When fans talk about where their favorite artists are from, they’re usually referring to the city that raised them or the place that launched their careers. But birthplace? That’s a different story. Some of Hip Hop and R&B’s biggest names rep one city hard while having been born in a totally different one -- and sometimes, it’s even way across the globe. From New York to the U.K. to Germany and Morocco, these artists prove that your origin story isn’t always the one people expect. Keep reading for an intriguing list of 13 stars whose birthplaces might just surprise you.

1. Tupac Shakur

Tupac’s name is practically synonymous with West Coast rap, but he was born in East Harlem, New York. Before he moved to California and joined Death Row Records, he was also a student at Baltimore School for the Arts, soaking in East Coast influences that would later merge with his West Coast dominance. Did you know the late legend was from Harlem?

2. Pusha T

Known for repping Virginia Beach alongside his brother Malice, Pusha T was actually born in the Bronx, New York. His family moved south when he was young, but those early roots in New York quietly tie him to Hip Hop’s birthplace.

3. Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj helped put Queens, New York on the map with her animated flows and alter egos, but she was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago. She moved to the U.S. as a young child but often nods to her island roots in her music.

4. The Weeknd

With his moody, genre-bending R&B, The Weeknd has always felt like a global artist. Still, fans might be surprised to learn he was born in Toronto to Ethiopian immigrant parents and not the U.S., where much of his career exploded.

5. J. Cole

J. Cole is all about Fayetteville, North Carolina! But the “She Knows” hitmaker was born in Frankfurt, West Germany on a U.S. military base. His mom brought him to North Carolina shortly after, where he grew up and eventually launched his rap career.

6. Ella Mai

The smooth-voiced “Boo’d Up” singer is often linked to LA’s R&B scene, but Ella Mai’s roots trace back across the pond. Born in London, she spent her early years traveling between the U.K. and other places. At age 12, she relocated to Queens after her mother landed a teaching job, but the move wasn’t easy. Ella was frequently bullied for her British accent. She later graduated from Queens High School of Teaching before returning to England.

7. Latto

Latto reps ClayCo (Clayton County), Georgia hard, and most people associate her with Atlanta rap. But the “Big Energy” star was actually born in Columbus, Ohio. Her family moved to Georgia when she was a kid, and that Southern upbringing shaped her identity and her sound.

8. Slick Rick

The eye patch-wearing legend is one of Hip Hop’s greatest storytellers, but did you know that he was actually born in London? Slick Rick moved to the Bronx as a child, where he later rose to fame during rap’s golden era.

9. SZA

Known for repping New Jersey and later linking up with the TDE crew in California, SZA was actually born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her Midwestern start doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s definitely still part of her journey.

10. 21 Savage

21 Savage’s signature drawl screams Atlanta, but he was born in London, England. The news broke in 2019 when ICE detained him over visa issues, and fans were shocked to learn he was technically a British citizen.

11. Lizzo

Lizzo reps Houston proudly and found her musical footing in Minneapolis, but her story actually starts in Detroit. The Grammy-winning artist was born in the Motor City, a fact that’s often left out. She later moved to H-Town, where she spent most of her youth and attended the University of Houston. While Minneapolis helped sharpen her artistry and Houston shaped her confidence, Detroit is where it all began.

12. French Montana

French Montana represents the Bronx proudly, but he was born in Casablanca, Morocco. He moved to the U.S. with his family when he was a teen and learned English by watching rap videos, which eventually shaped his own music career.

13. 6LACK

6LACK’s sound is tied closely to Atlanta’s alternative R&B scene, but he was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His family relocated to Atlanta when he was young, where he later developed his signature moody, melodic style!

From the Bronx to the U.K., these artists remind us that birthplace is just one part of the story. In Hip Hop and R&B, it’s not where you’re from, it’s where you take it.