The Christian bible in it's most basic form has two main characters. The creator, and the creation. The story in it's most basic form is the story of the creator creating a creation that messes up, not once, but continuously, again and again, until the end of time. The creator, then goes about redeeming, or reconciling his creation back to him. Why does it seem like he has yet to accomplish that? Well this isn't a theological blog so I'll let some others answer that question. But what I am interested in talking about is something that has always fascinated me about the story the bible tells and the many characters that play the "creation" role. It doesn't take us long before we realize that the creation the creator is trying to redeem is pretty damn messy, and in so many instances, appear to be so far from saving. We have our token screw-ups in the bible, Judas, the Pharisees, Pharaoh, Samson etc. But so often when I am hearing pastors preach on biblical characters, their humanness often vanishes within the comfortable fabric of the American Evangelical culture. It's not just a matter of talking about the messy stories of the biblical characters, it's a mindset that I think we are lacking. Biblical characters and Christians are no less messy than anyone else. For some reason, maybe because of shame, or some unseen pressure, we want to hide those things. So what does hip-hop have to do with any of this?
One of the reasons why I have been so drawn to hip-hop is because of it's realness. It's the most raw art form I have ever encountered. It never color coats anything (or as Kendrick once said, "I won't sugar coat it, you'll die from diabetes if these other n*ggas wrote it"). Anything includes the stories they share, the realities of street life, and especially their own personal lives and vices, and frankly, that's exactly what the scriptures do, but the Christian community often times fails to convey this. There are certain pastors that I know, heard them preach a hundreds of times, and I couldn't tell you one sin that I actually know they have committed. I could guess and assume, but there's something to take note of when that is the case. The christian culture severely lacks transparency, and realness, something that I think hip-hop can teach it a lot about.
All to say, this has led me to working on this small little project where I took some of the biblical characters, and found hip-hop songs that I feel in one way or another describe them or their situation. As you will see, some of the songs are actually meant to refer to these biblical characters, while others show stark resemblance. Some of them will require an imagination or for you to maybe rethink the way you've viewed a character.
A quick disclaimer before we get started. Something that I really don't intend for this is that I just paint the white picture black. What I mean is that my intention is not to take what I think is a pretty "white" way of understanding characters, and just make it black. Instead I want to add some shades, some color, and definition. Humans are extremely complex creatures, I don't believe any one person is all good or all bad. The other thing I certainly don't intend is to use a bunch of black guys and girls to show the flaws in humans. This is something that unfortunately too many people misunderstand about hip-hop, and it is directly a consequence of it being such a truthful and raw art form.
Let's get started. I will post a link to the Spotify playlist here, you can also look up each song individually on youtube. There are several different ways you can engage this activity. The first way will be to just look at the list of songs, or play the playlist without knowing which song corresponds to which biblical character. The list of songs is chronological in terms of characters revealed in the bible. This will be more challenging, but maybe extra fun for those who want to try and figure out who I'm trying to get you to think about. The second way will be to look at the list of songs which will have all of the corresponding characters, this way while you are listening to the song you will have some things to look for, then after you can read my commentary. The last way to engage this activity is by listening to the songs after you have read my brief commentary on each song. Especially for those of you who are less familiar with the Biblical stories, this will help frame each song for you. Which ever way you choose to engage this, I hope you find it interesting and different than any way you've ever listened to music.
As always, most of these songs have explicit lyrics. I hope this doesn't deter you from engaging this, if anything I hope you push past that for that very reason.
https://open.spotify.com/user/124603695/playlist/7LH8hds63Gq1nBpu4jVlKt
Method 1 (Click song for link to youtube if you don't have spotify, unfortunately not all songs available)
1. For Sale? - Interlude - Kendrick Lamar
2. Backseat Freestlye - Kendrick Lamar
3. Born Sinner - J. Cole
4.Big Poppa - The Notorious B.I.G.
5. To Zion - Ms. Lauryn Hill
6. His Pain - BJ the Chicago kid, Feat. Kendrick Lamar
7. u - Kendrick Lamar
8. #LongLiveSteelo - Joey Bada$$
9. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar
10. Ultralight Beam - Kanye West
Method 2
1. For Sale? - Interlude - Kendrick Lamar - Lucifer/Satan
2. Backseat Freestlye - Kendrick Lamar - King Saul
3. Born Sinner - J. Cole
4. Big Poppa - The Notorious B.I.G. - King Solomon
5. To Zion - Ms. Lauryn Hill - Mary (Jesus' mother)
6. His Pain - BJ the Chicago kid, Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Peter
7. u - Kendrick Lamar - Judas Iscariot
8. #LongLiveSteelo - Joey Bada$$ - John the apostle
9. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar - Saul of Tarsus
10. Ultralight Beam - Kanye West - Paul
Method 3
1. For Sale? - Interlude - Kendrick Lamar - Lucifer/Satan
This is one of those freebies. For Sale? A track on Kendrick Lamar's to Pimp a Butterfly refers to "Lucy" who is mentioned several times in this album. Lucy is indeed Lucifer. In the beginning of the track you hear a voice saying: "Remember he knows the bible too." The line is most likely in reference to a story in the book of Matthew where the Devil repeatedly tempts Jesus, and he even uses scripture to try and convince him to do certain things. You might be confused as to why this is the first song.. but I very intentionally made this the first song. For one, Lucy is present in the Garden of Eden in Genesis, the first book of the bible. Secondly, it is very important that Lucy is introduced first, because it lays the foundation of the rest of the story and the "fall" of man. The song does such an amazing job at describing what the devil does best, he deceives. In Revelation 12:9 he is referred to as the deceiver of the whole world. In the context of TPAB, we find Lucy doing what he does, convincing others of half truths so that they might turn away from God.
2. Backseat Freestlye - Kendrick Lamar - King Saul
Saul was the first king of the Israelites after the time of the "judges". He was in many ways a pretty ruthless king, known by his violence, proudness and jealousy. Again, we don't want to repaint the picture black. He wasn't a monster.. but he surely wasn't a saint (no pun intended for the duration of this blog). Backseat Freestyle is a track on Kenrick Lamar's Good Kid MAAD city. The track describes an early adolescent Kendrick Lamar who gets into his friends car who tells him he's get some beats and tells Kendrick to freestyle. The song exemplifies an arrogant king that thinks he'll stay at the top forever. Saul begins to develops a strong jealousy for David, and several times threw a spear at him, most likely with the intent of killing him (respect my mind or die from lead shower). Samuel was a married man, and as far as we know he only had one wife, but in 2 Samuel 3 we are told that, "Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah." A concubine was functionally a mistress, or sex slave, fitting the description of the song's proud chant, "wifey girlfriend and mistress." Saul's jealousy ends up being his demise as he reportedly commits suicide on his own spear.
3. Born Sinner - J. Cole - King David
One of the most famed and beloved characters of the bible, King David was Saul's successor. One of Christian's favorite verses in the bible is Acts 13:22 when King David is referenced as "a man after Gods own heart". It's one of my favorites too, just maybe not for the same reasons. In many ways David was diametrically different than King Saul, but as I stated before, this doesn't mean he didn't have his vices. One of the worst stories mentioned in the bible about David, is with Bathsheeba. The story goes, that he sees this beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop, his servants told him who she was and that was married. Nonetheless, David saw her beauty and had her come to him, and it says he slept with her. We have no reason to believe Bathsheeba was an unfaithful wife, but in that time, if the King asks to see you, or asks to sleep with you, you don't question it. I guess I'm making an assumption here, but I would say it's safe to say that King David raped Bathsheeba. After that, when he finds out she is pregnant, he sends for her husband Uriah, and he tries to trick him into sleeping with his wife so that David could cover up his tracks, but Uriah being the righteous soldier he was couldn't sleep with his wife knowing his soldiers were still at war. So instead David sends Uriah to the front of the line, and tells the commander to withdraw the troops, so that he would die in battle. And yet he was a man after God's own heart? I think J cole puts this verse in in a much better context. You see, being "after" gods heart doesn't mean you're perfect, but it means you realize your fault and desire to change. In track J cole says, "Born sinner was never born to be perfect, sucker for women lucking they lips and sucking these purses." In 2 Samuel 11:1 David says to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord,' And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."
4. Big Poppa - The Notorious B.I.G. - King Solomon
The next king of Israel is none other than Big Daddy Solomon. Solomon is known to have had about 700 wives and 300 concubines. Christians are always quick to say: He would marry women in other kingdoms as a political move to create good relations with neighboring kingdoms. Or he was a horny perv who had 1000 sex slaves. I'm sorry, if that comes off to harsh, but I think it's important to not sugar coat these stories again. The man had an issue, and it was sexually abusing females, I really don't see any way around that. He really put Biggy to shame, well maybe that's not something to actually be ashamed of.. but regardless, this track showcases Biggies love for the honey's.. well also not sure if love is the best word to use here. Biggy wasn't nearly as bad as King Solomon, but one could maybe assume that if he had his power, we would here him saying: I love it when you call me big poppa, in hebrew.
5. To Zion - Ms. Lauryn Hill - Mary (Jesus' mother)
This is freebie #2.. The giveways comes in the first few lines as Ms. Hill is clearly drawing from the story of Mary, Jesus' mother. This was a track written to and about Ms. Hill's first son, Zion. I don't want to write too much on this one, because it's pretty clear the connection between Ms. Hill and Mary (no I don't think Ms. Hill gave birth to the second messiah calm down). But one of my favorite lines from this song and one that I feel gives us a great sense of what Mary was going through is: "Unsure of what the balance held, I touched my belly overwhelmed, by what I had been chosen to perform, But then an angel came one day, Told me to kneel down and pray, for unto me a man-child would be born". Such a beautiful capsulation of what Mary was most likely going through. It probably didn't take long till Mary was saying: Now the joy of my world, is in Jesus.
6. His Pain - BJ the Chicago kid, Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Peter
Peter, one of the 12 disciples, part of Jesus close group of friends, and the ones that would spread the good news after his time was done. Peter is the disciple who walks on water, but then doubts Jesus and falls. Soon before Jesus was nailed to the cross, He told Peter that he would deny him three times. Peter said to Jesus that he would NEVER disown him. When Jesus was taken in, it happened, three times, people said that Peter was with Jesus and he denied it three times, the last time he said: "I don't know the man!" I can imagine the guilt that Peter felt for himself, shame, and disgust. He most likely questioned himself asking God, why do you keep blessing me? In other words, why have you spared me and not taken my life for denying the Savior of the human race? 2 times in this song Kendrick asks that question, the final time he says, now I know why you keep blessing me, so I can bless you. God doesn't bless us because we deserve it. Kendrick is aware of his sin in this song, and he questions God, why would you keep blessing me, knowing my sin, and the realization he has is that it's not for him, but that so he could bless others.
7. u - Kendrick Lamar - Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus and turned him in to the authorities, eventually leading to Jesus' death, for 30 silver coins. We often point to Judas as being the worst. The name often carries with it a connotation of betrayal, whether it be in movies or books. Eventually, Judas hangs himself after returning the money that was given to him by the religious authorities. Listening to this track and thinking of it as Judas speaking to Judas gives me shivers every time. I imagine this is exactly how the conversation went with himself moments before he killed himself. "Loving you is complicated.."
8. #LongLiveSteelo - Joey Bada$$ - John the apostle
In the scriptures, John the Apostle, one of the 12 disciples, is referred to as "the one that Jesus loved" Of course Jesus loved all of the disciples, but you can think of John as his best friend, his "homie when push came to shove". This track came out just a little bit after Joey Bada$$'s mentor and best friend Capital Steez, or Steelo, died, as he committed suicide. The way Joey talks about his best friend really struck me as how I would imagine John talking about his best friend, Jesus, shortly after he died and left. I imagine that in the time between Jesus' death and his return it was a difficult time for the disciples, maybe especially for John, as he lost his best friend.
9. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar - Saul of Tarsus
Saul of Tarsus, known for being one of the first to terrorize Christians, by mass murdering them. It says in Acts 8 that Saul was "ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison." I can see him walking through the streets saying: Now I run the game got the whole world talking"
10. Ultralight Beam - Kanye West - Paul
"Suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
I hope you enjoyed this experience as much as I did making it for you! I also hope that you don't hate these Biblical characters more, but rather you see them as complex characters with messed lives, just like you and me (minus the 1000 side chicks though, I don't even have 1). My favorite album of all time, To Pimp a Butterfly (where several of these tracks are from, cough cough) does something that really caught me by surprise. The two albums before it, Kendrick uses clear characters to either tell a story, or set a scene. In this album though he does something much different. The album doesn't seem to follow one singular character in a linear fashion, rather it describes an idea. And I believe that idea is that humans are complex, broken creatures, that are in need of love, and reconciliation. I hope this project helps you see that in others.
Cheers.
One of the reasons why I have been so drawn to hip-hop is because of it's realness. It's the most raw art form I have ever encountered. It never color coats anything (or as Kendrick once said, "I won't sugar coat it, you'll die from diabetes if these other n*ggas wrote it"). Anything includes the stories they share, the realities of street life, and especially their own personal lives and vices, and frankly, that's exactly what the scriptures do, but the Christian community often times fails to convey this. There are certain pastors that I know, heard them preach a hundreds of times, and I couldn't tell you one sin that I actually know they have committed. I could guess and assume, but there's something to take note of when that is the case. The christian culture severely lacks transparency, and realness, something that I think hip-hop can teach it a lot about.
All to say, this has led me to working on this small little project where I took some of the biblical characters, and found hip-hop songs that I feel in one way or another describe them or their situation. As you will see, some of the songs are actually meant to refer to these biblical characters, while others show stark resemblance. Some of them will require an imagination or for you to maybe rethink the way you've viewed a character.
A quick disclaimer before we get started. Something that I really don't intend for this is that I just paint the white picture black. What I mean is that my intention is not to take what I think is a pretty "white" way of understanding characters, and just make it black. Instead I want to add some shades, some color, and definition. Humans are extremely complex creatures, I don't believe any one person is all good or all bad. The other thing I certainly don't intend is to use a bunch of black guys and girls to show the flaws in humans. This is something that unfortunately too many people misunderstand about hip-hop, and it is directly a consequence of it being such a truthful and raw art form.
Let's get started. I will post a link to the Spotify playlist here, you can also look up each song individually on youtube. There are several different ways you can engage this activity. The first way will be to just look at the list of songs, or play the playlist without knowing which song corresponds to which biblical character. The list of songs is chronological in terms of characters revealed in the bible. This will be more challenging, but maybe extra fun for those who want to try and figure out who I'm trying to get you to think about. The second way will be to look at the list of songs which will have all of the corresponding characters, this way while you are listening to the song you will have some things to look for, then after you can read my commentary. The last way to engage this activity is by listening to the songs after you have read my brief commentary on each song. Especially for those of you who are less familiar with the Biblical stories, this will help frame each song for you. Which ever way you choose to engage this, I hope you find it interesting and different than any way you've ever listened to music.
As always, most of these songs have explicit lyrics. I hope this doesn't deter you from engaging this, if anything I hope you push past that for that very reason.
https://open.spotify.com/user/124603695/playlist/7LH8hds63Gq1nBpu4jVlKt
Method 1 (Click song for link to youtube if you don't have spotify, unfortunately not all songs available)
1. For Sale? - Interlude - Kendrick Lamar
2. Backseat Freestlye - Kendrick Lamar
3. Born Sinner - J. Cole
4.Big Poppa - The Notorious B.I.G.
5. To Zion - Ms. Lauryn Hill
6. His Pain - BJ the Chicago kid, Feat. Kendrick Lamar
7. u - Kendrick Lamar
8. #LongLiveSteelo - Joey Bada$$
9. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar
10. Ultralight Beam - Kanye West
Method 2
1. For Sale? - Interlude - Kendrick Lamar - Lucifer/Satan
2. Backseat Freestlye - Kendrick Lamar - King Saul
3. Born Sinner - J. Cole
4. Big Poppa - The Notorious B.I.G. - King Solomon
5. To Zion - Ms. Lauryn Hill - Mary (Jesus' mother)
6. His Pain - BJ the Chicago kid, Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Peter
7. u - Kendrick Lamar - Judas Iscariot
8. #LongLiveSteelo - Joey Bada$$ - John the apostle
9. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar - Saul of Tarsus
10. Ultralight Beam - Kanye West - Paul
Method 3
1. For Sale? - Interlude - Kendrick Lamar - Lucifer/Satan
This is one of those freebies. For Sale? A track on Kendrick Lamar's to Pimp a Butterfly refers to "Lucy" who is mentioned several times in this album. Lucy is indeed Lucifer. In the beginning of the track you hear a voice saying: "Remember he knows the bible too." The line is most likely in reference to a story in the book of Matthew where the Devil repeatedly tempts Jesus, and he even uses scripture to try and convince him to do certain things. You might be confused as to why this is the first song.. but I very intentionally made this the first song. For one, Lucy is present in the Garden of Eden in Genesis, the first book of the bible. Secondly, it is very important that Lucy is introduced first, because it lays the foundation of the rest of the story and the "fall" of man. The song does such an amazing job at describing what the devil does best, he deceives. In Revelation 12:9 he is referred to as the deceiver of the whole world. In the context of TPAB, we find Lucy doing what he does, convincing others of half truths so that they might turn away from God.
2. Backseat Freestlye - Kendrick Lamar - King Saul
Saul was the first king of the Israelites after the time of the "judges". He was in many ways a pretty ruthless king, known by his violence, proudness and jealousy. Again, we don't want to repaint the picture black. He wasn't a monster.. but he surely wasn't a saint (no pun intended for the duration of this blog). Backseat Freestyle is a track on Kenrick Lamar's Good Kid MAAD city. The track describes an early adolescent Kendrick Lamar who gets into his friends car who tells him he's get some beats and tells Kendrick to freestyle. The song exemplifies an arrogant king that thinks he'll stay at the top forever. Saul begins to develops a strong jealousy for David, and several times threw a spear at him, most likely with the intent of killing him (respect my mind or die from lead shower). Samuel was a married man, and as far as we know he only had one wife, but in 2 Samuel 3 we are told that, "Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah." A concubine was functionally a mistress, or sex slave, fitting the description of the song's proud chant, "wifey girlfriend and mistress." Saul's jealousy ends up being his demise as he reportedly commits suicide on his own spear.
3. Born Sinner - J. Cole - King David
One of the most famed and beloved characters of the bible, King David was Saul's successor. One of Christian's favorite verses in the bible is Acts 13:22 when King David is referenced as "a man after Gods own heart". It's one of my favorites too, just maybe not for the same reasons. In many ways David was diametrically different than King Saul, but as I stated before, this doesn't mean he didn't have his vices. One of the worst stories mentioned in the bible about David, is with Bathsheeba. The story goes, that he sees this beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop, his servants told him who she was and that was married. Nonetheless, David saw her beauty and had her come to him, and it says he slept with her. We have no reason to believe Bathsheeba was an unfaithful wife, but in that time, if the King asks to see you, or asks to sleep with you, you don't question it. I guess I'm making an assumption here, but I would say it's safe to say that King David raped Bathsheeba. After that, when he finds out she is pregnant, he sends for her husband Uriah, and he tries to trick him into sleeping with his wife so that David could cover up his tracks, but Uriah being the righteous soldier he was couldn't sleep with his wife knowing his soldiers were still at war. So instead David sends Uriah to the front of the line, and tells the commander to withdraw the troops, so that he would die in battle. And yet he was a man after God's own heart? I think J cole puts this verse in in a much better context. You see, being "after" gods heart doesn't mean you're perfect, but it means you realize your fault and desire to change. In track J cole says, "Born sinner was never born to be perfect, sucker for women lucking they lips and sucking these purses." In 2 Samuel 11:1 David says to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord,' And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."
4. Big Poppa - The Notorious B.I.G. - King Solomon
The next king of Israel is none other than Big Daddy Solomon. Solomon is known to have had about 700 wives and 300 concubines. Christians are always quick to say: He would marry women in other kingdoms as a political move to create good relations with neighboring kingdoms. Or he was a horny perv who had 1000 sex slaves. I'm sorry, if that comes off to harsh, but I think it's important to not sugar coat these stories again. The man had an issue, and it was sexually abusing females, I really don't see any way around that. He really put Biggy to shame, well maybe that's not something to actually be ashamed of.. but regardless, this track showcases Biggies love for the honey's.. well also not sure if love is the best word to use here. Biggy wasn't nearly as bad as King Solomon, but one could maybe assume that if he had his power, we would here him saying: I love it when you call me big poppa, in hebrew.
5. To Zion - Ms. Lauryn Hill - Mary (Jesus' mother)
This is freebie #2.. The giveways comes in the first few lines as Ms. Hill is clearly drawing from the story of Mary, Jesus' mother. This was a track written to and about Ms. Hill's first son, Zion. I don't want to write too much on this one, because it's pretty clear the connection between Ms. Hill and Mary (no I don't think Ms. Hill gave birth to the second messiah calm down). But one of my favorite lines from this song and one that I feel gives us a great sense of what Mary was going through is: "Unsure of what the balance held, I touched my belly overwhelmed, by what I had been chosen to perform, But then an angel came one day, Told me to kneel down and pray, for unto me a man-child would be born". Such a beautiful capsulation of what Mary was most likely going through. It probably didn't take long till Mary was saying: Now the joy of my world, is in Jesus.
6. His Pain - BJ the Chicago kid, Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Peter
Peter, one of the 12 disciples, part of Jesus close group of friends, and the ones that would spread the good news after his time was done. Peter is the disciple who walks on water, but then doubts Jesus and falls. Soon before Jesus was nailed to the cross, He told Peter that he would deny him three times. Peter said to Jesus that he would NEVER disown him. When Jesus was taken in, it happened, three times, people said that Peter was with Jesus and he denied it three times, the last time he said: "I don't know the man!" I can imagine the guilt that Peter felt for himself, shame, and disgust. He most likely questioned himself asking God, why do you keep blessing me? In other words, why have you spared me and not taken my life for denying the Savior of the human race? 2 times in this song Kendrick asks that question, the final time he says, now I know why you keep blessing me, so I can bless you. God doesn't bless us because we deserve it. Kendrick is aware of his sin in this song, and he questions God, why would you keep blessing me, knowing my sin, and the realization he has is that it's not for him, but that so he could bless others.
7. u - Kendrick Lamar - Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus and turned him in to the authorities, eventually leading to Jesus' death, for 30 silver coins. We often point to Judas as being the worst. The name often carries with it a connotation of betrayal, whether it be in movies or books. Eventually, Judas hangs himself after returning the money that was given to him by the religious authorities. Listening to this track and thinking of it as Judas speaking to Judas gives me shivers every time. I imagine this is exactly how the conversation went with himself moments before he killed himself. "Loving you is complicated.."
8. #LongLiveSteelo - Joey Bada$$ - John the apostle
In the scriptures, John the Apostle, one of the 12 disciples, is referred to as "the one that Jesus loved" Of course Jesus loved all of the disciples, but you can think of John as his best friend, his "homie when push came to shove". This track came out just a little bit after Joey Bada$$'s mentor and best friend Capital Steez, or Steelo, died, as he committed suicide. The way Joey talks about his best friend really struck me as how I would imagine John talking about his best friend, Jesus, shortly after he died and left. I imagine that in the time between Jesus' death and his return it was a difficult time for the disciples, maybe especially for John, as he lost his best friend.
9. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar - Saul of Tarsus
Saul of Tarsus, known for being one of the first to terrorize Christians, by mass murdering them. It says in Acts 8 that Saul was "ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison." I can see him walking through the streets saying: Now I run the game got the whole world talking"
10. Ultralight Beam - Kanye West - Paul
"Suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
I hope you enjoyed this experience as much as I did making it for you! I also hope that you don't hate these Biblical characters more, but rather you see them as complex characters with messed lives, just like you and me (minus the 1000 side chicks though, I don't even have 1). My favorite album of all time, To Pimp a Butterfly (where several of these tracks are from, cough cough) does something that really caught me by surprise. The two albums before it, Kendrick uses clear characters to either tell a story, or set a scene. In this album though he does something much different. The album doesn't seem to follow one singular character in a linear fashion, rather it describes an idea. And I believe that idea is that humans are complex, broken creatures, that are in need of love, and reconciliation. I hope this project helps you see that in others.
Cheers.
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