One of his earliest childhood memories is watching him and Dr. Dre film the second music video for their single “California Love” with his father at the Compton Swap Meet. Lamar and his family lived in Section 8 housing, were reliant on welfare and food stamps, and experienced homelessness. Despite suffering hardships, Lamar remembered having “good memories” of his childhood that sparked his interest in hip hop music, such as sneaking into his parents’ house parties. Rick James was still an up and coming young funk artist when he released “Mary Jane” as one of his very first singles in 1978. On its surface, the song is a groovy tune about a woman that James is infatuated with. However, ‘Mary Jane’ is a common slang term for marijuana and the song is truly about James’ love for the drug.

Against All Odds: Detroit Man Overcomes Adversity to Empower the Black Community

• Whether we, as individuals, a people and a nation, are prepared to take heed remains to be seen.
• Period.” Joe Budden proclaimed in a 2013 interview with ThisIs50.com.
• It’s odd to think about now, but the folk genre was on the cutting edge of popular music in the 1960s and early 1970s.
• This is an experience felt far more often by black people, who although less likely to be incarcerated themselves are significantly more likely than their white counterparts to be connected to someone who has.

This is about Lamar taking a step into his new life and feeling like he’s obligated to open up more in his relationship. It shows the more positive side of being vulnerable and that not everything has to be negative. As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers. Our concept of the divine is a reflection of how we see ourselves.

• This is about Lamar taking a step into his new life and feeling like he’s obligated to open up more in his relationship.
• While some celebs are now completely sober, others have just avoided certain substances that fell out of their control, and some have never partaken in any substances!
• The Weeknd burst onto the popular music scene in 2015 with a series of hit singles from his album Beauty Behind the Madness.
• The latter, released just months into Donald Trump’s presidency, features a close-up of Lamar alone in a white tee, looking defeated, depressed, possessed.
• As much as Kendrick Lamar’s parents did to provide for him and his siblings, there was little they could do to shelter him from the world outside.

Eminem

On “Otherside,” Macklemore raps about Lil Wayne being a kendrick lamar drugs major influence of his personal codeine addiction. Minus one relapse he’s had with codeine, Macklemore has been clean since August of 2008. He believes kids are brainwashed by the rap music they hear on the radio.

• Use of the drug MDMA surged in popularity in the early 2010s and the trend culminated with this club anthem about the drug, which is frequently nicknamed Molly.
• Throughout his career, Lamar has received 57 Grammy nominations, winning 17, making him one of the most awarded rappers in Grammy history.
• Like the mythological Garden of Eden, the origins of our nation are wrought in a self-deception so deep that strange fruit, it seems, is our destiny to bear.
• Molly was most recently publicized when the rapper Rick Ross spoke of using the drug to sleep with a woman without her permission.
• When he was only 5, Lamar saw a teenage drug dealer get killed in a drive-by shooting in Compton.
• Jada Pinkett Smith opened up about her past drug and alcohol addiction on Red Table Talk.

Rappers Who Don’t Smoke Or Drink

He continued to face challenges into his adulthood, but remained dedicated and was able to achieve being one of the best rappers of our generation. A hero must possess nobility, and  Lamar demonstrates this throughout the course of his life by supporting local schools, political events, and community improvement projects, to name a few. As a result of Kendrick Lamar’s positive efforts, notwithstanding all his obstacles, his altruistic nature has earned him to be endowed with hero accolade. It turns out that there are quite a lot of rappers who don’t touch drugs or alcohol. Many other sober celebrities, including Pharrell Williams and Eminem, also fit the cateogry. Kendrick Lamar credits a childhood impacted by substance abuse for his choice to live sober.

“That’s a scary thing, because you might not come back,” he told Rolling Stone. Despite his legendary artistry, Lamar has been faced with great measures of tragedy through his years. In his 2010 track, “Cut You Off (To Grow Closer),” the rapper touched on the death of his grandmother, who was actively involved in his life as a child and with whom he had shared a great bond. “Ever since grandma died, everyone parted ways / Argue on holidays,” he rapped, in part. This, however, is only one of the many tragedies Lamar has been faced with through the years. The reasons for choosing sobriety are personal, and it’s OK if your reasons are different from those of your friends, or anyone on this list.

He was able to get sober in 2012, and has since opened up about his struggles and how he was able to overcome them. Since then, he has been open about the importance of sobriety and how it has helped him better himself as an artist. It’s fair to say that the genre has a close association with drugs and alcohol. Lyrics are littered with references to the likes of weed, cocaine, alcohol and more and with that comes a lifestyle that can swallow you up if you’re not careful. From before the time, Young’s brother invited him to join his band, he never wanted to do drug or drink.

Today he’s one of the most decorated rap artists of all time, with more than 20 Grammys under his belt. But several years ago, when Kendrick Lamar was a student in the Compton Unified School District, his Sober living house abilities weren’t nearly as obvious. “As a kid, I used to stutter. I think that’s why I put my energy into making music,” Lamar stated in speaking with The New York Times in 2014.

One of the world’s most famous DJs, Harris stopped drinking when he was 24, a move he credits for having saved his career. “My live shows are a million times better now,” he told the BBC. Take a look at this list and find out which of your favorite rap stars abstain from drugs and alcohol. 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. Lamar was introduced to the California Senate by fellow Compton native Senator Isadore Hall III.