Rappers Who Have Wives That'll Definitely Turn Some Heads
It's an old cliché that celebrity couples never last. Iconic duos like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have proven that it can be hard to stay together in the face of constant media speculation and endless drama. And as the VH1 series "Love & Hip Hop" goes to show, it's particularly hard to be the significant other of a rapper — especially when other women come into the picture. After all, the life of a successful musician is usually associated with drugs, drinking, and sex, in between their chart-topping hits and lucrative projects.
Many hip hop wives, however, are just as impressive as their famous husbands. Whether they have their own chart-conquering careers in music, a business empire worth millions, or a dedication to philanthropy, the women behind the throne often have equally incredible claims to fame. From Cardi B to Alicia Keys, here's a list of the most inspiring wives in the industry.
Gucci Mane's wife Keyshia Ka'oir has her own hustle
Although Gucci Mane has been called the father of trap music and is worth at least $14 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, he's not the only impressive breadwinner in his house.
His wife, Keyshia Ka'oir, who stayed with the rapper throughout his three-year stint in jail, is a beauty mogul who created a $30 million empire of cosmetics, fitness, and hair products. The idea for her business was sparked one night in 2009 when she couldn't find a blue lipstick and had to improvise with an eyeshadow, as she told The Cut. "No one knew my name, no one knew who I was, but everyone wanted to be the girl with the mohawk and the blue lipstick," Ka'oir explained, recalling the media attention that she attracted. "I had to come up with my own makeup line, starting with that blue lipstick."
She also admitted that it "gets overwhelming when you're running so many successful businesses and you have a successful husband," since they both have "such busy schedules." But the pair have stuck together since their flashy 2017 wedding, which was documented by the reality show "The Mane Event" and cost $2 million. "Gucci always says, It's crazy how of a great businesswoman you are, and how successful you are. People don't know this," Ka'oir insisted in her interview with The Cut. "They get a glimpse of it, but they don't really know how I run my business."
Remy Ma and Papoose have their own rap careers
Remy Ma was rapping long before she met and married fellow hip hop star Papoose. As Complex reported, she got her first big break by impressing Big Pun and later becoming part of Big Joe's Terror Squad. At a time when only a handful of women were taken seriously in the world of rap, Remy Ma made history by staying at No. 1 on the charts for three weeks with "Lean Back." The Grammy-nominated star also received Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the BET Awards in both 2005 and 2017, per Rolling Stone.
She got married to Papoose in 2016, according to People, after Remy Ma finished serving a six-year prison sentence. They had tried to tie the knot years earlier, but their jailhouse wedding was canceled when prison officials busted Papoose for allegedly possessing a skeleton key that could hypothetically open his bride's handcuffs. He was banned from visiting the prison for six months.
After their happy reunion, the couple started appearing on the reality show "Love & Hip Hop" together. As Remy Ma told Essence, they were an unexpected hit. "We didn't know it, but people were tired of seeing men cheat on their girls and dog them out ... I think we were a breath of fresh air," she explained, adding that they were "very aware and conscious of how we talk to each other, how we treat each other, and how much we miss each other when we can't be around each other."
Chance the Rapper's wife helped him find Christianity
If there's one rapper who's famous for being a "wife guy," it's Chance The Rapper.
He first met Kirsten Corley when they were both children, as the star explained on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," sharing their unusual love story. "My mom worked at a real estate agency with her mom. Her daughters love to dance so they did a choreographed dance at this real estate party that I was at when I was 9," Chance recalled. "I saw her dancing and I was like, 'Let's get married!'"
They began dating years before Chance's mixtape "Acid Rap" blew up and made him a star. "Before I was successful, she was my girlfriend," Chance commented in his interview. "If I'm successful now, then yes, pre-success." Corley, a former model and real estate agent, also introduced Chance to Christianity. Discussing his faith with Nicki Minaj on "Queen Radio," the rapper claimed that she "literally saved my life" by encouraging him to find God and get baptized after they almost split in 2016.
The couple now has two children, although Corley has been open about their struggles in keeping their marriage strong. "I hope you see two imperfect human beings who are doing their best to cultivate a home rooted in Love & Grace. Marriage is difficult," she wrote on her Instagram. "But I believe it is worth it, when you both commit to doing the inner work. A reminder to stand in gratitude, for the family we have created. flaws & all."
J. Cole and Melissa Heholt have kept their relationship private
Some celebrity spouses like to stay out of the limelight, and J. Cole's wife Melissa Heholt is one of them.
According to Bossip, the pair first met while they were both attending St. John's University in Queens and have been romantically linked ever since. The college sweethearts allegedly got engaged in 2015, when the Roc Nation rapper presented Heholt with a 4-carat diamond ring. Although they kept their wedding under wraps, director Ryan Coogler inadvertently let the secret out in an interview, per E! Online. "That was like one thing to not do," the rapper jokingly responded. "But it's all good ... They know now."
The very private Heholt is an event planner, as Bustle uncovered, who also serves as the Executive Director of J. Cole's Dreamville Foundation. After starting out as a teacher, as she told Karla with a Kay, she founded her own business, Statice Events. "I always felt passionate about event planning (it was my hobby), so I figured I would give it a try," Heholt revealed. "It took some encouragement from the close people around me but I got enough courage to pursue it professionally."
In a 2020 personal essay for "The Players' Tribune," J. Cole also revealed that the couple had a family together, writing that he had been "blessed with two sons." And in the song "Sacrifices," he paid tribute to Heholt by declaring: "She gave me a family to love, for that, I can never repay."
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz are both known for their music
As well as his career in rap, Swizz Beatz might be one of the hip hop world's most beloved producers, since his track record includes collaborations with DMX, Jay-Z, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Beyoncé, and Kanye West. That impressive musical legacy is rivaled by his significant other, Alicia Keys, however: the singer-songwriter has received 15 Grammy awards and 29 nominations for her critically beloved and chart-topping songs.
Keys has been a world-famous musician since her debut album, "Songs In A Minor," became an overnight sensation in 2001. "I still feel that same enthusiasm and I'm so grateful to be able to have this type of footprint over the years," she told The Guardian, reflecting on the success of her first project. "But I'm, like, 'What the hell?' It's wild." Songs like "No One" and "Empire State of Mind," which she created alongside Jay-Z, cemented her as a star.
Alicia Keys' marriage to Swizz Beatz has been going steady since 2010, and the pair have two sons, as well as Beatz's children from previous relationships. In 2016, she celebrated their unique home life by releasing the song "Blended Family (What You Do For Love)" in honor of her kids. "I feel like 'the family' is such a beautiful and diverse unit and — as we've all experienced — our families come in all different sizes and shapes and versions," she told Ellen DeGeneres at the time, per ABC News.
Ice-T and Coco's marriage inspired its own reality show
One of the most iconic rap couples met on the set of a movie. Rapper and actor Ice-T first caught sight of Coco Austin, a former Sports Illustrated model and reality star, while he was in a bad mood shooting a project. "I was grumpy that day," he told Howard Stern. "And my boys saw her — she was on the set working — and they said, 'Well, this will cheer Ice up. Let's put her over near him just so he'll have something to do.'"
The Grammy award-winning rapper was wowed when he saw the model. "I was just kind of stunned," he admitted, recalling how he walked over and told Austin that she was "drop-dead gorgeous." Ice-T then asked if she had "ever considered dating a gangsta rapper," prompting her to question whether he was a "nice" gangsta rapper. "Well, baby, you take the 'n' off 'nice' and you get 'Ice,'" Ice-T replied, and the rest was history.
Inspired by the marriage between Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, the rapper decided to settle down with Austin. They also had their own reality show, "Ice Loves Coco," which followed the pair through various adventures like renewing their vows. And they didn't stop acting loved-up when the cameras stopped rolling. According to the Daily Mail, the couple haven't been apart for a single day in years and have both turned down multiple projects to stay close together.
Jeannie Mai became a household name on The Real
Southern hip hop star Jeezy started dating fellow celebrity Jeannie Mai in 2018, before they eventually tied the knot during lockdown in 2021. The ceremony, which was originally supposed to take place at Lake Como or in the South of France, was adapted due to the circumstances, as Mai told Vogue after the wedding.
"We were really looking forward to having all of our friends and family there to celebrate. But we had to change all of our wedding plans due to COVID," the TV personality revealed, sharing that personal tragedy had also played a part. "After Jeezy's mother unexpectedly passed, we quickly learned that life is too short. And at the end of the day, Jeezy and I really just wanted to become husband and wife."
Jeannie Mai became famous as a stylist on shows like "How Do I Look?" and is now a host on "The Real." She has even won a Daytime Emmy for the syndicated talk series, per Essence, and revealed her pregnancy on the show in September 2021. "Jeezy and I have been kind of saving this and hiding this for five months," she told Women's Health. "So, we're relieved to finally share the news."
The TV host also spoke about her relationship with Jeezy and how the rapper taught her to open her heart. "Falling in love with Jeezy made me see life differently for myself," Mai insisted. "Our love is honest, pure, and safe ... something I hadn't felt as a child."
Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff have gone the distance
One of the hip hop world's most enduring couples has to be Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff, whose marriage has lasted almost three decades.
In an interview with Bethenny Frankel, Ice Cube recalled thinking, "Wow, that could be your woman" when he first saw Woodruff. The feeling wasn't mutual, however. "I think she was in a relationship, so she wasn't having it," the rapper admitted. "But I ended up seeing her about six months later, and it was different. I got the number then." According to Cheat Sheet, the couple tied the knot in 1992 and now have five children. The oldest child, O'Shea Jackson Jr., has launched his own acting career, per the A.V. Club, after playing his father in the N.W.A. biopic "Straight Outta Compton."
And the magic hasn't faded. "It's a true partnership. I still get the butterflies when I see her," he told morning radio host Rickey Smiley, according to the Daily Mail. The former N.W.A. member also emphasized the importance of communication, stating that he likes to spend quality time with Woodruff. After 20 years together, Ice Cube decided to propose for a second time by placing a ring inside a newly purchased BMW. "I didn't really have a lot of pressure. I had built up 20 years of good faith, insurance if you say," he joked to Australian radio hosts Fitzy and Wippa, per the Daily Mail. "I don't know if it was considered romantic. It was cool to me."
Ludacris and his wife Eudoxie bonded over charity
Atlanta rapper Ludacris is known for his Dirty South sound, his hit songs, and his film career, but his wife, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue, is equally impressive. The West African model, who moved to America from Gabon and spoke very little English at the time, has since founded her own charity, Unspoken Angels, that helps survivors of abuse.
"There are few things of more importance to me than to reach back to young ladies who have experienced abuses and be able to help them deal with the hurt, betrayal, and feelings of inadequacy that I too have suffered in association with those abuses," Mbouguiengue explained in a statement on the organization's website. She also called the non-profit "a vehicle to let young ladies know they are not alone and there is life after abuse."
And philanthropy is an interest that the celebrity couple share. On her Instagram, Mbouguiengue revealed that they had first met during one of the rapper's Ludaday events, which Ludacris started to bring celebrities and families together for a good cause. "Wow! Today marks 10 years we've known each other," she wrote. "We met August 30, Ludaday weekend 2008, but don't get it twisted he didn't get to kiss these lips until 2009."
They were married in 2014, as Ludacris told Distractify. "It has been amazing," the rapper declared. "I think that our love for giving back and our love for charity and our love for a growing family and continuing to raise strong children is what's so strong about the unit."
Big Boi's wife Sherlita has an impressive CV
Another Southern hip hop star, Big Boi, has been married to the same woman since 2002, even if they've had their share of ups and downs.
Sherlita Patton has an impressive CV of her own: according to her LinkedIn, the Georgia native went to Clark Atlanta University and has worked as a real estate mogul and an entrepreneur over the years. She also ran her own clothing boutique with a friend in 2007, which was called P Valentine. "Yes, I am married to Big Boi, but I try not to let that be an element to the store," Patton explained in an interview with The Envy Life at the time. "I just know that we come here every day, we work very hard, we love what we do, and we just put that into it."
Although she filed for divorce in 2013 and argued for custody of their two kids, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the famous couple managed to reconcile. Speaking to TMZ, Big Boi gave credit to one person for saving their marriage: Jesus Christ himself. The Outkast rapper explained that their faith had brought them back from the brink of divorce, claiming that "the family that prays together stays together."
Shante Broadus is her husband Snoop's manager
After Snoop Dogg rose to the top of the rap world with songs like "Gin and Juice," he became a household name. And the person standing by his side and negotiating on his behalf was Snoop's wife, Shante Broadus.
"Shante has been guiding my career behind the scenes from day one," the California rapper told PR Newswire, who noted that she was also the founder of Boss Lady Entertainment and the CEO of Boss Lady Spirits. "She has always been my final gut check with all my decisions, and I wouldn't be where I am today without her. I am grateful to have her as my official manager, helping to build the Snoop Dogg empire together."
The pair first met at a high school football game, as Broadus told Cheat Sheet. "We started talking on the phone, and then he started becoming close with my mom — talking to my mom more than he'd talk to me. I would come home, and he would be at my house talking to my mom!" she joked, recalling how Snoop gave her mother the nickname P-Loc. "They became really close, and now we're married with children. That's how it all started." They have now been married for over two decades and have grandchildren of their own.
Cardi B and Offset became a power couple
Cardi B's sexually explicit lyrics on songs like "WAP" have brought her multiplatinum success to rival her husband's group Migos, making her Billboard's Woman of the Year in 2020. "It was a conversation that I never thought was going to be so big," Cardi joked during her acceptance speech at the Billboard Awards. "I mean, it pissed off a whole bunch of Republicans for no reason, you know what I'm saying?"
Years before she was one of the most well-known female rappers in the world, however, Cardi was just trying to get her big break. She met the Georgia rapper Offset, and the pair decided to work on the song "Lick" together in 2017. As he told Rolling Stone, Offset then asked her out and organized their first date — at the Super Bowl. "That's a power move!" the Migos member added.
The celebrity couple have stayed in the public eye ever since. Offset caused headlines by proposing at a Philadelphia concert, but then accusations of cheating started to emerge. Although they got married and have children, per the BBC, the rumors of infidelity were too much for Cardi, and the pair broke up in 2018. Eventually, however, they reconciled.
"I just be starting to miss him. It's hard not to talk to your best friend. And it's really hard to have no d*** ..." Cardi explained on Instagram Live, according to Page Six. She also joked that the Rolls Royce he bought for her birthday may have been a factor.
Beyonce and Jay-Z became the king and queen of music
Over the years, Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles have become one of the most awe-inspiring couples in pop culture. And that's not just thanks to the Roc Nation billionaire: Knowles is also a record-breaking artist who's worth $440 million in her own right, according to Forbes. And with the release of 2013's surprise project "Beyoncé" and 2016's visual album "Lemonade," she has become one of the most respected artists in popular music.
The pair have kept their relationship relatively private over the years, appearing together for the first time on Jay-Z's song "'03 Bonnie and Clyde," before collaborating on the first solo hit from the former Destiny's Child member, "Crazy in Love." The power couple later combined their forces for projects like the On The Run II stadium tour, which grossed an unbelievable $253.5 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. Performing at 48 sold-out stadiums, Knowles and Jay-Z reportedly raked in $5.28 million per night.
So despite going through cheating and miscarriages, the superstar couple is still living and working together — and it doesn't look like their success is slowing down anytime soon.