Keys to the City: Rappers Honored by Local Governments
Rap artists who've been acknowledged by their hometowns.
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Fetty Wap - Fetty Wap went back to his New Jersey hometown this weekend and was greeted with a key to the whole city. "I love my city π― #Paterson #NJ ... #Hardworkpaysoff," he posted to Instagram.Read on for more rappers who've been saluted by local governments for their contributions to the community.Β β Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Billboard)
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T.I. - The city of Jackson, Miss., awarded T.I. with the "Keys to the City"Β on Wednesday for his positive impact on the community. Tip also spoke to some of the youth and encouraged them that they could look at him as an example of turning your life around and bringing about a positive change.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
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Flo-Rida - Flo-Rida reps for his state and on June 3 was presented with the key to the City of Miami Gardens, Fla., also known as Carol City, where Rick Ross is also from. The club-rocking rapper was rewarded for his community endeavors through his Big Dreams for Kids Charity and work with the Florida Youth Football League.He was also the celebrity principal for the day at Miami Edison Middle School that week to celebrate its victory in the Get Schooled Diplomas Now Attendance Challenge. Fellow Floridian Ace Hood and Atlanta rapper Gorilla Zoe wereΒ also in the building to salute the youngsters.(Photo: Sergi Alexander/Getty Images for Get Schooled)
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Big Sean - Big Sean revealed that getting a key to the city of his native Detroit in 2011 was one of his career milestones. Speaking with BBC 1's Tim Westwood, he stated:"When I got the key to the city when I got back to Detroit, [that was best moment in my career]. When I saw the expression on my grandma's face ... to just see her so happy and proud, and to see my mom so proud and be able to support them, that was the best."(Photo: Judy Eddy/WENN.com)
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Mac Miller - "Mac Miller Day" was officially declared by the city of Pittsburgh on September 20, 2013, and the MC was also blessed with the key to the city of his hometown.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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David Banner - David Banner was a major force raising funds after Hurricane Katrina and has been a community activist throughout his entire career. His home town of Jackson, Mississippi, rewarded his efforts last year with a key to the city.Β (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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Diddy - We all know Diddy runs the city, especially New York, but the Bad Boy boss has made his marks in Chicago, Las Vegas and Miami Beach, too, and has been handed over the key to the city in all three.(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)
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Master P - In 2008, last don Master P was recognized by the city of Memphis, Tennessee, for his community endeavors. The No Limit colonel was given a key to the city during the Let the Kids Grow Day, which promoted the importance of education and the dangers of drugs.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Dr. Dre - While the official ceremony hasn't taken place yet, Billionaire Dre has been offered the key to the city of his native Compton, California. The city is currently in talks with Dre's camp, but the real question is, what took so long?(Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Beats by Dre)
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Lil Kim - Lil Kim went back to Cali and was given the key to the city in June 2012. The city of Miami also presented the Queen Bee with the lock opener in 2004.Β (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
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Melle Mel, Afrika Bambaataa and Kurtis Blow - Melle Mel, Afrika Bambaataa and Kurtis Blow, three of hip hop's forefathers and greatest influencers, have been acknowledged over the years for their contributions to the culture and society-at-large, but on March 12 they received official proclamations from the New York City Council, alongside a posthumous one given in recognition of the late DJ Pete.Β (Photo: Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images; Johnny Louis/WENN)
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Bun B - Though he's originally from Port Arthur, Texas, Bun B was honored by neighboring Houston back in 2011, when August 30 was officially named "Bun B Day" by the city's mayor and city council.Β (Photo: D Dipasupil/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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Pitbull - In August of 2009, Pitbull was given the Keys to the City of Miami by Commissioner (and current mayor) Tomas Regalado during a ceremony at City Hall. Pit's self-proclaimed "Mr. 305" title gained even more weight.Β (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
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Eminem - In early 2011, Chrysler debuted a commercial that featured Eminem rolling around his native Detroit, and the city council later honored Em and the car company, saying,Β βIt is our duty as a Council to acknowledge those who make it a priority to uplift Detroit.β(Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for YouTube/Getty Images)
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J. Cole - J. Cole shouts out his native Fayetteville, North Carolina, just about every chance he gets, and the city decided to pay back the rapper for his hometown love when, in 2012, they honored him with his own day.Β (Photo: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file)
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