Why do you think so many rap songs equate love and happiness with money?

[Kill Dat Noize]

you've heard em all before.....


"i'm happy cause i got money"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"i'm gonna show you how much i love you by spending all this money on you"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"i'm a strong independent female but i still need to be spoiled and pampered"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"i pull up to the club but only in a car that cost at least 80 grand"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"it's important that you know i only wear the latest name brands and have very expensive taste"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"you should leave the man you're with and roll with me cause I have more money and can take you on more exotic vacations."
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"the way i celebrate life is by spending all my money"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years

"i'm gonna grind now and work hard so that one day i might be able to buy expensive things"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years


and of course my favorite one of all....


"i measure my self worth by how much money i have"
- 80% of the mainstream rap hits over the last 15 years



why do you think this is?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Foe tha love of money

 

[Prince Cairo]

Most of these rappers grew up without very much money, and now they have an excess of it. Of course they're going to be very excited about that, and of course they're going to incorporate that into their music.

While "money isn't everything", it certainly is very important; and, if you don't have enough of it, it can very quickly become everything.

I'm not condoning their obsession with money, I simply understand it: I grew up around a lot of very impoverished people, and money was always on their mind because it was often the key to their very survival.

 

[DPG4Life]

mo money mo problems

 

[Dafunkdoc_Unlimited]

In the words of my religious brethren.........Idol worship.​

 

[Osmosis]

Because most of them grow up without money

 

[Blackout]

Because the ones who run it all don't have the best interests of black people in mind.

 

[marleyg]

supposedly this song is ab hip hop

 

[Kill Dat Noize]

Because most of them grow up without money

plenty of musicians grew up poor though. having no money isn't exclusively a black thing or a hip hop thing.

and yet rap music is the only genre that puts money on such a pedestal.

 

[marleyg]

listen to sublime n atmosphere

 

[re'up]

The obsession with materialism and money comes from a few things, one is growing up without, and also growing up and functioning in a society and culture that influential elements of worship money and materialism above all else…..That's the culture and dynamics of poverty, you covet what you have least of, and when you get it…you flaunt it and throw it in the face of the have nots, because thats how success was defined to you.

Taking it a step further, and how it relates to music, specially singles and club songs….combine the first part with the wide range of appeal/audiences those songs can have. It appeals to some of the more base, but worst parts of human nature…greed, materialism, and elitism. Everyone wants to 'stunt' on someone, through material items, lifestyle women, whatever….So, those songs allow the low level dope boy in the club to be validated, as he buys a bottle for the booth, or whatever. Those lyrics also allow the entry level Navy guy with the new leased infiniti to 'stunt'…These are all inclusive lyrics. Anyone can be a baller for a night. Boosts the self esteem, feeds the ego. If audiences largely rejected the kind of shameless material worship and that mindset, the music wouldn't be made….but they don't.

You have to also consider that many behind the music aren't educated, formally or informally, and their natural intelligence may take them as far as the stage, but not much far past it…and most of their world views comes from their immediate environment, and those close to them.

 

[Jack Trippa 3z company ho]

This is an easy question my friend. Their owners tell them to do that. Actually they make them do that. Why? Because they want society to believe and emulate that behavior.

Simple as that, real talk.

 

[Kill Dat Noize]

Taking it a step further, and how it relates to music, specially singles and club songs….combine the first part with the wide range of appeal/audiences those songs can have. It appeals to some of the more base, but worst parts of human nature…greed, materialism, and elitism. Everyone wants to 'stunt' on someone, through material items, lifestyle women, whatever….So, those songs allow the low level dope boy in the club to be validated, as he buys a bottle for the booth, or whatever. Those lyrics also allow the entry level Navy guy with the new leased infiniti to 'stunt'…These are all inclusive lyrics. Anyone can be a baller for a night. Boosts the self esteem, feeds the ego. If audiences largely rejected the kind of shameless material worship and that mindset, the music wouldn't be made….but they don't.

yea but what about the club/dance songs of the past that weren't just about impulsive and self destructive behavior? believe it or not there was once a time where you could dance to a song about self empowerment, or love, or both. songs that actually stimulated the mind and preached a wholesome, positive message. love, not sex. happiness, not wealth.

 

[NvrCMyNut]

If rappers wasn't black you'd swear they was republicans.

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

Because America (and the world in general) do.