If there is anything that rappers universally want to get, it’s sky-high stacks of greenbacks, cheddar, Skrilla, cash, dead presidents, wonga, cream, dosh, dollar dollar bills ya!
That’s right, money makes the world go round. And no one is more acquainted with this subject than Hip-Hop artists. Rap is all about keeping it real, and nothing is more real than our quest for cash.
I have put together some of the best rap songs about money of all time to inspire you to bank those fat stacks. You won’t get rich sitting on your ass listening to music, but it might give you some ideas on the best ways to obtain the bag. Let’s do it.
Contents
Top 10 Best Rap Songs About Money of All Time
C.R.E.A.M. by Wu-Tang Clan
Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M, get the money. Everyone uses the term “cream” to signify money. But, it was the Wu-Tang Clan that originally brought this street-slang acronym into existence.
This classic rap song about money was from their first album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, in 1993. It went on to become one of the best Hip-Hop albums of all time. The universal message of cash dictating most parts of our lives was as true then as it is now.
There are nine artists in Wu-Tang…
However, only four cats rapped on “C.R.E.A.M.” Method Man was on the famous chorus hook with other verses from the awe-inspiring Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, and Buddha Monk.
This is the tune that started to make waves in a mainstream sense. And it quickly became a New York City and worldwide Rap anthem for getting cash by spurious means.
Mo Money More Problems by The Notorious B.I.G
Biggies Smalls, AKA The Notorious B.I.G., is known for spitting bars and facts. And nothing is more factual than pointing out how having more money only brings more problems into your life.
When you are poor and living on the harsh streets of Brooklyn, having money seems like the perfect way out. Although that is kind of true, they don’t tell you about the problems that come with having loads of cash. This is the subject that “Mo Money More Problems” addresses in spectacular form.
It might be safe to say…
If Biggie hadn’t made the big time and made all that money, he might still be alive. Nobody tells you about monthly lawyer retainer fees, all the taxes you need to pay, dodgy accountants, and that all your friends will have their hands out expecting a share of your dough.
This classic joint also features a cameo from Puff Daddy and some bars from Ma$e over a funky and up-tempo sample from “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross. This is one of the best rap songs about money of all time.
Money by DR Period
This might not be the most famous rap song about cash, but it’s one of my favorites. “Money” was immortalized when it appeared on an episode of “Breaking Bad.” That brought this song into the mainstream.
It was initially released in 2012 and features Fly Ty. One of the greatest things about this track is the super-catchy chorus hook. It will have you chanting “fast money, fly cars” at the top of your voice while throwing out gang signs.
You won’t be able to get the hook out of your head, so be warned…
It might not have the same commercial success as other money tracks on my list. But the way it makes you feel about getting money makes it just as inspirational. And, if you are one of the few people who has never watched “Breaking Bad,” nobody made the cash quite like Walter White.
Gold Digger by Kanye West
At one point in time, Kanye West was one of the most creative artists in the entire music industry. Today, well… the less said, the better. But, back in the day, when Kanye made an album, everyone took notice.
His production was even more on point than his rhyming, and in many cases, his raps had something to say. “Gold Digger” by Kanye West, featuring Jamie Foxx on the chorus doing his Academy Award-winning Ray Charles impersonation, made this a very successful Rap song about money.
It’s obviously about gold diggers…
But, the way Kanye spun “I Got a Woman” by Ray Charles and made it into something entirely new was mind-blowing at the time. This classic joint was released in 2005 on Jay-Z’s Roc-a-Fella Records from his second studio album, Late Resignation.
The track is essentially a warning to other rappers. Be careful where professional record industry groupies are concerned.
It’s All About the Benjamins by P-Diddy
Sean Combs, also known as P Diddy, and formally known as Puff Daddy, has more names than Biggie had hoes. This classic 1990s New York Hip-Hop jam talked about Diddy’s favorite subject… cash!
This time he brought Lil Kim and The Lox along for the ride. Although some remixes also include cameo raps from The Notorious B.I.G., I prefer the rock remix version of this jam instead of the original. But, everyone to their own.
In case you didn’t know…
The euphemism of “Benjamins” is an ode to 100-dollar bills because they feature Benjamin Franklin’s face. It’s a take on the term “Dead Presidents,” which is another street slang term for money. “All about the Benjamins” means it’s all about the money, and it doesn’t get more real than that.
Also, it’s important to mention that the bars spat on this joint by all the rappers are very impressive and hardcore as hell.
I Get Money by 50 Cent
When you think about 50 Cent, you can’t help but think about money, right? It’s there in his name. Fiddy is all about the cash and has never tried to hide the fact.
“I Get Money” is a 2007 track from his third studio album, Curtis, and sounds similar to his other G-Unit tracks at the time with Lloyd Banks and Tony Yeyo. The track was positioned at #14 in Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Songs of 2007.
It was a massive banger that year…
It samples Cassidy’s “I’m a Hustler” for the hook on the chorus and is a great Hip Hop song all about money that can inspire you to get things done. The powerful and head-snapping snares, along with the thumping kick drum, make this a pounding track that you can’t forget.
It might not be up there with “In Da Club” or “21 Questions” in terms of Fiddy’s mainstream and commercial success. But it is one of the best rap songs about money of all time, and that should be enough.
Hustlin’ by Rick Ross
You’ve got to get your hustle on if you want to make enough cash to get out of the projects. A normal job just won’t give you the cash you need to escape. Just ask prison guard-turned-rapper, Rick Ross.
“Hustlin’” is a street rap classic that talks about what it takes to hustle yourself to riches. Ross has garnered a decent rap career. But this joint is quite possibly his most famous and popular.
It was his debut single in 2006 from his debut album, Port of Miami, and propelled him toward the bright lights of the record industry.
The hook by itself is etched into hip-hop culture…
It is even a main track in the Rockstar Games classic GTA-V. It’s a well known rap song all about getting money and having that hustler’s mentality and street philosophy.
Got Money by Lil Wayne
Let’s not sell Lil Wayne short here. At one time, he was the hottest rapper in the world. His commercial success dwarfs 98% of other rap artists that ever existed.
“Got Money” featuring T-Pain was the third single from Lil Wayne’s third album, Tha Carter III, and it hit the streets like crack cocaine in the 1980s.
At the time…
The epicenter of rap music was moving away from its New York City roots and was planting itself firmly in the dirty south. And artists like Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and Ludacris were all major reasons for the change in sound and style.
“Got Money” was massive when it was released and is easily one of the best money raps ever. The raw vocal delivery on the track, in tandem with the pulsating percussion, is gritty and commercial. All at the same time.
Got Your Money by Ol’ Dirty Bastard
At the turn of the millennia, you just couldn’t get away from “Got Your Money” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard featuring Kelis. And why would you want to? ODB was breaking out as a solo star from the Wu-Tang Clan at the time, and this was the single that shot him toward mainstream prominence.
For sure, “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” and “Brooklyn Zoo” were great. But they didn’t have the same crossover appeal as “Got Your Money.”
With Kelis on the hook…
This 1999 classic from his Nigga Please album pretty much sounds like one of ODB’s hoes who had failed to kick in their coin this week. The tune is lots of fun, and with a chorus like that, people are still singing it today.
It might not be about how to make money, but it’s about how you can use other people to make money for you. And that sounds like a normal day in corporate America to me.
About The Money by T.I. (feat. Young Thug)
Sometimes, we forget just how popular T.I. was back in the 2010s. At the time, he was killing the streets with his smooth rhymes and bodacious flow. He is underrated, in my eyes, but one thing we know about him is he knew how to make money.
“About The Money” by T.I. might not be a tune that immediately springs to mind when we talk about the best rap money songs of all time, but it’s right up there. It was initially released in 2014 from his album, Paperwork, and featured Young Thug.
ATL represent…
T.I. and Young Thug are both from Atlanta, and it just goes to show how the south was running Hip-Hop at the time. Young Thug’s harmonies and vocals breathe life into the track on top of rolling percussion and a super-catchy hook.
This hard-hitting track is all about money, as the name suggests. And, no one during that period made the dough like T.I. However, since those lofty times, T.I. has fallen from grace somewhat but is still believed to have a $20m net worth in 2023. So, it can’t be that bad.
Looking for More Great Hip-Hop and Rap Music?
If so, then check out our thoughts on the Best 90s Hip Hop Songs, the Best 2000s Rap Songs, the Best Hip Hop Songs Of All Time, the Best Birthday Hip Hop Songs, and the Best Sad Rap Songs for more awesome song selections.
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Best Rap Songs About Money of All Time – Conclusion
When rap first appeared on the music scene back in the early 1980s, it was all about culture and reppin’ your neighborhood in New York. But, as soon as record companies saw its commercial value going forward, the industry became all about making money.
To its detriment…
Once LL Cool J, Run DMC, Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane started rocking those massive gold chains, it changed the way that music was made. It became more about commercial success than the art form. A shame in many ways.
Hip-Hop generates more than $10 billion per year. Now, it is more of an industry than music or culture. However, these rap songs about money show that Hip-Hop can still merge fantastic music-making with making money.
When I am down, broke, and need a lift, I pop on one of these classics. And I hope that the Hip-Hop gods will shine on me and grant me a lottery win this week. But I’m not holding my breath.
Until next time, happy listening.
