(ThyBlackMan.com) Kanye West’s new album “Yeezus” comes out today (June 18). Because it was leaked awhile back, many people have already heard the new music and offered up their reviews. I’ve read everything from narcissistic and wildly experimental to “it’s pure genius” and bringing “real” hip hop music back.
I want to bypass another track list critique and focus my thoughts on his album title. Yeezus? Now why does this sound so familiar? Hmm.
Could it be if you drop the “Y” for a “J,” scratch one of those e’s, and bump the Z for an S you’d get one of the most prominent names around the world? A name revered and thought to be sacred to more than 2 billion Christians?
Yes folks, I’m talking about the one and only, the true, the—unlike Mr. West—savior of this world…Jesus.
Now, he did receive a bit of backlash after finally releasing the name of his album, but what throws me off even more are
1) his quote-unquote explanation of the title and
2) the lyrics in his “I am a god” song.
Kanye West recently held a listening party for his album where he explained the name:
“I want to explain something about the album title. Simply put, ‘West’ was my slave name and ‘Yeezus’ is my god name.”
Translation? “West was the oppressive name given to me back the family who owned the slaves that I descended from. Yeezus is my god—true, enlightened, best representation, demonstrating my true worth and value—name.”
Please.
god (since Mr. West was “polite” enough to use a lowercase g) means a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship. A god, Mr. West, is not.
And in his song “I am a god” he raps:
[Hook 1] I am a god
Even though I’m a man of god
My whole life in the hands of god
So y’all better quit playing with god
[Verse 2]
I just talked to Jesus
He said ‘what up Yeezus?’
I said “Sh*t I’m chilling
Trying to stack these millions”
I know he the most high
But I am a close high
Okay, first he says he is a god, but he’s still a man of God, his life is in the hands of God so people better stop playing with God. But doesn’t the third commandment in Exodus 20:7 say “Thou shalt not misuse the name of the Lord your God”?
And then Kanye West goes on to explain how he cursed as he was talking to Jesus (ummk) and acknowledges that Jesus is the most high, but he—Kanye West—is a close high, i.e. “Yeezus.”
His words are contradictory, disrespectful and blasphemous all at the same time.
Now, I’m in no way saying Kanye doesn’t love or recognize God, but I am saying there’s a major problem going on in the music industry right now and it must be addressed.
Musicians (and their fans) are referring to themselves as God and/or comparing themselves to God, and those references are far from accurate (XXL has an entire list).
Jay Z AKA Jay-Hov or Jay-Hova…Jehovah is the Hebrew word for God
Rakim Allah AKA the God MC
And recently Beyonce fans have dubbed her “beysus” with many promoting a “scripture” for her:
Every lame shall bow and every bum confess that beysus slayed! Revelations 9:99.
I’ve heard it all. Oh, they’re just names. It’s just a joke. God is the ruler of all, so rappers calling themselves gods are just saying they’re the best in the game. Jesus is a Spanish name and I don’t see people complaining about that. Blah, blah, blah.
First, I have yet to meet a Jesus running around saying “Yo soy Dios” (not to say they all speak Spanish). And there’s a HUGE difference between saying I’m the best at something and incorporating my name into Jesus Christ, Jehovah, etc. Those are actual names of God and when you “elevate” yourself to that level it’s saying you are Him. And you’re not.
We are children of God, made in His image and likeness…but we are NOT Him. It’s that simple. And every time a rapper or singer or anyone decides to “rename” themselves or give themselves nicknames that insinuate he or she is Jesus, it’s disrespectful.
For Christians, Jesus is not just a name, it’s the name:
…above all names (Phil. 2:9)
….that saves (Romans 10:13)
…men have risked their lives for (Acts 15:6)
We need to be more careful about casually overlooking this new “trend.” As Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
Staff Writer; Shala Marks
Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/shala.marks
Service is her passion, writing is her platform, women and the Black Community are her avenues. Shala Marks is a writer, editor and soon-to-be author. Through her work, Marks aspires to demonstrate “The Craft of Writing, and the Art of Efficacy.” She has a B.A. in journalism from ArizonaStateUniversity. Connect with her at http://www.sisterscanwespeak.tumblr.com.