Hip hop is more than just a genre. It’s a culture and a form of expression for people of all backgrounds.
These days, money, drugs, and depression are common themes in hip-hop music. But a few rap legends like Tupac, Eminem, and Lil Wayne have also written some genius-level verses about happiness in life.
Such lyrics give us an insight of how our favorite rappers viewed happiness and how they believed one could achieve it. Let’s take a look at some of the best hip-hop quotes about happiness in life:
Tupac Quotes On Happiness
1.) “Everybody’s at war with different things, I’m at war with my own heart sometimes.” – Tupac
2.) “Life is a wheel of fortune and it’s my turn to spin it.”– Tupac
3.) “Even tough you-re fed up, you gotta keep your head up.” – Tupac
4.) “Remember one thing Through every dark night, there’s a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it get, stick your chest out. Keep your head up, and handle it.”– Tupac
5.) “My mama always used to tell me: if you can’t find something to live for, you best find something to die for.” – Tupac
6.) “Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.” — Tupac
7.) “For every dark night, there’s a brighter day.” – Tupac
8.) “You gotta be able to smile through the bullshit.” – Tupac
9.) “Forgive but don’t forget girl, keep ya head up. And when he tells you you ain’t nothing don’t believe him, and if he can’t learn to love you, you should leave him.” – Tupac
Drake Quotes On Happiness
10.) “The worst feeling is feeling unwanted by the person you want the most.” – Drake
11.) “One day you’re gonna remember me and how much I love you… then you’re gonna hate yourself for letting me go.” – Drake
12.) “Live for today, plan for tomorrow, party tonight.” — Drake
13.) “Jealousy is just love and hate at the same time.” – Drake
14.) “Life can always change, you have to adjust.” – Drake
15.) “We always ignore the ones who adore us, and adore the ones who ignore us.” – Drake
16.) “Some nights I wish I could go back in life / Not to change shit, just to feel a couple things twice.” – Drake
17.) “When people treat you like nothing, you begin to feel like nothing.” – Drake
18.) “I live for the nights I can’t remember with the people I can’t forget.” – Drake
19.) “I like when money makes a difference but don’t make you different.”– Drake
Related: Drake’s Net Worth and Interesting Facts
Eminem Quotes On Happiness
20.) “The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride and nothing is guaranteed.” – Eminem
21.) “I can see you’re sad even when you smile, even when you laugh I can see it in your eyes.”–Eminem
22.) “I didn’t have nothin’ going for me… school, home… until I found something I loved, which was music, and that changed everything.” –Eminem
23.) “You’ve got enemies? Good, that means you actually stood up for something.” – Eminem
24.) “You can make something of your life, it just depends on your drive.” – Eminem
25.) “It feels good to have your work respected again.” – Eminem
26.) “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
27.) “Throughout my career, I fed off the fuel of people not being able to understand me.” – Eminem
28.) “Behind every successful person lies a pack of haters” ― Eminem
29.) “Sometimes you just gotta let s*** go and say ‘to hell with it’ and move on.” – Eminem
30.) “I took my bruises and my humps, fell down and got right back up” – Eminem
Lil Wayne Quotes On Happiness
31.) “Women are the most beautiful yet difficult beings known to man.” – Lil Wayne
32.) “If you don’t love me somebody else will.” – Lil Wayne
33.) “Surround yourself with love, not friends.” – Lil Wayne
34.) “Love me or hate me, I stay hate free. They say we learn from mistakes well that’s why they mistake me.” – Lil Wayne
35.) “Never apologize for what you feel. It’s like apologizing for being real.” – Lil Wayne
36.) “Never apologize for what you feel. It’s like apologizing for being real.” – Lil Wayne
37.) “I remember the love right after the fights. You can’t tell me you don’t remember those nights.” – Lil Wayne
38.) “They say love is the key. Somebody changed the lock.” – Lil Wayne
39.) “I used to love here, f*** it, I still do. ‘Cause love never dies, but it can kill you.” – Lil Wayne
Related: Lil Wayne’s Net Worth and Interesting Facts
Kanye West Quotes On Happiness
40.) “I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem, or use my arrogance as a steam to power my dreams.” – Kanye West
41.) “Never stop fighting no matter what anyone says. If it’s in your gut, your soul, there’s nothing, no worldly possession that should come between you and your expression.” –Kanye West
42.) “Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud.” – Kanye West
43.) “Memories have to be our most painful blessing.” – Kanye West
44.) “If you admire someone, you should go ahead and tell them. People never get the flowers while they can still smell them.” – Kanye West
45.) “Living well eliminates the need for revenge.” – Kanye West
50 Cent Quotes On Happiness
46.) “I love you like a fat kid loves cake.” – 50 Cent
47.) “If it ain’t making me money, making me better or making me happy… ain’t making time for it.” – 50 Cent
48.) “Sunny days wouldn’t be so special, if it wasn’t for rain. Joy wouldn’t feel so good, if it wasn’t for pain.” – 50 Cent
49.) “I’m the type to swallow my blood before I swallow my pride.” – 50 Cent
50.) “I’ll be your best friend, if you promise you’ll be mine.” – 50 Cent
Jay-Z Quotes On Happiness
51.) “They say you can’t turn a bad girl good. But once a good girl’s gone bad, she’s bad forever.” – Jay Z
52.) “Only God can judge me, so I’m gone, either love me or leave me alone.” – Jay Z
53.) “I love what I do, and when you love what you do, you want to be the best at it.” – Jay-Z
54.) “Remind yourself, nobody’s built like you. You design yourself.” – Jay Z
55.) “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Because your character is what you really are. While your reputation is what others merely think you are.” – Jay Z
Snoop Dogg Quotes On Happiness
56.) “Sorry it had to end this way but uh, it is what it is.” – Snoop Dogg
57.) “If it’s flipping hamburgers at McDonald’s, be the best hamburger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do you have to master your craft.” –Snoop Dogg
58.) “You’ve got to always go back in time if you want to move forward.” – Snoop Dogg
59.) “Sometimes if you’re lucky, someone comes into your life who’ll take up a place in your heart that no one else can fill.” – Snoop Dogg
60.) “Well, hip hop is what makes the world go round.” – Snoop Dogg
61.) “You might not have a car or big gold chain, stay true to yourself and things will change.” – Snoop Dogg
Chris Brown Quotes On Happiness
62.) “People who make mistakes and learn from them are role models too. I’m just happy to inspire growth and positivity.” – Chris Brown
63.) “It’s hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember.” – Chris Brown
64.) “Everywhere that I’ve been, the only thing I see is beautiful people.” – Chris Brown
65.) “Never let a couple of good memories make you move backwards. Look ahead and move on.” – Chris Brown
66.) “Never assume you know what’s going on in someone’s life unless you heard it straight form the source.” – Chris Brown
67.) “If I had the moment, I’d capture that moment and you’d be right next to me.” – Chris Brown
68.) “You start to live when a moment feels like a lifetime.” – Chris Brown
69.) “Follow your dreams, just make sure you have fun too.” – Chris Brown
Related: Chris Brown’s Net Worth and Career
Kendrick Lamar Quotes On Happiness
70.) “Live your life, live it right. Be different, do different things.” – Kendrick Lamar
71.) “Life will put many red lights in front of you, but sometimes we must push on the gas and trust God.” – Kendrick Lamar
72.) “If God got us, then we gon’ be alright.” – Kendrick Lamar
73.) “Take advantage. Do your best, don’t stress. You was granted everything inside this planet, anything you imagine, you possess.” – Kendrick Lamar
74.) “My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip hop.” – Kendrick Lamar
75.) “So the next time you feel like the world’s about to end, I hope you studied, because he’s testing your faith again.” – Kendrick Lamar
76.) “Look inside my eyes and tell me you see a warrior.” –Kendrick
Wale Quotes On Happiness
77.) “I like the person that you are, but I’m in love with the person that you have potential to be.” – Wale
78.) “Ambitious girl, you just wanna win and you’d rather chase your dreams, then to try chase these men that try to chase these skirts, that try to chase these shots with flavors that ain’t even as sweet as her.” – Wale
79.) “If I woke up tomorrow and didn’t have a dolla, as long as I have my heart, I can get it all over.” – Wale
80.) “Ice melts into rain, love turns into pain. Here I go again, falling in love again.” – Wale
81.) “Rather lose love than to move on never knowing what it felt like.” – Wale
Mac Miller Quotes On Happiness
82.) “Sometimes it’s hard to pick right from wrong. The best thing we can do is go with our heart, and hope it all goes well.” – Mac Miller
83.) “No matter where life takes me. Find me with a smile.” – Mac Miller
84.) “Kept breaking promises you said you would keep, so you can leave a message at the beep.” – Mac Miller
85.) “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
86.) “Something ’bout the pain makes me want more… done a lot of drugs, never felt like this before.” – Mac Miller
87.) “The life you live is more important than the words you speak.” – Mac Miller
Kid Cudi Quotes On Happiness
88.) “The sooner you realize things will never be the same, the sooner you can move on.” – Kid Cudi
89.) “If you can’t do what you imagine, then what is imagination to you?” – Kid Cudi
90.) “‘I am happy’. That’s just the saddest lie.” – Kid Cudi
91.) “I’m on the pursuit of happiness. I know everything that shines ain’t always gold. I’ll be fine once I get it, I’ll be good.” – Kid Cudi
92.) “Living life is a choice. Making a difference in someone else’s isn’t.” – Kid Cudi
93.) “My life, my choices, my mistakes, my lessons, not your business.” – Kid Cudi
94.) “People say that bad memories cause the most pain, but it’s actually the good ones that drive you insane.” – Kid Cudi
Rick Ross Quotes On Happiness
95.) “How many people you bless, is how you measure success.” – Rick Ross
96.) “Everyday is a new opportunity to reach that goal.” – Rick Ross
97.) “Forget yesterday, live for today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” – Rick Ross
98.) “Regardless of how it goes down, life goes on.” – Rick Ross
Machine Gun Kelly Quotes On Happiness
99.) “Cause whatever you love can be taken away, so live like it’s your dying day.” – Machine Gun Kelly
100.) “You see my tears, in the rain underneath it all, we’re just the same.” – Machine Gun Kelly
101.) “Life is too short to live the same day twice. So each new day make sure you live your life.” – Machine Gun Kelly
102.) “Why do we try so hard to fit in, when we were born to stand out?” – Machine Gun Kelly
Nas Quotes On Happiness
103.) “Trust your own judgement, live with it and love it.” – Nas
104.) “Life’s a b****, but god forbid that b**** divorce me.” – Nas
105.) “You have to keep your vision clear, cause only a coward lives in fear.” – Nas
106.) “What do you base your happiness around? Material, women, and large paper? That means you’re inferior, not major.” – Nas
107.) “Nothing easy is worth anything.” – Nas
108.) “If you’re scared to take chances, you’ll never have the answers.” – Nas
109.) “Everything will eventually come to an end. So try to savor the moments, cuz time flies, don’t it? The beauty of life is to make it last for the better. Cuz nothing lasts forever.” – Nas
Wiz Khalifa Quotes On Happiness
110.) “Good things come in good time.” – Wiz Khalifa
111.) “Don’t let the sadness from the past and the fear of the future ruin the happiness of the present.” – Wiz Khalifa
112.) “You don’t need too many people to be happy. Just a few real ones who appreciate you for who you are.” – Wiz Khalifa
113.) “Worrying is stupid. It’s like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain.” – Wiz Khalifa
114.) “A man who treats his woman like a princess is proof that he has been born and raised in the arms of a queen.” – Wiz Khalifa
Busta Rhymes Quotes On Happiness
115.) “My making it is a combination of grinding, grinding, grinding, and being lucky enough to finally get a shot.” – Busta Rhymes
116.) “Funny how the love be fake, but I ain’t stressing. Thankful for the love that’s genuine, appreciate the blessing.” – Busta Rhymes
117.) “I have no trouble being a good dude because that’s what I am” — Busta Rhymes
Childish Gambino Quotes On Happiness
118.) “What I wanna know is why I never fit in right, like a fat dude getting on a packed flight.” – Childish Gambino
119.) “I’ll give you all of me until there’s nothing left.” – Childish Gambino
120.) “There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don’t know how.” – Childish Gambino
121.) “Being happy is the goal, but greatness is my mission.” – Childish Gambino
122.) “Whenever you need my help, I will hold you down.” – Childish Gambino
123.) “I wanted you to know, whenever you are around, can’t speak, I can’t speak.” – Childish Gambino
Biggie Smalls Quotes On Happiness
124.) “If you don’t love yourself, I’ll make you see your own heart.” – Biggie Smalls
125.) “Damn right I like the life I live, cause I went from negative to positive.” – Biggie Smalls
126.) “Learn to treat life to the best, put stress to rest.” – Biggie Smalls
127.) “Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis. When I was dead broke man I couldn’t picture this.” – Biggie Smalls
128.) “We can’t change the world until we change ourselves.” – Biggie Smalls
Andre 3000 Quotes On Happiness
129.) “Everyone has an addiction. Mine happens to be you.” – Andre 3000
130.) “Asking what happened to the feeling that her and me had, I pray so much about it, need some knee pads. It happened for a reason, one can’t be mad.” – Andre 3000
131.) “I’ve learned that I’m most powerful when I’m doing my art.” — Andre 3000
132.) “I love who you are, I love who you ain’t.” – Andre 3000
T.I Quotes On Happiness
133.) “Some of y’all are not where you want to be in life. Yet you party every weekend. What exactly are you celebrating?” – T.I
134.) “Never mind what hater’s say, ignore ’em till they fade away.” – T.I
135.) “Stop lookin’ at what you ain’t got, and start being thankful for what you do got.” – T.I
136.) “God will take you through hell, just to get to heaven.” – T.I
137.) “I’m going to always rise above the doubt that may exist about me.” – T.I
J. Cole Quotes On Happiness
138.) “We ain’t picture perfect but we worth the picture still.” – J. Cole
139.) “Take a chance, because you never know how perfect something can turn out.” – J. Cole
140.) “To appreciate the sun, you gotta know what rain is.” – J. Cole
Final Thoughts
All of these quotes and sayings carry essential lessons on what happiness means and how you can receive joy from the little things in life. Many of these quotes also serve as great mottos and captions for pictures.
If you have a friend who’s suffering from loss or going through a rough patch in life, share these saying and quotes to motivate them to appreciate their blessings and practice gratitude in their everyday life.
