I’ve curated a list of the best sad rap songs, a collection of deeply emotional and often depressing hip hop tracks that delve into the complexities of life’s struggles.
This article offers an insight into the more introspective side of rap, where artists share their rawest emotions and experiences.
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Top sad rap songs
- âDance With The Devilâ by Immortal Technique
- âJocelyn Floresâ by XXXTENTACION
- âKeishaâs Songâ by Kendrick Lamar
- âI Fall Apartâ by Post Malone
- âLove Scarsâ by Trippie Redd
- âBeautifulâ by Eminem
- âRobberyâ by Juice WRLD
- âP2â by Lil Uzi Vert
- âThis Canât Be Lifeâ by Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel
- âSuicidal Thoughtsâ by Notorious BIG
1. âDance With The Devilâ by Immortal Technique
Released in 2001, âDance With The Devilâ remains one of the most impactful rap sad songs.
The song tells a story of a teenager growing up on the street and joining a gang.
Lyrically, itâs probably one of the most depressing rap songs ever written.
2. âJocelyn Floresâ by XXXTENTACION
XXXTENTACION is considered to be a leading name in emo rap.
He was known for making music about depression and alienation.
And one of his signature songs is dedicated to Jocelyn Amparo Flores who commited suicide shortly after she and the singer met.
See also: Best XXXTentacion Songs
3. âKeishaâs Songâ by Kendrick Lamar
âKeishaâs Songâ is arguably one of Kendrick Lamarâs saddest songs.
It tells a story of a girl who turned to prostitution to survive and eventually ends up dead at 17.
This song is another proof of how tragic the stories behind rap songs can be.
4. âI Fall Apartâ by Post Malone
âI Fall Apartâ is one of the sad rap songs about love and breakup.
In essence, itâs about letting go and scars that appear after separating.
If youâre currently going through a breakup, you might find it relatable.
5. âLove Scarsâ by Trippie Redd
If you search for the saddest rap songs, you’re probably going to come across âLove Scarsâ by Trippie Redd.
In a way, itâs a typical modern heartbreak rap song.
6. âBeautifulâ by Eminem
Eminem has written many sad rap songs.
But âBeautifulâ stands out.
Itâs genuine and powerful, and it talks about Eminemâs depression and all the challenges he faced in life.
7. âRobberyâ by Juice WRLD
Juice WRLD was an American rapper known for making somber rap songs about heartbreak.
He was also a leading figure in emo rap and SoundCloud rap genres.
And his track âRobberyâ is one his best known songs.
The song is about dealing with failed relationship – he is comparing his heartbreak to a bank robbery.
8. âP2â by Lil Uzi Vert
âP2â by Lil Uzi Vert can also be found on many lists of sad hip hop songs.
It was released in 2020 as a sequel to his single “XO Tour Llif3”, which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. âThis Canât Be Lifeâ by Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel
âThis Canât Be Lifeâ is a soulful, melancholic rap song about life in the hood.
The song deals with daily struggles on the street and fears of being shot.
Itâs a throwback to Jay-Zâs early music that tackles such difficult topics.
10. âSuicidal Thoughtsâ by Notorious BIG
Notorious BIGâs 1994 track is one of the most memorable rap songs about suicide.
The song is a part of Biggieâs debut studio album âReady To Die.â
It talks about suicidal thoughts and the need to talk to someone.
Whenever suicidal thoughts occur, itâs absolutely crucial to share that with someone.
11. âGood Newsâ by Mac Miller
Donât let the title of this song fool you.
And although it might sound laid-back at first, âGood Newsâ generally talks about loneliness.
But itâs also a reminder that itâs possible to escape your negative thoughts.
12. âBrendaâs Got A Babyâ by 2Pac
In his song âBrendaâs Got A Babyâ, 2Pac tackles the problem of teenage pregnancy.
In the song, Brenda is a young girl who gets pregnant and turns to selling drugs.
This song is yet another proof of 2Pacâs talent and conscious songwriting.
13. âSave That Shitâ by Lil Peep
In his 2017 emo rap song, Lil Peep talks about his relationship problems.
He was a leading figure in 2010s emo rap scene, but as is the case with many hip hop artists, his life and career ended way too early.
14. âSlippinââ by DMX
An artist that had a huge impact on 2000s rap is DMX.
ALthough he was also known for making party bangers, his song âSlippinââ talks about his struggle with addiction.
Unfortunately, he didnât manage to come out of it like he wished for in the song.
15. âI Feel Like Dyingâ by Lil Wayne
âI Feel Like Dyingâ is yet another rap song that tackles the issue of drug addiction.
And since Lil Wayne has a long history of codeine abuse, itâs fair to conclude that this song is very personal.
It seems like most rap stars lead really tough personal lifes.
16. âDeath Enclaimedâ by YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again is a young American rapper.
In his song âDeath Enclaimedâ, he talks about his intimate fears including the fear of being shot.
The meaning of the song is actually a bit ironic since he has been charged for assault and weapons violations multiple times.
17. âLifeâs A Messâ by Juice WRLD and Halsey
Juice WRLD evidently did a lot of work in the studio before he died.
âLife’s a Messâ is a promotional single off of his first posthumous studio album âLegends Never Die.â
The song talks about the pain of losing somebody you love and wanted to spend your life with..
18. âColored Dreamsâ by Reason
Reasonâs âColored Dreamsâ is yet another suicidal rap song with a tragic story behind it.
It tells a story of a prisoner who commited crime to prove himself as a gangster.
Guilt eventually overwhelms him and he commits suicide in his cell.
19. âSAD!â by XXXTENTACION
We already mentioned XXXTENTACION, a talented young rapper who was shot in 2018.
His song âSAD!â is considered one of the saddest hip hop songs of the past decade.
It talks about dealing with severe depression and suicidal thoughts caused by problems in a relationship.
Although many believe the song might be autobiographical, the rapper never confirmed or denied that.
20. âHellboyâ by Lil Peep
In his rather depressing rap song released in 2016, Lil Peep talks about his fears and struggles.
To be more precise, he talks about loving someone he canât have, and that leaves him with uneasy emotions.
21. âSing About Me, Iâm Dying Of Thirstâ by Kendrick Lamar
âSing About Me, Iâm Dying Of Thirstâ is a 12-minute long emotional rap song with genuine, well-crafted lyrics.
In short, Kendrick Lamar tells a story of his friend who was a victim of gun violence.
But he does that in such an authentic and profound way.
Many agree itâs one of the best rap songs and storytelling tracks ever written.
22. âAll That I Got Is Youâ by Ghostface Killah and Mary J Blige
âAll That I Got Is Youâ is also one of the most emotional rap songs.
In fact, the song is Ghostfaceâs tribute to his mother.
He tells a story of his harsh life and all the struggles he and his family had to go through.
23. âYou Never Knowâ by Immortal Technique
In his song âYou Never Knowâ, Immortal Technique talks about the platonic relationship with a girl.
The girl encouraged him to change his life for the better.
But after he tells her about his feelings, she leaves.
Itâs a rather sad rap song that probably many people find relatable.
24. âDivaâ by The Kid Laroi
The Sydney-born rapper The Kid Laroi became a true rap teen star.
He first gained recognition from his friendship with Juice Wrld while he was on tour in Australia.
He is now one of the most popular young rappers, and his song âDivaâ became a hit.
25. â6 Feet Deepâ by Geto Boys
â6 Feet Deepâ is one of those sad rap songs that reminds us of the struggle and harsh lives of some people.
The song is dedicated to the hip hop groupâs friends who were shot.
In the song, they promise to remember them forever.
26. âRosesâ by Benny Blanco and Juice WRLD
If youâre looking for modern sad rap songs about love, youâll probably like our next suggestion.
âRosesâ was released in 2018, and it also features singer Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco.
27. âStanâ by Eminem
âStanâ is arguably one of the saddest rap songs of all time.
Itâs also proof of Eminemâs songwriting skills and talent.
Lyrically, âStanâ tells a story about an obsessed fan who struggles with mental illness and eventually commits suicide after not getting a response from Eminem.
28. âSong Cryâ by Jay-Z
When it comes to heartbreak rap songs, âSong Cryâ is one of the most popular ones.
In this 2001 track, Jay-Z talks about the end of a long-term relationship and everything that happens as a result.
Itâs a song that deals with tough emotions, but we all know that he was already dating Beyonce at a time.
29. âIâll Be Missing Youâ by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans, 112
âIâll Be Missing Youâ is one of the most popular sad hip hop songs.
In fact, the song became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Itâs based on a sample of the 1983 single “Every Breath You Take” by The Police.
And it tells a heartbreaking story of someone who lost his friend.
30. âLong Gone (Save Me From This Hell)â by $Uicideboy$
This rather depressing rap song talks about the pain of losing a friend in a different way.
Itâs a depiction of a hard life and the need to turn to drugs when things get rough.
For many rappers, drugs represent the escape from their life.
31. âTearzâ by Wu-Tang Clan
âTearzâ by Wu-Tang Clan is sad and angry at the same time.
The song tells a story of a brother who gets shot and killed on the street.
Itâs supposedly not a real story about RZAâs brother, although it was always a likely outcome.
32. âLustâ by Lil Skies
American rapper Lil Skies released âLustâ in 2017.
The official music video shows Skies as a detective who follows a female robber.
The robber eventually drugs him and he ends up being captivated by her charm.
33. âChangesâ by 2PAC
Lyrically, âChangesâ is a very powerful and somber rap song.
2PAC talks about racism, police brutality, gang violence, and other issues that donât seem to change despite the efforts of civil rights movements.
But in essence, the song conveys a message of peace and equality, and it sounds rather hopeful and encouraging.
34. âThe Messageâ by Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre dedicated âThe Messageâ to his deceased brother, Tyree.
Although its meaning is very sentimental and personal, the song sounds rather calming.
Thereâs probably something about the Japanese hip hop sound that can give you that impression.
35. âAcid Rainâ by Chance The Rapper
In one of his deep rap songs, Chance The Rapper tackles the themes of gun violence and police brutality.
He also laments about the absence of God and having to deal with hard feelings.
36. âDead Homiezâ by Ice Cube
In âDead Homiezâ, Ice Cube talks about the life and death of his close friend.
His friend was shot and killed in a robbery.
Therefore, this is another song that depicts the hardship of street lifestyle.
37. âWe Ballâ by Meek Mill and Young Thug
Similar to the previous songs, âWe Ballâ is a song about pain and loss.
Meek Mill and Young Thug reminisce on the friends theyâve lost.
They refer to them as fallen soldiers.
38. âDear Mamaâ by 2Pac
2Pac dedicated this popular rap song to his mother.
He talks about his childhood, sacrifices his mother made, and struggles she went through as a single parent.
All of that ultimately allowed him to succeed in the music industry, although he didnât have an easy childhood.
39. âBroken Loveâ by MO3 and Kevin Gates
Another song focused on gratitude and tough childhood is âBroken Loveâ by MO3 and Kevin Gates.
The lyrics also include comments on fake friends and women.
But it all ends with the verse about being tired of broken love and probably life in general.
40. âWhen Iâm Goneâ by Eminem
Eminem released âWhen Iâm Goneâ on his 2004 album âEncore.â
Essentially, the song depicts the death of his alter ego âSlim Shady.â
And thatâs a creative way of showing how bad he feels for neglecting his family.
In a way, âWhen Iâm Goneâ is also a message of unconditional love for his daughter Hailie.
41. âLost Onesâ by J Cole
The lyrics of âLost Onesâ by J Cole are based on a dialogue between a young couple.
Theyâve just discovered the girl is pregnant and theyâre trying to figure out what to do.
Theyâre afraid that they canât provide for the child and that theyâre simply still too young.
42. âMarvins Roomâ by Drake
In essence, âMarvins Roomâ is one of the sad rap songs about being alone.
The song is performed from the perspective of Drake who calls his girlfriend and rants about his life, loneliness, and frustrations.
The song was named after the studio it was recorded in.
43. âLast Good Sleepâ by Company Flow
âLast Good Sleepâ is a 90s rap song about abusive family members.
To be more precise, itâs a story about an abusive stepdad who was abusing the sonâs mother.
And itâs based on personal experiences of Company Flowâs member El-P.
In one of the interviews, El-P said that âLast Good Sleepâ was his first song that had a big emotional impact on people around him.
44. âLove The Way You Lieâ by Eminem and Rihanna
âLove The Way You Lieâ is probably one of the most well known hip hop ballads about love and heartbreak.
It was released in 2010, and it has been played on radio stations across the world ever since.
The song sounds very powerful, but it also effectively describes the cycle of being trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship.
45. âKeep Livinâ by Jean Grae
Although itâs lyrically quite somber, âKeep Livinâ also provides a glimpse of hope.
Jean Grae talks about turning to drugs and alcohol in order to escape life, but it also reminds everyone to keep living nevertheless.
When things get rough, itâs important to keep in mind that no feeling is final.
46. âThe Book Of Soulâ by Ab-Soul
âThe Book Of Soulâ is a soulful, melancholic rap/hip-hop tune about sadness and suffering.
Itâs an honest depiction of the rapper’s complications and struggles, mostly related to his love life.
47. âSmile To Keep From Cryingâ by Boosie Badazz
The meaning behind Boosie Badazzâ song is pretty straightforward.
Itâs yet another song about depression and struggling, but itâs based on a rather different story.
The rapper specifically talks about losing his three aunts within a year as well as a friend (to a gunfire).
So lyrically, itâs a very somber tune about the tragedies of life.
48. âThe Heart & The Tongueâ by Chance The Rapper
If youâre looking for newer sad rap songs, look no further.
âThe Heart & The Tongueâ was released in 2021 on the rapperâs album of the same name.
And itâs an authentic portrayal of a manâs internal conflicts.
My heart and tongue are fightin’, my mind is undecidedâŚ
49. âPerkys Callingâ by Future
In his 2016 track âPerkys Callingâ, Future is talking about his addiction.
He is facing his problem and realizing that drug addiction has ruined his mind.
And when heâs sober, he is constantly thinking about drugs – itâs a painful cycle that every addict goes through.
50. âRunaway Loveâ by Ludacris and Mary J Blige
âRunaway Loveâ is a soulful rap song released in 2006.
Itâs about the lives of three young girls who are running away to escape their problems.
The song is memorable, sentimental and raw, so itâs not surprising that it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
51. âDa Art Of Storytellinâ Pt 1â by Outkast
Outkast is best known for his hit âHey Yaâ, but he also wrote some good sad rap songs.
For example, âDa Art Of Storytellinâ Pt 1â is catchy as well as emotional and compelling.
It tells a tragic story of girls who turn to prostitution to survive.
52. âReneeâ by Lost Boyz
In short, this is a love song about a girl named Renee.
It’s captivating, catchy, and a bit gloomy.
After all, the song ends in tragedy – their relationship ends because Renee is shot to death.
53. âMillie Pulled A Pistol On Santaâ by De La Soul
In De La Soulâs 90s hip hop tune, Millie is a girl whose father works as a Santa in a shop.
It turns out that she abuses her, so she eventually pulls a pistol on him and ends his life.
Itâs very somber and tragic, just like many other rap songs we mentioned today.
54. âDowntownâ by August Alsina and Kidd Kidd
âDowntownâ is yet another depressing rap song about daily struggles living in the streets.
The song also deals with experiences of spending time in jail.
But despite the fact that Alsina had a difficult life, he managed to achieve a lot in his music career.
55. âKimâ by Eminem
Eminem supposedly wrote this song about his wife Kimberly.
In the song, he openly expresses his hateful thoughts towards her.
Although itâs considered one of his good tracks, the song shows how angry, depressed, and hostile he actually was.
56. âStray Bulletâ by Organized Konfusion
Some critics and websites proclaimed âStray Bulletâ as one of the hip hop classics.
The song is indeed popular and impactful, and itâs around the theme of gun violence.
In fact, the hip hop duo tackles the issue by writing the lyrics from the perspective of a bullet.
57. âSuicidalâ by YNW Melly and Juice WRLD
In the remix âSuicidalâ, YNW Melly and Juice WRLD express their thoughts on their problems.
And those problems are relatable to many young people as they revolve around love and breakup.
However, the song also talks about hurtful and dangerous ways of dealing with such problems.
58. âDoing It Wrongâ by Drake
Drake released âDoing It Wrongâ on his studio album âTake Careâ in 2011.
Itâs a gentle, slow-paced song about a breakup.
Drake also used a harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder.
Either way, itâs a good song to listen to if youâre feeling down.
59. âLoner Lifeâ by NBA YoungBoy
Our next suggestion is âLoner Lifeâ by previously mentioned YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Although itâs not one of his rap songs that will make you cry, itâs definitely worth mentioning.
Itâs a rather short tune, but it portrays the feeling of alienation and loneliness.
60. âEverybody Dies In Their Nightmaresâ by XXXTENTACION
Itâs time to wrap things up with the song by the best-selling emo rapper of all time.
In his 2017 track, XXXTENTACION raps about feeling trapped in his own mind.
The song is somber, genuine, and captivating.
XXXTENTACION may have had a short career, but he certainly made a huge impact on the rap music scene.
Sad Rap Songs – Final Thoughts
Most of the songs we mentioned today depict a really harsh life or tell a tragic story.
And although theyâre sometimes hard to listen to, if you like rap and hip hop, they can help you get through some tough times.
Either way, we hope our article helped you find what you were looking for!
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