Chance's Blessing

In James Cone’s The Cross and Lynching Tree, he writes, “the cross and the lynching tree are separated by nearly 2,000 years. One is the universal symbol of Christian faith; the other is the quintessential symbol of black oppression in America.” A deep relation to Jesus’ suffering also leads to a deep relation to his liberation from death. Cone helps us understand that Black Theology reads Jesus’ story of struggle through their own experiences of struggle. People who have suffered will read Scripture and experience Jesus differently than people who have not suffered. Having suffered the sins of the world, Jesus was indeed a man of Sorrow. But in his victory over sin and death, our joy is complete in him; which is an integral doctrine of Black Theology. Shorty before his arrest, Jesus tells his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love… I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be

Wanda Coleman’s Angel Baby Blues highlights the black experience in Southern California. She talks about the struggles of African Americans and how and where they endure discrimination. In the short story, Coleman explores discrimination in and outside of the classroom. Her story can be linked to Kendrick Lamar’s The Blacker the Berry. In this song, Lamar also talks about the black experience but goes deeper into discrimination. He goes into detail about the struggles that the black community goes through as well as himself being an African American man. His lyrics are very strong, creating images of discrimination while cursing and highlighting the same themes presented in Coleman’s story. Angel Baby Blues and The Blacker the Berry are very

You may know him from his Lisa Simpson haircut or his mouth full of 24-karat gold teeth; he is the 19-year-old rapper that is taking the music industry by storm. In the past, two years his music has gained national recognition and appealed to all types of fan bases. He is a force not to be reckoned with and his name is Kodak Black. He is the self-proclaimed “Project-Baby” from South Florida that is giving rapper a run for their money. Jon Caramanica, from the New York Times, described Black as “an unlikely savior for a hip-hop industry that has lately been preoccupied with melodic-minded Drake clones. Instead, he’s an old-fashioned literalist and represents the perennial power of grit even in a time that’s squeaky clean.” Kodak Black is an

According to their website, their songs express who God is and who we are in Him; capturing new and fresh expressions of worship.

In today’s society, African Americans have faced vast amounts of stereotypes and hatred. In particular, the media portrays the rapper Kanye West as a ‘typical’ black African American who’s only good at rapping. Instead, Kanye is actually highly refined and can hold his own in many aspects, including politics as well as fashion. Kanye West is an American hip-hop recording artist, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and fashion designer from Chicago, Illinois. When Kanye was just 3, his parents Ray West and Donda west divorced.

Music can rock your world, enlighten your mind and change your perspective. When you think of rap music who comes first to mind? Without hesitation, it must be the self acclaimed best rapper alive, Lil Wayne. He alone can make such statements as “My picture should be in the dictionary next to the definition of definition” (Wayne, “Shoot Me Down”). Lil Wayne is a prominent force in the rap world. His debut Album in 1999, Tha Block is Hot went double platinum upon its release and even his lowest selling album is still certified as gold according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Rollingstone Magazine declares “Lil Wayne is one of the most popular — and prolific — recording artists in the world” (Kreps). Top this with

He is a very involved man with his city, and is a great role model/leader for the youth of Chicago. Chance has made 3 mixtapes called, “10 Day,” “Acid Rap,” and his most recent and successful work, “Coloring Book.” Chance The Rapper uses playful diction, inspiring free verses, and unique allusions in their work to show an overall theme of how individuals have power to change.

In a time of both social and political tension in the United States, Gil Scott Heron left a massive impression as a musician and poet. Later earning the nickname, “The Godfather of Rap,” Heron played a major role in producing soul, jazz, and blues music that was associated with social and political issues in the United States during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Heron studied at Lincoln University, following in the footsteps of other prominent African American individuals such as Langston Hughes and Melvin Tolson. Hughes, along with fellow poet, LeRoi Jones, were two African American academics whose overwhelming influence on Heron would resonate in all of his albums. Following his graduation, Heron teamed up with fellow Lincoln University classmate, Brian Jackson, to produce numerous albums.

Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. Born on June 8th, 1977, Donda West, West’s mother, always knew he was destined for greatness, but did she know her son would turn out to be the Kanye West, a man lacking the respect he deserves for transforming a big part of the music we listen to on this very day? West came onto the scene in the late nineties but didn’t release The College Dropout until 2004, an album that took everybody by surprise. Kanye West changed the gangster filled rap genre by releasing his positive, soulful debut album, changing the way rappers

At age 12 his cousin introduced him to freestyling and he followed that inspiration and became one of the best hip hop rappers of this generation. At his young age he fell in love with storytelling rappers such as Nas, Eminem, and Canibus. By the age of 17 he would post his raps online

To accept God and choose a life that enriches the lives of other around while enduring pain from those around us who seek to see us fail can easily relate the the African American race and their struggle for freedom. Just as Taylor describe it, as the African American race seek to better themselves and the people whom they love with God at the forefront, they must endure the push back and painful changes from society. While King forward Taylor’s theological theme, he also forwards the book of Matthew and the theme of accepting the sacrificial suffering for the greater good of, in this case, humanity. In chapter 27 in the Book of Matthew, there’s a specific paragraph where the soldiers mock Jesus. According to verses 28-30 “they put a scarlet robe on Him… put a crown of thorns upon His head… and spat on him” (Matthew 27: 28-30).

Arguably one the most controversial song on the album, “I am a God,” takes a radical approach into empowering black Americans in the fight against anti-black racism. Unfortunately, many people completely misunderstand the song’s main concept and real message because of the sacrilegious title and egotistical lyrics. “I am a God” perfectly combines confidence and expression to self empower blacks to continue to fight and believe in world that is not permeated by anti-black racism. Basically, Kanye braggadociously raps throughout the entire song, but in doing so, Kanye encourages blacks to discover their uniqueness and potential in life, or what ultimately makes them “gods.” The actual title of the song uses an uppercase “a,” “I Am A God,” which is associated with the Bible in Psalm 82:6-7, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Many contradicting views surround rap music’s controversial subjects and use of language. While some consider it highly offensive, there is some validity to the rhetoric applied in political rap. In the 1990’s racial inequality is rampant with uprisings and segregated neighborhoods that condemn minorities and lower socioeconomic classes to inhumane living conditions. Specifically, Tupac Shakur’s posthumous song “I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto” combines an emancipatory lyric with a hopeful and upbeat instrumental to assess the racial inequality in society and the possibility of a better future.

Eminem is very well known in the rapping community for his songs, one of them being “Rap God”.

The night of the 59th Annual Grammy Awards marked an important step in modern music history. After a quick rise to fame, 23-year-old Chance the Rapper took home 3 Grammys for his latest album, “Coloring Book.” What was so special about this accomplishment? Well for starters, the Recording Academy actually had to change the rules for Grammy nominations in order for Chance to have an opportunity to be nominated. “Coloring Book,” as well as his other mixtapes, are “streaming only.” This means that all of his music is freely accessible, and are not affiliated with any record company. Not only did Chance change the rules for Grammy nominations, he took home 3 Grammy’s (beating out famous artists such as Drake and Kanye West), and inspired a new