Hip-hop has a particular affinity for canine. Snoop Dogg morphs right into a Doberman Pinscher in his 1993 music video for “Who Am I (What’s My Name).” DMX—who has the identify of his deceased pooch Boomer tattooed throughout his again—growls and barks like a canine on tracks each likelihood he will get. And Bow Wow remained on-brand with the titles of his first three albums, letting the doggone pet puns fly (Beware of Dog, Doggy Bag, Unleashed). Rap has even co-opted finest good friend right into a time period of brotherly endearment (see: dawgs).
Cats get love in rap, too—though they’re usually used as innuendo. “Freaky with the sticky icky/Baby give me kitty-kitty,” XXL Freshman alum Aminé raps on his 2016 track “Caroline.” Perhaps there is not any better instance of hip-hop’s fondness for felines than Run the Jewels’ 2015 remix album Meow the Jewels, which replaces the musical components of Run the Jewels 2 with cat sounds. And what number of MTV Cribs episodes have featured fish tanks? (Missy Elliott as soon as flaunted a chair that replaces armrests with small aquariums.)
Still, exterior of those widespread domesticated pets, rappers have taken a liking to animals on the extra unique finish of the spectrum—even making companions of a few of them. From Tyga to Vanilla Ice to Young Thug, hip-hop artists have saved tigers, monkeys and even a kangaroo as furry buddies.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again had a tiger at one level. In 2017, he shared video exterior his dwelling strolling round with a child tiger. He picks up the feline who continues to “meow” whereas the rapper’s canine seems to be very curious of his proprietor’s new pet.
Then there’s Big Boi, who’s the proud proprietor of some very distinctive owls. At one level, he was in possession of 4 of the flying species.
XXL takes a have a look at 12 rappers who determined to deliver an unique member of the animal kingdom into their properties.
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Action Bronson
For Action Bronson followers, it shouldn’t come as a shock that the Queens rapper has an curiosity in proudly owning livestock as pets. He’s lengthy been an advocate of farm contemporary eats, so it solely is smart that he has a pet rooster. (Also provides some context to his 2012 track “Eggs on the Third Floor”).
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Azealia Banks
While Azealia Banks doesn’t usually share her selfies along with her pets, she has a handful that separate her from the relaxation. Per an interview with Billboard, she owns some widespread pets, together with two cats and a Schnoodle, in addition to has a pet guinea pig, rabbit and snake.
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CeeLo Green
While CeeLo Green was warned by NBC to not deliver his pet cockatoo onto The Voice set again in 2012, the Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley member didn’t pay attention. His pet, Miss Lady, got here into his life whereas he was “vacationing on Fantasy Island.”
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French Montana
Julius Ceasor, has been a speaking level for French Montana since 2014, when he added the beloved Capuchin monkey to his household. Together, they appeared on XXL’s first-ever digital cowl in 2016. As you may see, the love is actual.
Ahmed Klink, XXL
Ahmed Klink, XXL -
Jaden Smith
Jaden Smith and his sister Willow have made all types of headlines in the previous after phrase bought out that they permit their pet snakes to roam freely of their dwelling—bedrooms included. While Jaden has saved his pet snakes out of the public eye, Willow hasn’t been shy about documenting their distinctive members of the family.
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Mally Mall
Rap veteran Mally Mall has owned a number of unique animals all through the years, corresponding to a Capuchin monkey named Lil Bubs and a half cheetah/half bobcat named Isis.
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MC Hammer
MC Hammer invested in horses throughout his heyday—his horse Lite Light really competed in the 1990 Kentucky Derby. In 1991, he bought his personal steady and invested in 19 thoroughbred horses (one reportedly price $1.2 million). Unfortunately, he filed chapter 5 years later in 1996.
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Rick Ross
When Rick Ross went on Instagram to point out off a pet tiger cub final yr, followers immediately flooding his mentions with issues that the wild animal was not an moral pet to maintain. In true OG kind, Rozay didn’t publicly touch upon the state of affairs and saved on livin’ his lavish model in peace. It seems, it might have been a tiger that YoungBoy Never Broke Again gifted to Rozay.
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Tyga
It was solely becoming that Tyga had a tiger. But the wild animal—named Maverick—landed the rapper in sizzling water again in April of 2014, when he was compelled to take the tiger to a non-profit sanctuary after phrase bought out that he was illegally housing the animal. The sanctuary addressed the state of affairs, claiming that Tyga turned the tiger over to skilled caretakers.
The rapper, nevertheless, hasn’t deserted his love for the beautiful animal, incorporating components of the creature stylistically into each his album cowl for 2018’s Kyoto and in his latest choices at the barbershop.
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Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice has been vocal about his love of animals all through his profession—he is owned each a kangaroo (pictured beneath) and a goat. He’s had his unique animals seized by authorities in the previous, studying the onerous approach that to responsibly personal wild animals, one should comply with all of the correct caregiving protocol.
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again
YoungBoy Never Broke Again owned a pet tiger at one level. An Instagram picture of the rapper garnered consideration as information broke that the tiger was apparently deserted and rescued by a non-authorized group. The five-month outdated white Bengal tiger cub was reportedly seized by authorities, who found that the animal wanted fast medical consideration for points immediately corresponding with constant neglect. The tiger has reportedly been nursed again to well being, leaving a number of questions unanswered, specifically if YoungBoy was accountable or if he was simply stunting for the ‘gram.
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Young Thug
Young Thug hasn’t shied away from sharing his love of snakes along with his fan on social media—even when his pet snake has a thoughts of its personal.
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Big Boi
Hootie Hoo, Hoodini, Tula and Simon are the names of the 4 owls Big Boi has owned. The latter chook was the first certainly one of its variety to come back into the rapper’s dwelling. Big Boi apparently has an official owl license to deal with the birds and has constructed particular habitats for them. He even brings his owls to the famed Stankonia studio.
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