13 Songs About Money That Will Make You Feel Rich
No matter how much money you have, it’s hard to deny how much fun it is to listen to music talking (and sometimes bragging) about money (and the finer things in life that come with it). So, in this article, I’m going to provide you with a list of my absolute favorite songs about money, which will hopefully make you feel like a million bucks—even if you don’t quite have a million bucks.
Everywhere by Chloe x Halle
Let’s begin with a dramatic flair, in honor of a grand song created by Chloe x Halle. The singers confidently and unapologetically proclaim:
I got money everywhere!
Falling off the tree
I got money everywhere!
Far as you can see
As Chloe and Halle put it in a YouTube live stream (below), “Everywhere” is about manifesting wealth, and Halle expresses that it’s so much more than money. As if taking a page from the legendary Bob Marley, with pure faith in their power of words, the money the singers speak of represents love, beauty, happiness, success, and good fortune.
Halle goes on to say:
“We hope that when you guys sing it, you know, you’re manifesting wealth and abundance into your life.”
Chloe chimes in, expressing how a fan once told her that she feels rich when she sings this song. Chloe confidently replies:
“Girl you are rich; speak it out!”
Binz by Solange
Wouldn’t it be lovely to wake up with a vibe, knowing that you’re happy, healthy, and wealthy? Solange graces us with such a feeling on an exuberant track that was produced by her, the illustrious eccentric, Panda Bear, and John Key.
I just wanna wake up to the suns, in Saint Laurent
Hundred thousand dollars on the fronts, hella blunts
I just wanna wake up on your thigh, on a yacht.
Or in the Rolls that’s rented, windows tinted
We call that big spendin’, big spendin’
In an NPR album review, the hosts tell us that the name of this track, “Binz” references a street in Houston.
In a massive collaboration that features The Dream and the revolutionary Rotary Connection, Solange breaks stereotypes about poverty in the black community and encourages us all to break free from who we think we are and celebrate the power we carry within ourselves.
Dollars never show up on CP time
Mo Money Mo Problems by The Notorious B.I.G (f/Puff Daddy and Mase)
Come on—there’s absolutely no way you can have an article detailing songs about money without including Mo Money, Mo Problems by The Notorious B.I.G. This song, which dropped way back in 1997, was so popular and beloved, I still distinctly remember walking into Sam Goody and buying the CD single.
On this track, which features Puff Daddy—yes Puff Daddy, kids…he wasn’t “Diddy” quite yet— and Mase, this song did everything “Bling Bling” attempted to do lyrics-wise in its song two whole years before “Bling Bling” was even released.
On Mo Money, Mo Problems, Mase jumps in on verse one firing off shots—and legitimate questions—at his detractors:
Now, who’s hot, who not?
Tell me who rock, who sell out in the stores?
You tell me who flopped, who copped the blue drop?
Whose jewels got rocks?
Who’s mostly Dolce down to the tube sock?
The entire song is dripping in so much money and materialism, you had to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the shiny (and expensive looking) music video, directed by none other than Hype Williams. music video:
Verse two features Puffy declaring “ten years from now we’ll still be on top,” and by the time Biggie chimes in on verse three, his flow is so great that you don’t even realize that he’s found a way to initiate a affair, brag about his money, and threaten to knock you out if you try him:
Here’s my phone number, your man ain’t got to know
I got the dough, got the flow down pizat
Platinum plus like thizat
Dangerous on trizacks, leave your ass flizat
I’ll never argue that Mo Money, Mo Problems is one of the best hip hop songs of the 1990s, but I’ll certainly stand on my soap box to declare that it’s one of the most memorable.
Money by Leikeli47
Sometimes when we reach a new financial height in our life, we like to stunt. No shame in that! Pat yourself on the back for your hard work!
Leikeli47 gives us a bop to commemorate our achievements and not let anyone make us feel bad for honoring how far we’ve come.
I’m money, I got money
Money, I got money
All my life, I had to grind and hustle
I had to work like Kobe just to shine like Russell (Ooh)
They say, ‘Glad you made it, it happened over night’ (Ooh)
They say, ‘D**n, you changed’
I’m like, ‘Show you right’
Yes, not only does she says she has money, but she also proclaims she is money; she acknowledges that she is a valuable person to herself and her goals in life, which is reflected in her accomplishments. Now, that’s an amazing way to feel rich!
Money Trees by Kendrick Lamar (feat. Jay Rock)
Having money is an exciting and an extremely comfortable feeling. But the pursuit of money is often a long, grueling, and dark process and seems to drag on and on, like the lazy musical progression of this track. It can end in either triumph or tragedy.
And I been hustlin’ all day
This-a-way, that-a-way
Through canals and alleyways, just to say
Money trees is the perfect place for shade
And that’s just how I feel
Kendrick Lamar describes the winding, dangerous streets of Compton that many people, including himself, use as a means of making money on the side. When he says “this-a-way, that-a-way,” I think of old-timey cartoons where trickster characters are often chased by their pursuers and use comical evasive tactics to remain the victor in the end.
Lamar is a victor in a way, but not without scars. Now that he’s in a higher position where he can look down at his home city of Compton, he now sees the bigger picture of a maze-like terrarium of people who take joy in their success, big or small.
Money by Cardi B
Cardi B is here to tell you that while most earthly pleasures seem exciting, nothing excites her more than a constant flow of big, fat checks.
All a bad b**** need is the (Money flow)
I got bands in the coupe (Coupe)
Bustin’ out the roof
I got bands in the coupe (Coupe)
Touch me, I’ll shoot (Bow)
Shake a lil *** (Money)
Get a little bag and take it to the store (Store, money)
Get a little cash (Money)
Shake it real fast and get a little more (Money)
It’s no secret that Cardi B was what most people would call an “exotic dancer.” It’s a means of making a lot of money in one day that lots of people utilize to get by. Cardi is honoring this practice with this song—and there’s absolutely no shame in that. Her interest in securing the bag outweighs frivolous things, such as the attention of men and the jealous or hateful words of other people.
MONEY by LISA
Who doesn’t love to be showered with money? LISA makes her passion very clear with the pre-chorus of the second track of her debut solo album.
Dolla’ bills, dolla’ bills
Watch it fallin’ for me, I love the way that feels
At the end of the week, when you get your check, you know it’s time to party and celebrate all of your hard work. Referencing her “MONEY” dance challenge that went viral, LISA revels in all of her accumulated fame from her new direction in her career.
Che-che-che-check that money-makin’ bank account number (Yikes)
That’s that s*** that’s never gettin’ bounced on ya
B****, I do the money dance, I just made a hundred bands
When the store says, “Sign for it,” I’ma leave my autograph
Nothing feels more gratifying than not even needing to check your bank account before making a big purchase. LISA doubles down on this feeling by humoring suspicious cashiers by leaving her autograph on the bill. It’s a cheeky way of saying, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m money!”
WHOLE LOTTA MONEY by BIA
When I first heard this song, I immediately realized it was a reference to a movie I saw as a kid. Long story short, the villain in the story loved money and was willing to do anything to get it, even if it meant betraying her coworkers.
BIA doesn’t express being the villain in her story, however, and in fact, she is very cross with people who are jealous and shifty. Her only qualm is with people who are broke, which, in her situation, is understandable.
I put on my jewelry just to go to the bodega
And I keep it with me just so that I’m feeling safer
Fendi on my body, but my feet is in Bottega
B****, I’m getting money, give a f*** about a hater
BIA has become aware of her wealth, to the point she feels she can’t go outside without it. Getting money changes people; it changes people who get the money, and the people around them who still don’t have the money. She distances herself from the life she used to know and embraces the life that’s filled with riches.
SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY by Amaarae (feat. Moliy)
At first, you’d think this is a casual love story of a dancer falling in love with a patron. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Who needs romance when you can fall in love with all the cash people are happily giving to you for your talents? With
Get the f*** outta my way!
I’m gonna get paid, yeah!
I wanna get paid, yeah!
Just give me my mula-la-la-la!
Moliy boldly states she’s not in the mood for fake love. Her love for money is far stronger than what a half-hearted patron could offer. Amaarae shares her sentiment, walking past her potential suitors, heading for the bank.
I don’t wanna talk, I’m dancing, dancing
Straight to the bank, count Benji to Frank, walk out like I’m that b****
I love this song because the singers break stereotypes of women who fake falling in love for money, and stand in the power of their own hard work.
Money Money Money by DMX (feat. Moneybagg Yo)
Money, money, money (Uh), b*******, b****** , b******* (What?)
All these f******* killers, but the jail’s full of snitches (Snitches)
A dollar ain’t got a f******** thing to do with riches
Say cheese, now I got pictures of what a b***** is (Woo, c’mon)
The beloved, late DMX was so influential that his wisdom (as brash as it can seem to some) remain surprisingly simple and everlasting. He reminded us that only cowards chase after money, for they are always fearing going through life without it.
Pay Me by The Philharmonik
Do you know your worth? Sometimes industries will try to convince you to accept less than what you need to survive, then gaslight you into believing you’re asking for too much.
Well, The Philharmonik isn’t down for that anymore. He’s fed up with accepting meager wages for his brilliance, and is demanding his payment up front before he spends any more blood, sweat, or tears.
Is it too much to ask if I can get $15 an h*our?
If it is, then f** you, pay me (F*** you, f** you)
I ain’t doin’ anymore work until you give me what I deserve
He isn’t just calling out his boss for being stingy; he’s calling out a capitalistic industry that leeches off of an exhausted and overworked people for monetary gain that most of us can’t even fathom.
He’s calling out the fact that he’s not working to thrive, but rather simply survive, which is an utterly ridiculous misdistribution of wealth. Most of all, he’s simply pissed at the fact that his taxes are being used to facilitate even more poverty, civil unrest, and warfare.
I don’t want to struggle no more
For some bills that I can’t afford (That I can’t afford)
Or pay a tax for some dumb**** war
When there’s nothing to be fighting for (To be fighting for)
I got a lot of s*** to deal with at home
The Philharmonik is recognizing his worth and demanding more for his labor; what a rich feeling! How do you imagine society would function if we all demanded a higher quality of life for ourselves?
ATM by J. Cole
Everything about J. Cole’s “ATM” is profound, from the introspective lyrics to the drugged slurring of the song’s refrain, to the multi-layered music video.
The song begins with a distorted voice, reciting a mantra towards earning money, a substance one thinks will make them feel more alive, but has the potential to do the opposite; yet, the feeling is nevertheless euphoric and addictive.
A million dollars, I count up in intervals
Without it I’m miserable
Don’t wanna fall off so I’m all in my bag
Thankin’ God like it’s biblical
I know it’s gon’ solve every problem I have
People go wild with the notion that money equals power and stress-free circumstances. In an interview with Scott Lazer (below), director of “ATM’s” music video, there are so many subtle bits of educational imagery that is displayed throughout the visual.
For instance, at the very end, when the character J. Cole is playing, a money hungry hustler is lying lifeless, succumbing to his dangerous pursuit of wealth. That’s when a dollar lands on his face, but he can’t grab it because…well…he’s no longer with us. This is an allusion to the lyrics,
Count it up, count it up, count it up. Count it-
Can’t take it when you die
But you can’t live without it
These wise words are an ode to the overall theme of the album, K.O.D. (short for King of Demons), where Cole asks us to choose our means of increasing the prosperity in our lives wisely. For the means to our success may be the very means that cause us to fall.
The King’s Affirmation by Iniko
Just as we began this musical journey, let us end with an affirmation.
I will be one of the greatest, that is a vow, yeah, that is a promise
Always wanted to be famous, just being real, yeah, just being honest
This highly spiritual debut track by Iniko is a little vague when it refers to money. This is because money is frivolous in the long-term. Iniko is not interested in material wealth, as it comes naturally to her. It appears in her life, and takes multiple forms, such as inner peace, connection with the divine, synchronization, and creativity. These tools are more than enough to manifest the life of abundance she knew she’d always have.
On this track, she mesmerizes us in her sound, and reminds us that we too can achieve overwhelming abundance; we just must be open to receive it.
Conclusion
There’s not a single one of us that feels like we are satisfied with our lives fully, let alone would turn down a significant bump in pay from our jobs.
But, when you’re listening to songs about money, you tend to gloss over a lot of the lyrics and connect to the music you’re hearing far more viscerally.
And that’s certainly cool. But, I think it’s always a good idea to really dive into the lyrics of a song, as some of your favorite songs are likely far deeper than you initially gave them credit for being.
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