Rap music varies in topics and themes, depending on the artist, trending topics, and rap style.
But many rap songs allude to making money, having money, not having money growing up, or something about finances.
Also, some are more explicitly about money than others, even including the word “money” in their titles.
Here are 21 of the best rap songs about money.
Top Rap Songs About Money
“Got Money” – Lil Wayne, Featuring T-Pain
“Got Money” is one of many songs from Lil Wayne that either references money or is explicitly all about money.
In this song, Wayne and T-Pain rap and sing about flaunting money at the club with “money showers,” which means spraying money in the air like you just don’t care.
Rich people can do that because they have so much money that throwing it around won’t hurt their pockets in the least bit. So money showers are a true status symbol.
This song epitomizes the phrase, “if you’ve got it, flaunt it!”
“Money in the Bank” – Lil Scrappy, Featuring Young Buck
Lil Scrappy and Young Buck also have a song about money called “Money in the Bank.” In the song, they reference having money not just to flaunt it to the public but also to pick up women at the bar.
This can be seen as social commentary on how women are more likely to talk to you if you have something to offer, such as “money in the bank.” Men often demonstrate this by buying women drinks at the bar, another aspect of their life they reference in the song.
“I Get Money” – 50 Cent
50 Cent’s 2007 “I Get Money” is a banger to this day. Having money is one thing, but getting money constantly because of your hard work and talent is something 50 deems worthy of sharing, and it’s hard to argue with that.
“I Get Money” is one of the best songs about making money and hustling since he used to have to sell drugs in New York City but now can make money through rapping. Because of all his money, he makes the big claim that he runs the city.
“Mo Money Mo Problems” – The Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Mase and Diddy
The 1997 track “Mo Money Mo Problems” has stuck with rap lovers lyrically and practically.
It’s a great song in terms of beat and lyrics, but it is also a practical reminder that money doesn’t get rid of all your problems and can create new difficult ones.
Money — and in their cases, great success and stardom — can cause complicated relationships, lots of pressure, risky behavior, stressful situations, and more.
“A Lot“ – 21 Savage, Featuring J. Cole
21 Savage’s song “A Lot” is a more modern, serious take on the “more money, more problems” idea.
The song addresses the reality that having a lot of money can stir up additional issues, pain, regret, and relational damage. He has a lot of money but also many past and present problems.
The song, and especially the video, also point out that people with money and people with money could be the same people. So people with money should have more empathy for the people without.
“Money Maker” – Ludacris, Featuring Pharrell Williams
Ludacris and Pharrell Williams collaborated on one of the best rap songs about money, called “Money Maker.”
It’s a fun, hype, upbeat tune that’s so fun to dance to. It’s more about shaking your ”money maker” — or in other words, your butt — than money itself, but they still talk about spraying money on the women who do this, e.g., strippers.
You don’t have to be a stripper to shake your money maker, though, and this song will surely make you want to get up and do just that!
“Money Trees” – Kendrick Lamar, Featuring Jay Rock
Kendrick Lamar is known for his authentic, deep songs about money, poverty, hardship, crime, and other realities of his L.A. upbringing.
“Money Trees” is one of his most popular songs where he recalls the early days when he and his boys would daydream about money and what it could do for them.
The draw towards money was so appealing that they would even discuss robbing people for it, especially people who looked like they had a lot of money. Lamar isn’t condoning this behavior but speaking to the truth of their hardships and the repercussions of it.
“$ave Dat Money” – Lil Dicky, Featuring Fetty Wap and Rich Homie Quan
Lil Dicky is a funny rapper who writes humorous and relatable rap songs like “$ave Dat Money.”
As opposed to discussing all the money he has and all the money he can spend on cars, clubs, yachts, etc., he takes a different approach by rapping about how good he is at saving money.
The music video highlights the song well because he borrows people’s things — mansions, V.I.P. spots, yachts, cars, etc. — instead of paying for them!
“Money” – Cardi B
Cardi B’s “Money” is about, you guessed it, money! “Money” is undoubtedly one of the best female rap songs about money.
She raps about how much she loves and needs money, almost worshiping it. Fans appreciate how real she is, and this song is a great example of that. Instead of hiding the fact that she likes all the money she makes, she is very upfront about it.
Nothing — besides her daughter “Kulture” — can compare with her love for money.
“Gold Digger” – Kanye West
“Gold Digger” is one of the best rap and r&b songs about money, as well as one of the most popular songs of the 2000s.
In the song, Kanye West raps about dating a woman he doesn’t want to blatantly call a gold digger but who clearly mainly wants him for his wealth.
The song is comical but has many social commentaries mixed in, like most of Kanye West’s best tracks.
“Cash Money” – Tyga
Tyga has beautiful women in his living room, kitchen and even his swimming pool. Why? Because he’s “paid cash money”, which allows him to fulfil all of his wildest dreams. “Somebody must have heard me when I prayed,” he raps. Originally released on Tyga’s SoundCloud page, “Cash Money” sees the rapper flaunting his lavish lifestyle – but the song isn’t just a flexing anthem.
Cash Money is also the name of Tyga’s former label. He takes multiple shots at the label for their bad business practice and claims that they held him back from achieving his wealth. “Cash Money never paid me but your boy did his thing, still make cash money,” he says.
“Money Keep Coming” – YK Osiris
YK Osiris doesn’t take his success for granted – he’s had to work hard to get himself out of the dire financial situation he used to be in and into the place of success he’s in now. “I earned this shit,” he asserts as he describes all the things he now has: millions in his bank account, a new house, and a flourishing career.
“Money Keep Coming” doesn’t just look at all the great things YK now has though – it also acknowledges where he started. He describes not having enough to eat, not being able to pay his rent, and crashing at his friends’ place. But it was all worth it in the end.
“About The Money” – T.I. ft Young Thug
Two Atlanta rappers team up for this powerful rap anthem. Over a beat from London on da Track, the pair rap about the success they’re now seeing, and how it’s allowed them to be a little more selective in what they give their time to. Essentially, they’re not interested in doing anything unless it’s going to make them money.
“If it ain’t about the money, don’t be blowin’ me up,” raps T.I.
“C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)” ft Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck & Buddha Monk
The third single from the group’s debut album boils down to a helpful acronym: “Cash rules everything around me”. The rappers all share their stories of growing up on the streets, fighting for survival and running drugs to make money.
Even now they’re seeing big success, they’re still fixated on money, a side effect of growing up without it. “C.R.E.A.M” has had a huge influence on a number of prominent rappers, with the song being referenced by the likes of 2Pac, Kanye West and Drake.
“All For Tha Ca$h” – Gang Starr
Gang Starr gives a perspective on money not often heard in rap as he tells a warning tale about the pitfalls of following the money. He describes how money can drive people to betrayal, violent crime, manipulation and worse.
He then launches into a story about a woman who plans with her lover to rob her rich boyfriend. The plan is less than perfect and leads to death and prison time for the parties involved. “All for the cash, man,” Gang Starr reminds us glumly.
“Paid In Full” – Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim talk about the wonderful life that is making money doing what you love. Rakim’s lyrics are full of gratitude for the success he’s seen and the live he’s managing to live. Rather than flexing, he expresses how humbling it is to be “paid in full” for his music. This early hip-hop staple sees the collaborators chatting to each other over the beat and shouting out their agency, record company and management.
“Broke Boi” – Playboi Carti
Playboi Carti doesn’t have time for “broke boys” who shop at the mall and talk about him behind his back. His bank balance means that he doesn’t have to give them the time of day. Some of them might also have a lavish lifestyle, but Carti’s there to remind them that he’s always balling harder. One of Carti’s breakout tracks, ‘Broke Boi’ shows that Carti was already flexing his new lifestyle even early in his career.
“I’m So Paid” – Akon ft Lil Wayne & Jeezy
Akon, Lil Wayne and Jeezy celebrate their large pay checks in this upbeat meeting of hip-hop and R&B. The record allowed Akon to reflect on how far he’d come, from making music about struggling to survive in the ghetto to rapping and singing about driving Italian cars and “doin’ 90 in a 65”.
‘I’m So Paid’ was released in 2008, a period of global economic downturn. This meant that Akon came up against some criticism for releasing a song celebrating his own financial success when so many people were struggling. Akon defended his right to celebrate after all the hard work he’d put in to get to where he was.
“Money Power Respect” – Young Dolph
A delicate piano riff gives way to a furious trap track about the three things most often on Dolph’s mind – money, power, and respect. Dolph talks about how far he’s come, from running drugs out of his mother’s house at fifteen to dominating the rap game and buying cars and diamonds. Now he has the three things he craved as a child. “They ain’t got to like me, but I guarantee they gon’ respect me,” he raps.
“Money To Blow” – Birdman ft Lil Wayne & Drake
Birdman recruits Lil Wayne & Drake to back him up on this flexing anthem. “I am on a 24-hour champagne diet,” he raps. Now that he’s “richer than richest”, he can do pretty much anything he wants to and buy anything that takes his fancy. It doesn’t even matter if he’s wasting money, because he has enough that he never has to care.
“Hustlin’” – Rick Ross
Born William Roberts, Rick Ross took his stage name from an infamous drug kingpin. ‘Hustlin’’ sees him pay tribute to the real Rick Ross and his story of money, excess, danger and running the game. Ross is making big money, but he’s also seeing his men go to jail and trying to hold all the strings of his empire together. His wealth hasn’t come easily.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of old and new rap songs about money, but these are some of the best rap songs about money from the past few decades.
If you’re ever in need of a song that’ll motivate you to make money — or give you a more nuanced perspective on what it’s like to have a bunch of money — be sure to reference this list in the future!
Ivan Yaskey is a Philly-born EDM and synthpop enthusiast and interviewer who recently relocated to beautiful Boston, MA.