What Does Hip-Hop Tell Us About Faith And Society?

Last week, Rev. Michael Waters wrote a post entitled "An Odd Future for Faith In Hip-Hip." In the piece Rev. Waters asserts that "I am increasingly troubled by certain contemporary moves in hip-hop culture that embrace the occult and make a mockery of faith." I would agree with Rev. Waters that the lyrics in some hip-hop songs are vulgar, misogynistic and violent. But like Michael, I love hip-hop. Particularly, I love gangster rap. Not because I believe in the message of violence, but because as someone who grew up on the streets I can relate to the pain, anger, frustration and disappointment expressed in the lyrics.

Just like Rev. Waters, I am concerned about the approach some rappers take toward God and faith. But I'm also concerned that too often in the faith community we hold only the rapper accountable for the lyrics and not ourselves for the things we do to make the larger community feel like God or the church does not care. Like most people, rappers wrestle with understanding God, Christianity and their own personal faith.

Rap music, and even gangster rap, can tell us something about how rappers view the church, the power of faith in daily life and how the artist wrestles with the hope that God will step in and help them overcome challenges versus the desire to take life in their own hands due to the uncertainty of God showing up. It can also give us a window into how people who live in forgotten, crime-ridden neighborhoods and face numerous challenges in life relate to God and the church. Lyrics tell us something about how rappers, and the viewpoint they represent, view the church, Christians, God and society. But they also should cause us to look at ourselves and ask if there is something more we can do to reach out to the hopeless and frustrated.

In Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" he says, "Jesus can't save you life starts when the church ends."
This line suggests that what happens in church is either not real life or is disconnected from life in the broader society. This is not only raised by artists like Jay-Z but by others outside the rap community, who question the church's relevance when it comes to dealing with "real life" or day-to-day struggles facing those in poverty.

The other underlying message here is that a person of faith may be rendered powerless against societal pressures and norms once they leave the confines of the church. The question for the church to ponder is, "How does it make spirituality relevant in a way that connects and provides answers to practical life experiences?"

In his song "Pray to the Lord," Lil Wayne says,

Yeah and every time I see the sunshine
I drop down and give thanks at least one time
Feel like I'm living on the front line
I'm feeling like every second is crunch time
I've had breakfast, will I make it to lunchtime?
And I ain't joking, so don't be looking for punch lines
Will I be the next victim of a gun crime?
I don't know the answer, that's why I brung mine.

Lil Wayne asserts a belief in God indicated by his desire to pray. His prayer is then followed by the tension of believing and waiting for God to answer his prayer while he prepares to go out into the world where he will have to find a way to overcome the dangers on the streets. This is no contradiction but a concern as to whether God will protect him or will he have to protect himself.

It's a question of what do we do while we are waiting for God to show up. For the church, rather than shun young people like Lil Wayne for their actions, we must ask ourselves what will we do to offer a counter reality to violence as an alternative, practical solutions to conflict and relevant life alternatives for young people, be they members of our churches or not.

In his song "Jesus Walks," Kanye West says,

They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?
Well let this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming about
Next time I'm in the club everybody screaming out.

Kanye West tells another side of the story, one where he sees himself as a rapper trying to make a living working for the corporate money driven record industry forced to choose between what will sell and what he would like to create as an artist. Not unlike the choice made my many of us in our work lives choosing to make a living rather than the risk of embracing our passion and what we really want to do.

He expresses the hope that writing a song that mentions Jesus may not be commercially popular and might not get played on the radio but will somehow alleviate the burden of the wrong that he does: "Well let this take away from my spins/Which will probably take away from my ends/Then I hope this take away from my sins."

Rap music and rappers are responsible for the language they use and the actions they provoke other young people to take because of them. But the same can be said for the depictions of violence, greed and misogyny depicted on television and in general how we treat one another every day.

If the church chooses to hold rappers accountable for their words and actions, then the church must also listen to the stories conveyed by rap artists and understand there is a need for them to play a constructive role in the lives of people who live in poverty and in strife. A better approach to addressing the issues we are concerned about in rap lyrics is listening to what they are trying to tell us about life, learning about what young people are dealing with and then creating positive, practical alternative life choices for them without being judgmental, thus enabling these young men and women to live up to their true potential.

 

Follow Rev. Romal J. Tune on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Faith_4_change

Comments

[titansgunner12thman]

09:31 AM on 09/07/2011

HipHop tells us that church is irrelevent. Yes, the ideals my be noble, but certainly aren't real or realistic. When you encounter the same elements inside the chuch that you encounter outside the church, i.e, greed, selfishness, lies -I could go on, coupled with the ridiculous myths (born from a virgin-I wish my daughter would tell me that's how she got pregnant), you wonder how real it is.
Jay-Z is right, as soon as church ends, you are back to reality. While church provides a respite and relief from reality, problems return and ultimately it's on you to carve out your own life.
How many times have we heard of thugs praying, claiming belief in God, yet continuing to commit the same misdeeds that are antithetical to what Chirst expoused?
Personally, I think rappers speak more truth than any church ever has. And I don't believe in rappers. So the church has very little credibility in my eyes.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

03:22 PM on 09/07/2011

Titansgunner12thman, I although I can understand the source and reason for your disappointment with the role of the church, I am inclined to disagree. Churches and communities of faith across the country and the globe are doing meaningful work to help change lives, providing praticalcand relevant help to individuals and families. Biblically Jesus provides us with numerous examples of how he directly impacted lives for the better. Similarly, i am aware of churches across the country doing great work tovhelp children succeed academically, find jobs, provide job training, conduct health clinics, raise money for disaster relief, provide scholarships for college, help families pay rents and mortgages, lobby for better legislation around a host of issues, drop out prevention, etc. The problem is that we don't hear about this work because they don't run around talking about it. What I address here are those churches they are not working to be relevant and perhaps provide them when another lens through which to look at how they can impact lives.

[Bigjon87121]

04:20 AM on 09/08/2011

Sure reverend they are but that doesn't make the belief true. And then what about those religious groups that go around proselytizing and spreading misinformation to people? They hold faith over peoples heads as a bargining chip for providing service. If you dont have faith in Jesus christ you aren't as good of a person. You are alluded to this in one of our exchanges.

[Bigjon87121]

04:14 AM on 09/08/2011

I will be fanning and faving this!!!!

[22Keys]

05:18 PM on 09/06/2011

Well, there is always Greydon Square.

[Issaic Dabney]

08:06 AM on 09/08/2011

Thank fictional god for that!

[scrodeesonya]

07:01 AM on 09/06/2011

At award shows a lot of these rappers and singers give honor to God, talk about God in their lyrics, etc and THEY Do. The question we have to be aware of is, WHAT GOD are they referring to? Just because they wear a cross around their neck and mention him in a song does not mean they are talking about the one and only TRUE God. Some have created their own God in their minds that worship and bow down to them. Why should the church try to save any devil that does not want to be saved? JESUS didnt! Thats why the devil still exist today! If you listen to songs like No Church in the Wild you can hear the God that is being served. The song even states they have created their own religion! These rappers, just like the rest of us, have got to want & need JESUS; it is NOT the other way around. Jesus didnt come so that he can worship and praise us and he didnt die to be pimped so we can get what we want!. We ALL will see Jesus someday and will be held accountable for what we say and do so let's stop making excuses for them and blame the church. A lot of Christian rappers went through some of the same things these others have yet CHOSE to be bout the business of Christ so we should not take the blame for what others choose to do.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

12:07 PM on 09/06/2011

You rasie good questions and I would also agree that we have to choose Jesus. We have to ask what kind of Jesus are we presenting to young people outside of our churches. Are we taking the Gospel to them and are we concerned about their lives. Once a person submits and gives their life to Christ, what do we do for them after that, what do we offer to help them live up to their potential. Or are we simply just talking at them and not offering any practical support to help them navigate through life?

[scrodeesonya]

02:21 AM on 09/07/2011

You raised good questions also. It is obvious that you feel the church may not be doing enough outside the church walls to present the Gospel to young people and/or does not appear to be doing enough to show concern for their lives even after they submit their lives to Christ. What suggestions can you offer so that those of us who have tried and/or are still trying will know so we can make that move? I definitely feel that in 2011, the church is going to have the change its method(not the message) of taking the gospel to young people, without compromising the word of God because young people are just not going to listen to an old preacher on the corner or the pulpit telling them Jesus died on the cross for their sins. Furthermore, the way we Christians live our lives these days(in & out the church walls) is enough to turn any person from the gospel! You were correct in a previous statement about Jesus meeting people where they are first. My suggestion? WE need to get up off our high horses and TAKE OVER and have dominion in the world as God called us to ...take over the music industry, businesses, schools, communities, families, tv. magazines, etc. When they see US in that light, it will draw them from a world of darkness into the marvelous light which opens the door to preaching the gospel and leading them to Christ

[WARHUKKER]

02:44 AM on 09/06/2011

I love gangster rap. Not because I believe in the message of violence, but because as someone who grew up on the streets I can relate to the pain, anger, frustration and disappointment expressed in the lyrics.

Many young people justify their anger,and frustration by victimizing the people in their neighborhoods.The hood isn't bad,the gangsters in the hood make it bad.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

12:02 PM on 09/06/2011

True. I would add that gangster rapper aren't born wanting to become gangster rappers. There are a set of circumstances that lead to this choice; parenting, community involvement, what the faith community is doing to help children and parents find their purpose, how society perpeetuates examples of greed, selfishness and success at any cost, etc. Just as the hood isn't bad, these children were not born bad, but what are we doing to keep them on the right track or put them back on the right track so that they don't do bad things?

[WyckedNite]

06:45 PM on 09/05/2011

Excellent piece!

Not to many decades ago, the Church was more than just a religious/spiritual experience to people. The Church was more involved in the community and in the lives of the community at large--OUTSIDE of the Church. Actions people took in life, how they conducted themselves in public, even everyday decisions were, to some extent, based upon how that behavior/action would be viewed by the community (and by extention--the Church).

People in the community, whether they attended the nearby Church or not, knew the Church members, the Church leaders. Why? Because there was so much more involvement in people's every day life. Visitations and spending time with you didn't just mean that "preaching and teaching" was going to be done. At any given time, you could find members/leaders in the neighborhood visiting, playing a game of dominoes, or checking on the welfare of someone--even if that someone did not attend their Church! And the members/leaders weren't visiting just to try to "recruit" or talk spirituality. They were just there getting to know people; talking about whatever the person wanted to talk about, and just letting people get to know them, outside of the pulpit/altar.

I don't have the answers in how to get back to that kind of massive involvement, but I miss it.

[PatriciaLesesne]

03:37 PM on 09/05/2011

Rev. Romal Tune, I appreciate the challenge that you issued to The Church at the end of this article.

QUOTE: "A better approach to addressing the issues we are concerned about in rap lyrics is listening to what they are trying to tell us about life, learning about what young people are dealing with and then creating positive, practical alternative life choices for them without being judgmental, thus enabling these young men and women to live up to their true potential."

A five to ten-year plan for any church's youth department could be built on this sentence alone.

[blacktangent]

02:25 AM on 09/05/2011

good parents should be very wary of letting their kids listen to that garbage. That's NOT the culture you want your child to be living. Good parents don't let rap raise their children.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

11:15 AM on 09/05/2011

Good point blacktanget. Although I listen to Hip Hop, my children don't really care for it. However I do educate them on the nature of the music because it's better not to hide it from them instead make them aware of it and the problems that exist so that they don't go out into the world naive. I want them to be comfortable in the their own skin, make their own decisions, not yield to peer pressure, not judgemental of others because they may differ in opinion and be comfortable around different people with different life experiences than their own.

[Bigjon87121]

02:14 PM on 09/04/2011

The worst representation of hip hop ever. Cmon rev! No wonder the congregation is laughing. The most materialistic artists ever! Props to Lil Wayne for helping out new orleans but cmon.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

11:20 AM on 09/05/2011

I think you missed the point bigjon87121. The post was not intended to be a representation of Hip Hop. Rather I am using several prominent rappers and their lyrics as examples of how people of faith and the broader society might consider viewing those lyrics through the lens of understanding how some in the Hip Hop community view faith and the power of faith to impact life experiences. Yes, Hip Hop is very diverse and there are positive socially conscious rappers as well. However those are not the dominant themes we hear on the radio or see on television.

[Bigjon87121]

03:32 PM on 09/05/2011

I guess my point is the people you are asking to engage in this exercise are going to be so off put by the majority of the lyrics and topics these artists rap about. I like kayne and jay-z don't get me wrong but we know what their songs are about, let's just get real. You would be hard pressed to find more than one or two songs that talk about what their faith means to them. And is not problematic to attempt to use the very artists whose style is by and large antithetical to most of what you would preach? I let's just be serious the younger crowd doesn't admire weezy jay-z and kanye for how they feel about god.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

11:27 AM on 09/05/2011

If the church intends to be serious about reaching young people with positive life alternatives then people of faith should listen with an ear for learning what is happening outside the church and then asking how best can we respond to it with real alternatives. If the church is laughing as you say, then I would argue that church and people with that sentiment are still in denial about their true relevance and likely are not doing much to reach young people outside the church. More than likely, ther person or church that takes this issue lightly, probably assumes they every young person in need of help should just come to the church. Which assumes that these issues of greed, selfishness, ego, pride, individualism, etc., don't exist in the church. We have to ask ourselves, what selfish, individualistic behaviors do we exhibit that young people in the Hip Hop community see as being contradictory to our religious message of tranformation.

[Bigjon87121]

04:17 PM on 09/05/2011

These is entirely different from what you stated above. First you said: "The post was not intended to be a representation of Hip Hop. Rather I am using several prominent rappers and their lyrics as examples of how people of faith and the broader society might consider viewing those lyrics through the lens of understanding how some in the Hip Hop community view faith and the power of faith to impact life experiences." Now you are saying: "If the church intends to be serious about reaching young people with positive life alternatives then people of faith should listen with an ear for learning what is happening outside the church and then asking how best can we respond to it with real alternatives" this is different from encouraging people to believe that the three rappers you listed are by and large incorporating their views on faith in their music when, by and large, they are not. Sure they each have one or two songs that say something about god but even young jeezy and Lil boosie do that. In fact, most rappers say something about God, so what? What is the substantive message they are communicating in their songs? Its not about God. But now in this paragraph you are saying: be realistic because the kids relate to the greed and selfishness displayed in these rap songs because they see the same thing going on around them.

[Bigjon87121]

04:17 PM on 09/05/2011

So now you are admitting that the selfishness and greed is what is appealing to the kids and that those themes are pervasive in the rappers lyrics that you mentioned. That's what it implies. Before you seemed to want to turn something positive out of something negative by saying well this how these particular rappers relate to faith. The problem I had with your whole piece is that it's a bit contradictory to claim that jay-z, Weezy, and kanye, are simply using their views on faith to shape their rap songs. Then you admit, if only unintentionally, that the church has to get real because the kids have found role models in the rappers and that the selfishness that is displayed in the songs resonates with the kids because they see it around them. You chose the worst examples to make your argument. These rappers aren't by and large speaking out against the selfishness and greed, they glorify it. To say that they are somehow using faith is disingenuous and I feel like you only mentioned that to make the case for church members.

[Bigjon87121]

02:08 PM on 09/04/2011

The worst representation of hip hop ever. Cmon rev!

[Derrick Thompson]

04:22 AM on 09/04/2011

The light used in Matt. 5:14 is singular and should represent unity. Not to be hid but to be identified. Our unity largely depends on us and not God. He will supply our direction in unity once we come to that understanding

[Derrick Thompson]

04:21 AM on 09/04/2011

My music goes directly against the sounds of mainstream hip hop as I know that life isn't a party and the glorification of women, money and materialism have very little worth in the long run. At this point, there are more than enough Positive Hip Hop artists for churchgoers to entertain. Somehow, we have lost the ability to balance correction in gentleness and righteous indignation. What we see and hear through radio, television and now, internet is a clear example of one side of society. There are still a faction that long for morals (clear and defined), God's inclusion rather than exclusion and the ability to relate to their everyday lives. We know about the power of sacrifice through God's word and should consider that success within many elements of the entertainment industry come with those also. Yes, we artists want to be able to support our own through our craft but many of us don't want that at the expense of our faith. God is a very normal part of my life and I look at almost everything through the lens of scripture. Change must be demanded from those looking for it and supported also. You can throw a stone and hit 25 artists whose talk mirror that of the JayZs and Kanyes and that is NOT the social condition for the majority of their listeners. It doesn't do for us to be millions of separate lights set up separate hills.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

11:35 AM on 09/05/2011

Agree Derrick there are plenty positives alternative music choices within Hop Hop music and beyond. My point in this piece is based on an assumption, which is that churches and people of faith have a desire to see the lives of young people outside the church changed for the better. If that is true, then the question is what are we doing for young people outside the church, are works relevant to their addressing the concerns and issue faced by people ouside our doors. Perhaps the lack of relevance is why they don't show up. It's not just about offering alternative music options but helping people find practicle alternatives to addressing the challenges in their Iives. Are we okay with just talking at them or are we willing to get to know them and help them bring about positive change in their lives.

[Derrick Thompson]

12:07 PM on 09/05/2011

The measure of their exposure, not only to the gospel but also to believers has to be taken into consideration. We must also consider ourselves in preparation to try and reach younger generations and share the wealth of love and knowledge that Christ has brought us into with The Holy Spirit. We know that works are relevant to our faith and our walk is just as important. We can't be okay with just talking with them. Acceptance is a major factor of importance in their world. More importantly, are we examining ourselves to intervene in the lives of these children who so desparately need attention and direction? Or are we so concerned with the problems of our everyday lives that these same children are turned away from. As easily as we can point to wayword youth, uncaring adults have to take part of that blame upon themselves and we should strive to reconcile that division first. Many of the answers and solutions the kids are looking for are already found in the minds of the adults around them. Are we examining ourselves to find out if we're trustworthy? Are we under the bondage of judgement that overshadows love? We are responsible for upholding the entire standard. Are we ambassadors of peace or of division? There can't be easy answers if we're to be serious about the work before us but make no mistake, that work will be done on the side of darkness if there is no light to intervene.

[Derrick Thompson]

04:21 AM on 09/04/2011

I agree partially. There are many emcees who strive to share more relative messages and rely upon the inclusion of God and Faith. To some extent, we should expect that there will be children who don't look at life with hope and faith. The problem isn't that they don't have better examples but that they don't have enough of those better examples in places they can identify and relate to.I am a 38 yr old hip hop artist. I'm a father of 6 and I am saved through the blood of Christ Jesus.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

11:42 AM on 09/05/2011

Derrick your personal positive example is to be commended. You are right, there are not enough of the positive, better examples in the places that young people identify with, which begs the question, as the church are we only vested in helping young people if they come to us/come to church or are we going to be creative and figure out how we can take positive examples into new places and meet young people where they are then draw them in a new direction. If we only help after they come to church then the message we are sending is one that says, we don't care about you until you come in here. That's not the model Jesus gave us, he was not confined to a building rather went out amongst the people, that's how they found out who he was and what he could do.

[Derrick Thompson]

11:52 AM on 09/05/2011

Indeed, the commission was to GO OUT and PREACH THE GOSPEL. You're very right, Sir, in your statement about Christ's model toward believers and unbelievers alike. Each will work in his own way to do that which God has placed within him to do for the work of the kingdom. Therein, Christ' words are as true as ever "The fields are ready for harvesting now!" Blessings, Reverend. Thank you for your response!

[scrodeesonya]

08:54 PM on 09/03/2011

I am a 45 year old mother with two older teens that listen to hip hop and rap on a regular so I am definitely no stranger to it. I truly understand the church wanting to save the souls of those lost or trying to find their way to God and faith, but let's be realistic. A lot of the rappers and hip hop singers are not doing it because they are angry, frustrated or disappointed. They are just using the lyrics to feed off the anger, pain and frustrations of others so they can buy their music to make millions. Maybe many started out that way, but many are pass that point and just about the bling and nothing else. Many of them are not trying to find God nor know who God is because the new "occult" in the hip hop rap generation is about being their own GOD. What the church needs to concentrate on is being the body of Christ God called us to be in every aspect of our lives without being fake and phony...that's how we make spirtuality relevant. We should be the ones taking over leading others to Chris. Instead, the rappers are taking over leading others straight to hell! How backwards is that? Once we do what God has called each of us to do, then they can see who the one and only true living God is. Even then, they, still have to CHOOSE whom they will follow.

[Rev. Romal J. Tune]

11:52 AM on 09/05/2011

Scrodeesonya you have a point. Yes, some of these rappers because of their success are far from being poor or any of ther other experience they talk about and now simply do it because is makes money and it's what companies want them to produce. You say that some are not trying to find God, and I would agree, but as a Christian we have to ask what are we doing to help people find God our even know that God is an options? It can't be the case that the only time we offer God as an option is when people come to church. Jesus went out amongst the people. Also, as Christians, we have to ask if we are truly sending a positive message when people look ay how we live and what we pursue? Do we appear to be selfish, money and career driven, only concerned about ourselves and people like us, or are we countercultural and living our own lives in a way that shows we are different. We can't talk about the greed of rappers and say they do it for the money when although we may not be rich, the only person we spend our money on is ourselves. Someone once said, don't tell me what you care about, show me how you spend your money and I will tell you what you care about. Simply put, if we talk about greed we have to ask if we are guilty as well.

[scrodeesonya]

07:27 PM on 09/05/2011

Thanks for the response. I truly understand your message and your concerns. The message I was trying to convey, however, has little to do with greed. Salvation has nothing to do with money. Jesus did go outside the walls preaching and living the gospel and we need to do the same. But Jesus didnt spend time begging, pleading, and trying to conform to their likeness or alter his agenda just to get them to follow him. They either DID or DID NOT..Period. If anything we ALL should be running to Jesus without Him even having to say a word after all he has done for us which includes just waking us out the bed in the morning! We can preach the gospel all day long and try our best to live a good Christian life and some folks still going straight to hell and a lot has nothing to do with what the church did or did not do. It's about a person's personal choice. God chooses us...we just have the choice whether or not we will open the door and let him come in. I agree the church has to do our part, but they have to do theirs and some of them just dont want it...at least until death meets them at the door. They have heard the gospel just like the rest of us. We can preach, pray, live and outreach, but at the end of the day,,,they have to choose.

[Jerrilyn McDade]

08:27 PM on 09/03/2011

Rev. Tune, I agree with you totally, every situation Jesus encountered He was the solution. If we as christians are to do the work we promised God when we took our pastor's hand. We need to be pointing those souls you spoke of to the solution for any problem instead of down playing the problems unsaved people face in evey day life. Yes, we as christians face problems, but we know how to take them to God and leave them there. I was always taught," If you are not a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem." Some of us have forgotten where God has brought us from and it has become, "God bless me and mine and no one else".God delivered all christians from something, and I believe we should be there for those who are still where we were. It's sad because God gave us the solutions to heal the land and save the lost. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles7:14. We as christians need to do our part, then God will do the rest. Rev. Tune, keep doing what you doing and maybe one day before it's too late us christians will get it together.

[LuvRed14]

09:18 PM on 09/02/2011

The Church should hold firm on teaching scripture without exceptions. I do understand people are human, and that no one is perfect, and each generation has its music. Yet, everyone is accountable for their own actions. What the church should do is train the Elders, Jesus followers with a strong knowledge of scripture, to mentor and counsel the people that seek donations and resources from the church. Us just handing out goods without encouraging a dialogue on Christ sends a message the Churches are only about singing, paying the pastor rent, and being dressed up. We should be more vocal about how people are responsible for their life choices. Everyone starts out about the same if they are in public schools. Many of us take those years for granted and make poor decisions. The church needs to show their communities that education matters, finances planning works, and that God gives us free will.