The meaning of Thanksgiving can symbolize something completely different depending on how a person has experienced the holiday in their lifetime. If you grew up poor, chances are your memories of Thanksgiving aren't so fond based on lean years of celebrating the fourth Thursday of November.
The same can be said for rappers. Many of them have referenced the holiday in their rhymes, and the outcome always seems to take a different turn. Whether it be Kanye West reminiscing on a relative, DMX remembering the tough times of his youth, or Quavo flipping a witty metaphor about drugs, Thanksgiving takes on a new connotation, for better or worse. Here are 20 Times Rappers Have Rapped About Thanksgiving.
“So how we livin'/Like a turkey on Thanksgiving or like Robin Givens?” —Big Daddy Kane
Song: Big Daddy Kane “Another Victory” (1989)
“I mean really, how you think I'm livin'? On the strength I'm livin' like it's Thanksgiving/So yo, whassup turkey, tryin' to jerk me?” —King Tee
Song: King Tee “At Your Own Risk” (1990)
“Times are hard in the ghetto, I gotta steal for a living/Eating turkey-flavored Now and Laters for Thanksgiving.” —DMX
Song: DMX “Born Loser” (1993)
“Gobble gobble, from the incision/Stuff that b***h and it ain't Thanksgiving.” —Ice Cube
Song: Ice Cube “2 N the Morning” (1994)
“You just working with the scraps you was given/And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving.” —2Pac
Song: 2Pac “Dear Mama” (1995)
“Sling skins for a living, my name ain't November/This ain't Thanksgiving, you ain't Michael Bivins.” —The Notorious B.I.G.
Song: The Notorious B.I.G. f/ Lil' Cease “Can I Get Witcha” (1999)
“They call it Thanksgiving, I call your holiday 'hell-day'/'Cause I'm from poverty, neglected by wealthy.” —Nas
Song: Nas “What Goes Around” (2001)
“Now that you're gone, it hit us/Super hard on Thankgiving and Christmas, this can't be right.” —Kanye West
Song: Kanye West “Family Business” (2004)
“I ain't giving in, you're gonna just sit there/In one f***ing place finnickin' til next Thanksgiving and/If you still ain't finished it I'll use the same s**t again.” —Eminem
Song: Eminem “My Mom” (2009)
"F*** a turkey on Thanksgiving/N***as lucky to get ham.” —Danny Brown
Song: Danny Brown “New Era” (2010)
“Might be a holiday/I'mma pull the bacon biscuit/Pockets got a lot of stuffing/Thanksgiving.” —RiFF RAFF
Song: RiFF RAFF “Cool Cup” (2011)
“Lies on the lips of a priest/Thanksgiving disguised as a feast.” —Jay Z
Song: Jay Z and Kanye West f/ Frank Ocean “No Church in the Wild” (2011)
“When a hater sticks to you like mud on a cleat/Thanksgiving with the birds drugs for a feast.” —Meek Mill
Song: Rick Ross f/ Meek Mill “No Church in the Wild” Freestyle (2012)
“Brand new crib I'm paintin' it, half a mil just paid for it/No Thanksgiving paradin' this, but we marchin' like the Saints came in.” —Mac Miller
Song: Mac Miller f/ Cam'ron “Ignorant” (2012)
“And hey, ayo, we made it: Thanksgiving/So hey, maybe we can make it to Christmas.” —Kanye West
Song: Kanye West “Bound 2” (2013)
“And when Thanksgiving come around/I ain't tryna bring hoes through to mama.” —Big Sean
Song: Big Sean f/ Miguel “Ashley” (2013)
“My bedroom is the chicken room/I'm eating like it's Thanksgiving fool.” —Gucci Mane
Song: Gucci Mane f/ Young Thug “Miracle” (2013)
“Baking soda, YOLA whipping/Ain't no turkey on Thanksgiving.” —Jay Rock
Song: Kendrick Lamar f/ Jay Rock “Money Trees” (2013)
“Naked b***hes in the kitchen sniffin' off of dishes/Got them Thanksgiving turkeys, Quavo sellin' whole chickens.” —Quavo
Song: Migos “Wrist Game” (2013)
“I'm from the real streets, and I call it the Lam/No Thanksgiving, but I'mma go ham.” —Lil Durk
Song: Lil Durk “Times” (2013)
