Therefore, when rappers openly discuss drug use or display addictive behaviors, it can have a harmful impact on their impressionable fan base. Tragically, alcohol rehab DMX’s life was cut short after he suffered a heart attack in April 2021, which was attributed to a drug overdose. His death was a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of addiction. “This is alarming, because young children are exposed to these messages. I don’t think this is a story we as a society want them to absorb.” Of the 38 most popular rap songs between 1979 and 1984, only four (11 percent) contained drug references. By the late 1980s, that increased to 19 percent and by 1993, to 69 percent.
How Effective Is Drug Rehab: Exploring Treatment Options and Outcomes
Eminem, also known as Marshall Mathers, is one of the most successful rappers in history. Despite his fame and accolades, Eminem has had a well-documented struggle with prescription drug addiction. To better understand the grave reality of drug addiction in the rap industry, it is helpful to examine some real-life cases. In this section, we will delve into the stories of DMX, Mac Miller and Eminem.
These Are the Drugs Influencing Pop Culture Now
- The toxicology report revealed that the death resulted from a mix of fentanyl and ethanol.
- His battle with substance abuse nearly cost him his life, but he eventually sought help and entered rehab to overcome his addiction.
- Take a look at this list and find out which of your favorite rap stars abstain from drugs and alcohol.
- Drug addiction is a complex issue that affects individuals from all walks of life, including rappers in the music industry.
What we haven’t done is reckon with an ascendant crop of pharmaceuticals — some legal, some semi-legal, some illegal — that are now routinely referenced in works of art. From Xanax to Adderall to Percocet to the codeine-cough-syrup concoction “lean,” there’s a medicine cabinet’s worth of drugs that are influencing, inspiring, beguiling, and, in some cases, destroying artists. We may have a good sense of the artistic reputation of, say, booze — from its effects (getting drunk) to its notable laureates (Cheever), but what is the artistic connotation of lean? It’s worth asking, given that 33 percent of the rap songs that reached the top ten of Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart in 2017 mentioned this drug. Here, we attempt to decipher the cultural meaning of a new generation of intoxicants, alongside a few familiar mainstays. More artists have opened up about mental illness, which often co-occurs with addiction.
The Impact on Fans and Young Listeners
Since the beginning of his career, Snoop Dogg has made references to getting high in a collection of songs. One of his most successful tracks, “Gin and Juice,” includes lyrics about smoking “indo,” a slang term for marijuana. Recently there has been a noticeable shift in the mindset of some https://levelklinika.hu/cirrhosis-symptoms-and-causes/ MCs when it comes to self-medicating on opiates. These days, prescription drugs seem to be a part of the rapper starter kit. While, for the most part, drug use in hip-hop has never been taboo (meaning you can’t totally blame this on the kiddos), the promotion and use of drugs of the highly addictive nature is at an all-time high.
- In May, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram addressed the public safety issue of the deadly drug surge.
- It is important to note that drug addiction does not discriminate and can affect rappers from all backgrounds and levels of success.
- Wayne wasn’t exactly creating a trend or new reality on “I Feel Like Dying,” but the candid approach was certainly ahead of its time.
The pressure to stay relevant, the constant scrutiny, and the grueling schedules can take a toll on the mental and physical health of artists. Unfortunately, some turn to drugs rappers on drugs as a coping mechanism or as a means of enhancing their creativity. This is particularly prevalent in the rap industry, where the use of substances has been normalized and even glamorized to some extent. To break the stigma, it is essential to challenge common misconceptions about drug addiction.
Hip-Hop and Drugs: How Prominent Rappers Lose Their Lives For The High
Despite this, African-Americans, who account for the majority of mainstream rap artists, largely do not seek treatment. This may be due to socio-economic factors or distrust of the U.S. health care system. His brothers sold crack and were frequently incarcerated, and his mother and sisters endured sexual abuse. Before his death from a suspected overdose in 2017, Lil Peep talked about his depression in an interview with Pitchfork. The rapper and YouTube star said that he moved to California to distance himself from the people and places that led to his mental illness. But he continued to battle depressive thoughts, including suicidal ideations.