2Pac ~ Changes

Rapper 2pac or real name ‘Tupac Amaru shakur’ was one of the best selling music artists worldwide at the time of his death September 1996. People often remember him not just for his lyrical brilliance, immense rapping ability, acting roles but also the responsibility he took on as a social activist. His music is often full of his own experiences of hardship faces problems with racism, gun and drug crime, ghetto violence and notoriously his involvement in the extreme hip-hop rivalry between east coast and west. He is idolised by those in the industry and fans alike. Even those outside of the Hip-Hop circle and fan base, recognise the influence and significance Tupac has had, Harvard university runs a course tom analyse the impact the man had both on music and society, the course is entitled, “All Eyez on Me: Tupac Shakur and the Search for the Modern Folk Hero.” Although Tupac never declared commitment to a particular religion, his lyrics were filled with declarations to believing in God and religious expressions.

One of tupac’s most influential songs ‘changes’ speaks to many people about spirituality in a modern urban context. God or a particular religion isn’t mentioned in this song unlike many other of Tupac’s songs. However for me it is the most significant as the ethically questions addressed in the song are the ones that directly affect people in contemporary culture. People can relate to the lyrics, to the anger behind them and what Tupac is trying to achieve by his music. ~ One Love x

Where is the Love? ~ Black Eyed Peas

One song that I have always found particularly religiously questioning and motivating is ‘Where is the Love’ By the Black Eyed Peas. The song basically looks at the world, all the terrible and upsetting things around us and asks WHY>?  This quote from the song is just one of the evil things in the world the song addresses,  “Nations droppin' bombs, Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones, with the on goin' sufferin' as the youth die young so, ask yourself is the lovin' really gone?” The song asks the question of ‘Where is the love’ to promote the listener to look at their own actions and the values they hold to see how it might be impacting the effect on the world as a whole. The chorus aims the question of love towards God, “Father, Father, Father help us, send us some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me questioning' Where is the love?” The need for guidance from God is clear and one most of us ask during times of suffering, even people who normally would not class themselves as religious. This is a common way of ‘using’ religion in contemporary society. We naturally look to religion in times of suffering for comfort and answers. However many ignore religion in everyday life, when things are fine in our own world.~ One Love x

The Streets!

The logical way to now proceed with this blog is to move on to look at modern urban and chart music. Many modern music artists both in Britain and otherwise continue to see religion and spirituality as a focus and theme in their music. A number of tracks stick out in my mind as significant when I think of fairly recent popular music. Each of these has held a certain religious sense of meaning and importance too many people. The first is from an Artist who is not only a lyrical genius but he’s also someone I’m a massive fan of. Mike Skinner ‘The Streets’ I know from personal experience is amazing live and many of his works are regarded both as cult classics and as some of the most forward thinking musical pieces of this generation.





Many of his tracks offer some form of spiritual guidance or meaning for the listeners as he talks about urban living, struggles and everyday life that many people especially young people can relate too. The songs that speak most about spiritual feelings and religion are ‘Turn the page’, ‘stay positive’ and ‘Never went to church.’

Turn the Page has been described as modern poetry, lyrical master and inspirational. You only have to read the YouTube clip comments to see how many people can relate and respond to lines such as “Actions speak louder than words, Stand by me my apprentice, be brave, clench fists.” “Once more before the Lord judges over all of us, Cos in this place you'll see me.” And “In the afterlife gladiators meet their maker.” One of the comments on YouTube is from a college student who openly admits that they used Mike Skinner’s lyrics from ‘Turn the page’ as his poetry assignment. The student states that they received an A grade and the teacher had tears in their eyes when he read it out to the class. For me this example shows that the song holds relevance for each individual listener and people are clearly moved by the spiritual and emotional lyrics.

Stay Positive is an inspiration track that relates to spirituality and faith by the notion of having hope. One line at is particular relevant is “no-one blames you, it's that world out there that's fucked you, your no less of a person and if God exists, he still loves you.” The Song as a whole is about when your world looks like its crumbing away, hitting rock bottom, to remember to have optimism and that one day things will be better. Mike Skinner is trying to advise that “Positive steps will see your goals.” This is basically a religious thought and particularly a Christian message, good works and positive thinking will bring good into the world. This track is a good tune to play when you feeling down to uplift and help you through your struggles. So as the Song says, “go see your mates, and when they don't look happy, play them this tape.”

Never went to church is an extremely emotional song especially for those that have lost a partner, which is who Mike Skinner is aiming the lyrics towards his decease father. He opens the song with the statement, “Two great European narcotics, alcohol and Christianity.” This introduces the tone of the song, narcotics are traditional drugs to dumb and lose yourself in. Skinner is looking to both alcohol and Christianity as a way of coping with the loss his feeling. He explains that church and religion had never been a part of his life until his father passed died and now he’s found himself looking at faith, “but it's hit me since you left us and it's so hard not to search.” He continues to stress that his search into religion is a way of dealing with his hurt and confusion with the afterlife, “I never cared about God when life was sailin' in the calm.” He ends the song with the crucial statement of “I'm gonna see a priest, a Rabbi and a Protestant clergyman, you always said I should hedge my bets.” To me this ending comment is important as it address the way many people look upon spirituality and religion in the modern world; we are now very anti-intuitional religion and often hold more personal and individual faiths, often with theology based in many different traditional religions.~ One Love x

Religion in Reggae in a New Context!

As Previously stated in the last post, Damian Marley continues today in his fathers footsteps spreading the message of the Rastifian movement offering support and comfort through his music.
One particular part of the first song that i find spiritually significant in my cultural context is :
"Searching for the light because you're living in the dark
You must realize that Jah was with you from the start
Glorify His works and please be upfull in your thoughts
Even though the ones who wish you well are few and far apart
People never thought that we would make it thru so far
Speak of love Jah children and be proud of who you are
Keep on concentrating on the brighter side of life
Don't let them get you down"

Here's two examples of his work, listen to the lyrics guys!





One other modern reggae artist that i personally like is Tanya Stephens. Her Song ‘Turn the other cheek’ like Damian Marley puts the traditional reggae concept of life’s ‘struggle’ in a modern context. Her music uses the traditional religious phrase of ‘Turn the other cheek’ to demonstarate how it isn’t easy to do, especially when life is hard. ~ One Love x

The title of this blog ‘One Love’ is taken from the famous Bob Marley song. Bob Marley’s lyrics are often full of religious questions, phrases and statements. The song ‘One Love’ is one of his most power songs offers questions such as, “Is there a place for the hopeless sinner who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?” Statements such as, “There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation.” The song uses the memorable phrase of “One love, one heart” and “Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right. Let's get together and feel all right” to not only give strength and hope to the listener but also firmly places the song in history as a cult classic. The idea of giving strength and hope to the listener is primarily taken from religious preaching.

Bob Marley was an icon to many people and his music was so much more than entertainment. To many people Marley was and still is seen as a preacher, with the messages in his music offering spiritual guidance and supporting many people’s faith. Bob Marley was part of the Rastafarian movement which was developed out of Christianity in Jamaica in the 1930’s. It concentrates on a certain ‘way of life’ rather than being labeled as a religion. Rastas take inspiration from themselves, praising ‘Jah’ and rejecting ‘Babylon’ which they view as the western world. Reggae music of which Bob Marley is a figurehead helped spread the message of the Rastafarian movement to the world outside of Jamaica showing how music can play such a vital part in religion.

Reggae music developed from the main ghetto in Kingston called Trenchtown where people tuned in to American radio stations and later blended the sounds with Jamaican folk music. Although Marley is without a doubt the most famous Rasta for his leadership through his music, actively preaching to his listeners, he was not the first or the last. The connection between reggae music and Rastafarian theology is still strong today in the 21st century. Damian Marley has continued in his father’s footsteps having recognition for blending the traditional reggae sound with American Hip-Hop to revisit the issues and values the Rastafarian movement opposes and upholds.

It’s easy to see how reggae music helped spread the Rastafarian movement to a worldwide audience. The lyrics are often powerful and deserve more recognition for the faith they build in people. A few years ago when a close family friend passed away to cancer he requested Bob Marley to be played as a hymn at his funeral. The singing of Marley’s lyrics at such a hard time I believe helped the people at that service with their grief, offering so much more than just a ‘song.’ It is clear that religion and music in case of reggae at least go hand in hand. ~ One Love x