Hip hops influence on drugs

The Detroit lyricist has rapped about his addiction and recovery in his music. The rapid rise of drug references laid waste to Ice-T’s message of abstinence, as Jay Z, the Notorious B.I.G., and Drug rehabilitation Snoop Dogg dropped albums with first-hand accounts of the 1980s crack epidemic. Their experiences selling drugs (and smoking them) translated into platinum-selling records, fueling a generation of rappers intent on telling the story of the hustler. By 1998, cocaine had overtaken marijuana as rap’s most talked-about drug.

Don’t Do Drugs Lyrics

While, for the most part, drug use in hip-hop has never been taboo (meaning you can’t totally blame this on the kiddos), the promotion and use of drugs of the highly addictive nature is at an all-time high. Lil’ Kim’s debut solo album, Hard Core, became a critical and commercial success. Meanwhile, Drake, still arguably the biggest rapper on the planet, nonchalantly referenced taking Xans to help him get to sleep on one of the biggest rap songs of the decade. A sophomore student who wishes to remain anonymous explains how seeing these drugged out rappers getting interviewed and on social media affected their decision making. While they never really thought about it, they now see how these artists’ public antics may have affected how they viewed drugs.

Future Keeping His Sobriety A Secret Says More About You Than Him

His addiction significantly impacted his health and eventually led to multiple overdoses. In 2016, he was found unconscious from an overdose and sadly, in 2021, DMX passed due to a cocaine-induced heart attack. William Jonathan Drayton, Jr., well known as Flavor Flav, has publicly shared about his intense struggle with drug addiction.

Beeson says these artists may refer to substance use in their music because it once was their reality. They may not have participated in drug use or heavy drinking prior to experiencing fame, but they were surrounded by these behaviors growing up. In songs and interviews, Jay-Z has discussed the ubiquity of drugs he saw while growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

Load-Bearing Pain: Construction’s Addiction Crisis

• Instead of glorifying the behavior, a bevy of rap artists speak of addiction in a more somber tone.
• We are here to listen to your story and help you take the first step in your own journey toward a happier, healthier life.
• The fifth entry on our list of rappers who overdosed is the 18-year-old rapper Hella Sketchy.

The “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper, Artis Leon Ivey Jr., tragically passed away on September 28, 2022, at the age of 59. Despite these challenges, Macklemore has used his platform to openly discuss his experiences with addiction and recovery, aiming to help others battling similar issues. Earl Simmons, better known as DMX, had a long and tragic history with addiction. His struggle began at a young age, when he was tricked into smoking a crack-laced blunt at just 14 years old, which marked the start of his lifelong addiction. Flav’s addiction was so severe that his family had to stage an intervention, which eventually led him to check himself into the Betty Ford Center to treat his crack-cocaine addiction. He even told VIBE magazine that he had to re-learn how to record songs while sober.

Life & Culture

While hip-hop has its many celebratory moments from lyrics rappers that dont do drugs to accolades, in recent years, the genre has been hit with the negative consequences of drug culture, which has claimed the lives of many young rappers. From Mac Miller’s fatal overdose to Juice WRLD’s drug-induced seizure, the link between death and addiction has been a recurring topic in rap. Take a look at this list and find out which of your favorite rap stars abstain from drugs and alcohol.

• Fans have to be willing to allow artists to evolve because that transformation extends far beyond the music; their art mimics life.
• Nineteen percent of songs in the late 1980s that were included in the study made references to substance abuse.
• The Grammy Award-winning artist was addicted to prescription painkillers for years.
• Back in 2020, during an interview with Converse for their Creative All Star Series, Tyler, The Creator shared that he’s never been interested in drinking, though he’s tried weed twice.

The fifth entry on our list of rappers who overdosed is the 18-year-old rapper Hella Sketchy. Jacob Tyler Thureson died on June 27, 2019, from an accidental drug opioid overdose. The “Lucid Dreams” rapper had been known to grapple with drug addiction and depression, and his passing stands as a heartbreaking loss for both his fans and the music industry. Next on our list of rappers who overdosed is another young talented rapper who was gone too soon, JuiceWRLD.

• His 2009 album, Relapse, was a direct result of a relapse following the death of his best friend, rapper Proof.
• His passing was attributed to an accidental prescription drug overdose.
• Many artists partake in smoking marijuana for the euphoria, some artists believe it enhances their ability to write a song, record, even perform.
• In June 2022, he violated a protective order filed against him by his ex-girlfriend and was subsequently sent to jail.
• While some superstars are able to overcome addiction and clean up their acts quietly and swiftly, it takes drug addict rappers and other performers years of struggle.

Chris Kelly, one-half of the iconic 1990s rap duo Kriss Kross, is another sad entry on our list of drug users who ended up overdosing on illegal drugs. Rolling Stone hailed him as “this generation’s Kurt Cobain,” but tragically, Lil Peep passed away due to opioid addiction shortly after celebrating his 21st birthday. “Going to jail unjustly was the best thing to ever happen to Meek Mill. Greatest resurrection story since Jesus Christ,” one user wrote on Twitter.

It is essential to recognize these struggles and encourage open conversations about mental health within the music industry. The rappers with the most alcohol mentions in their Billboard Hot 100 music during that time period were Flo Rida, Drake and Lil Wayne. A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 analyzed Billboard magazine’s list of the 279 most popular songs of 2005. The results showed that substance use was referenced in 77 percent of rap songs, the highest percentage of drug mentions among all genres included in the study. In the dynamic world of hip-hop, identifying the most famous rappers of 2023 is an exciting journey. This list isn’t just about who’s the best rapper in the world; it’s about recognizing those artists who have left an indelible mark in the rap scene.

They use their platform to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and promote resources for individuals seeking help. The intersection between rappers and drug addiction has been a topic of concern and discussion in the music industry. This section explores the contrasting dynamics of glamorization and reality surrounding drug addiction among rappers, as well as the impact it has on the music industry. His cause of death was the result of a lethal combination of heroin, cocaine, and Xanax. Legendary southern rapper Pimp C also tragically died because of a drug overdose. His death was caused by heavy usage of the life-threatening “purple drank,” a combination of codeine and promethazine.