I recently came across this post about rappers who found religion. It made me wonder about how people encounter religion. Continue Reading
Blog
Welcome to RapandReligion.com—the #1 source for news and commentary on hip hop and religion. I am Dr. Ebony Utley, the author of Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God. In addition to featuring songs and videos from the book, this blog will keep you in the know when rap and religion collide. Explore the site and come back often for updates.
Learning While Teaching: Understanding the Gangsta’s God
Take a look at my interview with Rev. Donald Perryman in The Truth.
Recently, I had been intrigued, no stunned, by the recurring theme of the Divine and Holy interspersed among “not so nice” utterances by a young man during a mentoring session on fatherhood. Dressed head to toe in a bright ensemble all of one color to depict his neighborhood affiliation and “tatted-up” to express his individuality and hardcore identity, I certainly did not picture him as a choir boy.
I spoke with Ebony Utley, Ph.D., concerning her forthcoming book Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta’s God for insight on this and other controversial topics. Continue Reading
Celebrating Religious Freedom
Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, the date the last slaves found out that they were emancipated in Galveston, Texas. Even though President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, word did not travel to Texas for two and a half more years. Sometimes called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, African Americans across the country observe Juneteenth as a holiday that represents freedom from oppression. But oppression takes many forms and many Americans still aren’t free. Continue Reading
Exploring rap and religion with Dr. Ebony Utley
Check out my interview with Miracle LeRoy in The Examiner.
Dr. Utley took time out to chat with The Examiner about the book, as well as a few other things, like her time here in Milwaukee teaching at Marquette University. Continue Reading
Rap and Religion Calendar
Stay updated on Rap and Religion events.
Rap and Religion Release Party
Red Pegasus Management presents the Hollywood release party for Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta’s God on July 15, 2012 at the Blue Goose Lounge. Dr. Ebony Utley promises to put her heels on, sell books at a serious discount, autograph copies, and participate in a Q&A as DJ Kaleem spins songs from Rap and Religion all night long. Well, not all night. The party starts at 7:30 and ends at midnight. Everyone 21 and over is invited. Details
Daddy God
Sunday, June 17, 2012 is Father’s Day. It’s the day Americans celebrate fatherhood. But many people experience Father’s Day with mixed emotions because they don’t have the relationships they’d like to have with their fathers. Continue Reading
Jesus is My Nigga (in Paris)
Lengthy discussions about who can and who can’t say nigga exhaust me. J Smooth already issued the final word on the matter. Besides, it’s so frustrating to have a conversation about a word that most people are afraid to say out loud. You won’t hear any “N-words” from me. If I say (or type) the word nigger and you feel terribly uncomfortable, that’s exactly how you’re supposed to feel. And if I say (or type) the word nigga and you feel perfectly comfortable, that is also exactly how you’re supposed to feel. Continue Reading
Rap and Religion Ebooks
If you’re an avid reader of ebooks, Rap and Religion will still be electronically accessible to you. It will be available through the following platforms: See the list
June is Black Music Month
In June of 1979, President Jimmy Carter declared that the month would celebrate black music. Each subsequent president has continued the Black Music Month tradition, and in 2009 Barack Obama officially renamed the recognition African American Music Appreciation Month. This renaming from Black to African American by our first Black president is significant. Continue Reading