Bars of God: The Influence of Religion in Hip Hop
Religion is a funny thing. It is so important to so many people, it defines the identity of many people and shapes their moral compass. But it is also a taboo element of conversation at the same time. If you have ever had a single friend going out on a date that asks for advice on what to say or what not to say, a general bit of advice is usually to not discuss politics or religion. The reason for this is quite simple: politics and religion are wildly divisive and an argument waiting to happen if they are brought up.
This divisiveness is what makes the idea of religion in hip hop so interesting to me. Hip-hop, more than any other genre has the unique characteristic of emphasizing a message and a broad range of topics due to the more spoken delivery of the lyrics compared to other forms of music. Rappers are often viewed as tastemakers and poets that can help to influence the mentalities and behaviors of millions of their fans. This power is why so many rappers will often use their fame and name-brand appeal to create various products like clothing lines (50 Cent’s G-Unit brand and Jay-Z’s Rocawear) or premium liquor brands (Lil Kim’s Three Olives Vodka and Diddy’s Ciroc). An often understated element of messaging in hip hop is the heavy influence of religion and how it has impacted hip hop culture and the wider mainstream consciousness as a result.
