These are the strongest bonds in rap.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé at the 67th GRAMMY Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena on February 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images
Being a successful rapper is no joke. Aside from the artistic discipline it takes to make great music, many of today’s rappers have their toes dipped in dozens of ventures. There’s the business side of the industry, as well as other ventures outside of music that commands their attention night and day.
Behind a lot of that money, fame and success hip-hop can bring are just two humans holding it down for each other. In rap’s insanely competitive and consuming space, only a handful of couples have rose the ranks and kept their relationship together in the process. Rap’s biggest power couples embody what it means to transcend the expected, creating multi-million dollar empires while staying strong and loyal to each other and their families.
From Rihanna and A$AP Rocky to Ice-T and Coco Jones, the list below elaborates on rap’s couples who have either birthed jaw-dropping collaborations, life-saving philanthropic efforts, or groundbreaking business ventures. In addition to that, their undeniable chemistry has made them the inspirational goals for thousands of couples all around the map — which RiRi encapsulated in perfectly in an interview last year.
“When someone sees you completely, and believes in you, and thinks you’re worthy of being the mother of their kids, it’s a great feeling,” she said.
Here are a list of couples who support and love each other in much of the same ways. From high-school sweethearts to old flames reuniting, these couples embody what it means to be #couplegoals in hip-hop. Check out our picks for the nine best power couples in hip-hop below.
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Ice-T and Coco Austin
Ice and Coco Austin been married since 2002, and in those years have both flourished in the spotlight. Ice-T is now a household name on the police procedural Law & Order: SVU, not to mention his groundbreaking influence in gangsta rap can be traced back to the 1980s. Coco has a similarly impressive resume, and has carved out her own lane as a successful model and actress. Together, they even had their own reality TV show called Ice Loves Coco. They’re celebrated both individuality and as a family, embodying what a power couple is all about.
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Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus
Another ride-or-die success story, Snoop and Shante have been together since long before the fame. These high school sweethearts have been unshakeable through hundreds of ups and downs dating back to their marriage in 1997. Shante has supported Snoop as he’s gone from rap superstar to legendary actor and entrepreneur. Similarly, Snoop has stood by Shante’s side while she’s launched multiple business ventures, including her successful Boss Lady Entertainment company. Shante also serves as the manager of the Brodaus family brand, and has remained deeply committed to youth and women’s empowerment programs over the years. While also raising four children, Snoop and Shante are inspirational on multiple fronts.
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LL Cool J and Simone Smith
Another powerful couple that’s been together for decades, LL Cool J and Simone Smith married back in 1995. LL’s cultural prowess extends far beyond hip-hop: With dozens of hosting gigs over the years and starring roles in shows like NCIS: Los Angeles, LL has transformed himself into a Hollywood icon. As for Simone, she’s a tried-and-true success story as well, and is known for her business acumen — with successful brands like her Simone I. Smith jewelry line. As a unit, their marriage has come to represent strength and resiliency, including during Simone’s battle with cancer, which she overcame with LL staunchly by her side.
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E-40 and Tracy Stevens
Married for over three decades, E-40 and Tracy Stevens have endured everything together. Stevens stood firmly by E-40 during his lengthy rise to being a pioneering figure in West Coast rap, while 40 supports Stevens’ business-savvy mind. He’s enlisted her to help him manage dozens of successful ventures, including his recent Earl Stevens wine brand. Together, the couple have shown that loyalty and mutual respect can take any relationship into the stratosphere — and make a lot of money in the process.
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Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Considering their unbelievable music careers, it should be no surprise Swizz and Alicia made this list. Alicia herself is a 15-time Grammy winner, and well known for her feminist work. Swizz, meanwhile, is one of rap’s most sought after producers. His roster is unbelievable, having worked with super stars like JAY-Z, Beyoncé, DMX and more. The two stars married in 2010 and as parents of two kids have embodied what a loving and supportive relationship looks like, impressive accolades aside.
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Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’Oir
One of rap’s couples who best encapsulate the phrase “Ride or Die,” Keyshia stood by Gucci through his rise, legal troubles and incarceration. Gucci’s long credited her with helping him chart a healthier path forward following his release in 2016. Since then, the pair has built empires. Gucci’s 1017 label has become a trap powerhouse thanks to Guwop’s pioneering presence in the genre, and Keyshia has raked in millions of dollars with her Ka’oir Fitness and Ka’oir Cosmetic companies.
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Ashanti and Nelly
As one of hip-hop’s most beloved couples in the early 2000s, the two superstars achieved immense success as individuals, with Ashanti pioneering the R&B of the early-aughts while Nelly dominated the mainstream charts with platinum records like “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma.” After going their separate ways around 2013, the pair reunited in September of 2023, and soon after announced they were married and pregnant. Their synergy as a unit has captivated thousands, making them an elite powerhouse couple.
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A$AP Rocky and Rihanna
RiRi and Pretty Boy Flacko have quickly rose the ranks to become one of rap’s strongest power couples since they got together in late 2019. Rihanna on her own established billionaire status thanks to her companies Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, while Rocky himself has long pushed the boundaries of fashion and rap via his work in music and clothes, joining forces with Dior, Gucci and everywhere in between. As they continue to grow their family — RiRi announced baby number three was on the way earlier this month — their cultural dominance shows no signs of slowing down.
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Jay-Z and Beyoncé
With a roughly estimated collective net worth of over $4 billion, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have remained hip-hop’s leading power couple for years. On the music front, the pair have stacked up dozens of Grammys — not just individually but collectively, racking up Grammys and dozens of other accolades for their collabs “Crazy in Love” and “Love Drunk,” as well as for their full-length teamup Everything is Love. Culturally, their impact has also been larger than life: From Bey’s Ivy Park clothing line to Hov’s leadership roles in Roc Nation and the streaming service Tidal, to their philanthropic efforts like The Shawn Carter and BeyGOOD Foundations, the iconic power couple has long symbolized Black excellence and inspired countless people through their impact.