For the first time ever, hip-hop has become the top music genre in the United States. That’s exciting news for people who love the genre, such as myself. So, I figured, what better way to show my appreciation for hip-hop than to share how some of my favorite rappers have affected my life through their rhymes?
Here are a few life lessons you might find useful!
RELATED: Jay Z Is The First Rapper To Be Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame
5. Eminem on “’Till I Collapse”
“’Cause sometimes you just feel tired, feel weak
and when you feel weak
You feel like you wanna just give up
But you gotta search within you
And gotta find that inner strength
And just pull that s*** out of you
And get that motivation to not give up
And not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna
Just fall flat on your face and collapse”
We all have bad days. And on our worst days, we may have the urge to just give up, drop everything, and run away from our problems. Em encourages people to keep fighting to overcome life’s struggles even when we feel we’ve hit rock bottom. Shake it off, be courageous, and never quit. You – 1. Life – 0!
4. Nas on “Life’s a B****”
“I switched my motto; instead of sayin’, “F*** tomorrow!”
That buck that bought a bottle could’ve struck the lotto”
Our priorities change as we grow older and wiser. Instead of wasting money on alcohol and drugs, Nas chooses to save or invest his dough on things that will pay off in the future. Don’t get me wrong, having fun is important, too. But we should know when to draw the line, grow up, and plan for our future.
3. J. Cole on “Love Yourz”
“Always gon’ be a bigger house somewhere, but n**** feel me
Long as the people in that m*****f***** love you dearly
Always gon’ be a whip that’s better than the one you got
Always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the ones you rock
Always gon’ be a b**** that’s badder out there on the tours
But you ain’t never gon’ be happy till you love yours”
Cole stresses the importance of appreciating what we have and focusing on what’s really important—real love. We can spend all our lives chasing fame and fortune, but in the end, will we be truly happy? It’s one thing to look up to someone and find inspiration, but it’s another thing to compare and compete. Never let greed dictate how you live your life.
2. Kanye West on “Street Lights”
“Let me know
Do I still got time to grow?
Things ain’t always set in stone
That be known let me know
Let me…
Seems like street lights, glowing, happen to be
Just like moments, passing, in front of me
So I hopped in the cab and I paid my fare
See I know my destination, but I’m just not there”
Kanye describes the journey of life using a beautiful metaphor. As he is riding a cab, off to a certain destination, he watches the glow of street lights passing by–melancholic and relatable. We are all on a journey to find our own purpose and direction. Maybe we all have an image of where we want to be, and maybe some have already mapped out their future, but we can never really tell how long it’ll take us to get there. Life moves fast and moments pass by while we wait to reach our destination. I guess the best we can do is make the most of it. #YeezyTaughtMe
1. Jay-Z on “Young Forever”
“Leave a mark they can’t erase, neither space nor time
so when the director yells cut, I’ll be fine”
We’ve all heard it at least once: live your life to the fullest! Sure, but how can you say your life has been well lived? As we are all bound to meet our maker eventually, here, Jay-Z speaks of leaving behind a mark, a legacy, that’ll stick with people even after you’ve left the world. To me, personally, it’s about finding your passion and giving your all, cherishing your family and friends, and touching other peoples’ lives, even the brief encounters. So when your time comes, you can look back at your life, and truly say that you have lived a happy one.
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Fan of hip-hop music, too? What is your most favorite rap line and why? Tell us in the comments!
