Beneath the thick veneer of ‘Gats’ ‘Paper chasing’ and ‘Ho’s’ there are great life lessons to learn from some of the best selling Rap and Hip-hop stars of our time. I love an insightful line be it from a self-help book, the bible or a rap song. I have compiled a few lyrics that have stuck with me over the months and years and which I find myself smiling at every once in a while.
On Optimism + Faith
“They like, ‘Savage, why you got a twelve car garage and you only got six cars?'” – Rockstar, Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage
On the surface, it may appear that 21 Savage made a made a miss-calculation on the number of garage spaces he needs Vis- a-vis the number of cars he owns.
I think he is more sensible than that.
He figures eventually he will own 12 cars so making a provision for 6 more is the sensible thing to do. This, I believe, is a perfect case of ‘If you can see it in your mind you can touch it with your hand.’
The lesson here is to always have a clear idea of what you want out of life and to act as if that thing you are reaching for is already a fact.
On Perspective in The Face of Adversity
“Had a couple seizures, call ’em minor setback…woke up in the hospital, where my checks at. Then I put eight chains where my neck’s at.” – I’m a Boss (Remix), Meek Mill Featuring Swizz Beats, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross
Now, I have never had a seizure let alone a couple of them but I don’t know if I would treat this scenario as a minor inconvenience. Rick Ross wakes up in hospital and gets right to the heart of the matter; large checks and gold chains.
In the ring of life, you have got to be able to take a big right and keep fighting.
The lesson here from Rozzay is a problem is only as big as you THINK it is.
Marcus Aurelius would approve.
On Priorities
“I don’t know what’s better, getting laid or getting paid; I just know when I’m getting one, the other’s getting away” – This Way, Dilated Peoples Featuring Kanye West and John Legend
I love how Kanye doesn’t moralize about which one of the two is better. It is slowly dawning on him that ultimately he will have to give up one for the other.
Such is life; you can’t have everything so you have to choose what is most important to you. It really doesn’t matter which path you take. All that matters is you accept the consequences without complaining.
On Hard Work + Dedication
“Now they always say, ‘Congratulations’. Worked so hard, forgot how to vacation. They ain’t never had the dedication.” – Congratulations, Post Malone Featuring Quavo
It’s easy to think that these artists spent their time shopping for Rolls Royces and taking trips on private jets and every once in a while find some quiet time to pen a club banger.
I think if these stars were being absolutely honest, the two words that would describe their lifestyle are hard work and dedication. Any man who forgets to take a vacation because he is so involved in his craft deserves the best the world has to offer.
The lesson here is not to get distracted by the ‘things’ and rather focus on putting in the work. The things will come of their own accord.
On Being a Person of Substance
“Man up, ’cause stand-up Ni***s don’t lean!'” – Rap Battle, Loaded Lux Vs Hollow Da Don
Rappers (and I am making a generalization here) glorify vice and it’s easy for young people to think that a good life is about money, weed, alcohol and women.
Lean features strongly in Rap culture and is a mixture of prescription cough syrup (with codeine and promethazine) and soda, usually sprite.
Hollow Da Don is a respected wordsmith and accomplished battle rapper and is known for his affinity towards lean and other not-so-legal substances. I love Lux’s word play when I can understand him, and I especially love this line about being a stand up guy
Anyway, the lesson here is to be a person of substance rather than that blindly following trends and popular culture.
Great lessons and perspectives can come from anywhere. What’s your favorite Rap verse?
On The Way to Find the Way 