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Rick Ross and Eminem
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Rappers are known for their drive, creativity, and ability to turn passion into profit. Over the years, several hip-hop artists have expanded their empires beyond music and into the culinary world. These artists have applied their business acumen to the food industry by creating unique dining experiences that reflect their personal brands and tastes.
One of the most notable examples is JAY-Z, whose 40/40 Club became a fixture in New York City’s nightlife. The chic sports bar and lounge combines a love of sports with an upscale dining experience. Ludacris, another prominent figure in Hip Hop, brought Southern roots to the table with his airport-based restaurant, Chicken and Beer. Named after his third studio album, Chicken and Beer offers travelers a taste of comfort food with a contemporary twist.
Rick Ross took a different approach by investing in an already established brand. As a franchisee of multiple Wingstop locations, Rozay has played a key role in the chain’s growth and popularity. His involvement extends beyond just investing; he has actively promoted the chicken spot through his music and social media, making it a favorite among rap fans.
REVOLT has compiled a list of 15 artists who, among other things, have successfully made the transition from the recording studio to the kitchen and have proven that their talents extend far beyond music. Check them out below.
1. Fatburger – Kanye West, Queen Latifah and more
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Presumably looking to bring some Los Angeles fare to his hometown, Kanye West’s manager Gee Roberson revealed that his client had decided to launch a series of Fatburger franchises in the Chicago area. The announcement appeared to be short-lived, however: of the two that actually opened, only one remains in the suburb of Orland Park.
Similarly, Queen Latifah owned a short-lived Fatburger franchise in Miami, Florida. Pharrell Williams, E-40 and other celebrities also invested in the wildly popular fast food company.
2. Wingstop – Rick Ross
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Rick Ross & Co. at Wingstop
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If anyone has fully supported Wingstop, it’s Rick Ross. The Florida rapper and franchisee is not only responsible for several chicken restaurants (and likely more to come), but he’s also used his marketing expertise to help grow the Texas-based company (remember Thighstop?). Rozay even gave his son a Wingstop restaurant as a thoughtful birthday present.
3. Mom’s Spaghetti – Eminem
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Eminem and Mom’s Spaghetti
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Eminem decided to open a restaurant called Mom’s Spaghetti in his hometown of Detroit, based on his iconic single “Lose Yourself.” He even showed up at the store’s grand opening to hand out oyster buckets of the Italian specialty to fans, donating some to healthcare workers in the Motor City. For those who can’t sample it in person, don’t worry: you can pick up a jar of Mom’s Spaghetti pasta sauce (and more, including merch) here.
4. The Licking – DJ Khaled
When it first opened, DJ Khaled’s Finga Licking restaurant was a gift to the people of Miami Gardens. The soul food restaurant was also a major draw for other hip-hop artists; Kanye West, Gucci Mane, and many more have been spotted at the location. Eventually, other franchises popped up throughout Florida and even in Chicago. The company’s growth wasn’t without its challenges, however, as it was forced to change its name to The Licking—the original title sounded a little too close to a popular KFC slogan.
5. Sunday Eatery – Trick Daddy
Latosia Colvin, a woman best known for her partnership with DJ Khaled and The Licking, teamed up with rapper-turned-self-taught chef Trick Daddy for popular Miami staple Sunday’s Eatery — a spot where the rapper is regularly spotted behind the counter. As seen above, co-stars like Snoop Dogg couldn’t resist sampling the Liberty City talent’s signature brand of soul food. Somewhat humorously, Sunday’s briefly shut down after Trick’s comments about Beyoncé drew the ire of her loyal fan base.
6. Esco – 2 Chains
Esco Restaurant and Tapas, formerly known as Escobar, was founded by none other than Atlanta’s own 2 Chainz and has since expanded to Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee, and other cities in Georgia after first opening near downtown. Interestingly enough, the name change was reportedly the result of a lawsuit filed by the family of late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
7. Trill Burgers – 2 Chainz
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Founded during a global pandemic, Bun B’s Trill Burgers has grown from a series of pop-ups to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the heart of Houston, Texas. As Bun said on REVOLT’s “Drink Champs,” he already has plans to expand beyond the Lone Star State after the runaway success of his mouthwatering product. “I think everyone should have the opportunity to eat the best burger in the world,” the UGK legend declared.
8. Chicken and Beer – Ludacris
Before Chicken and Beer, Ludacris made culinary moves with his Straits Restaurant in Midtown Atlanta, GA. After landing a deal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the DJ-turned-rapper-turned-mogul set out to build an establishment named after his chart-topping fourth studio LP. Now, Luda has Chicken and Beer locations in both ATL and Los Angeles International Airport.
9. Sweet Chick – Nas
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Dave East, Nas and Destiny Jones
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Before Nas’s foray into the culinary universe, he became an early investor in Sweet Chick, a fried chicken spot that first opened in Brooklyn and has since expanded to other areas around New York City (including Nas’s hometown of Queens), as well as Los Angeles, CA and—for a time—London, UK. “His support and love for the brand inspires all of us to continue to strive for greatness in every aspect,” founder John Seymour told SUITCASE. “But it’s more than a partnership; it’s a community that we have around the restaurant… and Nas is a part of that, which is really cool.”
10. I Love You – Jaden Smith
Jaden Smith, the son of Will Smith and a successful recording artist in his own right, decided to put a special spin on delivering food to the masses. In Los Angeles, he launched a food truck called I Love You Restaurant, which isn’t your typical paid service. Instead, the restaurant on wheels is primarily dedicated to serving vegan dishes to the homeless and others in need, for free. “I see this as one of many steps to create change in our world,” Jaden says on the official I Love You website.
11. American Cut – Jeezy
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Jeezy and Ludacris
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Here’s a funny story: A company called LDV Hospitality (which stands for La Dolce Vita) opened a steakhouse called American Cut. Though that restaurant later changed its name, the American Cut brand expanded to New York and Atlanta – the latter with a quiet endorsement from none other than Jeezy. Unfortunately, word of the veteran rapper’s foodie venture spread, and the growing antics that came with the knowledge led to the Georgia location’s closure. “When I went back there, you’d think it was Freaknik,” Jeezy explained in an interview with Nick Cannon, adding that hustlers he used to hang out with would try to smoke at the upscale restaurant.
12. Dave’s Hot Chicken – Drake
Drake made headlines when he announced his minority stake in Dave’s Hot Chicken, a fast casual restaurant chain founded in California that now has locations spanning the United States, Canada and the Middle East. “I tried the food and it was amazing,” he reportedly said. “After meeting the founders and hearing their story, I jumped at the opportunity to invest.” You can hear founders Arman Oganesyan and the company’s namesake Dave Kopushyan discuss the partnership with Drake above.
13. V12 – Quavo
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Quavo joined brother-sister duo Vinny and Kelan Watson to open V12 Restaurant and Sports Bar, located in Midtown Atlanta. “V12 is a type of engine that is the best of the best and that you can find in certain luxury cars,” Vinny explained to REVOLT about the business’ name. “That fits our brand, since we’re above a gas station — a lot of people have a say in it and we want to capitalize on that.” Quavo also spoke about their “organic” partnership, which also includes the dessert and cocktail bar Sovereign Sweets.
14. Burger King – Chris Brown
Earlier in his career, Chris Brown revealed to We weekly that he was the proud owner of 14 Burger King restaurants. In an interview with Tank and J. Valentine’s “R&B Money Podcast,” the Virginia star added that he was only 17 when he started investing and that his portfolio includes more than just the popular fast food joint.
15. 40/40 Club – JAY-Z
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Founded by JAY-Z, the 40/40 Club is a sports bar and lounge inspired by baseball’s prestigious feat of hitting 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. It launched in New York City and expanded to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Brooklyn, and Atlanta. Eventually, all but the original NYC location closed. The space Hov built is known for its live music, celebrity appeal, and atmosphere filled with sports memorabilia, including signed jerseys and memorabilia from iconic events.
