Method Man's 3 Kids: All About the Wu-Tang Clan Rapper’s Daughter and Sons (and How They’re Following in His Hip-Hop Footsteps)

Mar. 15, 2025

Method Man and his sons attend the New York Jets vs. Oakland Raiders game at MetLife Stadium on September 7, 2014.Photo:Al Pereira/WireImage/Getty

Al Pereira/WireImage/Getty

Method Manis proud of his three kids: Shakuan, Raekwon and Cheyenne.

The multi-talented artist, né Clifford Smith Jr., rose to fame as a member of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan and later teamed up with Redman for the hip-hop duo Method Man & Redman. He is also a record producer and actor with standout roles inPower Book II: Ghost,Garden StateandKeanu.

Still, his most important roles to date are being a husband to his wife, Tamika Smith, and father to his sons and daughter.

“I was there for the birth of all my kids,” the Grammy winner toldSomething Light Mediain July 2024. “I cried when my first son was born."

After starring in movies likeHow High, the native New Yorker decided to clean up his public image and attributed the decision to his children.

“When I first out, I was young. We [were] doing our thing,” he toldThe Come Up Showin April 2011. “Now, I have to use more discretion because of my kids. This is not for me, everything I do is for them.”

Here’s everything to know about Method Man’s kids: Shakuan, Raekwon and Cheyenne.

Shakuan Smith

Method Man’s son Shakuan Smith in November 2023.Shakuan Smith/ Instagram

Shakuan Smith/ Instagram

Method Man and Tamika welcomed their son Shakuan Smith in the late ’90s.

Like his father — who played football and lacrosse growing up — Shakuan was a gifted athlete. He was a three-year varsity receiver for the Curtis High School Warriors in Staten Island from 2012 to 2014,The Staten Island Advancereported.

According to Curtis’ head coach at the time, the rapper was a constant presence at his son’s games, but Shakuan didn’t take advantage of his connections. During a March 2015 interview withHot 97, Method Man shared some insight into what it was like for his eldest to navigate high school with a famous father.

“He used to wear his favorite hoodie all the time, and one of the kids said, ‘Ain’t your father that man? How come you always wear the same hoodie every day?’ " the hip-hop star recalled. “He replied, ‘My parents do a lot for me, so I don’t have to ask for everything I need whenever I want something.' "

Method Man continued, “Basically, he was just trying to tell the kid that he’s humble and it doesn’t matter who his dad is — he can dress how he wants, and people should judge him for who he is, not for who his dad is.”

Method Man and his son Shakuan Smith attend the All Points West Music & Arts Festival Pre-Event Kick-Off Party at the Nokia Theatre on July 30, 2009 in New York City.Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

In addition to his solo career, Shakuan is a member of2nd Generation Wu, comprised of the original group members' children, including U-God’s son iNTeLL, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son Young Dirty Bastard and Ghostface Killah’s son Sun God.

When Method Man and Shakuan collaborated on the remix “New Generation,” Shakuan opened up about working with his father on the track.

“It’s dope to work with my pops,” he toldHipHopDXin April 2020. “It’s like a dream come true to be honest. … Not many up-and-coming artists can say they worked with a hip-hop legend like Method Man.”

In June 2023, Method Man was at his son’s side again when Shakuanmarried Joanne Neweir. The father of three later reflected on how his own marriage impacted Shakuan’s relationship.

“I believe it’s so important for kids to have both a male and female presence in the home,” Method Man told Something Light Media. “My kids have always seen their mother and father together."

He added, “That’s why my 26-year-old is already married — because he grew up seeing a strong, loving relationship between his parents. He was raised in light and love, and that’s incredibly important.”

Raekwon Smith

Method Man and his sons attend the New York Jets vs Oakland Raiders game at MetLife Stadium on September 7, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Al Pereira/WireImage

Al Pereira/WireImage

Method Man and Tamika welcomed their son Raekwon Smith alongside his twin sister Cheyenne Smith in the late ’90s.

“When I was a kid, my mother will tell you that she had to deal with me coming home at 10 or 11 o’clock at night when I was just eight years old,” he told HOT 97.

The rapper continued, “I would get yelled at the first few times, but after a while, it was like, ‘Okay, that’s just Shotgun. Shotgun will be home; no need to worry.’ Same thing with my boy Rae.”

Like his father and older brother, Raekwon played football and followed Shakuan to Curtis High School in Staten Island, where he wore the same jersey number as a tribute to his sibling.

Method Man and his sons Shakuan Smith and Raekwon Smith attend Hot 97 Summer Jam XX at MetLife Stadium on June 2, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Johnny Nunez/WireImage

“I always dreamed about playing on this team and wearing his number (jersey No. 5), so that I could honor him on the field,” Raekwon toldThe Staten Island Advance.

While he also carried the added weight of being the son of a celebrity, he didn’t let his father’s fame affect him.

“I don’t really pay attention to it,” he said, explaining that his dad supported him like any other parent. “We’re just a family of big football fans.”

Reflecting on his father’s guidance, Raekwon added, “The best piece of advice he’s given me is to always stay humble and be yourself.”

The rapper’s younger son went on toplay defensive backfor the Stony Brook University Seawolves.

Cheyenne Smith

Cheyenne Smith attends an event for the BET Hip Hop Awards 2024 VIP Reception on October 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Greg Doherty/Getty

Greg Doherty/Getty

Method Man and Tamika welcomed their daughter Cheyenne in the late ’90s with her twin brother Raekwon.

Despite being the child of a hip-hop legend, she has always tried to carve her own path, tracing back to when she was a teenager.

“My first job was at Wendy’s,” she revealed during a conversation onSway’s Universein April 2024. “I loved working at Wendy’s. I was 16 years old, and I was like, ‘I’m getting my little $7.50 and it’s lit.’ ”

However, she often faced questions about why she was working when her father was such a famous entertainer.

“People would be like, ‘Why do you work? What’s the point of you being here? Your dad is this big entertainer.’ And it’s like, ‘What do you want me to do? You said my dad’s the entertainer,’ " she recalled. “I still need the money. I could get it from him, but at the same time, he wants to see us work for it. I always work for what I want.”

In a January 2024 interview withShaoliiin Entertainment, Cheyenne emphasized that although some might believe her father could propel her into the spotlight, she is set on putting in the effort.

Cheyenne Smith attends the BET Hip Hop Awards on October 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Leon Bennett/WireImage

Leon Bennett/WireImage

“A lot of people would say [that he could just make a call and put me on], but at the end of the day, you gotta put in the work,” she explained. “He could do that, but he’d rather see me work for it and really push. He’s gonna support one thousand gajillion trillion percent, but he wants to see the work too.”

Both of her parents encourage her music career. After her dad was one of the first to hear her music, her mom Tamika hashelped promote her musicon social media.

In April 2024, Method Man proudlybrought her on stageduring the 4/20 Bud Drop concert in New York City, introducing her with a heartfelt message.

Cheyenne was seemingly born to be an entertainer: One of herearliest Instagram postsshows her singing along toAshanti’s “Happy.”

Despite her passion for music, Cheyenne has prioritized her education. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology from Wagner College in 2020.

“God is so good and I am extremely blessed and grateful. I couldn’t have done it without the support and help of my parents, family, friends, and my boo🥰. Here’s to another chapter of life 🍾🥂,” sheshared in a celebratory post.

source: people.com