Financial Planning, Hip-Hop, Millennials

Money & Hip-Hop

Typically, rap artists are not your go-to source for financial advice, or even a good example of what to do with your money. For every Jay-Z, there are hundreds of MC Hammers; from the entourages to grills, homes, cars, partying and other frivolous spending, there is little financial responsibility.

However, there is no shortage of songs about money, so I decided to compile a list of my top rap songs about money. I originally planned to limit the list to 10, but ended up extending it to 15. So without further ado:

Hidden Track: $ave Dat Money by Lil Dicky
Since everything is streaming today, the hidden track is a lost treasure. I used to love finding hidden songs after the final track was over. Lil Dicky makes the hidden track because he raps about financial responsibility; he even cuts his guest artist off early because a whole verse would have been too expensive. His fiscal conservativeness is the complete opposite of the remaining songs.

15. Make It Rain (The Remix) by Fat Joe                                                                       Definitely not the most responsible thing to do with your money, but I’m sure it’s fun.

14. Money To Blow by Birdman
Another song about spending money like it’s going out of style. Not surprising, but Drake steals the show on this song. Cars, jewelry, designer clothes, and travel are where Birdman describes his dollars being going. Much better than Fat Joe’s raining money…at least there are material possessions for show.

13. Billionaire by Travie McCoy
Who wouldn’t want to be a billionaire? I decided to soften up the mood a little with this song. Travie describes using his riches taking care of others, which is a change of pace.

12. Got Money by Lil’ Wayne                                                                                                        Lil’ Wayne is all over the money songs, making it rain once again.

11. Foe Tha Love Of Money by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone and Eazy-E are focused on making money, not really spending it though.

10. Gold Digger by Kanye West                                                                                                       A fair warning to watch out for those looking to spend your money for you. It’s almost impossible for me not to do the head nod from this video whenever I hear this song.

9. Money, Power & Respect by the Lox First you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the respect…well, Lil’ Kim said something like that. The instrumentals make the song.

8. Money Ain’t A Thang By Jay-Z
“I’ve been spendin’ hundreds since they had small faces”. Jay-Z must have know his success would only continue. Hov was extremely successful in 1998 when this song was released, but he was nowhere near the businessman he is today.

7. Street Dreams by Nas                                                                                                           Easily one of the best lyricists on this list, Nas tells the story of the hustle to make money. In order to reach the street dreams, Beamers and Benzes are a must have…the definition of success.

6. Get Money by Junior M.A.F.I.A.                                                                                         Moral of the story, if you want to increase net worth focus on getting money, and eliminate the distractions.

5. I Get Money by 50 Cent                                                                                                              50 Cent gets money, and 50 Cent spends money. 50 raps about his business successes citing Vitamin Water, but his financial blunders have not gone quietly over the last year. In no way do I believe he is bankrupt, but with the way he talks about spending in the song, it could be possible one day.

4. Mo Money, Mo Problems by The Notorious B.I.G.                                                             A classic! Don’t act like you don’t pretend to throw your Rollies in the air and wave them side to side.

3. Money Trees by Kendrick Lamar                                                                                           The title alone gets this song on the list. However, after one listen it may not seem like a song about money…it’s a deep song. Kendrick isn’t telling stories of spending on material possession, partying, or any of the other cliche topics. Instead, he is telling a story of poverty, the emotions of money, getting caught up in other’s lifestyles, and the return to reality.

2. C.R.E.A.M by Wu-Tang Clan Another classic.                                                                 Really should have been number 1, but number 1 wins the title for obvious reasons. Similar to Nas’ Street Dreams, this song talks about the struggles of growing up without money and the natural focus of making money to get to a better life.                                         “Working hard may help you maintain, to learn to overcome the heartaches and pain.”

1.It’s All About The Benjamins by Puff Daddy                                                                     It’s the namesake of my blog, so it had to be number one.

 

Disclaimer: Nothing on this blog should be considered advice, or recommendations. If you have questions pertaining your individual situation you should consult your financial advisor. For all of the disclaimers, please see my disclaimers page.