Hard times bring people to their knees. Figuratively and literally. Whether it’s unemployment, heartbreak, illness, disaster, or death, humans pray when life’s challenges become clearly beyond their control. Rappers are no exception.
There are hundreds of prayers in the rap music canon. There are no geographical, generational, or gendered distinctions among the prayers, but the consistent commonality is decreasing distance between the gangsta and his or her God. Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta’s God devotes an entire section to prayers that include:
- Actual prayers where rappers pray on a track without musical accompaniment
- Rap prayers prayed over a beat
- Raps about praying
- Conversational prayers that include the voice of God
- Traditional prayers: Hail Mary, Child’s prayer, 23rd Psalm, Basmala
Listen to these rappers’ prayers. Each prayer is analyzed in depth in Rap and Religion.
Why do you pray? Leave your answer in the comment box.