Question

Hip Hop

a. Can hip hop be described as a spiritual movement? Why or why not?

b. In the movie, "I Love Hip Hop in Morocco" on of the rappers repeatedly used the "N" word. Do you agree with his use of the "N" word for Moroccans? How did he justify its use?

Answer 1

• a)Hip hop encompasses different expressions of spirituality, some rooted in Christianity or various Muslim traditions, others less defined by specific denominations.Hip hop is a cultural movement that developed among young people in marginalised areas of New York at the start of the 1970s. The core elements of hip hop are graffiti, breakdancing, DJing and rapping. Today, hip hop is a global youth culture, found in different forms around the world.
  
• Many people express their spirituality and faith through art, and I believe many find expressions in hip hop that are closer to life than what you find in traditional theological and church-related contexts.
• Lauryn Hill once said “Hip hop isn’t just music, it is a spiritual movement of the blacks! You can’t just call hip hop a trend!” Music has changed tremendously from what it use to be. The spirit in the music has become contaminated with music that is not fitting or making a change.
• At one point in music history, hip-hop was more than just music. It was a culture that used the genre to deliver messages about the black community, society, racism and politics. As time evolved, the messages in the music and the meaning in it were lost. Music today doesn’t have a specific meaning anymore.
• Spiritual hip hop was a type of music that digs deep into your emotions, those spoken words that send chills up your spine and can spark a powerful movement.
• From a religious perspective, artists like Brother Ali, Most Def, Quadir Lateef and Lupe Fiasco use their Islamic beliefs and values to promote consciousness and raise awareness on injustices in their communities.
• Lecrae, Trip Lee, Mick Jenkins and Thi’sl combine their Christian values and beliefs to make authentic, thought-provoking, powerful albums that are rich in content and storytelling. The connection between these artists’ faith and their music are very clear in their message and projects.
• Jay Z’s “Blueprint” and Eminem’s “Recovery” took us on their spiritual journey, and their fans and critics called these albums masterpieces. Hip Hop is extremely diverse, cultured, educated, emotional and is constantly evolving,so it can be regarded as a spiritual movement.
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