Many pop songs are about love, and many rap lyrics are about money. But these days, you can find both genres talking about … student loans.
That’s right. According to a report that analyzed lyrics on Spotify and Genius.com, references to student loans have climbed dramatically since 2001. Most released after 2014, and the later those lyrics are written, the more negative they are — which is understandable, since student loan debt recently surpassed $1.4 trillion.
How much is $1.4 trillion? More than the net worth of Jay-Z and Beyonce ($1.4 billion), Paul McCartney ($1.3 billion), Taylor Swift ($380 million), Lady Gaga ($275 million) and all the other top musicians you’ve ever heard of.
When a financial problem looms that large, it’s only natural that big-name artists will mention it. Here are our favorite 23 songs with student loan lyrics…
The rapper and pop artist who is best known for his suicide awareness anthem, “1–800–273–8255”
He raps about being young and owing money in his 2017 song, “Mos Definitely.” Among the lyrics: “I can’t afford a home ’cause I’m 25 and owe a hundred grand in student loans.”
If you’re in deep like Logic, check out “How to Get Out of Student Loan Debt.”
This song off West’s album Late Registration asks, “Will I make it from the student loans?” Basically, he’s rapping about making enough money from his music to pay off his own student loans.
When a band is as closely rooted to a college as Less Than Jake is, student loan debt is practically a given. The ska band is based out of Gainesville, home of the University of Florida, where the bandmates attended college. All those components come together in this song: “I use my credit card to buy alcohol, student loan spent at the mall, and I may be going broke, but I’m never broken down.”
