But over the years, his public battles eclipsed his music, which included a very public break-up with his superstar girlfriend Nicki Minaj and a beef with Drake in SummerSixteen that resulted in a major L. Even worse, Meek ran into legal troubles, including an arrest followed by a murky investigation, that ultimately led to a jail sentence that threatened to permanently pause his momentum. When he was released earlier this year, Meek came out not only with a renewed drive to make music, but also to share his passion for criminal justice reform, spotlighting Black Lives Matter at the 2018 BET Awards. Now, JAY-Z is producing an investigative series on Meek Mills’ prison saga. To top that off, his music has served as rallying cries for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers and Eagles, who both recently enjoyed massively successful seasons. As Meek's latest EP Legends of Summer proves, his commitment to making socially-conscious anthems is where his own legacy lies.

Everyone thought Common’s music career was over after 2002’s poorly received Electric Circus. It was a confusing blend of genres that didn’t work for a rapper who built his fanbase on keeping it soulful and simple (see: Resurrection). It turns out, all Common needed was a new perspective. Enter: Kanye West, who signed Common as his first artist on GOOD Music. Together, they dropped the now-classic Be, which went gold and put the veteran rapper back on. Since then, Common’s career has found a new life, as he became the first rapper ever to win an Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy. He just needs that Tony to officially become an EGOT. Something tells us he’s not far off.

From 1999 to 2005, Eminem was unstoppable. That is until his childhood best friend, Proof, died at the height of the bleach-haired lyrical genius’ fame. Dealing with grief caused Em to step out of the spotlight and relapse into drug abuse, ultimately hurting his creativity. That much was certain with the release of his disappointing 2009 effort, Relapse. But the album, a vehicle for Eminem to release his personal demons, didn’t stop him from regaining his voice. A year later, he dropped Recovery, which featured solid singles like “Not Afraid,” “No Love,” and his biggest hit ever, “Love the Way You Lie,” with Rihanna. Ultimately, the project lived up to its name, restoring Slim’s legend, which continues on with the recent release of his surprise album, Kamikaze. 

Now for the ultimate comeback! Empire returns for a highly-anticipated season five on Wednesday, Sept. 26th at 8pm ET/PT on FOX. Be sure to tune in as of Cookie and Lucious Lyon look to reclaim their position at the top of the charts after losing everything at the end of last season. This is one comeback you won’t want to miss.