Thanksgiving is arguably one of the better holidays to experience as a digital family in the era of social media. Although an argument can be made for Halloween and Christmas, there’s just something about Thanksgiving that hits differently. After all, the traditional spirit of the gratuitous holiday in its contemporary form is centered on breaking bread, giving thanks, and spending quality time with loved ones.
From peeping the plates of friends, family and strangers alike that appear in generous quantities on the timeline to yelling at the television screen with your impassioned (and possibly intoxicated) family members to eating until the itis takes over, Thanksgiving is typically held in high regard for being an opportunity to be glutenous, lazy, and cozy. However, outside of long-commercialized cultural signifiers, the annual date also presents an opportunity to confront the true history of the events that led to the holiday’s origin in the first place and have serious conversations that acknowledge the truth of the past, in hopes to ensure that the exploitation, genocide and overall oppression of Native Americans and other disenfranchised groups is not repeated.
Given the holiday’s complexities, a handful of artists in the hip hop community have used their platforms to wax poetic about the brutality of Thanksgiving’s dark past, while others have opted to follow the tradition of weaving gratitude into their lyricism instead. While Thanksgiving itself hasn’t necessarily materialized as a common subject for rappers to tackle in their music, the topic of gratitude in general has appeared in countless tracks and in a multitude of other ways throughout hip hop history.
Expressing thanks for the blessings that each year brings is an integral part of living one’s best life, and doing so can be an act that is as therapeutic as it is relatable and inspiring. Many artists turn to their music to share their personal come-up stories, reflecting on the challenges that helped them build character and tested their perseverance. As we deepen our relationships with ourselves and with others, gratitude helps us to acknowledge the goodness in our lives, and in turn, helps us to reconnect with a higher power. For some of us, that’s as simple as a reminder that the world is a lot bigger than ourselves as individuals.
As research further reinforces, a lot of good can come from expressing gratitude; including improved health, stronger relationships, a more positive outlook, and even the ability to deal with adversity. Most studies focusing on the subject find that there is a direct connection between gratitude and an individual’s well-being. From remembering to say “thank you” on a daily basis to grandiose gestures that take expressing gratitude to a greater level of intention, placing a focus on the art of being grateful is one that can yield multiple benefits.
On the hip hop side specifically, we’ve seen gratitude being expressed in a multitude of ways, from the likes of DJ Khaled landing on the word “Grateful” for the title of his tenth studio album to artists such as Big Sean, Drake, JAY-Z and countless others carving a lyrical lane of their own by consistently keeping it 100, and giving praise to their blessings. While arguably there is no shortage of songs that check the “gratitude” box, there is a generous helping of standout songs that address the topic head on.
In accordance with the “giving thanks” element of the annual affair that is Thanksgiving, let’s take a look at 19 lyrical gems from songs that are fitting contenders to soundtrack the holiday and express different shades of gratitude.