"Mother..." playlist contributed by Salome Agbaroji (2025)
The genre of hip-hop is characterized by its rhythmic beats, booming bass, and other elements, but one prominent feature of hip-hop that exists in seemingly no other genre is the bravado. In rap, it is part of the culture to establish yourself as a dominant, cool, impenetrable figure by flaunting wealth and social status. I don’t think this is a bad thing at all, it makes hip-hop great for feel-good party anthems and self-confidence boosts. However, behind every emcee is a human being dealing with the complexities of life and emotions, which will inevitably make its way into the music.
Rap as a literary genre, which is very similar to spoken word poetry, is a great stage to journal and untangle the complicated process of grief. Just as much as hip-hop values bravado, it values realness. And a vulnerable and honest reflection about the process of grief is just about as real as it gets. I have included songs from some of my favorite rappers—Kendrick Lamar, Killer Mike, and André 3000—who have written verses on losing a maternal relationship, whether it be a mother or grandmother. These lyrics are raw and unfiltered, and hopefully can help anyone else who is also learning to live through loss while maintaining a healthy masculinity.
Link to Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2xr1WeIRjcF4TXsLdgcjLj?si=04b0a012297b4ce9
Quotes from the playlist: