Loving You is Complicated
Comfort and Affliction in Hip Hop Theology
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Loving You is Complicated
Hip Hop lyrics stick in the mind like urban Psalms: some filled with rage and some (a few) with tenderness. They are verbal tattoos burned into the heart, giving a sense of community and identity. Often they contain their own implicit theologies: offering a sense of who God is, who God isn't, where God is, where God isn't, what God is, what God isn't. They leave the listener with a need to decide for himself, for herself, for themselves, again and again. Like any good Psalm, there is no closure. They likewise function as prayers: that is, ways of talking to a Holy One, filled with spiritual fires, who has no fixed address but is often found among those who are otherwise "othered" by mainstream society. Jesus knew these fires. In word and deed, he comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable. Hip Hop lyrics do the same. In word and deed and sound and image, they comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Watch Kendrick Lamar's God is Gangsta; you'll see. The sounds and images are texts, too. As the lyrics and sounds and images perform their sacred function, Hip Hop texts at large do not present a single theology. They are, in the words of Whitehead, lures for feeling. Of God we hear "I love you" and "I hate you" and "You bless me" and "You curse me." They are like the Bible itself: not a single theology but rather a plethora of theologies and stories. Their theology is in the stories themselves. And when religious in tone, the stories reveal a love of God that is as complicated, perhaps even more complicated, that human love. "Loving you is complicated." Need an example? Read the essay by music critic, Miguelito, in a website called DJBooth. The website, whih has many writers, is self-advertised as the authority in hip hop, and perhaps rightly so. One of the writers, Miguelito, speaks of two ways of talking to God, one found in Chance the Rapper's Blessings and the other in Kendrick Lamar's God is Gangsta. The first way is to talk to God by praise, the second it to talk by questioning. Questioning God? Yes, of course. But also questioning everything! People of a certain mindset may well be comforted by Chance the Rapper. But don't we need affliction, too? I think I know what Jesus would say: But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places. "Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it." (Luke 11: 42-51) Sure sounds like Hip Hop to me. -- Jay McDaniel |
Click on the Button to read Miguelito's Essay:
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[Hook - Jamila Woods & Chance The Rapper:]
I'm gon' praise him, praise him till I'm gone I'm gon' praise him, praise him till I'm gone When the praises go up, the blessings come down When the praises go up, the blessings come down It seems like blessings keep falling in my lap It seems like blessings keep falling in my lap [Verse 1 - Chance The Rapper:] I don't make songs for free I make 'em for freedom Don't believe in kings, believe in the kingdom Chisel me into stone, prayer whistle me into song air Dying laughing with Krillin saying something 'bout blonde hair Jesus black life ain't matter, I know I talked to his daddy Said you the man of the house now, look out for your family He has ordered my steps, gave me a sword with a crest And gave Donnie a trumpet in case I get shortness of breath [Hook - Jamila Woods & Chance The Rapper:] I'm gon' praise him, praise him till I'm gone Don't be mad I'm gon' praise him, praise him till I'm gone When the praises go up Good God The blessings come down The blessings come down When the praises go up, the blessings come down When the praises go up, the blessings come down The blessings come down When the praises go up, the blessings come down It seems like blessings keep falling in my lap It seems like... When the praises go up, the blessings come down When the praises go up, the blessings come down Good God [Verse 2 - Chance The Rapper:] They booked the nicest hotels on the 59th floor With the big wide windows, with the suicide doors Ain't no blood on my money, ain't no Twitter in heaven I know them drugs isn't close, ain't no visit in heaven I know the difference between blessings and worldly possessions Like my ex girl getting pregnant and her becoming my everything War with my wrongs, I'm writing four different songs I never forced you to forfeit it, I'm a force to be reconciled They want four minute songs You need a four hour praise dance performed every morn I'm feeling shortness of breath, so Nico grab you a horn Hit Jericho with a buzzer beater to end a quarter Watch brick and mortar fall like dripping water, ugh! [Bridge - Byron Cage:] There are obstacles in life Many many trials and tribulations that come up But you got to realize and know That even Jericho walls must fall Every wall must fall [Hook - Jamila Woods & Byron Cage:] I'm gon' praise him, praise him till I'm gone I'm gon' praise him, praise him till I'm gone When the praises go up, the blessings come down (Are you ready for your blessings?) When the praises go up, the blessings come down (Are you ready for your blessings?) When the praises go up, the blessings come down (Are you ready for your blessings?) When the praises go up, the blessings come down (Are you ready for your miracle?) (Are you ready for your blessings?) (Are you ready for your blessings?) (Are you ready for your miracle?) [Outro - Chance The Rapper:] Blessings keep falling in my lap |
[10x:]
Loving you is complicated I place blame on you still Place shame on you still Feel like you ain't shit Feel like you don't feel, confidence in yourself Breakin' on marble floors Watchin' anonymous strangers tellin' me that I'm yours But you ain't shit I'm convinced your talent's nothin' special What can I blame him for? Nigga, I can name several Situation had stopped with your little sister bakin' A baby inside, just a teenager, where your patience? Where was your antennas, where was the influence you speak of? You preached in front of 100,000 but never reached her I fuckin' tell you, you're fuckin' failure, you ain't no leader I never liked you, forever despise you, I don't need you The world don't need you, don't let them deceive you Numbers lie too, fuck your pride too, that's for dedication Thought money would change you, made you more complacent I fuckin' hate you, I hope you embrace it [5x:] Loving you is complicated Lovin' you, lovin' you, not lovin' you, one hundred proof I can feel you vibin', recognize that you're ashamed of me Yes, I hate you too House keeping [Knocks] House keeping ¡Abre la puerta! ¡Abre la puerta tengo que limpiar el cuarto! ¡Es que no hay mucho tiempo tengo que limpiar el cuarto¡ !Disculpe! And you the reason why mama and them leavin' No, you ain't shit, you say you love them, I know you don't mean it I know you're irresponsible, selfish, in denial, can't help it Your trials and tribulations a burden, everyone felt it Everyone heard it, multiple shots, corners cryin' out You was deserted, where was your antennas again? Where was your presence, where was your support that you pretend? You ain't no brother, you ain't no disciple, you ain't no friend A friend never leave Compton for profit, or leave his best friend Little brother, you promised you'd watch him before they shot him Where was your antennas? On the road, bottles and bitches You FaceTime'd the one time, that's unforgiven You even FaceTime'd instead of a hospital visit 'Cause you thought he would recover, well The surgery couldn't stop the bleeding for real Then he died, God himself will say, "You fuckin' failed." You ain't try I know your secrets nigga Mood swings is frequent nigga I know depression is restin' on your heart for two reasons, nigga I know you and a couple block boys ain't been speaking, nigga Y'all damn near beefin', I seen it and you're the reason, nigga And if this bottle could talk [gulp] I cry myself to sleep Bitch, everything is your fault Faults breakin' to pieces, earthquakes on every weekend Because you shook as soon as you knew confinement was needed I know your secrets Don't let me tell them to the world about that shit you thinkin' And that time you [gulp] I'm 'bout to hurl I'm fucked up, but ain't as fucked up as you You just can't get right, I think your heart made of bullet proof Shoulda killed yo ass a long time ago You shoulda filled that black revolver blast a long time ago And if those mirrors could talk it would say, "You gotta go." And if I told your secrets The world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness |