In keeping with your hip-hop/rap theme, I would also like to
propose another Christian artist that goes by the name of KJ-52. Originally, I
was going to write a blog on a controversial rapper whose actions and lyrics
were contradictory to his beliefs and religion but I ended up stumbling upon
this man. On his website he states, “Like the society it mirrors, the music industry
is hobbling in the wake of technological flux, economic freefall, and massive
uncertainty”. KJ-52 is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida and was most
remembered for his song entitled “Dear Slim” which was dedicated to Eminem
after he wrote the song “Stan”. KJ-52 was often regarded as the ‘Christian
counterpart’ to Eminem but his song “Dear Slim” was rated as number 26 on the
“Top 40 Worst Moments in Hip Hop”.
That all aside, KJ-52’s song is a powerful appeal, wherein
he draws parallels between himself and Eminem. He says, “See I could
relate to you cause son I'm about as old as you see we both know what it's like
just to be growing up to be in a neighborhood when you's the only one and only
kid that's white or to get booed when you on the mic just because your skin is
light”.
Like the music video “Stan”, KJ-52 is also writing a
letter to Eminem but for very different reasons. In reading the lyrics I feel
as if KJ-52 is, in a sense, trying to get Eminem to realize the gravity of his
lyrics and the affects they have on his listeners and fans, some of who are
children. Later on in the song, he questions the sincerity of Eminem’s lyrics
and asks him if his lyrical content is just to generate profit for record
companies: You
ever stop to think about the millions you influence or is it just irrelevant is
it true life you telling it or just the way for some record companies sellin it.
I feel that the fact that KJ-52’s song and this controversy
generated such negative criticism is an example of the power and function that
popular culture has in creating social boundaries (as outlined by Dustin Kidd).
I believe that, in this case, we have one genre but two faiths. One is rejected
and the other is supported. In your blog you mentioned that the “way in which faith
is portrayed with social realities in Hip Hop is far complex and dense”. In
this particular example, I feel that faith is portrayed in a negative light
given such strong negative criticism, as mentioned before. This controversy ultimately highlights the tension as well as the clash of beliefs and values between popular music and 'contemporary christian music'.
Below are the lyrics for “Dear Slim” as well as the music
videos for both KJ-52 and Eminem. I have highlighted in bold some of the lyrics that I find rather interesting.
Dear Slim I never wrote you or been callin
My name ain't Stan son, nah we've never met and
My name's KJ let me begin by introducing now
Myself to you and these very reasons I'll be
writin
Why I took the time, the who what where and why
and
The purpose of my verse, the reasons I'm reciting
What I hope your learnin from the truth I pray
your finding
And every word I'm writin down upon the dotted
lines and
See I heard ya first album, was called Infinite
I shook my head cause nowadays you soundin
different
What drove ya take your whole persona and be
flippin it now
What makes a man totally change see I ain't
getting it
See was you sick of getting booed when you was
rippin it
And sick of never havin dough and you your wanted
to put an end to it
What good's all kinds of dough
Plus all kinds of flow
To gain a world of fans but suffer the loss of
soul
Dear Slim I never wrote you or been calling
This is my 2nd letter cause see son I gots a real
problem
It's that to you that I'm always catching these
comparisons
And after shows I got these people coming up to
me sayin
You sound like Slim Shady son you sound like
Eminem
And I be like now really man, do I gots to go
through this again
See I used to get mad and sick of people saying
that
Till at this one show this one day I met this one
cat
He told me how he used to listen to you but now
he listens to me
Had your LP but threw it out and bought my CD
I'm like for real he's like yeah he said my music
made a difference
It got him away from all your words and images
I gotta mention this, now what about the effects
you have on kids
You ever stop to think about the millions you
influence
Or is it just irrelevant is it true life you
telling it
Or just the way for some record companies sellin
it
The only thing we got in common is our melanin
Or lack of it but anyway now this is what I'm
sayin
It's for you that I'm on my knees now daily
prayin
Prayin that God opens your eyes now to what I'm
relayin
Now I'm praying that it's your heart that will
soon be changing
Prayin one day that you'll be calling upon His
name and
But anyway I'm signin off now don't keep me
waitin
This is KJ another cat just trying to make it
Dear Slim I heard about the stuff you's going
through
See I could relate to you cause son I'm about as
old as you
See we both know what it's like just to be
growing up to be in a neighborhood
When you's the only one and only kid that's white
Or to get booed when you on the mic just because
your skin is light
It ain't right but sometimes you know that's life
But really tell me what you do
You just push on with hopes on that someday
you'll put on your crew
I hope you understand that I ain't even dissin
you
And even though its a song you'll probably never
listen to
See what I send to you is this
Is that a life without Christ is just a life that
is never fixed
Hope you remember this now a few sentences
About a living God who loves you and plus
forgives
And I'll be praying for your ex-wife and plus
your kid
It's hard to live in a world as crazy as this one
is
And even though now it really might sound
redundant
God's got mad love for you up in a mad abundance
You'll sell a couple mill I'll probably sell a
couple hundred
There's more to life then selling records and
just getting blunted
But anyway that's really all I gots to say
Just another word from an MC now around the way
Maybe some day we meet each other in some way
Till then one love one God one way
"Stan" by Eminem
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