No one is exempt from stress and anxiety, especially in today’s environment. While we navigate through pandemics, recessions, personal issues, and political tensions, it may be hard to find your niche to ignite your whoo-sah moment. Don’t feel alone- it’s not only adults who are having these problems but kids too.

Studies published in the Journal of Adolescent Health's 2nd issue of June 2021 reported students were experiencing an average level of stress and anxiety due to just focusing on the pandemic alone. With the same concerns on economics, education, and environmental issues as the rest of the adults.

What can be done to help with this problem? One helpful tip: Listening to music can help relieve your stress & anxiety in more ways than one.

In a study published in The Power of Music to Reduce Stress, Jane Collington explains how music has a relaxing effect- on the mind and body.

Now that you know, it’s useful for those who take the time to meditate to help relieve their stress and anxiety. But finding the right music to help calm one’s nerves to gather your thoughts is a key essential part of this goal.

Music is something to help with our distractions while we explore our emotions. It Helps keep our minds from wandering in a constant state of being on the go.

Remember, everyone’s music taste is unique and can vary depending on your style and preference.

These are the type of Influences that can be psychologically or physiologically beneficial to being relaxed. Any song in music therapy can help individuals relate to or tie their stresses and help express their emotions.

The good thing is that it doesn’t even have to stop at just listening to music. For those who are known to be extra creatives out there, it’s known that making music helps eliminate burnout and improve.

Here are a few songs that may help a few relate, relieve, or put yours together.

Curren$y’s Bosses and Workers is great for those stressful workdays. Off of the EP- Pilot Talk 4, it’s a  9-5 blues on the hustle when there are “too many chiefs and not enough Indians”. Creating a never-ending blame game of problems worth avoiding daily. Whether at your place of employment or personal time.

Dreamville, EarthGang, J.Cole ft.Smino &Saba’s Sacrifices. From Dreamville’s compilation album- Revenge of the Dreamers III. Each artist shares their version of how far they went for success in achieving their goals. Expressing how living life, as a person, and eventually become a provider for others. A  confirmation of what we all go through for certain sacrifices for the better.

Mac Miller’s Oblivion (Self-Care) from Circles covers the importance of taking a self-moment to accept that it’s okay to not be okay. Sometimes what you normally do to cope may not be working and may take a while to figure out, but witching up for some other things that are more beneficial for your mental health is necessary and helpful.

Kendrick Lamar’s Alright from his album- To Pimp A Butterfly is an ode to being resilient in times of uncertainty, especially in America. Suppression of any kind is bleak but recognizing from the past instances that we are all aware there’s a history of people coming out on top when it’s least expected. From pandemic to succession this song still holds weight with affirmations and facts we all need.

Rapsody’s Laila’s Wisdom from her album of Lailia’s Wisdom. This track throws a mountain top of advice from past experiences in her life that covers being true to you, not shrinking or dimming your light from the competition or those wanting you to fail.  Many of the gems dropped in this song have strong sentiments that a lot of us would have liked to know. Your mood can’t help but change by the time you reach the end of the song.

Bobby Sessions Stream of Consciousness from their latest EP- I’d rather Keep it To Myself, reflects the questionable actions people may go through or come across in everyday life, whether online or in person. Fake influencers, users, and scammers are not only online personalities. Many deals with these folks daily.

Glorilla Ft Cardi B’s Tomorrow 2 single from Memphis’s artist Glorilla reminds everyone today’s problem won’t matter as long you make it to the next morning. With Cardi B’s assistance, they lay out all the petty problems of living in your truth and why not to harp on the negativity of an individual or situation.

Crime Mob ft. Lil Scrappy’s Knuck if You Buck from their debut self-titled album Crimemob.  Will always be an honorable mention for a classic stress reliever. Everyone goes through a day where you’re close to a breaking point but refrain because we like to keep employment, and out of jail. Violence is never the answer, but it doesn’t hurt to rap along the tough lyrics that remind folks don’t start nothing and that there won’t be nothing.

To be fair, there is no wrong or right answer to the songs you choose, your main goal and purpose are to find enjoyable tracks that can help your mind focus not only on problems but solutions while you calm down and relax. Traditional meditation music or “New Age” is not suitable for everyone.

It may take some time to get used to listening to music when you’re upset when you usually don’t try that method.

Start by using your earphones and whatever device you use to stream music to help calm you down the next time you notice a stressful or anxiety-filled situation. Now that you have a few examples of Hip Hop music that can be used to help reduce stress and relieve anxiety do not forget to let you know that singing or shouting is a great way of releasing tension and stress.  The overall goal is to add years to your life instead of stressing it away.