Why Money is Becoming an Increasingly Popular Topic Within Musical Lyrics

For a vast period of time, the music industry has continued to progressively evolve to stay in tune with the growth of society. With the world around us constantly changing in every aspect of life, the music that we listen to is no different. For many, many years the industry has not only reinvented its sound, but also the topics of which the lyrics are centered around.

The digital era has seen a rise in many music artists referring to their material items and wealth within their songs. Although money has long been a hot topic across various industries, the surge of money-related lyrics within the music industry has been one of the most extensive. Following this recent pattern within music, we’re going to consider why there are increasing references to money in contemporary releases.

Artist Developments

“Money” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by 401(K) 2013

Since its very origins, rap and hip hop music have been considered as two of the most popular and widely enjoyed genres throughout the world due to their fast pace style and alternative topic choices. With that being said, money has recently become a real focus within many of the modern artists’ releases.

After becoming a hugely popular breakout star within the industry in the last few years, Cardi B, who scored the fourth-biggest album of 2018 in the United States, has become one of the many contemporary artists who opt to discuss money within their songs. In 2018, the New York-born rapper released ‘Money’, and according to Lottoland’s interactive page relating to the musicians who are most obsessed with money, Cardi B mentions this topic in a total of 40 songs with ‘money’ being her most popular term ahead of cash, diamond and others.

Social Growth and Media Influences

“Casper” (CC BY 2.0) by schmollmolch

Following the social developments which have occurred in recent times, there are now a wider array of platforms available for many contemporary artists to publicize their fame and wealth. Typically, the superstar lifestyle is of real interest to normal people who use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and many more to keep up with what their favorite artists have been doing and what they have been buying with their extreme wealth.

It’s clear through such platforms that money-related posts grab the attention of social media users and music fans. As a result of this, those who enjoy genres including hip hop and rap are likely to enjoy the lyrics that are centered around money due to them having a greater understanding because of social media posts and interactions. Moreover, with those genres dominating the music scene in both 2017 and 2018, and with many artists using money-focused lyrics to assert their position within the music industry, the trend will likely continue in the coming years.

The Future of Money Lyrics

Ultimately, money-related lyrics have long been used in different musical genres for numerous different purposes. While the hip hop and rap scene have come back to the forefront in recent months, it is no surprise that there has been an influx of songs centered around fame and wealth.