Hip-hop artists often refer to gambling and use terms, metaphors, and allegories associated with it. Today we collaborated with Edward Howarth of DashTickets magazine to bring you some of the most prominent rap tracks that feature gambling activities.
Pokerface — Ghostface Killah
Pokerface opens with commentary from the World Series of Poker and is all about an exciting poker game. Its chorus, however, can be easily applied to everyday life as well, especially lines like “You gotta know how to play your cards, have a mean poker face” and “This is no limit hold ’em, you gotta know when to fold ’em”.
The song is full of poker jargon that can only really be properly understood by players and also heavily references Rounders, which is probably one of the most iconic poker movies in history.
Putting it simply, if you find poker fun and amusing, then this song is perfect for you.
Mo Money Mo Problems — The Notorious B.I.G
As you can guess from the title, Mo Money Mo Problems is all about the weight of responsibility and problems associated with owning huge sums of money, resulting in the key chorus line “It’s like the more money we come across the more problems we see”.
Admittedly, it’s not the most relatable issue, but there is a reason why The Notorious B.I.G. is a rap legend — the track is simply great. The rap video shows a fun night in the casino, while lines like “We don’t play around, it’s a bet, lay it down” establish a gambling mood.
I’m So Paid — Akon feat. Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy
I’m So Paid is all about being amazingly rich and living on the edge, which is the main selling point of the track. It is very 2008, which is good, and it works perfectly as an actual soundtrack to your casino night. An absolute banger for everyone who wants to relax and simply have fun while gambling.
It Was a Good Day — Ice Cube
Photo by Pixabay / Pexels
It Was a Good Day is a deeper track that tells the story of Ice Cube’s perfect day, which consists of getting a call from the girl he had been anticipating for a long time, getting ignored by the police patrol, and no need to use his AK. Not only that, but he also manages to win in craps several times in a row.
While this track is much more nuanced and deep than the previous one on the list and might not be the perfect fit for your gambling session, it still absolutely deserves to be included in the list because of how influential and recognizable it is. Also, Ice Cube’s flow will get stuck in your head for days.
Life Is a Gamble — Big K.R.I.T.
Big K.R.I.T. places a huge emphasis on the risks and dangers of treating life as a gamble. He is rather direct in his lyrics, with lines like “Russian roulette table, I gotta bet safer” and “You gotta know when to fold your cards”. The message is clear and may feel a bit preachy, but the track is still amazing and definitely worth your attention.