Rap songs with real emotional context.

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  • faux_rillzfaux_rillz 14,343 Posts
    sang with emotion about real life love and heartbreak.


    this thread has evolved away from what I thought was a good topic: real life love and heartbreak. there's a whole lot of grew-up-on-the-crime-side-hardknock-life-now-I'm-scarred type contributions here.

    not saying these are not important songs, I just think it's more interesting to look into who has bared their soul on some love and heartbreak shit rather than on the I-had-it-rough-growing-up shit.

    the former are more rare I think.

    Yahmean!? These dudes need to get familiar with that Jacki-O level emotional heartstring tugging lyricism! Word up son!


    dude I'll assume you can actually understand the point I am making here and only goading me to up your post count.

    what I was saying, as you surely understand, is that there are two distinct sub-genres being mentioned here.

    1. hardknock childhood I love my mom raps

    2. heartbreak/breakup love raps

    Number 1 we got plenty of (as evidenced in this thread). Number 2 are actually a lot more rare in hip hop.

    I'm with you, son!

    I know when you was coppin' my coupe, that you was coppin' two/ I know when you got me the red one, that she got the blue

    That's that real heartbreak schitt! Touching you in places you didn't even know you had feelings!

  • TREWTREW 2,037 Posts
    Wow! I am impressed that so many people are coming up with so many songs so quickly. I need to listen to more rap, and change my perseption.


    there's quite a few story raps that fit the bill too... "Da Art Of Storytellin' (Part 1)" is the first track that comes to mind.

  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    Wow! I am impressed that so many people are coming up with so many songs so quickly. I need to listen to more rap, and change my perseption.


    there's quite a few story raps that fit the bill too... "Da Art Of Storytellin' (Part 1)" is the first track that comes to mind.

    Yes.

    This all just goes to show that the media's portrayal of rap affects even well-meaning, otherwise-knowledgeable dudes like our own laserwolf.

  • BrianBrian 7,618 Posts
    Wow! I am impressed that so many people are coming up with so many songs so quickly. I need to listen to more rap, and change my perseption.


    there's quite a few story raps that fit the bill too... "Da Art Of Storytellin' (Part 1)" is the first track that comes to mind.

    Yes.

    This all just goes to show that the media's portrayal of rap affects even well-meaning, otherwise-knowledgeable dudes like our own laserwolf.
    for real
    im glad that laserwolf is seeking these songs out and am more than sure that he will feel a good portion of them.

  • Mike_BellMike_Bell 5,736 Posts
    If some one is telling a story about slanging crack and all the girls and cars it gets them and how they are 10 feet tall, I call BS. I want to hear how does slanging crack make you feel when you are done using the girls and you turn off the lights and lay down in bed. Most crack dealers can't express, or even acknowledge those emotions. That is what makes them crack dealers (or make believe crack dealers) and not artists.
    biggie and jay talk on this a lot
    Both of those quotes made me think about this song by Jay...

    Stress
    Sunshine, geyeah

    I sold it all from crack to o-pium, in third person
    I don't wanna see em, so I'm rehearsin
    with my peoples high to GM, from a remote lo-cation
    in the BM, scopin the whole situation like, "Dayamm!"
    Metamorphic, as the dope turns to cre-am
    but one of these buyers got eyes like a Korean
    It's difficult to read em, the windows to his soul
    are half closed, I put the key in
    Pulled off slow, hopin my people flee-in
    Chink tried to knock the only link that tied me in
    Coppers was watchin us through nighttime binoculars
    This time they got us on tape, exchangin dope for dollars
    Make me wanna, holler back at the crib in the sauna
    Prayin my people bailed out like Time/Warner
    Awaitin call, from his kin not the coroner
    Phone in my hand, nervous confined to a corner
    Beads of sweat second thoughts on my mind
    How can I ease the stress and learn to live with these regrets
    This time... stress... givin this shit up... fuck

    Chorus One:

    This is the number one rule for your set
    In order to survive, gotta learn to live with regrets
    On the, rise to the top, many drop, don't forget
    In order to survive, gotta learn to live with regrets
    This is the number one rule for your set
    In order to survive, gotta learn to live with regrets
    If through our travels we get seperated, never forget
    In order to survive, gotta learn to live with regrets

    As sure as this, Earth is turning souls burning
    in search of higher learning turning in every direction seeking direction
    My moms cryin cause her insides are dyin
    her son tryin her patience, keep her heart racin
    A million beats a minute, I know I push you to your limit
    but it's this game love, I'm caught up all in it
    They make it so you can't prevent it, never give it
    you gotta take it, can't fake it I keep it authentic
    My hand got this pistol shakin, cause I sense danger
    like Camp Crystal Lake and
    don't wanna shoot him, but I got him, trapped
    within this infrared dot, bout to hot him and, hit rock bottom
    No answers to these trick questions, no time shit stressin
    My life found I got ta live for the right now
    Time waits for no man, can't turn back the hands
    once it's too late, gotta learn to live with regrets

    Chorus Two:

    You used to hold me, told me that I was the best
    Anything in this world I want I could posess
    All that made me want is all that I could get
    In order to survive, gotta learn to live with regrets... (when I was young)
    (repeat 2X)

    I found myself reminiscin, remember this one
    when he was here he was crazy nice with his son
    I miss him, long as I'm livin he's livin through memories
    He's there to kill all my suicidal tendencies
    In heaven lookin over me, or in hell, keepin it cozy
    I'm comin life on these streets ain't what it's supposed to be
    Remember Newton, mutual friend well me and him feudin
    On your life I tried to talk to him
    But you know niggaz, think they guns can stop foe niggaz
    Frontin like they're, Big Willie but really old niggaz
    Hoe niggaz, this year I'm sho' niggaz think I'm slippin
    I'm bought to send you a roommate, no bullshittin
    for my hustle's goin too well to hit him
    You was right niggaz want you to be miserable wit em
    Anyway, I ain't tryin to hear it, I think I'm touched
    this whole verse I been talkin to your spirit, a little too much

    Chorus One: repeat 2X

    Roc-A, Roc-A, Roc-A, Roc-A-Fella y'all

  • TREWTREW 2,037 Posts
    Wow! I am impressed that so many people are coming up with so many songs so quickly. I need to listen to more rap, and change my perseption.


    there's quite a few story raps that fit the bill too... "Da Art Of Storytellin' (Part 1)" is the first track that comes to mind.

    Yes.

    This all just goes to show that the media's portrayal of rap affects even well-meaning, otherwise-knowledgeable dudes like our own laserwolf.
    for real

    im glad that laserwolf is seeking these songs out and am more than sure that he will feel a good portion of them.

    i'd like to be there when he drops UGK.

  • BrianBrian 7,618 Posts
    yeah and i dont know why it didnt immediately come to mind for me but ross pointed out in the other thread that "ridin' dirty" is a great example of this also.

  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    sang with emotion about real life love and heartbreak.


    this thread has evolved away from what I thought was a good topic: real life love and heartbreak. there's a whole lot of grew-up-on-the-crime-side-hardknock-life-now-I'm-scarred type contributions here.

    not saying these are not important songs, I just think it's more interesting to look into who has bared their soul on some love and heartbreak shit rather than on the I-had-it-rough-growing-up shit.

    the former are more rare I think.

    Yahmean!? These dudes need to get familiar with that Jacki-O level emotional heartstring tugging lyricism! Word up son!


    dude I'll assume you can actually understand the point I am making here and only goading me to up your post count.

    what I was saying, as you surely understand, is that there are two distinct sub-genres being mentioned here.

    1. hardknock childhood I love my mom raps

    2. heartbreak/breakup love raps

    Number 1 we got plenty of (as evidenced in this thread). Number 2 are actually a lot more rare in hip hop.

    I'm with you, son!

    I know when you was coppin' my coupe, that you was coppin' two/ I know when you got me the red one, that she got the blue

    That's that real heartbreak schitt! Touching you in places you didn't even know you had feelings!

    don't you like Fabolous?

  • BrianBrian 7,618 Posts
    how could i forget about beans?

  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    how could i forget about beans?

    easily.

  • izm707izm707 1,107 Posts
    Jeru "Aint The Devil Happy"
    BDK "Dance With Devil"
    Jay-Z " D'evils"
    Diamond "Epilogue"

    Here's an emotionnal set...lol.

  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    how could i forget about beans?

    easily.

    please stop.

    C'mon let's try this Guru..

    When I was five years old, I realized it was a road
    But at the end, I ain't seen lots of pots of gold
    I seen a long cell block, the box, the hole
    Six hundred fenced in - some innocent, some rotten souls
    Some men with men - stop it, whoa
    I ain't runnin up in shit but a broad or a bank
    Tryin to cop a small hammer, move out like Shawshank
    with redemptions, I got my mind on revenges
    They tryin to kill me at the same time keep me alive
    I'm movin out like Adebisi on Oz
    With my skully on tilt, two whacks in my palm
    Posted up in the yard, everyday I think of pokin the guard
    Throw a crack a nigga turnin me in
    Tryin to crack a nigga turnin me thin
    Food soakin in lard, news fools get opened in cards
    for debbies and drapes, in this prison life, what you livin like?

    Can you tell me what you live like?
    Can you tell me what that bed like, what's that cell like?
    What's livin in hell like? Tell me do you eat right?
    Do you even sleep right?
    Yo, tell me what your life like
    Tell me do you sleep nights, tell me what that life like?
    Gettin no kites like, no flicks like
    Make you wanna quit life

    Them four letters is a motherfucker
    That's forever like a motherfucker
    Without a letter from a motherfucker?
    It ain't even bout the cheddar from a motherfucker
    Write a kite, some flicks from a motherfucker
    Some drawers, some socks, some kicks from a motherfucker
    I can't believe I'm doin this bid for you motherfuckers
    I'm down for another joker case
    I was dealt this hand, and I'ma play it with my poker face
    On the block ready to poke a face
    I got an L goin around with a smokin case?
    You steal the deoderant out of CVS, you locked for retail theft
    I got it body half a block stolen DT vest
    My rap sheet read three D breasts
    Dangerous Ducttape Daughters
    I take to the street, like a duck take to water
    Get your duck game in order
    My bus game in order, I fluffs 'caine with water

    Can you tell me what you live like?
    Can you tell me what that bed like, what's that cell like?
    What's livin in hell like? Tell me do you eat right?
    Do you even sleep right?
    Yo, tell me what your life like
    Tell me do you sleep nights, tell me what that life like?
    Gettin no kites like, no flicks like
    Make you wanna quit life

    That's fucked up, you bout to take your longest trip
    and can't do shit, but suck it up, be strong and shit
    Handcuffed, ankle to wrist, in back of the bus
    Flashbacks of you back in the world
    Can't fuck now you thinkin bout who in back of your girl
    Got her ass up (kill this bitch) playin your crib
    Thinkin bout who raisin your kids
    Shit was all good a week ago, 'fore they came and raided your crib
    6:30 in the morning, they kick your door in
    Feds pour in, snatch you out your bed while you snorin
    You unaware of what's goin on and
    Come to find out, clients you had for years, turned informant
    Told the law about the drops you make
    How your clientele first started to escalate
    Givin him keys to your crib, was your next mistake
    At that dinner table, breakin out that extra plate
    You can't turn a career addict off his coke habit
    Put him on post with the toast that promote static
    Back to the operation, they got you locked at the station
    Fuck your back time, you worryin about what you facin
    Heart racin, situation gettin scary
    Old clients are showin up, at the preliminary
    D.A. tryin to bury a nigga to Neveruary, 31st
    God damn, that gotta hurt

  • Mike_BellMike_Bell 5,736 Posts
    The way how that music complemented the lyrics made What Your Life Like Pt. 2 that much stronger. That piano loop was pretty moody.

  • BrianBrian 7,618 Posts
    ive actually been working on a mixtape of some stuff like this for quite a while but its been kinda hard to make, nahmean?

  • Mike_BellMike_Bell 5,736 Posts
    ive actually been working on a mix of some stuff like this for quite a while but its been kinda hard to make, nahmean?
    you should make this happen.

  • what no fucking emo hop?


  • what no fucking Eminem?

  • Hotsauce84Hotsauce84 8,450 Posts
    what no fucking Eminem?

    As fucked up as it is, that crazy skitzo song where he raps about killing his ex and burying in the woods.... I can kinda feel that shit.

    Brian, you forgot Trae's "No Help."

    - Mystik Journeymen "Tamika"
    - Freeway's "Goodbye" (his cracking voice makes it seem more emotional than it really is)

  • SyminSymin 999 Posts

    - Mystik Journeymen "Tamika"

    i totally forgot about this song.
    its pretty damn emotional to put it lightly

  • DocMcCoyDocMcCoy "Go and laugh in your own country!" 5,913 Posts
    ghostface - all i got is you owns this category

    There's a joint on the forthcoming Swizz Beats album that samples Coldplay's "X & Y", called "Part Of The Plan". I don't like Coldplay, and, much as I've been feeling his stuff in recent years, a Swizz album wouldn't necessarily be at the top of my "must buy" list either. All that said, this song is basically the new "All I Got Is You" - shit really works. I don't see it being a big hit with the Strut, but it's got "pop crossover smash" written all over it.

  • magpaulmagpaul 1,314 Posts
    should be a thread called 'emo songs with real emotional context', as opposed to i'm writing depressing songs cos i can't get my hands on that trust fund for another 6 months.

  • numericnumeric 152 Posts
    De La Soul..... Millie pulled a pistol on Santa
    De La Soul..... Tryin People

    Pete Rock And CL..... TROY!

  • faux_rillzfaux_rillz 14,343 Posts
    ghostface - all i got is you owns this category

    There's a joint on the forthcoming Swizz Beats album that samples Coldplay's "X & Y", called "Part Of The Plan". I don't like Coldplay, and, much as I've been feeling his stuff in recent years, a Swizz album wouldn't necessarily be at the top of my "must buy" list either. All that said, this song is basically the new "All I Got Is You" - shit really works. I don't see it being a big hit with the Strut, but it's got "pop crossover smash" written all over it.

    Have you heard any other stuff off this album?

    I am, at the very least, curious about it.

  • DocMcCoyDocMcCoy "Go and laugh in your own country!" 5,913 Posts
    ghostface - all i got is you owns this category

    There's a joint on the forthcoming Swizz Beats album that samples Coldplay's "X & Y", called "Part Of The Plan". I don't like Coldplay, and, much as I've been feeling his stuff in recent years, a Swizz album wouldn't necessarily be at the top of my "must buy" list either. All that said, this song is basically the new "All I Got Is You" - shit really works. I don't see it being a big hit with the Strut, but it's got "pop crossover smash" written all over it.

    Have you heard any other stuff off this album?

    I am, at the very least, curious about it.

    Nothing at all, unless "It's Me, Bitches" is on there as well, which you'd expect it to be. It seems to be getting trailed as his debut solo album, but I'm sure he had one out on Ruff Ryders about four years back.

  • DB_CooperDB_Cooper Manhatin' 7,823 Posts
    what no fucking emo hop?


    HA! Yeah, dude's whole catalog drips with sadness/malaise with a dash of anger. Dude should put down the mic and pick up a diary.

  • faux_rillzfaux_rillz 14,343 Posts
    ghostface - all i got is you owns this category

    There's a joint on the forthcoming Swizz Beats album that samples Coldplay's "X & Y", called "Part Of The Plan". I don't like Coldplay, and, much as I've been feeling his stuff in recent years, a Swizz album wouldn't necessarily be at the top of my "must buy" list either. All that said, this song is basically the new "All I Got Is You" - shit really works. I don't see it being a big hit with the Strut, but it's got "pop crossover smash" written all over it.

    Have you heard any other stuff off this album?

    I am, at the very least, curious about it.

    Nothing at all, unless "It's Me, Bitches" is on there as well, which you'd expect it to be. It seems to be getting trailed as his debut solo album, but I'm sure he had one out on Ruff Ryders about four years back.

    Yeah, that was a production-oriented comp... that was largely ignored.

    There was a massive banner advertising it on the corner of 125th and Lenox in Harlem for at least a year that turned out to have a much longer life than the album.

  • emyndemynd 830 Posts

    I can???t believe it took until the 3rd or 4th page for Beans to get mentioned. Dude owns this shit.

    I also can???t believe anybody on this earth could think ???All I Got Is You??? is ???boring.??? That song is a masterpiece--with or without the Little Feat drums.

    Strangely enough, I???ve always found Saafir???s ???Can You Feel Me???? to be strangely affecting. It???s probably got a bit more to do with the actual circumstances surrounding the song (Saafir???s homey Plan B getting killed) and the feel of the production, but when Saafir says ???My man Plan B/ is smiling ???cause he/ can feel me??? brings a melancholy smile to my face every time. Man I love that song.

    I also think that Ras Kass???s ???The Evil That Men Do??? is a really unique emo-rap song in that it???s not as predictable thematically as some of these emotional songs are in rap: dude talks about wishing he was white when he was little; getting drunk and killing someone in a drunk driving accident, etc. It???s a really sad song and he kills it.

    Somebody mentioned Fabolous in this thread but I think they were dissing him. They obviously haven???t heard ???One Day??? from his first album, which is another song that also fits well into this thread???especially the first verse. Dude can rap his ass off.

    Lil??? Wayne???s ???I Miss My Dawgs??? is also a classic.

    I also love Goodie Mob???s ???The Day After.???

    Shit, I could do this all day.

    -e

  • How about Black Sheep's "Are You Mad?"[/b] the first song off A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing after the Prince Paul intro. That's some reeeaal emotion for ya, as Dres rhymes about murdering his family after waking up to go to school one morning. I love the New Birth sample that was used for that song also.



    RZA as Bobby Digital - Domestic Violence
    LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out (one of the first songs in hip hop that made me feel the emotion of the mc who was rhyming on the song)
    Eminem - most of his best songs had strong emotional content, "Cleanin' Out My Closet", "Stan", "Remember Me", etc.,

    that reminds me of the EP he put out of diss songs towards Benzino and Ja Rule I gotta go pull out an listen to..

  • TrueStuTrueStu 91 Posts
    some older ones:

    Organized Konfusion - Maintain
    Pharcyde - Runnin' (on a verse or two at least)
    Common Sense - Book of life

  • slushslush 691 Posts
    organized konfusion - why
    big - suicidal thoughts
    yeah beanie... feel it in the air for one. where have you been
    scarface. he is so emo

    not all love, but real emo dudes put emotion into tea time

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