
On this melancholy track, Eminem talks about his drug addiction with pathos. The song would not be finished until he got sober some years later, and he added a third verse. He first began to compose the song during a stint in rehab in 2005 to deal with his addiction to sleep medication.

“Beautiful” is a single from Eminem’s sixth studio album Relapse. Wayne opened the door for rappers to share openly about the destructive nature of addiction and how mental illness impacts us in numerous ways. Although drug use has always been a part of hip-hop culture, Wayne - who was the most popular rapper in the world at the time - describing his dependency on the anti-anxiety pill Xanax was a game-changer. While at the peak of his powers, Lil Wayne came to grips with his own mental health journey and admitted his drug addiction. With the refrain of“I feel like dying”- a sample of Karma’s “ Once ” - on a loop, Lil Wayne tackles the topic of suicidal ideation with vulnerability. The paranoia, anxiety, stress, hallucinations -and yes even nightmares -are par for the course. On “Nightmares,” which features singer Bilal, the duo gets real about the PTSD of drug dealing. But even the Clipse could not escape the psychological toil that comes with the drug game. Grae explains that one of the ways she copes with depression is to “Keep Livin.” Clipse & Bilal – “Nightmares” (2006)įew could match the wit and dexterity of the Clipse when it came to spitting about cocaine and other controlled substances. On “Keep Livin,’” from her 2003 release The Bootleg of the Bootleg EP, she steps up to the plate and delivers some insight on how mental issues have impacted her family and how she deals with the stress. Her lyrical exploits have gained her legendary status as an underground MC. Jean Grae is your favorite rapper’s, favorite rapper. But to survive…Well, that’s to find meaning in the suffering.” Jean Grae - “Keep Livin'” (2003) In the opening refrain, X, with piercing insight says, “This life shit, this life shit is like is like bugged the fuck out, son, for real. The song finds X reminiscing about all the traumatic events of his life and how they shaped him. “Slippin,” from Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, is an exorcism of sorts. Over the course of his career, DMX has had his fair share of battles - struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, paranoia, and manic depression. All these states of transparency in their music help to promote a fuller understanding of mental health.

#Top hip hop songs 2021 professional
Hip-hop artists have delved deeper into discussing the reality of mental wellness and how it affects their personal and professional lives, from being v ocal about getting therapy to coping through self-care. The late Prodigy once said, “hip-hop is our therapy.” But the conversation around mental health is constantly evolving beyond that notion - beyond the catharsis of making and consuming music. And historically, rap music has always served as a medium for artists to share their struggles. Though society has recently developed the language and perspective to expand our understanding - through data and first-hand accounts - the current conversation surrounding mental health and depression isn’t quite new it’s been subtly channeled through music through time.
#Top hip hop songs 2021 Offline
The national conversation surrounding mental wellness - online and offline - has aided in the stigma of suffering from depression being removed, slowly but surely. Topics centered around mental health and depression dominate our public discourse. Photo Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) Here’s a roundup of 24 memorable rap songs about depression, featuring tracks from Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, and more. Hip-hop artists like Lil Wayne have delved deeper into discussing the reality of mental wellness and how it affects their personal and professional lives.
