8 Rappers Who Welcomed New Babies in 2016
Nothing warms the heart like seeing a strong, stoic rapper put his guard down for his own newborn child. In 2016, plenty of big-name rappers—and one of the world's most famous hip-hop producers—became parents. Never mind platinum records or sold-out tours, these rappers would no doubt say their new kids were their biggest accomplishments of the year.
Some stars were so ecstatic about their new children, they shared the news with the world immediately. Wale became a first-time father to his little girl, Zyla, and got emotional on Twitter over it, writing, "I never cried and smiled at the same time until today. She so beautiful slim… She perfect." But DJ Khaled took TMI to a whole new level when he chose to Snapchat the entire birth of his first child, Asahd, from delivery to his first feeding.
While some of these new hip-hop babies were celebrated before they were even born, some rappers and their ladies chose to keep impending parenthood quiet long after the baby had arrived. J. Cole is known for being tight-lipped when it comes to his personal life (fans didn't even know the man got married until his friend slipped up) and it wasn't until the North Carolina MC dropped his new album, 4 Your Eyez Only, full of heartfelt lyrics about fatherhood that we put it together.
Like Cole, Childish Gambino neither confirmed nor denied the status of his newborn for as long as he could. Though the Atlanta creator and Awaken My Love! maestro and his girlfriend were spotted pushing a baby stroller in May, he didn't confirm he had a child until October. Eventually the happy news of a hip-hop baby had to be shared.
Whether they became first-time dads or welcomed another youngin' into their home, these are the rappers who felt the joy of fatherhood in 2016. Congrats to all the happy, healthy, rap families.
- 1
T.I.
The Rubber Band Man and his wife, Tiny, welcomed a baby girl into the world on March 26. This newest member of the family is their third child together. T.I. has three other children from previous relationships while Tiny has one, bringing the grand total of their brood to seven.
- 2
Fetty Wap
After admitting he had a one-night stand with Love & Hip Hop star Masika Kalysha, Fetty Wap welcomed a baby girl on March 29. Fetty and Masika are not together, but try to raise their daughter amicably.
- 3
Wale
After rumors began swirling in the summer that the D.C. rapper and his girlfriend Chloe Alexis were expecting a baby, she gave birth to Wale's first child, a baby girl named Zyla, on July 22. The MC shared a beautiful pic of his daughter in September.
- 4
Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey and his longtime girl, actress Lauren London, welcomed a baby boy on Aug. 31. Though the couple had planned to keep the pregnancy under wraps, Lauren's ATL 2 costar T.I. let it slip in an interview back in May that she was expecting. Their son, Kross, is their first child together.
- 5
DJ Khaled
Although not technically a rapper, the hip-hop giant had one of the best years of his career thanks to a Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling album, endorsement deals and a book deal. But the icing on the cake for Khaled was definitely the birth of his first child, a son named Asahd. Naturally, Khaled caught his son's entire birth on Snapchat.
- 6
Lloyd Banks
Lloyd Banks kept his impending fatherhood under wraps for most of 2016. But fans found out the PLK and his lady were expecting when a photo of the couple surfaced in November. Then, on Dec. 8, Lloyd took to Twitter to announce his baby girl had finally arrived.
- 7
Childish Gambino
On top of having an amazing year career-wise, Donald Glover, a.k.a. Childish Gambino, welcomed his first child this year. Though the name, sex and birthdate of the baby are still unknown, Gambino confirmed in October that he and his longtime girlfriend did in fact have a baby in 2016.
Nelson Barnard, Getty ImagesNelson Barnard, Getty Images - 8
J. Cole
One of hip-hop's most reserved and reclusive characters secretly became a father this year. As soon as Cole dropped his fourth studio album, 4 Your Eyez Only, the lyrical content of the album made fans think Cole had become a dad this year. A source confirmed with XXL Cole and his wife Melissa Heholt did indeed welcome a baby girl sometime this year.
Jeff Kravitz, Getty ImagesJeff Kravitz, Getty Images
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