Losing Your Religion: Jay-Z’s ‘Empire State of Mind’ and Controversial Lyrics
There seems to be some heated debate in the urban Christian blogosphere regarding rapper Jay-Z’s lyrics about Jesus on his latest song, “Empire State of Mind,” featuring Alicia Keys. In one early verse, Jay raps, “If Jesus (actually it’s JEEZY not Jesus–seemingly a common mistake in some circles, Google that one, hehe) payin’ Lebron then I’m paying Dwyane Wade.” Not a big deal. Just lyrics to me, plus who knows what Jay-Z actually means here, right?
Later on in the song Jay-Z drops, “…and Jesus can’t save you, life starts when the church ends…” Whoa.
Okay, so I don’t necessarily consider myself a Jay-Z fan (never bought a Jay-Z album) but I like Jay-Z. But then again, I like everybody, lol. And, okay, I’ll admit, I like the song but that’s because I’m a New York native–let’s hear it for New York!
Now I’m not exactly sure why Jay-Z said what he said in his lyrics about Jesus but I can see why it would offend a lot of Christians. Maybe someone should ask Jay to expound on what he meant by this? He does seem to have an interest in putting “Jesus” in his lyrics, lol.
Did it offend me? Not one iota. Why? Well, number one, because I’ve learned to respect people for who they are and whatever they stand for regardless as to whether I agree with them or not. This “acceptance” of others comes with age and maturity and one can never fully perfect this characteristic about themselves. It is a constant “work in progress.” I simply did not judge the song’s lyrics as positive or negative. I do not know the heart of Jay-Z nor do I know the intent for which he uses his lyrics.
People misquote the bible all the time, take it out of context on a regular basis, and never fully understand its original intent.
Secondly, “true” acceptance of others (although you may not agree with what they say or do) should never put you on the defense. If you get offended every time someone belittles or blasphemes your religion or faith, then you are not secure in your own faith. And if you are not secure in your own faith, why would anyone believe what you believe if you “lose it” all the time? If someone threatens your beliefs and you get offended and strike back–it only reveals that you are afraid of “losing your religion.”
Here is an example of what I mean. Here is a passage from Luke 20 of the Bible:
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,
48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
You see. They were afraid that Jesus was gonna be taken away (which implies a loss) from them. One of the followers got offended and tried to defend Jesus. But what did Jesus say and do?
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
These verses give us insight into a “type” of the modern-day Evangelical Christian church. It is the main reason many choose not to accept Christianity and who can blame them?
Sad to say, many of these so-called followers of Christ have such an overwhelming, almost paranoid obsession and underlying fear about “losing their religion” that they take on the form of religious zealots; judging other people, using the “swords” of their mouths to put other religions and faiths down, determining for themselves the outcome of one’s eternal salvation, and mis-representing the true nature of the teachings of Jesus, among other things.
And was this servant of the high priest in verse 50 a follower of Jesus? I think not. Yet Christ showed his compassion and love for him.
So when I say “Lose Your Religion” as in part of the title of this article, know that I am in no way insinuating that you should deny or give up your faith. No, I’m simply stating that “religion” as we know it can be perceived as a form of evil in its own right. If you study the New Testament of the Bible you will see that Jesus’ main enemy was not the heathen but the “religiosity of the church” and its religious leaders (The Pharisees).
And so unfortunate that The Way (early name for the church) eventually became a man-made organized religion, causing further separation and division in the form of hundreds of denominations within its own religion. Such as in the story of the Towel of Babel.
No more of this.
Whether it’s the “Empire State of Mind” to build for the glory of man or for the glory of religion; both eventually fall to its own destruction. The secret is in the blueprints. There you can find what an individual is truly made of.
Photo provided by: Ronders
“If Jeezy’s payin Lebron I’m payin’ Dwayne Wade”
Jeezy, not Jesus.
“City of sin It’s a pity on a whim Good girls gone bad The city’s filled with them Mami took a bus trip Now she got her bust out Everybody ride her Just
like a bus route Hail Mary to the city You’re a virgin And Jesus can’t save you Life starts
when the church ends”
It’s just a bunch of word play. Sin, Hail Mary, virgin, Jesus, church. I can’t claim to know what Jay-Z is thinking but I know Beyonce is fiercely religious and he’d have some problems at home if he was really disparaging Jesus and/or church.
BTW, on BP3, he only used Jesus once and it was in that one verse.
Hey thanks for that correction Erica. There seems to be a misunderstanding between many on that verse.
No problem. I copied and pasted the verse right out of the liner notes I got when I bought the album. I imagine that’s as correct as they’re going to get.
You know, everyone feels so free to use the name of Jesus in any context they choose. Yet they refrain from using the name Mohammed in the same way because they know Muslims do not play that. Remember they had to smuggle that teacher out of Sudan for letting her pupils name a teddy bear Mohommed? They were going to KILL her. Do we remember Michael Jackson’s “Kick me, kike me, don’t you black or white me” in “They Don’t Care About Us” and how the Jewish community got on him in a hurry until he apologized. I don’t think we need to get the Christian chip on our shoulder where no one can say anything without us breathing fire, but our religion should command the same respect as any other and we do not. TV shows, films, everyone blasphemes the name of Jesus every 5 seconds and we do not protest.
Orthodox Jews don’t even speak or write God, they spell it G-d or refer to Him without saying His name. That may be a little extreme to many, but I can appreciate the sentiment behind it. The name is too holy to be bandied about willy-nilly. Every idle word will be judged.
As Chrisitians, we have turned all 4 cheeks several times in order to keep the peace and not be labeled ‘intolerant’. Jesus said he came not to send peace on this earth, but a sword. He means that all must choose whom they will serve. while a mom may choose Jesus and her child choose another way, families may split. A famous rapper may blasphemy the name of our Lord, but we may choose another way and perhaps be an example of decency, gentleness and righteousness to him.
I’ve read the O article and saw Jay’s interview on Oprah as well as that documentary he did. These things humanized him to me.(the documentary, not so much) He actually smiled in the interview. I find Jay to be an interesting person though I’m not into his music except two songs Kanye produced a few years back. (There’s a fellow we need to pray for!)
I believe in his heart that Jay Z has come to a spot where he searching for The Truth. Those who seek the truth will find Him. In the mean time, he is being the old Jay with lyrics his fans expect. His conversation about his code of honor and right vs wrong reveals that he is becoming aware that his reasoning no longer lines up with his lyrics or his lifestyle. Jay has grown plenty since his his start. He is no longer an angry young black man who will say or rhyme anything for a buck regardless of how it denigrates and deicmates his community. Jay Z is rapidly approaching the time where he will come face-to-face with THE TRUTH who he is searching for. Then he is going to have to choose whom he will serve, the roc or The Rock. Now won’t THAT be interesting?