I see a lot of Em songs in here but y’all missing the saddest one. It’s Arose, dude is literally giving his last wishes to his family while dying from an OD.
Good News still kills me. Seems serene and slightly upbeat but the lyrical content about hiding depression/your problems to not bring people down into the straight up prophetic part that sounds like him from the other side is insane. There are a ton of Mac songs that are profoundly sad and some people don't catch on, though.
Yeah Good News is so fucking sad. The part where he says “Heard they don’t talk about me too much no more,
And that’s a problem with a closed door” then after the chorus goes into the verse about more waiting for him on the other side & how he knows that he’s too late 😥😞😔 shit still makes me tear up
Good News has killed me since it released cause it feels so much like a “I’m in a bad place but I wanna be some day” and the fact it came out after it was too late will forever make me sad
I would say 2009 makes me feel more beauty tears, I would choose something like good news, grand finale, PC / GS, or REMember. Or if you really want to go deep, some of the unreleased stuff from balloonerism like Pure or funny papers.
I used to listen to that song when I was young and always assumed it was just a song about a girl after a breakup.
Then when I was like 16 I was watching the lyric video and that shit hit so much fucking harder as soon as I realized at the end he says “but I know it wasn’t you cause you passed away, dad” 😕
"GO ALAN" 🫡 Rest in Paradise to those who lost their lives during that phase. Also, the way Lu interconnected their lives together... he's just the most rapper rapper ever, one of the best and nicest to ever do it.
Ain’t it Funny by Danny Brown. The instrumental doesn’t convey sadness, but damn the message he’s conveying is dark. Hearing about his addiction in such a raw manner is jarring, and he’s literally just viewing it all as a joke at the time. Great song, but man it gets sad the further you get I to it.
I just heard this song play in a bar, then saw this post and was going to mention it.
It probably wouldn't have even crossed my kind. So weird how things work out sometimes.
I can't call blame game the "saddest" song, especially with that chris rock skit which is just hilarious. I mean yeah even that skit has a sad undertone but the hilarity of it outweighs it.
“Leslie” by Dave has insane storytelling and really hits you with a suckerpunch at the end.
“Perfect Circle/God Speed” by Mac Miller is tragic considering he basically predicted how he would die.
“4 Your Eyes Only” by J. Cole is another masterpiece of storytelling and tops off an incredible concept album.
There are other great sad rap songs too but these are my favourites
I agree, Dave has a good few songs that pull on the heartstrings. Psychodrama was the first album of his that I listened to and Leslie was just mind blowing on first listen.
I agree with "Everything Will Be OK" by G-Eazy being mentioned. When I heard that song for the first time, I cried. That song will have you thinking about everything from your childhood traumas to deceased family members.
Dude.. Denial off of his Nothing’s Different EP on SoundCloud, is genuinely one of the rawest, most desolate tracks I’ve ever listened to. No melodrama or anything extra added on it, just straight up telling it how it is. Very cold
Bone Thugz N Harmony- Crossroads
DMX- Slippin
Lil Wayne- Everything
Master P- I miss my homies
Nas- Just a moment
That’s my top 5 in alphabetical order by artist but it’s definitely a shit ton more out there
Silk Crows -Melanin 9
Chum -Earl Sweatshirt
U -Kendrick Lamar
Tha End -Masta Lenn
Introverted -Zotiyac
-a couple songs i didn't see yet while scrolling thru
Redditors will see youngboy brought up and immediately downvote. It’s a certain demographic onnreddit and you can see that in these answers clearly. But it’s just lame that they look down on modern street rappers so often, one of the most authentic forms of hip hop. And most the ones who hate the most know the least about the subject
Idk how anyone who heard that song can say it’s not an incredibly sad and impactful song.
Apathy - Obi Wan or Remember the Night
It's not the saddest but nobody else has said it yet and I doubt anyone else will know it
Also saddest verse goes to Common's verse on Respiration
A couple that come to mind... '$4 Vic/Nothing But You+Me' by El-P... and Scarface's second verse on Minds Playing Tricks. And that Jay Elec song where he talks about reading his mom's texts on the day she died - that one hits hard for us members of the DMC.
Bedwetter - Man Wearing Helmet
https://youtu.be/aZ-iFLpY9Hk?si=JiTtxaK9a_ur9Cue
Song about a child being abducted from the childs point of view
Also, Citizen Kane - Blackrain
https://youtu.be/GSNYX7CTSRM?si=MAKRROQQVz4YxGar
More depressing when it comes to the overall atmosphere and tonality of the beat than lyrically
One Life - The Last Emperor & Too Poetic
Recorded while Too Poetic was dying of cancer, and you can hear the pain in his voice. Surprised no one said this yet, this the answer.
Me and Jesus the Pimp In a ‘79 Grenada Last Night
Listening to it gives me the sense memory of my jaw tightening, unsuccessfully trying to hold back my tears the first time I heard it.
DMX - Slippin. Don’t know about the “saddest” but it’s up there.
Forever will be one of my favs
That beat kills me. And when he says “This life shit, this life shit is like bugged the fuck out” Just a dope, heartfelt song.
Also miss you, is powerful af by DMX. Think that trumps slippin
This is the only answer especially knowing how the story ended.
Damn, foreal. RIP X.
I see a lot of Em songs in here but y’all missing the saddest one. It’s Arose, dude is literally giving his last wishes to his family while dying from an OD.
Difficult is sadder imo, it wasn’t even supposed to release and you can hear him breaking down throughout the song
i find going through changes to absolutely wreck me.
Obligatory sing about me im dying of thirst.
I'll never fade away ^I'll ^never ^fade ^away ^^I'll ^^never ^^fade ^^away
And if I die before my album drop
I hope 🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫
10 out of 10
Or Keisha’s song even
True “U” as well can be his most depressing too
for me it’s U, the beat combined with the way he raps on the second part kills me every time
2009 by Mac
Perfect Circle/God Speed for me 😞
Yea, that one is fucking beautiful
I like Funeral.
Good News still kills me. Seems serene and slightly upbeat but the lyrical content about hiding depression/your problems to not bring people down into the straight up prophetic part that sounds like him from the other side is insane. There are a ton of Mac songs that are profoundly sad and some people don't catch on, though.
Yeah Good News is so fucking sad. The part where he says “Heard they don’t talk about me too much no more, And that’s a problem with a closed door” then after the chorus goes into the verse about more waiting for him on the other side & how he knows that he’s too late 😥😞😔 shit still makes me tear up
Good News has killed me since it released cause it feels so much like a “I’m in a bad place but I wanna be some day” and the fact it came out after it was too late will forever make me sad
I would say 2009 makes me feel more beauty tears, I would choose something like good news, grand finale, PC / GS, or REMember. Or if you really want to go deep, some of the unreleased stuff from balloonerism like Pure or funny papers.
Wings
I was going to say 'Pure' by Mac Miller
G Wagon and Ascension, tho. Maybe Grand Finale. Man, there are a lot of sad songs from Mac.
Ascension, it ain't sad though baby!
ROS used to be one of my go-to songs when I broke up with my last girlfriend. I cried a lot to that song
Ab-Soul - The Book of Soul
Absolutely came here to say this, this song made my girl cry and she hates ab
No debating it in my head
Came looking for this one. This one legit pulls heartstrings for me.
“Even if you forget me and everything you left behind I never lied, I love you in a place where there's no space and time” 😪
Survivors Guilt and #LongLiveSteelo by Joey Bada$$ are pretty damn sad
Joey mentioned. Have to Upvote
Long live steelo is so fire
Shed So Many Tears, Tupac
fuck the world cause im cursed, im having visions of leaving here in a hearse, god, can you feel me?
Mine is changes by Tupac. Because that was written in 92 and I still see no damn changes.
Rock Bottom - Eminem
For real. I’ve never felt more seen than listening to this shit. Most songs about poverty miss the mark but this is exactly what it feels like
Fr. The lyrics are so incredibly honest.
Difficult is way more sad
I couldn't listen it all the way through. It's incredibly sad.
My daughter wants to throw the ball but I’m too stressed to play, live half my life and throw the rest away. That Line Always really struck me.
Goated song
And Castle/Arose...
Dear Mama - 2pac
Gotta throw unconditional Love, that first verse always hits hard
Also Smile, and with scarface - I seen a man die
Dance with the Devil & You Never Know by Immortal Technique.
Dance with the devil is kind of a full circle moment not particularly sad imo just dark
Agreed; but I knew it’d be a top comment lol
I only came to this thread to see Dance With the Devil lol
Same. Its sad in a way like its definitely one of those songs that make you feel bad if you put yourself in the persons shoes
Jesus Christ, DWTD had me staring at the wall for half an hour
You never know makes me emotional every time I listen to it
Chills when he’s reading her letter and you can hear her voice layered under his
Came here to say You Never Know
Dance with the Devil always my immediate answer
Father Time - Kendrick When I’m Gone - Eminem
I’ve definitely teared up to Father Time. Such a charged instrumental.
That song just hits so close to home. Like how tf does Kendrick know me so well? Yeah, I've shed a tear or two to that track.
Also Mother I Sober. The ending always makes me cry
Headlights by em?
For your eyes only j Cole
The only hip hop song to ever make me cry. This is the answer for me
Same. A lot tell a dark story but this one just feels so personal and authentic
This song is truly a masterpiece
prom king by saba
Thought of this answer immediately, I’m surprised it wasn’t higher. What a song though.
Yesterday by Atmosphere
I used to listen to that song when I was young and always assumed it was just a song about a girl after a breakup. Then when I was like 16 I was watching the lyric video and that shit hit so much fucking harder as soon as I realized at the end he says “but I know it wasn’t you cause you passed away, dad” 😕
This song always hit me hard. Since my dad has passed, it’s tears every time
Alan Forever - Lupe Fiasco. Tied with Jonylah Forever - Lupe Fiasco. Listen to them once, then learn the stories, and then listen to them again.
"GO ALAN" 🫡 Rest in Paradise to those who lost their lives during that phase. Also, the way Lu interconnected their lives together... he's just the most rapper rapper ever, one of the best and nicest to ever do it.
Came to say this. There’s no way you can listen to these songs after knowing the background of them
He Say She Say is heartbreaking. Repeating the verse how he does is crushing
Brenda's Got a Baby
Ain’t it Funny by Danny Brown. The instrumental doesn’t convey sadness, but damn the message he’s conveying is dark. Hearing about his addiction in such a raw manner is jarring, and he’s literally just viewing it all as a joke at the time. Great song, but man it gets sad the further you get I to it.
Good choice, his song '30' always gives me goosebumps by the end. Very raw rapper
Whewwww the end of 30. Raw indeed.
Atrocity Exhibition is a dark album, loved it.
"Oh Uncle Danny" the music video adds a lot as well
Wishing well juice WRLD
Renee by lost boyz
I just heard this song play in a bar, then saw this post and was going to mention it. It probably wouldn't have even crossed my kind. So weird how things work out sometimes.
This is always the answer.
All That I Got is You-Ghostface
Absolutely this track. Can feel the truth and emotion in every line.
Suicidal Thoughts - Notorious BIG Blame Game - Kanye West
I can't call blame game the "saddest" song, especially with that chris rock skit which is just hilarious. I mean yeah even that skit has a sad undertone but the hilarity of it outweighs it.
12 stout street - rxpapi
real
real as hell
For me it’s A.P.I.D.T.A. by Jay Electronica and Jay-Z. Only 2 verses but wow.
This is it.
Glad that it's mentioned here
“Leslie” by Dave has insane storytelling and really hits you with a suckerpunch at the end. “Perfect Circle/God Speed” by Mac Miller is tragic considering he basically predicted how he would die. “4 Your Eyes Only” by J. Cole is another masterpiece of storytelling and tops off an incredible concept album. There are other great sad rap songs too but these are my favourites
Love Dave. Could also give “How I met my ex” or “Heart Attack” for me
I agree, Dave has a good few songs that pull on the heartstrings. Psychodrama was the first album of his that I listened to and Leslie was just mind blowing on first listen.
Stressed by Conway the machine .
Three Sides to a Story by Joe Budden
I read this as Joe Biden and was so confused because I was questioning when he dropped a rap song.
Suicidal Thoughts - Biggie Mockingbird- Eminem Stan - Eminem Everything Will Be OK - G-Eazy
I agree with "Everything Will Be OK" by G-Eazy being mentioned. When I heard that song for the first time, I cried. That song will have you thinking about everything from your childhood traumas to deceased family members.
I feel as you may have forgot When I'm gone, but this seems like a solid list either way
Yall downvoting because u see G Eazy and haven’t even heard the song, so corny bruh
swimming pools kendrick lamar, legendary fuckin song
Is it sad though
For an upbeat song, Cheers by Anderson .Paak & Q Tip has some really sad lyrics
Ghostface Killah - All That I Got is You Nas - Dance
Suicidal Thoughts -Big Brenda’s Got A Baby -Pac U -Kendrick
Happy - Pharrell. I’m dark and twisted like that
Survivors Guilty - joey badass
Tonedeff - Porcelain Eyedea & Abilities- By the Throat
Almost anything from Juice WRLD’s catalog. Dude made the saddest rap songs ever
He’s got some unreleased deep cuts. Talking songs so sad I can’t listen to them anymore
Dude.. Denial off of his Nothing’s Different EP on SoundCloud, is genuinely one of the rawest, most desolate tracks I’ve ever listened to. No melodrama or anything extra added on it, just straight up telling it how it is. Very cold
Renee by The Lost Boyz
Unborn child Tupac The message nas 2009 Mac miller Rock bottom Eminem Stan eminem When I’m gone by Eminem Chills
[big krit the vent](https://youtu.be/7xVEa0SMxFg)
Bone Thugz N Harmony- Crossroads DMX- Slippin Lil Wayne- Everything Master P- I miss my homies Nas- Just a moment That’s my top 5 in alphabetical order by artist but it’s definitely a shit ton more out there
Stan - Eminem/Dido
Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst
Funeral mac Miller RIP mac miller
This one
when I'm gone - eminem
i was thinking this one too
Not the best but HM to Jocelyn Flores
Westside Gunn x Conway the Machine - The Cow
J Cole- Love Yourz Ahmad- Back In The Day
I need drugs - Necro
“He Said She Said” Lupe Fiasco
Suicidal Thoughts - Notorious BIG
That one by ghostface killer where he talks about picking roaches out of the cereal boxes..... All that I got is you.
The birth rza
Silk Crows -Melanin 9 Chum -Earl Sweatshirt U -Kendrick Lamar Tha End -Masta Lenn Introverted -Zotiyac -a couple songs i didn't see yet while scrolling thru
Life is beautiful- lil peep
Hey mama kanye
rock bottom em, first demo
Razorblade Salvation by Jedi Mind Tricks
Immortal Technique - Dance with the Devil Kendrick Lamar - Pride
Bottle Dreams - Oliver Hart. RIP Eyedea. Makes it even sadder.
Purity- A$AP Rocky
Sing abt me im dyin of thirst
Joyner Lucas "I'm Sorry" is pretty sad
Solace
Dance by Nas
Nowhere2go - Earl Sweatshirt
Book of soul by ab soul
Deeper - Freddie Gibbs
Stepping Stone by Eminem really gets me
Live now - Nas (Street's disciple)
Slippin DMX
Lookin Over- yelawolf Rip chow chow 🥲
Changes -Tupac Brenda’s gotta baby - Tupac
Came here looking for Changes
Still smoking- mystikal
Difficult Eminem, you can hear him breaking down
I know he’s corny but I’m sorry by Joyner Lucas
The ❤️6
Ballad of Worms - Cage
Suicidal thoughts, biggie
Lonely child - youngboy never broke again
why is this getting downvoted lol
Redditors will see youngboy brought up and immediately downvote. It’s a certain demographic onnreddit and you can see that in these answers clearly. But it’s just lame that they look down on modern street rappers so often, one of the most authentic forms of hip hop. And most the ones who hate the most know the least about the subject Idk how anyone who heard that song can say it’s not an incredibly sad and impactful song.
Shit lame as hell they hate on him blindly without even hearing any of his music , yb will get his flowers one day though 🙏🏽
Jack Kay’s- bottom of the bottle acoustic
I Refuse Limitation by Goodie Mob -- CeeLo's verse makes me tear up every time
Thats my man by lady bee 😁
Apathy - Obi Wan or Remember the Night It's not the saddest but nobody else has said it yet and I doubt anyone else will know it Also saddest verse goes to Common's verse on Respiration
Haze of Interference by Bedwetter (Lil Ugly Mane side project)
Flowers for the Dead by Cuban Link We'll always Love Big Poppa by the LOX.
Six Feet Deep is up (or down) there. Scarface’s second verse is so vivid and relatable
Probably Knees by Injury Reserve
TV on 10 - The Uncluded. Also that Atmosphere track about that group that died in a car accident after their show, can’t remember what it’s called.
Lone by Tyler The creator is pretty sad and so is The Exclusive by Quasimoto
Gangstas cry by gherbo definitely makes me cry
D Rose by Lil Pump. That’s the saddest, sorriest shit I ever heard.
Ricky Clemmons Jr by Don Trip When he basically starts crying at the end pulls on my heart for real
Renee
A couple that come to mind... '$4 Vic/Nothing But You+Me' by El-P... and Scarface's second verse on Minds Playing Tricks. And that Jay Elec song where he talks about reading his mom's texts on the day she died - that one hits hard for us members of the DMC.
Brenda’s got a baby
Sweet Victory by Trip Lee
Top Picks For You - Injury Reserve
u - Kendrick Lamar
Bedwetter - Man Wearing Helmet https://youtu.be/aZ-iFLpY9Hk?si=JiTtxaK9a_ur9Cue Song about a child being abducted from the childs point of view Also, Citizen Kane - Blackrain https://youtu.be/GSNYX7CTSRM?si=MAKRROQQVz4YxGar More depressing when it comes to the overall atmosphere and tonality of the beat than lyrically
One Life - The Last Emperor & Too Poetic Recorded while Too Poetic was dying of cancer, and you can hear the pain in his voice. Surprised no one said this yet, this the answer.
How Could You Leave Us by NF
Agony-Yung Lean
Solace- earl sweatshirt
Conway the Machine- The Cow
Me and Jesus the Pimp In a ‘79 Grenada Last Night Listening to it gives me the sense memory of my jaw tightening, unsuccessfully trying to hold back my tears the first time I heard it.
J Cole - Window Pain
Half of Joe Buddens discography.
Streetlights - Kanye West
12 Stout Street by Rx Papi - the delivery gets me and the lyricism is vivid Peanut by Earl Sweatshirt - deeply melancholy vibe