"The artist who truly suffers, his stuff is the best, cause his heart bleed on his sleeve" - Nas

[Spaceman Piff]

suffering is a stronger emotion than happiness by far.

you see it everywhere.. artists, singers, rappers, athletes, regular people praying in church, anybody.. there's an intensity that comes with suffering and that shows through.

 

[Still Benefited]

As much as i love that pain rap....id have to say not really...Isnt truth just done better than fiction?some people can channel pain better than others....plenty of rappers have suffered but that may not be the best music for them in particular....whats suffering if you dont have the tools to convey it well on record?however you convey your truth in a way thats true to yourself makes the best music.

people who are willing to put they suffering in music are just typically more honest in they music about who they are,and thats what makes the music better imo....those who dont usually have they guard up on sum level and you dont get the full picture....but you could without them having to suffer,it depends on the artist.

 

[mr.africa]

......pain,pistols and sex!!!!!


It's rare I listen to nikkas who never been in my position
A caterpillar can't relate to what an eagle envisions

 

[prophecypro]

Real shyt

 

[JCalli]

Yea this track is certified. And so is that statement.

Music is a very powerful tool. When that shyt hits your soul, it comes from a real place. Everyone has suffered during their life, when an artist can make that connection through his/her experience its next level for me.

 

[C.G.Jung777]

"There can be no birth of consciousness without pain"
-Carl Gustav Jung

Unless we are not made uncomfortable, we do not grow, personal growth channeled into art makes it more compelling/relatable. Nobody is inspired by complacency or stagnation, it is turmoil, pain, and redemption that gets the juices flowing. Joe Budden made great music when he was depressed and goin through some shyt, Eminem made relapse (his last great album) after going through a battle with addiction.

Thus, Nas da Gawd be spittin truth

 

[Kyree]

Same reason artists like Drake will never make classics, they never suffered a day in their lifes.

 

[Jack Don the G]

The statement is true for a lot of reasons.

First of, When you are hurt and in a bad place. Everything gets much rawer, and comes more natural. When you in a happy place you dont always feel like writing about it.

Then I also think writing about being happy can more easily come of as corny (not saying that it has to come of corny, a truly great artist can pull it of).

Lastly I dont think have to do so much with the artist himself/herself. It more about the listener. I think why we consider songs about suffering deep and meaningful is because they are so easy to relate to.
For example, When Im in love Im so high on that, that I dont have to listen to love songs to improve my mood. But If I am heart broken songs about heart break can make me feel so much better. Or at the very lest let me "enjoy" my pain.

 

[MooseMouthMthafuga]

I see where u're going with this, Nas

 

[The Ruler 09]

Been through hell and music kept me sane through it all. I lost my mom when i was 12 to cancer. Whenever i get writers block or feel like giving up on a project I just think about here and i get that extra push..Where would we be without music brehs

Your name sounds familiar by the way. Think I may have heard about you before, not sure where.

But no doubt, it's extremely therapeutic, K-Rino actually had an album titled that in 2013. But yeah like Bob Marley said (later quoted by Dead Prez) "1 thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain". and maybe NO is a bit exaggerated but it certainly can lessen, sooth and help heal it lol. Music is magic.. it's completely irrational from a purely cynical mind state that it could be so miraculous and impactful but it's amazing what can be done through music, that's why I LOVE music. Condolences about your mum man, that is tragic, similar story with some people I know, lost their mum, 1 even both their parents and 3 brothers too, music was their release. A way to express themselves unlike no other and to feel like they made them proud and in a sense doing it FOR them. I think we all lost people we love/close to us cause it's an unfortunate part of life so I can relate, and music can be like a memory, a happy 1, or even a sad 1, but sharing that sadness in itself CAN be potentially therapeutic and healing. Music can be like a loyal consistent friend that is always there for you and never lets you down and will always talk to you lol. That's a metaphor for a song actually lol. But word, I feel exactly what you're saying, good luck with your music, I'm sure you will make your mum proud and keep putting your heart into it and use the pain and experiences constructively to be an even better artist. Nothing is worth that kind of pain but in some senses the saying is true that what don't kill you makes you stronger, at least in some kind of round about way. Props.

 

[The Ruler 09]

I see where u're going with this, Nas

Pain, incredible song. Sums up the quote.

 

[The Ruler 09]

Listen to the music posted too, will understand further and further what is meant. Can discuss it too.



Look at some of the topics here, depression, suicidal, family issues, guilt, being in hospital, adolescent, the hood/surrounded by drugs and violence, mental health issues in general, spirituality/religion, self expression, progression.....

 

[The Ruler 09]

The statement is true for a lot of reasons.

First of, When you are hurt and in a bad place. Everything gets much rawer, and comes more natural. When you in a happy place you dont always feel like writing about it.

Then I also think writing about being happy can more easily come of as corny (not saying that it has to come of corny, a truly great artist can pull it of).

Lastly I dont think have to do so much with the artist himself/herself. It more about the listener. I think why we consider songs about suffering deep and meaningful is because they are so easy to relate to.
For example, When Im in love Im so high on that, that I dont have to listen to love songs to improve my mood. But If I am heart broken songs about heart break can make me feel so much better. Or at the very lest let me "enjoy" my pain.

It's a combination of the artist and the listener, it's a marriage, but even more so the artist because the artist is the 1 responsible for depicting the writing/rapping/ in such a way where it is relatable, it's an art to be able to do it. Like someone said early on, it doesn't matter how much you suffered if you can't express it properly, the listener is like the psychiatric patient and the artist is like the psychiatrist or psychologist, it's their job to get through to you effectively, even though the experiences may range between different patients. Why someone like Pac got through to the most people, obviously firstly he was in a position to by being a big artist, but also because he related to so many different kind of people, whether it be women, players, gangstas, pro black people, human beings, compassionate people, can go on, he spoke about many things in his music which are very overlooked but it's part of the science behind why he is so loved. There's also some lyrical and MC secrets in terms of the way you drop certain shyt, in terms of the lyrical structure but also the MC aspect to make it hit home even harder, Melle Mel has touched on this, so has Pac actually. It's about being effective, how you want to get there is part of the creativity and beauty of it, it's up to the artist but that's the common goal, whatever you do make sure you make it work and succeed in your purpose. Some of the most popular artists are artists who sort of become a voice FOR the people rather than merely speaking at the people, you articulate their words for them that they maybe can't or if they can you reinforce it to empower them.

 

[The Ruler 09]

Nas statement is good in theory.. but Lauryn Hill failed miserably.

Lauryn Hill is an excellent example of why it proves the theory...

You can hear the pain and experience in her music, plus what formulated the views in the first place... Lauryn Hill is a great example. straight up soul shyt... that's why people loved her. wasn't just the lyrical ability, was the passion.

All of this comes from much pain even though it is intellectual.... But it's ALL pretty much about the corruption and suffering that goes on...

 

[The Ruler 09]

Wisdom, from pain and experience....

If you listen to this properly you also see exactly why there's a lot of truth in the statement...