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Jay Z, Yes Shawn Carter Symbolic Symbols…

August 22, 2011 by  
Filed under Ent., Misc., Music, News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Certain people demand attention, both due and undue, based on the level of success they have garnered.  The epitome of this in the world of Hip Hop is Shawn Carter a.k.a. Jay-Z.

From his lyrical prowess to his business savvy, none can argue that this man has pushed this genre’s envelope to the edge; doing so while collecting reparations for other artists who were taken advantage of by the industry:

I’m overchargin n*ggas for what they did to the Cold Crush.  Pay us like you owe us for all the years that you hoed us.  We can talk, but money talks so talk mo’ bucks!” – Izzo (H.O.V.A.), The Blueprint

This is an example of the type of lyricism that turned a former detractor of  his  into a late blooming advocate.  The sense of humor/dry wit.  The sense of his place in the history of the music.  The sense of purpose.  He is the quintessential rapper that broke down my defenses against rap music that eventually opened up the flood gates while I was in college.  I was that former detractor turned advocate.  But what I have witnessed in my own life since then has caused me to backslide to my former ways.

Before all the talk of his Masonic ties and satanic undertones, I began withdrawing myself from listening to Jay-Z – and all rap for that matter.  While I understand that entertainment can be seen as a harmless indulgence, a greater calling has convicted me to put away such childish things.  If you don’t think being a fan is childish, simply compare the devotion of Justin Bieber’s teeny-bopper fans to that of Jay-Z’s.

I have chosen to put away childish things in favor of a strong desire to manifest the power of the Holy Spirit to impact those around me – to advance the Kingdom of God here on earth as we all are purposed to do.  As such, any distractions to this charge in my life had to be cut out.

But Jay-Z was more than a distraction for me.  I’ve raised my hands and gotten emotional when chanting along with his lyrics.  At the same time, my praise in Church, one of Christians’ ultimate weapons of warfare, was completely lame and detached.  I began to see that I couldn’t usher in the presence of God while I was serving a false idol that I’d set up in my life.

As such, I speak to others about my change of heart.  And while I do take up issue with Jay-Z distorting the name Jehovah in his knack for wordplay and name recognition, I draw the line there with my fellow brothers in Christ who have taken things a bit further.

The first time I heard folks talking about how Jay-Z has subliminal messages and symbolism, I scoffed at such an idea.  If I’m honest with myself, I was still a recovering detractor with traces of my former habit still in me.

Yet as I watched his resurgence after an early retirement – I did note a few questionable images and lyrics.  I’ve attended a few workshops and watched a few video blogs that drew connections between his inferences and darker matters but I was still skeptical.  But the coincidences kept coming.  Jay-Z’s book is blatant fuel for the fire as it clearly depicts a Rorschach image that resembles a goat – which is a major symbol in devil worship.

But I cannot judge the heart of a man – only God can do that.  Jay-Z is either doing this willfully or being manipulated in spiritual warfare in the same manner that all of us are.

But my less tolerant Christian family has already condemned him as if his soul is not worth salvaging by stacking the table against him.  And if you stare long enough at the dark looking for monsters, eventually your mind will provide you with what you’re looking for.

People are saying his diamond hand gesture is linked to the all-seeing eye on the back of the dollar bill which is emblematic of the heritage of Masons and Egyptian paganism.  Okay – well I’m a member, inactive nonetheless, of Alpha Phi Alpha.  Echoing the Egyptian theme of my fraternity, I purchased a chess set that has Egyptian characterized pieces and a glass cover shaped like a pyramid.  Does that mean I’m channeling some dark power into my home?!!  Does that mean that the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta are Wiccans?

The worst that I’ve heard thus far is from a Christian rapper who went in on Jay-Z.  One of my friends who knows my stance on rap thought I’d enjoy it as it echoed some of my sentiments. But the larger voice in the song drew connections such as the following:  track 9 on the Black Album was 99 Problem which is 666 upside down (paraphrasing).

Really?!!  Now we’re just trying too hard!  That’s where I have to draw the line and distinguish myself.  I can speak on the intentions of only one person:  Reginald Kee a.k.a. Reggie Legend.  My hope is that through sharing my own failures and recoveries, that someone else can be lead to a fuller service and commitment to God. 

Jay – I pray that you do consider your impact, though.  Because at the end of the day, any person that you caused to stumble, intentionally or otherwise, you will be held accountable for.  Is that really worth propagating these controversial themes for the sake of keeping your name out there?  I know the strategy – punk rockers did this back in the day, too.  If Alice Cooper had put to rest the untruth that he bit a chicken’s head off at his concert, his lore wouldn’t have grown as much.  But is it really worth your eternal life?

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6

~

The Scape G.O.A.T.

With the Roc at the throne,
You and Kanye may have us watchin’ the throne –
But I’ve been watchin’ your tone and your aims as of late.
That’s why I’ve targeted the rocks that I’ve thrown.
That’s why I’m loggin’ topics most don’t condone…
As I’m knockin’ at your windowpane for the sake of forsaken traits.

I know you’ve forgotten more
than most will ever learn –
And that you’ve profited more
than most will ever earn
But being a prophet for the Lord
of Hosts is a pleasure I yearn for intensely and earnestly.
As such, I had to drop the
more unpleasant terms
From my iPod’s stored register…
As I’ve replaced and restored a sepulcher of words with a sense of urgency.

Full poem here; http://steelwaterspoetry.com/blog/?p=2277  (——

 

Staff Writer; Reggie Legend

Can find more about this writer over at;  http://www.steelwaterspoetry.com

Also available as a Keynote Speaker – Book him Today; Speakerwiki – Reggie Legend

 


Comments

3 Responses to “Jay Z, Yes Shawn Carter Symbolic Symbols…”
  1. SoJayZ says:

    Huge fan of Jay-Z 🙂 I am finishing a new fan site http://sojayz.com real time news, pics, videos, daily email alerts. Check it out, let me know what you think. -SoCelebrities

  2. Staff says:

    Honest mistake brother… -Smile-

    Staff,
    ThyBlackMan

  3. Shawn says:

    You finally spelled his name right 🙂

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