Hip-Hop, Idolatry, & The Church Pt. 14 ~ An Ode To The "king"

This post was kind of difficult for me to categorize. It was a cross between the current title and my Nephilim series. I'm sure you'll understand why as we continue. The Radio Podcast related to this post can be found HERE and HERE

Singer/ Actress Lauryn Hill (aka  L. Boogie now Ms. Lauryn Hill) has been one of the music industry's most prolific stars. Beginning with the hit group called the Fugees, Lauryn has not only made music but also had starring roles in films such as Sister Act II, Hav Plenty & King of the Hill. She was formerly married to the son of music icon Bob Marley, Rohan Marley.  She is said to have a net worth exceeding $10 Million just from record sales and other closely held investments.  

What is strangely unique about Lauryn is her disappearance and absence from fame and industry, and a temporary and planned future reemergence with what seems to be a spiritually centered and focused message. After winning over 4 Grammys in 1998 for her release, "The Miseducation Of Laury Hill" she disappeared for 4 years. She has threatened to reappear with a new spiritual dimension and offering better than ever. Some say that her disappearance was due to a settled lawsuit ( $5 Million) involving the claim of  New Ark (Vada Nobles, Rasheem Pugh, Tejumold and Johari Newton), who held that Lauryn had tried to stiff them of credit for their work in writing and assisting on many of the albums songs. Prior to the suit, when asked about a written contractual agreement between her and the production company, Ms. Hill stated:  

The Fugees

"We all love each other. This ain't about documents. This is blessed."

Lauryn then reemerged in 2001 with a MTV 2.0 release in 2002 in which she introduced some spiritual/revolutionary type songs such as "The Conquering Lion" and "Everything Is Everything", "The Mystery Of Iniquity"  and "Oh Jerusalem". What many still don't know is that all of these songs were dedicated to and based upon the actions of a man that she considers to be Christ on earth. His name was Haile Selassie.

The Conquering Lion

Haile Selassie (aka: Tafari Makonnen) (7/1892 - 8/1975), Ethiopia's former Regent (1916-1930) and Emperor (1930- 1975), was an influential world leader, and one that set the standard for NATO and other world organizations as it pertains to peacekeeping and nation building. He was not fond of any official political or economic system and was deposed by communism towards the end of his reign. He claimed to be the distant grandson of direct relation of King Solomon and the Queen Of Sheba (1 Kings 10:13). According to legend, Solomon not only gave the Queen material items, but also impregnated her before she left upon her visit to Jerusalem to speak to teh wise King. As a result this union produced another royal line and offspring of David and another branch of the Jewish nation. 

Haile Selassie's name means "Power of the Trinity" or "Might of the Trinity". Haile is said to have been a member of the  Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church until his death. However, seemingly, beginning in Jamaica in and around 1930, he was hailed by his loyal followers as God incarnate, and Jesus reincarnated. Therefore, he was said by his devotees to have been God in the flesh.

There were also many titles given to him and many names by which he was known to his faithful.  Wikipedia records the following regarding him: 

"During his coronation, Selassie was given many of the same titles used in the Bible: "King of Kings," "Elect of God," and "Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Author of Mankind," "the Power of Authority," etc, are just some of more than 38 titles and anointments placed on Selassie. He also received acclaim from various Christain and Muslim leaders and clergy for the work he performed towards establishing world peace and the brotherhood of mankind. This is one of the primary reasons he is held to be God incarnate. Rastas also refer to Selassie as "His Imperial Majesty" (or the acronym thereof, HIM) and "Jah Rastafari"."

A whole religious movement developed around Selassie, with a proclaimed love for "Zion" ( the place where Haile would rule and lead his people ie: the promised land of peace and tranquility) and a complete disdain for "Babylon" (primarily Western culture and society and the governmental structures and institutions that came along with them) Included in this was also a disdain for the organized church and religion. In fact one of Lauryn Hills famous quotes regarding religion is:

 "Real religion is no religion at all. Truth is the true covering,..."  Lauryn Hill Fox News 6/2002

The church was looked at as being the educated, exalted, and  deceived ones. Under Rastafarian doctrine, the unofficial location of the "church" was "within" the individual, therefore everything that was necessary for success is contained within being or becoming an adherent to Selassie and looking within one's self for an answer. Although not crediting with starting his own movement, Selassie certainly received worship and adored such honor as God. It was said that Haile Selassie, Prince Emmanuel of the Bobo Shanti (aka: Ashanti) tribe of Kumasi, Ghana Africa and famed Afro-American writer Marcus Garvey, are said to be the Holy Trinity or "səllasé, Ge'ez" as both Bobo and Haile were proclaimed as God with Selassie retaining a little more power and authority, and Marcus Garvey as their prophet laying out a prophetic vision for the restoration of Zion.

The Evangelist Of The Music

Legendary singer Bob Marley (6/1945 ~ 5/1981) (Lauryn Hill's former Father In Law) became one of Rastafarian-ism's greatest evangelists mesmerizing stages and huge audiences, (over 100,000 people in Milan shortly before his death due to cancer) with his guitar playing styles. It was said that he was able to sometimes reach notes and rifts that modern guitarists claim that are almost impossible to reach under normal influences. Reggae music and dreadlocks were made a standard of Rastafarian-ism primarily due to Marley's influence. Marley promoted the already developed doctrine of Black Nationalism and Pan-African restorationism. Freedom and liberation of all men was the underpinning of Selassie's message. When asked in an interview about what it meant to be a Rastafarian, Marley responded:

"I would say to the people, Be still, and know that His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is the Almighty. Now, the Bible seh so, Babylon newspaper seh so, and I and I the children seh so. Yunno? So I don't see how much more reveal our people want. Wha' dem want? a white God, well God come black. True true."

Rastas, who do not like their religion called Rastafarian-ism (because they don't believe in isms and skisms), claim, among other things, that Cannabis (marijuana) is a holy weed as it was the first thing to bud on Moses Rod when it was carried in the Ark Of The Covenant. Because of this feel that the use of cannabis is a religious and sacred rite. The practice of Rastafarian-ism is also known as Dread. Those who practice it dressed or resembling the Lion are said to be closest to the true representation of Rastafari when they wear dreadlocks. Wearing dreadlocks however is not required to be a worshipper of Hailie Selassie.  

The Odes

One of the most notable things about Lauryn's presentation is here lyrics. The Conquering Lion is a rewrite of a tribute that Haile Selassie received for many years. In fact the video is full of Pan-African Nationalistic imagery of the Lion wearing a crown, holding a flag with the colors green, red, yellow and brown which indicate the colors of the motherland.

Here are the basic lyrics of the Conquering Lion:

The conquering lion shall break every chain

The conquering lion shall break every chain

Give him the victory again and again and again and again

Give him the victory

The conquering lion shall break every chain

The conquering lion shall break every chain

Give him victory again and again and again and again and again and again

Give us some victory ya, oh, ya

The Conquering Lion shall break every chain, every chain, every chain

Conquering Lion shall break every chain

Give us some victory we need some victory, we need some victory

Again and Again and Again and Again, give give give some victory

Oh, Oh,the conquering lion he'll break every chain, everyone of your chains,

everyone of your chains

The conquering lion he's gonna break all of those chains if you just let him

Give Give him the victory again and again and again and again

Oh, give him the victory

Remember no matter how convincing this may sound, it is not Gospel and it is not worshipping the Jesus of the bible. Lauryn is singing this song to a dead man claimed to be Christ named Haile Selassie.

Here's another, called "Everything Is Everything". In this video, the world, New Your City appears to be a big record being spun and being played by a DJ in the sky. In this case the DJ would be Haile Selassie and the image of the Lion appears to signify that he has control over all of the people. In this song Lauryn references her rap name as "L Boogie", the Abyssinian Baptist Church which not only represents freedom and civil rights born in Harlem New York, but the word Abyssinian means Ethiopia. She mentions other figures such as the late spouse of the late Malcom X, Betty Shabazz, who were also Black Nationalists who at one time believed and taught along with Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. Dubois that Blacks should either return to Ethiopia (Africa) or maintain their own seperate state within the continental United States.



NYC Being Spun By The Grand DJ

Key to understanding the lyrics: One thing to keep in mind is that the "I" in Rastafarian thought represents the God nature that the individual possesses. Speaking of one's self in in terms of "I" drives home the point. ie: We shouldn't say, "Me and you" we should say "I and I". Keep that in mind as you read the following lyrics and come to understand their real meaning:

Everything (Everything)

Is Everything(Is Everything)

What is meant to be, will be

After winter, must come spring

Change, it comes eventually

I wrote these words for everyone

Who struggles in their youth

Who won't accept deception

Instead of what is truth

It seems we lose the game,

Before we even start to play

Who made these rules? We're so confused

Easily led astray

Let me tell ya that

Everything is everything

(Everything is everything)

Everything is everything

After winter, must come spring

Everything is everything

I philosophy

Possibly speak tongues

Beat drum, Abyssinian, street Baptist

Rap this in fine linen

From the beginning

My practice extending across the atlas

I begat this

Flippin' in the ghetto on a dirty mattress

You can't match this rapper / actress

More powerful than two Cleopatras

Bomb graffiti on the tomb of Nefertiti

MCs ain't ready to take it to the Serengeti

My rhymes is heavy like the mind of Sister Betty

L. Boogie spars with stars and constellations

Then came down for a little conversation

Adjacent to the king, fear no human being

Roll with cherubims to Nassau Coliseum

Now hear this mixture

Where hip hop meets scripture

Develop a negative into a positive picture

Now everything, is everything

What is meant to be, will be

After winter, must come spring

Change, it comes eventually

Sometimes it seems

We'll touch that dream

But things come slow or not at all

And the ones on top, won't make it stop

So convinced that they might fall

Let's love ourselves then we can't fail

To make a better situation

Tomorrow, our seeds will grow

All we need is dedication

Let me tell ya that,

Everything is everything

(Everything is everything)

Everything is everything

After winter, must come spring

Everything is everything

Everything is everything

What is meant to be, will be

After winter, must come spring

Change, it comes eventually

La la la la la la la la (until song fades

Claiming that what she is was born on a "dirty mattress" and that she is now more powerful than 2 Cleopatras is quite a contrasting claim. In here vision she is with the "king". Then her mission is to meld hip-hop with scripture to turn a negative into a positive. Once again, she uses what appears to be a positive message to at a minimum divert the attention of the listener from what she is really saying.  

Conclusion

What makes all of this especially interesting is how many Christian treat this subject in modern times. It is clear that Lauryn Hill is not worshipping the God of the bible nor the Jesus of scripture who is the ONLY way of salvation. She is worshipping and honoring a man, a false prophet, who proclaimed to be Christ but is not. Yet she is doing it with words and terms that the church is familiar with. Many church folk are ascribing their meaning to her singing and claiming that she is speaking and teaching about the God of the bible even if referencing something or someone else. This is akin to being thirsty and drinking muddy water. There may be something that temporarily satisfies, but this will make one sick.

Can the Christian ascribe their own meaning to these things and not be damaged by them? Can the the ascription of Haile Selassie as the the "Lion Of Judah" by Lauryn Hill be deemphasized by the meaning that the listener ascribes? However, if something means something, or as Lauryn says, "Everything is Everything", then how can we make it something else other than what it is? Can God and will God use that which is currently being used to serve false God's and idols as an instrument of praise to him? My conclusion is no, but many may have alternate views.

We know who the TRUE LION OF JUDAH IS AND HIS NAME IS JESUS, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Selassie cannot hold a candle to him. Selassie is in the grave Jesus is not and never will he be. Don't give your mind to Lauryn Hill's version of a God made after men. Give it to the real, one and only true God and savior. He is the only one that can heal. Lord help the church and the true believers.

Blessed!