The 30 Best Storytelling Rap Songs

The main difference between a good rapper and an excellent rapper, is that while the former will focus on getting convincing rhymes, the latter will manage to captivate the public with shocking narratives taken from their life on the streets and they will also be able to keep the attention of those who are listening. Rappers have evolved as hip hop has grown, and their storytelling skills have turned these performers into true artists.
This list includes the best rap songs with the greatest storytelling. From lost souls who ruin their life because of bad decisions, to very complex life scenarios and autobiographical stories that would leave anyone perplexed. Check out the 30 Best Storytelling Rap Songs written so far.

A Tribe Called Quest “8 Million Stories” (1993)

This song tells the story of a guy with very little luck. In just one afternoon, he is robbed, burns a hole in an outfit he’s ironing for a date, brings his brother to a toy store to look for a toy they don’t have, gets robbed again, and then gets stood up for his date.

As if that weren’t enough, he also tells us that he’s attempting to get rid of his materialistic girlfriend.

Kool G Rap “On The Run” (1992)

On the run talks about a long, twisting robbery thriller of a low-level criminal seeking redemption. He steals a shipment in order to start his own business because he is unsatisfied with the monetary reward he receives for all of the illegal activities he is forced to do on a daily basis.

His bosses catch him up on the way to the airport, but somehow, he manages to shake them off and make his escape.

Boogie Down Productions “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)” (1990)

Love’s Gonna Get’cha was released 3 decades ago and tells the story of a good-natured boy who resorts to crime in order to provide for himself and his brothers the expensive things that his mother cannot afford.

This sets in motion a chain of events that spiral out of control. While the song tells a tough story, in real life its performer truly managed to establish himself as the wise old master of the hip-hop generation.

Lupe Fiasco “Kick, Push” (2006)

The song begins with a sluggish character analysis of a young boy whose love of skateboarding has made him an outcast. By the conclusion of the second verse, he’s met a girl who shares his excitement.

While our protagonist seems to have found a place where he is finally satisfied, the chorus’ refrain of “Kick, push, kick, push, coast” emphasizes that the key to life is to escape static and keep moving through it.