After nearly dying from an overdose in 2007, the influential rapper has now been sober for nearly fifteen years at the time of writing. Many rappers are known for celebrating drink and drugs, from smoking weed, to sipping lean, to popping Xanax. But there are plenty of rappers who find that life is better without substances. This article will introduce you to some of our generation’s sober rappers.
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Eminem credits fatherhood with helping him to get sober once and for all. Other sober rappers include Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar, Ice-T, and Andre 3000. But more and more, those lavish, reckless lifestyles seem to be something of the past for many, including some of the biggest names in music.
Eminem
How do you really have fun if there isn’t a little drink in you? I don’t actually know.” But realizing she had what could be an issue, P! Although Chop doesn’t do drugs, he does enjoy smoking hookah while in the studio. These days, prescription drugs seem to be a part of the rapper starter kit. While, for the most part, drug use in hip-hop has never been taboo (meaning you can’t totally blame this on the kiddos), the promotion and use of drugs of the highly addictive nature is at an all-time high. Lil’ Kim’s debut solo album, Hard Core, became a critical and commercial success.
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“I’m going one word at a time,” he says, noting that he’s gone back and read old issues of the New York Times, Washington Post, and L.A. Some of the artists who have made these choices have been vocal about them, from Eminem and Ed Sheeran to Paul McCartney and P! It’s hilarious that Usher’s “U Don’t Have To Call” falls into this story. His recollection is probably not how things actually went down, but I Twelve-step program love the image of Pharrell working with Usher, discovering the music of a young T.I., and then hours later passing out in a bathroom.
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- Some of today’s biggest names like Lil Wayne and Kid Cudi, among others, have spent much of their careers looking for a way to cope with their own personal traumas.
- In an interview with Fox News, Budden spoke about the dangers he’s experienced with the party-popular drug.
As you’ll see, the reasons these rappers have for staying sober are varied. Some come from a background of substance abuse and have seen the damage it can do. Some have personally struggled with addiction and needed to get clean to get their life in order. And others abstain simply so that they can function at the highest level. Royce Da 5’9”, Eminem’s fellow Bad Meets Evil partner and former Slaughterhouse signee, went through his own struggles with alcoholism. The Detroit lyricist has rapped about his addiction and recovery in his music.
In case you’re too privileged and white to understand, lean is codeine cough syrup mixed with soda for an ultimate #traplyfe experience. Learn about treatment options like inpatient and outpatient rehab by calling our admissions team at for free, confidential, 24/7 support. It got so bad for roots rocker Jason Isbell that his wife, manager, and musician Ryan Adams initiated an intervention for his health and sober rappers safety.
Yeah, Young Chop doesn’t rap, but it’s worth noting that the “Hate Being Sober” producer doesn’t smoke weed or drink. All irony aside, it’s nice to see that the Chicago beatsmith doesn’t partake in any of Chief Keef’s wild shenanigans. Having grown up in Compton, Kendrick Lamar smoked and drank a bit as a teenager. Lamar recalled the conversation he had with his father in an interview with SPIN’s Jessica Hopper. Kid Cudi is well-known for addressing themes of addiction in his music, and in interviews he has revealed more about his personal struggles with substance abuse.
Rappers Who Are Drug-Free
At first, he joked about his past experience with an edible. Then he noted that his “addictive personality” is what could potentially lead to his downfall. “I’m in a financial place where I can enable it myself, and I don’t ever want to be that guy,” he affirmed. Take a look at this list and find out which of your favorite rap stars abstain from drugs and alcohol. “I have a problem with my vices,” said the pop star, I’ve kicked the drugs, but every now and then I have to go out and get completely wasted on alcohol. I’m such a control freak it’s very hard for me to lose my inhibitions without something chemical inside me.
On the hit single “Not Afraid,” Eminem raps, “It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me.” The hip hop icon celebrated his 15th year of sobriety earlier this year. He has since helped his fellow rappers with their addictions. Understanding the cycle of addiction is crucial in comprehending the struggles faced by rappers who battle drug addiction. This section explores the factors that can lead to substance abuse and the challenges these individuals encounter when seeking help. It’s important to note that not all rap music promotes drug use, and many artists use their platform to address the negative consequences of substance abuse. Drug addiction has been a prevalent issue within the rap industry for many years.