Mother's Day is upon us.
From Nas' "Dance" to 2Pac's "Dear Mama," hip-hop has given us many classic tracks to soundtrack the occasion. Many rappers wouldn't be where they are were it not for mama, and they often share their appreciation in the music.
While you should be racing to your nearest flower shop, you're here procrastinating. No sweat, because we've got a list to get you in the holiday spirit. Hopefully you'll use the list as inspiration to be better children this Mother's Day season.
Any special ladies missing from the list? Share your favorite mommas in the comments.
Then get a gift!
COVER
Gloria Carter
Jay Z's mother, Gloria Carter, blessed us with her presence on The Black Album's "December 4th," narrating us through Hov's childhood. It was the perfect way to set the stage for one of Jay Z's greatest album. Aside from birthing a rap legend and raising him on her own, Gloria Carter also opened her own restaurant in her Newark, New Jersey in 2014, a soul food joint called Diamond N Da Ruff.
Donda West
You might know Donda West, Kanye's mom, as the subject of one of the 'Ye's best tracks, "Hey Mama," on Late Registration. Though she tragically passed shortly after Kanye released Graduation, in 2007, she continues to inspire his work to this day. On "Only One," one of Kanye's latest singles with Paul McCartney, Yeezy sings as his mother, talking to her granddaughter North. To catch all the Mother's Day feels, watch this heartwarming video of Kanye and Donda rapping together.
Afeni Shakur
Afeni Shakur is such a legendary rap mom that she gets referenced in other rappers lyrics, and never with any negativity. Raising Tupac should be enough to get on this list alone, however, Afeni is an ex-Black Panther who still remains a vocal political activist. Afeni uses the residual sales of her son's albums to provide scholarships and fund art programs through the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
Peachie Wimbush
Peachie Wimbush, the loving mother of Wiz Khalifa, has supported her son every step of the way. Famous for endorsing Wiz's childhood smoking habits (as long as he shared) and not publicly shaming resident of my fantasies, Amber Rose. After the divorce, though, Peaches threw shade at Ms. Rose, calling her an unfit mother. Damn. At least Wiz seems to agree with her.
Sandi Graham
Drake has no issue admitting he's a mama's boy, constantly giving her credit for everything he's accomplished. Sandi Graham, who's about half of her sons height, is often seen alongside Drizzy's entourage. She's also the subject of the song "Look What You've Done," off his hit album Take Care:
And you tell me I’m just like my father – my one button, you push it
Now it's "Fuck you, I hate you, I'll move out in a heartbeat!"
And I leave out and you call me, you tell me that you sorry
You love me, and I love you, and your heart hurts, mine does too
And it's just words and they cut deep but it's our world, it's just us two
I see painkillers on the kitchen counter, I hate to see it all hurt so bad
But maybe I wouldn't have worked this hard if you were healthy and it weren't so bad
They both must be relieved that they can rest comfortably now.
Leslie Pollard
If Bobby Shmurda ever gets out of prison, he may be rap's next big thing, but to his mother, Leslie Pollard, he's just her 20-year-old son Ackquille. Shmurda's rapid rise to fame must be, in part, attributed to his manager, or mom-ager. Last fall, Leslie cleaned up a social media mess her son stirred when he lashed out at his label for unpaid royalties. In classic mom style, Pollard took the mic from Bobby, telling Billboard: "It's not that he's not getting paid, it's that he's new to the business. There's a chain of command that he has to go through before he gets his payment. I guess he's thinking all the money should go from the front man to his hands -- it doesn't work like that."
Pollard continues to fight for her son's freedom and expose the injustice of his arrest.
Shmommy knows best.
Karen Meyers
Mac Miller's mom is social media famous for constantly dropping Mac's LOL-worthy baby pictures of the popular rapper. Karen Meyers was featured on Jimmy Kimmel and got a write up in Complex. She's also the photographer behind some of Mac Miller's album covers. Not too shabby.