10 Times That Hip-Hop Was Inspired By The Comic Book World

Hip-hop’s appeal is undeniable — it’s the most-streamed genre in the world. The genre thrives on collaboration, whether it’s a crew trading bars on a posse cut, or a unique crossover with other fields like sports, television, and film. When these worlds blend together, the results are something uniquely magical.

As New York Comic Con once again descends on the Big Apple, Okayplayer looks back at some key moments where rappers took cues from the comic book world. Whereas some found inspiration in heroes like Superman, others looked to villains like Erik Kilmonger. Nonetheless, there are plenty of examples when rap and the comic worlds collided, ten of which you can check out below.

Eminem 

Key Track — “Without Me”

Eminem made a career out of his alter-egos, and by his third album, The Eminem Show, the Detroit rap legend had fully embraced all three: mild-mannered and socially awkward Marshall Mathers, fierce battle rapper Em, and the psychotic Slim Shady. The Marshall persona was more on display throughout The Eminem Show, taking a step back from the shock-value raps that made him the object of scorn with countless parents and politicians. However, in the video for “Without Me” Em and Dr. Dre cosplayed as the DC and Marvel Comics-inspired “Rap Boy” and Blade, respectively. Throughout the clip, the two wreak havoc in a Rapmobile, before snatching one of Em’s CDs away from a child, before he presses play on an album clearly not suited for his young ears. Talk about saving the day.

Rapsody

Key Track — “Dark Knights”

Prior to her mainstream breakout verse on Kendrick Lamar’s “Complexion (A Zulu Love),” Rapsody was a very respected lyricist on the underground circuit. An example of her talents can be found on her 2013 mixtape She Got Game, in part inspired by Spike Lee’s basketball drama. Wale made an appearance on the mixtape, joining Rap on the track “Dark Knights.” This record leaned into a Batman theme, packed with comic book references from both Rapsody (“Reaching for better, it's whatever I'm Kevin Bacon / X men out that want none a part of my making why / Bane ain't a match for this emcee / And Dark Knight bat wings need a M3”) and Wale (“And I understand the plight of Bane / Except we using other drugs just to fight the pain/ It's coming apart, I'm hoping to God you n***as ain't playing / Cause I'm more Patrick Bateman and y'all Bruce Wayne.”)

Jay-Z 

Key Track — “Kingdom Come”

As has been the case with most rappers not named Joe Budden, Jay-Z’s retirement plans after 2003’s The Black Album were short-lived. He would return three years later with 2006’s Kingdom Come, whose title was inspired by the acclaimed 1996 DC Comics mini-series of the same name where a retired Justice League reunited to battle a new generation of superheroes who lacked their moral compass. “[Young] Guru is into comic books and all types of stuff,” Jay-Z said in a 2006 interview with MTV. “To expound upon Kingdom Come, every man has his kingdom, whether it’s a security guard at the mall — that’s his kingdom. [Hip-hop] happens to be my kingdom.” 

Mick Jenkins 

Key Track — “Bruce Banner”

Mick Jenkins is undoubtedly one of rap’s best lyricists, though it’s suggested that the Chicago native often gets overlooked in the conversation for bigger names. His frustrations reached a boiling point in 2018 with “Bruce Banner.” He opens the song by rapping, “Honestly can’t nobody come for me ‘cept Kendrick [Lamar] / And I hope you offended, like it’s untrue.” While his scathing bars don’t make a direct reference to his comics, Jenkins lyrically channeled the rage and aggression of the Hulk throughout the track.

MF DOOM

Key Track — Any song, TBH… but let’s go with “One Beer”

The late MF DOOM was a living and breathing graphic novel. The rapper’s stage name and trademark metal mask were both adopted from the Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom, who appears on the cover of his debut solo album, Operation Doomsday. "The way comics are written shows you the duality of things, how the bad guy ain't really a bad guy if you look at it from his perspective,” DOOM said in a 2005 interview with Stones Throw. “I was looking for an angle that would be brand new. That's when I came up with the character and worked out the kinks – that's the Villain."

Jaden Smith

Key Track — “Batman” 

The son of Hancock Deadshot Agent J Will Smith has never been shy about his admiration for the Dark Knight. The rapper and actor even showed up to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s 2014 wedding in an all-white Caped Crusader suit, and publicly shared his condolences to former Batman actor Adam West when he passed away in 2017. That same year, Jaden released “Batman” from his debut album, SYRE. Jaden reimagines himself as both Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego (or is it Batman and his alter-ego?), who combats his own Joker (in this case, critics and competition) while also pushing through his own self-doubts with his otherworldly abilities.

Kendrick Lamar

Key Track — “King’s Dead” with Jay Rock, Future, and James Blake

During the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s peak years, Kendrick Lamar was tapped to record a few songs for the first Black Panther film. Instead, Kenny would produce an entire soundtrack for the 2018 Ryan Coogler-directed blockbuster. A 14-song project, Black Panther: The Album featured appearances from SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Future, Jay Rock, Swae Lee, and Jorja Smith among others, debuted atop the Billboard 200, and won a Grammy win for Best Rap Performance for “King’s Dead.” Many of the songs on the soundtrack were featured in the film, while others were inspired by the characters throughout.

Metro Boomin

Key Track: “Am I Dreaming” with A$AP Rocky and Roisee

Metro Boomin wears his comic book fandom on his sleeve, dating back to his debut album, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, and its follow-up, Heroes & Villains. Metro would actually release his own comic, The Metroverse, and in 2023 he was tasked with producing the soundtrack for the animated film Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. Metro’s soundtrack would boast contributions from Future, A$AP Rocky, Offset, JID, Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert, and more. Both Metro and the soundtrack were praised, with Dana Sano — executive vice president of film & TV at Republic Records — commenting that the producer “curated and delivered with fierce passion and integrity.”

Juice WRLD

Key Track: “Come & Go” with Marshmello

Juice WRLD’s “Come & Go,” with Marshmello, was a track from his first posthumous album, Legends Never Die, and its most successful record to date as it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a triple Platinum certification by the RIAA. The track was released roughly six months after Juice WRLD’s tragic passing, while the accompanying video found the late Chicago rapper channeling the spirit of Marvel’s Blade, facing off against vampires and demons throughout. 

Post Malone and Swae Lee

Key Track: “Sunflower”

Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower,” the lead single for 2018’s Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, became the most-certified song in music history, notching double Diamond status — or, twenty times Platinum — in 2024. A smash hit (to say the least), the record is also the favorite song of the film’s main character Miles Morales, who even plays or sings it multiple times throughout the movie. “Sunflower” would also spend 33 nonconsecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.