Image via Complex Original
Last summer, Jay Z famously declared that his "presence is charity" in response to actor and activist Harry Belafonte's criticism of Hov's lack of social responsibility. Jay also remarked that just like President Obama, Jay gives people hope. However true or untrue that statement is, Jay's statement got us thinking: Who are the most benevolent rappers right now? We did a little digging into our favorite artists and found that, with all the fame and money, some rappers are Scrooges, while others go above and beyond the call of philanthropic duty.
Penny pinchers or humanitarians? Join us as we find out How Charitable is Your Favorite Rapper?
Written by Elva Aguilar (@Cheverella_) and Tara Mahadevan (@mhdvn)
Jay Z
Charities of choice: Shawn Carter Foundation, United Way of New York City
Since the Shawn Carter Foundation was established in 2003, it has reportedly donated a total of $1.3 million to various causes. Most recently, Jay played a benefit concert at Carnegie hall for charity, from which the proceeds went to the United Way of New York City and Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. Hov also flew four kids out to study abroad. While you may expect someone worth around $500 million to give a bit more, don't forget Jay's infamous quotable: "my presence is charity."
Eminem
Charity of choice: Marshall Mathers Foundation
In December, Eminem was revealed as the secret benefactor to Michigan-based charity Wolverine Human Services, donating almost $200,000. The charity focuses on aiding at-risk youth from ages 12 to 18, all across Michigan. After Em was reported as the donor, he pledged to match all contributions of up to $100,000 that were gifted to the charity. Em and his Marshall Mathers Foundation also donated $10,000 to the family of a six-year-old boy who underwent a kidney transplant.
Lil Wayne
Charity of choice: One Family Foundation
After Hurricane Katrina devastated Lil Wayne's city, Weezy donated $250,000 to rebuild a park he played in as a kid, as well as a local community center. Last October, Wayne got together with a non-profit after school program called The Motivational Edge to promote expansion through their Indiegogo campaign, to which he donated $30,000. On top of that, since 2000, Wayne, and the rest of Cash Money, return to New Orleans every year to give away turkeys for Thanksgiving.
Kanye West
Charity of choice: Donda's House
Kanye has a long history of donating and giving back to people in need. In 2008, he teamed up with MTV and Sway for the "Choose or Lose" special and surprised veterans returning home from Iraq with various goods and money. Kanye also co-founded his charity, Donda's House, named after his mother who was also a huge advocate for philanthropy. Last year the organization teamed up with a church in Chicago to start the "Got Bars?" program, a 10-week music class which helped aspiring musicians write and record their own music.
Drake
Charity of Choice: N/A
After watching a special on World News with Diane Sawyer, Drake announced he would be donating an entire recording studio to Strawberry Mansion High School, one of Philadelphia's most dangerous schools. His contribution sparked a surge of other donations toward the high school and, according to Forbes, the school's college acceptance numbers have already doubled. Last year, Drake, along with the Game, donated $22,500 to a mother in Ohio who lost her boyfriend and five children in a fire.
T.I.
Charities of choice: Give Like a King, For the Love of Our Fathers
In 2010, Tip and his wife Tiny established For the Love of Our Fathers, a foundation that brings awareness to, and raises money for, Alzheimer's disease. The launch of the new foundation was very emotional for T.I. and Tiny, as both their fathers succumbed to complications from the disease. In 2012, in conjunction with the Veterans Empowerment Organization, T.I. also launched the "Give Like a King" Campaign, directed towards aiding veterans. And this past Christmas, T.I. and cohort Young Jeezy hosted a toy drive and celebratory event for 1,800 Atlanta children.
J. Cole
Charity of choice: The Dreamville Foundation
J. Cole loves giving back to his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Before the 2013 school year began, he and his Dreamville Foundation went to the town and donated school supplies to five schools, including his Alma Mater, Terry Sanford High School. This March, also in his hometown, he hosted the Third Annual Dreamville Weekend, which is meant to inspire positivity and community growth.
Rick Ross
Charity of choice: In A Big Way Charity (formerly Rick Ross Charities)
This past January, the Florida-native purchased Evander Holyfield's 109-room foreclosed Georgia Mansion for $5.8 million. Why? Because he's a boss, but also so he could open its doors to the kids of New Orleans, Miami, and Atlanta so that they can see that anything's possible. In 2012, he also donated Reeboks and iPads to his high school in Carol City, Florida. In 2010, he hosted a blood drive to help Haiti after a huge earthquake. Rick Ross the philanthropic bawse, yup.
50 Cent
Charity of choice: G-Unity Foundation & Street King movement
In 2011, 50 Cent vowed to feed 1 billion people by providing a meal and clean water to a person in Africa with every purchase of his SK Energy Shot drink. A year later, 50 stepped it up a notch by collaborating with the UN Food Program and visited Somalia and Kenya to raise awareness for the cause. Most recently, with the creation of 50 Cent's SMS Audio movement, he's teamed up with Feeding America to bring meals to children in the U.S. For every pair of SMS Audio headphones sold, 50 will donate 250 meals.
Puff Daddy
Charity of choice: The Boys & Girls Club of Harlem
Whatever you want to call him, Sean Combs is one of the most philanthropic men in the business. Despite not having his own charity, he has donated millions throughout his career to organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club—specifically the one in Harlem, which he helped save in 2011—and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, as well as countless others. Let's also not forget he ran the NYC Marathon in 2003 and raised $2 Million for NYC schools for his "Diddy Run The City" campaign.