It’s hard to believe that hip-hop is over 50 years old, rising from a modest genre that took off in the “Boogie Down” Bronx in the ’70s, becoming the target of political consternation in the ’90s and helping mint billionaires like Dr. Dre in the 2020s. Today, in terms of sheer numbers and reach, it just might be the most popular form of music in world history. Heck, we even had Snoop Dogg bopping all around Paris and giving expert commentary during the 2024 Olympic games.
In recent years, we’ve put together lists of top celebrity philanthropists, including NBA givers and other athlete donors, and most recently, top musicians who give. All of these lists reflect the fact that many media figures are making more money than they ever have, some of which is going toward philanthropy. These figures also have their enormous platforms to put to use. Last month, Snoop’s table tennis commentary went viral, as did this fun Olympics explainer video with Snoop and Kevin Hart, which has amassed over 2 million views.
For this rundown, we’ll be looking at rappers like Snoop and their charities. What kinds of organizations are they giving to? Who helps them with their philanthropy? And what can we expect from these figures down the line? In the words of Warren G, “regulators, mount up!”
Snoop Dogg
Taking Long Beach by storm in the early ’90s as a pioneer of the West Coast hip-hop sound, Calvin Broadus, 52, aka Snoop Dogg, has come a long way — so much so that Celebrity Net Worth (for what that’s worth) pegs his fortune at $160 million. His Snoop Youth Football League focuses on serving inner-city youth aged five through 15, teaching them sports skills as well as emphasizing academics.
Snoop has also made other gifts over the years, including donating $25,000 to Mothers Against Police Brutality in collaboration with Colin Kaepernick, whose own giving focuses on social justice and criminal justice reform. The Long Beach rapper also helped raise money during COVID and partnered with Stephen Curry to refurbish a series of play spaces, including an indoor basketball court in Long Beach, California.
50 Cent
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson found success not only on the mic, but also in film and television, and even with his own video game. On the philanthropic front, he started the youth-focused G-Unity Foundation, which has partnered with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship to help young people develop entrepreneurial skills. The foundation also runs the G-Unity Business Lab within the Houston Unified School District to bolster the business careers of underrepresented people.
G-Unity also partners with sports teams like the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets to support local charities. “It’s like a cheat sheet. I probably wouldn’t be involved as much in philanthropy, but having the relationships makes it easier,” 50 Cent told Forbes.
Lil’ Kim
Unapologetic raptress Lil’ Kim started the Lil’ Kim Cares Foundation, which focused on helping the survivors of domestic abuse, though the current status of the foundation is unclear. She’s also a strong fundraiser, once bringing in $4 million for the M.A.C. AIDS Fund alongside R&B legend Mary J. Blige.
Lil’ Kim has been a longtime LGBTQ advocate. She has participated in gay pride festivals, including the Pride March in New York City, as well as performing at Atlanta Black Pride and D.C. Black Pride.
Nicki Minaj
A few years ago, Nicki Minaj became the first female rapper to amass a net worth of over $100 million, giving her the horsepower to scale up on the philanthropic front in the coming years. She runs the Student of the Game scholarship program, through which she helps pay off students’ college tuition or student loans. She has also provided support for an array of causes and organizations, including the St. Jude’s Home for Girls in her native Trinidad.
On a global level, she’s also worked with Life In Its Poetic Form Christian Ministries Inc., which has provided clean wells in an Indian village. “This is the kind of thing that makes me feel the most proud,” Minaj wrote in an Instagram post.
Eminem
Detroit’s own Marshall Mathers focuses on the Motor City in his giving. His Marshall Mathers Foundation provides assistance to disadvantaged and at-risk youth in the city. The foundation has given grants to places like Excellence for Detroit, which prepares youth for college, South Oakland Shelter in Michigan, and the Michigan AIDS Coalition.
He also created the Verses Program at Michigan State University’s Community Music School in Detroit, which aims to teach the fundamentals of literacy through song and lyrics. His record label Shady Records and Marshall Mathers Foundation have also partnered on philanthropic projects, including with Detroit’s Downtown Boxing Gym, which hosted a youth tutoring program.
Chance the Rapper
Everyone feels good when they hear a Chance song. The socially conscious Chicago rapper started SocialWorks to empower youth through the arts, education and civic engagement. SocialWorks has donated more than $5 million since its 2016 founding through its five initiatives: OpenMike, Warmest Winter, Kids of the Kingdom, The New Chance: Arts & Literature Fund and My State of Mind. Through OpenMike, SocialWorks and the Chicago Public Library come together to provide a safe space for young people to express themselves. My State of Mind, meanwhile, is a digital mental health tool to help Chicagoans access mental health resources.
Chance’s mental health focus runs in parallel with those of other celebrities who have also spoken about and funded these issues, including Kevin Love and Selena Gomez.
Cardi B
Born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, 31-year-old Cardi B’s growing local giving includes a six-figure gift to her Bronx high school, I.S. 232. And that wasn’t the first time she’s shown a willingness to support the Bronx. On the heels of an unfortunate fire a few years ago in an apartment complex there, Cardi B covered the funeral costs of the victims of the blaze, along with repatriation expenses for victims who will be buried in Gambia, West Africa.
Cardi B said in a statement to CNN: “I’m extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help.”
will.i.am
Always a memorable figure, will.i.am started the tech-oriented i.am.angel foundation to support in-school STEAM education programs in Southern California. i.am/Angel focuses on initiatives like its i.am College Track after-school tutoring center and college scholarship aid program, and the Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High School, a public high school in East Los Angeles focusing on STEM education and work readiness.
will.i.am also founded i.am scholarship, which has awarded over $1 million to nearly 140 students involved in the foundation’s i.am STEAM and i.am College Track programs.
Queen Latifah
Don’t quote me on this, but Queen Latifah’s “Just Another Day” might be the best female rap track of all time. Besides hip-hop, she has also made her impact in Hollywood. Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. started by her late mother, Rita Owens. The foundation provides scholarships to economically disadvantaged students, mainly in the Newark area.
According to Variety, scholarship beneficiaries are expected to pay it forward after the opportunity. “You have to reach back because at the end of the day, you have to allow kids to learn what their talent is,” she said. “How can you not root for the underdog in life and give back?”
