Hip hop artists full#
I seen nights full of pain, days are the same A jarring inner conflict between anger and sadness is portrayed in Lil Wayne’s song Drop The World (featuring Eminem). Such negative views of men expressing their emotions are seen as a ‘sign of weakness’ however, men under the age of 50 are at an increased risk of taking their own lives and are less likely to seek help when experiencing a mental health crisis. The relationship between mental health and masculinity is complex, as societies sometimes promote narratives like ‘strong men don’t cry’ or ‘his emotions got the best of him’. Hip-hop artists are speaking candidly through their art form, and it may be helping people around the world to acknowledge their own inner struggles.” “Since the genre’s conception almost 50 years ago, hip-hop’s progressive narratives have increasingly spoken up about mental health and there is no denying that it is helping to tackle stigma. Hip-hop has undeniably created a safe space to discuss mental health, say Inkster and Akeem. Hip Hop Psych itself aims to bridge the gap between the medical community and hip-hop culture by making medical information more accessible, developing resources that are relevant and culturally-sensitive, and performing anti-stigma events in settings that range from medical school lectures to nightclubs to prisons. Discrimination, bias, and a lack of cultural competence from health providers can also lead to unmet needs, late presentation of symptoms and poorer quality of care.” “Stigma around mental health issues is prevalent in underserved communities, and is a significant barrier to accessing health services. There are other barriers that prevent vulnerable black youths and young adults from receiving support, too, they say. Underrepresented communities are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems, are more likely to experience worsened mental health outcomes, in part, due to socioeconomic disparities, and are less likely to use mental health services.” “Hip-hop connects with hard-to-reach groups, particularly men within the black community. This might seem an unorthodox article to appear in on a platform of the BMJ - the British Medical Journal - but Sule and Inkster say it – and their work more generally – is aimed at encouraging health professionals to look for new ways to open up conversations about mental health with their patients.
In their article, Sule and Inkster highlight some of the hip-hop artists and songs stretching back to the emergence of the genre in the 1970s that have shone a spotlight on mental health.
“More than ever before, hip-hop artists are publicly acknowledging their mental health issues, promoting anti-stigma campaigns around mental health, and normalising seeking treatment for mental health issues,” they write in BMJ Opinion today. While Psychodrama was an important and justifiably celebrated album, it was not the first time that hip-hop has tackled issues surrounding mental health – and this, say Drs Akeem Sule and Becky Inkster, co-founders of social venture Hip Hop Psych, is what makes the genre such a valuable tool for understanding some of the underlying causes and triggers of mental health problems and tackling the stigma that often goes alongside them. But he showered praise on the album, describing it as “genuinely gripping” and “the boldest album to emerge from UK hip-hop’s renaissance. The Guardian’s music critic Alexis Petridis highlighted the challenging nature of the album, referring to the specific track Lesley, which depicts in harrowing detail the fallout from an abusive relationship, writing: “In a world where artists seem terrified of their audience hitting the fast-forward button… it’s a big ask to confront listeners with an 11-minute rap track, especially when the subject matter is as unremittingly grim as that of Lesley”. The album follows Dave’s therapy sessions, as he discusses his older brothers and the impact that their prison convictions had on him, as well as his struggles with mental health and the challenges facing black working class youths in Britain. Earlier this year, British rapper Dave won the 2020 Brit Award for album of the year for his debut studio album Psychodrama, becoming only the second artist ever to win both this and the coveted Mercury Prize.
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