Changing stage names isn't exactly a new phenomenon in rap, just ask Diddy (or Puff Daddy or LOVE). However, in the social media age, rappers are more likely to announce name changes that may or may not actually stick. Young Thug has already announced that his stage name would shift to "No, My Name Is Jeffery," then just, "Jeffery," and later "SEX," none of which have taken any sort of lasting effect. With that in mind, Lil Pump's announcement that he will be known from now on as "Jet Ski" should be taken with a grain of salt.
In what looks very much like a spur-of-the-moment decision, and most likely, a joke, Pump told his followers on Instagram that he will no longer be answering to his original rap name. "My new name is Jet Ski, okay?" he said. "Don't call me Lil Pump, call me Jet Ski." In a second clip, someone offscreen calls, "Yo, Pump," but the rapper refuses to acknowledge it, only lifting his head when his friend gives in: "Yo, Jet Ski!"
Last week, Pum--sorry, Jet Ski, revealed that his Harvard Dropout mixtape was complete. The project is currently without a release date, but the lead single "Eskeetit," is expected to be released soon. The news comes following reports that the rapper re-signed with Warner Bros. in a deal that included an $8 million advance.