Hip-Hop And The BibleSýnishorn

“Kendrick Lamar Weaves Biblical Passages Throughout Provocative Lyrics”

When Kendrick Lamar burst onto the scene with his 2012 major label debut good kid, m.A.A.d city, not only did his music represent a fresh sound, it also marked a turning point in the kind of lyrical content that rap fans were willing to embrace. In other words, Lamar’s unabashed inclusion of biblically inspired rhymes didn’t hinder his exploding career but rather contributed to his rise in popularity.

In 2017, the seven-time Grammy Award winner made his boldest statement yet on his fourth studio album. Several songs contain direct or paraphrased Bible passages. The song “FEAR,” for instance, features the voice of Lamar’s cousin Carl Duckworth, who quotes from Deuteronomy 28:28 in the introduction as well as passages from Amos 3 and Hebrews 12 in the song’s outro.

Lamar himself invokes the Book of Job during one of the verses:

The shock value of my success put bolts in me

All this money, is God playin’ a joke on me?

Is it for the moment, and will he see me as Job?

Take it from me and leave me worse than I was before?

Then, on the song “FAITH,” Lamar not only quotes Matthew 17:20 (All you need is the size of a mustard seed), he transparently shares the moment he felt compelled to use biblical language in his songs.

I found myself losing focus at a Sunday service

Embarrassed so I start questioning God, “What is my purpose?”

He said to live the way he did, that’s all he want from me

Spread the word and witness, he rose on the first Sunday

I said alright, enthused that my Lord gave a listen

I opened my Bible in search to be a better Christian

And this from a person that never believed in religion

“I’m the closest thing to a preacher that [my fans] have,” Lamar told the New York Times. “I know that from being on tour — kids are living by my music. My word will never be as strong as God’s word. All I am is just a vessel, doing his work.”