6 Musicians and Poets Who Write About Recovery
#1
Luis Rodriguez
A California-based poet, author and speaker that has written eight poetry collections over the last 30 years.
He is a renowned gang intervention specialist on the west coast and frequently writes about his early history in East L.A. gangs and his addiction at that time. In addition to poetry, Rodriguez has also written eight other books, including two memoirs that chronicle his gang days and his journey from addiction to recovery. He uses L.A. as the backdrop to himself, representing both his worst and his best, as seen in his poem, “Love Poem to Los Angeles”.
#2
Marshall Mathers
Most people, if not everyone, knows Marshall Mathers as world renowned Eminem.
With his early history, the nature of the music industry, and his success, it’s no surprise that Eminem struggled with addiction. He frequently writes about his addiction to pain pills in his music. However, his seventh studio album, Recovery, speaks directly to it. The song, “Going Through Changes”, features another famous musician in recovery, Ozzy Osbourne. In addition to “maning up” to his addiction, the song, and album deal with topics of shame, suicide, and living up to expections.
#3
Hala Alyan
A Brooklyn-based psychologist that specializes in recovery and has written many books.
Among other novels, she has written four award-winning poetry collections that chronicle her journey as a Palestinian immigrant and recovering alcoholic. Alyan has gone as far as writing a set of poems, one for each of the twelve steps of recovery, in her latest poetry collection, The Twenty-Ninth Year. Alyan lays bare her journey to sobriety, as seen in the poem “Step 2: A Higher Power”.
#4
Anthony Kiedis
Frontman and vocalist for The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Anthony Kiedis, has been continuously sober for over two decades now. He is arguably one of the most outspoken artists in the music industry today. For decades, Kiedis has peppered his journey to recovery throughout their albums. Among The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ many hits, “Under the Bridge” remains their most powerful display of recovery in lyrical form. After losing a friend to an overdose, Kiedis recalls a moment of his life when he used drugs under a bridge in L.A. The song is filled with sadness and regret, but thankfully void of shame. It stands as a shiny testament to how we should honestly reflect on our past.
#5
Kaveh Akbar
A poet, through and through.
Although his list of full publications is much shorter than the other poets on this list, he is by far the most focused and potent on the topic of recovery. Akbar’s debut poetry collection, Calling a Wolf a Wolf, chronicles his experience as a Muslim Iranian- American in recovery. In a poem taken from the collection, “Against Dying”, he shares vulnerably how his addiction to alcohol should have taken his life, but by some miracle he’s alive today to tell his story.
#6
Lecrae Moore
Single-handedly responsible for making “Christian hip hop” mainstream.
With that notion, he’s had a conflicted history with the church. His honest and raw commentary on the Christian church’s poor response to success and recovery is admirable. Lecrae is also one of the most hardworking artists I have ever come across. Over the last fifteen years, he has put out twelve studio albums, written two books, and founded an independent record label. Lecrae’s recovery from drug, alcohol, and sex addiction is prominent through all his albums, but peaks in his fourth and fifth albums, Rehab and Rehab: The Overdose. The song, “Divine Intervention”, combines the Step 2 notion of seeking a higher with the clinical challenge of intervention.