Pretty Poetry For Everyday

11 Incredible Rap Poems & Verses

Rap has been called one of the greatest art forms of our time. It is an outpouring of raw feeling that needs a rhythm and cadence for its release. For many people, it is poetry, pure and simple.

If you’re new to rap and its poetic undertones and inspirations, this list is a good introduction. If you’ve been into rap and hip-hop poetry for a while, you may discover new artists or look back on some of your favorites. Below are poems from female rappers, verses from all-time greats, and lyrical lines from new and underrated artists.

Discover the passion and creativity of rap poetry through 11 thought-provoking rap poems and verses. You can either read the artist’s inspiring words or listen to the audio on Youtube.

Rap poem and verses

Poems by All-Time Favorite Poetic Rappers

Here are pieces of hip-hop poetry from some of the most famous rap artists known for their lyrical talents.

1. Be (Intro)
“We got arms but won’t reach for the skies
Waiting for the Lord to rise, I look into my daughter’s eyes
And realize I’ma learn through her
The Messiah might even return through her
If I’ma do it, I gotta change the world through her.
When drunk nights get remembered more than sober ones
Walk like warriors, we were never told to run
Explored the world to return to where my soul begun
Never looking back or too far in front of me
The present is a gift, and I just wanna be”
—Common

2. Sometimes I Cry
“If I had an ear 2 confide in
I would cry among my treasured friends
But who do u know that stops that long
To help another carry on
The world moves fast and it would rather pass u by
than 2 stop and c what makes u cry
It’s painful and sad and sometimes I cry
and no one cares about why.”
—Tupac Shakur

3. Deja Vu
“Through the lights, cameras and action; glamour, glitters and gold
I unfold the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe
When I’m deceased, by then the beast’ll rise like yeast
To conquer peace, leavin’ savages to roam in the streets
Live on the run, police payin’ me to give in my gun
Trick my wisdom with the system that imprisons my son
Smoke a gold leaf, I hold heat, nonchalantly
I’m raunchy, but things I do is real, it never haunts me.”
—Nas

4. Thieves in the Night
“Yo, I’m sure that everbody out listening agree
That everything you see ain’t really how it be
A lot of jokers out running in place, chasing the style
Be a lot going on beneath the empty smile
Most cats in my area be lovin the hysteria
Synthesized surface conceals the interior
America, land of opportunity, mirages and camoflauges
More than usually, speakin loudly
Saying nothing, you confusing me, you losing me.”
—Black Star

5. Sing for the Moment
“That’s why we, seize the moment try to freeze it and own it
Squeeze it and hold it, ’cause we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they’ll admit it when we’re gone
Just let our spirits live on
Through our lyrics that you hear in our songs and we can.”
—Eminem

Powerful Female Rap Poetry

Poems from Female Rappers

Women are breaking into rap and poetry with ever-increasing frequency. Here are some that will definitely make you love rap poems.

6. Noname
“He wrote the scriptures for living in all the ways that he couldn’t
Gave up the profit for pennies
No taste in mystery pudding
When labels ask me to sign
So my name don’t exist
So many names don’t exist
Welcome to Inglewood
And the trauma came with the rent
Only worldly possession I have is life
Only room that I died in was 25.”
—No Name

7. Europe is Lost
“Washed off the work and the stress
And now all we want’s some excess
Better yet, a night to remember that we’ll soon forget
All of the blood that was bled for these cities to grow
All of the bodies that fell
The roots that were dug from the earth
So these games could be played
I see it tonight in the stains on my hands.”
—Kate Tempest

8. LSD
“A body of water inside me
Reminds me of oceans, though I’ve never known one
I’m born by a cold one
It’s only a small one compared
To the coast, I prefer it to most
I like water that don’t burn my eyes when they open
I won’t let you criticize
My city like my skin, it’s so pretty
If you don’t like it, just leave it alone.”
—Jamila Woods

Poetic Rap Verses

Poetic Verses from Emerging Rap Artists

What are the best poems from up-and-coming rap and poetry artists? Here are some of our favorites.

9. 2020
“Bite the bullet, you can see the stains on my teeth
Treat the beat like the battlefield, call me Kubla Khan
I’m on the sun, I don’t know what planet you’ve been on
She my moon, I’m her stars, hold me down while I’m gone
She’s at peace, I’m at war, together we make hip hop.
Up while the city sleeps, I don’t need to peep watch
Tick-tock, count down to when the beat drop
It’s just us now, cut the loose strings
Turn the lights down and let your mood swing
Heart race to the finish as we shed clothes
Let go of the ego, makin’ your head grow.”
—Sol

10. Cat D
“Whenever I pass a shop with reflective windows
I slow down, I let a man pass
But here’s the problem with second-hand cars
You don’t know what they’ve been through, just like people
Some people might look like a Bugatti yeah
But don’t get too happy
Cause they like to move scatty
I call them youths Cat D
Maybe the numbers are good
But it’s all messed up under the hood
And anyone can look good with the light off
When you’re blind to the fact it’s a write-off.”
—George the Poet

11. Doomsday
“Keep the magic
In the palm of my hand
Just young Houdini
Pass the piff or pass poutine
Daily questions in routine
Of a fiend
Addicted to dreaming
Hold up now you are scheming
I don’t spazz out when I see these greens
I only spazz out when when the jazz rings loud.”
—WebsterX

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