Rapper Fat Al must change name

Cosby felt rapper's handle was too similar to cartoon Fat Albert

Nov 14, 2006

Atlantic recording artist Fat Al is forced to change his name after Bill Cosby objected, saying it was too close to his character Fat Albert.

Despite scoring a hip-hop hit with "I Came Down," teen rapper Fat Al has to change his name.

Bill Cosby objected to the young MC's nom-de-rap, claiming the Atlantic recording artist's handle was too similar to that of his famous cartoon character, Fat Albert of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. Atlantic Records executives tried to get the legendary comedian to compromise, but Cosby wouldn't budge. So the 19-year-old rapper had to change his name to Al Fatz.

"I guess he doesn't like rappers," Fatz (real name: Aljaray Gaston) said about the controversy. "I'm just trying to come up, and Bill Cosby was hating. I know one thing: I won't be buying any more Jell-O pudding."

Not-so-Fun-Fact: The United States has the highest rates of obesity in the developed world. From 1980 to 2002, the incidence of obesity has doubled in adults and overweight prevalence has tripled in children and adolescents. From 2003-2004, "children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, 17.1% were overweight . . . and 32.2% of adults aged 20 years or older were obese."

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