A pop-rap atheist?

[WillJ]

Consider Nelly, a rapper with much success at getting music that ain't exactly deep at the top of the charts---not exactly typical atheist-material, I'd say. But I happened to notice these lyrics from his song "N Dey Say":

I used to think that life had a plan for me
Until I realised life had to be planned by me, see that's the key
I only deal with what I can see cause over history, mystery brought us nothin .....but misery
Man more people done died in the name of the lord
Than in any natural disaster, disease or gangwars

Whaddya say? Nelly's religious views aren't incredibly important, of course, but I think it'd be pretty interesting if he were actually an atheist.

 

[cgannon64]

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone even toe-deep in the materialistic rap culture who actually has faith in God. Wouldn't be hard to find someone who evokes him in the name of his gang/record label/race, though.

EDIT: I find it interesting that he doesn't care about history, though. Accordingly, I hope I don't hear a protest song from Nelly any time soon, just more self-celebratory materialistic hogwash.

(By the way, he's never been able to top "andele andele mama e-i! e-i! uh oh!")

 

[WillJ]

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone even toe-deep in the materialistic rap culture who actually has faith in God.

Wouldn't be hard to find someone who evokes him in the name of his gang/record label/race, though.

I imagine that, in a sense, the people you mention do believe in him, and that there's a part of them that thinks of changing their lifestyle. But they ignore these thoughts; they don't actively conclude that God might not exist. Nelly seems to be an exception here.

I find it interesting that he doesn't care about history, though

By my understanding of his lyrics, history is the reason he doesn't believe in God.

 

[WillJ]

Oh, and I actually like Nelly's music (or at least I used to; now it's getting old). I don't usually listen to music to give me something to think about; that's what reading is for. (I guess this case is an exception. )

 

[cgannon64]

I imagine that, in a sense, the people you mention do believe in him, and that there's a part of them that thinks of changing their lifestyle. But they ignore these thoughts; they don't actively conclude that God might not exist. Nelly seems to be an exception here.

Or perhaps some just think God validates their lifestyle, and they need not change.

By my understanding of his lyrics, history is the reason he doesn't believe in God.

"I only deal with what I can see". I interpreted that as being rather self-centered and un-caring about greater problems.

And P.S. the last time I listened to Nelly besides the radio was in the 6th grade. I do admit, though, that I like rap cuz some of the beats really are phat.

 

[Finmaster]

Seems like an atheist to me. Those lyrics contain propably the most typical argument that atheists use, blaming actions of people who wish to use the name of God for their own selfish purposes on religion and/or spirituality itself.

 

[newfangle]

Destiny's Child is going to lynch his St. Louis behind if this is true.

 

[WillJ]

Or perhaps some just think God validates their lifestyle, and they need not change.

That's possible too. And of course Nelly would still be different.

"I only deal with what I can see". I interpreted that as being rather self-centered and un-caring about greater problems.

No, not if this song is any indication. The lyrics immediately following the above lyrics:

Before guns there was swords and they was killin each other
and what's changed to this day still killin each other
Killin a brother while another mother cries for help
Man! we need to help a brother find themself
Feed em light 1, 2, 3
Hey! that's something every brother should see and that's Fo' Reel,
and that's Fo' Reel, and that's Fo' Reel

Yes indeed, that's fo' reel.

(Of course, this could just be an image thing.)

And P.S. the last time I listened to Nelly besides the radio was in the 6th grade. I do admit, though, that I like rap cuz some of the beats really are phat.

Yep, that's what rap is good for.

Destiny's Child is going to lynch his St. Louis behind if this is true.

Indeed!

 

[DBear]

Big deal. Rush was doing songs about atheism 25 years ago. Check out "Freewill".

 

[HighlandWarrior]

rap is just pop crap.

 

[Yom]

rap is just pop crap.

Then you're listening to the wrong rap.

 

[newfangle]

Big deal. Rush was doing songs about atheism 25 years ago. Check out "Freewill".

Rush also happens to be uber capitalist liberatarians as well!

 

[cgannon64]

Rush is also code for "I'm a giant nerd".

 

[CurtSibling]

The fact that these drug-abusing, violence-supporting, sex-crazed rapper morons all
claim to believe in their god, makes the hypocrisy of religion even more hilarious to me!

The irony is wondrous!

 

[The Last Conformist]

Then you're listening to the wrong rap.

True. Some rap is sophisticated crap.

 

[FredLC]

Hmmm, I fail to get the point of this thread.

Music about atheism isn't exactly news.

Atheism has little to nothing to do with intelligence or artictic talent of an author.

It could be about this person's religiosity, but you said explicitly that it isn't.

Why would it be, than, "pretty intreresting" that this man is an atheist? Is there any context to this that I as a foreigner might be missing?

Regards .

 

[FredLC]

The fact that these drug-abusing, violence-supporting, sex-crazed rapper morons all
claim to believe in their god, makes the hypocrisy of religion even more hilarious to me!

The irony is wondrous!

Hmmm, isn't this thread about one who seens not to believe in God?

Regards .

 

[WillJ]

Hmmm, I fail to get the point of this thread.

Music about atheism isn't exactly news.

Atheism has little to nothing to do with intelligence or artictic talent of an author.

It could be about this person's religiosity, but you said explicitly that it isn't.

Why would it be, than, "pretty intreresting" that this man is an atheist? Is there any context to this that I as a foreigner might be missing?

Regards .

Music about atheism isn't news, but popular rap music about atheism is, as far as I know. And Nelly's a black man who embraces (stereo?)typical black culture---it's "pretty interesting" that he is (or could be) an atheist, in the same way that it'd be "pretty interesting" if a Wall Street investment banker were a communist. (Well, okay, not that interesting.)

 

[Fifty]

mc hammer is a hardcore atheist, he's only a minister now so that he can better understand religious people.

 

[Fifty]

rap is just pop crap.

I bet you're one of those people who immediately hates a band when they become main-stream and popular, calling them sell-outs.