Although the hip-hop game is widely known for its profanity usage, we know a few rappers who don’t curse in their songs… or hardly ever did.
If you look back on the music industry, expletives have been a mainstay for as long as one can remember, specifically in hardcore rap. As we entered the ’90s and 2000s, heavy language was the standard for most rhymers.
Let’s take Uncle Luke, whose provocative lyrics became a staple of many Black clubs and cookouts. His vulgarity controversially led him to the forefront of the Southern genre. Then we had Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., who audaciously spearheaded the West and East Coast arenas. The two wordsmiths were highly regarded for not holding back in the booth.
Surprisingly enough, a good majority of the artists who utilize swearing have been commercially successful.
However, we couldn’t help but pose the question… what about those rappers who don’t curse?
Rappers Who Don’t Curse (or Didnt) But Still Delivered Fire Verses
1. Biz Markie
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Biz Markie was a rapper/singer known for his lighthearted, upbeat style. His 1989 single “Just a Friend,” from his second album, The Biz Never Sleeps, became an instant hit and took his career to new heights.
With Markie’s uber-talented way of riding a beat and his off-key (yet catchy) crooning, the late icon built an everlasting empire… one bop at a time. The New York native is responsible for his hand in creating a golden era of hip-hop, as his name quickly rang bells from the music to the media.
From underground classics such as “Make the Music with Your Mouth” and “Vapors” to guest star credits in TV/film (In Living Color, Meteor Man, SpongeBob SquarePants) and track features, Markie’s dedication to his brand was legendary. His songs received high honor for their clean content.
2. Lecrae
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Lecrae is an esteemed Christian rapper hailing from Houston, Texas. His debut album, Real Talk, was released in 2004 under his company, Reach Records. The 44-year-old broke mainstream ground in 2011 when he performed during the BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher, followed by the 2012 unveiling of his mixtape Church Clothes.
Lecrae skyrocketed to worldwide prominence through his curse-free, unapologetic approach to life experiences–in and out of the religious doors. His melodic flow and worldly-influenced flair pioneered a new wave of faith-based hip-hop. Having worked with secular artists such as E-40, Tori Kelly, Ty Dolla $ign, and YK Osiris, Lecrae’s distinctive ability to merge theology with modern-day sounds has landed him in a class of his own.
The chart-topping lyricist’s sixth album Gravity (2012) earned him the title of being the first hip-hop artist to win a Grammy for ‘Best Gospel Album.’ Today, he holds a total of 4 Grammys.
3. Will Smith
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Before Will Smith became Hollywood’s prized possession, he was a young rapper from West Philadelphia. The award-winning actor (then known as The Fresh Prince) and turntablist Jeffrey “DJ Jazzy Jeff” Townes formed their hip-hop duo in the mid-80s. Clarence “Ready Rock C” Holmes joined the fellas as the group’s beatboxer.
In 1986, Smith carried their single “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble,” from their debut album, Rock the House, which was later featured in an episode of the famed Smith-led series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 1991 introduced “Summertime” from their fourth work, Homebase, and it won a Grammy for ‘Best Rap Performance by a Duo or a Group’ the following year.
By the 1990s, the Pennsylvania native had embarked on his solo artistry through the coming of his first album, Big Willie Style (1997), which spawned “Men in Black” and “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It.” Although some choice words have been found in Smith’s music, they’re a rarity. Smith cited in an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers that his grandmother is the reason for that.
Upon finding his rap book riddled with cursing in his rhymes, she advised him not to use such harsh language, as she believed it wasn’t the “intelligent” thing to do.
4. Dee-1
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Dee-1 is a profound rapper/professor from New Orleans, Louisiana. The now-independent lyricist uses purpose-driven music to spread spiritual message(s) in every track.
According to reports, Dee-1 began rapping in college but pursued a teaching career after graduating from Lousiana State University in 2008. However, he released mixtapes on the side while working as a middle school educator.
His debut album, David & Goliath, came out in 2009. He gained worldwide recognition with his contentious song “Jay, 50, and Weezy” the following year, where he called out fellow rhymers Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne and the then-failing state of hip-hop. He has since unveiled a total of 12 albums with his latest being 2024’s LOADED.
Dee-1 signed with RCA Records in 2013 but parted ways with the label in 2018. He has a prolific catalog, which features clean hits that lyrically demonstrate his life struggles. Dee-1 said in a 2013 interview with The Source that he challenged himself not to curse in his artistry after his grandfather overheard him using harsh language on the phone with friends.
5. Jackie Hill Perry
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Jackie Hill Perry is a writer/artist who acquired massive popularity in the hip-hop community in the 2010s. By merging poetic storytelling with religiously infused, hard-knock lyricism, Perry built a large fanbase that still stands tall today.
In 2014, her first album, The Art of Joy, was released under Humble Beast. 2018 saw the coming of Crescendo, her most vulnerable body of work to date. Perry is now a signee of Lecrae’s Reach Records.
Since her breakout over a decade ago, she has become one of the most powerful voices at the forefront of Christian media. From motivational speaking to rhyming circles around today’s genre, Perry is the chosen one… for sure!
Which of these rappers who don’t curse is your favorite? Comment below!
Originally published September 8, 2024.
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