Peace and blessings have been key themes in rap music since the birth of hip-hop. Perhaps due to its roots in soul and disco, or to the MC/DJ combination emerging from a need to move the crowd and give shoutouts, rap has always been as much about giving thanks as it has been about expecting praise. Often, it’s simply a reflection about recognizing the family and friends that shaped hip-hop lives and influenced creativity. This is the yin and yang of hip-hop; the great rap duality.
With the holidays around the corner, what better time to celebrate the best way we know how – with sweet-n-savory songs such as Cordae’s “Thanksgiving” and ScHoolboy Q’s “Collard Greens.” Lest we be too focused on rap delicacies, we’ve harvested a bounty of tracks expressing gratitude and thanks. From Big Sean and Drake’s “Blessings” to DJ Khaled’s “THANKFUL,” these are songs to warm the heart, fill the belly and soothe the soul. Dive into this collection of feel-good rap tracks, and kick back with your loved ones.
LISTEN TO THE BLESS UP: HIP-HOP SONGS OF GRATITUDE NOW ON SOUNDCLOUD
Lil Tjay, “Grateful” (feat. Coco Jones)
Bronx-born rapper Lil Tjay linked up with pop-R&B star Coco Jones on this 2023 anthem of gratitude, positivity and spirituality, boasting “I’m grateful (I’m so grateful) / I’m grateful (For everything).”
Chance The Rapper, “Blessings”
“When the praises go up, the blessings come down,” as Chance put it on his third mixtape – which became the first streaming-only album to win a Grammy.
Cordae, “Have Mercy”
Rap icon Cordae asks “sweet Lord, please have mercy/Baby Jesus, please save us,” on his 2019 flute-laced anthem, as this spiritual journey as he mows through verses he reminds us that he hopes he’s “on the right path.”
DJ Khaled, “THANKFUL” feat. Lil Wayne & Jeremih
The choir on Khaled’s hymnlike, Bobby Bland-sampling 2021 track makes it clear: This is church. “Sit down, be thankful,” as Lil Wayne kicks off his featured verse.
J. Cole, “Love Yourz”
Be grateful for your own life, Cole urged on his signature album: “No such thing as a life that’s better than yours.”
Lecrae, “Blessings” feat. Ty Dolla $ign
There’s more than one way to count your blessings, as Lecrae made clear on this 2017 track, which featured Ty Dolla $ign. Count it up, count it up, count it up.
Jeezy, “No Complaining”
The hip-hop veteran reflects on his journey and the struggles he’s overcome on his path to success, on “No Complaining,” an introspective trap-laced track for his thirteenth studio album.
Drake, “Look What You've Done”
This track from 2011 is about gratitude for Drake’s girl, but the outro features a beautiful recording of Aub’s grandma – “to let you know how grateful I am for your help.”
Kendrick Lamar, “untitled 08 | 09.06.2014”
“Why so sad?” Kendrick asks on the closing track from his 2016 demos collection. “Walking around with them blue faces.” With Thundercat’s superfunky help, it’s upbeat for the downstroke
Injury Reserve, “Gravy n’ Biscuits”
Now reconvened as the group By Storm, this Arizona group calmed us down on their 2019 debut: “Everything cool/ Everything gravy and biscuits/ Everything alright.”
KOTA The Friend, “Grateful”
“Grateful, grateful, grateful, grateful,” the Brooklyn rapper repeats on this ode to joy. “Celebratin’ this abundant season.”
Cordae, “Thanksgiving”
“Mac and cheese up in the oven, Grandma finished cookin.’” Cordae set the table on his debut album with this ode to the comfort of fam.
Nicki Minaj, “Moment 4 Life” feat. Drake
Don’t take anything for granted. That was Nicki’s message on this track from her debut album, back in 2010: “Clap for the heavyweight champ, me/ But I couldn’t do it all alone, we.”
Big Sean, “So Much More”
“Feelin’ like I got the cheat code for life,” Sean declared on his debut album, “Finally Famous.” That’s certainly something to be thankful for.
ScHoolboy Q, “Collard Greens” feat. Kendrick Lamar
Ten years after its debut, this track still sounds live as ever. Yes, we know there’s more than one interpretation of “collard greens.”
Surf Gvng x Victor Cornelius, “Cranberry Sauce”
Whether fresh-made straight out the can, a word of warning to the cranberry sauce haters (you know who you are): We are not having it!
Goodie Mob, “Soul Food”
With the title track from their 1995 debut, one of Atlanta’s finest served up a heaping helping of good eating: “Smoke steams from under the lid that’s on the pot,” CeeLo raps.
Rick Ross, “Tears Of Joy” feat. Cee-Lo
“Last night I cried tears of joy,” Rick rapped on the “Teflon Don” album. “What did I do to deserve this?” Never hurts to ask.
Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy”
“Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way,” Biggie urged on the first single from his debut album. If you don’t know, now you know.
Busta Rhymes “Thank You” feat. Q-Tip, Kanye West & Lil Wayne
With Q and Bus-a-Bus trading rapid-fire verses, this song hinges on the chorus, a straight sample of Alicia Myers’s early ‘80s praise song “I Want to Thank You.”
Big Sean, “Blessings” feat. Drake
“Feelin’ like I got the cheat code for life,” Sean declared on his debut album, “Finally Famous.” That’s certainly something to be thankful for.
JAY-Z, “Nickels And Dimes”
“Something ‘bout the struggle so divine,” Jay raps on this trip down Memory Lane, back to a time – hard to imagine at this point – when Hova was scraping for small change.
YG, “Thank God” feat. Big TC & Rodney J. "RJ" Brown
“And I thank God, for showing the road to go, when I’m weak and feeling low,” Big TC exalts on the chorus here. He’s still serving time for a crime he says he did not commit.
Nipsey Hussle, “Blessings”
“Dear Lord, please bless us,” as Nipsey’s voice echoed on the interlude to this ominous track from his “Crenshaw” mixtape. “Bless us with the gift of real loyalty.”
anderson .paak, “Bubblin”
After releasing this song, .Paak got a text from his mother saying how much she loved the song. To her, it’s about the lure of money “and how it changes people.” “Spot on!” he replied.
Common, “The Food”
“I break bread with thieves and pastors, OGs and masters,” Common spat on this 2004 joint with a youngster named Kanye. Food for thought.
Antt Beatz, “Thanksgiving”
Every day is Thanksgiving for the Detroit producer Antt Beatz, who was named one of Billboard’s Top Ten rap producers in 2022.
KSI, “Holiday”
“I know, I know you know the vibe,” the British rapper sings on this sweet pop song. Why can’t every day be a holiday?
Atmosphere, “Sunshine”
When this track kicks off, the rapper Slug does not feel good at all. He’s mad hungover and miserable. But “all of a sudden I realize something / The weather is amazing, even the birds are bumpin’.” Proving once again: it does get better.
Ghostface Killah, “All That I Got Is You” feat. Mary J. Blige
Wu-Tang Clan rap icon teamed with Mary J. Blige on this classic heart-rendering journey back into the struggles of his childhood and how he is thankful for his mother and family to get through many of life’s challenges together.
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