Well, my friends, we're almost there. This is officially my second to last blog on SOHH.com. At this point, I encourage even the silent readers who never responded to my blogs before to chime in.
Last Saturday night, I was watching "Showtime at the Apollo" and during the amateur talent show segment, I noticed that some of the artists understood that if they came out and sang a gospel song, their chances of being booed were clearly reduced, whether they could sing or not. I began to wonder, do we hide behind God's name in order to shield ourselves from public criticism? Think about it. Why does it seem as though artists like Michelle Williams and Tweet were totally satisfied singing about being "Bootylicious" and touching themselves ("Oops"), respectively, yet with the stroke of a pen, they flip-flop and praise the Lord in the name of gospel music and potential unit sales? I'm not suggesting that these particular young ladies didn't experience some life-altering rebirth or change; however, it did seem a bit bizarre to see Michelle Williams return to Destiny's Child to sing secular music after her change already occurred. And, I had the opportunity to be on a music panel with Tweet where every other word out of her mouth was "Praise Jesus."
You and I know that the power of gospel music consumers is solid and far-reaching, but it goes further than that. Even rappers are jumping in on the "use God as a shield" act. Or is it really an act? It doesn't seem as though rappers are concerned with appealing to that religious audience yet one of DMX's last singles was "Lord Give Me A Sign." Yes, this thing reaches further than any specific denomination, when even Lupe Fiasco proudly proclaims his Muslim faith as part of the reason for his unique outlook on music and culture. Don't get it twisted, in no way am I dissing any artist who announces their faith in their music and lifestyle. For even I use my co-authoring of "Jesus Walks" as part of the advertisement for Rhymefest as an artist. And like Lupe, I have publicly embraced my Islamic faith. Although, I personally have a difficult time calling myself a Muslim (one who submits his will to God) because I'm still striving to totally submit myself to God. So let's make this clear, sum it up and ask the questions:
1) Clarity: We're not talking about partial submission to God or using God's name as a marketing tool. We're talking about totally submitting our lives to the idea of a power greater than record sales, saving face in lieu of criticism or even our own physical lives.2) Sum It Up: It seems as though every artist finds their spiritual enlightenment until shit gets poppin' again, from Pastor Ma$e to Gorilla Unit, from R. Kelly's "Feelin' On Yo Booty" to "U Saved Me" back to "Hit It Til The Mornin (ft. Do Or Die & Twista)" and many more to come.
3) Questions:
a) Is this honestly just a natural part of human spiritual progression, exposed to the public eye?
b) How do you think God feels about us using him as a shield for our personal inadequacies?
c) Is it okay to invoke God's name, even if only once, if that message truly helps someone? Even if it's just once?
Talk to me...
Hallelujah!
EL CHE
#1 bitch.
We all gonna fall short of the prophet!!!!!!
I don't think they are hiding behind God's name, I think they are humans and they are introduced to an idea and start to feel a certain way and want to be a certain person. Yet, they struggle with what they used to be and they may go back to that, in the process contradicting themselves. Using God's name for record sales would be way worse then giving yourself to him and then making the mistake of going back to how you used to be. Everyone has their struggles in life, and if you look at it, one moment you may be "feeling the spirit" and acting holy and whatnot, but the next you may be cussing out the baby mama.
I say if you wanna praise God don't talk about it BE about it.
RE: "..satisfied singing about being "Bootylicious" and touching themselves ("Oops"), respectively, yet with the stroke of a pen, they flip-flop and praise the Lord.."
Why should it be one or the other when it comes to sex and spirituality?
I think its alot of both. You have some artist who use it as a marketing tool and then some artist who truly believe.
I don't think its a bad thing I think that no human is perfect thats why the world is the way it is. The thing we are seeing in Music is the things every body goes through and thats impure thoughts wondering if believing is enough. Doubting yourself its a human thing its not something people can hide. Even Gospel artist have these troubles they just don't from a music stand point because thats what we see of them. Kirk Franklin was addicted to PORN. Dosen't mean he is going to hell it just means he is human and he is not perfect that is why Jesus died because no one else could attone for our sins. I say keep God in the music it shows that God is in these people trying to reach us.
Rhymefest.... Bless....The truth is Everybody believe in god but a the same time nobody believes in God...Its sounds strange but its real....Much Respect...Myspace.com/bottlesbaby
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I think you have a point that some people hide behind GOD and this isn't just music artist but athletes and other entainers as well. I think it also represents a conflict in us of sorts. I believe we all want to walk in the righteous path but yet we have that other side to us which is our human side that steers us away from that path at times. We make decisions all the time that are not so GODLY. But yet deep down inside we have a strong love for our creator and we do cherish his gifts that's why people will give him praise one day and make music that is anything but godly the next.
Fest...well I had been seeing these blogs but honestly hadn't checked them out until today. Glad I did though because it is a great topic to spark the mind!! I think the guy who used the Kirk Franklin example is a good one. The man does nothing but gospel music, but in his personal life has an addiction to porno. But still when you are supposedly representing the Word of God, you can't be bootylicious and dance half naked, and then say ,"Well that wasn't the real me. I am about gospel music now!" That's crazy! It is always hard in the music biz because people always want to classify you, so maybe Michelle can't talk a certain way because Destiny's Child has to be for everyone and not alienate people. I can't say that only true believers wouldn't sacrifice their beliefs for money or exposure because that is why we all strive to better ourselves everyday. CHECK THE MUSIC.........who am i kidding you never will..........WELL KEEP THE FAME FEST CUZ IT'S JUST TO BRIGHT FOR ME.....one
Does making a song about being bootylicious automatically prohibit you from expressing your religious beliefs and/or giving praise to your God. People make songs about all kinds of issues and just because you some of your raps contain explicit lyrics doesnt mean you cant speak on other issues. Tupac anyone?????
It's interesting that people think Christians are supposed to be perfect. They aren't. No one is. It's not even possible. So just because they sing secular music doesn't mean they are not Christian. Michelle was a Christian on Bootylicious and on her gospel album.
I used to think that I couldn't go to church in my early 20s because I was still clubbing. My neighbor said, "If you are waiting to become perfect to go to church you will never get there." Everyone sins. EVERYONE. That doesn't mean you can't sing gospel music.
By the way, I have seen bad gospel singers booed on Apollo.
myspace/unknown@streetstructure.com
Put a sock in it Jafee! (lol sorry couldn't resist)
You said yourself that you wanted to explore the duality of man. Please be careful not to call the kettle...
See the thing is one of the few laws is dont use God's name in vain...to use in vain to use it without purpose..these guys obviously use this to show that they know where the source of all things arise...not the cars, flow, but the great Elohim..the issue is God doesnt sell so to sell they revert to what does: sex, perversion, (gaining the world yet losing the soul) I judge no man because as a Christian i have stared at girls rears and be like dang i would like to have that..which is just a sinful as writing a song....but I know where my source of life is and as I do so I repent...God placed the human element of choice in all so we can be responsible to the facts of life. Struggle, greed, lust, and the overcoming of it. We dont know if these individuals are doing it for the love of Christ or just the vainess of personal glory God decides. But as for me I dare not judge whether or not.
quit your fucking whining and shut the fuck up. You talentless piece of shit
You do have an interesting point. But to answer your questions, it is a part of natural human progression. We are man, we are gonna sin, but what's important is that we actually live and not want to sin and try as hard as we can to be closer to God. It's no different from you and I, who talk about being blessed and then go and fornicate and curse each other out. The difference is that these artists are so exposed and once they have a lane, consumers want consistency. Consumers are humans and like to exploit someone else's weakness.
ok really you are boring me (corporate white guy tone)
fairy tales don't belong in music.
Rhymefest ft Kanye West "More" Video!
Now available to view on YouTube!
Beat by Cool and Dre.
Directed by Konee Rok.
Featuring appearances by: Methodman, Lupe Fiasco, Blackthought, Q-Tip, Rakim, Little Brother, Ras Kass, Saigon, Kid Capri, Sway, Malik Yusef, Mikky, Teefa, Twone Gabz, Animal House and Bump J.
Being a Christian myself i know that the first thing we shouldnt do is judge because as the bible says if we were able to judge each other than we would not get judged at the end. That being said i think that's its a good thing that they do mention the Lord when they can (it shows somw faith) and being in the entertainment business they are more prone to the attacks of the outside world (especially sexuality seeing how things are so sexualy explicit today). It is also important not forget that there is no such thing as overcoming sin since sin was here b4 our existence and will be here after we pass. Faith only gives us the power to survive it but sometimes we may fall again in it since were constantly tested throughout life (ex : Kirk Franklin). What's important is to try and repent and BE AWARE of when we do wrong and REPENT for it whenever possible.
Being a human being is a contradiction within itself. We all have a negative side and a positive side.
Oh yeah. Deeez Nuuutz will fund the revolution.
I don't mean to get away from the subject but check this out. I read this article in a baltimore newspaper/site that says something about what we've been discussing through all of Fest's blogs. Now I have to say it's long but it's interesting so if you don't want to read it, or are mad that I took up so much space, I'm not hard to find if you want to voice your complaints (www.myspace.com/venomoustechnology). I didn't mean to use you as a media outlet, but I want you to read it too (Fest), it lets me know that we (as a group) aren't the only ones thinking this. Like I say, it's long but hey, it's better than reading "Flavor Flav" a million times. Peace and infinitely go against the grain
-VenTech
You can get straight to the article here
A husky black man dressed garishly in drag - blue wig, frosted lipstick - raps and fries chicken on what appears to be a makeshift plantation as African-American children dance around him, sucking on chicken bones. The scene is from "Fry That Chicken" by Ms. Peachez, a music video that in the last two months has been downloaded more than 600,000 times on Youtube. The song has also received spins on urban stations.
It was preceded by an even bigger hit: DJ Webstar & Young B's "Chicken Noodle Soup," which for months has been a mainstay on black radio and in clubs, the video a favorite on Youtube and MTV. The nonsensical song even spawned a dance - a shuffling, arm-flapping jig that grinning black kids perform in the video.
But another current rap hit, "Chain Hang Low" by Jibbs, makes a more direct connection to minstrelsy. As recently pointed out in the New York Times, the song is built on the 19th-century melody of "Zip Coon" or depending on the lyrics "Turkey in the Straw," one of the most popular tunes from the blackface era. Here's a snippet of Jibbs' interpolation: Do your chain hang low/Do it wobble to the flo'/Do it shine in the light/Is it platinum/Is it gold.
These ubiquitous urban hits seem to whistle in a disturbing sub-trend in hip-hop. Free of irony or tongue-in-cheek cleverness, so-called "minstrel rap" appears to be a throwback to the days when performers (some black, some white) rubbed burnt cork on their faces and depicted African-Americans as buffoons. Excluding Ms. Peachez, these new millennium minstrel rappers don't sport painted faces. But the music, dances and images in the videos are clearly reminiscent of the era when pop culture reduced blacks to caricatures: lazy "coons," grinning "pickaninnies," sexually super-charged "bucks."
"Minstrelsy has never died. It has evolved," says Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, associate professor of theater at Virginia Commonwealth University. Through The Conciliation Project, a nonprofit arts organization she oversees, Pettiford-Wates uses old minstrelsy to spark open dialogue about racism in modern America. "My problem with minstrel hip-hop is that it exploits the images but doesn't put them in any context. You just get these images and no desire to unmask or interrogate them."
The desire to challenge the images may not exist because the performers are young and probably ignorant of the history. Jibbs, the St. Louis rapper behind the catchiest minstrel rap record on the airwaves, is only 16. His debut, Jibbs Feat Jibbs, entered Billboard's pop album chart at No. 11, selling more than 80,000 spurred by the Top 10 single "Chain Hang Low."
"The problem is that the young people are unaware of the mockery - the correlation between the minstrel shows of the past and the 'Chicken Noodle Soup' dance," says Chloe Hilliard, news editor at The Source, the New York-based hip-hop magazine. "It's the whole issue of airing our dirty laundry. It's one thing of laughing about it among ourselves. But it's another thing of showing this behavior to the mainstream as if this is all we do - dance around and eat fried chicken."
Some argue that "minstrel rap" is just an innocuous extension of youth culture, that it doesn't warrant any sociopolitical context.
"Hasn't there always been dance songs like 'Chicken Noodle Soup'?" asks Jon Caramanica, music editor at VIBE magazine. "Haven't black and white kids always danced around, flapping their arms? It becomes easy to write off substance-free records. I'm trying to understand why they have relevance. It's worth noting the song in its natural locus instead of putting any sociopolitical weight on it that it never intended to have."
Rap, like every other genre under pop's broad umbrella, seems to be more off-balance these days than before. Style often supplants substance and creativity. With CD sales plummeting and no respected, lyrically sharp rapper dominating the game, the time is ripe for "different" sounds and images in hip-hop - even those with perhaps unconscious minstrel overtones.
"It's a form of escapism, yes," says The Source's Hilliard. "It's all about free, creative expression. But there's not enough of a balance. You will see 'Chicken Noodle Soup' on MTV but not enough of, say, Lupe Fiasco, because everybody wants to shuck and jive, dance and sing."
If it sells, then labels will certainly flood the market with more of it.
"There's this misconception that people want gangsta or minstrel rap," says Carl Chery, senior correspondent for SOHH.com, an urban music Web site. "I don't want to make it a race issue. But a lot of the [record label] executives selling this stuff are white. They just assume people want that from black performers. All it takes is one act, like 50 Cent or Lil' Jon, to sell a lot of records, then labels look for more of the same."
Is there a possibility that "minstrel rap" could mushroom?
"If it's a movement, it's definitely in the infant stage," Chery says. "But if it keeps going, people will have to protest about it - at least you hope people will protest about it."
Fest, it's a damn shame you'll be ending your blogs. You write a lot of good shit! Even these bitches that hate you take the time out to read what you're sayin and that alone is very powerful. The fact that they take time out of their day to show hate.. wow. Those are the same people that tomorrow will throw god down your throat and beg for their sins to be forgiven. It's funny shit cuz then they do it again the next day.
Hypocrites.
Believing in and praising a higher power is one thing. Believing that higher power will save you from all the evil you do on a daily basis is bullshit. In music and in every day life.
Keep doin you Fest!
u got good blogs Fest! when u done wit ya album u need to come back!
Rhymefest, I believe people using religion as a shield is not only a problem in the music world but, in general life
Their is no Right/Wrong anwser to this topic. It Is a matter of taste. Nobody is perfect except, the one and only.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD PRETEND TO BE ONE DIMENTIONAL. IF AN ARTIST RAPS OR SINGS ABOUT KILLING, FUCKING, & SMOKING ON EVERY SONG THEN YOU HAPPEN TO SEE THEM @ CHURCH OR A PTA MEETING, BEING A RESPONSIBLE PARENT & HUMAN BEING, DO YOU CALL THEM OUT AS FAKE B/C THEY AREN'T DOING WHAT WE EXPECT THEM TO DO? NOBODY FEELS THE SAME WAY ALL THE TIME. TODAY YOU MIGHT PRAY LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT . TOMORROW YOU MAY SLAP THE TASTE OUTTA SOMEBODY. WE ARE ALL WORKS IN PROGRESS.
You're right I don't like these pastors who are in the closet then are homophobic and hate on gay people what's up with that nonsense one love
i see it as takin small steps man...your probably right about the sales thing but im the same way tho...at least in using the lords name in my own music...i have always had faith but now is wen im actually gettin into the bible...this world is getting crazy and religion just seems to be the keystone to hold on to when shit really goes down
"this world is getting crazy and religion just seems to be the keystone to hold on to when shit really goes down"
sooooo... you hope a fairy tale will make it all go away?
PEOPLE WILL DO ANYTHING TO APPEAL TO OTHERS BUT WHAT THEY DONT REALIZE IS THAT GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS AND THATS WHAT WE WILL BE JUDGED ON ALOT OF PEOPLE USE GOD FOR SHOW! SO THAT OTHERS WILL SEE THEM AS A GOOD PERSON AND SOME OF US USE HIM WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE! ITS NOT OUR JOBS TO WORRY ABOUT WHATS OTHER PEOPLES INTENTIONS ARE THOUGH CUZ IN THE END WILL WE TO BE JUDGED JUST THE SAME AS THEM. SO WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON OUR SELFS AND SET BETTER EXAMPLES. I TO FALL. I GO TO CHURCH AND PRAY THEN DAYS LATER I FIND MYSELF DOING THE SAME THINGS. WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE FAITH WE CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT THE THINGS THAT CONTROLL OUR THOUGHTS SEX MONEY DRUGS! WE CAN CLAIM VICTORY OVER THOSE THINGS BUT WITHOUT GOD THERE IS NO WAY. BLESS ALL
its crazy how you get mad at kramer for him saying that shyt about blacks on stage, but when things like yesterdays godwon battle on the houston blog when rapper "godwon" called the dude he was battleing a HOLE bunch of racial things towards whites. thats not right eaither. or when jin battle that one dude and the guy was saying mad racial things towards chinese people . i think some blacks need to wake up cause all them slave owners are all dead. and just cause they were white its like you say things towards whites that have nothing to do with any slave bull shyt. some white cops and some people in the government dont like blacks. but a normal white person with a regular job thats not in the goverment has nothing to do with slaves.innocent white people are being targets by blacks as if they owe them something because a certian group of whites put blacks in slaves a long time ago.let me tell you somethings whites dont owe you shyt and you have no right to blame them for slavery just because a certian group of whites put blacks in slaves.those people are dead. theirs a lot of mess up cops that treat blacks like shyt still in 2006 but to blame all whites that had nothing to do with certian things is racism.its like blacks want payback against innocent white people.their blameing innocent white people that never put blacks in slavery and your being real fucked up towards them.im sorry i wont be a victim for your payback. if a black dude calls me a cracker i will press charges against them. and i will go to the press.also im gonna leave you with this thought. you blame the white man for killing blacks and calling them nigas a long time ago. but in 2006 it seems your the ones killing each other and calling your selfs nigaz. peace.
hey rhymfest im diggin what ur doin man i have so many topics u can use for blogs concerning hip hop and everyday life if u need them hit me up sanders3480@sbcglobal.net
Anyone making that attempt to submit themselves to their faith will realize that it is not an easy task to deal with...to deal with well OURSELVES !!! That SELF is a greedy , SELFserving, SELFgratifying, and SELFconscious ! When you change SELF its not going to happen overnight, it can, I guess, but if you have 5-10-15+ years of old habits and "bad" ways a relapse is probably in the works. As hard as it is to change SELF for SELF's sake it is harder to change in the eyes of OTHERS. OTHER's eyes are a mofo !!!!! OTHER's can't wait to point that finger and yell AHA!!! thats the same old SELF fresh off the shelf.
Trying to change SELF in the eyes of the world, i.e. music and entertainment industry, is XXXtra hard, I think you can feel me Rhymefest, because in "the industry" everything that goes against anyones religion or faith is abundance and dancing around tempting you in your face. Everyday, every second is a sacrifice, whether your sacrificing a piece of your bad SELF for righteousness sake and building up your new and improved SELF or giving in to your bad SELF for the pleasure principle.
Nobody ever said that change is easy or instantaneous, but it can be, if YOU want it to be and make YOUR mind up for it to be that way.
With that said, if 0NE is looking at the world through TRUE eyes one can smell the bull before one sees the bull, feelme?! Alot of times I know I can "sense" when something is not right, or someone is lying to me, or if I am about to do something that might be good/bad for me. Maybe this "sense" isn't as "common" as it used to be. Or maybe its becoming too "common" for people to put faith in "dollars and cents". When artists change all I can do is pray and hope that they can stand strong in their journey and if they fall get up and keep going......all I can do in my OWN journey is stand strong, and if I fall get up and keep going.
I hope I haven't lost too many of y'all with my words but U gotta feelme it makes "sense".....
this is ya boy J. Henn/A "J" and some Henn/John Hennry signing out
chunkin da deuce
You have made a very valid point. If these artist and people and general really had a relationship with GOD and undrestood what GOD stands for and what GOD's standards are, they wouldn't do, say, write, nor perform some of this degrading music. Embracing GOD not only involves embracing the things we like about GOD, but it involves a complete surrendering of your will because you know that HE knows whats best for you. We as a people do not like to struggle, we do not like to walk where we aren't familiar, we do not like to totally and completely trust anyone, but the whole basis of being a believer in GOD is that we walk by faith and not by sight and because we trust that HE knows our future and HE knows whats best for us, we can trust HIM with our lives, our walk, our finances, and whatever else. I am not blind to the fact that sometimes its hard and we will doubt and struggle, but at some point, it should be very clear where you stand in your relationship with GOD. The bible says to judge a tree by the fruit that it bears. Our fruit that we show determines how people and GOD views us.
Fest-
You have to look at yourself and the difference between Islam and Christianity. I'm no theology expert, but as Christians we believe that there are no perfect individuals so you should always be working on yourself and striving.
Why would you assume they had to undergo some kind of "change" in life. No, these are people that were raised in church and God is always a part of their lives so when DMX feels like talking about it, he lets you know. He's also a drug addict but what are you saying? He shouldn't mention God until he completely kicks his habit? That's not the way it works homie. Not in Christianity.
The spiritual path is rarely a straight road, there are twists and turns, valleys and peaks. I think that the music business is no different that every aspect of waking life. There are time when you feel close to your spiritual side, and there are times where it seems distant or non-existant.
THANKYOU, I hate that on the apollo and every other talent show. I've been to christian shows and they have these people that look like mimes acting out songs and that shit is so whack and when I ask why, they say its powerful. Get the Fuck out of here, that is garbage and unentertaining, but to each his own. Moving on, I am a muslim and I have come to believe that, one doesn't have a choice, but to submit to the will of god, that's why everyone is a muslim, no matter the religion. Allah says be and is, so there's no choice, but to submit. He allows you to do what you do or he doesn't. He allows you to choose right or wrong. I go through the same struggle as you, though, I have wrongs to be righted and repented for, so I can feel where your coming from. I think most people limit Allah's power, too. Why worship something that isn't all powerfull?
sorry to spoil it but their is no god their never was .science has proven from dna sequencing and studys from the earth that this world was hitt million times with asteroids at one time this world was mostley lava . after years the lava cooled down and form water the earth changed its temp allowing life to be formed by organisms in the water those organism turn it to fish after millions and millions of years we became land animals and such. and we evolved into humans . science proved that, god was never proven. people found old books and stones about god and the bible. but it was never proven that any of those events happend. it could have been just some story or some type of play that somebody wrote and thought it was true.thats like if i write on a peace of paper that i have 14 heads 13 ears and i could fly and i throw the paper out the window and thousand years someone finds it and think it was true. you know how many crazy things people belived a long time ago? some people thought a hawk was some type of god. all im saying is i go by science and what was proven.dont get me wrong church is a nice place full of peace but as the hole god thing sorry its not true.i mean really who are you gonna belive some old peace of paper or people that put rockets to the moon. a lot of things around you are mad by science not the bible. the facts are their. some people just dont wanna think of the fact that they dont no whats gonna happend when they die. insted of thinking about how you want things to happend when you die. you need to think about your not gonna know what happends. some people cant get threw that. theirs things in space and in this world that are beyond thought.theirs a lot of things out their find the facts first before you wanna follow something. oh and as for the 5 percents nation, sorry but god doesnt sell crack and herion if you really think you are god im pee wee hermans gran father. were did the white man come from? well you se the cave man came from the same parts as blacks and indians but the white man moved to difrent loc.well think about this before you pray to some ones who isent their. you have your self find your self.
...i agee with enlightened. It's like when someone said a couple of posts back that they heard "if you're waiting till you're perfect to go to church you'll never get there", you can't wait until you've kicked the drug habit to praise God, He's whats gonna pull you out that mess one way or another...
...and I'm really feelin these blogs fest..Gonna hate to see you go...
this all ways happends when rappers dont sell whats next rhyme fest is it the white mans fault you sold only 70 thousand copies, do me a fav rhyme fest stop rapping cause your wack,just become kanyes handyman youll get paidd well.your trying to do something that has been done allready ..
As when it comes to the Apollo I believe it all falls the performer's intention.....some may hide behind a gospel song to fend off booooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! But that performer just may be compelled to sing and praise, in public in a hostile environment, just for the sake of praise !! Gospel Music, the church, is where a lot of artists/musicians/writers get their start because you are given a platform. But this is still the Apollo and if you ain't got IT they ain't gonna vote for you fully in the end no matter what u do !! You have to have IT at the Apollo !!
What also makes GOD so great is that you have people like Tupac, DMX, BIGGIE whose lives, extreme highs and lows are displayed in front of us like a movie and WE SEE that these "stars" are just like US...whether you are Muslim, Christian, or whatever LIFE plays out like scriptures. Even in death these artists music/lives continue to teach and inspire and as long WE, like DMX, are living there is a story to tell and a parable to unfold.
check out the we fly high beef mix by jim jones, jim jones lets jay zs verse go in then jim jones adlibs the first jay z verse while laughing then jim diss jay in the second verse and at the end of the song jim takes it back too 1999 when big pun hitt jay z over the head with some chris its crazy damn their really going at me
It quotes the lord said....he doesnt like thinks that are lukewarm for he will spit it out....meaning whether be hot or cold...be for the lord or against him....meaning you cant go around saying praise the lord then turn around and start cussing out the storm
DAMN FEST I DID NOT EVEN KNOW YOU WERE ON HERE. I JUST KNEW YOU STOPPED POSTING ON MYSPACE BLOGS. GOOD TO SEE YOU ARE STILL AT IT. MY QUESTION TO YOU AFTER LISTENING TO YOUR NEW CD IS WHAT PROPMTED YOU TO WRITE JESUS WALKS???? I ASKED THIS BEFORE... DID YOU SAY OOOH I KNOW, I WILL WRITE A GOSPEL RAP AND THAT WILL BOOST MY SALES???? OR DID A FEELING OF GRATITUDE COME OVER YOU AND YOU JUST WANTED TO GIVE THANKS ??IT'S FUNNY THAT YOUR TITLE IS DON'T HIDE BEHIND GOD WHEN THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD TELLS US TO DO!!! DO YOU NOTICE HOW MUCH EVIL AND TEMPTATION IS SURROUNDING US EVERYDAY??AND HOW MUCH WE FALL SHORT OF HIS GLORY??? IF WE DIDN'T HAVE HIM TO HIDE BEHIND, THE DEVIL WOULD SWALLOW US WHOLE. YOU DAMN RIGHT I AM GOING TO HIDE BEHIND GOD 24-7 BECAUSE I KNOW HE IS MY ONLY PROTECTION FROM THIS WORLD FULL OF DEMONS, AND HIM AS MY SHIELD IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP FROM BECOMING A DEMON MYSELF!~THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED!
Man...Resurrect really did a good job explaining that layout...anyway....its for the lack of knowledge that the people will perish. The allure of the game and what comes with it have numbed our spirits to the detriments of our flesh. It is with this ploy that Devil has decided to attack a generation of young black people that ascend from a race raped into existence. We've never had so he gives. Because the Devil blesses to, i believe. Hiding behind God is literally a good thing at all times...because God and evil cannot abide....a hise divided by itself will not stand.