Rap has long been held responsible for romanticizing gang culture, yet its lyrics also offer insightful analysis on social angst, malaise, mental illness and depression. Many songs in the genre explore the personal struggles associated with addiction, depression or heartbreak.
Ice Cube’s song, “Dead Homiez”, explores a funeral for a deceased friend on the street, which resonates with its melancholic tune and reflection on uncertainty of street life.
Dr. Dre – “Not Afraid”
Eminem delivers one of his best tracks with this gritty track that boasts a powerful rhythm to counterbalance his rough lyrics and even earned him an Oscar nomination! The song pulses with raw emotion from backing vocalists that often is missing from his songs; also showing off his old-school flow without AutoTune or artificial falsetto effects.
This song by Eminem describes his struggle in life and how he has overcome many obstacles to become the rapper he is today. Eminem discusses his childhood, relationship with Debbie Mathers and loss of friends along with drug use addiction as well as any hate he encounters from haters and addicts alike. Throughout this song he mentions several famous figures such as Christopher Reeve who played Superman.
Eminem delivers another incredible track with this emotional and powerful track, telling the tale of young man’s struggles and anguish. This song will touch hearts wherever it’s played; its music video depicting its message shows true life events from Eminem’s life journey; it is must-listen for any fan of Eminem!
De La Soul – “Millie”
De La Soul took a somber approach on this somber track which depicted a fictional girl’s frightening experience with her abusive father, social worker and mall Santa. Their innovative storytelling combined with jazz samples created one of hip-hop’s darkly effective songs; although this story itself was fictional, later Posdnous would disclose that its inspiration came from real-life stressors such as 3 Feet High and Rising’s $1.7 Million Sample Clearance Lawsuit or frequent fights between wannabe tough guys that led to them being removed from an LL Cool J tour.
De La Soul released their second installment of their Art Official Intelligence trilogy with two singles; “Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa” is an exceptionally moving track that showcases their growth as concept album writers and executors. Combining scathing raps with funky-tinged instrumentals to craft an unforgettable masterpiece and give voice to millions without one.
This song also marked the debut of Trugoy as a member of the group, who added an abstract style which many fans appreciated. Even though this track failed on charts, its influence remains within music public.
De La Soul was among many successful artists who wanted to radically shift their image in order to find success with new sounds and approaches to rap music. De La Soul made this transition faster than most; their sophomore album featured an arresting cover featuring wilted daisies in a broken pot representing an end of an era, and the trio found instantaneous success with their fresh sound and approach to rap music.
Kendrick Lamar – “Keisha’s Song”
Kendrick Lamar is an engaging rapper whose work explores an array of issues, spanning street life and relationships to police brutality and police brutality. Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics and beats are powerful tools in conveying his ideas effectively.
On this track, Grammy Award winning artist tells the tale of Keisha, an indecent prostitute inspired by one of his friends. Drawing upon their painful days working sex work and how she eventually succumbs to one of her clients and dies due to an encounter. While this tale may be saddening, there remains hope for better days ahead for Keisha and for anyone watching out for her.
Kendrick Lamar may seem like an unlikely rapper due to his simple rhyme schemes or lack of breath control, but those who think otherwise are missing out. On Section 80 track “Warrior,” Kendrick displays his dexterous use of internal rhymes and clever similes, creating an unforgettable song which must have astounded first-time Kendrick fans upon its release.
Denzel Curry’s song, which addresses serious issues such as street life can often leave listeners feeling overwhelmed; not so with this track from Denzel. His lyrics talk about how street life brings out both good and bad in people; yet also addresses his relationship with his girlfriend which is much more rewarding. With its laid back beat and emotion-evoking delivery style, this track makes for an emotional powerhouse; anyone seeking a good rap song should definitely give this track a listen as it will leave them touched and inspired!
Wu-Tang Clan – “Long Gone”
This song from Clan is more straightforward lyrically than other offerings from their catalog and discusses grieving a loss, while still remaining upbeat and inspiring. If you find yourself feeling low or anxious, listen to this track when feeling down.
RZA may have taken the most strides towards modernizing Wu-Tang’s sound on this album, yet he also provided several songs that more closely reflect classic Wu-Tang material – one being this track that showcases some of their greatest work and brings back that iconic hardcore Wu-Tang sound from their early 1990s days.
This song tells of a man whose wife has fallen prey to drugs and alcohol abuse, leaving him to feel that life has become meaningless and hopeless. The lyrics of this track are both heartbreaking and thought-provoking – an excellent example of some of the best hip-hop lyrics about sadness.
MF Doom is another rapper renowned for his powerful lyrics that offer critical commentary on society. Many of his songs explore social issues; “Long Gone” in particular shows this. In it, the protagonist feels his life has little significance and says that when he dies it will all be gone in an instant – serving as a poignant reminder that no matter what blessings may exist now or in your past life, all that could change overnight.
Production-wise, this track may seem outdated; but its lyrics make it worth your while to listen. A strong offering from Wu-Tang clan that shows their ability to deliver both depth and humor through their rapping style. Though perhaps not as striking as “Impossible”, this song shows just how the Clan can balance their serious message with some funky beats.
Wu-Tang Clan – “4 Your Eyes Only”
The Wu-Tang Clan has long been famed for their gritty gangster raps, yet they’ve also released songs with more serious tones. Many of these tracks address issues prevalent within urban communities – such as sexual misconduct, drugs use and violence. While these artists may promote such behaviors via their lyrics, their purpose here is simply expressing their views and experiences.
The RZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastards released a song that addresses the struggles of black people on the streets, such as resorting to prostitution or selling drugs in order to survive. They call upon others to find other means of making money without killing each other over money issues.
This classic track by Wu-Tang Clan chronicles the anguish associated with gun violence. Narrator conveys how one may remember their loved ones fondly but may never bring them back; production and lyrics make this very unnerving tune powerfully emotive.
DMX is known for his party anthems, but in this track he takes a more introspective approach to drug abuse and addiction. He opens up about his personal struggles and encourages those facing similar difficulties to seek professional assistance if needed.
Boosie Badazz mourns the deaths of three aunts and a friend due to gun violence within one year, feeling betrayed by his former flame and struggling with their pain. This song features heartbreaking, mournful production. Meanwhile, YNW Melly recounts their relationship breakdown as hard drugs do and his suicidal thoughts as a result – producing slow yet haunting music on this track.