“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.” The Church has to be understanding
with the knowledge that everyone expresses there struggles differently, and
everyone deserves to be listened to, no matter what their peers are talking
about in other songs. When it comes to the life of Hip Hop artists, their
struggle is typically a version of loosing their way and sometimes, their path
is straightened out by their faith.
“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" says Reverend Tune. There is
a reoccurring theme among leaders of the Church on whether Hip
Hop has a positive or negative affect on the people listening to it, whether it
is good or bad for the community. If you take Tune's view into account, it
comes down to the individual and they process the song based on their own
experiences.
Seeing as how a great deal of
the problems that churches have with Hip Hop and its contents and the actions
it promotes, they must acknowledge the need to seek why these rappers act as
they do. That struggles that these rappers have been through have shaped them,
and churches must make an effort to reflect on the issues that caused these
either "unwanted" or "less than desirable" methods of
expression.
As
Sorett (2009) suggests, Kanye West’s hit song, ‘Jesus Walks’, Mase’s decision
to become a pastor, Joseph Simmons’ (of Run DMC) name change to Reverend Run,
and the recent release of KRS – One’s The Gospel of Hip Hop, indicate an
increasing tendency within hip hop to embrace Christian-informed ideas,
symbols, and imagery. Within communities one binding entity is religion, which
is smart when marketing a song. Though it started off as a form of expression
and a way to deal with issues, many find it to be a way to brand oneself as
well. Rev Run has now focused solely on religion, letting that aspect of his
life and Hip Hop combine. It is hard to balance out the two in a music genre
that has two extremes. There is the side about violence and drugs, and then
there is the side about God and struggle. The opportunity to pick one side or
the other is rare, but it makes sense. A man can be changed by God, but he has
to deal with the rough lifestyle that makes that change necessary first.
The
older generations do not see the two sides of Hip Hop "Hip Hop culture
emerged as a source for youth of alternative identity formation and social
status in a community whose older local support institutions had been all but
demolished along with large sectors of its built environment." they only
get to see the most drastic side (158). "Alternative local
identities were forged in fashion and language, street names, and most
important, in establishing neighborhood crews or posses. ... Identity in hip
hop is deeply rooted in the specific, local experience, and one’s attachment to
and status in a local group or alternative family" (158). The younger
generations identify themselves within the kind of Hip Hop that they associate
themselves with. They develop a friend group and identities based on their
interest in music. The older generations revoke the partying side of Hip Hop
because they don't wish for the younger generation to find themselves thinking
that is how life is, and developing those kind of habits that Hip Hop
represents.
Importance of religion, God, spirituality in life.
The
black community in general has always held the institution of Church in high
esteem. It is their central meeting point within the community and their
opportunity to be united. The ideas that have formed throughout the community
come mostly from Church experiences themselves and centered on their faith in God.
“The Black Church no longer offers a place of spiritual growth, religious
stance, or social beckoning. The political views of the Black Church, in spite
of some stances that are blatantly against the black community have chosen
political parties of all things rather than be political in position as it once
was" (Hutchinson 16) and as Hutchinson says they have somewhat taken over.
The ideals of the community in general have stemmed from their church leaders,
and Hip Hope artists have taken this opportunity to put their own ideas into
songs.
“As a
form of social protest, rap music is a statement of class conscious
self-expression. It uses the language of the streets in ways that resist the
institutionalized oppression of the underclass, and it provides a voice for
those who would otherwise be silenced" (Belt 46). Hip Hop takes what the
Church says and personifies it, making it accessible to the entire
community on all levels. It is an opportunity to reach out and offer a hand to
the community in forming their own ideas, or following along in what they
believe. Just as the church unites the community, so does music.
Pertaining
to "Jesus Walks"
Songs like "Jesus
Walks" don't necessarily advocate a religious path so much as they do a
spiritual one that calls for people to judge one another less. The song
seemingly attempts to remind people who Jesus was not one to judge and walked
among the people were perceived of as lesser in society.
"This
track should be given the attention it deserves as a song that not only
mentions Jesus but makes a very strong and very deep statement for Gods's love
for even the 'hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers, even the strippers.'
This is huge for someone to make the assertion that might be obvious to some
but heretical to others---that Jesus walks with even the criminals of our
society"( Howard 40). This is an example of how music is reaching out to
the community as a whole. There can be a strong divide within a neighborhood,
but as long as there is God, everyone is given an equal chance. West is
reaching out to everyone, creating a new dynamic for his audience, allowing
everyone to understand and accept spirituality. Through West's past, it is
clear that he has had some struggles, but through Jesus he can find acceptance.
West says that Jesus
Walks" is a song that gained a great deal of notoriety as it enjoyed
mainstream and critical success as a piece that spoke so openly and
aggressively about Jesus and West's beliefs. It showcases his doubts and fears
of evil forces and the devil trying to lead him down the wrong path. At the
same time, he acknowledges the influence Jesus has with everyone, that he
spares no one, regardless of location. He's not, as the song says "Here to
argue about his facial features, or here to convert atheists into believers.
I'm just trying to say the way school needs teachers, the way Kathy needed
Regis, that's the way I needed Jesus.". A chart topper non the less, this
song is relate-able to all who believe in a higher power. It is
focusing in on a certain demographic, but the beat makes
it transitional.
