I’m planning on continuing the Hip Hop series, but I wanted to take a time to have some practical application of Lesson #1 and encourage you to hear some songs that I think highlight people’s struggles. Below there is about 30 minutes worth of music videos featuring 6 different songs that I thought would be worth including in this discussion. If your not interested in listening and watching the videos feel free to skip to the bottom and just read through some of the lyrics. However, if you’d like to watch the videos I’ve created a textbox below the video so that hopefully you can read along as the songs go and make sure you catch any lyrics that were unclear.

Here is the playlist:

1. The Prayer– by DMX
   The first video is a prayer from the beginning of one of DMX’s Albums. He always prays at the beginning of his albums, and though many may find the rest of his album inappropriate, I thought this was an appropriate beginning to this collection.
2. Runaway Love by Ludacris
   This is a really new song, so you might have heard it on the radio, but it’s definitly a touching song that many probably connect with.
3. Cleanin’ Out My Closet by Eminem
   EXPLICIT LYRICS definitly a song of struggle, with some harsh words and thoughts, but I think it fits with the topic.
4. What It’s Like by Everlast
   I’d heard this song before but never really listened to the words. I know it’s not a Hip Hop song but I thought it was worth including.
5. Dear Mama by Tupac
   Get a glimpse into the struggles of the life of 2pac.

2. Song: Runaway love
Artist: Ludacris ft. Mary.j blidge

[Hook – Mary J. Blige]
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love

[Verse 1]
Now little lisa is only 9 years old
Shes tryin to figure out why the world is so cold
Why shes all all alone and they never met her family
Mamas always gone and she never met her daddy
Part of her is missin and nobody will listenin
Mama is on drugs gettin high up in the kitchen
Bringin home men at different hours of the night
Startin with laughs–usually endin in a fight
Sneak into her room while her mamas knocked out
Tryin to have his way and little lisa says ‘ouch’
She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her
Tries to tell her mom but her mama don’t believe her
Lisa is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but some get some clothes and pack
She says shes bout to run away and never come back.

[Hook]
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love

[Verse 2]
Little nicole is only 10 years old
Shes steady tryin to figure why the world is so cold
Why shes not pretty and nobody seems to like her
Alcoholic step dad always wanna strike her

Yells and abuses, leaves her with some bruises
Teachers ask questions she makin up excuses
Bleedin on the inside, cryin on the out
Its only one girl really knows what she about
Her name is lil stacy and they become friends
Promise that they always be tight til the end
Until one day lil stacy gets shot
A drive by bullet went stray up on her block
Now nicole stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but some get some clothes and pack
She says shes bout to run away and never come back.

[Hook]
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love
Runaway love

[Verse 3]
Little erica is eleven years old
Shes steady tryin to figure why the world is so cold
So she pops x to get rid of all the pain
Cause shes havin sex with a boy whos sixteen
Emotions run deep and she thinks shes in love
So theres no protection hes usin no glove
Never thinkin bout the consequences of her actions
Livin for today and not tomorrows satisfaction
The days go by and her belly gets big
The father bails out he aint ready for a kid
Knowin her mama will blow it all outta proportion
Plus she lives poor so no money for abortion
Erica is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but get her clothes and pack
She say shes about to run away and never come back.

[Hook]
Runaway love [repeats til end]
Click below to read the rest of the lyrics

3. Eminem:Cleanin’ Out My Closet
This song appears on the album “The Eminem Show (2003)”

Wheres my snare?
I have no snare in my headphones
There you go,yo yo

Have you ever been hated or discriminated against?
I have, I’ve protested and demonstrated against
Picket signs for my wicked ryhmes Look at the times
Sick as the mind of the motha fuckin’ kid thats behind
all this commotion Emotions run deep as ocean’s explodin’
Tempers flaring from parents just blow ’em off and keep goin
Not takin’ nothin’ from no one,give ’em hell long as I’m breathin’
Keep kickin ass in the mornin and takin’ names in the evening
Leav’em with a taste of sour as vinegar in their mouth
See they can trigger me but they never figure me out
Look at me now, I bet ya probably sick of me now
aint you mama I’ma make you look so ridiculous now

Chorus (2x)
I said I’m sorry mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I’m cleanin’ out my closet

I got some skeletons in my closet and
I dont know if no one knows it
So before they throw me inside my coffin and close it
I’ma expose it, I’ll take you back to ’73
before I ever had a multi-platinum sellin’ cd
I was a baby, maybe I was just a couple of months
My faggot father must have had his panties up in a bunch
Cos he split I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye
No, I dont on second thought, I just fuckin’ wished he would die
I look at Hailie and I couldn’t picture leavin’ her side
Even if I hated Kim, I grit my teeth and
try to make it work with her at least for Hailies sake
I maybe made some mistakes but I’m only human
But I’m man enough to face them today!
What I did was stupid,no doubt it was dumb
but the smartest shit I did was take the bullets out of that gun
Cuz I’da killed them, shit I woulda shot Kim an’ ’em both
This my life, I’d like to welcome ya’ll to The Eminem Show

Chorus (2x)
I’m sorry mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I’m cleaning out my closet

Now I would never dis my own mama
just to get recognition
Take a second to listen who you think this record is dissin’
But put yourself in my position just try to invision
witnessin’ yo mama poppin’ perscription pills in da kitchen
Bitchin’ that someones always goin’
through her purse and shit missin’
Goin’ through public housing system, victem of Munchausen’s sydrome
My whole life I was made to beleive I was sick when I wasn’t
Til I grew up, now I blew up
It makes you sick to your stomach doesn’t it?
Wasn’t it the reason you made that CD for me, Ma?
So you could try to justify the way you treated me, Ma?
Well guess what your gettin’ older now and
Its cold when your lonely and Nathan’s growin up so quick
He’s gonna know that your phoney
And Hailie’s gettin’ so big now, you should see her shes beautiful
But you’ll never see her, she wont even be at your funeral!
See what hurts me the most is you won’t admit you was wrong
Bitch, do ya song
Keep tellin’ yourself that you was a mom
But how dare you try to take what you didnt help me to get
You selfish Bitch, I hope you fuckin’ burn in hell for this shit
Remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me?
Well guess what I am dead, dead to you as can be

Chorus (4x)
I’m sorry mama
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to make you cry
But tonight I’m cleaning out my closet

4. What It’s Like
This song appears on the album “Whitey Ford Sings The Blues (1998)”

We’ve all seen a man at the liquor store beggin’ for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked, and full of mange
He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes
“Get a job you fucking slob,” is all he replies
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
‘Cause then you really might know what it’s like to sing the blues

Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…

Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom that said he was in love
He said, “Don’t worry about a thing, baby doll
I’m the man you’ve been dreaming of.”
But 3 months later he say he won’t date her or return her calls
And she swear, “God damn, if I find that man I’m cuttin’ off his balls.”
And then she heads for the clinic and
she gets some static walking through the door
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner
And they call her a whore
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
‘Cause then you really might know what it’s like to have to choose

Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…
I’ve seen a rich man beg
I’ve seen a good man sin
I’ve seen a tough man cry

I’ve seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie

I’ve seen the good side of bad
And the downside of up
And everything between

I licked the silver spoon
Drank from the golden cup
And smoked the finest green

I stroked the fattest dimes at least a couple of times
before I broke their heart
You know where it ends, yo, it usually depends on where you start

I knew this kid named Max
He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late
he liked to get shit-faced and keep the pace with thugs
Until late one night there was a big gun fight and Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit, and wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of this pain
You know it crumbles that way
at least that’s what they say when you play the game
God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
‘Cause then you really might know what it’s like to have to lose

Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…
Then you really might know what it’s like…to have to lose

5. Dear Mama
This song appears on the album “Me Against the World (1995)” by 2Pac.

You are appreciated

When I was young me and my mama had beef
17 years old kicked out on the streets
Though back at the time I never thought I’d see her face
Ain’t a woman alive that could take my mamas place
Suspended from school, scared to go home
I was a fool with the big boys, breaking all the rules
Shed tears with my baby sister
Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids
And even though we had different daddies
The same drama, when things went wrong we blamed mama
I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell
Huggin’ on my mama from a jail cell
And who’d think in elementary, hey I’d see the penitentiary
One day, running from the police that’s right
Mama catch me, put a whoopin’ to my backside
And even as a crack fiend mama
You always was a black queen mama
I finally understand for a woman it ain’t easy trying to raise a man
You always was committed, poor single mother on welfare
Tell me how you did it, there’s no way I can pay you back
But the plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated

(Chorus)
Lady, don’t ya know we love ya
Sweet lady, place no one above ya
Sweet lady, don’t ya know we love ya

Now ain’t nobody tell us it was fair
No love for my daddy ‘cos the coward wasn’t there
He passed away and I didn’t cry
‘Cos my anger wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger
They say I’m wrong and I’m heartless
But all along I was looking for a father, he was gone
I hung around with the thugs and even though they sold drugs
They showed a young brother love
I moved out and started really hangin’
I needed money of my own so I started slangin’
I ain’t guilty, ‘cos even though I sell rocks
It feels good putting money in your mailbox
I love paying rent when the rent’s due
I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to you
‘Cos when I was low you was there for me
You never left me alone ‘cos you cared for me
And I can see you coming home after work, late
You’re in the kitchen tryin’ to fix us a hot plate
Just working with the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving
But now the road got rough, you’re alone
Tryin’ to raise two bad kids on your own
And there’s no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated

(Chorus)

Pour out some liquor and I reminisce
‘Cos through the drama, I can always depend on my mama
And when it seems that I’m hopeless
You say the words that can get me back in focus
When I was sick as a little kid
To keep me happy, there’s no limit to the things you did
And all my childhood memories
Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
And even though I act crazy
I got to thank the Lord the you made me
There are no words that can express how I feel
You never kept a secret, always stayed real
And I appreciate how you raised me
And all the extra love that you gave me
I wish I could take the pain away
If you can make it through the night, there’s a brighter day
Everything will be alright if you hold on
It’s a struggle, everyday gotta roll on
And there’s no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated

(Chorus)

Sweet lady, lady, lady, lady

6. The Message by Grandmaster Melle Mel
(This is really just a bonus, a classic song from when Hip Hop was really just getting it’s start. You’ll probably recognize the intro and hook. It’s a longer video and not essential, but I think it’s worth checking out.)

[INTRO]
It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

[FIRST VERSE]
Broken glass everywhere
People pissin’ on the stairs, you know they just don’t care
I can’t take the smell, can’t take the noise
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
I tried to get away but I couldn’t get far
‘cuz a man with a tow truck repossessed my car

[CHORUS]
Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head
Uh huh ha ha ha

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

[SECOND VERSE]
Standin’ on the front stoop hangin’ out the window
Watchin’ all the cars go by, roarin’ as the breezes blow
Crazy lady, livin’ in a bag
Eatin’ outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
Said she’ll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
Down at the peep show watchin’ all the creeps
So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
She went to the city and got so so seditty
She had to get a pimp, she couldn’t make it on her own

[CHORUS]
Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head
Uh huh ha ha ha

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

[THIRD VERSE]
My brother’s doin’ bad, stole my mother’s TV
Says she watches too much, it’s just not healthy
“All My Children” in the daytime, “Dallas” at night
Can’t even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
The bill collectors, they ring my phone
and scare my wife when I’m not home
Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
Can’t take the train to the job, there’s a strike at the station
Neon King Kong standin’ on my back
Can’t stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
Sometimes I think I’m goin’ insane
I swear I might hijack a plane!

[CHORUS]
Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

[FOURTH VERSE]
My son said, Daddy, I don’t wanna go to school
‘cuz the teacher’s a jerk, he must think I’m a fool
And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it’d be cheaper
if I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
Or dance to the beat, shuffle my feet
Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps
‘cuz it’s all about money, ain’t a damn thing funny
You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
They pushed that girl in front of the train
Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
Stabbed that man right in his heart
Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
I can’t walk through the park ‘cuz it’s crazy after dark
Keep my hand on my gun ‘cuz they got me on the run
I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
Hear them say “You want some more?”
Livin’ on a see-saw

[CHORUS]
Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head
Say what?

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under

[FIFTH VERSE]
A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smilin’ on you but he’s frownin’ too
Because only God knows what you’ll go through
You’ll grow in the ghetto livin’ second-rate
And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alleyway
You’ll admire all the number-book takers
Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
Drivin’ big cars, spendin’ twenties and tens
And you’ll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh
Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
You say I’m cool, huh, I’m no fool
But then you wind up droppin’ outta high school
Now you’re unemployed, all non-void
Walkin’ round like you’re Pretty Boy Floyd
Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
Got sent up for a eight-year bid
Now your manhood is took and you’re a Maytag
Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
Bein’ used and abused to serve like hell
’til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
It was plain to see that your life was lost
You was cold and your body swung back and forth
But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Of how you lived so fast and died so young so…

[CHORUS]
Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head
Uh huh huh huh huh

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under
Huh, uh huh huh huh huh

It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under
Huh, uh huh huh huh huh