Postmodern Realities Episode 056 - Spirituality in Modern Hip Hop: The Theology of Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper

Has secular hip hop gone religious? One platinum selling artist gives performances on high profile stages that resemble worship services. Another critically acclaimed rapper includes on his album interludes with expositions from Deuteronomy. This small trend is a surprise. In the 90s, hip hop music was generally anti Christian see Ras Kass. Paris, Public Enemy, and X Clan advocated militant nationalism. Wu Tang, Brand Nubian, Rakim, Digable Planets, and Poor Righteous Teachers espoused Five Percent beliefs a Nation of Islam sect. Nas and Jay Z employed semiblasphemous statements and imagery. Hip hop music has often been spiritually minded, but recent times saw less spiritual content. Hedonism and nihilism permeate hip hops current stars are preoccupied with girls, gold, and a good time. Yet, there are anomalies twenty four year old Chance the Rapper and thirty year old Kendrick Lamar. This Postmodern Realities Podcast episode is a JOURNAL author conversation with Vocab Malone about his Volume 40 6 feature article film Spirituality in Modern Hip Hop The Theology of Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper