Methodology Man is pleased with his three children: Shakuan, Raekwon and Cheyenne.
The multi-talented artist, né Clifford Smith Jr., rose to fame as a member of the enduring Wu-Tang Clan and later teamed up with Redman for the hip-hop duo Methodology Man & Redman. He’s additionally a document producer and actor with standout roles in Energy E-book II: Ghost, Backyard State and Keanu.
Nonetheless, his most vital roles to this point are being a husband to his spouse, Tamika Smith, and father to his sons and daughter.
“I used to be there for the start of all my children,” the Grammy winner advised One thing Mild Media in July 2024. “I cried when my first son was born.”
After starring in motion pictures like How Excessive, the native New Yorker determined to scrub up his public picture and attributed the choice to his youngsters.
“After I first out, I used to be younger. We [were] doing our factor,” he advised The Come Up Present in April 2011. “Now, I’ve to make use of extra discretion due to my children. This isn’t for me, every thing I do is for them.”
Here is every thing to learn about Methodology Man’s children: Shakuan, Raekwon and Cheyenne.
Shakuan Smith
Methodology Man and Tamika welcomed their son Shakuan Smith within the late ’90s.
Like his father — who performed soccer and lacrosse rising up — Shakuan was a gifted athlete. He was a three-year varsity receiver for the Curtis Excessive College Warriors in Staten Island from 2012 to 2014, The Staten Island Advance reported.
In keeping with Curtis’ head coach on the time, the rapper was a relentless presence at his son’s video games, however Shakuan didn’t reap the benefits of his connections. Throughout a March 2015 interview with Sizzling 97, Methodology Man shared some perception into what it was like for his eldest to navigate highschool with a well-known father.
“He used to put on his favourite hoodie on a regular basis, and one of many children stated, ‘Ain’t your father that man? How come you at all times put on the identical hoodie each day?’ ” the hip-hop star recalled. “He replied, ‘My mother and father do quite a bit for me, so I don’t need to ask for every thing I would like each time I would like one thing.’ ”
Methodology Man continued, “Mainly, he was simply making an attempt to inform the child that he is humble and it doesn’t matter who his dad is — he can costume how he desires, and folks ought to choose him for who he’s, not for who his dad is.”
Shakuan additionally adopted his father into the rap recreation: He’s an aspiring hip-hop artist who goes by the moniker PXWER.
Along with his solo profession, Shakuan is a member of 2nd Era Wu, comprised of the unique group members’ youngsters, together with U-God’s son iNTeLL, Ol’ Soiled Bastard’s son Younger Soiled Bastard and Ghostface Killah’s son Solar God.
When Methodology Man and Shakuan collaborated on the remix “New Era,” Shakuan opened up about working along with his father on the monitor.
“It’s dope to work with my pops,” he advised HipHopDX in April 2020. “It’s like a dream come true to be sincere. … Not many up-and-coming artists can say they labored with a hip-hop legend like Methodology Man.”
In June 2023, Methodology Man was at his son’s aspect once more when Shakuan married Joanne Neweir. The daddy of three later mirrored on how his personal marriage impacted Shakuan’s relationship.
“I consider it’s so vital for teenagers to have each a female and male presence within the dwelling,” Methodology Man advised One thing Mild Media. “My children have at all times seen their mom and father collectively.”
He added, “That’s why my 26-year-old is already married — as a result of he grew up seeing a robust, loving relationship between his mother and father. He was raised in mild and love, and that’s extremely vital.”
Raekwon Smith
Methodology Man and Tamika welcomed their son Raekwon Smith alongside his twin sister Cheyenne Smith within the late ’90s.
Methodology Man sees himself in his son Raekwon, recounting how he was a little bit of a insurgent rising up. (On the time, Methodology Man glided by the nickname Shotgun.)
“After I was a child, my mom will inform you that she needed to cope with me coming dwelling at 10 or 11 o’clock at night time after I was simply eight years outdated,” he advised HOT 97.
The rapper continued, “I might get yelled on the first few instances, however after some time, it was like, ‘Okay, that’s simply Shotgun. Shotgun will likely be dwelling; no want to fret.’ Similar factor with my boy Rae.”
Like his father and older brother, Raekwon performed soccer and adopted Shakuan to Curtis Excessive College in Staten Island, the place he wore the identical jersey quantity as a tribute to his sibling.
“I at all times dreamed about enjoying on this group and carrying his quantity (jersey No. 5), in order that I may honor him on the sector,” Raekwon advised The Staten Island Advance.
Whereas he additionally carried the added weight of being the son of a celeb, he did not let his father’s fame have an effect on him.
“I don’t actually take note of it,” he stated, explaining that his dad supported him like some other dad or mum. “We’re only a household of massive soccer followers.”
Reflecting on his father’s steering, Raekwon added, “The perfect piece of recommendation he’s given me is to at all times keep humble and be your self.”
The rapper’s youthful son went on to play defensive again for the Stony Brook College Seawolves.
Cheyenne Smith
Methodology Man and Tamika welcomed their daughter Cheyenne within the late ’90s along with her twin brother Raekwon.
Regardless of being the kid of a hip-hop legend, she has at all times tried to carve her personal path, tracing again to when she was an adolescent.
“My first job was at Wendy’s,” she revealed throughout a dialog on Sway’s Universe in April 2024. “I cherished working at Wendy’s. I used to be 16 years outdated, and I used to be like, ‘I’m getting my little $7.50 and it’s lit.’ ”
Nevertheless, she typically confronted questions on why she was working when her father was such a well-known entertainer.
“Folks could be like, ‘Why do you’re employed? What’s the purpose of you being right here? Your dad is that this huge entertainer.’ And it’s like, ‘What would you like me to do? You stated my dad’s the entertainer,’ ” she recalled. “I nonetheless want the cash. I may get it from him, however on the similar time, he desires to see us work for it. I at all times work for what I would like.”
Now going by the stage title Chey, she is devoted to her musical profession, releasing the drill-inspired single “Hair and Nails” adopted by “Boujee and Ghetto” in early 2024. Nevertheless, her debut dates again to 2021, when she featured on the remix of “Tag I’m Litt” by 2nd Era Wu.
In a January 2024 interview with Shaoliiin Leisure, Cheyenne emphasised that though some may consider her father may propel her into the highlight, she is about on placing within the effort.
“Lots of people would say [that he could just make a call and put me on], however on the finish of the day, you gotta put within the work,” she defined. “He may try this, however he’d reasonably see me work for it and actually push. He’s gonna assist one thousand gajillion trillion %, however he desires to see the work too.”
Each of her mother and father encourage her music profession. After her dad was one of many first to listen to her music, her mother Tamika has helped promote her music on social media.
In April 2024, Methodology Man proudly introduced her on stage through the 4/20 Bud Drop live performance in New York Metropolis, introducing her with a heartfelt message.
“That is my child,” he stated to the group. “You realize we favor our daughters — we love our sons too! One thing about daddy’s woman.”
Cheyenne was seemingly born to be an entertainer: One in all her earliest Instagram posts exhibits her singing alongside to Ashanti’s “Completely satisfied.”
Regardless of her ardour for music, Cheyenne has prioritized her schooling. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology from Wagner School in 2020.
“God is so good and I’m extraordinarily blessed and grateful. I couldn’t have performed it with out the assist and assist of my mother and father, household, buddies, and my boo🥰. Right here’s to a different chapter of life 🍾🥂,” she shared in a celebratory publish.