Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 2

A Community In Crisis:

As we stated in Hip-Hop, Idolatry, & The Church Pt. 1, hip-hop is certainly no less than an anti-God world view that covers both political and social agenda. Hip-hop uses religious terminology, a form of Islamic belief and rank secularism to promote it's message. In this segment we will continue to look at what I call the "apostles" of hip-hop so that we can get a better picture of the current framework on which hip-hop rests

This month (Jan 2009) offers one of the most anticipated feature length films in hip-hop history covering the 25 year life of one of hip-hop's most renown, modern apostles. The 6'3" 250 lb. young man known as "Biggie Smalls" "Big Poppa" or simply as "The Notorious B.I.G". Christopher G. Wallace, after 11 years since his murder, (which yet remains unsolved) has gone on to legendary status among the hip-hop faithful. Affectionately called "The John The Baptist" of hip-hop by those who lovingly adore him, The Notorious B.I.G. was known for his street demeanor even though he was raised in a much more modest setting by a single parent Ms. Voletta Wallace who by all accounts raised her son excellently. Admired by the church hip-hop faithful for his drive, determination and good works, Notorious B.I.G. left behind a wife (Faith Evans) children, (one of which plays him in the upcoming movie- Christopher C.J. Wallace) and at least one mistress, Lil Kim aka Kimberly Denise Jones, who's BET reality show, "Countdown To Lockdown" became the highest ever rated on BET.

One of B.I.G.'s associates has seemingly suffered from identity problems since Notorious's death. Changing his name from Puff Daddy, P.Diddy, to the current clothing brand of Sean John. Sean John Combs has amassed one of the greatest amounts of wealth known to hip-hop through a diversification of enterprise from clothing to colognes. In fact his most popular colognes are titled "Unforgiveable" and "I AM KING". If those titles aren't explicit enough as to the thought process of Sean John, he also promotes a Vodka made of grapes called Ciroc (the commercial for which P-DIDDY is shown to make sure that not one but TWO women who "slept over" get home safely the next morning) This vodka has bombarded New York with their advertisements and message of prosperity, and offered New York $1 Million dollars through P-DIDDY to change the New Year's ball, dropped in Times Square, to Ciroc Blue representing the color of the grape from which the vodka is made and the "New Prosperity" into which Ciroc would be "baptizing" the city of New York and the nation in. This was termed the New York, New Year's ball takeover.

• "As the ‘Official Vodka of New Year’s Eve,’ it’s only fitting that we take over New York, the most iconic New Year’s city in the world," said Combs, who entered into a strategic marketing alliance with the ultra-premium spirit more than one year ago. "I’m going to give every adult in America a taste of what it’s like to enjoy a sophisticated celebration with Diddy, and what better time than while ringing in the New Year."

"Every Adult"???

Then there is the Jay (jay-hova god is my name) Z. Shawn Corey Carter is a 39 year old mogul that not only declares his supreme deity on stage, but also diversifies his operations to include Rock-A-Fella Records, a night club called The 40/40 Club and the New Jesrey Nets basketball team. Not to mention an ever popular family clothing line Rocawear. Mr. Jay-Z sold the Rocawear rights to the Iconix Brand Group, for $204 million. Although co-founder and hip-hop mogul Damon Dash is now broke (at least according to his lawyer to whom he owes over $148,000 in legal fees ~ Hip Hop Weekly Magazine Volume 3 Issue 25 Pg. 73) and does not have anything to do with Rock-A-Fella anymore, Jay-Z is to be commended because he did help his former business partner by extending him $5 Million to pay his legal troubles. Jay-Z retains his stake in the company and continues to oversee marketing, licensing and product development." and ultimately continues to line his pockets. Iconix to Buy Rocawear, Jay-Z's Clothing Line". The New York Times (2007-03-07). Retrieved on 2007-03-09.

At the most legendary status there are others who have given their life for hip-hop, such as the late Lesane Parish Crooks aka Tupac Shakur, dead also at age 25, who is said to be "The Jesus" of hip-hop by the faithful. Not only did Tupac hate the John The Baptist of Hip-hop, he also claimed to have slept with his wife. That didn't stop his gifts from working however, because he was also said to have foreseen his death in a video in which he looks into his coffin and sees himself. I would ask what would be so strange about this since Tupac lived in a death culture, and signed with a person known for both beating women and murder; a person by the name of Suge Knight aka Marion Hugh Knight, Jr. who was also co-founder of "Death Row Records". (Whose logo is a blindfolded man strapped into an electric chair and was sold for $24 Million in 2008) Rappers such as Snoop Dogg aka Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. another former Death Row rapper, expanded his brand by making pornographic films and other feature length films glorifying his use of marijuana and other drugs.

Speaking of Death And Entrepreneurship:

There's the infamous 50 Cent aka Curtis James Jackson III who's CD, movie, and autobiography "Get Rich Or Die Trying" took hip-hop death and the streets to an absolute new ridiculous level, while further glorifying all the trappings that come along with it. In fact, one of the early tracks that got him attention and into physical fights and altercations with other rappers was a song called "How To Rob"...50 has been shot, and one one occassion took 9 bullets, including one still loged in his tongue. None of this mentions his more recent CD called "Massacre" In spite of all of this, 50 Cent has managed to remain true to the hip hop declaration of peace, by diversifying and creating his own record label called G-Unit Records and clothing line G-Unit, which has become immensely popular among adolescents and teen-agers.

Hip-hop's Message Is Heard Loud And Clear Even Through Silence:

The Stop Snitchin' campaign... promoted as the drug dealer anthem against the community in 2004 by Rodney Bethea, who was ultimately sentenced to 3 years for assault, has been even promoted by such individuals as Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and has proved to be one of the most frustrating grass-roots campaigns that many police departments and families and individuals seeking justice face around the country.

Then, There Could Be Two?

Now, I guess gangsta rapper T.I. (Clifford Joseph Harris) or T.I.P. (whichever one he is) will loose some of those street "brownie points" for testifying in the murder trial of his personal assistant Philant Johnson. The now convicted murder Hosea Thomas was said to have been angry at T.I.'s entourage because he (Thomas) wasn't welcomed into the VIP section at the "afterparty" of a concert in May 2006.

What we should be able to see from this is that hip-hop creates a culture of death, religiously and fervently preaches and tries to spread that death to it's adherents or whoever gets in the way.
Ooh, I forgot to explain the T.I./ T.I.P. part... T.I.P is said to be T.I.'s alter ego, in other words his split personality. One of them explains it like this:

• "Sometimes people might see me act a certain way one time and another way one another time. They might not believe the same cat you see dressed so sharp and winning awards and speaking eloquently is the same cat you see fist-fighting with hoodlums outside a nightclub. This album will be an explanation of all of this"~ Shaheem Reid (March 19, 2007). T.I. Taking On T.I.P. With Help From Eminem MTV. Accessed December 31, 2007.

Surprisingly, the same is true of the women of hip-hop elitism. The most popular wife of mogul Jay-Z (mentioned above) is Beyonce (Look Who's Talking Now) Fierce (aka: Beyonce Knowles). Not only has Beyonce produced a new CD entitled "I AM" She also opened up to talk about her alter ego (split personality) who is a sexually free person called Sasha Fierce who takes over in times of necessity, when she needs to be tough or sometimes when she puts on stiletto heels. This is how she explains Sasha Fierce:

• "I feel like all men and women have that other person that takes over, and I've been able to protect myself personally by having this alter ego and kind of keep perspective on life because it's really easy for you to get out of touch with reality when you can have all these yes people around, and you're on stage and people are screaming, and it's lights and glamorous clothes" ~ (Danica Daniel, Black BEAT Magazine Jan. 2009 pg.67)
  

Sasha Fierce is related to performing which is synonymous with sexuality or sexual freedom. In other words for those that have spiritual ears to hear, Beyonce channels a sexual spirit in many of her performances. This is her explanation:

• "...so once I put on my stilettos and I go out there, I have all this confidence and I'm not afraid of my sexuality. I can do all this choreography that I would never do at a club. {Laughs}It's been my way of kind of separating the two." ~ (Danica Daniel, Black Beat Magazine Jan. 2009 pg. 67)

Then there the Bi-curious element. In fact, on her new CD, "I AM" Sasha Fierce (or maybe Beyonce) produces a song called "If I Were A Boy For A Day". When questioned about what she would do IF she were a boy for a day, she says that she "wouldn't do all the things" (whatever that means) but she would:

• "I would probably take a girl out on a date or try to approach a girl, just to see how it would feel" ~ Beyonce Knowles or possibly Sasha Fierce

Remember, this is from a young lady that is proud of the fact that she held to her morals and sexual purity. Now this is especially interesting due to a find of Gnostic literature at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in the early 1900's. In a book called "Thunder" it is said that a female speaker, probably Sophia (wisdom personified) expresses herself in all kinds of paradoxes and contradictions. She uses the phrase "I Am" to do so. It goes like this to be exact:

For I am the first and the last.
I am the honoured one and the scorned one.
I am the whore and the holy one.
I am the wife and the virgin.
I am the mother and the daughter.
I am the members of my mother.
I am the barren one and many are her sons.
I am she whose wedding is great, and I have not taken a husband.
I am the midwife and she who does not bear.
I am the solace of my labour pains.
I am the bride and the bridegroom, and it is my husband who begot me
I am death, I am Life,
I am darkness, I am light,
I am error, I am truth,
I am destruction, I am construction,
I am the blow, I am the healing.

However with all of that said, one of the most startling statments of what many scholars think is the female Sophia, is the following saying:
 

"I am the prostitute and the saint, I am the woman and the virgin."

 
Now, one may claim some sort of coincidental association to this work which scholars believe to be anywhere from 3rd centure BCE to 4th century CE, but the fact seems to remain the same...there is something more than simple music and entertainment behind the scenes.
 
Hatred Of Women And Gender Confusion

In the the hip hop world not only does death abound but as noted sexuality and perversion does too. Misogyny, lesbianism and homosexuality run rampant through hip-hop. One need not to listen to a song or watch a video long before one hears women called B's and hoes and sees a woman either kissing or hugging up on another woman. Until recently BET through its show UNCUT was a opportunity for sexually deviant videos and perverse lesbian and strip club scenarios. Rappers such as Nelly aka Cornell Haynes, Jr. and Champaign, Illinois native Ludacris (the name speaks for itself) aka Christopher Bridges and a host of others, have exploited women and black women in particular (even though they argue the women exploit themselves) through low rate soft-porn videos, excessive profanity and pornographic scenes.

Then there are male gender benders who are not afraid to co mingle their sexual confusion with their stage presence. One such 50 year old performer called The Artist, Formerly Known as Prince aka Prince Rogers Nelson (Now just "Prince" again) not only displays his affinity for bisexuality and homosexuality both on stage and off, but also shows his devotion to the hip-hop roots of the Universal ZULU Nation through his artistic development of the "Love Symbol"

The amazing part is that both gospel singers Kirk Franklin and Tonex have been proud to be called the "Prince" of Gospel music. What type of mess is this, when a gospel artist has such an affinity toward being associated with a openly bisexual, unsaved man?

This is only a small sampling from some of the top proponents of the hip hop industry today. As men and women strive to get contracts we find that there are many more standing at the door ready to provide their services to help promote the godless agendas that we see here and other places throughout society.

So What Message Do We Receive From The Modern Apostles Of Hip-hop?

• The John the Baptist of hip-hop has Jesus murdered and Judas(s) reign supreme or at least so is the speculation in the streets.
• The promoters of the declaration of peace remain true to their call by providing diversification of operation, through Street Fashions and other ventures.
• Whole cities and regions become targets through sponshorship and big business ventures
• Our children are almost held captive through massive marketing efforts and cloting lines designed to help both knowing and the unknowing conform to hip-hop standards
• There are individuals who openly and readily admit they have either split personalities or multiple personalities and use those personalities to speak through and during the music.
• There is the overt and perverted brand of sexuality, promoting misogany, promiscuity, homosexuality, lesbianism, extra marital relations, strip clubs and prostitution.

All this begs the question: How can the church be enamoured with Hip-hop and any of it's elements? That's the question of the hour and the question we intend to answer in the next segment as we move to look at the churches, ministers, bishops and SO-CALLED gospel artists who promote this false anti-Christ and anti-God religious worldview called Hip-hop...AND even dare to put HOLY on it.

Some may be critical of my efforts in this blog and that's ok. The importance is simply this: These are the people feeding our children and families and even our communities with their worldview even while we are asleep or in church. Unless we know the message, what's being promoted and how it's being promoted we are powerless to do anything against it. The tragedy is that many churches and leaders after knowing all of this somehow think that it can be sanctified and used for God's glory when quite the contrary is true

Blessed!