In the last year, the world of hip hop has been home to some of the greatest musical achievements of this decade. Drake was 2016’s best-selling and most streamed artist. Kanye West was the first artist in history to treat his album as an ongoing, shifting work of art. Rae Sremmurd released the year’s most infectious smash and inspired the Mannequin Challenge. However, hip hop’s impact on society goes far beyond cultural cache. Many of today’s most popular hip hop artists have used their celebrity to give back to their communities.
T.I., who first came to prominence in the early 2000s with hits like “What You Know”, used his latest album to protest police brutality and racial inequality. He’s also an active participant in the “Give Like a King” campaign, which helps homeless veterans find housing and access to support services.
The Game recently founded The Robin Hood Foundation, a non-profit that donates funds to victims of violence and poverty all over the globe. Meek Mill routinely donates shoes and athletic gear to local high school basketball teams as well as assorted gifts to various homeless shelters.
Big Sean might be gearing up for a major album release next month, but his successful music career doesn’t stop him from giving back. The G.O.O.D. Music rapper founded The Sean Anderson Foundation, which sponsors youth development programs in his hometown of Detroit.
Veteran hip hop star Snoop Dogg works with Habitat for Humanity and his own Save a Life Foundation to raise funds for causes near and dear to his heart. Jay-Z is another rap vet who raises money for a multitude of causes from the global water crisis to student community programs.
Even Nelly, who’s known for his fun-loving, party rhymes, has worked to send St. Louis high school students to college for the last 10 years.
Hip hop may be a musical genre filled with unfathomably rich stars and lives of excess. However, these celebrities are using their platforms to shine light on important issues, and they’re giving back to their communities in huge, impactful ways.