The art of hustling has influenced many forms of art in our modern culture, including music. We all want to reach our dreams and succeed. But to get there, we need to hustle. For a little bit of inspiration, we’ve listed 20 great songs about hustling that will surely put you in the mood to succeed!
Whether you’re heading off to work, going to the gym, or just looking for ways to hustle, these songs are perfect to keep you grinding and looking toward the future!
1. “Supreme Hustle” by Ice Cube
“Supreme Hustle” by Ice Cube follows the rapper as he talks about himself. He explains who he is, what he’s like, and how he hustles. He’s working hard, hustling money, and will always do what is right for him — and be the absolute best.
Ice Cube raps, “Supreme hustle, I got supreme muscle.”
2. “Life On the Nickel” by Foster the People
Foster the People released their song “Life On the Nickel” on their 2011 album Torches. This song follows a homeless man who does what he can to continue to live his life to the fullest with only a small amount of money. The song follows him as he tries to hustle to get more money.
Even though this man struggles, he still has fun! The band sings the lyrics, “Yet again, I’m hustling, hustling, hustling / But I can’t seem to catch a dime / Take a little hit and I lose the time.”
3. “Teenage Hustling” by Tori Amos
“Teenage Hustling” by Tori Amos follows the singer as she sings to someone she doesn’t care for. This person may be trying to take advantage of her or her career — but Amos won’t let this happen. She reminds this person that she’s not new to this game. She’s been hustling since she was a teenager, so she has a mentality that can’t easily be broken.
She sings, “Me and my teenage hustling / I’ve been working it / Since I’s fourteen.”
4. “Never Change” by Jay-Z featuring Kanye West
Jay-Z has a lot of great songs about hustling. “Never Change”, which also features Kanye West, is one of his best! In this motivational rap song, Jay-Z raps about his life. He explores his youth and his past when he was poor. He also talks about when he started hustling and making money, as well as his successful music career.
The duo raps, “Out hustlin’, same clothes for days / I never change, I’m too stuck in my ways, I’ll never change.”
5. “Work Bitch” by Britney Spears
If you’re looking for a pop anthem that talks about hustling, “Work Bitch” by Britney Spears is sure to get you motivated. In this 2013 hit song, Spears sings to everyone about how they need to hustle to achieve their dreams.
Do you want a new car? A nice home? Material objects? Well, Spears tells everyone that you’re going to have to get to work to be able to buy all of the things that you want! The same goes for if you want a hot body or if you want to travel the world!
6. “Started From the Bottom” by Drake
Drake’s hit song “Started From the Bottom” is another great motivational track about hustling. Drake raps about how he started from the bottom. However, he worked his way up and, thanks to his hustling mentality, he ended up succeeding. Now, he has the life of his dreams — and the rap career he’s always wanted.
Drake raps, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.”
7. “Hustle & Ball” by Snoop Dogg
“Hustle & Ball” by Snoop Dogg, which was first released in 1998, also discusses hustling! In this song, Snoop Dogg raps about how many people, fans and critics alike, think that he has fallen off and is no longer as good as he used to be. The rapper, of course, completely disagrees.
So, he talks about his life, his wealth, and why he still demands everyone’s respect. He also explains that he’s still hustling and will never stop! He raps, “Hold up, what’s my name? Snoop Dogg / What I like to do? You like to hustle and ball.”
8. “Hustle” by Gucci Mane
“Hustle” by Gucci Mane, which appears on the 2005 album Trap House, follows the rapper as he explains to the listeners that he’s going to show them how the hustle. He talks about his life and how he used to not have everything. He used to long for the days when he would have wealth and respect.
Now that he does, he’s going to show people what they need to do. He raps, “Make a grind all night, I’mma show you how to hustle.”
9. “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” — which also features T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Rick Ross — is perhaps one of the best songs about hustling to listen to. Try listening to this song and not feel instantly motivated! It’s hard!
“All I Do Is Win” follows the rappers as they discuss that they simply win at everything. They can’t not win. All they do is win — and this will never change. The lyrics say, “All I do is win, win, win, no matter what / Got money on my mind, I can never get enough.”
10. “Set” by Ciara
“Set” by Ciara explores what it’s like to successfully hustle as a woman. Ciara explains that she will always hustle, she’ll always succeed, and she’ll always win. She also explains that some people feel jealous of her, as a result. But this isn’t going to change her mentality!
She sings the lyrics, “I hustle ’til I pass out / Treat all my shoeboxes like the bank now / Guess you could say that I’m the man, wow / On that big boss level, and I put that on my set.”
11. “My Life” by T.I. featuring Daz Dillinger
2004’s “My Life” by T.I., which features Daz Dillinger, opens with T.I. telling people to stop judging him. He’s just living his life! T.I. then raps about his life and how he hustles to live the life he’s always wanted. He won’t stop, as he wants to continue raking in money.
As he talks about hustling, he also talks about those who continue to judge him — which also annoys him! However, he won’t let them get him down.
12. “Everyday Struggle” by The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 song “Everyday Struggle” tells the story of a man who sells drugs and becomes rich as a result. However, he struggles in this life, as it’s incredibly violent. He finds it difficult to rise above all of the problems that stem from how he lives his life.
As a result, he begins to realize that this hustling game might not be for him. This song is one of the only songs that explore hustling in a negative light, yet it’s a great song to see how complex the hustling mindset can be!
The Notorious B.I.G. raps the lyrics, “I don’t wanna live no more / Sometimes I hear death knockin’ at my front door / I’m livin’ every day like a hustle, another drug to juggle / Another day, another struggle.”
13. “Something to Live For” by The Hollies
Time for an old rock song! The Hollies released their song “Something to Live For” in 1979. The band sings about how life can sometimes be hard. An average day may not excite many people. As a result, the band recognizes that it can be easy to lose faith in chasing your dreams.
But they tell people to hold on for tomorrow, as you never know what the new day will bring! They also recommend continuing to hustle, as they sing the lyrics, “Keep hustling tomorrow / You might just find / That elusive something.”
14. “Blue Magic” by Jay-Z featuring Pharrell Williams
“Blue Magic” is another great Jay-Z song about hustling. Featuring Pharrell Williams, this 2007 song discusses a lot of different topics. Jay-Z raps about his life and how he’ll always work to succeed. He’ll always hustle. He also recommends listeners try not to fight against their life. Instead, follow through and continue to hustle to get what you want!
He raps, “Except I don’t write on the wall / I write my name in the history books, hustlin’ in the hall.”
15. “Long Way to Go” by Wiz Khalifa
“Long Way to Go” by Wiz Khalifa follows the rapper as he talks about how he’s become the success that he is. He raps that you won’t catch him slipping; he’ll continue hustling instead. He knows what he had to do to get where he is, to become the boss that he is, so he’s going to ensure that he stays at the top right where he is!
As a result, he raps, “We don’t stop hustling / Nah, never / We don’t stop grinding.”
16. “Money” by Cardi B
In “Money”, Cardi B reflects on all the successes she’s had in the past few years, thanks to the takeoff of her music career. She also talks about becoming a mother!
The rapper also talks about her new wealthy lifestyle and how she now has all the money she’s always wanted. She goes through all of her material possessions, as well as the fact that she now has a jet she can travel in. If you’re looking for a motivating track about hustling, look no further.
17. “Work Hard Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa’s hit song “Work Hard Play Hard” is another great motivating track about hustling. In this track, Wiz Khalifa explains that the more you hustle and grind, the more success you’ll have — and the more fun you’ll have. To live a life free of stress and full of fun, you must hustle!
18. “Fame” by Santigold
“Fame” by Santigold also talks about hustling. While there are many interpretations you can find about this song, Santigold mainly talks about how many people will give everything they have to gain success and fame. Santigold also talks about how this means that hustling doesn’t necessarily give you everything you want.
After all, even if you do become famous, this doesn’t mean that you instantly become happy! The singer explains, “Hustle make you high / Hustle make you low.”
19. “Whatz Next” by 2Pac
“Whatz Next” by 2Pac follows the rapper as he questions what he’s supposed to do next with his life. He’s lost and confused. However, he also makes sure to talk about hustling and shouts out those who are similar to him in this regard.
He raps, “But it’s this hustle that get me richer / One love to my peoples makin’ money.”
20. “Last Breath” by Future
“Last Breath” by Future, which is the last song on our list, was released on the Creed movie soundtrack. So, you know you’re going to get a motivating track here! Future raps about hustling and how so many people doubted him in his life. Yet look where he is now! He’s a success!
Future raps, “You should’ve never doubted me / I’ma work ’til my last breath / I’ma hustle ’til my last breath.”