Between child support, taxes, and rent (if you’re Chief Keef) some rappers just can’t seem to keep the bills in order. Of all the expenses to stay on top of, child support would obviously be the most important, so why is it that rappers always end up in some form of struggle?
From what we gather, the child support issue tends to come up once a rapper makes it to the multimillionaire mark. Bringing in more money means shelling out more child support funds and possibly having the details spill over into the media (which is how we came up with this list).
Earlier today, you’re favorite Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta struggle star Stevie “J” Jordan was arrested for owing more than $1 million on a child support debt that’s been outstanding for the last 13 years. Stevie J isn’t a rapper, but we’ll consider him “rap-ish” because his music credits include work with the likes of Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Nas (that counts for something).
To make sure that Stevie knows he’s not alone, we’ve compiled a register of people who feel his pain. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the rappers on our list aren’t good fathers and don’t spend time with their seeds, we’re only dealing with money matters here.
Hit the gallery below to view 10 rappers who got caught up in child support struggle.
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Photos: Instagram/Facebook
DMX
DMX is the godfather of missing child support payments. Like Stevie J, X also copped a $1 million dollar bill but for a decade’s-worth of nonpayment.
He did end up settling the child support case for an undisclosed amount last year.
Chief Keef
We all know that Chief Keef doesn’t pay anything really. He’s been sued by his landlord, concert promoters, the mother of one of his children, and we’re sure there’s a few more people ready to come out the legal woodworks.
Late last year the 18-year-old was made to pay $25,000 in back support for a baby he conceived with a woman who is rumored to be 29 years old.
Trick Daddy
Child support issues have followed Trick Daddy for over 10 years. In 2003 Trick had two open child support cases and feared that his royalty checks would be garnished to cover the bills.
When he got arrested for drug possession in 2014, Trick reportedly asked the cops if he was being pulled over because of child support.
Rakim
The Man came down hard on Rakim in 2004, because he allegedly didn’t pay support for his then 14-year-old son. He was arrested as he walked through the doors of New York’s Roseland Ballroom for a show.
Needless to say, Rakim didn’t take the stage that night but in the end, he was cleared of any wrongdoing
Juvenile
Juvenile’s child support story involves tragedy, and perhaps the most painful experience that a parent must go through: losing a child. Back in 2003 when Juve’s now deceased daughter, Jelani, was just a baby a warrant was issued for his arrest for unpaid child support. The New Orleans rapper refused to pay up without a DNA test to prove paternity and once he was confirmed as the father, he and the girl’s mother resolved the financial issue.
In 2008 Jelani, her mother, and older sister were murdered. Her older brother, Anthony Tyrone Terell was charged for the slayings.
As if his daughter’s passing wasn’t hard enough in 2012, Juvenile caught another arrest warrant, this time for $160,000 in back support for his teenage son.
Special Ed
Special Ed, was arrested in North Carolina this past January, but not much is known about this particular situation. According to The Source Ed, aka Edward K. Archer, was officially busted for “non support of children.”
Ludacris
Ludacris didn’t come out on the winning side of a child support battle over his baby daughter, born last December. The mother, Tamika Fuller, wanted a $15,000 a month. A judge ordered Luda to pay $7,000, while the Atlanta rapper fought for sole custody of the baby.
In April he was ordered to pay Fuller $35,000 in support, plus an extra $2,000 in attorney’s retainer fees.
T.I.
Before his “Family Hustle” was introduced to reality T.V. audiences, T.I. and the mother of his older sons Domani and Messiah had to work through some child support issues. The mother, Lashonda Dixon, claimed that she was struggling to get by with the $2,000 a month Tip was giving her, and a judged up the payment.
Dixon failed to mention that Tip paid for his children’s private schooling, put a downpayment on a home for her, and bought her a car. Also, we always see Tip with his children so there’s really no question as to whether or not he takes care of his six children.
Future
2013 was a busy year for Future from a personal standpoint. Two of his children’s mothers sued him for child support, and he owned up to his responsibilities (not before paternity was confirmed, of course).
The 30-year-old has four children by four women (the fourth being Ciara). Luckily he and Cici can afford a big family. She’s worth $15 million and Future is worth $2 million.
Nas
Child support and spousal support were a packaged deal for Nas. His divorce from Kelis triggered a pretty shady legal battle. God’s Son was ordered to pay Kelis over $80,000 in back child and spousal support (his son was about a year old at the time) plus cover his ex’s expenses and legal fees; in addition to an almost $300,000 bill he was ordered to pay in monthly increments of $10,000.
Damn Gina.
