Times are hard in the ghetto, I gotta steal for a living;
Eating turkey-flavored Now & Laters for Thanksgiving.

DMX, “Born Loser,” 12”, 1993

You know that one auntie, you don’t wanna be rude,
…But every holiday, nobody eatin’ her food.

Kanye West, “Family Business,” The College Dropout, 2004

The Chinamen built the railroad, the Indians saved the Pilgrim,
And in return, the Pilgrim killed ‘em.
They call it it Thanksgiving, I call your holiday ‘hell-day.’

Nas, “What Goes Around,” Stillmatic, 2001

Asparagus tips look yummy, yummy, yummy,
Candied yams inside my tummy.
A collage of good eats, some snacks or nice treats,
Apple sauce and some nice red beets.
This is what we snack on when we’re questin’.

Q-Tip and Phife, “Ham n’ Eggs,” from A Tribe Called Quest’s People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, 1990. More from ATCQ…

Times are hard in the ghetto, I gotta steal for a living;
Eating turkey-flavored Now & Laters for Thanksgiving.

DMX, “Born Loser,” 12”, 1993

You know that one auntie, you don’t wanna be rude,
…But every holiday, nobody eatin’ her food.

Kanye West, “Family Business,” The College Dropout, 2004. More from Kanye…

They call it Thanksgiving, I call your holiday ‘Hell Day’
Cause I’m from poverty, neglected by the wealthy.

Nas, “What Goes Around,” Stillmatic, 2001. More from Nas…

Back in the days was kinda crazy, kid: I started out with nothin’.
Wasn’t livin’ like Thanksgiving; I was turkey without the stuffin’.

Kool G. Rap, “Blowin’ Up in the World,” 4,5,6, 1995. More from G Rap…

Cause when I was low, you was there for me,
And never left me alone because you cared for me.
And I could see you coming home after work late:
You’re in the kitchen trying to fix us a hot plate.
You just working with the scraps you was given,
And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin’.

2Pac, “Dear Mama,” Me Against the World, 1995. More from 2Pac…