Skyzoo, stic.man (of dead prez) and more make an appearance on the latest installment of NahRight & John Public’s video series.
God and Hip-Hop have always had a complicated relationship. We wanted to explore first whether fans of the music wanted to talk about God, but also if the two can successfully co-exist in a mainstream capacity. What we found was unexpected: people WANTED to talk about it and there were a wide-range of opinions on the topic from both artists and fans that raised the question of if the industry and pop culture are truly in touch with what people on the corner and in their homes are talking about. This episode features Skyzoo, stic.man of Dead Prez and a good number of opinionated music consumers talking back and revealing some surprisingly honest perspectives on a topic considered taboo.
PREVIOUS: NahMean ep.2: Sensationalist Journalism in Hip Hop (Video) | NahMean ep.1: Style Over Substance The Radio Dilemma (Video)
I think keeping your faith of God in music is key. I am a Christian and you’ll definitely here the sentiments all throughout my music. I was just talking with a friend about this yesterday. I don’t consider myself a “Christian rapper” because I think that genre itself isolates people. I do however keep my lyrics clean and try to be a positive influence with my music contrary to the mission of some other artists.
I think the judgmental approach to letting people know about your faith is an ignorant route. I would love if maybe more people came to Christ to understand what he’s done for me, but I would never go to someone and say “You need to do this or you go to hell”. That’s just dumb. It’s especially annoying when some people do it in music. Now don’t get me wrong, I listen to a lot of Christian rap music as well, but it’s just not something I’d like to call my music. I’d rather make feel good, universal music for EVERYBODY to enjoy. I’ll talk about my faith and what God has done for me and hope people will be influenced by that…on their own time, at their own free will.
I think certain people in hip hop who used God as a gimmick and became hypocritical have ruined the real idea of keeping God in your music. (Mase anyone?) He’s one of my favorite artists, at least in the Top 20, but I feel he’s been one of the figures who have ruined this for people.
I really agreed with the guy who said Hip Hop is about self expression and you should decide how you want to represent yourself based on your own terms as an artist.
“Hip Hop is what you make it so I chose to make it right.”
Mike Dreams said this on September 25th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Erykah Badu – Twinkle
Word said this on September 25th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I have no faith in God only faith in my people, and when i say my people i mean the human race as a whole. For every negative action that mankind has done it is not god who brings the positive its yet again the people. So it makes me sad when people say they only have power through god because they are then forgetting the ultimate power of themselves i.e. individuality and personal perspective which is what truly motivates, whether it be for the negative or positive.
ZFree said this on September 25th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I can respect that opinion ZFree, but I’d have to wholeheartedly disagree. God created people, therefore you can’t have one without the other. I think people just choose to deny him and decide we just came about into existence to make it easier on themselves. All the good that is done by people is a direct reflection of what God already put inside of us.
Mike Dreams said this on September 25th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I respectfully disagree mike, good and evil are not inside us at birth. it is true though that there is potential for both, but only after we have gained some sort of perspective through life experiences can we then choose our path. I know it is a nice thought that there is someone watching over us as some sort of proverbially father figure, but at the end of the day you have to realize it is you and only you that ultimately decides what your impact on the world is.
that is not to say that i am sure you have made plenty of good decisions based on your beliefs and positive momentum, but as reggie said “there is a dark side.”
zfree said this on September 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
i was really hoping this beautiful vlog didnt start one of these stupid debates, everyone has an opinion Mike Dreams though i agree with almost 100% of your 1st msg even the bible says when ppl start these type of debates 4u2 leave it alone its not our job to “change” people just present the message ;) iPROMISEMUSIC.COM
Stayblessed
Promise said this on September 26th, 2009 at 7:14 am
I most definately reject God and/or it’s concepts. Im even proud about it, but that’s being arrongant. I grew up BRAINWASHED in the church but I honestly never really believed because even as a little kid I knew nothing was the way it was just because. And the hunger for “WHY?” only gets stronger as you get older.
Hip Hop gave me courage to become athiest, as crazy as it may seem. The passion rappers would convey with their fearless attitudes was the catalyst, not necessarily the content. Tupac, Nas, and Ice Cube taught me to think for myself and never follow another man’s plan.
I do believe God exists…ONLY IN THE MIND, anything outside of that is CASTRUATING the word REALITY. How do I know God is NOT real you ask? How can I say that without proof? Because FAITH gives me that right. Faith is belief based on NO RATIONAL PROOF or EVIDENCE…
If something is so powerful and grand then why do you need FAITH to simply perceive it’s reality??? FAith is poison and can make you BLIND to thousand year old lies…believe that
dirty needles said this on September 26th, 2009 at 8:48 am
People believe what they want to believe, period. That is simply the way things will always be. Everyone invest their faith somewhere. When it comes down to these opposing opinions (or any), often times the real problem is lack of respect. People are too quick to pass judgment on the next man. I don’t completely agree with dirty needles, but he is right in the fact that faith regards something we cannot prove. No one on this earth can prove that God does or does not exist. We can only choose what route of faith we take based upon what we actually do know (which often times is very little), and believe to be true. We’ve all made a choice in this matter. I’m thankful we have the freedom to talk about it.
JP said this on September 29th, 2009 at 12:02 am