Since the early 2000s, September has been recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (SPAM). US-based National Alliance on Mental Illness describes this time as a way “to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic.” It also advocates for better mental health care “to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide” and ensure that people have access to resources and the support they need.
Issues surrounding mental health have especially been felt in Asian communities around the world. In Japan, factors like socioeconomic status and natural disasters can lead to millions of Japanese people struggling with mental health issues. The pandemic has also caused over 3 million Filipinos to develop mental health problems. Many other Asian countries follow the same trend, where culture can often be a factor in why many don’t open up or share their own experiences.
[Editor’s note: A paper commissioned by the Asian Development Bank titled Mental Wellness in Asia noted that “problems arising from poor mental health are the second largest contributor to years lost because of disability [in Asia]” with “a growing percentage of the adult population experienc[ing] a diagnosable mental illness in any given year.” Furthermore, “data from the WHO and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development identify the five leading mental health problems in the region as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior, and substance-abuse disorder.” The studies have also found the link between mental health and digital consumption (social media, etc.) also contribute to “less happiness, and those not involving technology are linked to more happiness.”
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Attitudes towards mental health these days tend to skew more positively and with acceptance and empathy, leading to more people opening up about their mental health—their struggles and experiences, using a variety of ways to express and share their stories. One of the most prevalent ways today is through music.
In hip hop, in particular, many artists and fans aim to destigmatize conversations about mental health, finding the language, comfort, and support within a creative and public space to process—and even confront—emotions without fear of judgment, isolation, or being ostracized.
Rodney Carmichael wrote a thoughtful piece about Houston legendary trio Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” unpacked anxiety in hip hop for NPR. He wrote, “For so many artists and fans today, rap is still the closest thing they have to therapy. It’s the space where artists articulate their trauma and air out their toxic behavior. There’s still pain, and a whole lot of the wrong coping mechanisms. But at least rappers who represent the streets aren’t afraid to use their music as a way to express it anymore.”]
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With that, here are 12 tracks from Asian hip hop and R&B artists exploring their experiences with mental health.
ABANGSAPAU ft. Charlie Lim – “Boyhood”
Singaporean rapper ABANGSAPAU has frequently opened up about his battle with depression, and “Boyhood” featuring Charlie Lim is a standout track. The two don’t pull punches with their brazen honesty–with ABANGSAPAU rapping, “And out of the answers came healing / Forgiveness and understanding that depression and rhyming and questions and pressure and timing all led to a diamond.”
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HERE I AM, his latest collaborative two-track EP with fellow Singaporean hip hop artist Mary Sue, also details the duo’s “journeys coming out of a dark place to find relief in the newfound love they have for their voices.”
Raz – “Artistry”
“Artistry” by Raz is the late Singaporean rapper’s swan song, which he released a day before he died by suicide on March 16, 2019. Not much information is available on the artist online, but in a call between HipHopDX Asia and ABANGSAPAU— a dear friend of Raz—he shared that the late MC was a spoken word artist, often performing in coffee shops and mosques in Singapore. He performed with his twin brother, Redza, who also died by suicide two years earlier, on November 16, 2017.
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Raz fell in love with hip hop a little after getting into spoken word poetry. He produced several tracks and records, and also released “November 16” as a tribute to his brother on his first death anniversary.
BAP. and Basboi – “Begal”
Indonesian rappers BAP. and Basboi are both known for their complex production and unfiltered lyrics. “Begal” (loosely translated as “Robber”)—off their twin release Songs To Begal To—shows the duo’s vulnerability over a seemingly misleading beat as they rap, “Nothing’s changed, I still feel the pain in my brain / I be schemin’ through the day.”
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Calix – “LAST MODIFIED”
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Filipino rapper-producer Calix never misses his mark when it comes to vulnerability and honesty—whether it’s a track about the country’s politics or his personal struggles, which, let’s face it, are unavoidably interlinked.
“LAST MODIFIED” is a stark example of the latter, where he laments about working to survive and his loneliness throughout it all. He raps, “Demons in my head, sayin’ hi and good bye / Deepenin’ depression, saw my eyes I can’t lie / Reasons are repressed with a laugh and a smile / Seasons be changin’ and I’m left out to dry.”
JRLDM – “Lason”
JRLDM’s “Lason” (Poison) is the Filipino rapper’s breakout number where he was hailed for his melodic flow and haunting lyrics. The accompanying visual for the track features JRLDM’s character battling his inner demons and the temptation to turn to alcohol.
In an article covering the song’s release, editor MC Galang writes that “He tells in a pre-release listening session that the theme of “Lason”—which JRLDM wrote and produced—alludes to his own relationship with alcohol. The muted yet striking Gian Mawo-helmed visual follow JRLDM as he sinks deeper into the bottle, going into alcohol-induced hallucination and paranoia.”
He croons, “Ba’t ba ako nandirito? Ano ba ang mali ko? / Hawak ko ay baso na may lasong pampahilo / (‘Wag mong itatapon ang alak o ibato ‘yan, / Ang pakiramdam na ito ay sakyan)” (Why am I here? What did I do wrong? / I hold a glass with poison that makes you dizzy / (Don’t throw away the alcohol, / Ride this feeling.)
kiyo – “Harana Sa Sarili”
Don’t let the upbeat instrumental fool you—Kiyo’s “Harana Sa Sarili” (Lovesong/Serenade For Myself) charts the Filipino rapper-producer-director’s personal journey as he navigates his life’s difficulties and zones in on his music career. He ends up choosing to see the glass half-full, paying tribute to those who have stayed by his side.
Peaceful Gemini – “Thoughts Overflow”
Filipina rapper Peaceful Gemini keeps her head up in “Thoughts Overflow,” a track that serves as a reminder to make the most out of a short life. She touches on how the patriarchy forces women to toughen up and how to continue “staying grounded” despite life’s difficulties. Her lyrical style shines through as she introspects over a melodic and silky flow.
Ruby Ibarra – “A Thousand Cuts”
Filipino-American rapper Ruby Ibarra wrote and performed the titular track for A Thousand Cuts, a documentary on Nobel Peace Prize awardee and Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa. It’s an inspiring song about rising against the odds that also serves as the backdrop of a movement fighting for press freedom.
9m88 – “Star”
Taiwanese singer-songwriter 9m88’s latest album, 9m88 radio,is the artist’s most vulnerable record to date–serving as the culmination of two years of her mental and emotional experiences in the pandemic. On “Star,” she waxes poetic about being exhausted and the numbness she feels as she sings, “I’m so tired / Can’t keep my concentration aligned / Taking off my bras and braces / I still cannot feel sublime.”
Sica – “Life Jacket”
Filipino rapper Sica faces a dilemma in “Life Jacket,” as he raps, “You can’t save ’em all, better ride the boat / Are you worth it for another day?” The track delves into his struggles with trying to figure out who he is and what he’s given up to be where he is today.
Sica is no stranger to baring his vulnerabilities in his music, with his Soundcloud-exclusive loosie “Dark Out” featured on the May edition of HipHopDX Asia’s “Best Asian Hip Hop And R&B Of 2022 (So Far),” where we wrote, “Sica’s balmy new single, ‘Dark Out,’ is built on loosely textured moods, anchored by a cloud rap beat helmed by Arch Beats & Pxyche.
The Filipino rapper and producer who first made his name as a member of rap group Kartell’em doubles down on the theme with a preference for idleness or at least resisting the impulse of being occupied all the time.
In the age of pandemic where self-isolation is not a choice, it’s not a surprise that many people tend to prefer the quiet to be the norm, tune the world out, and keep it dark out.”
Agust D (Suga from BTS) ft. SURAN – “So Far Away”
Global K-pop boy group BTS has been known to not shy away from talking about mental health in their music, and “So Far Away” from BTS’ Suga’s alter ego Agust D is popularly cited as one of the standout tracks to touch on this.
In a translation of the song’s lyrics, he raps, “That’s right, fuck, I live because I can’t die / But I don’t have anything I want to do / I’m in so much pain and loneliness but people around me / Keep telling me to regain my consciousness / I try to vent my anger but I only got myself / So what’s the point of venting my anger / I’m scared to open my eyes every day and start breathing.”
His self-titled debut mixtape features a roster of deeply personal tracks on the rapper’s mental health, with “The Last” detailing Agust D’s struggles with anxiety.
DEAN – “instagram”
South Korean singer DEAN delves into loneliness in the age of social media with “instagram.” The song is described as an ode to those who end up feeling insecure, alone, and depressed because of how others portray their lives online.
If you are experiencing thoughts about suicide or are struggling with depression, please call your national suicide hotline to speak with a professional.
Header image: Artist photos via Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, and Ruby Ibarra
