From Eminem to Kendrick Lamar, Rappers Who Embraced Sobriety

His recollection is probably not how things actually went down, but I love the image of Pharrell working with Usher, discovering the music of a young T.I., and then hours later passing out in a bathroom. Pharrell’s brain is clearly otherworldy enough on its own to travel to other worlds without any help. Learn about treatment options like inpatient and outpatient rehab by calling our admissions team at for free, confidential, 24/7 support. Despite his absurd and often offensive music, Tyler, the Drug rehabilitation Creator has stated that some things aren’t for everyone, which was a reference to drug use.

Here’s a List of Rappers That Are Proud to Be Sober

He raps about drug use to relate to a specific market but says in his personal life it’s really not for him. The road to addiction treatment can be very challenging, especially with the media glamorizing drug and alcohol use. Though it may seem like drug use is conducive to creativity in the rap world, sober rappers there are several rappers who prove that this is not the case. While many rap artists like to boast about their sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle, it’s landed many in prison, many broken, battered and bruised, and a number even six-feet under. “No to drugs, I never spark it”, Tyler said on the first track of his very first project, Bastard.

Stay Sober: Rappers Who Don’t Smoke Or Drink

Many rappers are known for celebrating drink and drugs, from smoking weed, to sipping lean, to popping Xanax. But there are plenty of rappers who find that life is better without substances. This article will introduce you to some of our generation’s sober rappers. Call them straight edge, call them teetotal – these guys have discovered that alcohol and drugs don’t do them any good. It turns out that some of the most famous and successful rappers of all time don’t drink alcohol or take drugs. Yeah, Young Chop doesn’t rap, but it’s worth noting that the “Hate Being Sober” producer doesn’t smoke weed or drink.

Joey Bada$

Macklemore has struggled with remaining sober his whole life. In a recent interview with MTV, the platinum-selling rapper revealed he developed a drinking problem at the age of thirteen. In his past, oxycontin and syrup have caused him near-death experiences. On “Otherside,” Macklemore raps about Lil Wayne being a major influence of his personal codeine addiction. Minus one relapse he’s had with codeine, Macklemore has been clean since August of 2008.

Kid Cudi

• Arguably the most successful rapper of all time, Eminem has had an incredibly successful career after overcoming a long history of substance abuse.
• The road to addiction treatment can be very challenging, especially with the media glamorizing drug and alcohol use.
• Eminem’s Bad Meets Evil cohort, Royce Da 5’9”, is currently killing the rap game dead sober.
• In a country where overconsumption of alcohol is a problem, veteran politician Hanno Pevkur and rapper Rainer Olbri, stage name Metsakutsu, discuss what life in Estonia is like for them as nondrinkers.
• Word has it that Ice Cold hasn’t touched a mind-altering substance for nearly two decades.

Eminem is one of the most prominent rappers around and has been open about his time in rehab. His drug addiction began in 2002 when he started taking pills for his insomnia. For the next few years, the rapper struggled with addiction to prescription drugs, including Vicodin, Ambien, and Valium.

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Tyler’s straight-edge lifestyle has been a large part of his personality from the very beginning, despite being surrounded by his permanently stoned Odd Future crew 90% of the time. “My father did smoke, and I once calculated the cost of all the cigarettes he’d smoked over his lifetime,” the minister said. “You realize it adds up to the price of a decent mid-range car. Then you might start seeing it in a whole different light — thinking about how much you’ve saved on alcohol and tobacco.”

Tyler, The Creator

Dex has had several legal issues throughout his career and has been arrested a few times. In June 2022, he violated a protective order filed against him by his ex-girlfriend and was subsequently sent to jail. When he was released in September of that year, the rapper reportedly headed straight to rehab in the hopes of finally achieving sobriety.

Kay struggled with drinking and drugs after Cole’s stepfather, Edward, left in 2003 (K.O.D.’s only https://ecosoberhouse.com/ guest features come from his alter ego, Kill Edward, inspired by his stepfather). She eventually got clean and sober, but Cole’s still wary of discussing her in interviews. Eminem has often discussed his struggles with addiction in his music. After nearly dying from an overdose in 2007, the influential rapper has now been sober for nearly fifteen years at the time of writing. In his younger years, Eminem had a serious pill-popping addiction, something which is generally well-known if you’re a fan of the MC.

Writers’ Playlist

“There were instances in my family of what you could describe as alcoholism,” he acknowledged. “My grandfather would leave home for a couple of weeks because he needed to drink, or there were parties at home that sometimes got out of hand or led to scuffles because of alcohol.” This is not an article telling anyone how to live; this is not an article advocating the wisdom or foolishness of different paths. What they have in common is that they are all, by their own account, for now, living sober. And quite evidently they all strongly believe—whatever their varying reasons and circumstances and perspectives and challenges—that sobriety has made life better.