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“9 Songs That Thrive Off Being ‘Rich’” features ‘richly-titled’ music courtesy of Maren Morris, Nicki Minaj, and Post Malone among others.

“I got money in the bank / Shawty, what you drank?” While the Lil Scrappy song “Money in the Bank” is a banger, it actually doesn’t appear on this literal ‘rich’ list.  That’s right, all nine songs featured on this list literally have the word ‘rich’ in their song title.  Most of the songs, expectedly, focus on wealth, but some go beyond such shallowness as well.  Artists appearing on 9 Songs That Thrive Off Being ‘Rich’ include Maren Morris, Nicki Minaj, and Post Malone. Prepare to get rich…off the high of the music of course!

 

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1. Nicki Minaj, “Rich Sex”

Ft. Lil Wayne

Queen • Cash Money • 2018

“If you know your pu**y worth a Benz truck / Don’t let homie f**k unless his bands up.”  If you gathered that “Rich Sex” isn’t a ‘family-friendly single’ from Nicki Minaj, you’d be totally correct.  Looking ‘deeper’ into the content, clearly, depth is not the modus operandi.  Nicki Minaj not only thinks a lot of herself (“I ain’t stupid, this $250 on my arm”), but so do these men.  Even so, early into her verse, she makes it clear, “I like money more than dick, n***a, that’s a fact.” Following her chorus (excerpted at the beginning of the review), she drops a repetitive hook: “If you let that broke n***a, f**k, we tellin’.”

Lil Wayne gets into the act on the second verse, as sexed-up as ever.  He kicks the verse off chocked-full of class:

“Lil mama said she only f**kin’ on a rich dick / I c*m in her face and tell her, ‘Now you lookin’ rich, bitch.”

That’s absolutely disgusting. Beyond opening with a ‘bang,’ he continues in similar, sexed-up fashion.  Give him credit for staying true to self. Beyond the unapologetic lyrics and themes, the production bangs with a trap beat and a minimal piano loop.

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2. Post Malone, “Rich & Sad”

Beerbongs & Bentleys • Republic • 2018

“Buy me, love, try to buy me, love / Now I’m alone, ‘Ice Box’, Omarion.” Believe it or not, Beerbongs & Bentleys, the sophomore album by breakout pop-rapper Post Malone has more than just two songs.  “Rockstar” and “Psycho” serve as two dominant hits on an extremely commercially successful album (and critical improvement from his debut Stoney).  Post Malone gets ‘in his feelings’ on the sleekly produced, moody “Rich & Sad.”  Despite the sadness, “Rich & Sad” is in a major key, and there’s still a brightness about it – weird.  The melodic chorus is the biggest selling point.

“Ayy, I would throw it all away / I just keep on wishin’ that the money made you stay / You ain’t never cared about that bullshit anyway / I just keep on wishin’ that the money made you stay.”

As The Beatles once sung, “Can’t Buy Me Love”.

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3. Wiz Khalifa, “Real Rich”

Ft. Gucci Mane

Rolling Papers 2 • Atlantic • 2018

For the most part, Wiz Khalifa (assisted by Gucci Mane), checks off the respective boxes on “Real Rich”, a single appearing on his 2018 LP, Rolling Papers 2. What boxes are checked off exactly? Production, a catchy hook performed by Wiz, and a respectable flow from both rappers.  The content is a bit less ‘rich,’ arguably.  Wiz flexes on the first verse, as well as dismisses the possibility for a girlfriend: “Ain’t got time for a girlfriend, telling that bitch that I ain’t got no feelings.” That’s really kind…  Gucci Mane proclaims himself to be “A country-ass, Beverly hill-billy” on the second verse, bragging about the perks of being a “Superstar, Ed Sheeran.” Oh brother. Neither rapper lies about being rich, though if were to examine their transcendence beyond the wealth, well, “Houston, we have a problem.”

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4. Mansionz, “Rich White Girls”

Mansionz • Island • 2017

What happens when two underappreciated, incredibly talented musicians collaborate together? Fire.  Mike Posner and blackbear collaborate as mansionz, an eclectic group formed in 2016 encompassing hip-hop, pop, and R&B.  Their self-titled debut arrived in 2017, though arguably, it didn’t receive its just due.  Was that because of an infectious, if shallow song like “Rich White Girls?” Blackbear nails the chill, yet blunt chorus, which ranks among the most memorable of Mansionz. 

“Rich white girls
All I'm doing is wasting my time chasing rich white girls, yeah
All they do is bitch and they whine
So tell me what could I give you that your daddy can’t give you?
Baby, what could I give, to a rich white girl?
They only love me when I pay ‘em no mind.”

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5. K. Michelle, “Rich”

Ft. Yo Gotti & Trina

More Issues Than Vogue • Atlantic • 2016

“Why the government wanna try me? / Already know they don’t like me / Go back in, I need the whole feet / I don’t care if you don’t’ like me.” Girl, what you talkin’ ‘bout? R&B singer/songwriter K. Michelle can definitely be classified as ‘one of a kind.’ An incredibly talented artist, she’s also edgy and risqué.  On “Rich,” she’s experiencing issues as a famous, rich person.  Despite her respective “rich people problems,” she wants to keep getting that paper. On the infectious chorus she sings, “I got rich people problems / Only way to solve ‘em / Keep on getting’ rich / Richer and richer…” Prior to that, on the pre-chorus she feistily she sings, “Cause I’m rich / Don’t care if you don’t like me.” Yo Gotti and Trina support her in her rich endeavors, both flexing like the bosses they are.

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6. Maren Morris, “Rich”

Hero • Columbia • 2016

“If I had a dollar ever time that I swore you off / And a twenty every time that I picked up when you called… / Boy, I’d be rich.” Maren Morris isn’t ‘flexing’ on “Rich,” the second song off of her 2016 LP, Hero.  Rather, she complains about the grief that her man causes her. She asserts she’d be rich, if his lame ways could be converted into money.  “If I had a dime every time that you crossed my mind / Well, I’d basically be sitting on a big-ass pile of dimes.” Morris really plays up the riches she could and should have on the chorus.

“‘Cause I’d be rich, head to toe Prada / Benz in the driveway, yacht in the water / Vegas at the Mandarin, high roller gambling / Me and Diddy drippin’ diamonds like Marilyn… / ‘Cause all the little lies rolling off your lips / Is money falling from the sky…Shit, I’d be rich.”

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7. Lil Wayne, “Rich as F**k”

Ft. 2 Chainz

I Am Not a Human Being II • Cash Money • 2013

“Look at you, now look at us… / All my n*ggas look rich as f**k.” Basically, the utterly simple, ‘go-dumb’ hook of the Lil Wayne joint “Rich as F**k”, featuring 2 Chainz, is self-explanatory.  This is a flex track that definitely doesn’t transcend beyond the shallow things: money, material, and sex.  On the first verse, Lil Wayne seems most concerned about what he can do with his ‘little Lil Wayne.’ He raps, “These hoes want that hose pipe, so I give all these hoes pipe / She get on that dick and stay on, all night, like porch lights.” Ugh… On the second verse, Weezy references his hit “No Worries” as well as Chief Keef hit, “I Don’t Like.” He throws in drugs for ‘good’ measure: Xanax, Percocet, and promethazine with codeine. Maybe it’s a glamorous portrait of being “rich as f**k” for some, but, it’s a bit sketchy personally…

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8. Frank Ocean, “Super Rich Kids”

Ft. Earl Sweatshirt

Channel Orange • Def Jam • 2018

“Too many bottles of this wine we can’t pronounce / Too many bowls of that green, no Lucky Charms… / Super rich kids with nothing but loose ends/ Super rich kids with nothing but fake Friends…” Rightfully, “Thinkin’ About You” is the most ‘prized’ song from the amazing, Grammy-winning, Frank Ocean debut, Channel Orange. But, there are many awesome songs that add to the allure of the project, including “Super Rich Kids” which essentially narrativizes ‘rich-people problems’ (money can’t buy happiness, etc.) and the infamous ‘first-world problems.’  You could say that Ocean dabbles in the plight of affluenza. Besides the theme, the production shines, embracing throwback, soul cues, Earl Sweatshirt offers a unique flow and rhymes, and most of all, Frank Ocean sounds gorgeous, particularly when his voice is layered and harmonized. Who can’t get rich listening to this?

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9. Gwen Stefani, “Rich Girl”

Ft. Eve

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. • Interscope • 2004

“If I was a rich girl / Na-na-na-na… / See, I’d have all the money in the world / If I was a wealthy girl.” For the final song on this rich, wealthy playlist, we reminisce back to 2004. That’s the year when Gwen Stefani would release her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby.  The album was loaded with hits, including the Dr. Dre-produced smash, “Rich Girl.” “Rich Girl” is truly Stefani, accentuating her individuality in regards to her distinct tone of voice, as well as her obsession with Harajuku girls at the time.  “I’d get me four Harajuku girls to inspire / And they’d come, to my rescue / I’d dress them wicked, I’d give them names / Love, Angel, Music, Baby / Hurry up and come and save me.” Eve gets in on the Harajuku action as well on her verse, as well as reminiscing to her previous hit with Stefani, “Let Me Blow Your Mind”.  Keeping the focus on Gwen, despite enjoying the riches, she reiterates, “All the riches, boy won’t mean anything… Your loving is better than gold, and I know.”

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Photo Credits: Atlantic, Cash Money, Columbia, Def Jam, Interscope, Island, Republic

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