10 Hip-Hop Songs That Make You A Better Person

The following playlist has been curated from the catalog of American hip-hop by a professional cyphertologist. It is intended to be consumed under the supervision of a licensed DJ for introspective and recreational purposes only.

*Consuming this playlist with an open mind may increase risk of wokeness. Tell your DJ if you experience empathy, as this may be a sign of enlightenment. Other symptoms include acceptance, gratitude, and increased self-esteem. Severe ego death has been reported in a number of cases.

This playlist may not be right for people with megalomania or an untreated ego. It should not be listened to if you have a history of materialism or pettiness. People taking Intolerance should talk to their DJ before deciding to go on a hip-hop regiment.

Kendrick Lamar, “Real” ft. Anna Wise of Sonnymoon
Good Kid M.A.A.D City (2014)

Kendrick articulates why material possessions are a distraction to happiness and that being real is as simple and as complicated as loving yourself.

You love a good hand whenever the card dealt/
But what love got to do with it when you don’t love yourself?/

Lupe Fiasco, “Hurt Me Soul”
Food and Liquor (2006)

As Lupe describes the transition from youth to teenager, he notices the complexities of life, mainly in the faults of the people who he looks up to.

I had a ghetto-boy bop, a Jay Z boycott/
Cause he said that he never prayed to God, he prayed to Gotti/
I’m thinking, golly, God, guard me from the ungodly/

Kanye West, “Everything I Am”
Graduation (2007)

Kanye was discouraged from rapping early in his career. How many of us are held back because our talents are pigeonholed? Mr. West speaks on the what-you-want-to-express versus what people expect of you.

Pink slip on my door, cause I can’t afford to stay/
My 15 seconds up, but I got more to say/
That’s enough Mr. West, please, no more today/

Frank Ocean, “We All Try”
Nostalgia, Ultra (2011)

The poet Frank Ocean illustrates that complicated relationships between optimism and pessimism. They will conflict often and the responsibility lies within us to believe in something.

I don’t believe our lives are simple/
And I don’t believe they’re short, this is interlude/

Common, “Be”
Be, (2005)
In the album’s title track, the philosopher Common pens a poem of optimism, confident that his daughter and her generation will bring positive change to the world.

I look into my daughter’s eyes/
And realize I’ma learn through her/
The Messiah, might even return through her/

J. Cole, “Love Yours”
2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)

The ever-self-aware J. Cole makes the argument that “there’s no such thing as a life that’s better than yours.”

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 [chick] that’s badder out there on the tours/
But you ain’t never gon’ be happy till you love yours/

Chance The Rapper , “Everybody’s Something” ft. Saba & BJ The Chicago Kid
Acid Rap (2013)

The song’s hook, “Everybody’s somebody’s everything” is a message of self-worth and self-esteem. We are valuable and do matter.

Everybody’s somebody’s everything/
I know you right/
Nobody’s nothing/
That’s right/

Tech N9ne, “Fragile” (feat. Kendrick Lamar, ¡MAYDAY! & Kendall Morgan)
Something Else (2013)

Tech N9ne and Kendrick passionately remind us that artistry and creativity in children is a fragile resource that we must nurture and encourage.

Critics are really the enemy and I/
Can’t stand the way they slam today’s gifted/

De La Soul, “Trying People”
Art Official Intelligence Bionix (2000)

Are you living the life your childhood self envisioned? De La reminds us of the nontrivial effort required to achieve those goals.

Throughout my change to grow, Some of my people got left behind/
They didn’t listen for the gun, as I leaped from off the line/
Thirteen years deep in this marathon I’m runnin/
Paid dues and still got bills to pay/

Chali 2na, “Righteous Way”
Fish Outta Water (2009)

Chali 2na compares the mistakes his mother and father made to the ones he and his wife made. This is a message to be conscious of the behaviors that we learn from our parents.

And it went from Bonnie and Clyde/
To problems with money and pride/
Together they couldn’t decide/
[Hook] The righteous way to go/

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Edited by Erika Jarvis and originally posted on Green Label.