14 Heroic Acts By Rappers

We all know that rappers often get a bad rep with the press. Accusations of criminal activity, encouraging violence, or just plain bad behavior are common for hip hop artists. Selfless and generous acts by hip hop stars seldom get the coverage or attention they deserve.

T.I. was on his way to a video shoot driving in his car back in 2010 when he heard a man was threatening to jump off the top of Atlanta’s 400 Colony Square Building on radio station V-103.

Listening to the situation unfold, Tip called into the station asking radio presenter Ryan Cameron if he could help. The rapper drove to the scene which was not too far from him and told the authorities he wanted to assist. An officer at the scene recorded a video message from T.I. which was handed to the negotiator speaking to the man. The man stepped away from the ledge after seeing the message which, according to the rapper said that he was looking forward to meeting him and “no matter what’s going on in life now, it gets better”.

The rapper felt compelled to help, and no doubt was key in saving this man from a premature death. This wasn’t T.I’s only rescue. Two years later he also acted fast when he found Scott Stapp, lead singer of US rock band Creed on the floor after jumping off a balcony, and just recently he helped rescue a woman from a car crash.

Game was quite the hero back in 2012 when he was driving home from the studio in LA and saw a man on the floor, faced down with his bicycle on top of him. The Cali rapper, pulled over and noticed that the man was unconscious and called 911. He waited around until emergency services arrived. Game made that life-saving call which ensured that the individual survived from the accident. Showing his compassion, the rapper said, "I couldn’t just keep driving seeing a man in pain with his head on the ground.”

Game continues to do good these days with the launch of his Robin Hood charity project, and we constantly see him on Instagram sharing news of an in-need family he helped out.

If there’s ever a rapper that you want to avoid an altercation with, LL Cool J has to make that list even at age 46! Back in 2012, LL dealt an unwanted intruder some real damage. A 56-year old burglar broke into LL Cool J’s Sherman Oaks, California home at 1am in the morning only to come face-to-face with the rapper. LL took down the criminal with his own hands, feeding him a broken nose, jaw and ribs.

Some of the best charity work by hip hop artists happens when the artist chooses not to make a publicity stunt out of it. Towards the end of 2013, Drake performed in Portland and paid a visit to the Union Gospel Mission where there were hundreds of homeless people on the streets. Touched by those living rough in the Mission’s emergency cold weather shelter, Drake went inside and gave a cash donation to the Union. The amount was undisclosed.

Late member of Wu-Tang, Ol Dirty Bastard showed his compassion when he saved the life of a 4 year-old girl. Back in 1988, ODB was recording in a studio in Brooklyn and saw a crash happen outside. The rapper ran out of the studio to help the girl. Together with a friend and others, they managed to lift up the Ford Mustang which had a child had been trapped underneath. The girl was affected badly by the accident suffering from first and second degree burns. ODB visited the young child in hospital under a false name until the media caught on.

He may be rough and tough in his music but when it comes to animals, Waka Flocka Flame is a real lover. Waka is indeed so passionate to the cause that he even joined PETA on their campaigns. The Brick Squad rapper filmed an ad for the organization carrying a rescue dog. In 2011, Waka even went as far as posing nude for PETA’s “Ink, Not Mink” ad.

Although Eminem's lyrics may be deemed as violent and inappropriate at times, he's constantly putting on for the city that raised him, Detroit, Michigan. The rapper created The Marshall Mathers Foundation which in the past has contributed resources to underprivileged youth in the form of financial support channelling funds into key charities in the city. He has also helped out the 8 Mile Boulevard Association in its efforts to revitalize the 8 Mile Road, signing bricks that would later be auctioned for large amounts of money.

50 Cent is known for is entrepreneurism and with his business acumen, he has also been able to help others. Back in 2011, Fiddy launched his own energy drink, Street King. With this he announced that for every drink purchased, a portion of the sale would go towards providing a meal for underprivileged children around the world. 50 also launched a bid to feed a billion people in Africa over the next 5 years.

The rapper involvement was more than just words. He flew out to parts of Africa to see the hunger problem for himself and helped dish out food to the children he met.

Dre and Jimmy Iovine are some of the biggest beneficiaries from their visions and ventures in music. But it’s always good to see that they are willing to share the wealth. Last year, the icons put forward $70 million to a unique academy for the University of Southern California, called the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation. The aim of the program? To create more entrepreneurs like Dr Dre and Iovine as it focuses on marketing, arts and business, just a few of those core fields that both music moguls have used in their success.

Meek Mill may be facing some bad press these days as a result of jail time, but he showed real heart when he fronted the payments for a cancer patient. Gilliane Chrisphonte was diagnosed with Lymphoma but faced trouble gathering the fund to pay for her expensive treatment. Consequently, she started a fundraising page on GoFundMe.com hoping people could help her raise the money. Meek Mill came across the page and showed no hesitation in contributing to the fund. The rapper’s exact contribution is unknown, but Chrisphonte beat her target by $12,000.

Nas was struck by the story of Stanley Young whilst touring in Japan. An unemployed, single father of eight moved himself and his family into a Holiday Inn after a fire burned down their home. Young had approached various bodies for housing options including family, his church, the Red Cross. Nas’s manager saw the story on the news and drew the rapper’s attention to it. As a single father himself, Nas felt he had to help. The New York rapper started a Crowdtilt campaign to raise funds for the family, with the initial goal of $20,000 contributing $5,000 himself. Nas helped raise $50,000 securing a permanent home for the Young family.

Rappers have fans that look up to them and serve as real inspiration in their everyday life. Machine Gun Kelly used his influence to his advantage when he helped cerebral palsy sufferer Ryan Hex take his first steps at as a result of his “Lace Up” Movement.

Bound to a wheelchair, Hex got up on stage at MGK’s concert and took some courageous steps without aid. Hex’s bravery is amazing in the video, as is MGK’s for helping inspire.

Yeezy may sound obsessed with his fashion ambitions, but he knows what’s important underneath it all. Through his nonprofit organization Donda’s House, last year Kanye set up a program for youth who are at risk of getting into street life on the South Side, giving them a unique opportunity to take an extensive 10-week course in music writing and production. With the “Got Bars” program, Yeezy generously offered the youth a chance to be as big as he is.

In 2010, Weezy was behind bars for gun possession, but this didn’t stop him helping out a dear fan of his. Whilst in prison, fan Evelyn Austin sent Lil Wayne a number of letters discussing her life, and speaking of her mother’s difficulties being housebound due to her knee failure and damaged wheelchair. Never did Evelyn Austin think that Weezy, whilst in prison, would send her mother a brand new wheelchair costing $11,000.

Thanks to the rapper’s generous act, Ronda Austin was able to leave the house and gave her much more mobility. According to Nina Packer, head of Lil Wayne’s charity, “He [Wayne] wanted to buy Mrs. Austin the Maybach of wheelchairs."