It has been observed that some people of the Hip-Hop generation could use and/or be more responsible father figures. However, that’s not to say that there aren’t many men in that demographic who take the task of parenting very seriously. They are not only setting a positive example for their children to follow, but also breaking the cycle of absentee dads that have affected many families and communities.
In honor of Father’s Day, AllHipHop.com has put together an alphabetical list of some Hip-Hop pops who are doing right by their kids and have recently been recognized for it in one way or another. In other words, as Chris Rock once put it, “I’m not talking
about the guy that just f***ed you [the mother] and left. F**k him. I’m talking about the real daddies.”
Diddy: Sean “Diddy” Combs is the biological father of five children to three different women, and he is the informal stepfather to another. However, he continues to be a big part in all of their lives. They even all threw Diddy a surprise Father’s Day party last year and posed for a Christmas card together. This past October, Diddy, for the first time, talked about his father being killed when he was only three years old. After seeing the clip of that discussion, it’s safe to assume that his father’s absence made Diddy want to be around for his kids so they didn’t go through some of the same struggles that he did.
Eminem: While Em’s catalog documents his rocky relationships with some women, like his mother and ex-wife, one female that he has always had love for is his daughter, Hailie. Last fall, she was crowned the Homecoming Queen of Chippewa Valley High School in Clinton Township, Michigan, after students and faculty voted for the court. According to local paper, The Macomb Daily, community members described Hailie as a “smart, athletic, and caring young woman.” Eminem has always let it be known that he is an involved parent, and the accolade his daughter received that evening is evidence of a job well done. Additionally, Eminem also adopted his ex-wife’s daughter from a previous relationship, Whitney, and her sister’s daughter, Alaina.
The Game: Even amidst problems with his ex-fiancée, Tiffany Cambridge, The Game went on Instagram in April and left a heartfelt message (which he eventually deleted) about his family situation. The post read, “1st off, I’d like to say.. Before you read this, I’d like to say I love my fans & sometimes venting to you guys is my ONLY therapy. The moment i decided to be famous… I waived the right to privacy & surrendered myself to my music & my fans….. & to be honest, I try to keep most of it in on some G s### but everyone has a BREAKING POINT & my weakness is my children. Loving them too much has turned them into weapons to be used against me. & I say that to say, today I am……. LUCKY: I got to spend Easter & eat lunch with my 1st born. UN-LUCKY: haven’t got to spend time with both of my younger kids in over a month. FACTS: My 3 year old daughter told my mom that her mother told her that I am very
bad man & a terrible father furthermore brainwashing Cali to harbor hate towards me preventing her from even wanting to speak to me. 3 year olds just don’t make these things up. MORE FACTS: I have dedicated my entire life to being the best father possible, ensuring my children are loved, cared for & have been provided for everyday since they were born. QUESTIONS: How come men that fully take care of their children financially & are 100% emotionally & physically available and want to be fathers have to beg to see their children & are deprived….. & men that are dead beats, that don’t do s### for their kids are begged to be in their child’s lives & have to give nothing ?? Sometimes situations like this make n##### wish they were DEAD BEATS…. Them n##### got it easy !!!! No responsibility & ain’t got to drop a dime or invest anytime at all with their kids.. Just bust a nut & be gone. ANSWER: That’s Life. CALI & JUSTICE…. Your father loves you with all his heart & I hope you two had a wonderful Easter. This will be the 1st Easter since your births I wasn’t allowed to be apart of. No kids, no call, no happy Easter, no nothing…. The thanks I get for being an OUTSTANDING father their entire life !!! As my ni**a @champagnepapi would say: “They Ain’t Got No Awards For That” #Trophies”
Ice Cube: The hardcore Hip-Hop pioneer has been married to his wife for over twenty years, and they have four children together. And like their dad, two of their sons are also rappers. They both appeared on Cube’s 2010 album, I Am the West, and spit rhymes at one of the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards cyphers. It was also recently announced that one of them, O’Shea Jackson Jr., will play the role of Ice Cube in the upcoming N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton.
Murs: The Strange Music signee is a proud father of two. He and his wife did not conceive their children, but, instead, chose to
adopt. In the fall of 2012, Bishop Carter was adopted at the age of 5 months. The following spring, the family welcomed Eddie, a then 15-year old originally from Alabama. When talking to the press about adoption in 2013, Murs said, “We adopted because we wanted to help change someone’s life.”
Will Smith: For years, the Fresh Prince has not only been regarded as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but also a very respectable family man. Will has three children and he has always showed how much he cares for them. Whether it’s helping them with their careers in entertainment (e.g. After Earth), recording a song about fathers and sons (“Just the Two of Us”), or talking about being a parent while playing himself in a movie (Jersey Girl), the love he has for his children is undeniable.
T.I.: By way of The Family Hustle, T.I. has shown himself to be a great father. And even though the first season was structured around T.I.’s return home from prison, a constant message of the show is that T.I. loves his family and that they are always there to support each other, through both the highs and lows. The Harris family even paid homage to the Huxtables with the promos for The Family Hustle’s fourth season à la The Cosby Show’s opening credits.
Happy Father’s Day to all the real daddies around the world!