Evaluating Rappers to Their Dragon Ball Counterparts

At across the identical time, I grew to become a Dragon Ball fanatic, I used to be ensnared by the world of hip-hop — a kaleidoscopic universe stuffed with explosive characters, progressive methods and indelible personalities that, not directly or one other, would come to outline my id years later. Similar with Dragon Ball.

To not be that man, however, properly earlier than people received on Twitter speaking about, “What if DBZ occurred in New York,” I used to be evaluating rappers to Dragon Ball characters. I’ve received the texts to show it. However that’s irrelevant. Years later, making these comparisons is about as enjoyable as issues ever get for me, and that’s a part of why I’ve put collectively a longer-than-it-should-be listing making them.

So immediately, in honor of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, try OKP’s listing evaluating rappers to Dragon Ballcharacters. Promise, it’s enjoyable!

Drake = Good Cell

Picture illustration by Louie Chin for Okayplayer.

Cease me should you’ve heard this one earlier than: an unbeatable power with the flexibility to imitate his enemies seems, and his dominance turns into as inevitable as a brand new Tremendous Saiyan transformation. Theoretically, his personal appreciable skills are sufficient, however he fortifies his arsenal by draining the life power of others. Oh yeah: he’s additionally nigh-indestructible. Certain, that is myopic, however relying on how bitter and short-sighted you might be, So Far Gone was mainly the start of the Imperfect Cell Saga, and The Weeknd and PartyNextDoor would possibly as properly have been Androids 17 and 18.

Like Cell, Drake is a virtuoso with the flexibility to undertake any model he pleases. Triplet move? He’s received it. U.Okay. rap? Certain. Moreover, he’s received preternatural sturdiness — aka, the flexibility to come back again from mainly any assault. Bear in mind when Pusha T blasted him with “Story of Adidon”? We do too, however Drake would possibly as properly have been hit with an excellent Kamehameha and regenerated, ‘trigger he bounced again with an enormous No. 1 album and a number of No. 1s on the Scorching 100 prefer it by no means occurred. Up till the spring of 2024, Drizzy appeared invincible, however, after awakening the talents of one other formidable warrior, the world was as soon as once more reminded that Good Cell wasn’t so excellent.

50 Cent = Broly

If Broly was the legendary Tremendous Saiyan, 50 Cent was the legendary tremendous gangsta. After surviving 9 gunshots and coming again to ship the perfect rap debut since Uncle Snoop, Fif achieved a degree of instantaneous dominance that made him inescapable within the classroom, within the membership, within the fitness center — in all places. For his half, there have been literal legends a few Saiyan of Broly’s means. He just about at all times beat his enemies, with solely outlandish team-ups resulting in his defeat.

Between their mythic standing and their love of pointless destruction, 50 Cent and Broly can be greatest friends — class bullies who take a step again on the playground to admire their respective work. Since he’s been out of the streets, Fifty’s model of assault has often consisted of diss songs, memes and snarky tweets. For his profession, Broly’s been decidedly much less elaborate, preferring to destroy your planet with a wave of his finger. Other ways to pores and skin a cat, I suppose.

They’ll each be vicious, however as of late, they’re extra concerned with kicking again and possibly showing in a film or two. However don’t get it fucked up: one improper transfer, and so they’re liable to blow your ass up, whether or not on the battlefield or in your Instagram feed.

Kendrick Lamar = Goku

Picture illustration by Louie Chin for Okayplayer.

It feels a little bit on the nostril, however generally the apparent reply is the right one, and, for his 13 years within the mainstream, KDot has been rap’s closest reply to Dragon Ball’s spikey-haired hero, Goku. He would possibly shun the entire “savior” label, however from the very starting, his good-bad duality has led people to model him as such. And make no mistake, narratively talking, in a world of ghostwriters, swagger-jacking and sneak-dissing, Kendrick is the great man. However his similarities go deeper than the plot factors. Each are heroes from surprising locations; positive, Compton isn’t a house base for house pirates, however primarily based on Kendrick’s personal bars, with regards to violence, elements of it may rival Planet Vegeta. Kendrick’s main inspiration was a fiery warrior well-known for rocking a pink bandana. See what I’m getting at?

On prime of all that, there’s their versatility, penchant for lectures and skill to lift their energy to new ranges when pushed too far. For Kendrick, that second got here when Drizzy unloaded a sequence of potent diss songs. If we may peep footage from the day Kendrick recorded “Not Like Us,” I’m fairly positive we’d see the room enveloped by a well-recognized golden glow.

2Pac = A Self-Actualized Bardock

Now, this one is hard, as a result of in Bardock The Father of Goku, Goku’s pops is a powerful, but finally pretty weak character. He beats up on tons of of Frieza troopers and is without doubt one of the strongest Saiyans of his period, however that’s solely of his period. However. However! If he had been capable of proceed coaching, proof means that he may have been one of many strongest warriors ever. Given his rebellious perspective and his complete rocking a pink bandana factor, he might need been the 2Pac of the Saiyan race.

Like Bardock, ’Pac wished his individuals to insurgent in opposition to the person earlier than it was too late. I imply, what’s Frieza if not a metaphor for white supremacy? Additionally like Bardock, ’Pac had arms and he may pull out the large weapons if mandatory. Just like Bardock, 2Pac wasn’t at all times the perfect man. However usually talking, he was down for and prepared to die for his people, and he was lower down earlier than he may attain his full potential. Additionally, by his personal admission, there can be no Kendrick Lamar if there was no ’Pac. Actually talking, there can be no Goku if there have been no Bardock.

Snoop Dogg = Grasp Roshi

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This one may appear left area, however stroll with me: these are tales of evolution that took two legendary figures from feared warriors to lovable, however pervy elder statesmen. If you happen to got here of age within the early ‘90s, the Snoop Dogg you have been launched to could be very totally different from the Snoop of immediately. Playful as he was, that Snoop was Mr. 187 — an embodiment of the gang-banging tradition that terrified the federal government and your next-door neighbors. He was additionally one of many best possible rappers on the earth, with a lethally agile move, sly humor and a penchant for indelible hooks. Between ‘93 and ‘95, he was arguably the most important rapper on the earth — a rap champion, you would possibly say.

Like Snoop, Grasp Roshi additionally underwent big-time modifications. When people first began listening to about him, he was the strongest fighter on the earth and a literal world martial arts champion. Whereas he wasn’t a felony, his fight abilities made him feared throughout the globe. Beneath all of the badass stuff, although, each these guys are pretty lovable and greater than a little bit chill. And so they love baddies; Roshi had a factor for train movies (and each fairly lady that approached him); Snoop truly has expertise producing porn. One went from the invincible turtle hermit to the foolish Billy Grasp Roshi. The Doggfather went from gangsta to Uncle Snoop. Throw on shades, give him a turtle shell and also you’re Grasp Roshi’s Black twin brother.

Travis Scott = Future Trunks

You’re mendacity should you say Future Trunks was by no means your favourite character. Simply take a look at his sword. Peep the Capsule Corp drip. Yeah, Goku took down Frieza, however who truly sliced him in half and blew him to bits? That will be Future Trunks, who pulled up and bodied essentially the most terrifying forces within the universe whereas embodying all of the icy cool of that child out of your homeroom who at all times had new Jordans and a contemporary lower. Whereas he regarded like a dweeb in highschool, Travis Scott has at all times been that man. He dates baddies. His lyrics are like hypebeast fortune cookies. Take heed to “Butterfly Impact.” He’s all vibes. Give it some thought: Future Trunks can be far more chill if all of the Z-fighters didn’t get killed. If you happen to peep LaFlame’s coiffure, it’s fairly straightforward to see it trying like Tremendous Saiyan Trunks’. Yeah. I simply be ok with this one.

JAY-Z = Beerus

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How a lot can we even take into consideration JAY-Z as a rapper as of late? It’s been seven years since his final LP, and he’s develop into so exceedingly wealthy, it simply continues feeling like he’s develop into one thing a lot larger than bars and beats. However the actuality is that he’s, by a major margin, the best rapper to ever decide up a microphone. He’s received all of it: triple-time flows, double-time. Metaphors, lyrics that may be as incisive as they’re vivid — as playful as they’re deadly. He can break your coronary heart. He can put it again collectively once more, too. He’s HOV. God MC, truly. He’s Beerus.

Beerus is the God of Destruction, a being whose fight skills are so sturdy that Frieza’s father straight-up instructed him he’d by no means need that smoke. He’s the perfect there’s just about, however his cosmic duty to explode planets makes him really feel like he’s a lot bigger than easy fist fights, even when he likes to come out and present Saiyan every so often. Like JAY, he’s neither a nasty man nor a great man on a regular basis. JAY received Meek Mill out of jail and has donated tens of millions of {dollars} to varied foundations through the years. He additionally co-founded jail reform group, REFORM Alliance. However he additionally left Colin Kaepernick hanging. Sigh. Um, Beerus? I imply, he’s the God of Destruction, but it surely’s kinda his job. He’s humorous, no less than.

Rakim = Kami

Rakim, Kami. The names even kinda sound alike, proper? Possibly probably not, however they’re counterparts all the identical. On the time he emerged, nobody had seen something fairly like Rakim — an agile rhymer whose calm supply and numerous bar constructions helped him earn the title “God MC.” Whereas laidback flows are customary now, it was Rakim who introduced it to the sport within the first place. Kami was one thing new, too, and shortly, he’d even be often called God — a literal one, because the guardian of the Earth. Together with his fight abilities and skill to create the dragon balls, Kami stood as a mythic determine that stood guard over the planet for a few years. In addition they impressed — gave start, even — the long run rap legends…

Child Buu = Lil Wayne

Watching Lil Wayne bounce from remix to remix in 2007 was sort of like watching Child Buu throughout his prehistoric planet destruction spree. It was a flurry of chaos and murderous creativity that would carry any opponent to their knees. A metabolism fueled by blood shed and self-created anarchy. Each gave off an air of spontaneity and impulse, with Weezy leaping to totally different beats as if he had an excessive amount of power to burn, and Buu simply needing to scratch the itch of planetary annihilation. Neither had conventional “targets”; it was just about destroy shit and vibes. It was all about manufacturing, and any symbolic milestones that accompanied have been secondary to the joys of the kills themselves. Weezy stated he wished us to feed him beats; Buu wished us to feed him individuals. At their core, each took totally different varieties, however followers (and victims) will at all times keep in mind the second these two have been essentially the most feared monsters within the universe.

’Ye = Vegeta

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If ever there was a being extra prideful — extra conceited — than ‘Ye, it might be Vegeta. He’s the prince of all Saiyans, and he received’t allow you to overlook it. By way of most of Dragon Ball Z, a self-mythologizing Vegeta rant was lurking across the nook like a villain who’s one way or the other at all times means stronger than the final. However did you flip it off although? After all you didn’t, identical to you didn’t when ‘Ye instructed Sway he didn’t have the solutions, or when he stated he stated he was Walt Disney. Even once you suspect — once you know — they’re lifeless improper, they’re actually exhausting to show away from. And their expertise typically justifies the eye. Vegeta destroyed planets; ‘Ye broke data. Vegeta grew to become a Tremendous Saiyan; ‘Ye made “All the Lights.” They each cuffed wealthy, self-absorbed baddies, they’re each controversial — each respect energy greater than the rest. ‘Ye went MAGA; Vegeta went Majin. On prime of all that, they’re additionally among the many two-to-five best ever at what they do, have raging tempers and have performed a bunch of untamed shit their youngsters are going to should ask them about sooner or later.

The Recreation = Mr. Devil

For what felt like a long time, Mr. Devil stood as the perfect capper in cap historical past, efficiently convincing the world that he, an peculiar ass man, defeated a super-powered android monster. He’s capable of promote it along with his charisma. In hip-hop, there isn’t any larger liar than The Recreation, to the purpose the place there are complete YouTube compilations of his tall tales. Like Mr. Devil, he’s technically good at what he does, however all that will get overshadowed by the self-produced fan fiction.

Nas = Piccolo

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If Rakim is Kami, then Nas is Piccolo, the logical conclusion of the Guardian of Earth’s evolution. I imply, take a look at that shit on Piccolo’s head? Seems like a kufi, to me. Technically, Piccolo is Kami’s son, or nephew or no matter, however you get the thought. Like Rakim, Nas rapped from the again of his throat as he distilled ghetto proverbs over jazzy soundscapes. Solely, Nas layered Rakim’s supply with an expansive creativeness and extra diverse vocal performances to develop into an much more potent spitter. Equally, Piccolo finally surpassed Kami, with the power of his assaults, in addition to his penchant for technique, making him one of the vital formidable warriors in your complete Dragon Ball universe. Like Nas, Piccolo took some losses — if we’re being actual, Nappa actually cooked his ass — however by the point Dragon Ball Superhero got here out, he’d greater than redeemed himself.

J. Cole = Yamcha

In his day, Yamcha was one of many baddest mofos on the market, you recognize? When he roamed the desert with Puar, superior within the World Martial Arts tournaments, fought bravely in opposition to the Saiyans, the man was an issue. However by the point Frieza got here to Earth, bruh was at all times ducking smoke! He had talked powerful previously, however as he and the Z-Fighters made their means throughout the wasteland to stare demise within the face and defend the planet the way in which they have been speculated to, he was speaking ’bout, “I don’t suppose I can do that, you guys!” That was J. Cole as he pulled out of the battle with Kendrick this previous spring. To be truthful, all of it received lots uglier than anybody wished, and you recognize, we should always commend him for his self-awareness and emotional maturity. However rap is a fight sport, and functionally, the world noticed J. Cole’s inner-Yamcha at work

Nicki Minaj = Frieza

For a very long time — and maybe nonetheless — Frieza and Nicki Minaj have been essentially the most feared forces within the universe. When people heard the title “Frieza,” they knew it was quiet for them and all their family members. Solely figuratively talking; I’m positive planetary takeovers are loud and really disagreeable. Between 2009 and 2017, Nicki was equally inevitable; each time she was nominated for a feminine rap award, she was kind of the one alternative. Each Frieza and Nicki have been so dominant that they regarded to take down anybody who may even start to problem them. For Frieza, it was the Saiyans. For Nicki — for a very long time no less than — it was just about each lady that picked up a mic. Each have a messy streak (Frieza killed Vegeta’s father and saved Vegeta round as his little pet!) and each are endlessly versatile; Frieza can mainly shapeshift into any one in every of 4 battle varieties, whereas Nicki can do growth bap or electropop. They each have fanatical followers that may seemingly die for them at any minute. All hail Lord Nicki.

Doechii = Pan

As I stated earlier than, people love appearing like Pan wasn’t a drawback, however I don’t suppose Doechii could have that very same subject. Recent off dropping her Alligator Bites By no means Heal mission, the Florida rhymer stands as one in every of rap’s subsequent nice dual-threats, and her enthusiasm and all-around versatility ought to guarantee she will get the Tremendous Saiyan transformation Pan’s by no means gotten. We will solely hope.

Wu-Tang Clan = Ginyu Drive

There have been a variety of highly effective dudes within the Dragon Ball cannon, however none have been as collectively cool because the Ginyu Drive, a clique that prioritized model and substance at each flip. In their very own means, so did the Wu-Tang Clan, an eclectic mixture of spitters with distinct skills and aesthetics that made them into particular person superstars. Just like the Ginyu Drive, they broke out in subcommittees, too; Raekwon and Ghostface Killah teamed up for Solely Constructed 4 Cuban Linx… Jeice and Burter joined forces to face Goku. They’ve each additionally received a controlling chief who insists on issues being performed a sure means. Though every of them may conquer a planet all by themselves, collectively, they have been essentially the most harmful group of their period.

Probability The Rapper = Gohan 

Probability The Rapper was the one. Like, the one. Go take heed to 10 Day and Acid Rap and inform me I’m mendacity. Shit, even Coloring E book. From the start, he demonstrated the rarefied mixture of subtext, creativity and rhyme dexterity to develop into one in every of rap’s all-time greats. However then, shit simply sort of began getting bizarre and a little bit annoying. When the child voices — not the cool Playboi Carti ones — began turning into a factor, the generational GOAT trajectory began to not be. Huge Day isn’t as dangerous as individuals keep in mind, but it surely was disappointing. Highly effective as he’s — as good a man as he’s — Gohan’s been a disappointment, too. From the second he botched his battle with Dabura, it was clear that Gohan wasn’t going to be his father.

Tyga = Krillin

Tyga has at all times been the designated, “Hey, this man sucks, why is he nonetheless right here?” rapper. And from the place I’m standing, that’s at all times been unfair. The RIAA would really feel the identical means. Courting again to the early 2010s, Tyga has stacked platinum plaque after platinum plaque as one in every of rap’s most deceptively constant hitmakers. Simply once you depend him out, he pulls up with a “Style.” You possibly can’t depend Krillin out, both. Thought he was going to get crushed by Dodoria? Effectively, his Photo voltaic Aptitude method managed to distract the Frieza henchman lengthy sufficient for him to avoid wasting the day. Thought he was killed by Frieza? Effectively, he got here again and lower his tail off. Clown them if you’d like, however once we want them most, they’ll pull up with a strong hit.

Megan Thee Stallion = Kefla

As fiery as she is highly effective, Kefla is Megan Thee Stallion coded — a mighty being with all the arrogance of her male counterparts. Like a Vegeta or Goku, she’s been bred for battle and has no qualms taking it to essentially the most highly effective beings to ever reside. As a result of people like to ignore Pan (and, understandably, Dragon Ball GT), she’s seen as one of many solely fearsome feminine warriors in her universe. Ditto for Megan, who’s been getting these bars off for a very long time, letting people know the true energy of a Tremendous Saiyan from Houston.

Jay Electronica = Yajirobe

If you happen to solely tuned into Dragon Ball Z, you solely keep in mind Yajirobe as a lazy slob. However once we have been first launched to him in Dragon Ball, his energy truly rivaled Goku’s. Severely, they fought to a stalemate, and he even killed one in every of King Piccolo’s youngsters. So, in concept, Yajirobe was one of many three or 4 strongest beings on planet Earth. However you know the way it goes from there: within the subsequent 30 or so years, he basically doesn’t do shit and mainly squanders his superb potential (for people, no less than). Contemplating this, I may solely take into consideration Jay Electronica and the primary time I heard “Exhibit C.” I used to be spellbound by his mic presence and penchant for symbolism — his self-assuredness and vocal tone. Fourteen years later, he’s solely launched one official album, and he’s actually spent all his time fucking round on X (previously Twitter) and spewing occasional nonsense. Not less than Yajirobe isn’t as self-important.