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— By Dontaira Terrell

What exactly comes to mind when you hear or think of the word “father”? Protector, provider, hero and role model are a few qualities that properly summarize the male figures in many of our lives. Although, any man can help to create a child, there are several elements that play a significant role in being an active father in a kid’s upbringing. With Father’s Day approaching, we’ve taken notice of a few rap dads who deserve the ultimate salute for constantly showing love to their young kings and queens.

From DJ Khaled naming his son, Asahd, as an executive producer of his album Grateful back in 2017 to Bow Wow posting Instagram videos of dance competitions with his daughter, it’s obvious they’re thrilled to set great examples for their young ones. JAY-Z featured his baby girl Blue Ivy on his 2012 single “Glory,” which made her the youngest person to debut on the Billboard charts.

Whether it’s teaching business acumen, providing emotional support, being their hype men or having fun, daddyhood looks great on these men. Wouldn’t you agree? In honor of all the great fathers out there and Father’s Day approaching this weekend, here’s a list of some of our favorite hip hop dads who are always reppin’ for their little ones and continuously taking fatherhood to a whole new level.

Diddy

We can’t deny it, we’re always looking forward to a Combs family photo! Diddy takes great pride in being a pillar of strength and support as a doting father of six. The 49-year-old’s Instagram feed is filled with fond memories and precious moments shared with his children After the loss of Kim Porter, his former partner and mother of four of his children, the media mogul fully immersed himself into the role of being a single dad. As a person who’s worn many hats throughout his life, he makes it clear that being a father is his most rewarding and fulfilling role yet.

JAY-Z

As soon as the Carters release one of their picture-perfect photos, it is instantly labeled #familygoals. Since the birth of Blue Ivy, followed by the twins Rumi and Sir, we’ve witnessed JAY-Z’s evolution into becoming the ultimate family man. He has and continues to discuss the joys and woes of parenting, while championing more fathers to be present in their kids’ daily lives. The Grammy award-winning artist not only showcases the invaluable importance of how much black dads really matter, but he’s also changing the narrative surrounding black fatherhood. His growth, maturity, and appreciation for being a father has been reflected in his music over the last few years. We just need to know when more of the family home videos are going to be released because it’s always cuteness overload.

Swizz Beatz

When asked in a previous interview about fatherhood, the Bronx rapper described being a dad as “the best thing ever.” Swizz Beatz admits his five children greatly affect his personal quest for success. Building and sustaining the Dean family legacy for the next generation is the main objective that fuels his drive and determination. It’s evident from all of the pics and social media updates that when the Deans get together, it’s a certified good time! His main priority is being a great dad and so far, he hasn’t skipped a beat.

Wiz Khalifa

Being on active daddy duty is extremely important for the “Black and Yellow” rapper. To prove it, there are so many father-son moments between Wiz Khalifa and his son, Sebastian, that have captured our hearts. We can’t forget about their adorable Oreo commercial, their one-on-one playdates or their intimate walks on the way to school that Wiz often shares on social media. His ex-wife, Amber Rose, has even publicly praised him on being an amazing father to their 6-year old. Like father, like son; Wiz and Sebastian are definitely best buds for life!

T.I.

T.I. has a lot to celebrate this Father’s Day with two of his older children graduating high school and making strides on their own terms. If you watch VH1’s “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle,” then you’ve noticed the Harris kids play a large role in the series and they’re a tight-knit group. Being a parent to seven kids is no easy feat, but in an interview with XXL, the ATL rapper suggests one of the best ways to approach fatherhood is to “take time out and plan to listen to the things that are going on in their lives.” Black fathers are special gems to our society and T.I. is proof of that. One quick glance on Instagram and you’ll notice he makes fatherhood look fun, and has mastered it with ease!

Dave East

Dave East and his daughter, Kairi Chanel, are one dynamic duo! The East Harlem, New York native has been through a lot, but it wasn’t until he became a father that his mindset began to shift. Concerned about the implications some of his musical content would carry since the birth of his baby girl back in 2016, the rapper made a conscious decision to censor some of his lyrics. The reminder that his daughter will one day grow into a young woman and listen to his music made him reach this breakthrough at the time. That same year, he also decided to name his mixtape after his little princess, Kairi Chanel. Fast forward to 2019 and your heart can’t help but skip a beat every time the Def Jam artist shows off his mini-me.

Offset

Between birthdays, holidays and special occasions in between, Offset is no stranger to professing his love and showing off his kids. In dedication to his children, the Atlanta rapper named his debut studio album Father of 4 and featured his kids on the cover art for the project. The record was a raw and introspective autobiographical tale of fatherhood through the lens of the 27-year-old. On Twitter, he explained the primary purpose behind the album was to serve as, “Inspiration for the dads, it’s never too late.” Although, he’s admitted navigating fatherhood hasn’t been a smooth journey, he also proudly proclaims he’s grown and learned a lot as a dad since the birth of his first child at 17.

Chance the Rapper

The Chicago rapper uploaded a video of himself dancing to every child’s favorite tune “Baby Shark.” Now, that deserves a father of the year award! Chance the Rapper became a dad in 2015 and is now expecting baby number two with his wife, Kirsten Corley. When he learned he was going to become a parent for the first time at the age of 22, he told Billboard, “I had never experienced joy like that before… Delving into family life is so f–kin’ dope.” Their growing family is adding another girl to the bunch, so it looks like Chance is going to be the only man in the house for now.

Waka Flocka

When it comes to his daughter Charlie, there’s no denying Waka’s love and admiration for the 13-year-old. Although, Waka is not Charlie’s biological father, he’s helped raise her as his own along with his wife, reality star Tammy Rivera. Waka proudly and often candidly speaks of his relationship with the teen and even has a face portrait of her tatted on his arm. When he first revealed his latest tattoo, Tammy posted on Instagram with the caption, “When he loves your child more than he loves you…that’s when you know it’s real! Stepfather would be an insult.” And we couldn’t agree more with Tammy because it’s obvious this is an unbreakable daddy-daughter bond!

Be sure to watch REVOLT TV all weekend for our “Props to Pops” Father’s Day stunt that’ll celebrate fatherhood & the dopest dads of hip hop. It will feature music blocks, related docs, short-form interstitials and the premiere of our new original special ‘Anatomy of a King.’

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