The Top Five Oldest Looking, Yet Youngest Black Musicians Ever

It's no lie. Black men, face wise, age quickly. When I was 23, people mistook me for 33. The huge, grizzly man beard didn't help my case, but still, blacks look old when they're young. That is, of course, until we hit 35, which we can look well into our 40s. It's strange. Anywho, without further ado...

(Image taken from: 24hourhiphop.com)

5. T-Pain
Real age: 26
How old he looks: 34

Back in 2006 when T-Pain first appeared on the scene with the song, "I'm F**ked Up," I immediately needed to see who sang it. And when I did, I said, "Wow, he's getting into the game pretty late at 30." He was only 19 years old at the time. Point made.

(Image taken from:

4. Wale
Real age: 27
How old he looks: 33

Wale is one year younger than me. But we look neck and neck when it comes to looking in our 30s. I always say that you have to subtract about six years when gauging how old a black dude is, and Wale is evidence of that. See?

(Image taken from: apollokidz.com)

3. Ol' Dirty Bastard
Real age (At death): 35
How old he looked entire career: 35

'Ol Dirty Bastard is RIGHT. When did this guy EVER look young? Sure, it could be the coke that did it to him, but...yeah, it was probably the coke. Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

(Image taken from: last.fm)

2. Jimi Hendrix
Real Age (At death): 27
How old he looked: 40

There's no question, Jimi Hendrix was a rock god. But he was also damned young when he died. He was even younger than me! That said, he looked like he'd been playing geetar for over 20 years. Next to Kurt Cobain, he was the oldest looking 27 year old EVER. Alcohol is a hell of a drug.

(Image taken from: fanpix.net)

1. The Notorious B.I.G.
Real age (At death): 24
How old he looked: 44

Maybe it was the heavy eyelids, maybe it was the deep voice, or maybe it was just the everyday struggle lyrics, but B.I.G. looked mad old by the time he died. Amazingly, he was the youngest person on this list. Damn...