In 2017, XXXTentacion tragically passed away from an overdose. He was renowned for his poignant and depressing songs.
If you are a fan of sad hip hop songs, these will hit close to home and open your eyes to social issues. They may even cause you to cry.
Dr Dre – Message to God
Dre is an acclaimed rapper and record producer who has collaborated with some of today’s hottest acts. Additionally, he founded and operates Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics as CEOs.
He is widely recognized for creating West Coast G-funk, a style of hip hop that featured synthesizers and slow beats. Popularized by Dre and his World Class Wreckin Cru group in the mid-1980s, this genre has had an enormous influence on modern rap music.
In the early 1990s, he released his debut solo album The Chronic under Death Row Records and quickly established himself as one of hip-hop’s premier artists in America. For his single “Let Me Ride,” which earned him a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, and other recognition for his work, he earned several other accolades as well.
Dre wasn’t content with his success and continued to strive for greater artistic accomplishments. In 1996, he left Death Row Records to launch his own label called Aftermath Entertainment.
Aftermath Entertainment is a record label that produces hip-hop and R&B music. It boasts many prominent artists such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar among others.
Recently, Snoop Dogg paid tribute to his longtime partner Dre on Instagram. In the video, Snoop said he was “proud to be part of this great journey” and pledged his undying support and inspiration for Dre. It is evident that Snoop is an enormous inspiration and supporter of Dre.
2Pac – Sasha
Hip hop devotees have been flocking to Los Angeles in droves over the last few years, and it’s no surprise that LA boasts some of the finest emcees in the game. When selecting a song to commemorate this momentous occasion, we took an in-depth look at all of their best work – which unfortunately was quite short! To narrow things down further, we searched online for all interesting tracks until eventually selecting 2Pac vs JAY-Z’s Matchbox collaboration as our top pick.
Common – Abort
Music has the unique power to elicit emotions and tell stories in ways words alone cannot. Artists have turned to song in order to express their personal sorrow, gratitude, fear, and convictions about abortion and unplanned pregnancy.
These songs explore abortion from the perspective of an unborn child, imploring their mother to choose life. These lyrics serve as a poignant reminder that children are precious and that any decision regarding abortion should never be taken lightly.
Kellie Coffey offers an insightful perspective on this subject with her song, “The Gift of Life,” written in 1991 after her own daughter was aborted. In it, she laments over losing the child she loved and emphasizes how important it is to cherish each moment of life.
Common’s 1997 track “Retrospect for Life,” co-written with Lauryn Hill, explores the devastating effect an abortion has had on his relationship with his girlfriend. He questions what life would have been like had she chosen to keep their child. Furthermore, this poignant piece touches upon fatherhood and how men have been left behind by their girlfriend’s choices.
Trippie Red – Love Scars
Trippie Redd is a Canton, Ohio-based rapper whose unique style of music has captured the attention of many. His most popular song “Love Scars” has been viewed on YouTube over 37 million times.
Trippie originally wrote ‘Love Scars’ as a sad song, but later decided to make it more upbeat and energetic. His subsequent albums featured more energetic tracks such as ‘Sleepy Hollow’.
He even included a religious element into his album, helping to break down the taboos surrounding religion within hip hop culture. Incorporating bible verses into his lyrics clearly displays his commitment to making the world a better place.
Pegasus is an ambitious 26-track album featuring both upbeat and sentimental songs. The rap artist collaborated with various artists such as PARTYNEXTDOOR and Busta Rhymes on this project.
Pegasus may not be Trippie’s best album, but it certainly is a good one. His carefree personality shines through on this record and he manages to craft an enjoyable listen for anyone. Additionally, Trippie is an incredibly talented artist; be sure to check out some of his other releases too!
Jean Grae – You Lost Me
Jean Grae is a multi-hyphenate who began as an MC but soon after moved into acting, writing, cooking, and hosting. With plenty to offer the hip-hop community – not to mention her wicked wit and formidable lyrical prowess that few female rappers possess – Jean Grae has truly become one of a kind.
She has an uncanny ability to craft songs that make you reflect on life’s events. For instance, on “Come On,” she mentions numerous influential people from your past. And in “The Story,” she tells an inspiring tale woven together from various sources that ties everything together.
However, while she has the talent for making great music, her lyrics could use some improvement. For one thing, her style tends to lean more toward Eminem than hip-hop; additionally, she needs help with her hooks and co-risses.
On her newest album, she takes a different approach than in past works; going mellower and focusing on singing rather than rapping. But the standout track is definitely the title track – certainly one to add to any playlist! This song will certainly become one of your go-tos for years to come.
Boosie Badazz – Smile
If you’re searching for a poignant song that will make you cry, Boosie Badazz’s Smile is the perfect choice. This track tells a poignant tale about someone who loses hope after suffering great loss.
This song addresses various social issues such as gun violence, teenage pregnancies and family relationships. Additionally, it conveys the pain of betrayal and grieving for a beloved.
XXX Tentacion’s “Stray Bullet” is a popular and powerful song that addresses gun violence. It was released after Jocelyn Amparo Flores tragically passed away while on vacation in Florida.
This song had a powerful emotional effect that resonated with many listeners, raising awareness about the need to promote mental health in our society.
However, some have noted that Drake didn’t actually kill Flores but instead was involved in her death. This has led to accusations that Drake is responsible for X’s murder.
Boosie Badazz remains infuriated about Instagram’s decision to delete his page. He now urges Black billionaires to create an app that rivals Instagram in quality.
Wu-Tang Clan – Mo
Wu-Tang Clan is an iconic group of hip hop artists founded in the early 1990s on Staten Island in New York City. Members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna.
Clan members also maintain affiliates such as Killa Beez or Wu Fam, which are funded, supported or produced by members.
Sunz of Man stands out among other solo artists within the Clan. Their debut album, Heavy Mental, released in July 2007 on Geffen Records, featured heavily on spiritual imagery and cemented them as one of its more distinctive voices.
The Wu-Tang Clan are an underground hip hop collective that has collaborated with many mainstream artists. Pete Rock, for instance, has produced tracks for them since 1998 and provided beats on albums by Raekwon and Inspectah Deck.