It’s no secret that rappers love their mothers. Over the years some of our favorite artists have dedicated their most personal and touching songs to honor the leading ladies of their lives. From DMX to Kanye West, rappers have let down their guards and put aside their alter egos to express how much they care.
In 1995, Tupac released the unofficial Hip Hop Mother’s Day Anthem, “Dear Mama” in dedication to his mother and activist, Afeni Shakur (1947-2016). ‘Pac’s love, admiration, and respect for his mother has been felt and embraced throughout the Hip Hop community and inspired many other artists to express their gratitude as well.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we’ve listed 25 of the best rap verses dedicated to the women who gave us life, taught us how to live and was always there when no one else was, our mothers.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s around the world, “You are appreciated”.
25. Shaquille O’Neal – I’m Outstanding
” I was born three-six-seventy-two on a Wednesday
Hail to the moon, just like Kunta Kinte
That means I’m gifted from the get-go
Mom’s you never let go
Mad thanks for raising me right…”
24. Canibus – I Honor U
” Women never get it often enough/ And the reason people love they mother so much/ Besides the fact she carried you for nine months, is trust…”
23. Foxy Brown – The Letter ft. Ron Isley
” …time after time, you was always there
When I did the Vibe cover, holdin my crotch
I was wailin, while you prayed for me hopin I’ll stop
Sorry for the times I didn’t tell the truth
And I’m sorry for the times when I yelled at you
I love you mommy..”
22. E-40 – I Love My Momma
” My mama man, she does errythang
She’s a superhero…
3 boys, 1 girl, no chumps/ I was the oldest, she carried me for 9 months/ Made her way out of no way with little money/ But somehow we always had clothes for Easter Sunday/ You always gave us our freedom, you never sheltered us..”
21. Whodini – Early Mother’s Day Card
” I wonder how you made it through all you been through /aside from my respect ya mama, i love you / And just because you stuck in there when things got hard/ that’s why i’m sending you my respect with this mother’s day card “
20. DMX – I Miss You
” Grandma, I really miss you and it ain’t been the same/ I drop a tear when I, hear yo’ name/ Mary Ella Holloway, why you gotta be so far away?/ Used to say, “Don’t worry, it’s gon’ be okay”/ But it ain’t – it’s like when you left, you took the Lord with you/ Why couldn’t I come when he came to get you?/ Damn I really miss you..”
19. LL Cool J – Big Mama
..” Cause my momma had me when she was young
So you took on the responsibility to raise your grandson
You taught me if a task is once begun, Todd
Never leave it ’til it’s done, Todd
Be thy labor great or small Todd
Do it well or not at all, God
Big Mama, my blood is your blood
When the whole world’s against me, I know I got your love..”
18. Snoop – I Love My Momma
“… She the queen in my life, and I’mma make sure she gon’ shine again/ She taught me everythang, but she didn’t charge a fee/ She taught me everythang, except how to see a G
For the nine months you carried, I hope you bury me
Instead of the other way around, and I put that on Dogg Pound/ I made you cry, you made me smile
I just wanna say I love you for life
And that’s the reason why I’m here now
Love, Snoop...”
17. Nelly – Luven Me
” Ayo ma, how you doin’
It’s your son now/ And I picked up the mic and put the drugs down/ Now I’m tryin’ to do some things that’ll make you proud/ Instead of every time I call it’s to bail me out
Oh why didn’t I listen to things you used to tell me?
Knowin’ that everything that you said would never fail me...”
16. Mac Miller– I’ll Be There
…” I just want to bring you out on stage to get a standing ovation/ All the work you did to make my life feel like a vacation/ If you have your moms, you better treat her right
Call her up, say “wassup” before you sleep tonight
Tell her you love her and thank her for what she did
You may be grown now but remember being a kid when she fed you in your bed, shit/ You were her baby, so find out what she doing lately, uh/ I wanna tell you momma… ”
15. Big Sean – One Man Can Change The World
…” If that girl from West Virginia came up in conditions
That I couldn’t survive; went to war, came back alive?/ On top of that became a female black captain/ When being black you had to extra-extra try/ Way before James Brown made us proud/ She bought a crib on the same street as Marvin Gaye/ Right there on Outer Drive, and she taught me how to drive/ And she raised the kids, then the kids’ kids, and she did it right/ Taught me how to love, taught me not to cry/ When I die, I hope you teach me how to fly/ All my life you’ve been that angel in disguise sayin’…”
14. Jay Z – Momma Loves Me
… ” Momma loved me, pop left me/ Grandma dressed me, plus she fed me/ Banana Puddin’…”
13. Saigon – If… (My Mommy)
…” My mother, and not only to tell her I love her/ But to show her how the pen can cause her kid to grow up/ I don’t even be lying no more. Ma, I’m honest/ I’m not playing with guns no more neither, I promise
I’m not hanging with the donnas/ He my dog and I love him but fuckin’ with son is just too much drama
I wonder how it would be if you had the chance to raise me/ Would I still not know how to romance a lady? ”
12. Brand Nubian – Momma
[Lord Jamar]
“Yo she was young and so tender
Had a baby born Knowledge God day of September
It was her first child, baby boy little bundle of joy
She married Larry, for 9 months she had to carry
Me and she did it gladly…”
[Grand Puba]
” Uh – at childhood I never really understood
All your heartache and pain and how difficult it was for you to maintain
To make sho’ yo’ seeds eat
Even if we had to foodstamp it every week
Always did your best to try to keep us out the street… ”
11. Talib Kweli – Momma Can You Hear Me
” She showed me how to shoot for the stars until I put a hole in the sky..”
10. Beanie Sigel – Mom Praying
” Don’t cry mama, your baby boy done weathered the storm/ And I found peace right here in your arms/ By the way, how you gettin’ along, huh?/ I know it’s been tough bearing the pain since daddy’s been gone/ But, all in all, you still stood tall and never shedded a tear/ I’m thankin’ God you still here…”
8. J. Cole – Apparently
…” Think back to Forest Hills, no perfect home
But the only thing like home I’ve ever known/ Until they snatched it from my mama and foreclosed her on the loan/ I’m so sorry that I left you there to deal with that alone/ I was up in New York City chasing panties, getting dome/ Had no clue what you was going through, how could you be so strong?/ And how could I be so selfish, I know I can be so selfish/ I could tell by how I treat you with my girl, damn she so selfless/ But she put up with my ways because she loves me like you do/ And though it don’t always show I love her just like I love you/ And I need to treat you better/ Wish you could live forever
So we could spend more time together/ (I love you mama) ”
8. Drake – Look What You’ve Done
…” You said either way I’ll be a star, I could go so far/ Talked to me, you got to me/ Then you’d toss the keys and loan me your car/ Yeah, just a young kid in a drop top
Lexus hopin’ that I don’t get arrested/ Just another kid going through life/ So worried that I won’t be accepted/ But I could do anything, you said that, and you meant that/ You took me places, you spent that, they said no, we went back/ Checks bounced but we bounced back / I put all the money in your accounts back/ And I thank you, I don’t know where/ I’d really be without that, it worked out, man/ You deserve it…”
7. Jay Z – December 4th
“… I was conceived by Gloria Carter and Adnes Reeves
Who made love under the sycamore tree, which makes me
A more sicker M.C. and my momma would claim/ At 10 pounds, when I was born I didn’t give her no pain/ Although through the years I gave her her fair share/ I gave her her first real scare/ I made up for birth when I got here/ She knows my purpose wasn’t purpose/ I ain’t perfect, I care/ But I feel worthless cause my shirts wasn’t matching my gear…”
6. Andre 3000 – She’s Alive
” A boy/ To raise/ At a/ Young age/ No help/ From him/But she’s alive..
To be/ Made strong/ But all/ Alone/ Must be/ A pain/ But she’s alive ”
[Andre’s Mom talking]
” I was scufflin’ going to school/ I was scufflin’ working at night/ And you know what/ I truly believe/ And that’s why I tell a lot of parents/ Single parents, don’t tell me what God can’t do/ I made sure you had/ I never felt like you should be deprived of anything…”
5. Nas – Dance
” … April 7th ’02, that’s when the gates of Heaven opened up
For you to stroll through, beautiful Anne Jones/ Job is done, raising ghetto kids in the hood/ You was my strength to carry on, and now I’m good/ Job well done, you lived through your sons and grandchildren/ Jesus finally got his bride, mommy, dance with him…”
4. Ghostface Killah ft. Mary J. Blige – All That I Got
” … But I remember this, moms would lick her finger tips/ To wipe the coal out my eye before school wit her spit/ Case worker had her runnin’ back to face to face/ I caught a case, housin’ tried to throw us out of our place/ Sometimes I look up at the stars and analyze the sky/And ask myself was I meant to be here… why? ”
3. Goodie Mob – Guess Who
“… I know at certain times she was wrong/ But she still my Moma, it still amazes me/ The Lord had to help her raise me judging from the way I used to be/ My Moma, the biggest player that I know I love her so/ Hell everything I got I owe to my Moma/ Thank you for caring, thank you for sharing yo’ luv/ I guess that was yo’ way of preparing/ Yo’ son to be the one and not the two…”
2. Kanye West – Hey Mama
“… I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine
This little light of mine and I’m finna let it shine
I’m finna take yall back to them better times
I’m finna talk about my mama if yall don’t mind… ”
1. 2Pac – Dear Mama
Rest In Peace Afeni Shakur (January 1947- May 2, 2016)
” …Cause when I was low you was there for me
And never left me alone because you cared for me
And I could see you coming home after work late
You’re in the kitchen trying to fix us a hot plate
You just working with the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin’/ But now the road got rough, you’re alone/ You’re trying to raise 2 bad kids on your own/ And there’s no way I can pay you back, but my plan/ Is to show you that I understand/ You are appreciated..”
