Socialite Nicole Richie had a surprising childhood ambition before she became a reality TV star - she wanted to become a rapper.

The Simple Life star began perfecting her rhymes at a young age and formed an all-girl hip-hop group by the time she was 10 with the support of her parents, singer Lionel Richie and his ex-wife Brenda.

Sharing the embarrassing secret on her website, she writes, "When I was 10 years old, I was in an all girl hip-hop/rap group. Our name? get ready… CAUTION! It was me and my 2 girlfriends; but they were 13 so they made me audition. I was soooo excited when I got in!" But Richie insists she took the group very seriously despite her age - and even begged her famous family help her get the attention of record labels.

She adds, "All I can think of is the 3 of us going up to my mom and singing her our first song. We were dead serious. And I even remember part of our rap. The rap lyrics I remember were: Caution! Walking down the street./You better watch out, and step to the beat/Playing our music from town to town/Rockin’ and Rollin’ were gonna get down! My poor mom had to sit there with a straight face and watch us perform. We asked her to find us a manager." (JMA/WN/CL)

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