By now you know your favorite hip-hop stars love to live the high life; characterized by lavish spending on sexy ladies, flashy clothes, six-figure jewelries and luxury cars. They’ve got the money, so why not? What you probably don’t know about them is their life off the camera. How they love to unwind, some of their hobbies and habits. Interestingly, many hip-hop singers not only love to rock the mic, but they also love to roll a die, play cards at the casino or bet on their favorite sport teams. Some, like Lil Wayne, Ghostface Killah and 50 Cent have even shown their love by singing about gambling.
For your reading delight and enlightenment, we’ve compiled a list of some renowned hip-hop stars who also love the casino table. You might be elated to find out that you share the same passion with some of your favorite stars.
1. 50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III or 50 Cent, as you most likely know him is the first on our list. The rapper, investor, actor and entrepreneur is a renowned lover of gambling. Known for expensive living since he came into the limelight with his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, 50 Cent’s love for gambling is no secret.
He’s been seen gambling away at several casinos around the world. Outside the casino, 50 Cent also gambles on sport teams and a stroke of luck mixed with forecasting experience saw him bag a whooping sum of $500K in 2012 when he predicted in favor of the New York giants. He also famously won $1 million on Floyd Mayweather in a bout against Oscar de la Hoya. If you ask me, not only has he had a successful music career, he’s also had a quite successful gambling career. Go, 50!
2. Bird Man
The co-founder of Cash Money Records is yet another star who loves to bet. Although, he can sometimes be found in casinos, he’s one you can call a ‘digital gambler.’ Birdman loves playing from the comfort of his couch by utilizing online gaming options like those recommended by CasinoCanuck. From his betting history, it’s glaring that he’s a fan of “go big or go home.” Sometime in 2011 he lost a staggering $2 million when he placed a bet on the Miami Heat to trounce the Dallas Mavericks and scoop the NBA Championship. It hasn’t been all gloomy as he won back $1 million when he backed the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Besides music and betting, he’s an entrepreneur and funds an oil and gas exploration company, a clothing line and, alongside Lil Wayne, funded YMCMB.
3. Jay Z
Whether you call him Shawn Carter, Jay – Z or Jigga as some of his beloved fans love to call him, this man’s a legendary hip-hop star. If you’re judging by raw, hard cash, then he’s inarguably the most successful of them all. With voluminous cash influx from music, Rocawear clothing line, Jam Records, and several other sources, Jay Z sure has excess cash to throw on the books. He loves to spend some nights in casinos around Vegas and London, although his preferred locations are kept discreet. Jay Z once reportedly lost $500k in a single hand of poker. Those seconds definitely didn’t feel good, but Jigga still rocks the casino table.
4. Young Thug
Young, famous and blazing hot on the mic, Young Thug has carved an unconventional niche for himself with his peculiar style of rap with broken beats. However, Jeffery Lamar Williams, as his mama would rather call him, is a prolific gambler. Not the average artiste who gambles just for fun, Young Thug is actually dexterous at the game and that’s why those who have shared a table with him nicknamed him “Slime”.
A popular story has it that he once lost tens of stacks, but instead of giving up, he sat right there, won back all his cash and then a $100K wrist watch afterwards. If he’s your favorite rapper then I’m sure you’re proud of him right now. In an interview, he claimed to have two identities one who would rather rap than do anything else, and the other who prefers gambling. Seems he’s doing a great job handling both personalities as he’s rather successful on both fronts. And, oh, his favorite game is dice.
Final Word
These four are just a few of hip-hop stars who love the adrenaline rush that comes with slotting it out on the casino table. They’ve got the cash, who can stop them? Provided they keep adhering to laws, of course. Cards, dice, sports betting, just name it. Well, it seems they might be a relationship between hip-hop and gambling.