For as long as humans have been engaged in doing anything, the debate about nepotism’s perceived pros and cons has raged on.
Some consider it a non-issue, arguing that one’s familial connections don’t always equate to advancement in one’s chosen medium, while others take a hard stance against anything even remotely resembling nepotistic goings-on. When it comes to rap’s nepo babies, as is the case for the group across spaces, the answer isn’t always immediately clear.
Last month, the debate was kicked into maximum overdrive with the arrival of Vulture’s multi-part coverage of so-called “nepo babies.” Most notably, the publication rolled out what it described as “an all but definitive guide to the Hollywood nepo-verse.”
For as long as humans have been engaged in doing anything, the debate about nepotism’s perceived pros and cons has raged on.
Some consider it a non-issue, arguing that one’s familial connections don’t always equate to advancement in one’s chosen medium, while others take a hard stance against anything even remotely resembling nepotistic goings-on. When it comes to rap’s nepo babies, as is the case for the group across spaces, the answer isn’t always immediately clear.
Last month, the debate was kicked into maximum overdrive with the arrival of Vulture’s multi-part coverage of so-called “nepo babies.” Most notably, the publication rolled out what it described as “an all but definitive guide to the Hollywood nepo-verse.”
Naturally, lots of different people had lots of different things to say about this, ranging from fervent hilarity to swift defense. O’Shea Jackson Jr. spoke at length about the topic in a series of tweets, notably shouting out his father Ice Cube and urging those in similar situations to “not let anyone get it in your head that you should feel bad” about it.
Lily Allen also hopped in the mix, urging those engaged in the topic to consider instead directing their concerns toward the “nepo babies” who are currently “working for legal firms,” as well as “the ones working for banks” and “the ones working in politics.” (Lily’s parents are actor Keith Allen and producer Alison Owen).
Amid the ongoing discourse, Complex has assembled a rundown of some of rap’s most notable examples of nepotism. Worth firmly pointing out here, of course, is that nepotism exists in virtually every field within every possible industry, creative or not. And in music alone, one could also find numerous examples squarely in the rock category (Bob Dylan and Jakob Dylan, for example) and country (the Hank Williams lineage), not to mention pop (Miley Cyrus) and beyond.
While the definition of nepotism is broader than this, this Complex list is also focusing on those involved in the larger rap industry whose children followed in their footsteps in one way or another, even if they later recalibrated their approach by putting their talents elsewhere.
This means that other types of familial connections such as Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar (who are cousins) are not included. At any rate, here—for good measure—is how Oxford Languages defines “nepotism” in its broadest sense:
“the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.”
We’ve also stuck to those whose parents were (at least at some point) known as artists in their own right. So Waka Flocka Flame, for example, isn’t included here despite his mother Debra Antney being a longstanding industry powerhouse and Mizay Entertainment CEO who was integral to the rise of multiple artists, Gucci Mane among them.
Below, see a selection of rap-focused instances of nepotism (in no particular order), then feel free to carry on debating. As for what the future may or may not hold, some fans are already speculating about the potential creative path of ASAP Rocky and Rihanna’s first child together. Subsequent iterations of this variety of discourse, meanwhile, could also wind up including Blue Ivy and other young pop culture heirs.
Jaden Smith
It’s no secret that Jaden is Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s son. Musically, Jaden has been active for more than a decade and followed up his 2010 appearance on Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” with his debut mixtape The Cool Cafe: Cool Tape Vol. 1 in 2012. In the years since, he’s released a number of additional tapes, as well as a trio of full-length studio albums. As an actor, his work has ranged from voice talent (Neo Yokio, Entergalactic) to high-profile live-action (The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth, both alongside his father).
Romeo Miller
Romeo Miller (previously known as Romeo and Lil’ Romeo) has enjoyed one hell of a run across music, film, and television. As the son of Master P, he first broke through with a string of releases under the No Limit Records banner. Most recently, he starred in the movie A Miracle Before Christmas alongside Keith David and LeToya Luckett.
King Combs
The parents of Christian Combs, a.k.a. King Combs, are none other than Diddy and the late Kim Porter. In May of this year, King recruited Dream Doll for his “Gas You Up” single and followed up that up with this month’s WanMor collab “Every Pretty Girl in the City.” December also saw King perform at the Boston Celtics and LA Clippers game halftime show in Los Angeles.
O’Shea Jackson Jr.
While O’Shea Jackson Jr. is known for his acting prowess, most recently in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, his father Ice Cube first broke through as a member of the iconic N.W.A before expanding his presence across film and TV. O’Shea was also previously active in music (including his work under the OMG moniker), although it’s his thespian talents that have continued to draw acclaim. Next up, he’ll be seen in the much-anticipated Cocaine Bear. Meanwhile, Jackson’s brother Darrell previously rapped under the Boyz n the Hood-referencing name of Doughboy.
Quincy
Diddy and the late Kim Porter actually make two appearances on this list. While Quincy Brown’s parents are Porter and Al B. Sure!, Diddy has been widely referred to as a father figure in Quincy’s life, including by Quincy himself. In recent years, Quincy has held a recurring role on Power Book III: Raising Kanan.
Coi Leray
Coi Leray, whose debut studio full-length Trendsetter was rolled out this year and featured the remix to her breakout hit “No More Parties,” is the daughter of industry veteran Benzino. Amid Coi’s own rise to fame, the two have been in and out of headlines together, including in connection with their differing opinions on Eminem bagging a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Diggy Simmons
For many, their introduction to Daniel Dwayne “Diggy” Simmons came about thanks to the reality series Run’s House, led by his father Rev. Run of Run DMC. Since then, Diggy has built up his multi-hyphenate presence, including a recent multi-season turn on the Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish.
Landon Barker
Landon Barker, not unlike Jaden Smith earlier on this list, has kept family a central part of his rise. His father is Travis Barker, whose prolific musical output has resulted in acclaimed works across virtually every genre imaginable, in addition to his work with seminal pop-punk band blink-182, which recently announced the return of its classic lineup. Landon’s mother is model and actress Shanna Moakler, who was married to the drummer/producer/songwriter for four years. While Landon started his own musical journey in rap, he’s since moved into a more rock-leaning direction, as he detailed in a recent interview with Emo Nite Radio’s Morgan Freed. This year, he appeared alongside Young Thug and Gunna on Machine Gun Kelly’s Travis-produced Mainstream Sellout track “Die in California.”
Cory Gunz
The Cory Gunz story boasts multiple collaborative endeavors with Lil Wayne, including a guest spot on his classic Tha Carter IV single “6 Foot 7 Foot” and a reality series focused on his Young Money courting. His father, Peter Gunz, was one half of the duo behind the 1997 hit “Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)” with Lord Tariq.
Lil Tracy
Lil Tracy, who just this month rolled out his new “Knight in Shining Armor” video, is the son of Digable Planets’ Ishmael Butler and SWV’s Cheryl “Coko” Gamble. Butler is also known for his work as Shabazz Palaces.
Among Tracy’s most popular tracks (i.e. hundreds of millions of streams to date on Spotify) are a number of collaborations with the late Lil Peep, including fan favorites like “White Wine” and “Witchblades,” as well as the hit “Awful Things,” which was later covered by Good Charlotte.
Scoop DeVille
As the son of Kid Frost (also known mononymously as Frost), Scoop DeVille has carved out his own multi-hyphenated and acclaimed legacy. As a Grammy-nominated producer, he’s been credited on modern classics including Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 track “Poetic Justice.” He’s also worked with Vince Staples, Busta Rhymes, Jim Jones, and more.
Coast Contra
In June, Coast Contra—a four-person group featuring Taj and Ras Austin, the twin sons of Ras Kass—made their late-night television debut with a performance on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show. Their talents were made apparent months earlier with a series of YouTube-shared freestyles, all leading up to the unveiling of the group’s inaugural album Apt. 505.
Lil Eazy-E
As his stage name makes clear, Lil Eazy-E is indeed the son of the late N.W.A star and Ruthless Records co-founder Eazy-E. In addition to music (including last year’s “It Ain’t Over” track) and television (WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop), Lil Eazy-E is also known for having founded Rich & Ruthless Cannabis with his brother, Baby Eazy-E. The two have also partnered musically, most recently on this year’s Sons of Legends EP.