 | "The next time you struggle with that devistating feeling of “not good enough,” show yourself some love and try out the following ten empowerment anthems." |
1."Moment of Truth" by Gang Starr
They say it's lonely at the top, in whatever you do
You always gotta watch motherf***ers around you
Nobody's invincible, no plan is foolproof
We all must meet our moment of truth
The sting of betrayal is one of the worst in the world. Anybody who’s been lied to, cheated on, stolen from, especially from someone they gave their trust to, knows it’s not the kind of feeling you can shake overnight. Sabotage can destroy your self esteem, it can make you question your whole reality, it can even lead you to hurt others in hopes of revenge. Gang Starr knows, that’s why they wrote this song. Next time someone tries to lead you down a road of confusion, lying to you about what’s real and what’s not, put on “Moment of Truth” and remember you can always keep it real with yourself.
They say it's lonely at the top, in whatever you do
You always gotta watch motherf***ers around you
Nobody's invincible, no plan is foolproof
We all must meet our moment of truth
The sting of betrayal is one of the worst in the world. Anybody who’s been lied to, cheated on, stolen from, especially from someone they gave their trust to, knows it’s not the kind of feeling you can shake overnight. Sabotage can destroy your self esteem, it can make you question your whole reality, it can even lead you to hurt others in hopes of revenge. Gang Starr knows, that’s why they wrote this song. Next time someone tries to lead you down a road of confusion, lying to you about what’s real and what’s not, put on “Moment of Truth” and remember you can always keep it real with yourself.
2."Shade" by IAMDDB
Baby give me space, yeah, give me time
I don't even stress cause I know you're mine
All these haters out tryna take what's mine
The beat of this song alone should be enough to lift you out of whatever self-hating fog you might be stuck in, but just in case IAMDBB throws in some masterful lyrics to remind you not to trip. There’s something so refreshing about hearing a woman’s voice reclaiming a genre dominated by men for so long, especially when she’s actively challenging years of sexist conditioning. Delete all the songs that depict women as clingy, obsessive b*tches from your playlist and replace it with some IAMDBB, trust me.
Baby give me space, yeah, give me time
I don't even stress cause I know you're mine
All these haters out tryna take what's mine
The beat of this song alone should be enough to lift you out of whatever self-hating fog you might be stuck in, but just in case IAMDBB throws in some masterful lyrics to remind you not to trip. There’s something so refreshing about hearing a woman’s voice reclaiming a genre dominated by men for so long, especially when she’s actively challenging years of sexist conditioning. Delete all the songs that depict women as clingy, obsessive b*tches from your playlist and replace it with some IAMDBB, trust me.
3."The World Is Yours" by Nas
If you want the world
Use your mind
Take control
Feel the strength
Rise from within
If you really want it the world is yours
This one should go without saying. It’s the timeless anthem of the content loner. Nas’s message is simple but so easily forgotten, “the world is yours.” In other words, your life is short and it’s yours to live. You can spend the whole time trying to please others and make sure you’r’e doing it “right,” or you can play this song as you walk away from everything wasting your time.
If you want the world
Use your mind
Take control
Feel the strength
Rise from within
If you really want it the world is yours
This one should go without saying. It’s the timeless anthem of the content loner. Nas’s message is simple but so easily forgotten, “the world is yours.” In other words, your life is short and it’s yours to live. You can spend the whole time trying to please others and make sure you’r’e doing it “right,” or you can play this song as you walk away from everything wasting your time.
4."Pretty Boy Swag" by Soulja Boy
Everybody pay attention
Dis right here is my pretty boy swag,
Pretty boy swag, pretty boy swag, pretty boy swag
If Soulja Boy can have this much confidence, so can you. Anytime, anywhere, this song really puts things back in perspective. There’s no need to hide what makes you happy or pretend to be something you’re not. You know what’s up, so stop sweating the small stuff and start flexing your pretty boy swag.
Everybody pay attention
Dis right here is my pretty boy swag,
Pretty boy swag, pretty boy swag, pretty boy swag
If Soulja Boy can have this much confidence, so can you. Anytime, anywhere, this song really puts things back in perspective. There’s no need to hide what makes you happy or pretend to be something you’re not. You know what’s up, so stop sweating the small stuff and start flexing your pretty boy swag.
5."Everything Is Everything" by Ms.Lauryn Hill
Everything is everything,
What is meant to be will be,
After winter must come spring,
Change, it comes eventually
Lauryn said it herself, she “wrote these words for everyone who struggles in their youth.” The first few notes of this song bring me such relief every time they come on. Sometimes it takes some real poetry to remind you what life’s about. At the end of the day that person who hates you, the person who doesn’t love you back, that person you wish you were, their all made of the same stuff as you! Put this whole album on repeat and wait it out.
Everything is everything,
What is meant to be will be,
After winter must come spring,
Change, it comes eventually
Lauryn said it herself, she “wrote these words for everyone who struggles in their youth.” The first few notes of this song bring me such relief every time they come on. Sometimes it takes some real poetry to remind you what life’s about. At the end of the day that person who hates you, the person who doesn’t love you back, that person you wish you were, their all made of the same stuff as you! Put this whole album on repeat and wait it out.
6."Bad Mf" by Lil B
You can't hang with us
Catch the bus motherf***er
As age old expression goes, there’s no wound some Based God can’t heal. This flow is guaranteed to make you feel like the bad b*tch that you are. Stop resisting the urge to dance and slap this LOUD, anywhere and everywhere.
You can't hang with us
Catch the bus motherf***er
As age old expression goes, there’s no wound some Based God can’t heal. This flow is guaranteed to make you feel like the bad b*tch that you are. Stop resisting the urge to dance and slap this LOUD, anywhere and everywhere.
7. "Bassically" by Tei Shi
Is that what you want?
Like the other boys
Someone you can flaunt
Like the other toys
I’ve always felt like the healing power of screaming deserves more representation. This is an amazing song on it’s own, but it needs your voice to reach its full potential. It’s the perfect beat to drown out all the other noise with and lose yourself in. Scream along with Tei Shi. Scream at your haters. Scream at your mirror. Scream at your wall, and then leave it all in the past where it belongs.
Is that what you want?
Like the other boys
Someone you can flaunt
Like the other toys
I’ve always felt like the healing power of screaming deserves more representation. This is an amazing song on it’s own, but it needs your voice to reach its full potential. It’s the perfect beat to drown out all the other noise with and lose yourself in. Scream along with Tei Shi. Scream at your haters. Scream at your mirror. Scream at your wall, and then leave it all in the past where it belongs.
8."Didn't Cha Know" by Erykah Badu
Didn't cha know, didn't cha know
Tried to move but I lost my way
Didn't cha know, didn't cha know
Stopped to watch my emotions sway
Real ones knew there was going to be some Erykah Badu on this playlist. In many ways, I think she fits the archetype of a guardian angel. Listen to this wise woman’s story and remember, shit happens. Everyone has regrets but all you can do is move forward and keep trying your hardest. It’s okay to take sometime before picking yourself up again, it’s okay to stop and watch your emotions sway.
Didn't cha know, didn't cha know
Tried to move but I lost my way
Didn't cha know, didn't cha know
Stopped to watch my emotions sway
Real ones knew there was going to be some Erykah Badu on this playlist. In many ways, I think she fits the archetype of a guardian angel. Listen to this wise woman’s story and remember, shit happens. Everyone has regrets but all you can do is move forward and keep trying your hardest. It’s okay to take sometime before picking yourself up again, it’s okay to stop and watch your emotions sway.
9."CRZY" by Kehlani
Everything I do, I do it with a passion
If I gotta be a b**ch, I’ma be a bad one
Duh. This is one of the only empowerment anthems on the charts right now that preaches an important lesson: kill them with compassion. Coming from a town local, we can rest assured that this advice comes from a place of love and inspiration rather than hate. Keep doing you and maybe you’ll end up as successful as Kehlani.
Everything I do, I do it with a passion
If I gotta be a b**ch, I’ma be a bad one
Duh. This is one of the only empowerment anthems on the charts right now that preaches an important lesson: kill them with compassion. Coming from a town local, we can rest assured that this advice comes from a place of love and inspiration rather than hate. Keep doing you and maybe you’ll end up as successful as Kehlani.
10. "Only 1 U" by M.I.A.
I’m a lady of rage, with an afro puff
Who else can say the things they feel?
You might not yet be at the place where you can love and honor your contribution to the world, and that’s okay. At the very least though, you have to acknowledge that there is only one you. There’s no point trying to replicate someone else, the world already has that person. Find your purpose and follow your heart! I love ya.
I’m a lady of rage, with an afro puff
Who else can say the things they feel?
You might not yet be at the place where you can love and honor your contribution to the world, and that’s okay. At the very least though, you have to acknowledge that there is only one you. There’s no point trying to replicate someone else, the world already has that person. Find your purpose and follow your heart! I love ya.