I always find it kind of funny when accepting an award for his hit "Kill em all; Till they Fall" ; MC Pullatrigga gets on the mic and says, "First of all, I would like to thank God…" Or during a magazine interview , Sexxx Thugstress, innocently, tells a reporter how her close relationship with her Savior gave her the strength to write "If the Escalade is Rockin' Don't be Knockin." As grandma would say, "Chile let me move 'cause I know that lightnin' is fixin' to strike…."
From as far back as history records, Afrikan people have had a reverence for the Supreme Being. From the African people who laid the foundation for modern
religion, to the old lady across the street who never misses a Sunday service, rain, sleet or snow, we have always had a strong spiritual connection with the Creator. Many of us have vivid memories of receiving our first whippin' for mocking Rev. Jones or Sis. Ruth Ann when she got in "the spirit" one Sunday morning.
We found out early that playin' with "tha lawd", was a definite, No, No!
Historically, music and Spirituality have walked hand in hand as music is more than just something to help us get our party on but is a divine expression of our respect for the gift of LIFE. It was our spirit filled song that helped us keep the FAITH, even when we were being beaten by the slave master and forced to work in the hot cotton fields from sun up to sun down and it will be our song that leads us to the LIBERATION of our people from mental slavery The Spirituality of Afrikan people has always been thorn in the side of the oppressor. Our FAITH has been like that trick birthday candle that no matter how hard you try, you just can't blow it out. We have been like a Spirit filled energizer bunny playin' an African drum, we
just keep going and going.
For many young brotha's and sista's who are disillusioned with organized religion, today Hip Hop has become the faith of choice. Maybe for some, the rules and regulations of the other religions were just too hard to follow so they turned to the cardinal rule of Hip Hop "if it feels good, do it" or more likely, they simply rejected the idea that they had to have the word of God interpreted by white Kings and other
European writers. So, instead they traded in the King James version of the Bible for the gospel according to the white owned media and entertainment industry who
at least had the foresight to put pictures of Black people on the covers of their magazines. So, the LAWS revealed to Moses were traded in for the 10 Crack
Commandments.
While many rappers reflect "the Life is Hell" philosophy in their lyrics, I doubt very seriously that any other religion outside of Holy Hip Hop considers eternal torment living in a 5 million dollar mansion with an Olympic sized swimming pool. However,
some rappers are helping to perpetuate the hell-ish conditions that Afrikan people are experiencing, globally by aiding our mental enslavement that keeps
us under the foot of the white supremacist system.
Sadly, many of the brotha's and sista's in Hip Hop are fully aware that they are leading Afrikan children down the path of destruction but have made a conscious
decision to sell the destiny of our people for 30 pieces of silver or a platinum chain.
The problem is that our Afrikan Spirituality makes it hard for us to believe that anyone could be so evil as to use our music and Spirituality as a genocidal
weapon. So many have underestimated the depths that white supremacists would sink to keep the masses of Afrikan people oppressed.
Some will argue that it is "only music", but as dude from the movie, "the Usual Suspects" said "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing
the world he didn't exist." The oppressor knows that the only way to totally destroy a people is to separate them from their connection to the Creator. Once their Spiritual immune system is broken down, the people are left open to all the vices that plague the planet, drugs, disease, violence, etc.
When faced with this TRUTH, many young brotha's will defiantly shout, "Only God can judge me!!!!" However, there is such a thing as corporate responsibility and
the actions of one member of the Afrikan family, affect the whole, including future generations. So to answer the age old question, "I am my Brother's keeper."
Our African ancestors knew that it was not only the right, but the responsibility of the elders to give guidance to the younger generation because it was they who would determine the future of the tribe. But today even, our most learned elders seem to be intimidated by children just because they can quote rap lyrics like the old folks quote scripture. When the adults in the Afrikan familiy stop trying to win a popularity
contest with 14 year olds and stand up and speak TRUTH, then will the end of our oppression come.
Most religions have some sort of Judgement Day when TRUTH is revealed; when a persons deeds are weighed in the balance against the Universal principles of
Righteousness. A day when LIGHT (KNOWLEDGE) eventually overcomes DARKNESS (LIES). Even though some rappers think that they can defy the law of Reciprocity by raising hell all year long and giving out a free turkey at Thanksgiving.
Rappers Bone Thugs-n-Harmony once asked "What ya gonna do; when there ain't no place to hide, when judgement comes for you?" So Hip Hop, today is at the
Crossroads. We must make a decision as to which road we will take, the road to LIBERATION or the road to SLAVERY. The path that will insure a future for the
next generation or the path that will lead to its destruction.
To borrow from an old Public Enemy interlude; "Right vs. Wrong; Good vs. Evil; God vs. the Devil; what side you on?"
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott represents the Messianic
Afrikan Nation in Durham NC. He can br reached at
(919) 451-8283
Has Hip Hop Lost its SOUL ?...Hip Hop and Spirituality will be the next topic on Shairi's Radio. Friday night Novemeber 17th at 8:40 PM EST.
Listen live at http://www.wxdu.org Shairi's Radio is hosted by Monica Daye and Tim
Jackson every Friday Night 8PM-10PM EST with
commentary by TRUTH Minista Paul Scott (Hip Hop
Refugee in Exile)
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