okay first off i have to say you look BEAUTIFUL!!! 2nd as a Black Muslim woman from NY with a hotep father who still thinks he has a shot at a rap career, this video SPOKE TO MEEE in so many ways. 😂 Its funny because i never was able to put into words the connection between hoteps, hiphop and the narcissistic God complex a lot of Black men have until watching this. Thanks for such a well produced video essay.
And the funny thing is the God complex runs through black men even an ocean across. I am African and I see it in my father, brothers and other men I interact with. I think it is the root of misogynoir
Same! Black Sunni Muslim here. Ngl when I was younger listening to rap with my dad I felt proud but the older I got I saw that they praised being a black male but treat women especially black women like trash
@@Tullahgit THAT PART! I was so happy to hear a lil bit of Islam in a song but after u get past the no pork for me lines it gets veryyyy misogynistic very fast.
Chris Brown is literally proof that they succeeded in creating this thing they were after. Unquestionable, uncancellable, violent, toxic, supported, black man. It’s disgusting.
this was such a good video Jouelzy! Hip-hop would look very different if black male rappers who align themselves Jesus iconography were to actually adapt the values espoused by Jesus: humble, non-materialistic, anti-capitalist and community minded.
Nah jesus is everything but tht. Read the bible plz. Im an athiest i was ex christian. I read it seriously. Read it again n take off the " his love is great" glasses
@@bmoe4609 I didn’t say anything about what they should do or what they should believe. I’m pointing out the hypocrisy wanting to align themselves with Jesus but everything about what they represent in their music, their artistry, and even their lives is the very opposite.
When you talk about how much black people had admiration for Japan it's really interesting to me because the Japanese resisted European colonization by becoming basically the Britian of East Asia. They famously beat the Russian Navy and they even had their own like racial pseudoscience to prove their superiority over other ethnic groups in the area. Japan went hardcore for fascism and took to it very well and it's the reason why so many people still hold a deep anti-Japanese sentiment in their hearts in many parts of east Asia. It's also why a lot of people weren't particularly happy that Shinzo Abe had become Prime Minister because his grandfather was a Minister during fascist Japan as well as Prime Minister later on. He also enacted so many crimes against humanity in Manchuria as well as the rape of so many Korean women
Thanks for sharing. The history of Japan is not as peaceful and strictly zen beauty as we’re used to thinking. They did truly terrible things on a large scale during the not so distant wars that most Westerners of our generation for sure never heard a peep about in our education even though the repercussions are still loud and clear for many groups of people to this day. The human race has so far to go… sheesh, still.
Yep. Japan is one of those countries that, because of the pop culture they export, has been able to portray a really fun, positive, almost innocent identity. However, as soon as you start to dig into their history, it gets really dicey really fast. If anyone is interested in a piece of that history, check out the show Pachinko on Apple TV+ - it's a fictional drama based on a book, but it portrays Japan's occupation of Korea in a very vivid way we don't really see often.
Japan is an interesting case of what could of been. Unique circumstances lead to them being one of the few non European nations to industrialize. However instead of becoming a unifying force for all non white people in the world they turned to fascism/ Japanese supremacy.
Lil’ Wayne @20 years ago with the lyric: “The Bible said every girl is sour, don’t play in her garden, don’t smell her flowers…” He was the most feral individual pop music had ever seen at that point. But nevertheless, here we all are today, squarely in harm’s way from a resurgence of misogyny and gender-based racism. To be fair, the music industry has been staunchly committed to dehumanizing black women for shock profits despite protests and various genuine efforts from the community, church, and academia (specially even HBCUs- to their credit) since I was a kid in the 80s, and I witnessed that the music industry is more powerful than every institution the community had. That industry just exploits every weakness and weak person in the African American community for entertainment profits. It’s a very dirty business- and half of it should be illegal as hate speech, truly.
If the lyrics were "The Bible said every man is evil" or whatever tf, would you have a problem with the message? I have to ask bc our community seems to be in a gender war where both sides are just pointing fingers at eachother
These men are so lost and delusional. And it's really scary that we have been sucked into these falsehoods and inadvertently given them what they really desire - white patriarchal power. Nothing else. I hope we get to the space where we can look within to get inspiration and find purpose.
More like the perception of white patriarchal power. The white man has no problem letting these men know exactly where they stand if they get out of control.
Two Culture Ciphers, one bag of wet Heavy rain fucked my kicks up, wasn't looking, splashed in the puddle Bitch laughing, first thought was beat the bitch up Moseyed off gracefully, New York's most wanted cheeba hawk
@@phylliewilly that’s Ghostface face killah supreme clientele, but okay. That’s why y’all get oppressed you literally just disrespected people on the autism spectrum because I posted some lyrics.😂😂y’all not as holy as all think do some self reflection. Furthermore that shit fire though. That picture he painted was vivid asl
I can remember my very Christian mother denouncing rappers as the work of the devil. I'm agnostic now but I think I understand what she meant. The way you broke this down is incredible. I've always equated the shift to capitalism in rap to be due to the desire to hoard wealth but it's so much deeper than that.
My very Christian mother did the same and saying "I'm not allowed to listen to that" wasn't fun as a kid but it likely saved me from a lot of mental gymnastics that people employ to explain away the misogynoir and capitalism of their favorite artists
@@j.r.4627 Capitalism has brought more people out of poverty than literally anything else in history. Only dumb folks and people with crab in a barrel mentality are against it. And Hip-Hop isn't anymore misogynist than the Bible or any traditional African culture. If you can't handle it when an artist tells the truth about women then that's your fault.
This was an excellent video! You were so spot on about the narcissism of it all...either way you split it: the hyper capitalist who credits God for his success to the woe-is-me figure with the Jesus complex. They're both a lazy veneer for self aggrandizement. Edit: I've always found the Jesus iconography that Kendrick and many others utilize irritating and you explained it well. Like he's not the "healer" black men need, Kanye can not put "love" in a m*ga hat, and ultimately every artist who leans in to this idea proves themselves to be every bit as flawed and ridiculous (if not more so) as the rest of us.
"And whoever shall exhalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" St. Matthew 23: 12 I guess most of these rappers missed that Memo! You mentioned the wonderful & much missed "Toni" Morrison: she became Catholic & took the name "Toni" from St Anthony of Padua.
The Jesus thing has always rubbed me the wrong way which is why I was never a fan of Kanye. I had no idea it went this far back. Thank you for this sharing this thought provoking essay.
At the height of my pick-me era, I was a "hip hop head" and the way Id dissect and debate these histories really was a passion. Now, an adult, I can clearly see the negative effects of taking on these oppressive ideologies so casually. It was simply not made with me in mind. The narcissism, capitalism and the great unifier, misogynoir, still have a vice grip on men young and old. Jouelzy, thank you for breaking this down as only you could.
@@kaylad1669 Oh no! I was never that. Ive been calling out sexism (and the like) in my household since I was a very small child. Thankfully, I could always see. I cant say the same for everyone else and unfortunately music seems to be a most potent conduit, so again thank you to Jouelzy for breaking this down. As aware as anyone can be, there will always be bits and pieces of conditioning present. My comment and the oppressive ideals affected the ways I saw myself in relation to the community. It was always the music and sound for me since I have never revered men in those ways but the negative messages still pass through. Its up to the individual to self reflect (as seen in the comment above), identify and adjust views. Buzz terms and words just arent enough and in this case, not applicable. Nuance will help you.
@@nehemie1255 I wasn’t saying you were a black male worshipper babe lol I was saying what you described is what black male worship is!!! The conditioning to accept this narcissism, capitalism, misogynoir and conditioning is where black male worship stems from! I’m just connecting the dots! 🥰❤️
Today is my 62nd birthday. Thank you for this gift. Your thoughtful observations and considered articulations are always appreciated. You are among a cohort of young black scholars who greatly soften the impending reality of my aging out of existence. They were wise to teach you to read. You do it extremely well. Blessings.
I have no idea about the Asian black man ideology. You don't have to be a scholar to know that the Japanese government aligned themselves with the fascism of the 1930’s and 40's. It does not surprise me Jay-Z freaked out when he was called a capitalist. We all seriously have some reading to do.
Even my favorite rapper Tupac played into this image before with Makaveli. Also I’m ashamed to say I was a Kanye fan when he first came out. Every rapper who played into the Messiah complex should be called out even if they are some of our favorite rappers. Nobody is above accountability.
@@Soul.in.the.garden To just outright call Pac misogynistic when he made songs like Dear Mama, Brenda’s Got A Baby and Keep Ya Head Up is disingenuous. Hypocritical however is accurate. But you also have to understand his life and the many things he went through to understand why. Not saying it was right or excusing. But it should be understood where that came from.
I understand and appreciate your very valid points on the messiah and “enlightened” black male tropes that are often presented and taken on by many conscious black male rappers. I get tired of that character lol. However I have to say I don’t fully understand your point on Kendrick. The Mr. Morale album is about Kendrick trying to dismantle and put away that “messiah” mantle that he thought he had to live up to. It’s ultimate message is him revealing to everyone that he’s not this messiah that Hip-Hip has made him out to be and that he’s a normal man who makes mistakes and doesn’t have all the answers just like everyone else. And that is his exact reason why he could never be the messiah everyone wants to make him out to be. The “Mr. Morale” character is ironic rather than literal or what he thinks of himself.
it’s as if she didn’t listen to the album. this video would have been better of she had quoted lyrics of the rappers she claims have these traits as proof. mr. morale and the big steppers pushes this conversation of rappers being overly idolized as a step in the right direction and leads this conversation for the majority of black men that still hold judeo christian mysogonistic beliefs. kendrick, by stepping away from his messiah complex puts him front and center as a viable candidate to lead black men out of this mass delusion. there’s still more to be said about black people and our association with christianity
I agree with you both lol I don’t think she actually listened to the album. Because that album literally wholeheartedly agrees with what she’s saying here in this vid. This vids topic is the main point of the album.
Your explanation is cool and everything but let's not forget that Kendrick had an expensive thorned crown made for him for the promo of that album. I believe it even has a mechanism that releases blood down his head. What the hell is that?!
Damn not investing in private probation 😦 Jesus take the wheel. Also this video brought me back to my initial kid reaction to that NAS video, like quietly to myself feeling the evil-feeling inversion of it all. Ironically it reminds me of the portion of To Kill A Butterfly where the voice says, “he knows the Bible too,” talking about the devil.
My dad was hotep light from the Caribbean - Afro Caribbean. My mom is fully B l a c k beautiful Afro Latina. He was obsessed with my mother. She was 17 when they married and he was 29. He was a good family man and took great care of us. But the BM is God really, really ruined that generation. BM could no longer be criticized, held to any standards, told that they weren’t doing their jobs to build communities or that THEY were the ones making them unsafe. BM are Gods came before BM are Kings. I remember my mom asking, how do you correct a God?
I think the BM is God spread in the working class/ middle class school pro b l a c k homes like Chris Rock’s in Everybody hates Chris. BM is King took place in more Urban homes like how Jay Z grew up. Of course there was overlap.
I'm trying to understand how you can be a "king" with no kingdom? How you can be a "king" and not desire to build or leave anything behind besides your seed? How you can be a "king" and not have any type of pride in ones self? 🤔
I agree with the Jay Z and Nas assessments but T.I. and DaBaby are T.I. and DaBaby, I wouldn't expect any deeper points to them using Jesus imagery and it's probably just the face value idea of them being crucified as you said. I doubt anyone's look at either of those 2's examples very seriously in the ideological regard Kanye is a weird case because his belief in Christ has always been prevalent and I don't think the point was to ever portray himself as Jesus, yes the name "Yeezus" invokes that idea but he never tied himself in to actually say he's Christ. Even the song "I Am a God" is just portrays his character with delusional levels of pride to later be addressed and undone on the same album Your Kendrick assessment seems off too. Obviously there's the thorn crown imagery but the album's entire idea is that Kendrick ISN'T Christ-like. The two most important songs have Kendrick repeat that various celebrities are "not your Savior" [on 'Savior'] and "I choose me I'm sorry" [on 'Crown']. He also stated that he isn't Pro Black on the album so to me the theme being pushed is that Kendrick's fans placed a "crown" on him by expecting him to be their leader of sorts. MM&TBS makes it clear that Kendrick never wanted the role and received it unjustly in the same manner that Christ never placed the crown of thorns on his own head. That all may seem like a stretch but when you look at how people were slandering Kendrick for not speaking during COVID and the George Floyd riots (he trended on Twitter multiple times due to such requests) I think it's fair to say many have absolutely "crowned" him as a voice of the people but he's not saying that's good or even true on Mr. Morale he's just attacking the unfairness of it. "DAMN." on the other hand was meant to show Kendrick's confusion on whether he should follow his religion or use his platform to try and help the world as a figurehead of it (which the Bible actually advises against). The end result of this conflict is the fact that Kendrick is "damned if he does and damned if he doesn't" which DJ Dahi, who exec-produced the album, explained a few times. The record has NOTHING to do with him being like Jesus and he gets killed for entirely different reasons on the project P.S. 25:14 How did Kendrick "reinforce tired gender wars?" I can only think of 'We Cry Together' that addresses the gender war but it only aimed to show both sides as flawed with no real conclusion on how to fix it in my eyes
But this comment won’t get too many likes, I agree with almost everything you mentioned especially the Kendrick takes. Her opinion comes off as someone who did not actually listen to the album. I have never heard misogyny or gender wars be associated with Kendrick Lamar’s musical content and it seemed grossly incorrect to label him as such
@@Brooklyn94269 I mean I agree with the original comment but that isn’t to say that Kendrick is devoid of misogynistic takes as even in Mr. Morale he discusses his own misogyny, but I do agree that’s it seems a bit unfair to lump him in with the rest of the group she talks about in this video
@@charlestaylorco8713 I would still love to see examples, perhaps I missed something . I recall Kendrick discussing his sex addiction and infidelity, however , that is different from being a misogynist. Misogyny would imply that he dislikes women and I don’t recall hearing any indication of that .
@@Brooklyn94269 I’m not saying he’s a misogynist but that he’s repeated misogynistic rhetoric that many had to unlearn, most notably in his earlier work. Like his verse on Memories Back Then could definitely fall into that distasteful perception of black women (like that meme with the nerd who gets rich)
@@charlestaylorco8713 considering Kendrick’s use of rhetoric (back then) is different from the listener’s experience of his music. One has to critically ask, does the rhetoric reinforce the actual content? If we are using that song for example, sure you can say he has misogynistic rhetoric (language ) in his lyrics, specifically referring to a girl as a ho. However it conflicts with what the actual verse is about , which is about a girl thinking she is too good for him or for a regular guy. That is wholly different from say Jayz , who would use misogynistic rhetoric in his delivery to reinforce misogynistic content in his verses ( see Girls , girls , girls ) . Now i agree , the use of words like ho, bitch, thot etc, are misogynistic rhetoric. However, not trying to down play it, but it is just that, rhetoric. Meaning , the use of language for effective impact on the audience - simply put , delivery. Rhetoric is empty without content behind it, and Kendrick’s content has consistently (in my opinion) not been disrespectful or shown contempt to women. Now if you want to argue that the language shouldn’t be used at all because it’s more harmful than whatever content is behind it , that’s different, although I would disagree, but to describe his music as misogynistic because he may have used words considered misogynistic rhetoric, I think that is wrong.
As a huge Kendrick fan, I wanted to be mad but you told no lies. Anyways, love video essays like this that are for us (Black people), dig deep and aren’t chasing the algorithm.
@@Dara-po3dd don’t get me wrong on some songs he will admit that he is a mere mortal and not a god, for example “savior ft baby keem” but he’ll turn around and proclaim himself as a god on some other songs 🤦♂️ trust me I know what I’m talking about I’m a huge Kendrick fan
Read a comment that said Kanye created Sunday service right after slavery is a choice and harriet Turman comments. Smh. He can run to religion and hide
There is a clear rhetoric between certain types of black men and their following, almost like a dog whistle. I am glad you brought this full circle for me to start my journey of understanding why so many of the black men I encounter, even on a daily basis, continuously certain themselves and people like them as the know all be all that other humans couldn’t possibly understand or grasp. 🤦🏽♀️ Thank you for your amazing work 🙏🏽 and you look lovely per usual ♥️🙌🏽
Damn. I didn't expect to like this. At first I thought you was on some 🐂💩 with the thumbnail (especially me being a Kendrick fan). But when you made the comparison between "The (made) Messiah Rapper" vs The People who were publicly murdered for actually trying to uplift the community of their(our) issues while still living in the neighborhood's that they're trying to uplift; yeah I had to humble my azz down. Thanks for the new lens.🙏🏾💜🙏🏾
I love this channel. When you go into deep dives, you not only do the research, but you ACTUALLY know wtf you’re talking about and don’t cloud the conversation with painfully biased ill-informed opinions (like so many others on this platform, no shade😭lol). Thank you Jouelzy❤️
Music is not for community it's for entertainment. People gotta let go of worshipping musicians. Enjoy the sounds and don't look for them as saviors or allies.
“The late 90s - early 2000s hip hop of P Diddy and Jay Z really did usher in a new era of moral bankruptcy that kept individual pockets lined fat, and their egos as personally unchecked as their bank balance.” Oooouuuuwwweeeeee.
To me it didn’t sound like Jay Z was comparing the n word & the term ‘capitalist’. I think he was saying that he has been called so much worse (n word, monkey) that being called a capitalist (in a capitalist society) is like…laughable. They have to come up with a more aggressive insult
I like the analysis of this video. However, I think on Kendrick he is basically telling the fans that he is not their savior. He’s not portraying himself as godlike.
@@jumpdumppyy I think his “costume” is just a play off of what he is laying out in the album, that he is viewed as such. In the album he reflects on how he portrays himself through his work and how people interpret it and hold him to this image and standard; while he realistically is living this troubled, hottep lifestyle. He’s acknowledging his responsibility in creating these interpretations despite being unsanctified, and saying “hey take this with a grain of salt, and look elsewhere. I’m just here to get express and entertain.” His honesty gives an excuse of sorts and doesn’t make anything better, but at least he told us… I guess.
@@MONET8iAM What you think is right. Both you and the OP have the right idea about what the album is. I really didn't agree with the part of the video analysing his last album much, down to the take on its name. He deliberately goes out of his way to show you he's not "that" guy to the point where he has an entire song about it, just to beat the dead horse incase you didn't catch the hint. I found the title (and to an extent the album art) to be ironic. Because he's the exact opposite of mister morale, that nigga ain't jesus, he's not God like. He's just a messy, flawed human being (like everyone else) who finally accepts that he can't single handedly save a community, and having the audacity to think he could was both bad for his mental health, personal relationships, and highlighted how naive and ultimately fucking stupid it was to think that. That's what I got from that album. And if you ask me, the god complex you're looking for, the messianic hubris that would've been a great critique for this video, was on (and around) To Pimp A Butterfly.
i always was struck by the exploitative vibes i got from these rappers' work...these artists who succeeded under capitalism use working class black mens' mandatory need to participate in capitalism against them...intertwining relgious references and the underdog story, plus some good ole hustle propaganda, they create the perfect narratives for able bodied black cis het men and hip hop lovers to project themselves onto. they preach aspiration to the american dream as gospel while narcissistically taunting black men with the excesses they gain from it (often with tons of misogyny). as a result, instead of feeling uplifting, to my ears much of it feels spiritually bypassing of their struggles in an especially cruel way: by masquerading as sympathy for survival.
Off topic- can you do a quick video on your grad school experience & how you’re feeling? I just feel like school is kicking my ass and im still working to get into grad school. My fiancé just finished last week. Id love to hear how you’re doing.
Thank you Joulzey for verbalizing exactly why I stepped away from hip hop as a teenager in the 90s. I felt the cultural shift and envisioned the effect on the community. The misogyny, materialism, self-deprecation (N word), all wrapped up in this moral superiority complex of the most immoral messages. Hip Hop could have been so much more….higher
Love your comment. I was picking up on the nonsense back then too. It made me a skeptic although I still listened I no longer trusted the artists. My one pet peeve with the N word was the rise and normalization of the B word. After that I never looked at the genre the same again.
@@nxrth9463 it’s actually the other way around. Anna wintour used to talk so much shit about that family and how they’d never be on Vogue or invited to the met gala. Kendall Jenner is the highest paid model right now and the first show she ever walked in was a Yeezy show. Kanye transformed their image using the concepts and relationships he built from his black, fashion designer ex, Alexis Phifer, who was often invited to fashion shows from NY to Milan while she & Ye dated. I hate that joulzy said that. It’s such an egregious oversight. They were making money but were not at all taken seriously by the media due to their poorly cultivated image that KANYE changed. Not the other way around
As someone who's not into HipHop and also not American, not even black, this video was still super interesting to me. You have a great essay style, those 26 minutes were really flying by
The language you use is extremely flowery & takes away from the video. Plus a few mistakes, but overall legitimate video: -DaBaby’s name before he got famous was DaBaby Jesus. That’s deep in there lol -nas’s debut album is illmatic, not whatever you said in the video. On illmatic, he referenced the asiatic black man on one the tracks too as “half man, half amazing” -I also think your interpretation of Jay z’s audio clip was entirely wrong. He was saying calling him a capitalist (after being called monkey, and the n word his whole life) doesn’t even feel like an insult to him because he’s been called so much worse -also, that Kris Jenner comment is all wrong. Kanye west lent the Kardashians legitimacy, not the other way around. He really took them to the next level, especially in the fashion industry. People forget that Kanye’s ex before amber rose is fashion designer and often got invited to a bunch of fashion weeks from NY to Milan. And guess who she brought. Kanye. All the connections he made thru the fashion industry were through her & everything he learned was from her. And he transferred that benefit onto the Kardashians. They were always rich but y’all forget that Anna wintour used to talk big shit about never inviting Kim to be on Vogue or being invited to the met gala but Now look. Kendall is *the* top model right now by no stretch of the imagination and the first brand to let her walk in their show…was Yeezy.
I will say at the beginning- if the imagery is meant to make the performer mimic Jesus, then it isn't "Judeo"-christian. Jesus is not a figure in Judaism. I agree that the crossover between xtianity and Islam here is relevant tho. Honestly that phrase came out of the early 2000s islamophobia, bc people wanted to present a sort of image of this xtian Jewish alliance against Islam (useful for things like the colonization of palenstine and being able to say you're "not white supremacist you have Jewish friends" while bombing islamic countries). Realistically though there is very little crossover between Xtian and Jewish culture or shared history- in part bc as Xtianity grew it made antisemetic efforts to distance itself from Judaism. I cannot actually think of a time when Judeo-christian was used that made any sense. People use it for anti abortion rallies, however the rabbinic law on abortion says life begins at first breath (so Ben Shapiro and his ilk are outliers), people use it to talk about winter holidays but obvs Jewish people don't celebrate xmas and hannukah is not that important culturally (it has become the most marketed to holiday in response to xmas but tbh everyone says like Yom Kippur and Rosh Hoshannah are way more important). I have even seen people say "Judeo-christian concepts like hell and sin" which... Is interesting as Judaism has no concept of hell, a largely very different concept of "afterlife" overall and a drastically different concept of sin (which is not based in the idea that something has stained you or needs to be forgiven- forgiveness itself is a largely different discussion in Judaism- but instead on personal accountability). Its not a huge deal overall, but I think its important to remember what these little phrases we pick up in life and use actually come from and what they really mean. Judeo-christian was a way for white supremacists to not appear antisemetic (which was something that mattered in more mainstream channels back then ha) while completely assimilating and ignoring all actual Jews involved in that discussion, for the express purposes of othering Muslims, who often have more in common with christians anyway (like, having Jesus be an important figure for one thing).
making a video about male rappers and their ties to capitalism but making sure you get that ad out the way first is crazy. for black men to see any representation of themself in the media as the true messiahs they (we) really are, is progression. your whole channel is dedicated to discussing divides within the black community but you seem to be pushing the division yourself.
But like as a messiah, who did y’all save?? Who did y’all die for??? Messiah would never go around with diamonds and flaunting wealth because he is a loving and selfless person. How is it progress to be put on a pedestal that y’all don’t belong on. How is it progress to have multiple children with multiple women and never taking care of the children. How is it progress to not accept any critical because you think that you’re the saviour. And again WHO DID YOU SAVE WHO DID YOU REDEEM AND WHO DID YOU DIE FOR
@@nikiiim223 could the same response be warranted against women who address themselves as queen but don’t exhibit any queen like behavior? we as black people are Gods, Goddesses, Kings and Queens. whether the behavior at the time is exhibiting this behavior doesn’t take away the title or the fact that we as individuals know who we are. additionally none of these men have left earth yet either, meaning they still have plenty of time to change their ways. adding on to another point a lot of the men mentioned in the video have very big fan bases who im sure would argue that the art these men have put out could’ve potentially “saved” them at some point.
@@nikiiim223 additionally none of the men mentioned in this video are men who are known to have multitudes of woman or don’t take care of their children. it seems you’re attempting to put all black men into a stereotypical category which is very anti black. who are you to determine they don’t deserve the pedestals they are put on? WHO HAVE YOU SAVED. WHO HAVE YOU DIED FOR. WHO HAVE YOU REDEEMED. they die for themselves & they families anytime they are in the public as they are not only black but black men WITH MONEY who’s lives are picked apart as well as the art they put out by people like the beautiful woman in the video, as well as people like you. people like you are also the reason the messiah was killed, as no one believed he was the messiah. they save those who feel touched by their art, so there’s your savior point right there. and as for redemption, which is subjective, so i’d say any of these men who have blessed a woman off the pole, gotten they homeboy the OUT THE STREETS, or have blessed the hoods they’ve come from is redemption. anything else or you ready to spew back your anti black rhetoric to try and prove how these black men aren’t credible enough to the messiah or were you referring to all black folk? i’d love to know.
@@dondonna555 a king and queen cannot be compared to God. As a black woman, I will never compare myself to God because I’m not perfect and I’m not omniscient. Black men are not perfect or omniscient, saving your homeboy from the streets doesn’t make you a God, it might make you a good person tho. Also statistically black men don’t take care of their kids, not really a stereotype, my dad belongs in that category. Black men are not saviours or God because God is all loving, all knowing and does more than save their homeboy off the streets. I understand that black men have many limitations compared to white men but saying that you’re a God will not suddenly give you more opportunities. Money might give you opportunities, but these black men are capitalists, you don’t seem to understand what capitalism is and neither do these black men, even with all their money
@@nikiiim223 i have a good understanding of what capitalism is thank you very much. black people are the reason this country even exists and operates the way it does, this country was built on our backs. capitalism started with people using our bodies for labor so why is it that when we as black people have the ability to access large amounts of wealth we are scruntinzed for it? more black people need to attempt to benefit from capitalism if we want to start gaining more financial freedom. crab in the bucket mentality. i’m sorry you didn’t grow up in the house with your father but i did so mine doesn’t fit in this statistic that only bases the non existent of black fathers being in the home simply because they are black fathers and not because of systemic racism, generational trauma, prejudice and unhealed trauma within themselves. im sorry you don’t think of yourself as what you are which is Goddess but is is the truth. i’m sorry you don’t believe all black people are Gods but it’s the truth and i’m sorry to hear that you are one of those. you have an amazing day Goddess.
The fact that I wasn't able to find out about Kendrick being a hotep while listening to him for awhilr is pretty concerning and goes to show how much a blk woman's perspective can illuminate certain issues.
I'm still watching the video & I'm still pretty young and have a lot of learning to do, but as I'm growing up & rethinking religion, not speaking for the capitalists or criminals of the world... when saying that, I take it as somebody trying to embody God, which isn't that what he would want? or thats too far?
@@TYLERTHEBAE Nope. A different perspective is always enlightening. I'm a lot older at 46, and you just didn't play with his name like that, I don't know.. it's not like I'm holy or even in church actively 💁
This is one of the best video lectures youve ever done and that I’ve seen on this platform. The historical foundation of this messiah performance and the contemporary examplesof it are so well connected and you point out so well the moments in which it shifts and transforms. I don’t know what your research focus is in grad school but you should definitely publish this as an article too.
Ya looking good Sorry, I'm a man who loves women, so, its the first thing I notice, and wanted to give props As far as the subject, I grew up with the Gods, and back then people took it VERY seriously. If you didn't know your lesson for the day, it could be a serious problem. Some still do. I like how you broke down the "Asiatic Black Man" cause I've yet to hear its origin without the myths Just a correction. Rakim came BEFORE Wu-tang, and was the first to push the "Gods". Also, Krs-One was NOT down with it behind the scenes, and Flash & the furious five never talked about it. Anyone Before Rakim wasn't talking about being a God, at least not to the point we knew they were down with the teachings The reason why a lot left the nation is cause a lot of the Gods were doing foul things like criminal activity, and people started seeing the Gods as almost gangsters. Then when the mid 90's came, everyone got locked up, or left the drug game, then went into music. This is why after 1997, and biggie/tupac died, the shift went into making BIG money, and partying, the gangster 90's , and the conscious rappers, looked corny cause they were scammers or not really about getting money just being tough. Nas, and Jay-Z, were the first to do this mafioso type thing BUT I remember when Nas got big, and people started hating on him. His car got shot up. That's the reason for "Hate me now" That mafioso wave has been going on to this day. It's time for something different!
Thanks for adding some more context!!! My mom and aunt was adjacent to the Five Percenters in my early childhood (they were even given names diff from their birth ones that ppl still use sometimes). I've never really asked her experiences regarding this and I think I will.
@empty shogun nah, “ready to die” was when Big was grimy Listen to songs like “Gimme the loot” or “Another Struggle” let’s you know he was far from mafioso
Oh Joulzey is gettin ready to SMNAP on this one- so here for it and I am ready to have my axioms shook to their core… This is one of my favorite videos - you pulled a lot of things together least of which the cult of black rapper personality…. Sis brava!!!!!
🙏🏽 thank you for this comprehensive analysis of black men and their god complexes and the nuances between them and their beliefs with their presentation
[Verse 1: 2Pac] You probably crooked as the last trick Want to laugh at how I got my ass caught up with this bad bitch? Thinkin' I had her, but she had me in the long run It's just my luck, I'm stuck with fuckin' with the wrong one Wise decisions, based on lies we livin' Scandalous times, this game's like my religion You could be rollin' with a thug Instead you with this weak scrub, lookin' for some love
I liked what you said in this video. But, I feel you might have missed the point of Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. If your conclusion is that he’s portraying himself as a messiah enforcing tired gendered roles then I don’t think you got the full idea of the project. Kendrick is trying to show the audience that he’s not a messiah, a savior, or someone who is perfect. The project is intentionally messy to show that he is a person who needs to work on himself to improve. Sure there are certain subjects that aren’t perfectly excuted, but that’s the intent. He’s trying to lower his status from this Christ like figure to show that he’s a very flawed human being.
Glad you included Kendrick in this. I didn't listen to his last album. Something about DAMN just wasn't sitting with me. And then the role out and social media praise of the new one just turned me off in a way that I just couldn't explain. This analysis helped it all come together
@@ummmm_okay I'm pretty sure they expected to enjoy the performance but realized it wasn't what they thought it would be. You don't always know what you think of something without trying it.
* Rakim's first record came before RZA: 1st single "Eric B is President" w/ "My Melody" on B-Side in 1986. RZAs "Ooh, I Love You, Rakim" in 1989. * Nas' 1st album was Illmatic (1994) not It Was Written (1996)
great video. I was just talking about 5% I agree with the idea of God not being separate from human but I in no way think anyone should worship another human. it's all very male centered and regressed masquerading as enlightenment.
Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to hear where the beginnings of the percenters came from? Too long. It’s become so engrained in the culture that most people will hear a reference in lyrics and think the rapper is talkinh about the Judeo-Christian God but they’re not. I thank you for the brief history, analysis and sharing your thoughts.
I think you guys gotta understand, like any religion or spiritual belief, it can be detoured and perverted to fit whoever’s agenda. The black man is god was a statement to empower the man and make him want to mentally and physically enlighten himself. God is a concept, a level of consciousness, not a a person or any one book of lessons. These god complexes also too were to push the artist brand .. its not always to be literal. Hip hop has a lore and story to it too .. religion and comparing yourself to the the divine source is another way of saying god is sending messages through you to write and talk to the people. Is it meant to always be so literal? No , did some make it literally and create a complex out of this craft meant to be righteous and pure? Yes but, our history and culture runs deep. I do agree that’s it’s became toxic and non progressive… and these black entertainers are very uninformed, with huge selfish egos . I don’t care if the black man wants to do cosplay and look at himself in a certain light .. but it’s the ignorance and lack of education that throws me off .. You’re not ordained because you can make money rhyming words. Gifted yes? But it’s much more important and essential roles the black man should be celebrated for and put on a pedestal as example for what young men should strive to be. Hip hop should empower those men who are truly brilliant to keep going and pushing the standard of the black man but for that to happen… The overall attitude and message in black music has to change in narrative.
Not gonna watch this video but i came to comment on the title alone, why label it BLACK rappers like theyre a minority or marginalized? also as a fan for over 35yrs of rap, there are very few who ilicit jesus comparisons… and kendrick aint one of them [going off ur thumbnail]. So its not even a “thing” as ur trying to imply, its happened i agree but it hasn’t happened enough to warrant a long-form video about it.
THANK YOU, this woman has never heard one album by Kendrick or tried to understand his lyrics. I'm so glad you made this comment. I myself don't agree with Kendrick wearing the crown but to call him a a narcissist and wanting to be Jesus ain't right, it's very wrong.
really great video jouelzy! i havent heard too many folks on here get into these topics, especially breaking down how influential the 5 percenters were on rap's first 20 or so years, for better or for worse. as much as i love a lot of these guys and their records, i've felt that rap needed to grow up a long time ago and stop accepting all these contradicting and shallow excuses for "deep," "conscious" music
Thank you for this video. As a follower of the real Jesus. Some of these acts these guys have been trying to get away with are just sick. Especially prosperity Gospel and the clear false messages to save themselves from their bad behaviour. And ppl are eating it up.
I truly admire how you really apply the education behind your points. Great material. Kept me glued. The Messiah complex and misogynoir is so real and I feel like it definitely keeps Black Cis men in bondage, especially through entertainment.
I don't think there's anything wrong with likening one self to the passion of Christ, the Messiah which is to free his people from their mental prisons. Nothing wrong with aligning one self with divinity. The "rich" or capitalist aspect does not disqualify one from being a carrier of a divine message. Black people should unlearn sensationalized religiousity which is a eurocentric concept. Like Kendrick likening himself with Christ or a prophet but that's a label that was put upon him by white people who felt he had a messianic aesthetic esp after TPAB & black people labelling him Hip Hop Savior. I am not mad at that. He however drops that savior baggage in Mr Morale and acknowledges his humanity and denounces the savior label. No human is perfect, I don't even think Jesus was but in our purest form(beyond our physical bodies and limitations of the ego) we are God-like, divine spiritual beings and as a Christian I believe that was his overall message. People getting mad at this imagery is stupid, we are all connected with the divine creator and supreme consciousness. However, I do agree that this imagery would be more conceivable if the Kanyes and JayZs espoused the values taught by Christ: Humility, non-materialism, social awareness and community minded leadership
I grew up with hip hop and the older I get the harder it is to enjoy it because I am knowledgeable about the problematic messaging in hip-hop. Even now! Most of the hip-hop music I consume is by black women, but even that is laced with capitalism and internalized misogyny.
I’m revisiting this a year later because I’m always finding myself referencing it. With the recent release of The Book of Clarence I needed a refresher & im catching so many gems that I missed the first time. There’s definitely a tremendous overlap with this line of thinking & how many Black men in the community function
okay first off i have to say you look BEAUTIFUL!!! 2nd as a Black Muslim woman from NY with a hotep father who still thinks he has a shot at a rap career, this video SPOKE TO MEEE in so many ways. 😂 Its funny because i never was able to put into words the connection between hoteps, hiphop and the narcissistic God complex a lot of Black men have until watching this. Thanks for such a well produced video essay.
And the funny thing is the God complex runs through black men even an ocean across. I am African and I see it in my father, brothers and other men I interact with. I think it is the root of misogynoir
Same! Black Sunni Muslim here. Ngl when I was younger listening to rap with my dad I felt proud but the older I got I saw that they praised being a black male but treat women especially black women like trash
@@Tullahgit THAT PART! I was so happy to hear a lil bit of Islam in a song but after u get past the no pork for me lines it gets veryyyy misogynistic very fast.
Black men have a talent for legitimizing the most asinine ideologies. There is also a talent for monetizing their beliefs until things fall apart.
I haven't even watched past the introduction yet. But THIS COMMENT! It's illuminating that thing I see in many of my male friends.
Chris Brown is literally proof that they succeeded in creating this thing they were after. Unquestionable, uncancellable, violent, toxic, supported, black man. It’s disgusting.
this was such a good video Jouelzy! Hip-hop would look very different if black male rappers who align themselves Jesus iconography were to actually adapt the values espoused by Jesus: humble, non-materialistic, anti-capitalist and community minded.
They don’t get it…evvaa😂
Now now , you want them without hoes and out fasting for forty days . Hell nah they want violenceeeee
Nah jesus is everything but tht. Read the bible plz. Im an athiest i was ex christian. I read it seriously. Read it again n take off the " his love is great" glasses
@@bmoe4609 I didn’t say anything about what they should do or what they should believe. I’m pointing out the hypocrisy wanting to align themselves with Jesus but everything about what they represent in their music, their artistry, and even their lives is the very opposite.
@@VioletFem idk how they got that from what you said lol
When you talk about how much black people had admiration for Japan it's really interesting to me because the Japanese resisted European colonization by becoming basically the Britian of East Asia. They famously beat the Russian Navy and they even had their own like racial pseudoscience to prove their superiority over other ethnic groups in the area. Japan went hardcore for fascism and took to it very well and it's the reason why so many people still hold a deep anti-Japanese sentiment in their hearts in many parts of east Asia. It's also why a lot of people weren't particularly happy that Shinzo Abe had become Prime Minister because his grandfather was a Minister during fascist Japan as well as Prime Minister later on. He also enacted so many crimes against humanity in Manchuria as well as the rape of so many Korean women
Thanks for sharing. The history of Japan is not as peaceful and strictly zen beauty as we’re used to thinking. They did truly terrible things on a large scale during the not so distant wars that most Westerners of our generation for sure never heard a peep about in our education even though the repercussions are still loud and clear for many groups of people to this day. The human race has so far to go… sheesh, still.
Yep. Japan is one of those countries that, because of the pop culture they export, has been able to portray a really fun, positive, almost innocent identity. However, as soon as you start to dig into their history, it gets really dicey really fast.
If anyone is interested in a piece of that history, check out the show Pachinko on Apple TV+ - it's a fictional drama based on a book, but it portrays Japan's occupation of Korea in a very vivid way we don't really see often.
They were also allied with Nazi Germany.
@@starzzzy22 I have listened to a podcast about the Japanese occupation in Korea. God, my stomach turned at the mass murder and rape.
Japan is an interesting case of what could of been. Unique circumstances lead to them being one of the few non European nations to industrialize. However instead of becoming a unifying force for all non white people in the world they turned to fascism/ Japanese supremacy.
Before i get into todays sermon, i must say that your hair is exquisite and you look great Jouelzy🫶🏾
Amen
Right!
I agree
Gorgeous
So gorgeous! 😍
lesson of the day: Don't wear crowns made of thorns. It's bad for ya mental health.
What about the ones looking and complaining about the one wearing the crown?
Lil’ Wayne @20 years ago with the lyric: “The Bible said every girl is sour, don’t play in her garden, don’t smell her flowers…” He was the most feral individual pop music had ever seen at that point. But nevertheless, here we all are today, squarely in harm’s way from a resurgence of misogyny and gender-based racism. To be fair, the music industry has been staunchly committed to dehumanizing black women for shock profits despite protests and various genuine efforts from the community, church, and academia (specially even HBCUs- to their credit) since I was a kid in the 80s, and I witnessed that the music industry is more powerful than every institution the community had. That industry just exploits every weakness and weak person in the African American community for entertainment profits. It’s a very dirty business- and half of it should be illegal as hate speech, truly.
Definitely hate speech, but then they’d be called racist for going against the black man’s oppression of black women.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I thought that was 14 years ago on the carter 3
How long can you blame the industry until you realize they can't exploit us without our consent?
If the lyrics were "The Bible said every man is evil" or whatever tf, would you have a problem with the message? I have to ask bc our community seems to be in a gender war where both sides are just pointing fingers at eachother
These men are so lost and delusional. And it's really scary that we have been sucked into these falsehoods and inadvertently given them what they really desire - white patriarchal power. Nothing else. I hope we get to the space where we can look within to get inspiration and find purpose.
More like the perception of white patriarchal power. The white man has no problem letting these men know exactly where they stand if they get out of control.
Two Culture Ciphers, one bag of wet
Heavy rain fucked my kicks up, wasn't looking, splashed in the puddle
Bitch laughing, first thought was beat the bitch up
Moseyed off gracefully, New York's most wanted cheeba hawk
@@ahkenaten522 Get tested. You're on the spectrum.
@@phylliewilly that’s Ghostface face killah supreme clientele, but okay.
That’s why y’all get oppressed you literally just disrespected people on the autism spectrum because I posted some lyrics.😂😂y’all not as holy as all think do some self reflection.
Furthermore that shit fire though. That picture he painted was vivid asl
There's nothing "white" about being rich and powerful. GTFO with that Marxist nonsense.
Came from Tee’s video on Diddy, so glad to find more feminist black women essayists.
I can remember my very Christian mother denouncing rappers as the work of the devil. I'm agnostic now but I think I understand what she meant. The way you broke this down is incredible. I've always equated the shift to capitalism in rap to be due to the desire to hoard wealth but it's so much deeper than that.
My very Christian mother did the same and saying "I'm not allowed to listen to that" wasn't fun as a kid but it likely saved me from a lot of mental gymnastics that people employ to explain away the misogynoir and capitalism of their favorite artists
Hiphop was always Capitalistic. Getting money was always a thing in Hiphop culture
@@j.r.4627 thank you for this! People go to bat for these man and for what??
@@j.r.4627 Capitalism has brought more people out of poverty than literally anything else in history. Only dumb folks and people with crab in a barrel mentality are against it. And Hip-Hop isn't anymore misogynist than the Bible or any traditional African culture. If you can't handle it when an artist tells the truth about women then that's your fault.
@@Denzel_X The truth?
This was an excellent video! You were so spot on about the narcissism of it all...either way you split it: the hyper capitalist who credits God for his success to the woe-is-me figure with the Jesus complex. They're both a lazy veneer for self aggrandizement.
Edit: I've always found the Jesus iconography that Kendrick and many others utilize irritating and you explained it well. Like he's not the "healer" black men need, Kanye can not put "love" in a m*ga hat, and ultimately every artist who leans in to this idea proves themselves to be every bit as flawed and ridiculous (if not more so) as the rest of us.
Who IS still doing conscious rap incorporating anticapitalism and community?
"And whoever shall exhalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" St. Matthew 23: 12
I guess most of these rappers missed that Memo!
You mentioned the wonderful & much missed "Toni" Morrison: she became Catholic & took the name "Toni" from St Anthony of Padua.
The fastest way to make God upset is trying to be Him. That’s why many of these self-proclaimed rapper lords fall before our very eyes.
@@God-Love-Freedom
👏🏿🎯
Toni Morrison was a Catholic convert? Interesting!
@@yes_anotherone3260
Yes she was. Another dimension to her incomparable personality.
Hmm I learned something new today
The Jesus thing has always rubbed me the wrong way which is why I was never a fan of Kanye. I had no idea it went this far back. Thank you for this sharing this thought provoking essay.
Same, I agree
The way I stopped arguing about Kendrick with black people…
What do u mean?
You hating cause he a black Nigga with power get off nuts
Yeah what do you mean
Huh?
So to sum it up: they’re basically/blatantly mocking Jesus Christ.
Like Satan did. They’re lowkey demonic.
@@ladybug3380 this comment section is insane
At the height of my pick-me era, I was a "hip hop head" and the way Id dissect and debate these histories really was a passion. Now, an adult, I can clearly see the negative effects of taking on these oppressive ideologies so casually. It was simply not made with me in mind. The narcissism, capitalism and the great unifier, misogynoir, still have a vice grip on men young and old. Jouelzy, thank you for breaking this down as only you could.
Aka “Black Male Worship” 😅
Ughhhhhhh same sis. Same. Like yuck.
@@kaylad1669 Oh no! I was never that. Ive been calling out sexism (and the like) in my household since I was a very small child. Thankfully, I could always see. I cant say the same for everyone else and unfortunately music seems to be a most potent conduit, so again thank you to Jouelzy for breaking this down. As aware as anyone can be, there will always be bits and pieces of conditioning present. My comment and the oppressive ideals affected the ways I saw myself in relation to the community. It was always the music and sound for me since I have never revered men in those ways but the negative messages still pass through. Its up to the individual to self reflect (as seen in the comment above), identify and adjust views. Buzz terms and words just arent enough and in this case, not applicable. Nuance will help you.
@@nehemie1255 I wasn’t saying you were a black male worshipper babe lol I was saying what you described is what black male worship is!!! The conditioning to accept this narcissism, capitalism, misogynoir and conditioning is where black male worship stems from! I’m just connecting the dots! 🥰❤️
It takes alot to admit when you had a mindset in the past that was wrong or toxic. Im glad you worked past it and learned from it! 💯
Today is my 62nd birthday. Thank you for this gift. Your thoughtful observations and considered articulations are always appreciated. You are among a cohort of young black scholars who greatly soften the impending reality of my aging out of existence. They were wise to teach you to read. You do it extremely well. Blessings.
Happy birthday!!! ❤️ 😊 Take care 🙏🏾
What a beautiful sentiment, Birthday Woman!
Happy Birthday 🥳 🎈❤
I hope you had a great birthday🫶🏾
Happy Birthday 🎁
I have no idea about the Asian black man ideology. You don't have to be a scholar to know that the Japanese government aligned themselves with the fascism of the 1930’s and 40's. It does not surprise me Jay-Z freaked out when he was called a capitalist. We all seriously have some reading to do.
Even my favorite rapper Tupac played into this image before with Makaveli. Also I’m ashamed to say I was a Kanye fan when he first came out. Every rapper who played into the Messiah complex should be called out even if they are some of our favorite rappers. Nobody is above accountability.
Don't be ashamed, the majority of us loved KW when he first came out.
The way I never liked Tupac. This is coming from a southern Cali woman. I found him appalling, misogynistic, and hypocritical.
@@Soul.in.the.garden To just outright call Pac misogynistic when he made songs like Dear Mama, Brenda’s Got A Baby and Keep Ya Head Up is disingenuous. Hypocritical however is accurate. But you also have to understand his life and the many things he went through to understand why. Not saying it was right or excusing. But it should be understood where that came from.
@@majestymxnt7384 people go through different things that make them who they are good or bad.
@@majestymxnt7384 he's a rapist and most of his songs have the misogynistic language that most mainstream rappers have
I understand and appreciate your very valid points on the messiah and “enlightened” black male tropes that are often presented and taken on by many conscious black male rappers. I get tired of that character lol. However I have to say I don’t fully understand your point on Kendrick. The Mr. Morale album is about Kendrick trying to dismantle and put away that “messiah” mantle that he thought he had to live up to. It’s ultimate message is him revealing to everyone that he’s not this messiah that Hip-Hip has made him out to be and that he’s a normal man who makes mistakes and doesn’t have all the answers just like everyone else. And that is his exact reason why he could never be the messiah everyone wants to make him out to be. The “Mr. Morale” character is ironic rather than literal or what he thinks of himself.
it’s as if she didn’t listen to the album. this video would have been better of she had quoted lyrics of the rappers she claims have these traits as proof. mr. morale and the big steppers pushes this conversation of rappers being overly idolized as a step in the right direction and leads this conversation for the majority of black men that still hold judeo christian mysogonistic beliefs. kendrick, by stepping away from his messiah complex puts him front and center as a viable candidate to lead black men out of this mass delusion. there’s still more to be said about black people and our association with christianity
It's jus what I thought too....but I don't think they listened to the album
I agree with you both lol I don’t think she actually listened to the album. Because that album literally wholeheartedly agrees with what she’s saying here in this vid. This vids topic is the main point of the album.
Exactly
Your explanation is cool and everything but let's not forget that Kendrick had an expensive thorned crown made for him for the promo of that album. I believe it even has a mechanism that releases blood down his head. What the hell is that?!
Damn not investing in private probation 😦 Jesus take the wheel. Also this video brought me back to my initial kid reaction to that NAS video, like quietly to myself feeling the evil-feeling inversion of it all. Ironically it reminds me of the portion of To Kill A Butterfly where the voice says, “he knows the Bible too,” talking about the devil.
My dad was hotep light from the Caribbean - Afro Caribbean. My mom is fully B l a c k beautiful Afro Latina. He was obsessed with my mother. She was 17 when they married and he was 29.
He was a good family man and took great care of us. But the BM is God really, really ruined that generation.
BM could no longer be criticized, held to any standards, told that they weren’t doing their jobs to build communities or that THEY were the ones making them unsafe. BM are Gods came before BM are Kings.
I remember my mom asking, how do you correct a God?
This is really sad to me. This god/king complex man take on makes true partnership impossible.
Wow. This is so interesting. I see the same in my family and I completely agree. Thanks for sharing
I think the BM is God spread in the working class/ middle class school pro b l a c k homes like Chris Rock’s in Everybody hates Chris.
BM is King took place in more Urban homes like how Jay Z grew up. Of course there was overlap.
I'm trying to understand how you can be a "king" with no kingdom? How you can be a "king" and not desire to build or leave anything behind besides your seed? How you can be a "king" and not have any type of pride in ones self? 🤔
@Crystal
The boomer women made them Gods in the homes. And degenerate BM culture made each other Kings in the streets.
You look amazing.
And do!!
Thank you friend!
I agree with the Jay Z and Nas assessments but T.I. and DaBaby are T.I. and DaBaby, I wouldn't expect any deeper points to them using Jesus imagery and it's probably just the face value idea of them being crucified as you said. I doubt anyone's look at either of those 2's examples very seriously in the ideological regard
Kanye is a weird case because his belief in Christ has always been prevalent and I don't think the point was to ever portray himself as Jesus, yes the name "Yeezus" invokes that idea but he never tied himself in to actually say he's Christ. Even the song "I Am a God" is just portrays his character with delusional levels of pride to later be addressed and undone on the same album
Your Kendrick assessment seems off too. Obviously there's the thorn crown imagery but the album's entire idea is that Kendrick ISN'T Christ-like. The two most important songs have Kendrick repeat that various celebrities are "not your Savior" [on 'Savior'] and "I choose me I'm sorry" [on 'Crown']. He also stated that he isn't Pro Black on the album so to me the theme being pushed is that Kendrick's fans placed a "crown" on him by expecting him to be their leader of sorts. MM&TBS makes it clear that Kendrick never wanted the role and received it unjustly in the same manner that Christ never placed the crown of thorns on his own head. That all may seem like a stretch but when you look at how people were slandering Kendrick for not speaking during COVID and the George Floyd riots (he trended on Twitter multiple times due to such requests) I think it's fair to say many have absolutely "crowned" him as a voice of the people but he's not saying that's good or even true on Mr. Morale he's just attacking the unfairness of it.
"DAMN." on the other hand was meant to show Kendrick's confusion on whether he should follow his religion or use his platform to try and help the world as a figurehead of it (which the Bible actually advises against). The end result of this conflict is the fact that Kendrick is "damned if he does and damned if he doesn't" which DJ Dahi, who exec-produced the album, explained a few times. The record has NOTHING to do with him being like Jesus and he gets killed for entirely different reasons on the project
P.S. 25:14 How did Kendrick "reinforce tired gender wars?" I can only think of 'We Cry Together' that addresses the gender war but it only aimed to show both sides as flawed with no real conclusion on how to fix it in my eyes
But this comment won’t get too many likes, I agree with almost everything you mentioned especially the Kendrick takes. Her opinion comes off as someone who did not actually listen to the album. I have never heard misogyny or gender wars be associated with Kendrick Lamar’s musical content and it seemed grossly incorrect to label him as such
@@Brooklyn94269 I mean I agree with the original comment but that isn’t to say that Kendrick is devoid of misogynistic takes as even in Mr. Morale he discusses his own misogyny, but I do agree that’s it seems a bit unfair to lump him in with the rest of the group she talks about in this video
@@charlestaylorco8713 I would still love to see examples, perhaps I missed something . I recall Kendrick discussing his sex addiction and infidelity, however , that is different from being a misogynist. Misogyny would imply that he dislikes women and I don’t recall hearing any indication of that .
@@Brooklyn94269 I’m not saying he’s a misogynist but that he’s repeated misogynistic rhetoric that many had to unlearn, most notably in his earlier work. Like his verse on Memories Back Then could definitely fall into that distasteful perception of black women (like that meme with the nerd who gets rich)
@@charlestaylorco8713 considering Kendrick’s use of rhetoric (back then) is different from the listener’s experience of his music. One has to critically ask, does the rhetoric reinforce the actual content?
If we are using that song for example, sure you can say he has misogynistic rhetoric (language ) in his lyrics, specifically referring to a girl as a ho. However it conflicts with what the actual verse is about , which is about a girl thinking she is too good for him or for a regular guy. That is wholly different from say Jayz , who would use misogynistic rhetoric in his delivery to reinforce misogynistic content in his verses ( see Girls , girls , girls ) .
Now i agree , the use of words like ho, bitch, thot etc, are misogynistic rhetoric. However, not trying to down play it, but it is just that, rhetoric. Meaning , the use of language for effective impact on the audience - simply put , delivery. Rhetoric is empty without content behind it, and Kendrick’s content has consistently (in my opinion) not been disrespectful or shown contempt to women.
Now if you want to argue that the language shouldn’t be used at all because it’s more harmful than whatever content is behind it , that’s different, although I would disagree, but to describe his music as misogynistic because he may have used words considered misogynistic rhetoric, I think that is wrong.
As a huge Kendrick fan, I wanted to be mad but you told no lies.
Anyways, love video essays like this that are for us (Black people), dig deep and aren’t chasing the algorithm.
I'm perplexed about the misogyny label for Kendrick. Is this about the "bitch bad, woman better" thing or is there more to it im not aware of.
I love Kendrick too but he thinks he is god now. Like no sir
@@ronaldmcdonaldjuniorghost you're misunderstanding the point. he never said he was God in the first place. Did you listen to any of his albums?
@@Dara-po3dd that’s not what he said on baby keem family ties song and he said it on one of his songs on his new album too. Go listen to them
@@Dara-po3dd don’t get me wrong on some songs he will admit that he is a mere mortal and not a god, for example “savior ft baby keem” but he’ll turn around and proclaim himself as a god on some other songs 🤦♂️ trust me I know what I’m talking about I’m a huge Kendrick fan
Read a comment that said Kanye created Sunday service right after slavery is a choice and harriet Turman comments. Smh. He can run to religion and hide
There is a clear rhetoric between certain types of black men and their following, almost like a dog whistle. I am glad you brought this full circle for me to start my journey of understanding why so many of the black men I encounter, even on a daily basis, continuously certain themselves and people like them as the know all be all that other humans couldn’t possibly understand or grasp. 🤦🏽♀️ Thank you for your amazing work 🙏🏽 and you look lovely per usual ♥️🙌🏽
Girl...I have to stop you at barely enough height. that was funny fr
This was an interesting analysis and I’d be happy to see this topic expounded upon further. Thank you for the continued thought provoking content.
Come on LOCS! The thumbnail stopped me dead in my tracks. This the one girl ☝🏾
Damn. I didn't expect to like this.
At first I thought you was on some 🐂💩 with the thumbnail (especially me being a Kendrick fan).
But when you made the comparison between "The (made) Messiah Rapper" vs The People who were publicly murdered for actually trying to uplift the community of their(our) issues while still living in the neighborhood's that they're trying to uplift; yeah I had to humble my azz down.
Thanks for the new lens.🙏🏾💜🙏🏾
Kanye definitely learned from Kris Jenner, who co-found the California Community Church aka the Life Change Church.
Thanks for adding this context!
I love this channel. When you go into deep dives, you not only do the research, but you ACTUALLY know wtf you’re talking about and don’t cloud the conversation with painfully biased ill-informed opinions (like so many others on this platform, no shade😭lol). Thank you Jouelzy❤️
Music is not for community it's for entertainment. People gotta let go of worshipping musicians. Enjoy the sounds and don't look for them as saviors or allies.
Our own people have a big problem with this, the other races can decipher from the two
“The late 90s - early 2000s hip hop of P Diddy and Jay Z really did usher in a new era of moral bankruptcy that kept individual pockets lined fat, and their egos as personally unchecked as their bank balance.” Oooouuuuwwweeeeee.
To me it didn’t sound like Jay Z was comparing the n word & the term ‘capitalist’. I think he was saying that he has been called so much worse (n word, monkey) that being called a capitalist (in a capitalist society) is like…laughable. They have to come up with a more aggressive insult
I like the analysis of this video. However, I think on Kendrick he is basically telling the fans that he is not their savior. He’s not portraying himself as godlike.
@@jumpdumppyy I think his “costume” is just a play off of what he is laying out in the album, that he is viewed as such. In the album he reflects on how he portrays himself through his work and how people interpret it and hold him to this image and standard; while he realistically is living this troubled, hottep lifestyle. He’s acknowledging his responsibility in creating these interpretations despite being unsanctified, and saying “hey take this with a grain of salt, and look elsewhere. I’m just here to get express and entertain.” His honesty gives an excuse of sorts and doesn’t make anything better, but at least he told us… I guess.
It’s still blasphemy either way!
@@MONET8iAM What you think is right. Both you and the OP have the right idea about what the album is. I really didn't agree with the part of the video analysing his last album much, down to the take on its name.
He deliberately goes out of his way to show you he's not "that" guy to the point where he has an entire song about it, just to beat the dead horse incase you didn't catch the hint. I found the title (and to an extent the album art) to be ironic. Because he's the exact opposite of mister morale, that nigga ain't jesus, he's not God like. He's just a messy, flawed human being (like everyone else) who finally accepts that he can't single handedly save a community, and having the audacity to think he could was both bad for his mental health, personal relationships, and highlighted how naive and ultimately fucking stupid it was to think that. That's what I got from that album.
And if you ask me, the god complex you're looking for, the messianic hubris that would've been a great critique for this video, was on (and around) To Pimp A Butterfly.
All those short jokes at dababys expense lol
In order for me to speak, I'm gonna have to run this back a few more times.
Frfr
17:41 was my FAVORITE PART‼️ Please continue to call this bs out!!!
i always was struck by the exploitative vibes i got from these rappers' work...these artists who succeeded under capitalism use working class black mens' mandatory need to participate in capitalism against them...intertwining relgious references and the underdog story, plus some good ole hustle propaganda, they create the perfect narratives for able bodied black cis het men and hip hop lovers to project themselves onto. they preach aspiration to the american dream as gospel while narcissistically taunting black men with the excesses they gain from it (often with tons of misogyny). as a result, instead of feeling uplifting, to my ears much of it feels spiritually bypassing of their struggles in an especially cruel way: by masquerading as sympathy for survival.
These Rappers are *EXHAUSTING* AND U LOOK GAWWGEOUS
Off topic- can you do a quick video on your grad school experience & how you’re feeling? I just feel like school is kicking my ass and im still working to get into grad school. My fiancé just finished last week. Id love to hear how you’re doing.
Sis, You always bring it..... I always learn something new.
Thank you Joulzey for verbalizing exactly why I stepped away from hip hop as a teenager in the 90s. I felt the cultural shift and envisioned the effect on the community. The misogyny, materialism, self-deprecation (N word), all wrapped up in this moral superiority complex of the most immoral messages. Hip Hop could have been so much more….higher
Love your comment. I was picking up on the nonsense back then too. It made me a skeptic although I still listened I no longer trusted the artists. My one pet peeve with the N word was the rise and normalization of the B word. After that I never looked at the genre the same again.
@@imanisteel7960 amen 🙏🏽
"He can hate on Kris Jenner all he wants but that lady definitely put him on to some well-paying capitalistic pursuit."
Jouelzy spitting pure facts
Actually he put her and her family onto that. Lovelyti2002 made a very detailed video about that
Delusion
How?
@@nxrth9463 it’s actually the other way around. Anna wintour used to talk so much shit about that family and how they’d never be on Vogue or invited to the met gala. Kendall Jenner is the highest paid model right now and the first show she ever walked in was a Yeezy show. Kanye transformed their image using the concepts and relationships he built from his black, fashion designer ex, Alexis Phifer, who was often invited to fashion shows from NY to Milan while she & Ye dated. I hate that joulzy said that. It’s such an egregious oversight. They were making money but were not at all taken seriously by the media due to their poorly cultivated image that KANYE changed. Not the other way around
As someone who's not into HipHop and also not American, not even black, this video was still super interesting to me. You have a great essay style, those 26 minutes were really flying by
The language you use is extremely flowery & takes away from the video.
Plus a few mistakes, but overall legitimate video:
-DaBaby’s name before he got famous was DaBaby Jesus. That’s deep in there lol
-nas’s debut album is illmatic, not whatever you said in the video. On illmatic, he referenced the asiatic black man on one the tracks too as “half man, half amazing”
-I also think your interpretation of Jay z’s audio clip was entirely wrong. He was saying calling him a capitalist (after being called monkey, and the n word his whole life) doesn’t even feel like an insult to him because he’s been called so much worse
-also, that Kris Jenner comment is all wrong. Kanye west lent the Kardashians legitimacy, not the other way around. He really took them to the next level, especially in the fashion industry. People forget that Kanye’s ex before amber rose is fashion designer and often got invited to a bunch of fashion weeks from NY to Milan. And guess who she brought. Kanye. All the connections he made thru the fashion industry were through her & everything he learned was from her. And he transferred that benefit onto the Kardashians. They were always rich but y’all forget that Anna wintour used to talk big shit about never inviting Kim to be on Vogue or being invited to the met gala but Now look. Kendall is *the* top model right now by no stretch of the imagination and the first brand to let her walk in their show…was Yeezy.
I will say at the beginning- if the imagery is meant to make the performer mimic Jesus, then it isn't "Judeo"-christian. Jesus is not a figure in Judaism. I agree that the crossover between xtianity and Islam here is relevant tho.
Honestly that phrase came out of the early 2000s islamophobia, bc people wanted to present a sort of image of this xtian Jewish alliance against Islam (useful for things like the colonization of palenstine and being able to say you're "not white supremacist you have Jewish friends" while bombing islamic countries). Realistically though there is very little crossover between Xtian and Jewish culture or shared history- in part bc as Xtianity grew it made antisemetic efforts to distance itself from Judaism.
I cannot actually think of a time when Judeo-christian was used that made any sense. People use it for anti abortion rallies, however the rabbinic law on abortion says life begins at first breath (so Ben Shapiro and his ilk are outliers), people use it to talk about winter holidays but obvs Jewish people don't celebrate xmas and hannukah is not that important culturally (it has become the most marketed to holiday in response to xmas but tbh everyone says like Yom Kippur and Rosh Hoshannah are way more important). I have even seen people say "Judeo-christian concepts like hell and sin" which... Is interesting as Judaism has no concept of hell, a largely very different concept of "afterlife" overall and a drastically different concept of sin (which is not based in the idea that something has stained you or needs to be forgiven- forgiveness itself is a largely different discussion in Judaism- but instead on personal accountability).
Its not a huge deal overall, but I think its important to remember what these little phrases we pick up in life and use actually come from and what they really mean. Judeo-christian was a way for white supremacists to not appear antisemetic (which was something that mattered in more mainstream channels back then ha) while completely assimilating and ignoring all actual Jews involved in that discussion, for the express purposes of othering Muslims, who often have more in common with christians anyway (like, having Jesus be an important figure for one thing).
I screamed when I read the title!
Yes ma’am! Let’s get into it PLEASE! 💁🏽♀️
making a video about male rappers and their ties to capitalism but making sure you get that ad out the way first is crazy. for black men to see any representation of themself in the media as the true messiahs they (we) really are, is progression. your whole channel is dedicated to discussing divides within the black community but you seem to be pushing the division yourself.
But like as a messiah, who did y’all save?? Who did y’all die for??? Messiah would never go around with diamonds and flaunting wealth because he is a loving and selfless person. How is it progress to be put on a pedestal that y’all don’t belong on. How is it progress to have multiple children with multiple women and never taking care of the children. How is it progress to not accept any critical because you think that you’re the saviour. And again WHO DID YOU SAVE WHO DID YOU REDEEM AND WHO DID YOU DIE FOR
@@nikiiim223 could the same response be warranted against women who address themselves as queen but don’t exhibit any queen like behavior? we as black people are Gods, Goddesses, Kings and Queens. whether the behavior at the time is exhibiting this behavior doesn’t take away the title or the fact that we as individuals know who we are. additionally none of these men have left earth yet either, meaning they still have plenty of time to change their ways. adding on to another point a lot of the men mentioned in the video have very big fan bases who im sure would argue that the art these men have put out could’ve potentially “saved” them at some point.
@@nikiiim223 additionally none of the men mentioned in this video are men who are known to have multitudes of woman or don’t take care of their children. it seems you’re attempting to put all black men into a stereotypical category which is very anti black. who are you to determine they don’t deserve the pedestals they are put on? WHO HAVE YOU SAVED. WHO HAVE YOU DIED FOR. WHO HAVE YOU REDEEMED. they die for themselves & they families anytime they are in the public as they are not only black but black men WITH MONEY who’s lives are picked apart as well as the art they put out by people like the beautiful woman in the video, as well as people like you. people like you are also the reason the messiah was killed, as no one believed he was the messiah. they save those who feel touched by their art, so there’s your savior point right there. and as for redemption, which is subjective, so i’d say any of these men who have blessed a woman off the pole, gotten they homeboy the OUT THE STREETS, or have blessed the hoods they’ve come from is redemption. anything else or you ready to spew back your anti black rhetoric to try and prove how these black men aren’t credible enough to the messiah or were you referring to all black folk? i’d love to know.
@@dondonna555 a king and queen cannot be compared to God. As a black woman, I will never compare myself to God because I’m not perfect and I’m not omniscient. Black men are not perfect or omniscient, saving your homeboy from the streets doesn’t make you a God, it might make you a good person tho. Also statistically black men don’t take care of their kids, not really a stereotype, my dad belongs in that category. Black men are not saviours or God because God is all loving, all knowing and does more than save their homeboy off the streets. I understand that black men have many limitations compared to white men but saying that you’re a God will not suddenly give you more opportunities. Money might give you opportunities, but these black men are capitalists, you don’t seem to understand what capitalism is and neither do these black men, even with all their money
@@nikiiim223 i have a good understanding of what capitalism is thank you very much. black people are the reason this country even exists and operates the way it does, this country was built on our backs. capitalism started with people using our bodies for labor so why is it that when we as black people have the ability to access large amounts of wealth we are scruntinzed for it? more black people need to attempt to benefit from capitalism if we want to start gaining more financial freedom. crab in the bucket mentality. i’m sorry you didn’t grow up in the house with your father but i did so mine doesn’t fit in this statistic that only bases the non existent of black fathers being in the home simply because they are black fathers and not because of systemic racism, generational trauma, prejudice and unhealed trauma within themselves. im sorry you don’t think of yourself as what you are which is Goddess but is is the truth. i’m sorry you don’t believe all black people are Gods but it’s the truth and i’m sorry to hear that you are one of those. you have an amazing day Goddess.
The fact that I wasn't able to find out about Kendrick being a hotep while listening to him for awhilr is pretty concerning and goes to show how much a blk woman's perspective can illuminate certain issues.
I don’t know when I was younger I was unsubconsciously taught that if you say that you are God… you gone get in trrrrooouble
I'm still watching the video & I'm still pretty young and have a lot of learning to do, but as I'm growing up & rethinking religion, not speaking for the capitalists or criminals of the world... when saying that, I take it as somebody trying to embody God, which isn't that what he would want? or thats too far?
@@TYLERTHEBAE Nope. A different perspective is always enlightening. I'm a lot older at 46, and you just didn't play with his name like that, I don't know.. it's not like I'm holy or even in church actively 💁
This is one of the best video lectures youve ever done and that I’ve seen on this platform. The historical foundation of this messiah performance and the contemporary examplesof it are so well connected and you point out so well the moments in which it shifts and transforms. I don’t know what your research focus is in grad school but you should definitely publish this as an article too.
🤔 Hmmmm…. It’s giving “Black Male Worship” 🙃
……idk if you know what you just did here Jouelzy! 😅
And I know God is Love because the way no lightning has struck…
Loved hearing someone say 'Conscious'. That was the 'Woke' of the 90s. Thx
I'm shocked you never mentioned Tupac
Ya looking good
Sorry, I'm a man who loves women, so, its the first thing I notice, and wanted to give props
As far as the subject, I grew up with the Gods, and back then people took it VERY seriously. If you didn't know your lesson for the day, it could be a serious problem. Some still do. I like how you broke down the "Asiatic Black Man" cause I've yet to hear its origin without the myths
Just a correction. Rakim came BEFORE Wu-tang, and was the first to push the "Gods". Also, Krs-One was NOT down with it behind the scenes, and Flash & the furious five never talked about it. Anyone Before Rakim wasn't talking about being a God, at least not to the point we knew they were down with the teachings
The reason why a lot left the nation is cause a lot of the Gods were doing foul things like criminal activity, and people started seeing the Gods as almost gangsters. Then when the mid 90's came, everyone got locked up, or left the drug game, then went into music. This is why after 1997, and biggie/tupac died, the shift went into making BIG money, and partying, the gangster 90's , and the conscious rappers, looked corny cause they were scammers or not really about getting money just being tough. Nas, and Jay-Z, were the first to do this mafioso type thing BUT I remember when Nas got big, and people started hating on him. His car got shot up. That's the reason for "Hate me now"
That mafioso wave has been going on to this day. It's time for something different!
Thanks for adding some more context!!! My mom and aunt was adjacent to the Five Percenters in my early childhood (they were even given names diff from their birth ones that ppl still use sometimes). I've never really asked her experiences regarding this and I think I will.
@empty shogun nah, “ready to die” was when Big was grimy
Listen to songs like “Gimme the loot” or “Another Struggle” let’s you know he was far from mafioso
“He is not your savior”
Kat Blaque sent me here, and I'm grateful she did. I've got a new channel to binge watch
This was amazing to listen to! Greatly loved every part of it.
Oh Joulzey is gettin ready to SMNAP on this one- so here for it and I am ready to have my axioms shook to their core…
This is one of my favorite videos - you pulled a lot of things together least of which the cult of black rapper personality…. Sis brava!!!!!
🙏🏽 thank you for this comprehensive analysis of black men and their god complexes and the nuances between them and their beliefs with their presentation
[Verse 1: 2Pac]
You probably crooked as the last trick
Want to laugh at how I got my ass caught up with this bad bitch?
Thinkin' I had her, but she had me in the long run
It's just my luck, I'm stuck with fuckin' with the wrong one
Wise decisions, based on lies we livin'
Scandalous times, this game's like my religion
You could be rollin' with a thug
Instead you with this weak scrub, lookin' for some love
You have THE BEST reads. They’re so eloquent.
*So glad I don’t believe. There. Problem solved.*
I liked what you said in this video. But, I feel you might have missed the point of Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. If your conclusion is that he’s portraying himself as a messiah enforcing tired gendered roles then I don’t think you got the full idea of the project. Kendrick is trying to show the audience that he’s not a messiah, a savior, or someone who is perfect. The project is intentionally messy to show that he is a person who needs to work on himself to improve. Sure there are certain subjects that aren’t perfectly excuted, but that’s the intent. He’s trying to lower his status from this Christ like figure to show that he’s a very flawed human being.
Excellent video! I so enjoy your perspective of current topics. Always a unique, well-researched take.
Jouelzy this is my favorite video by you and I love alot of your content. Well done👏🏽💯❤️
You did your good research with this one boo!
Fun fact. Kanye has been running around with Joel Osteen. There’s videos of it.
Glad you included Kendrick in this. I didn't listen to his last album. Something about DAMN just wasn't sitting with me. And then the role out and social media praise of the new one just turned me off in a way that I just couldn't explain. This analysis helped it all come together
I saw him live and I felt weird about the performance, I felt like it was something more than just a show. Couldn't understand why
Same thoughts
what was the roll out?
@@TheLily97232 then why did you go? lol
@@ummmm_okay I'm pretty sure they expected to enjoy the performance but realized it wasn't what they thought it would be. You don't always know what you think of something without trying it.
There is no successful humble rapper. Think about it. All of them are narcissists.
I think Jay Z knows what Capitalism is, he just wants to deflect to the less savvy of his followers.
Nas I love but I never looked at him that way.
Gaslighting and gatekeeping
@@mstaylor1073 what who?
* Rakim's first record came before RZA: 1st single "Eric B is President" w/ "My Melody" on B-Side in 1986. RZAs "Ooh, I Love You, Rakim" in 1989.
* Nas' 1st album was Illmatic (1994) not It Was Written (1996)
great video. I was just talking about 5% I agree with the idea of God not being separate from human but I in no way think anyone should worship another human. it's all very male centered and regressed masquerading as enlightenment.
This was an enlightening and well made video. Thanks!
Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to hear where the beginnings of the percenters came from? Too long. It’s become so engrained in the culture that most people will hear a reference in lyrics and think the rapper is talkinh about the Judeo-Christian God but they’re not. I thank you for the brief history, analysis and sharing your thoughts.
Demonic imagery would be accurate
This was fantastic. Thank you for the in-depth analysis!
I think you guys gotta understand, like any religion or spiritual belief, it can be detoured and perverted to fit whoever’s agenda. The black man is god was a statement to empower the man and make him want to mentally and physically enlighten himself. God is a concept, a level of consciousness, not a a person or any one book of lessons. These god complexes also too were to push the artist brand .. its not always to be literal. Hip hop has a lore and story to it too .. religion and comparing yourself to the the divine source is another way of saying god is sending messages through you to write and talk to the people. Is it meant to always be so literal? No , did some make it literally and create a complex out of this craft meant to be righteous and pure? Yes but, our history and culture runs deep. I do agree that’s it’s became toxic and non progressive… and these black entertainers are very uninformed, with huge selfish egos . I don’t care if the black man wants to do cosplay and look at himself in a certain light .. but it’s the ignorance and lack of education that throws me off .. You’re not ordained because you can make money rhyming words. Gifted yes? But it’s much more important and essential roles the black man should be celebrated for and put on a pedestal as example for what young men should strive to be. Hip hop should empower those men who are truly brilliant to keep going and pushing the standard of the black man but for that to happen… The overall attitude and message in black music has to change in narrative.
wait are these perma locs? They look so glorious! I would say keep it but i also understand always wanting a new style. It looks wonderful tho.
Wowwwww! 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 This was so good and well researched. I def needed to hear this about 1 or 2 of my faves 👀 🥴
Not gonna watch this video but i came to comment on the title alone, why label it BLACK rappers like theyre a minority or marginalized? also as a fan for over 35yrs of rap, there are very few who ilicit jesus comparisons… and kendrick aint one of them [going off ur thumbnail]. So its not even a “thing” as ur trying to imply, its happened i agree but it hasn’t happened enough to warrant a long-form video about it.
THANK YOU, this woman has never heard one album by Kendrick or tried to understand his lyrics. I'm so glad you made this comment. I myself don't agree with Kendrick wearing the crown but to call him a a narcissist and wanting to be Jesus ain't right, it's very wrong.
Don’t forget about the White Christian Jesus pieces that rappers made popular.
really great video jouelzy! i havent heard too many folks on here get into these topics, especially breaking down how influential the 5 percenters were on rap's first 20 or so years, for better or for worse. as much as i love a lot of these guys and their records, i've felt that rap needed to grow up a long time ago and stop accepting all these contradicting and shallow excuses for "deep," "conscious" music
Listen, I haven't even gotten past the 8 second mark, but I already know its a banger. Gratitude always Jouelzy
I’m sorry but you used the word misogynist to describe Kendrick but didn’t provide not one example to prove of his misogyny. Can someone elaborate
Thank you for this video. As a follower of the real Jesus. Some of these acts these guys have been trying to get away with are just sick. Especially prosperity Gospel and the clear false messages to save themselves from their bad behaviour. And ppl are eating it up.
*Such* a smart video that I cringe whenever she says "Debu ted"😄😿🤦🏾♂️ But real talk, great video
Kanye West isn't educated. He is a self -proclaimed college dropout and takes pride in stating that he doesnt read
I truly admire how you really apply the education behind your points. Great material. Kept me glued. The Messiah complex and misogynoir is so real and I feel like it definitely keeps Black Cis men in bondage, especially through entertainment.
Black men weather he is gay or not
I don't think there's anything wrong with likening one self to the passion of Christ, the Messiah which is to free his people from their mental prisons. Nothing wrong with aligning one self with divinity. The "rich" or capitalist aspect does not disqualify one from being a carrier of a divine message. Black people should unlearn sensationalized religiousity which is a eurocentric concept. Like Kendrick likening himself with Christ or a prophet but that's a label that was put upon him by white people who felt he had a messianic aesthetic esp after TPAB & black people labelling him Hip Hop Savior. I am not mad at that. He however drops that savior baggage in Mr Morale and acknowledges his humanity and denounces the savior label. No human is perfect, I don't even think Jesus was but in our purest form(beyond our physical bodies and limitations of the ego) we are God-like, divine spiritual beings and as a Christian I believe that was his overall message. People getting mad at this imagery is stupid, we are all connected with the divine creator and supreme consciousness. However, I do agree that this imagery would be more conceivable if the Kanyes and JayZs espoused the values taught by Christ: Humility, non-materialism, social awareness and community minded leadership
The pipeline from conscious 5%er to capitalist to problematic conservative patriarchal misogynist
The Jesus complex really baffles me at times. Cause none of y’all could walk in his shoes fr.
Loved this analysis! You ate this Jouelzy! And read them real bad 😂
15:58 Everytime I finally delete that sound bite out of my memory, someone brings it back up 😔
I grew up with hip hop and the older I get the harder it is to enjoy it because I am knowledgeable about the problematic messaging in hip-hop. Even now! Most of the hip-hop music I consume is by black women, but even that is laced with capitalism and internalized misogyny.
I’m revisiting this a year later because I’m always finding myself referencing it. With the recent release of The Book of Clarence I needed a refresher & im catching so many gems that I missed the first time. There’s definitely a tremendous overlap with this line of thinking & how many Black men in the community function
Whew child, so many discography errors but they didn't effect the message. Just the rap nerd in me, lol