By Jonathan Anthony Burkett
When people argue about hip hop, they often talk as if it only has one side: flashy, aggressive or out of touch. But from the start, rap has also been a music of hope. Some of its most loved records are about surviving, growing up, respecting yourself and lifting the people around you. That tradition never went away, and it may be more needed now than ever.
Where positive rap comes from
Hip hop was born in neighborhoods that had been written off. Young people with very little built a whole culture out of turntables, spray paint, dance and rhymes. That act alone was hopeful. Turning hardship into art is the oldest positive message in the music.
Early on, many artists used the microphone to describe life as it really was. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message" is widely remembered as a turning point, proving rap could be serious commentary as well as party music. Honest description of a problem is often the first step toward changing it.
In the late 1980s, KRS-One and other rappers came together for the Stop the Violence Movement, recording "Self Destruction" to speak out against violence in their communities. Around the same time, groups in the Native Tongues circle, including De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, brought a playful, curious and positive spirit to rap that many listeners still treasure.
The themes that keep returning
You do not need to quote a single line to see the shape of this tradition. Listen across the decades and the same uplifting themes keep coming back:
- Respect and dignity. Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y." pushed back against disrespect toward women and asked listeners to treat each other better.
- Encouragement through hard times. 2Pac's "Keep Ya Head Up" spoke directly to struggling women and single mothers, urging them to hold on.
- Gratitude for family. Songs like 2Pac's "Dear Mama" honored the sacrifices of parents and caregivers.
- Faith and purpose. Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" put spiritual struggle and belief at the center of a mainstream rap hit.
- Self-belief and ambition. Countless records are simply about refusing to quit, chasing a goal and proving doubters wrong.
Notice that none of these songs pretend life is easy. Positive rap at its best is not naive. It looks straight at pain and still chooses hope.
Why it still matters
Music shapes the voice in your head. The songs you play on the way to work, at the gym or late at night become part of how you talk to yourself. If everything on your playlist tells you that nothing matters, it gets harder to believe that your effort matters. Uplifting music does not solve your problems, but it can give you a little more fuel to face them.
Positive rap also matters because of who is listening. Young people still look to hip hop for a picture of what success, strength and manhood or womanhood look like. When artists show that being strong can mean being kind, disciplined, faithful or honest about your struggles, that picture gets bigger and healthier.
And it matters for the culture itself. Hip hop is big enough to hold party records, street stories, love songs and inspirational anthems all at once. Keeping the positive lane alive keeps the whole genre balanced.
I live to inspire, not start the fire.
— Jonathan Anthony Burkett
The new generation of uplifting artists
Today, positive hip hop rarely comes labeled as such. It shows up inside albums that also have club songs and love songs. Artists mix rap with soul, gospel, reggae and pop, and they talk openly about mental health, faith, healing and growth in a way that would have been rare years ago.
Independent artists play a big part. Without needing a major label's approval, they can release songs about whatever matters to them, including perseverance and hope. Jonathan Anthony Burkett is one of them. He describes his music as inspirational hip hop and soul: songs about change, perseverance and never giving up, released on his own label, Upstormed Records.
His catalog follows those themes directly. One Life, featuring reggae artist Ambelique, encourages listeners to appreciate every moment and pursue their dreams. Don't Give Up and Changes speak to pushing through and growing, I Can Only Be Me is about owning who you are, and the album Born To Make It centers on ambition and self-belief.
Jonathan's answer goes back to his teenage years. Tupac Shakur was his favorite artist, and a song about asking the Lord for help to change spoke to him at a time when he was close to giving up. He told his therapist that Tupac's words inspired him “to fight for what I want out of life and to change my ways,” and he wondered why an artist with so many followers would want to be called a thug instead of a motivational leader. It is the same question this article asks.
Build a playlist that lifts you
If you want more positive music in your life, try a simple experiment. For one week, build a playlist of songs that encourage you, whether they are classic conscious records, gospel-tinged rap or new independent artists. Pay attention to how you feel when you press play in the morning.
A good place to start is with songs written specifically to keep you going. Listen to Jonathan's music on Spotify or explore every release on the Music page.
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