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.
Check out my interview with Richard Manly for inside CSULB.
Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta’s God, the latest book from Communication Studies’ Ebony A. Utley, takes a fresh look at references to God within hip-hop culture and rap music. Continue Reading
Ms. Lauryn Hill’s birthday was on May 25, 2012. It was an opportunity for the blogosphere to resurrect her memory and mourn the absence of one of hip hop’s greatest stars. Only Ms. Hill is alive and well. I imagine she celebrated her 37th birthday with family and friends. It’s her career that has been laid to rest, but she seems to prefer it that way. Continue Reading
I dig Lecrae. Tall, dark, handsome… but I digress. I mean, I like his flow, his southern accent, his swag. He has an uncanny ability to assume the personas of an array of protagonists. His videos take audiences back to the community. He’s honest, clever, and consistent in his message without being preachy or too judgmental. I appreciate him calling out the church on its hypocrisy in “Church Clothes.” Through his raps, Lecrae reminds audiences that religion should be more about relationships than rules. Continue Reading
Today is Memorial Day. As we celebrate with family and friends, let’s remember not only our fallen soliders but also those veterans who returned home but found it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Because post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after any traumatic or violent event, soliders are extremely vulnerable to the condition. In fact, the suicide rate of active-duty troops exceeds that of the general population.
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