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Rappers gone soft?

By Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Toning down some of the more provocative and volatile elements that made these rappers stars has put their "street cred" on the line. But many of the artists spotlighted in the shows contend that instead of mellowing or selling out, they have done just the opposite -- that these shows demonstrate their true strength and honesty by stripping away the image and revealing the humanity underneath the persona. Here's a look at some rappers who have displayed their softer side:

Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo

Now fans of hip-hop can watch the music mogul, who cultivated a gangster-like persona while heading the Murder Inc. label in the '90s, in VH1's "Gotti's Way" having heart-to-heart talks with his former wife and his stepdaughter. The series chronicles his efforts at a professional comeback after being acquitted of laundering drug money.