7 Rappers Who Are Sober

Hip hop culture heavily promotes alcohol and drugs, from club tracks that endorse "popping bottles" to street anthems that glorify "sipping lean." Some rappers have been vulnerable, exposing the dark side of drug use in their music. Many have penned verses about taking drugs to cope with trauma and depression. Artists including Kid Cudi, Big K.R.I.T., Joe Budden, and Macklemore have discussed the dangers of addiction, sharing their own experiences.

J. Cole’s KOD album even explored the severity of drug abuse and addiction. Unfortunately, drug use in hip hop is nothing new, as we have lost talents like Pimp C, Mac Miller, and Juice WRLD to overdoses. As a result of the toll that addiction can take on an individual, many rappers have become sober and are inspiring others to do so as well. This is a list of rappers who are sober and recovering from former addictions.

Eminem’s struggle with addiction is well-documented. He rapped about drug use on his first few albums, but it was not until after 2004's Encore that he sought help. His 2009 album, Relapse, was a direct result of a relapse following the death of his best friend, rapper Proof. After becoming sober, Eminem reemerged with Recovery, his incredibly successful seventh album chronicling his journey to sobriety. It was a deeply personal album that separated him from his Slim Shady alter ego. It made for his most mature and thoughtful album. On the hit single “Not Afraid,” Eminem raps, “It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me.” The hip hop icon celebrated his 15th year of sobriety earlier this year. He has since helped his fellow rappers with their addictions.

Royce Da 5’9”, Eminem’s fellow Bad Meets Evil partner and former Slaughterhouse signee, went through his own struggles with alcoholism.  The Detroit lyricist has rapped about his addiction and recovery in his music. On “To Me, To You,” he recalls when he got pulled over for drunk driving, taking “the breathalyzer out of the cop’s hand and trying to drink it.” Royce’s father was addicted to drugs, which he reveals in the heartbreaking “Cocaine.” On the song, he tells his dad, “I'm proud to say that I'm an addict who inherits your pain.” In interviews, Royce Da 5’9” has discussed how Eminem supported his rehabilitation and how he has bettered himself as a result. Royce has been sober since 2012.

During the gap between his 2014 debut, Cilvia Demo, and 2016’s The Sun’s Tirade, Isaiah Rashad was dealing with an addiction to pills and alcohol. His addiction was severe to the point where he admitted he was almost dropped fromhis label, Top Dawg Entertainment. Isaiah Rashad’s alcoholism continued after The Sun’s Tirade, resulting in an even longer gap between albums before eventually quitting drinking and smoking in 2019. After spending time in rehab, his third album, 2021’s The House is Burning, was recorded completely sober.

Kendrick Lamar is one of the few rappers on this list that does not indulge in substances. His decision to abstain from drugs is based on an experience with cocaine-laced marijuana that he detailed in his song “m.A.A.d. city.” He raps, “And they wonder why I rarely smoke now, imagine if your first blunt had you foaming at the mouth.” Unlike fellow Black Hippy members Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q, Kendrick rarely raps about drugs in his music. When he has, the songs have been cautionary tales of drug usage, such as the pressures of drinking on “Swimming Pools (Drank)” or his choice to not smoke on “Mother I Sober.”

Like Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples has avoided taking drugs and drinking alcohol. The Long Beach, California rapper’s decision to stay sober stems from the traumatic events he witnessed during his childhood. In an appearance on Drink Champs, Vince expressed that he never wanted to get caught with drugs and always wanted to stay alert when growing up in an area filled with gang violence. Additionally, he elaborated that his father was addicted to drugs and did not want to follow the same path. 

Unlike some of his fellow Odd Future members, Tyler, The Creator made a deliberate decision to not smoke or drink. On “Cowboy,” he raps, “Everybody’s sparking but me, and I keep coughing / Can’t keep calm in this spot’s hot box and I’m getting nauseous.” Tyler’s choice to not take substances is partly due to his asthma, and that he does not have any desire to indulge. In an interview with Fantastic Man, he recalled when he told someone to stop smoking in the studio. He further expressed that he has never once wanted to get drunk. 

One of the more recent examples of a rapper opening up about their experience with addiction is Danny Brown. In a recent episode of The Danny Brown Show, he revealed his drinking problem, his experience in rehab, and how it gave him a new outlook on life. Many of his biggest songs had previously promoted drug use, referring to himself as “the Adderall Admiral.” On his podcast, Danny Brown expressed gratitude for his rap career and loyal fanbase. Last month, Brown posted a tweet with a screenshot that marked the milestone of being 90 days sober. The post read, “Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help, it’s never too late to change. If I can do it, anyone can. God is Good.”

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