Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - May 23, 2014 - "Darkest Hour" - No Malice, Lecrae - CNN, Bill Weir, Interview with No Malice

"Darkest Hour" - Lecrae, No Malice

Earlier this week I came across a post on Rapzilla chronicling a CNN Tonight interview from host Bill Weir that took a behind the scenes look at two rappers, Pusha-T and No Malice, brothers who once performed as The Clipse. As Rapzilla points out regarding the rap culture, "Few media outlets have embraced the challenge of looking deeper into the complex struggle of right and wrong that has always been the invisible narrative of the culture." Rappers are usually glorified for their lyrics and actions, especially when it comes to pushing and using drugs, drinking, violence, sex and making money, without any question of motives, or the impact they have on culture.

Wier asked both brothers about their lives. Pusha-T showed off his fashion boutiques, clothes and business ideas, while No Malice showed Weir the Virginia Beach home where he and his brother began selling crack cocaine and started rapping. No Malice was a bit uncomfortable talking about his past, as one might be when admitting to selling crack on national television.

No Malice said “When I think about my infidelities…the heartbreak that I caused my wife, that I caused myself. When I think about her forgiveness, how the Word of God repaired us and nothing else. When I think about that; to me, it’s a no brainer. I can’t return to that lifestyle and that kind of way. I don’t have a choice.” When asked about returning to rap for a Clipse reunion, No Malice is adamant that he is not interested. It seems that he is satisfied in his life in Christ, rather than performing for crowds and raking in cash and notoriety. His decision just doesn't make sense to a watching world that does not see Christ as their ultimate treasure. It surely doesn't make sense to those reading XXL. It doesn't make sense to those watching MTV. And it surely won't make much sense at BET's 106 & Park. Jesus tells us that those who know him will be hated and mocked.

In the book of Colossians, Paul reminds the church at Colossae, as well as Christians, that before we are in Christ we were all alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. But now, Christ has reconciled sin for us through his death, making us holy and blameless before our father. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are new creations in Christ.

When we hear interviews like this with No Malice and see fruitfulness of the Spirit, it is an encouragement to all who are struggling with some form of sin, not just pushing drugs or promoting cash, women, cars and clothes. We can be sure that Jesus is better. We can be sure that Jesus uses different art forms and methods to bring glory to himself, and to encourage others in faith.

Following Jesus certainly won't make much sense to those who find comfort in fame and material possessions. Through his testimony, we can be sure that pushing rocks is of no satisfaction compared to standing firm on the rock of our salvation.

"Darkest Hour" - Lyrics

Bonus: "Lord Have Mercy" - Lecrae, Tedashii and No Malice

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - April 12, 2013

Trip Lee - "Beautiful Life"

This is a story that people don't know enough about. It's a story that has been denied its share of national news coverage. It's a story that flies in the face of the pro-abortion stance, typically supported by the national news media outlets. If you're in the dark on this whole situation, please take the 22 minutes it takes to view 3801 Lancaster, an account of the Philadelphia Women's Medical Society, the abortion clinic ran by Dr. Kermit Gosnell. Women's lives were in danger (and some were lost) due to the practices of this man. But a greater point to ponder is our stance on life in general. It's becoming alarming how cheaply we view life itself.

This morning, an article on The Atlantic (a national news magazine) website reveals that the author hadn't heard about this case until last week, let alone the acts of Mr. Gosnell. A search of the New York Times homepage and CNN homepage yielded no immediate results. A further search of CNN.com yielded 31 total results, mostly from blogs, which are not normally included on the front page of CNN.com. Only three articles have been featured on CNN.com in 2013 regarding Kermit Gosnell. Those were from March 4th. Before that, the other articles from 2011. It is further evidence of the tragic lack of coverage this story, and forget about the trial; has received.

As a side note, I find it particularly interesting that CNN's search engine questioned whether I was searching for the term "gospel", as opposed to "Gosnell". The association of the two terms in a search engine is somewhat tragic, yet a reminder that even though we may be righteously vexed by Mr. Gosnell's murders, we also love him and know that Jesus saved repentant murderers who trust Jesus (Credit - Burk Parsons) Russell Moore shares the almost exact experience upon his search of Mr. Gosnell's name in his smartphone.

Mr. #Gosnell, we're righteously vexed by your murders, but we also love you and know that Jesus saves repentant murderers who trust Jesus.
— Burk Parsons (@BurkParsons) April 12, 2013

Typically, people do not associate rap or hip-hop music with the discussion of weighty, moral and biblical viewpoints. But with the call to greater attention of this trial, I was reminded of a song from Trip Lee entitled "Beautiful Life". It's a account of a young woman struggling with the question of abortion, and the inconvenient timing of a child due to an unplanned pregnancy. Trip follows with a verse dedicated to the male in the relationship, who was most likely "caught off guard" by a pregnancy. Finally, as poetically as possible, Trip links the struggles of abortion, especially the guilt of those with that have already had an abortion performed, to the gospel and forgiveness found in Christ. That third verse is about as good as anyone could explain the freedom that exists in Christ, even for sinners like us, and Mr. Gosnell.