Best ever rapper yearbook photos: Eminem, Ice Cube and Kanye West looked VERY different back in the day

2015 is coming to an end, so why not reflect on some embarrassing pre-fame snaps of some of the biggest names in hip-hop.

Another year is almost over, and the next few weeks are a time for reflection on the last 12 months.

More photos of rappers below...

The likes of Kanye West , Eminem and Nicki Minaj are on top of the game in 2015, but they weren't always as cool as they are now, spitting rhymes and holding hordes of fans in the palm of their hands.

Nope - even the rich and famous had to suffer through an embarrassing school picture in their youth, and thankfully for us that includes some of the best-known names in the hip-hop game.

Here is a look back at how some of your favorite stars have changed over the years:

Eminem

Yes, that's the real Slim Shady . Really, really.

Now recognized as one of the best rappers on the planet, it's hard to believe this is actually Marshall Mathers himself sporting a dark mullet at Lincoln High School back in 1989.

Ice Cube

Speaking of wildly unexpected hairdos, here is N.W.A. alum and 21 Jump Street star Ice Cube sporting jet black curled locks.

In 1987, the star was a senior in high school at the Phoenix Institute of Technology - around the time the foundations were laid for one the most influence hip-hop acts in history.

MC Hammer

Back in 1980, Stanley Burrell had no idea he would go on to become hip-hop icon M.C. Hammer , with a legacy including chart-topping hits, inspiring fashion choices and his own dance moves.

However, less than a decade later U Can't Touch This broke into the Top 10 in the Billboard 200, hitting Number Three in the UK. The rest is history.

Drake

Best I Ever Had rapper Drake is one of the younger stars here, and he actually attended two high schools before finally graduating in 2012.

Seeing him here with more hair and a pair of glasses, his charm is evident - even if his style doesn't quite match our immediate impression of the hip-hop star.

Missy Elliot

Missy Elliot - who was actually moved up two years ahead of her class early on because of her above average intelligence - graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1990.

Seven years later, she released her debut solo album Supa Dupa Fly, launching a career which is still going to this day, with music video WTF unveiled last month.

Snoop Dogg

Known as much for his iconic look and sense of style as he is his pioneering music, Snoop looked very different when he attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School as a member of the class of 1989.

Four years later, he released Doggystyle, which is now regarded as one of the most important hip hop albums of all time.

Kanye West

Now, Kanye West is half of one of the most famous couples in the world, and has built his own empire across fashion and music.

The star attended Polaris High School, and previous claimed he received As and Bs before starting at Chicago's American Academy of Art in 1997 - transferring to study English at Chicago State University, dropping out and becoming a huge success.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj attended LaGuardia High School in Manhattan as a young girl, focusing on visual and performing artists before attempting a career in acting.

Broadway's loss was hip-hop's gain, as the rapper eventually found her breakthrough in 2010 when Pink Friday topped charts in the US - achieving the same feat in the UK with a re-release two years later.

Will Smith

Will Smith was a student at Overbrook High School, and just two years after graduating he won the first Rap category Grammy Award in 1988.

Two years later, Fresh Prince of Bel Air was launched and stole a generation's hearts, before the star went on to become a huge name in both film and music.