Rap songs that are positive/inspiration/hardship (no gospel or religious versions please)

August 12, 2011 1:45 PM

What rap songs do you recommend that are about hardship and positive? I prefer recent songs.

A current example is The Show Goes On By Lupe Fiasco (this is the most recent one I can remember)

I'm looking for religion neutral songs.

--
You all are cool :-)

posted by blueshok to media & arts (29 answers total)

Hey Mama, Roses - Kanye West
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 1:48 PM on August 12, 2011

Common's stuff is really positive; for example:

- Retrospect For Life (pre-crazy Lauryn Hill sings a great hook in this one)
- Reminding Me of Sef
- The People

That his stuff generally if very head-bobbable doesn't hurt.
posted by area.man at 2:02 PM on August 12, 2011

Oh! And Stressed Out by Tribe Called Quest, though not recent, is still a great song.
posted by area.man at 2:02 PM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]

Would Not Afraid by Eminem suit?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:04 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

Rise by Flobots
posted by sugarbomb at 2:09 PM on August 12, 2011

"Suffer," by m.anifest.
posted by god hates math at 2:10 PM on August 12, 2011

also not recent, but keep ya head up by tupac is pretty good.
posted by koroshiya at 2:12 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

Moment for Life by Niki Minaj
posted by Equiprimordial at 2:19 PM on August 12, 2011

I know that 2002 isn't particularly recent, but Get By, by Talib Kweli, seems to fit the criteria.
posted by cowboy_sally at 2:21 PM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]

Brother Ali - Forest Whitaker

(Folks on turntable.fm love that joint.)

Also, Com's generally a pretty positive rapper, but I would say that there are definitely possible negative readings of 'Retrospect for Life.'
posted by box at 2:26 PM on August 12, 2011

Does positive mean they can't have darkness? Jay Z's December 4th from the Black Album talks about challenges as well as his advantages and concludes with acceptance of his actions, good and bad.

And this was the stress i live with til i decided
To try this rap shit for a livin
I Pray i'm forgiven
For every bad decision i made
Every sister i played
Cause i'm still paranoid to this day
And it's nobody fault i made the decisions i made
This is the life i chose or rather the life that chose me

posted by phearlez at 2:34 PM on August 12, 2011

CREAM by Wu Tang is positive ( working hard will help you maintain.)
posted by oblio_one at 2:53 PM on August 12, 2011

Slippin' by DMX (although not exactly recent)
posted by milarepa at 3:20 PM on August 12, 2011

"The Rooster" by Outkast (from Big Boi's Speakerbox) is probably the most mature and insightful rap song about a breakup that I have ever heard. Totally sad/uplifting.
posted by milk white peacock at 3:58 PM on August 12, 2011

"Beautiful Struggle" - Talib Kwali
also, 2nding "Get By" by Talib Kwali
posted by KillaSeal at 5:24 PM on August 12, 2011

oh, and the "Get By" remix, featuring Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Busta Rhymes...that song is DOPE!!!
posted by KillaSeal at 5:25 PM on August 12, 2011

Dessa, "Children's Work"?
posted by brainwane at 6:16 PM on August 12, 2011

Talib Kweli f/Mary J - I Try
Dilated Peoples - Worst Comes To Worst, This Way
posted by citron at 6:56 PM on August 12, 2011

Check out k'naan's album "Troubadour." he arrived in Canada as a refugee from Somalia and a lot of his songs are about hardship. I particularly like Take A Minute, and 15 minutes away.
posted by arcticwoman at 7:02 PM on August 12, 2011

@phearlez, it can be darkness too.
posted by blueshok at 7:06 PM on August 12, 2011

Anything by Dead Prez, here is an example (lyrics), a song called "Discipline".

They have several songs on Youtube.
posted by crawltopslow at 7:23 PM on August 12, 2011

"On Coming from a Broken Home, Parts I & II" by Gil Scott-Heron
posted by smirkette at 8:00 PM on August 12, 2011

Another not-recent one, Nas - I Can
posted by knile at 2:39 AM on August 13, 2011

Scribe - stronger
posted by lifethatihavenotlivedyet at 8:24 AM on August 13, 2011

Seconding K'naan's "Take a Minute." Great song.
posted by flomo at 2:04 PM on August 13, 2011

Black Moon - This Goes Out To You
posted by Shebear at 3:01 PM on August 13, 2011

Kid Cudi - heart of a lion
posted by Shebear at 3:08 PM on August 13, 2011

Not all of these are "recent" in rap time (ZOMG 6 years old) but worth checking out:

Rocky Rivera, Under Pressure
Blue Scholars, Wounded Eyes
Nam, Balance
Native Guns, Hammer
posted by yeloson at 4:14 PM on August 14, 2011

Was listening to this song yesterday and it reminded me of this thread: "Black Diamonds and Pearls" by Blackalicious.
posted by milk white peacock at 9:54 AM on October 13, 2011