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Spirituality in Hip-Hop Many people view hip-hop from only a commercial standpoint. This would force them to believe that since mainstream rap is riddled with references to violence, sex, and money, that there is a lack of reverence or acknowledgement for God. This problem is remedied, however, if one looks deeper into the sources of hip-hop. Mainstream music is the sub-genre of rap in which the consumers most readily purchase. For rap, the ideas that sell the easiest are these sex and money-filled songs which have no lyrical value and are really only enjoyed because of the good production and beats behind the song. I am an avid lover of hip-hop, and my connection with this type of music extends into the underground, where I have gained a vast knowledge about the rest of the world and ideas, most of which would have been hidden to me if I had not encountered this type of music.
Underground hip-hop is more likely to contain a deeper message because the artist, on average, puts more effort upon lyrical content than commercial rappers. This is because they are more concerned with keeping their lyrics real and respect their music as more of an artform, contrasted with the mainstream artists focus on making money. Two songs I chose which somehow relate to my own theology are Divine Disappointment by Alias, a member of the independent group Anticon, and Next Testament by Sage Francis, a Rhode Island native, and also the vocalist in the live band, Art Official Intelligence. Before I delve into these songs, I feel it is necessary to give a brief profile of these two artists. Alias, as I already mentioned, is a member of Anticon. This is an unique group, consisting of more than ten members, many of which have solo and other group projects on the side.
Many of the members of this group are poets, and their works oftentimes reflect this side of them. By this I mean that many of the songs produced by artists in Anticon cannot be deciphered very easily. They require a great deal of thought and reflection to be able to understand the message the work was trying to display. Sole, the lead member of Anticon, along with Sage Francis, are distinguished of poetry slam contests nationwide. In fact, Sage just won the Providence Poetry Slam held on March 1 st and will compete in the nationals in Seattle. The point I am trying to make is that their involvement with poetry allows for a deeper form of hip-hop to be expressed through their music.
This is exactly what I enjoy listening to and why I appreciate the artwork of underground artists immensely. The song Divine Disappointment by Alias is a song that is depressing and pessimistic, but I feel as though it still offers a great deal of wisdom to the audience. In this song, Alias speaks from the viewpoint of God. Actually, it is his viewpoint of what he believes God to be thinking.
Even though I do not agree with much of the views of Alias in this song, I think it is a great work, and I have learned more about others views about God, and even furthered my own spirituality, by listening to this song. I see a lot of anger in the song, and I have reason to believe, based on biographies I have read on the internet, that Alias had a tough childhood. Thus, I believe many of his dreams of what God really was became shattered when something bad happened and he could not find a reasonable explanation as for why these events occurred. Knowing this background information, I can sympathize and understand how Alias feels and how he wrote and sung what he did, even though I do not necessarily agree with some of the things he says. Some things in the song Divine Disappointment I can agree with, however.
For example, in the first stanza, Alias says, My frustration aimed at what I created has me feeling discombobulated. Although this puts a human tendency on God by expressing a human emotion (frustration), I can visualize God shaking His head in disbelief of what his children are doing. The world today is filled with hate and violence, and somehow I can see God wondering what exactly went wrong, even though I know fully well that what went wrong was that we are responsible for bringing sin into our own lives. It was not anything that He did which caused our present condition, but rather we are to blame.
It is kind of hard for me to explain because although I know one way is the correct way to see this problem, I also find myself viewing it from the perspective exemplified in Alias work. Also in the first verse, I agree with the couplet, They seem to think that Im forgiving of all / which means they have a scapegoat, if they happen to drop the ball. I can even relate to this personally. I know sometimes we tend to play things off by believing our sins will be forgiven anyway, so we might as well commit the sin. I understand that although God is forgiving of everyone, we should still strive to be free of sin, but I do see people taking advantage of God s kindness. The second verse of this song is terribly pessimistic.
It basically says that God cannot control everything. Hence, He is saying that He is not all that we made Him out to be. In the end he erupts and says that he regrets making Man, but there is nothing He can do about it, because He is not powerful enough to turn back the hands of time. In this verse, Alias is making God seem more of a human-like being rather than an omnipotent, universal one. Throughout the song, Alias makes many cynical statements, such as, they [humans] do not matter in my eyes, project gone terribly wrong, and, you say that you know me / but you really don t.
All of these statements give the audience the feeling that the author views God as something which is not able to control destiny, and does not have the power to help. I think many people today have this view. They view God as someone who created the world and then left it alone. That is, He does not intervene in any Earthly circumstances. Although I do not agree with this type of theology, I feel as though it has helped to better my own understanding of God because it has strengthened my own beliefs, even after I have seen compelling arguments of the other faction. In all, I believe that the song Divine Disappointment by Alias is a wonderful song.
Although I do feel sorry for the author because I believe he is confused in many areas, I am glad that he does not deny God s existence, and hope that he will one day be able to see through the anger with which he is filled. Perhaps I may be totally missing the boat upon this song, and maybe Alias does not believe this at all but is just presenting the audience with a controversial topic, but I will never know what he was truly thinking when he wrote this song. All I can do is be thankful that I gained what I did from hearing this great artistic piece. One more song I would like to address is that of, Next Testament by Sage Francis. Sage is one of the most brilliant writers / emcees /performers I have ever been in company with.
He is able to write on such a wide array of topics and stay focused throughout the whole work. The song Next Testament is a proclamation of what Sage has encountered on his struggle for spirituality in his life. Basically, the song is a story about him meeting a man who tries to impose beliefs on him by handing him a Bible. After a long struggle and argument, Sage comes to the realization that there is a God.
However, the story is not as simple as that. Sage still has some doubts about God, and nothing will ever be for sure. I think the best quote from this song is when Sage says, I said, WHAT! Snatched the book in hopes of finding a myth This shows that the author was persistent in wanting to find something wrong with doctrine.
I used to find myself doing this a few years ago. I would argue every little matter just trying to prove the Bible wrong. While doing this, I missed the big picture. I was too focused on the literal translations that I missed the hidden messages which were lying belief the stories. I feel as though Sage Francis was doing the same thing, which is kind of why I feel this song, well at least a part of it, related to me personally. I think another great line is when the man with the Bible says that Jesus is not dead and Sage responds with, He faked his death?
Then the song goes on to say, I watched my man take a breath as if he had no more patience left. This shows that Sage had missed the understanding of what the man with the Bible was trying to convey. Although the physical body of Jesus had died, his eternal nature was ever-present around us, and therefore he was not truly dead. But Sage, as I used to be, looked at this only in the realistic point of view, and did not understand the reality of a soul. Again with Next Testament, I do not agree totally with what he is saying. I do believe that the Bible is instrumental in helping us find out own spirituality within, whereas Sage disagrees.
At the end of the song, Sage says, I found him yall look within yourself and wipe them books off your shelf. I took this to mean that he felt as though the Bible did not do anything for him and that he found God on his one did not need anyone s help. I was not totally sure if this was his intention because I know, through his other work, that nothing he says can be taken for granted as having it s literal meaning. Therefore, I asked him online if I was right in my assumption. He responded by saying, yeah.
I didnt need other peoples doctrines in order for me to get in touch with a higher power I found God from within. I am not exactly sure what to make of this statement. I want to commend him on finding God without the help of the Church or other organizations, because to me that seems nearly impossible. But I also want to pray for him in hopes that he will realize that doctrines are essential to building a healthier relationship with God. Overall, I think Next Testament is another great song by a truly inspiring artist. I can understand why Sage Francis thinks that he does not need someone or some organization to tell him what to believe because I once had the same viewpoint.
But at the same time, I hope that he will continue even further on in this process of developing his own spirituality which involves taking the Church into his life. I think it is pretty obvious why I like underground hip hop music much more than mainstream. I am able to get more out of underground songs than I am able to listening to radio stations like HOT 106. These two songs are both great examples of such music.
They express my own theology to a certain extent, and have helped me to understand what other people s views about God and life in general is like. Divine Disappointment Alias paradise of fools > My frustration aimed at what I created has me feeling discombobulated. I hated the boredom and so I reinstated entertainment for my well-being now it seems I made the wrong decision. My project had appeared easy but had no direction in precision. Beginners luck?
Only up to recent times do I feel stuck. Im the only one to blame for things that ran amuck. I built up, a universe that is now building me you see. Technological advancement which is the creator now and all things to be decided when they have not even once touched my hands. My quote unquote followers still constantly fill the stands on the so-called Sabbath day. For years its been this way but these people cant figure out whether its the first or last day to pray.
They seem to think that Im forgiving of all which means they have a scapegoat, if they happen to drop the ball. Ive been coined various names none of which to me are flattering. They look to me for a guidance but to me they do not matter. In my eyes theres nothing I can do to help this situation when they have internal conflicts with their whole congregation. They gather every week and speak of me in song these beings I created in this project gone terribly wrong.
You all claim that you know me but you really dont ever forgiving and you say of me in reality I really wont. From the day I gave you life to your last anointment you have all been nothing but divine disappointment. You all claim that you know me but you really dont ever forgiving and you say of me in reality I really wont. From the day I gave you life to your last anointment you have all been nothing but divine disappointment.
So Im now stuck to figure out what to actually do at this point in time. These creatures think that theres an afterlife but they spend their whole life benign. They killed another creature years ago that claimed to be my son so now they mold their lives after him and claim that Hes the One. The One that will save them, lead them to a new breath.
I hate to break it to them: I have nothing for you after death. So carry on if you wish unknowing thinking breath is wind blowing magnifying light bulb is the sun and tears of rivers flowing. Think that every bad thing that happens to you is at my will like bankruptcy, adultery, and the reason why others kill. Go on to be mislead as you have your entire life think that all somehow Ill reward you for all your pain and strife. I cant control destiny where you come up with that notion? Theres no cure for AIDS so dont even bother with that potion.
I didnt create the disease to punish others I didnt even make it so if you have that frame of mind you go ahead and break it. Im sick and tired of feeling responsibility for all of you ungrateful's unwilling to share with the starving while you enjoy all of your platefuls. Even if I had the power to help you I wouldnt even bother so stop thinking that I love you and stop calling me your father. I didnt plan on you evolving into this mess with which I deal asking for my forgiveness when you lie, cheat, and steal.
What the hell do you want me to do? Try and save yourself. I cant help your marriage, your children or status of health. My problems far away, any of your so-called devastations like this oncoming war between the so-called United Nations.
I regret making all of you you make my blood pressure climb. I wish I didnt make you but even I cant turn back the hands of time. You all claim that you know me but you really dont ever forgiving and you say of me in reality I really wont. From the day I gave you life to your last anointment you have all been nothing but divine disappointment. You all claim that you know me but you really dont ever forgiving and you say of me in reality I really wont. From the day I gave you life to your last anointment you have all been nothing but divine disappointment.
paradise of fools > Next Testament by Sage Francis Find God! said the man, who lost everything he owned, looking stoned I groaned back, Find a job heres an application. Retaliation: Heres a pamphlet. I said, F this damn shit. My man flipped and threw his hand into his pocket. Pulled out a bible with a design that looked tribal The Next Testament was its title Look it over.
A book? North what the hell does this got to offer? A small mirror on the bottom labeled author that s too impersonal Irreversible actions leave our mind scarred looking for the answers. Find God! he said again. But I m a veteran knowing that you are no better than or worse than.
Compare my last enemy to my first friend. This bum gave me his shirt s pen What the heck? You re straight up begin, thinking that I m gonna write you out a check. He said, What? I said, WHAT! Snatched the book in hopes of finding a myth.
Lifted up the front cover broke the binding. I bring peace, love happiness and unity! Usually I blow it off, but I said, That ain t what you do to me. What you do to me is bring pain, hate, ignorance, and false alternatives to my community. He sat back and thought it over. With a look that s sort of sober He stared me in the eye and said I don t lie (Figure it out.
Me or him? Him or me? ) Now we begin to quarrel over what s historical but that s immoral questioning the oracle s origin. We re born through sin. You need to save yourself, he said. But Jesus died for our sins. He said, He ain t dead.
He faked his death? I watched my man take a breath as if he had no more patience left. Then he embraced his chest. Looked as if the Holy Spirit was about to manifest itself. Mental health is what he lacked. I should have known this.
Without God, when we die every Earthling is homeless. I couldn t look. Tried to give him back his book. As he shook.
But it was stuck to my hand What the f God damn Embellished in sin and with a devilish grin This denizen could tell that I was selfish within He started speaking in tongues that I m unfamiliar with. I held the pen like a knife and threatened, I kill your myth! Civilians drift into a state of violent anger. I can tell when I m in danger so I stopped to take a breather. Listen, I m a non-believer with no faith, and I don t want none either it s time for me to leave ya take your book, I ain t no crook. He said, It s yours like the world read it good there s directions.
I flipped through the pages, but they were blank no deceptions. He mentioned, Look deeper. You ll see it says more than you could share. I asked, Where? He replies, That s what the pen s for.
I found him yall look within yourself and wipe them books off your shelf Yes I found him yall, yall look within yourself and wipe them books off your shelf, off your shelf Yes I found him yall, yall, yall look within yourself and wipe them goddam books off the shelf and wipe them goddam books off the shelf and wipe them goddam books off the shel When someone goes into that chapel and they fall on their knees grieving and praying too... Go ahead and read your bible... You go in your church. With any luck u might win the annual raffle but if your looking for God Youre asking if I have a God complex? . Lemme tell u something, I am God. 336
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