History Main / RatedGForGangsta

* Wrestling/DwayneJohnson was once known exclusively as The Rock: a wrestler who hit you as hard in the ring as he did verbally outside of it, and if you didn't like it, you could keep your dislike to your self. When he first started acting he took roles like [[Film/TheScorpionKing a mercenary-turned-Scorpion King]], a professional bounty hunter (''Film/TheRundown'') and a grizzled Gunnery Sergeant Space Marine (''Film/{{Doom}}''). Then he showed up in ''Film/RaceToWitchMountain'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Planet 51}}'' and ''Film/TheToothFairy''. And even his wrestling career was a step down from his college football career, when he would spark bench clearing brawls by taking a swing at an opposing team's ''mascot.'' He's now doing a complete 180 in his film career as ''Film/{{Faster}}'' was DarkerAndEdgier than any of his other movie roles, and he's also starred in ''Film/FastFive''. When he came back to WWE in 2011 he still had to tone himself down a lot, since ''Wrestling/MondayNightRaw'' is TV-PG now. To his credit he at least tried to push the envelope a bit, as much as WWE would let him get away with anyway. Dwayne would continue to [[ZigzaggedTrope zigzag this trope]], however, by co-starring in ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'', a 2017 Disney musical film--and millions of viewers would hear him ''sing a musical number'' for the first time.

Compare TomHanksSyndrome. Related to BadassDecay, LighterAndSofter, KinderAndCleaner (if the rapper cuts down on their language use), ScaryMusicianHarmlessMusic and BleachedUnderpants (when a work distances itself from its [[NotSafeForWork NSFW]] beginnings). SoMyKidsCanWatch happens when a performer does family-friendly fare with every intention of going back to business as usual afterwards.

* Wrestling/TrishStratus portrayed a vampy seductress whose initial storylines in WWE were seducing Bubba Ray Dudley via his table fetish, and having an affair with Vince [=McMahon=]. Around 2002 she started being pushed as a serious wrestler, toned down her ring gear and was more of a PluckyGirl in the ring. Even after a heel turn in 2004 she was subject to SlutShaming but her character avoided EvilIsSexy.

* Music/IceT went from rapping about being a hustler and killing cops to playing a cop on SVU and starring in a reality show with his model wife [=CoCo=] Austin. Subverted in that while he hasn't really gone back to gangsta rap, he continues to release hard-hitting thrash metal via his band Body Count.

** Eminem first rose to prominence as a shock comedy rapper who relied on disgusting, violent, and bigoted lyrics sung in-character as the stage persona of Slim Shady, attracting outcry from MoralGuardians. After an assault conviction in 2000 forced him to quit the drugs that powered his early songwriting, he toned down the aggression in favor of both serious material and playful ToiletHumor before a near-fatal battle with Ambien addiction motivated him to channel his experiences in the {{horrorcore}} album ''Relapse''. The backlash it generated resulted in him embracing PopRap on his next three albums, focusing on his RecoveredAddict status while still retaining his dark lyrical style. Eventually, he moved back to his more aggressive roots after ''Revival'' earned an even bigger backlash than ''Relapse'', though by then his image had already changed to the extent where his music was turning up in trailers for children's films, like the ''Franchise/DespicableMe'' franchise and ''Film/{{Shazam}}''.

** Eminem first rose to prominence as a shock comedy rapper who relied on disgusting, violent, and bigoted lyrics sung in-character as the stage persona of Slim Shady, attracting outcry from MoralGuardians. After an assault conviction in 2000 forced him to quit the drugs that powered his early songwriting, he toned down the aggression in favor of both serious material and playful ToiletHumor before a near-fatal battle with Ambien addiction motivated him to channel his experiences in the {{horrorcore}} album ''Relapse''. The backlash it generated resulted in him embracing PopRap on his next three albums, focusing on his RecoveredAddict status while still retaining his dark lyrical style. Eventually, he moved back to his more aggressive roots after ''Revival'' earned an even bigger backlash than ''Relapse'', though by then his image had already changed to the extent where his music was turning up in trailers for children's films, like the ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' franchise and ''Film/{{Shazam}}''.

** Eminem, by his own admission, [[EnforcedTrope enforced]] this on Proof's {{Horrorcore}} group D12. Several members of the group, in particular Swift, were legit gangstas, and at first the group made music playing off GangstaRap tropes. However, once Eminem broke out, he realised his relative fame would lead to him coming off as TheFaceOfTheBand (even though he started out as just another member, and still viewed himself as such) and that being the TokenWhite in charge of a group of black gangstas would have UnfortunateImplications. Therefore, he pushed them into becoming more of a pop-hip-hop band, producing their music in the same melodic, SubvertedKidsShow style he used on his own work. While D12's album tracks retain that edge ("don't think because we do popular music you won't get popped!"), their singles fit within the tone of Eminem's work at the time of release; their biggest hit, "My Band", with its AdamWesting of Eminem's superstar persona, would be right at home on Eminem's ''Encore''.

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who rapped [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. Eminem's assault conviction in 2000 forced him to quit the shrooms and ecstasy which powered his writing and made him grow up -- his starring role in ''Film/EightMile'' presents him as a nervous, serious youth, while ''Music/TheEminemShow'' and ''Music/{{Encore}}'' [[KinderAndCleaner cut down on]] bigotry, shock-violence and drugs for emotional songs and playful ToiletHumor. In 2010, after a much-needed CreatorRecovery, and partially in response to a graphic {{Horrorcore}} album that failed to impress critics, Eminem debuted a [[ImportantHaircut clean-cut]] RecoveredAddict image and began doing [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] SelfEmpowermentAnthem PopRap with collaborators like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, even if his singles got more poppy, his lyrics remained dark (and homophobic), and several of his album tracks are as graphic as anything from his younger days.
** This progression was eventually averted by 2017's ''Revival'', which fans and critics found too safe and commercial. In response, Eminem ditched most of his pop elements for a modern hip-hop sound, and his singles got more meaningfully controversial (with one, "Darkness", being blocked from the WebSite/YouTube chart due to its insensitive depiction of a mass shooting). With right-leaning commentators fuming about Eminem taking a knee at the 2022 Super Bowl half-time show, he was once again antagonising the same people who saw him as a menace to society 20 years before... although certainly not as much. And by this point, his music was turning up in trailers for children's films, like the ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' franchise and ''Film/{{Shazam}}''.

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who rapped [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. Eminem's assault conviction in 2000 forced him to quit the shrooms and ecstasy which powered his writing and made him grow up -- his starring role in ''Film/EightMile'' presents him as a nervous, serious youth, while ''Music/TheEminemShow'' and ''Music/{{Encore}}'' [[KinderAndCleaner cut down on]] bigotry, shock-violence and drugs for emotional songs and playful ToiletHumor. In 2010, after a much-needed CreatorRecovery, Eminem debuted a clean-cut RecoveredAddict image and began doing [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] SelfEmpowermentAnthem PopRap with collaborators like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, even if his singles got more poppy, his lyrics remained dark (and homophobic), and several of his album tracks are as graphic as anything from his younger days.

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who rapped [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. Eminem's assault conviction in 2000 forced him to quit the shrooms and ecstasy which powered his writing and made him grow up -- ''Music/TheEminemShow'' [[KinderAndCleaner cuts down on]] bigotry, shock-violence and drugs, and his starring role in ''Film/EightMile'' presents him as a nervous, serious youth. ''Music/{{Encore}} relies on ToiletHumor rather than drugs and bigotry, and contains multiple songs apologising for his past bad behaviour. In 2010, after a hard-earned CreatorRecovery, he debuted a new RecoveredAddict persona and began doing [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] SelfEmpowermentAnthem PopRap with collaborators like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, even if his singles got more poppy, his lyrics remained dark (and homophobic), and several of his album tracks are as graphic as anything from his younger days.
** This progression was eventually averted by 2017's ''Revival'', which fans and critics found too safe and commercial. In response, Eminem largely ditched pop for a modern hip-hop sound, and his singles got more meaningfully controversial (with one, "Darkness", being blocked from the WebSite/YouTube chart due to its insensitive depiction of a mass shooting). With left-leaning commentators outraged about his COVID-19 shock comedy in "Gnat"[[note]]eating a live bat, downing hydroxychloroquine, and coughing in the viewer's face[[/note]], and right-leaning commentators fuming about Eminem taking a knee at the 2022 Super Bowl half-time show, he was once again antagonising the same people who saw him as a menace to society 20 years before... although at the same time, his music was turning up in trailers for children's films like the ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' franchise.

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who, through a {{Kayfabe}} AntiRoleModel alter-ego character named Slim Shady, rapped [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. Eminem's assault conviction in 2000 forced him to quit the shrooms and ecstasy which powered his writing and made him grow up - ''Music/TheEminemShow'' [[KinderAndCleaner significantly cuts down on]] bigotry, shock-violence and drugs, and his starring role in the movie ''Film/EightMile'' presents him as a nervous, serious youth. "Lose Yourself", ''8 Mile'''s theme song (containing no shock humour beyond [[StressVomit a puke joke]]), won Eminem an Oscar and became his unexpectedly dignified SignatureSong. After tiring of the beefs he was caught in in 2003 (which threatened to spill over into real violence), Eminem released ''Encore'' in 2004, which -- while still silly and offensive -- relies on ToiletHumor rather than drugs and bigotry, and contains multiple songs apologising for his past bad behaviour.
** Eminem attempted a CareerResurrection after taking years off to deal with [[CreatorBreakdown a drug addiction that almost killed him]]. Feeling people wanted him to come back "as nasty as he can", he released a {{Horrorcore}} ConceptAlbum, ''Relapse'', which went full force with shock content... and then [[CreatorBacklash cringed]] at it, especially after its puzzled critical reception. In 2010, he ditched his old baggy hip-hop outfits for a leather jacket and a dark buzz cut and began doing [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] PopRap with people like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, even if his production was more poppy, his lyrics remained dark (and still included homophobic slurs), and several of his album tracks are as graphic as anything from his younger days (particularly on ''Hell: The Sequel'' and ''SHADYXV'').
** This progression was eventually averted by a negative reaction to 2017's ''Revival'', which fans and critics found too safe and commercial. In response, Eminem ditched his stadium-pop style for modern hip-hop production, with more [[HairTriggerTemper rage]], goofball shock comedy, and [[TakeThatCritics rants about the critics]], and his singles got more meaningfully controversial (with one, "Darkness", being blocked from the WebSite/YouTube chart due to its insensitive depiction of a mass shooting). With left-leaning commentators outraged about his COVID-19 shock comedy in "Gnat"[[note]]eating a live bat, downing hydroxychloroquine, and coughing in the viewer's face[[/note]], and right-leaning commentators fuming about Eminem taking a knee at the 2022 Super Bowl half-time show, he was once again antagonising the same people who saw him as a menace to society 20 years before.

* Music/KanyeWest is an inversion. He started out as a wholesome, self-deprecating character who rapped over soulful beats, but slowly became DarkerAndEdgier and more controversial after getting famous, and especially after the death of his mother. In 2018, following a period of disturbing and megalomaniacal behaviour, Kanye released ''Jesus is King'', a squeaky clean gospel hip hop album, and announced he would only make religious music from here on, with no swearing. He did not stick to this promise, putting out the extremely dark and disturbing hip-hop albums ''DONDA'' and ''DONDA 2'', then, unfortunately, running for President as [[ThoseWackyNazis an avowed neo-Nazi]].

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who, through a {{Kayfabe}} AntiRoleModel alter-ego character named Slim Shady, rapped [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. At the same time, his unparalleled technical ability led to him winning fans amongst music journalists, who began to accept him into the music establishment around the time he released his classic MurderBallad "Stan" - especially after his performance with Music/EltonJohn quelled some concern about the comedy homophobia. Eminem was hit with an assault conviction in 2000, which shocked him into growing up a little - ''Music/TheEminemShow'' [[KinderAndCleaner significantly cuts down on]] bigotry, shock-violence and drugs.
** Soon, he was starring in the movie ''Film/EightMile'', which, while still capturing the gritty Detroit poverty he raps about in his earlier GangstaRap material, was intended by Interscope to win over people who were put off by Eminem's reputation, presenting his character as a nervous youth directing his violence against deserving targets. "Lose Yourself", the movie's theme song (containing no shock humour beyond [[StressVomit a puke joke]]), won Eminem an Oscar and became his unexpectedly dignified SignatureSong. After tiring of the beefs he was caught in in 2003 (which threatened to spill over into real violence), Eminem released ''Encore'' in 2004, which offends with ToiletHumor rather than drugs and bigotry, and contains multiple songs apologising for his past bad behaviour.
** Eminem attempted a CareerResurrection after taking years off to deal with [[CreatorBreakdown a drug addiction that almost killed him]]. Feeling people wanted him to come back "as nasty as he can", he released a {{Horrorcore}} ConceptAlbum, ''Relapse'', which went full force with shock content... and then [[CreatorBacklash cringed]] at it, especially after its puzzled critical reception. In 2010, he ditched his old baggy hip-hop outfits for a leather jacket and a dark buzz cut and began doing [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] pop-rap collaborations with people like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, while his early-2010s albums' ''tone'' was more melodic and pop-oriented, their ''lyrics'' maintained darkness - his megahit "Love the Way You Lie" has a catchy chorus but is about a graphically-described DestructiveRomance much heavier than anything else on the radio in 2010, and several of his album tracks are as graphic as anything from his younger days (particularly on ''Hell: The Sequel'' and ''SHADYXV''). Eminem also continued to use homophobic slurs and rape jokes in his music, which were controversial back in the year 2000, but ''well'' beyond the JustJokingJustification by TheNewTens, resulting in a lot of angry thinkpieces.
** This progression was eventually averted. After a negative reaction to him maintaining the pop sound in 2017's ''Revival'', Eminem ditched a lot of the pop elements and returned to his old obsession with [[HairTriggerTemper furious]] [[TakeThatCritics screeds against his enemies]]. He has moved away from straight shock comedy in favour of wordplay humour, and his lyrics are less violent, but with songs like the mass shooter horror anthem "Darkness" and the shock COVID-related violence in "Gnat" (with a video in which he coughs in the viewer's face, and eats a live bat), music reviewers were genuinely scared of him for the first time since 2003. And him taking the knee at the 2022 Super Bowl Half Time Show - while there were confused reports on whether the NFL had actually permitted it or not - wound up the same right-wing politicians that had viewed him as a menace to society 20 years before.

* Subversion with Music/KanyeWest, whose music and actions have become DarkerAndEdgier and more controversial since becoming famous. However, played straight when he released ''Jesus is King'', a squeaky clean gospel hip hop album, and announced he would be focusing on the wholesome Christian persona instead.

* Music/OzzyOsbourne was known as a particular family-unfriendly rockstar with Satanic undertones and lurid legends of his backstage exploits. Since the airing of ''The Osbournes'', however, he's viewed as a befuddled and doddering old man. His harmless media appearances since then include pitching ''World of Warcraft''. Those "Satanic undertones" were also often, especially in the case of early Black Sabbath, NotChristianRock.

* {{Wrestling/Melina}} debuted on WWE TV doing a striptease and her time as a valet to MNM saw her performing the splits on the apron wearing a short skirt - allowing a panty shot for the fans. She switched to long pants and transitioned to full-time wrestler - though kept the sexy entrance - but was pushed as a top babyface during the PG Era.

* {{Wrestling/Melina}} debuted on WWE TV doing a striptease and her time as a valet to MNM saw her performing the splits on the apron wearing a short skirt - allowing a PantyShot for the fans. She switched to long pants and transitioned to full-time wrestler - though kept the sexy entrance - but was pushed as a top babyface during the PG Era.

** Eminem attempted a CareerResurrection after taking years off to deal with [[CreatorBreakdown a drug addiction that almost killed him]]. Feeling people wanted him to come back "as nasty as he can", he released a {{Horrorcore}} ConceptAlbum, ''Relapse'', which went full force with shock content... and then [[CreatorBacklash cringed]] at it, especially after its puzzled critical reception. In 2010, he ditched his old baggy hip-hop outfits for a leather jacket and a dark buzz cut and began doing [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] pop-rap collaborations with people like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, while his early-2010s albums' ''tone'' was more melodic and pop-oriented, their ''lyrics'' maintained darkness - his megahit "Love the Way You Lie" has a catchy chorus but is about a graphically-described DestructiveRomance much heavier than anything else on the radio in 2010, and several of his album tracks are as graphic as anything from his younger days (particularly on ''Hell: The Sequel''). Eminem also continued to use homophobic slurs and rape jokes in his music, which were controversial back in the year 2000, but ''well'' beyond the JustJokingJustification by TheNewTens, resulting in a lot of angry thinkpieces.

* Music/DrDre went from being in the terrifying rap group Music/{{NWA}} and being a notorious woman-beater, to being the OnlySaneMan as his peroxided [[TheNotLoveInterest protege and muse]] Eminem cartoonishly rampaged in his videos. In the decades after that, he got progressively more domesticated and ended up as a billionaire Apple executive. Now, if his name is mentioned, it will be in his capacity as a sensitive, genius artist.

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who, through a {{Kayfabe}} AntiRoleModel alter-ego character named Slim Shady, rapped - in a squeaky voice, with cartoon sound effects - [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. At the same time, his unparalleled technical ability led to him winning a lot of fans amongst music journalists, who began to accept him into the music establishment around the time he released his classic MurderBallad "Stan" - especially after his performance with Music/EltonJohn quelled some concern about the comedy homophobia. ''Music/TheEminemShow'' mostly excises the homophobia (apart from one reference on "Without Me", a song intended to gently ease in his old fans into his new style), gets rid of most of the drug talk, and the violence is mostly realistic and taken seriously rather than the BloodyHilarious slapstick in his older work - Eminem had wanted to prove he could make good music without relying on shock value.
** Soon, he was starring in the movie ''Film/EightMile'', which, while still capturing the gritty Detroit poverty he raps about in his earlier GangstaRap material, was intended by Interscope to win over people who were put off by Eminem's reputation [[note]]a pitch to make a violent shock comedy movie about Slim Shady was [[ExecutiveMeddling rejected extremely fast]][[/note]], names his character "Rabbit" to make him look cuddly, and presents him as a defender of a gay friend at work. After having his biggest ever hit with "Lose Yourself" and winning an Oscar for it, Eminem stopped wanting to hurt people as much and moved towards PottyHumor on ''Encore'' as a way of annoying people without offending, which also had the effect of making his music [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids even more appealing to children.]] (Eminem even recorded an extensive Clean version of ''Encore'' with plenty of altered lyrics, in the hope it'd find a children's market.) Soon after, he made some unconvincing attempts at softening his image further, into more of a [[GlamRap party rapper]].
** After a negative reaction to his {{Horrorcore}} concept album ''Relapse'', which went full force with shock content, he changed his image, started dressing like a rock star rather than a rapper, and began churning out sincere, [[RadioFriendliness radio-friendly]] pop-rap collaborations with people like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, while his early-2010s albums' ''tone'' was more melodic and pop-oriented, their ''lyrics'' maintained darkness - his hit "Love the Way You Lie" has a catchy chorus but is about a graphically-described DestructiveRomance much heavier than anything else on the radio in 2010. Eminem also continued to use homophobic slurs and rape jokes in his music, which were controversial back in the year 2000, but ''well'' beyond the JustJokingJustification by TheNewTens, meaning that few music critics would now defend him, and resulting in many, many belated apologies.
** This progression was eventually averted. After a negative reaction to him maintaining the pop sound in ''Revival'', however, Eminem ditched a lot of the pop elements and returned to his old well of [[HairTriggerTemper furious]] [[TakeThatCritics screeds against his enemies]]. He has moved away from straight shock comedy in favour of wordplay humour, and his lyrics are less violent, but with songs like the mass shooter horror anthem "Darkness" and the shock COVID-related violence in "Gnat" (with a video in which he coughs in the viewer's face, and eats a live bat), music reviewers were genuinely scared of him for the first time since 2003.

Compare TomHanksSyndrome. Related to BadassDecay, LighterAndSofter, ScaryMusicianHarmlessMusic and BleachedUnderpants (when a work distances itself from its [[NotSafeForWork NSFW]] beginnings). SoMyKidsCanWatch happens when a performer does family-friendly fare with every intention of going back to business as usual afterwards.

* Music/DrDre went from being in the terrifying rap group Music/{{NWA}} and being a notorious woman-beater, to being the OnlySaneMan as his [[TheNotLoveInterest protege and muse]] Eminem cartoonishly rampaged in his videos. In the decades after that, he got progressively more domesticated and ended up as a billionaire Apple executive. Now, if his name is mentioned, it will be in his capacity as a sensitive, genius artist.

** Em started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who, through a {{Kayfabe}} AntiRoleModel alter-ego character named Slim Shady, rapped - in a squeaky voice, with cartoon sound effects - [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. At the same time, his unparalleled technical ability led to him winning a lot of fans amongst music journalists, who began to accept him into the music establishment around the time he released his classic MurderBallad "Stan" - especially after his performance with Music/EltonJohn quelled some concern about the comedy homophobia. Soon, he was starring in the movie ''Film/EightMile'', which, while still capturing the gritty Detroit poverty he raps about in his earlier GangstaRap material, was intended by Interscope to win over people who were put off by Eminem's BloodyHilarious violence [[note]]a pitch to make a violent shock comedy movie about Slim Shady was [[ExecutiveMeddling rejected extremely fast]][[/note]], names his character "Rabbit" to make him look cuddly, and presents him as a defender of a gay friend at work. After winning an Oscar for ''8 Mile'', Eminem moved away from cartoon violence to more generic grossout humour that didn't have as much substance for critics to defend - after a negative reaction to his {{Horrorcore}} concept album ''Relapse'', he changed his image and began churning out sincere, radio-friendly pop-rap collaborations with people like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, while his later albums' ''tone'' was more melodic and pop-oriented, their ''lyrics'' maintained darkness - his hit "Love the Way You Lie" has a catchy chorus but is about a graphically-described DestructiveRomance much heavier than anything else on the radio in 2010. Eminem also continued to use homophobic slurs and rape jokes in his music, which were controversial back in the year 2000, but ''well'' beyond the JustJokingJustification by TheNewTens, meaning that few music critics would now defend him, and resulting in many, many belated apologies.

* Music/DrDre went from being in the terrifying rap group {{NWA}} and being a notorious woman-beater, to being the OnlySaneMan failing to keep his protege and [[TheNotLoveInterest muse]] Eminem under control. In the decades after that, he got progressively more domesticated and ended up as a billionaire Apple executive. Now, if his name is mentioned, it will be in his capacity as a sensitive, genius artist.

* Music/IceCube -- same thing, from rapper to horror movie star, to ''Are We There Yet''. He does go back from time to time, alternating roles between "badass thug" and "UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist". His character in the Film/TwentyOneJumpStreet movies manages to be ''both''.

** Eminem, by his own admission, [[EnforcedTrope enforced]] this on Proof's {{Horrorcore}} group D12. Several members of the group, in particular Swift, were legit gangstas, and at first the group made music playing off GangstaRap tropes. However, once Eminem broke out, he realised his relative fame would lead to him coming off as TheFaceOfTheBand (even though he started out as just another member, and still viewed himself as such) and that being the TokenWhite in charge of a group of black gangstas would have UnfortunateImplications. While D12's album tracks retain that edge ("don't think because we do popular music you won't get popped!"), their singles fit within the tone of Eminem's work at the time of release; their biggest hit, "My Band", with its AdamWesting of Eminem's superstar persona, would be right at home on Eminem's ''Encore''.

* Music/{{Eminem}} started out as a controversy-bait shock-comedian who, through a {{Kayfabe}} AntiRoleModel alter-ego character named Slim Shady, rapped - in a squeaky voice, with cartoon sound effects - [[CrossesTheLineTwice disgusting, violent and bigoted lyrics]] [[UnreliableNarrator blurring fact and fiction]] that drew [[TheNewRockAndRoll significant criticism]] from MoralGuardians. At the same time, his unparalleled technical ability led to him winning a lot of fans amongst music journalists, who began to accept him into the music establishment around the time he released his classic MurderBallad "Stan" - especially after his performance with Music/EltonJohn quelled some concern about the comedy homophobia. Soon, he was starring in the movie ''Film/EightMile'', which, while still capturing the gritty Detroit poverty he raps about in his earlier GangstaRap material, was intended by Interscope to win over people who were put off by Eminem's BloodyHilarious violence [[note]]a pitch to make a violent shock comedy movie about Slim Shady was [[ExecutiveMeddling rejected extremely fast]][[/note]], names his character "Rabbit" to make him look cuddly, and presents him as a defender of a gay friend at work. After winning an Oscar for ''8 Mile'', Eminem moved away from cartoon violence to more generic grossout humour that didn't have as much substance for critics to defend - after a negative reaction to his {{Horrorcore}} concept album ''Relapse'', he changed his image and began churning out sincere, radio-friendly pop-rap collaborations with people like Music/{{Rihanna}} and Music/{{Bruno Mars}}. However, while his later albums' ''tone'' was more melodic and pop-oriented, their ''lyrics'' maintained darkness - his hit "Love the Way You Lie" has a catchy chorus but is about a graphically-described DestructiveRomance much heavier than anything else on the radio in 2010. Eminem also continued to use homophobic slurs and rape jokes in his music, which were controversial back in the year 2000, but ''well'' beyond the JustJokingJustification by TheNewTens, meaning that few music critics would now defend him, and resulting in many, many belated apologies.