"Dear... you. I just wanted to let YOU know I'm addicted to you. See, you creep up on me and half of the time I don't even realize I'm getting my hit. You get in my head. I know you do because I feel empowered and I get a little cocky when I hear you. Then everyone starts to know that I’m obsessed with you- It’s so hard to hide! I act a little rougher; I speak a little louder and your influence controls my actions without my knowing. I feel like such a fool thinking would you wouldn’t hurt me. Now I know I have to let you go but, I don’t know how to start. Friendship is out of the question, our ideals hate each other and would only make me a hypocrite if people see us together. You run my life in the most subtle ways and you enslaved so many of my friends too but you and me- we’re over. I know there will be times when I might run back to you and indulge a little but, that grip I let you have on me...I’m now prying off. So, maybe we’ll see each other around, but I guess this is goodbye...” Call it stupid, but I have a bit of a “pseudo-addiction” to hip-hop... more specifically rap. I know, I knowww... it sounds crazy but when put in perspective, how many songs praising worldly idols, do I regurgitate in one day? Why do I start to act differently when all these songs come on? Why do I find it so easy to memorize full lyrics- but struggle to remember a single bible verse...sigh. (But before I go on please know I am totally speaking for myself- I’m just coming clean and admitting that I’m not perfect.)
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want...The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:16-22
I took a look at this week’s “Billboard Hot 100” and looking at it from a spiritual point of view, I found it almost disturbing: sexual immorality, impurity, selfish ambitions, and it's scary to think that THIS is what the world wants to hear.
Hip-hop changes my attitude. Sometimes I use it for a surge of energy at the gym or when I’m just not feeling like myself. But, the problem is that these short changes--change me for the worst. While I could be listening to things that remind me about how amazing God is, sometimes I choose to listen to what some guy did at the bar last night.
I’m not saying that listening to secular music makes you a bad person, but I am saying I want to love what God loves. How can I do that when I’m telling people to love one another and what’s going through my ears is validating violence? I can’t. How do I promote peace and self control when I’m singing about rushing into...things?
It gets rough when we are challenged on the daily. The world subtly rejects our ideals and counters how we should live; it is so easy to succumb to its standards. We think that it’s “just music” or we’re just listening to the beat.
We’re always given a choice in what we decide to fill our minds with, even in something as simple as our music selection. Inevitably what goes into our mind goes into our heart.
Comments (24)
I struggle with Hip-Hop and rap all the time and am as guilty as you are. Lately, however, I have been listening to my ipod in the car so I can control what I put on the radio. Perhaps you should do the same?
I'm conflicted about hip hop too and I'm not even a Christian. Hip hop is delicious (rap and reggaeton too; give me Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me" and my mood improves 110%)... yet I've analyzed the content of the lyrics and watched documentaries analyzing the content of the music videos, and it's easy to see how the messages of both are doing harm to our society. My middle ground: I still listen to the music, skipping the songs where I strongly disagree with the message, and refuse to watch the music videos. But I don't plan to ever stop listening to hip hop, rap, or reggaeton completely.
@CoZMuN@xanga - @xthread@xanga - realize that rap is a pretty vast genre. If you dislike main stream rap (which you seem to be mostly describing), there are other artists. Flobots is very different from, say, 50 Cent (whom I despise as an artist). Rap is a wonderful genre with a lot of potential as an artform - it just happens to be vastly abused by the music industry.
@thirst2@xanga - Oh I absolutely agree with you. My bad for generalizing.
@thirst2@xanga - I listen to all kinds of rap, not main stream. I wasn't raised on main stream. The thing is that even rap that is not considered main steam rap about righteous things, unless it's Christian rap, which is a joke in my opinion.
I used to be addicted to secular music. It controlled my being. It effected my moods, attitude, perception on life, etc. It depressed me. I had to quit. Completely. Now, the only stuff I listen to is Christian music. It uplifts me and my thoughts aren't thrown to the wayside and I can actually relate to the music. Plus, it's decent and my niece and nephew can listen to it with me and not ask what they mean by certain sayings.
@CoZMuN@xanga - ah, okay, my bad for assuming. Did you mean doesn't rap about righteous things? What would you classify as righteous? And I agree with you at the Christian rap part
Christian rap is a joke? Have you heard LeCrae, Flame, Trip Lee? What about Shai Linne?
Check some of that out if you haven't. If you have, bummer you think it's a joke -- the lyrics and the beats are tight!
@thirst2@xanga - Simply as things that are sinful or perverse. Most rap regardless of being mainstream or not is guilty of talking about the these things.
I love rap & hip-hop too but I try to keep my heart in the right place. Lately I have been listening to mainly Christian rap.
Check out Lecrae, Trip Lee, KJ-52, Manafest, FLAME if you haven't already. I'm sure you will like them.
I really just dislike anything on the radio.
Excellent Post!
You are right-- world in, world out. Being cleansed by God is a hard thing to accept, but I am encouraged to hear you saying that you are trying.
No seriously, I've been addicted to LeCrae. I wasn't at first, because he REALLY hits you with the Word, and I'm just not attracted to Christian music that does that...but he has some REALLY mainstream sounding music, and pretty soon you'll just be respecting his flow and jamming to the beat and style that sometimes sounds like a mix between Timbaland, Akon, and I guess Houston-style hip hop, which I'm not really familiar with. Listen to the songs "Got Paper" and "Fall Back" for starters.
KJ-52 has some really mainstream sounding material as well, and I honestly think he has a really great flow. I'm not always feeling his lyrics sometimes, but when he's hot, he's really, really hot. "Do You Got That?" is a pump it up in the gym kinda song, "Gimme Dat" is silly and catchy, and I'm always feelin "KJ Five Two" or "Plain White Rapper"
T-Bone!!! This guy is pretty mainstream. He's worked with a lot of mainstream producers and artists...he's Latino and I LOVE this guy...he's one of the best rappers out there right now, I think. He also doesn't hit you very hard with the Word, so you can just kick back and listen to a positive Christian who isn't going to make you feel like you have to go read your Bible (that has its place, though). Secular folks respect T-Bone as the premiere gospel rapper. Listen to these for starters!
-Follow T, Ride Wit Me, Let That Thang Go, Shake Ya Body, 12 Years Ago
Ok, Pettidee is possibly the most mainstream sounding besides LeCrae. Love this guy! He's got the deep growling voice, dirty south beats, David Banner-esque, I think. Just do yourself a favor and get the whole "Thug Love" album, you'll love it. If not, listen to "Glide Aside," "Stepped On," "I'm a Vet"
tobyMac is a funky, funky, hip-hop guy. He's my fav, and he sounds pretty mainstream, but not mainstream as in the rap stuff. He's more of a crafty guy who mixes it all up...reminiscent of a little bit older Black Eyed Peas (like Elephunk)..of course, depends on what album you listen to. Anyway, he's all over the place and has stuff from rapcore to straight up funky old-school rap. So whatever floats your boat, I recommend "Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)", "The Slam (try this one in the gym!)" and "Irene"...pretty sure you'll want more.
Ok, I'm gonna stop but I've honestly got more, and they're not solo artists, but group effort in the "Christian rap"/underground scene, and they sound mainstream enough for me to mention them. 4th Avenue Jones (the album No Plan B) and L.A. Symphony (listen to "Here to Party") and GRITS!!!!!!!!!! OMG, you have to listen to GRITS. No, seriously, they've got pretty mainstream sounding stuff and they are probably the best Christian rap group ever. Listen to "Here We Go", "Hittin Curves", "Open Bar" and "Heyyy"
It's funny to hear people say "I just listen to the beat, I ignore the words," but when you suggest Christian rap to them, they laugh as though it's completely ridiculous.
I admit, I mostly listen to secular music, and certain songs do have not-so-Christian lyrics, but it's not limited to rap. One particular song called "Tippy Toe" by a singer named Utada is basically sung from the perspective of a woman who is sleeping with a married man. When I heard this song I was so surprised, but I didn't stop listening to it. I felt somewhat guilty singing along to it too. But what bothers me most are songs that have heavy profanity in them and highly unartistic lyrics...they really hurt my ears. But of course I don't rule out Christian music as being "not as good" or "stupid." In a sense, I treat it like any other music I listen to. If I like it, I listen to it; if it's not my style, I skip to the next track. As far as Christian rap, I mainly listen to GRITS and T-Bone...anyone who believes Kanye West is the greatest rapper in the world probably hasn't heard of the latter.
@Elektrik_Red@xanga - Pettidee performed at my friend's church back in 2006. He was great, really cool guy :)
anything in extreme doses has the potential to lead us astray, even Christian music, when Casting Crowns drowned His voice
Two of the best Christian rappers I know are Lyrycyst: http://www.lyrycystmusic.com/ and T-bone: http://www.houseoftbone.com
@Elektrik_Red@xanga - TobymMac is my fav too!! =D
In defense of hip-hop and rap and some of those of us who listen to it, it's not always about the lyrics. I personally have blocked out the lyrics all together in most cases because, well, they are dumb and not worth listening to, but the music...the beat and the bass, that has some redeeming quality, IMO.
Dilla!
You all need to listen to more underground hip hop, stuff like Supernatural, Mos Def, Psalm One, Common... There is really great banging hip hop out there that uplifts the spirit and transforms the soul.
p
DILLA!!!!!!!!!
yooo i just cant say goodbye ta hip hop
i just cant do that...