Depressing / Introspective rap songs

step one · Post by **step one** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:13 am

No angst ridden emo coffee shop wigga business if possible please.
I'm looking for stuff along the lines of

Scarface 'Now I Feel Ya'
Chino XL 'Kreep'
2Pac 'Papaz Song'
Ice Cube 'Dead Homiez'

add on

CRASH DDZ · Post by **CRASH DDZ** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:25 am

Devil Music, Passing me by the Pharcyde
Dead love YZ

fatboybrandon · Post by **fatboybrandon** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:02 am

Fortunately I'm in a pretty good mood at the moment, but I can definitely recall a few standouts. We all have our bad days where we can relate to these type of songs

Dead Prez - W4, Fucked Up
Scarface - Crack, The Suicide Note
Rakim - Dedicated
RZA - Gone
Reflection Eternal - For Women
Ill Kid Records Presents - Life
M.O.P.- Dead and Gone
Inspectah Deck - The City
Masta Ace - The Other Side Of Town
Gangstarr - Conspiracy
K-Solo - Who's Killin' Who?
De La Soul - Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa

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dubs · Post by **dubs** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:25 pm

step one wrote:thanks for the ideas so far. any shit about paranoia also welcome (but no illuminati-aliens coming-to-get-me type shit)

step one · Post by **step one** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:46 pm

yeah, Mind Playing Tricks is a perfect example. I like the 94 version Face did solo aswell.

vaporized2 · Post by **vaporized2** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:54 pm

MF Grimm - Scars & Memories, and Bloody Love Letter

Mr. J Selectah · Post by **Mr. J Selectah** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:57 pm

Good thread, my kind of shit...step one, maybe this won't go exactly in the same line as the ones you've requested, but here's my suggestions (some are really depressive and others introspective, but it's mostly for the variety):

Deezil Money - "Generations" (1998)
Rusty Chains - "Depressed" (2003)
Del The Funky Homosapien - "Corner story" (1996)
Funkdoobiest - "Dedicated" (1995)
Black Lotus - "Seen and heard" (1997)
Kinetic - "Moms is the ghetto" (1997)
Tragedy Khadafi - "In memory of" (2001)
A Lighter Shade of Brown - "Everyday all day" (1994)
Extra Prolific - "Second sermon" (1998)
Ice-T - "Dear homie" (1996)
Shabbaz The Disciple - "Lord why Marion" (2008)
Mf Grimm - "Scars & memories" (199x)
Lord Finesse - "S.K.I.T.S. (remix)" (1994)
Royal Flush - "Family problems" (1997)
No ID - "Sky's the limit (remix)" (1997)
Ras Kass - "The evil that men do" (1996)
Reef The Lost Cauze - "Angels sing" (2003)
Dutchmassive - "Pipe dreams" (2000)
Nappy Crumb Snatchers - "Lump sums" (1996)
Killah Priest - "Theme song" (2001)
Bushwick Bill - "Only god knows" (1995)
Cappadonna - "Young hearts" (1998)
Raw Breed - "I had it all" (1997)
Access Immortal - " Shallow graves" (2005)
Onry Ozzborn feat. Sleep and Palesoul - "Sonsets" (1996)
Block Mccloud feat. China - "Haunted" (2006)
Juggaknots - "Romper room" (1996)
The Boogie Monsters - "Old man Jacobs well" (1994)
Brothaz 4 The Struggle - "Cryin' game" (1996)
Da Youngstaz - "Reality" (1994)
Punk Barbarians - "Rest in peace" (1996)

diggy64 · Post by **diggy64** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:00 pm

Perhaps the backstory has something to do with it, but this song always made me upset.

step one · Post by **step one** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:55 pm

Gang Starr 'Moment Of Truth' definitely fits the bill for this type of stuff
Im feeling some of the suggestions though - lot of stuff I havent heard before. My plan was to do a mixtape of it all but it might be a bit too much of a downer!

Bongloid · Post by **Bongloid** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:56 pm

De La Soul - Trying People

&

DMX - Slippin

as for paranoia how about

Nice & Smooth - Paranoia

step one · Post by **step one** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:22 pm

this is still the king of this shit imo. Picture a rapper in 2011 dropping something like this as a lead single!

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Krisch · Post by **Krisch** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:25 pm

Bigg Boss Luciano · Post by **Bigg Boss Luciano** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:35 pm

I've got a winamp playlist called "Nihilistic shit"... will that do?

Here's some sad shit I listen to everyday :slyfiddle:

Wu-Tang Clan - Tearz
Street Poets - Can't Find My Way (my favorite)
Lost Boyz - Renee
O.C. - Born 2 Live
Brand Nubian - Hold On
Poor Righteous Teachers - Dreadful Day
Capone-N-Noreaga - Live On Live Long
Nas - If I Ruled The World
Organized Konfusion - Maintain ( I alway skip Prince Po's verse... Monch killed it)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Suicidal Thoughts
The Notorious B.I.G. - Everyday Struggle
The Graveyards - Lonely Seed
Pudgee & DMX - Inner City Blues
Naughty By Nature - Mourn You Til I Join You

CRASH DDZ · Post by **CRASH DDZ** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:02 pm

Also one I said in the Christmas thread De La Soul Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa Claus would fit in perfectly

bajterfobia · Post by **bajterfobia** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:15 pm

Last Emperor feat. Esthero & Too Poetic - One Life

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:26 pm

Not exactly golden age but i love this nonetheless...

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dubs · Post by **dubs** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:29 pm

^Coincidentally, i just noticed Beans paying homage to Mind Playin Tricks with a couple lines.

Joneski · Post by **Joneski** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:51 pm

Shadez Of Brooklyn - "Change"
Killah Priest - "From Then 'Til Now"
Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs - "Love Comes And Goes"
Gangstarr feat. Scarface - "Betrayal"
Insane Poetry - "Manic Depressive"
Main Source - "Looking At The Front Door"
Ill Biskits - "A Better Day"
Street Smartz - "Problems"
Keith Murray feat. Dave Hollister - "To My Mans"

KITFUNK · Post by **KITFUNK** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:46 pm

Strugglin Souls - Manic Depression
Sean Price - Brokest Rapper You Know
Sean Price - Mess You Made
Diabolic - 12 Shots
King & the Cauze - Tearin' Me Apart

A lot of dope ones already mentioned.

Eyedea · Post by **Eyedea** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:52 pm

Reflection Eternal - Good Mourning (2000)
Hardwe're - The Pressure (1995)
Goodie Mob - I Didn't Ask To Come (1995)
R.A. The RUgged MAn - Midnight Thud (2004)
Nine - 4 Chicken Wings and Rice (1996)
Royce - Death is Certain 2(2004)
...

Mr. J Selectah · Post by **Mr. J Selectah** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:13 pm

Gangstarrs "Moment of truth"? Step One, you have to be more specific about the "depressive" mood, i think there's a mist between pain and melancholy or sadness...the tracks i've pointed out for you fit those conditions perfectly, there are some really strong ones i advice to listen...Joneski and fatboybrandon also pointed out some good ones...about the introspective side, i've nothing to point, i agree about the Scarface "now i feel you" track, a personal favorite of mine.

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:27 pm

Yeah I'm not sure whether we're supposed to be suggesting songs that are sad, paranoid, mournful, contemplative, weary, or morbid. Granted, many songs can cover several of these moods, but I'm still not sure where to start.

Mr. J Selectah · Post by **Mr. J Selectah** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:50 pm

Exactly, depressive is just too strong, see. Oh and how could i forget...besides all those tracks i pointed out, i want to add an indispensable track for you...Basement Khemists "Everybody L.I.F.E." (1998), that track fits both standarts you need.

fatboybrandon · Post by **fatboybrandon** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:11 pm

Mr. J Selectah wrote:Gangstarrs "Moment of truth"? Step One, you have to be more specific about the "depressive" mood, i think there's a mist between pain and melancholy or sadness...

That song seems to be uplifting more than depressing, like a piece of Guru's mind and experience to help the average person persevere through hard times. I don't look at it as sad overall, it's an inspiring song.

That Basement Khemists is a good pick J Selectah, I haven't listened to that in awhile, we need to here Spinna and them more nowadays. Good choices overall.

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G Rap wasn't known to express heartfelt emotion for another much in song, this song is a standout in his catalog, one of my favorites. His recent song "Sad" is another.

"Story" by O.C. is so sad and tragic it's hard to listen to

"Right Up My Alley" by MC Ren depicts the darkness of the ghetto in a way that is nothing but sad and tragic. Besides that, it's a dope song though.

I always remember Ice Cube's Dead On Arrival was sad in a very creative way, taking you detail by detail through his trip from life to death in one song.

step one · Post by **step one** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:48 pm

fatboybrandon wrote:
Mr. J Selectah wrote:Gangstarrs "Moment of truth"? Step One, you have to be more specific about the "depressive" mood, i think there's a mist between pain and melancholy or sadness...
That song seems to be uplifting more than depressing, like a piece of Guru's mind and experience to help the average person persevere through hard times. I don't look at it as sad overall, it's an inspiring song.

thats why I said 'introspective' in the thread aswell. Guru really went in on that

'Ive been through a whole lot of other shit before, so I oughta be able to withstand out some more'

'Im ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind I put down my knife and take the bullets out my nine / my only crime was that im too damn kind'

'This Life' with Snoop off 'The Ownerz' is kinda like that too.

I guess the theme is best summed up as 'song that make you think' or something. I dunno, jus had a shitty day and been bumping some of this stuff!

step one · Post by **step one** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:50 pm

dubs wrote:Not exactly golden age but i love this nonetheless...

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fuck yeah!

truthaddict · Post by **truthaddict** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:12 pm

bajterfobia wrote:Last Emperor feat. Esthero & Too Poetic - One Life

^ This immediately came to mind.

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Mr. J Selectah · Post by **Mr. J Selectah** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:27 pm

If it goes for Beanie Sigel, here's a more appropriated choice.

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Ok Step One, i got your point. You have different perspectives about the same subject matter, it's only righteous. Well i gave some contributions already, if it's deep tracks you looking for, those are good enough. I had a similar ideia to this thread since last year maybe, but it wasn't motivated by a spontaneous state of mind, it was suppost to be one of those "ambicious" threads, kinda like a theme thread, and the "melancholy", "paranoid" states and such, would have a proper place, but then i decided not do it, for all the time i woud have to invest in it, like others currently going on, and it's not even worth it most of the times.

truthaddict · Post by **truthaddict** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:49 pm

CRASH DDZ · Post by **CRASH DDZ** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:26 pm