Rap Songs That Make you Nostalgic About Things that Probably Never Happened to You

Hip-hop is rooted in struggle and perseverance. So many of the best rap songs ever made tell the individual stories of starting from the bottom and hustling to come out on top—they are stories of struggle, pain, confidence, and determination. These are things we can all relate to, and that's part of the reason hip-hop has spread to suburbs and foreign countries and from street corners to stadiums.

While the themes are universal, the means to relay them are often very specific. Rappers tell their stories by sharing what they know, by drawing from their own life experience and speaking on things that only they've been through. While a kid in the suburbs growing up in the 2000s might not be able to relate to stories of growing up in the ghetto during the '80s, he or she can still be deeply moved by them. There have been plenty of arguments about whether or not you can really enjoy a piece of music when you can't relate, but the best rappers have a way of making this argument seem pointless—you can. You may not be able to connect on the level of someone who's been through the same things, but you can certainly draw from the experience of others and take something away from it. Shit, when done correctly, you can even start to feel nostalgic about things that didn't even happen to you.

Whether you're from Compton or Connecticut, find a good window, corner, cul-de-sac, or stoop, and drift away with these nostalgic rap songs.

Scarface - "On My Block"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Hustling on Scarface's block

The lead single from Scarface’s legendary 2002 album The Fix, the Houston rapper flips a piano sample already soaked in nostalgia as the backdrop to a legendary ode to the block. Detailing both the beautiful and grim aspects of his hometown, he sums it up perfectly at the end of his final verse: “I wouldn’t trade it for the world."

Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans and 112 - "I’ll Be Missing You"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Being friends with Biggie

The second single from Puff Daddy and The Family’s 1997 album No Way Out, “I’ll Be Missing You” is primarily a response to one of the greatest losses the hip-hop community has ever endured, the death of The Notorious B.I.G. Puff Daddy poured his feelings out in two verses over a sample of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and created what is easily one of the highest-selling hip-hop records of all time. We weren't all friends with Biggie, but all fans felt a connection to him through music, and "I'll Be Missing You" makes us all feel like we were there, rocking shows and enjoying the come-up.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Good times with a friend lost too soon

One of the classics from hip-hop’s golden age, this 1992 track from Pete Rock and CL Smooth was written in response to the death of their close childhood friend Troy Dixon. On this track, the legendary duo was able to transform a tragedy into what has become a long-lasting anthem for our lost ones. Even if you haven't experienced the death of a close friend, this song gives you a glimpse into how it feels, and how looking back can be a bittersweet feeling of remembering the good times and reflecting on loss.

Common ft. Kanye West - "The Food"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Growing up in Chicago, breaking bread with thieves and pastors

Common rapping about life in Chicago over a track produced by and featuring Kanye West, utilizing samples from both Sam Cooke and The Chi-lites. This is some Chicago-ass shit. Although the track never received much attention, it remains a bright moment in both Chicago rappers' careers, with Common in top form as a lyricist and Kanye at the peak of his production game in the “soul-sample era” of his career.

Jay Z - "Lost One"

What it makes you nostalgic about: The ups and downs of Jay-Z's rise to fame

The second single from Kingdom Come, Jay Z’s retirement comeback album, “Lost One” is one of the most self-reflective tracks Hova has ever released. Featuring a beautiful stripped down beat from none other than Dr. Dre, Jay uses three verses to break down his ascent into stardom, his relationship with Beyoncé, and then the loss of his nephew Colleek Luckie who tragically died in a car accident.

Lil Wayne - "La La La"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Riding on the handlebars through New Orleans

Before the electric guitar came out, there was a young rapper from New Orleans who won our hearts with undeniable charisma, loyalty to the city he came from, and out-of-this-world lyricism and word play. One of the best examples of this “La La La," a simple yet emotional laid-back beat and Lil Wayne paying tribute to his city.

Danny Brown - "Grown Up"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Defying odds and making it as a rapper

Another nostalgic song that fortunately isn’t about broken relationships or sorrowful upbringings, but rather a celebration of how far one has come. Detroit rapper and Fool’s Gold signee Danny Brown nailed every possible aspect of his 2012 summer single “Grown Up." Featuring a '90s-style throwback beat and one of the best music videos of the past few years, Danny takes inventory of his long overdue successes. We won't all make it as a rapper, but we can all listen to "Grown Up" and feel like, "Look at me now, world."

Ice Cube - "It Was A Good Day"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Ice Cube's best day ever

A smooth-as-silk Isley Brothers' sample and a 23-year-old rapper from the West Coast telling you about his day was all it took to create one of the most nostalgic songs in rap history. Even if we didn't play ball, and even if we didn't grow up in Ice Cube's hood, we can all happily think back to that day when we “fucked around and got a triple-double." When this song plays, we are all Ice Cube back in the day.

2Pac ft. Nas - "Thugz Mansion"

What it makes you nostalgic about: Hanging out in Heaven with Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday

It's odd to feel nostalgic about being dead, but 2Pac makes us do just that with his verse on "Thugz Mansion." He imagines being in Heaven and enjoying a little peace after a life of stress, and he paints a picture so vivid that not only does it let us see his vision, it makes us feel like we've already been there.

Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook
Drinking peppermint Schnapps with Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke
Then some lady named Billie Holiday sang
Sitting there kicking it with Malcolm, 'til the day came