Believers: Religious Moments in Rap
Rozay isn't the only MC looking to heaven for inspiration.
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Believers: Religious Moments in Rap - Mazel Tov, Rick Ross. The Miami rapper rankled many with the title of his recent mixtape, Black Bar Mitzvah, which features a Star of David on the cover. Ross isn't Jewish, but the mixtape nonetheless celebrates his career's coming-of-age — minus the "Hava Nagila" dance-off and Manischewitz bottle-popping. Ross' mixtape isn't the first time an MC has utilized religious themes in his or her music — whether for sincere spiritual purposes or just to say something fly. Read on to check out more religious moments in rap. —Alex Gale (Photo: Maybach Music)
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Jay-Z's Heavenly Nicknames - As rap’s undisputed higher power, Jay-Z has long bigged himself up as “God MC” and “Jay Hova.” (Photo: Roc A Fella Records)
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Nas' "Hate Me Now" Video - Nas, who’s often called himself God’s Son, put his messianic streak out there for the world to see in the controversial 1999 video for “Hate Me Now,” which featured him being nailed to a cross. (Photo: Island Def Jam Records)
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Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" - Kanye West’s 2004 single “Jesus Walks,” which unabashedly asks for God's help and forgiveness, is arguably the best religious rap song ever recorded. (Photo: Roc A Fella Records)
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Kanye's Rolling Stone Cover - Kanye West courted controversy yet again with this 2006 cover of Rolling Stone, which depicted him wearing a Christ-like crown of thorns. (Photo: Courtesy Rolling Stone Magazine)
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