Drugs in Rap: Consuming

When you think about drugs in rap, you see many artists posing with bottles of codeine and huge bags of marijuana. This can cause many people to assume that rap music is trash and consuming drugs is just part of the rapper image and party lifestyle. But when listening to the lyrics of certain songs, some artists explain their use of drugs to help deal with mental health issues, stress, and the loss of loved ones.

Take YG's Really Be (Smokin n Drinkin) as an example. Initially listening, it's a generally upbeat song. It sounds like a feel good song, light drums and a fun flow. But when you really listen to the lyrics, the song has a dark meaning. In the first verse he begins rapping about his personal life and his situation.

"I be going through shit, losin' b**ches and homies If I don't make it with this rap s**t, ni**a, I might be homeless My moms don't got a job, my pop's checks ain't enough If ain't bringin' home that money, my whole family is fu**ed"

Saying he has no choice but to rap to provide for his family and making sure they're comfortable. He also speaks about losing friends while under this stress. He then explains that stress and emotional pain is the reason he drinks and smokes with the lines "That's why I really be smokin' and I really be drinkin'/I be going through some things, you don't know what I've been thinkin'"

In Kendrick Lamar's verse he speaks on the death of his friends. The production of this song began with three of his friends being fatally shot.

Another example that can be taken into consideration is producer Metro Boomin's 'No More', which features rappers 21 Savage, Kodak Black, and Travis Scott. The genre of the song can be described as "dark trap", with a very dark and scary energy.

Kodak Black starts off the first verse, talking about several different drugs and using them to de-stress and deal with his pain. He brings up the abuse of 2 different forms of MDMA, codeine, marijuana, and percocets. In the last line of this quote, he mentions the fact that all these substances that he's been using to cope with his emotions has turned him into a zombie, dependant and addicted.

"Nowadays I be on ecstasy when I'm bored I don't even know who keep it real anymore All that living fast, pour the lean, make ya snore"

"I tried the Percy but it ain't work, and I'm a still pop 'em Drinking purple, smokin' purp, I need to see a body All that pain, I'm poppin' molly like a antibiotic I can't help that I'm a zombie, I can't heal my heartache"

21 Savage's verse then goes into his personal struggle with addiction and heartbreak. He references styrofoam cups, which is the standard type of cup that people use to drink lean (codeine with soda and candy), and how he can't get past his codeine addiction.

"Tried love but I can't no more (Nah) Tryna find loyalty, it ain't no more (Nah) Told myself I wasn't gonna drink no more (On God) It's like the styrofoam glued to me though (Straight up) I feel weak for using drugs to ease the pain (21) From the street, concrete in my vein (Straight up)"

21 Savage

He then raps about his own experiences, and how drugs and fame have completely destroyed the people he's around. Mentioning a man who had gotten so addicted to drugs that he committed suicide.

"Lil bit of change make a ni**a change (On God) Different tax bracket but my number still the same (Facts) I done seen dope turn a ni**a who had hope To a ni**a with no hope, hung himself by a rope (Straight up) No joke 'cause he didn't know the ropes And he served an undercover, judge gave his a** a boat (Facts) I done seen fame turn a ni**a on his bro