30 Rapper Quotes to Motivate You to Keep Grinding

Rap and hip hop may be seen by many just as street music. The genre has been demonized by its association with gang violence and has often been represented by questionable characters. But even so, we can’t overlook the fact that there are a lot of rappers out there who inspire and motivate us with their powerful lyrics and hypnotizing beats.

Just like any other form of art, rap is a representation of the artist’s personal experiences and emotions. A representation of what living in a rough environment really means and an expression of the grit that a tough life demands.

Maybe not all rappers make for excellent role models, but a lot of them deliver valuable life lessons through their songs. Besides, the confidence and boldness of these artists is infectious. Whether you are a fan of this music genre or not, you’ll definitely find a lot of wisdom and inspiration behind the following rapper quotes.

Here are 30 rapper quotes to motivate you to keep grinding:

Even though you’re fed up, you got to keep ya head up.

TUPAC SHAKUR (more Tupac Shakur quotes)

Trust your own judgement, live with it and love it.  

NAS

Forget yesterday, live for today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.  

RICK ROSS

You’ve got enemies? Good, that means you actually stood up for something.  

EMINEM (more Eminem quotes)

They’re gonna try to tell you no, shatter all your dreams. But you gotta get up and go and think of better things.  

MAC MILLER

Next time you see a brother down, stop and pick him up, Cause you might be the next one stuck.  

GRAND PUBA

Never become so involved with something that it blinds you. Never forget where you from; someone will remind you.  

DMX

Living well eliminates the need for revenge.  

KANYE WEST

People will love you and support you when it’s beneficial. 

NICKI MINAJ (more Nicki Minaj quotes)

Pay attention to whom your energy increases and decreases around. That’s the universe giving you a hint of who you should embrace and who you should keep away from.  

P. DIDDY

Behind me is infinite power. Before me is endless possibility, around me is boundless opportunity. My strength is mental, physical and spiritual.

50 CENT

The question isn’t do he love ya the question is, do ya love yourself? You give the best advice to your friends and not take it for yourself.

BIG SEAN

Good things come in good time.  

WIZ KHALIFA

Take the first chance that you get, because you may never get another one.  

LIL WAYNE

If people take anything from my music, it should be motivation to know that anything is possible as long as you keep working at it and don’t back down.

EMINEM

Remind yourself, nobody’s built like you. You design yourself.  

JAY-Z (more Jay-Z quotes)

Something I try to instill in others is to just be a good person. It’s a decision you make a million times a day. But if you just keep trying, good stuff comes to you in an ordained way.

CHANCE THE RAPPER (more Chance the Rapper quotes)

My making it is a combination of grinding, grinding, grinding, and being lucky enough to finally get a shot.  

BUSTA RHYMES

You might not have a car or big gold chain, stay true to yourself and things will change.  

SNOOP DOGG

We ain’t picture perfect but we worth the picture still.  

J. COLE

I’m too loyal and too focused to be losing and be hopeless.  

TYGA

Nothing can stop me, I’m all the way up.  

FAT JOE

Sky is the limit… and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want.  

NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

I’m my own competition, I’m competing with myself.  

CARDI B.

When the ideas are coming, I don’t stop until the ideas stop because that train doesn’t come along all the time.  

DR. DRE

Doing it your own way, not having to go exactly by the book to be successful.  

ICE CUBE

Damn right I like the life I live because I went from negative to positive.  

BIGGIE SMALLS

Speak the truth even if your voice shakes.  

IGGY AZALEA

I encourage everyone to pay attention to the issues that matter to you, from jobs and the economy, to education and our schools, to criminal justice reform. Whatever it is that you care about, make sure you use your voice.  

2 CHAINZ

Learn life, before life learn you.  

JADAKISS