

Many rappers are known to have a tough exterior and "gangsta" persona, but some have a softer side when it comes to the leading lady in their lives. They boast about them in interviews and social media and even rap about them in songs.
And while every couple goes through ups and downs, these rappers weren't afraid to express their love and put a ring on it. Below is a list of 10 rappers who love their wives out loud.
Gucci Mane & Keyshia Ka'oir
Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka'oir
Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage
A lot of fans credit Keyshia Ka'oir for Gucci Mane's glow up. They began dating in 2010 after meeting on set of a music video and later got married in 2017. Gucci has written songs about Keyshia, such as "Mrs. Davis" where he raps.
I was at my worst, so you deserve my best (Yeah)
I treat you like a queen (A queen) 'cause you deserve the best (Best)
Said I'd get twenty years, she didn't break a sweat (Nah)
Went from kissin' in the jail (Mwah) to kissin' on a jet (Vroom)
They share two kids together.
Jay-Z & Beyoncé
Jay-Z and Beyoncé
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Whether its sticking up for her when she was snubbed Album of the Year at the 2024 Grammys or rapping about her in songs, Jay-Z is always going to go up for Beyoncé. They have collaborated on many projects and even had a joint tour, but it was their first musical collab, "03' Bonnie & Clyde" that made it clear that they were locked in.
Nelly & Ashanti
Nelly & Ashanti
Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Since Nelly and Ashanti rekindled their relationship, the "Hot in Herre" rapper has been showing all 32 teeth. The couple got married in December 2023 and had their first child together in July 2024. In a recent interview, Nelly gushed over his wife Ashanti calling her a "great person and mother."
LL Cool J & Simone Smith
LL Cool J & Simone Smith
Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
The couple met in 1987 and got married in 1995. They experienced many trials and tribulations in their relationship including Simone being diagnosed with stage III chondrosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She had to undergo reconstructive surgery on her right leg and in 2013, she was declared cancer-free.
LL Cool J talked about being by his wife's side during an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Oprah's Next Chapter. "You don't abandon someone in that foxhole…you gotta be there in that foxhole with them," he said. They share four children together.
Ice Cube & Kimberly Woodruff
Ice Cube & Kimberly Woodruff
Photo by Jerritt Clark/WireImage
Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff have been married for 32 years and have four children, including actor O'Shea Jackson Jr. who starred as his dad in the biopic Straight Outta Compton.
Last year, the Barbershop star stopped by Cam Newton's podcast Funky Friday and shared how he and Kimberly make their marriage last. “We want to be [married]. You’ve got to want it,” he said. “I don’t want nobody to have my woman. She’s mine. I’m hers,” he said.
T.I. & Tiny Harris
T.I. & Tiny Harris
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Despite their past issues, T.I. and Tiny Harris have always showed the world the true meaning of unconditional love. They share a blended family of seven kids and have collaborated on many projects including the popular reality series T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.
During the couple's visit to Red Table Talk in 2020, T.I. revealed why they called off the divorce, which Tiny initiated in 2017.“It’s very rare where you are able to be married to the best friend you have and the best sex you’ve ever had,” he explained. “You don’t just toss that away.”
Rev Run and Justine Simmons
Rev Run and Justine Simmons
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
If you're a millennial like me, then you probably remember watching Run's House. The show was my first introduction to Rev Run's family and we got to see the dynamic between he and his wife Justine.
They share a blended family of six and have served as positive role models in the Black community. In their book, Old School Love, the couple opened up about their love story and shared relationship advice.
Snoop Dogg & Shante Broadus
Snoop Dogg & Shante Broadus
Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Femme It Forward
Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus met in high school and later married in 1997. After a brief split in 2004, they renewed their vows and have been inseparable ever since. Talking to People, Snoop shared his marriage advice.
"How do I stay married for so long? I've got a strong wife with a strong backbone and a good heart — she's loving and she's caring and we are meant to be together," he said.
"When we said we'd marry, we married 'til death do us part. Ain't that what it say? Not 'til arguments do us part or fighting or finances, but till death do us part."
Ice-T & Coco Austin
Ice-T & Coco Austin
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Ice-T and Coco Austin is another celebrity couple who let the cameras into their world with their reality show Ice Loves Coco. In October, the couple dished to E! News, about having a healthy marriage.
I think Coco and I are teammates," Ice-T said. "We have to be teammates, not opponents, not assets, not liabilities. I value what she brings to me, and I think it's vice versa. We appreciate each other."
Method Man & Tamika Smith
Method Man
Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Method Man and Tamika Smith have been married for over 30 years and share three kids together. She was his personal assistant at one point and he was there for her during her bout with breast cancer. Not much else is known about their relationship, and they prefer to keep it that way.
In a Vanity Fairinterview, the Power Book II: Ghost star said this about keeping his relationship private. “I’ve been married to the same woman for 30 years, and the fact that my wife and I stay out of the public eye is a blessing in itself,” he said.
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London Alexaundria is the contributing editor for xoNecole. She is an alum of Clark Atlanta University, where she majored in Mass Media Arts and has worked in journalism for over ten years. You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @theselfcarewriter
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Are You & Your Partner Financially Compatible? Here’s How To Tell.
With nearly half of all marriages that end in divorce citing finances as the nail in the coffin to deading their relationship, financial compatibility is one aspect of long-term compatibility that doesn't get talked about enough. Beyond the circular 50/50 discourse and whatever hot-button issues regarding providers and the like, at its core, financial compatibility is about how well your financial behaviors, values, and long-term goals align with those of your partner.
More than it is about how much money a person makes or doesn't make, financial compatibility focuses on how you think about money, how you spend your money, and most importantly, how you plan for the future with your money. Think, questions about money mindsets, spending habits, debt, budget, etc. Are you a saver and he's a spender? Do you see money as a tool for freedom? Does he see it as something to hold on tightly to as a means of survival? Can you talk about your financial goals and plans openly?
Knowing if you and your partner are financially compatible can save a lot of heartache, a lot of headaches, and a lot of money in the end. Keep reading for a few key indicators to pay attention to and learn whether or not you and your partner are truly aligned financially.
Signs You’re Financially Compatible
1. You can talk about money without judgment.
Conversations about money aren't something you dread. You're able to talk to your partner freely and openly about money matters, like debts, bills, the budget, etc., even when it is uncomfortable. There is an understanding that talking about money doesn't have to be something you're on the defense about, instead it's an opportunity for transparency, clarity, and solutions.
2. You respect each other's money personalities.
What is a money personality? According to Ken Honda, author of Happy Money, a money personality is our "approach and emotional responses to money" and there are seven money personalities we can fall under. These personalities can help us understand our own relationship with money, as well as our partner's. For example, maybe you're someone who likes to treat yourself to a fancy dinner once a month and your partner is someone who believes ordering takeout and not cooking meals at home is a cardinal sin.
When you can respect each other's money personalities, neither approach is subjected to judgment and shifts can be made in each other's spending habits as needed and from a place of love versus guilt or shame.
3. You agree on what it means to have "financial security."
Whether it’s building a stacked emergency fund, paying off debt before putting a downpayment on a home or being able to splurge on a baecation without checking your account balance before the bill arrives, your definitions of what it means to be financially secure are in sync, or at least compatible enough to reach a compromise.
4. You are not each other's "financial parent."
You’re not constantly teaching, fixing, or stressing out over what the other person is doing with their money. Although I fast-forwarded through a lot of the most recent season of Love Is Blind, I did pay attention to Virginia and Devin and money seemed to be a recurring theme in their conversations. It was clear Virginia had her ish together when it came to money and her financial plans for the future and Devin was not quite on her level.
Though she said no at the altar for additional reasons, I could also see how sis could eventually get very tired of being her partner's second mama, so to speak. And that's the thing about being your partner's "financial parent," eventually, you could end up feeling like you are one-half of a "parenting" or "teaching" dynamic with your partner instead of feeling like you're equals in a partnership.
5. You make financial decisions with each other in mind, not for each other.
Whether it’s booking a trip, deciding which debt to tackle first, saving up for a big purchase, or planning out your next move, there’s a mutual respect for each other’s input. Those shared goals might look like wealth, freedom, stability, or just a debt-free life that feels soft and secure.
You don’t have to be chasing the same bag in the same exact way, but you do need to be aligned on the vision. What you're building should feel like a joint venture with shared effort and purpose, not one of y’all making major money moves like you're still single. Making financial decisions is not just about where the money goes, it's about where you’re going together.
6. You're aligned when it comes to the big stuff.
Financial compatibility extends to the long-term of money management. The legacy, structure, and shared responsibility that comes with decisions like shared accounts, estate planning, having babies, or even blending families. Will you split bills or combine income? Who’s taking time off if you have a child? How do y’all feel about generational wealth or investing for your family’s future? You and your partner have had the real conversations.
These conversations can’t wait until after the wedding or until after a baby’s here. They’re the foundation for how you function as a unit, and if you're not aligned, or at least willing to get on the same page, that incompatibility can cause friction in the end that love alone can't fix.
Love is cute and all, but building an empire together? That’s the real flex. Tap into our new series Making Cents to see what financial compatibility really looks like when love and legacy go hand in hand.
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