S. Samuel
Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah recently opened up on his belief in God and stressed the importance of fans and hip-hop artists alike having faith in a higher power.
Tony Starks said faith and belief in God can ultimately bring a person more happiness.
“What I want to say right now is just stop fronting on God. Keep God in your life man cause God is real. You know what I mean? You go through a lot of stuff because we ignore his signs and stuff like that though,” Ghost said in an interview. “And they expect him to answer they prayers or whatever immediately. But I wouldn’t even answer you after you been doing a lot of bullsh*t and you gonna call on me when you need me when you shot or something. So I’m just saying you gotta give daily prayers…And then you’ll probably have a closer relationship. Your relationship will probably be more closer to God and you’ll be more happy.” (The Come Up Show)
Over the summer, The Clipse’s Malice described his newfound love for God.
“I’m working on a solo mixtape titled Hear Ye Him,” Malice revealed in an interview. “I just think it’s going to be so crazy and I’m so excited that I can’t sleep at night. I can’t wait to get these verses out here to the fans, especially those who thought I stopped rapping or I’m doing Christian hip-hop or gospel music or something now. I’m definitely not doing that — I respect any vehicle that promotes Christ, so I definitely respect, but that’s just not something I do. I don’t think I would do a good service to gospel music or Christian hip-hop.” (Karmaloop TV)
In November 2010, rapper Shyne spoke on his conversion to Judaism.
“All these rules, rules, rules,” the rapper said about the strict religious requirements. “But you know what you have if you don’t have rules? You end up with a bunch of pills in your stomach.” Even though Shyne sports a Hasidic-style hat and a black jacket that hangs to his knees, the Brooklyn-raised rapper said he hasn’t lost his street cred. “There’s nothing in the Chumash [a Jewish book] that says I can’t drive a Lamborghini,” said Shyne, who was released from prison last year after serving nine years. (New York Post)
Around 2009, hip-hop artist Mase talked about his retirement from rap in the late 1990’s due to his dedication to Christianity.
“I think people look at me like I’ve taken the step that people are most fearful of taking,” he said in an interview January 2009. “It’s not just the giving it up; it’s the sticking with it. Like most people have seen a lot of entertainers entertain the thought, but we haven’t seen many stick with it….In order for people to understand, you have to take them from where you were, to where you are. So in taking people from where I was, it would require you to do music that exemplified where you were, then if I would have stayed in it, I was going to musically bring them to where I am. But then I started seeing that what I’m thinking and what they’re thinking is totally two different things.” (Phoenix New Times)
Check out Ghostface Killah’s interview below:
