S. Samuel
Maybach Music Group rapper Meek Mill has finally addressed recent heat aimed his way from fellow Philadelphian Pastor Jomo K. Johnson over the buzzing "Amen" anthem.
According to reports, both Meek and Jomo squared off during a live radio broadcast.
Right as the on air conversation between the two began, Meek voiced his concerns. “This looking like you trying to get famous, or you need some attention, because you could have came to me and said anything you wanted to say,” he said. “I mighta helped you. If you needed money for your church, I mighta woulda gave you that money. I mighta even remixed the song with Kirk Franklin. Anything you wanted to do. You went about it like you looking for attention and fame.” Johnson retorted, “My plea to you is to turn from sin, turn from blasphemy, turn from unrighteousness, that you’re purporting in your music–turn to Jesus Christ and receive eternal life. It doesn’t matter how much money you get, without Jesus Christ you will be lost eternally.” The Pastor said he had once served four years in jail, for aggravated assault on an officer, and God changed his life. (XXL Mag)
Last month, Johnson hit up SOHH to detail his issues with “Amen.”
“I have respect for Meek Mill as an artist and fellow Philadelphia native. The church that I started, is right down the street from where he grew up. But he lost his hood pass by making this song. North Philadelphia is a highly religious community, Christian and Muslim. And for him to make a song like this is disrespect to every believer in Christ,” Jomo told SOHH in a statement. “As stated, Meek would never have the nuts to make a song disrespecting Mohammed or the Mosque because he knows Muslims would never let him return to Philadelphia. So he chose to mock the Christian church. But I want him to know, that if he comes back to Philly to perform this Summer at Fairmount Park, POAC, (Philly Open Air Church) will be there to meet him and hold him accountable. Christ is a forgiving Lord, but he will not be mocked. And neither will his Church. [sic]” (SOHH)
In addition to those remarks, Jomo also made a blog post based on the track.
As a Hip Hop Fan and Pastor in North Philadelphia, I am saddened to have heard Meek Mill’s new song “Amen” off his Dream Chaser’s 2 mixtape. My church is a just a few blocks away from where Meek aka Robert Williams grew up at, and he is widely respected as a great rapper and hometown native. But with this latest song Mr. Williams has displayed a great disrespect for Philadelphia’s Christian community. (Deadest Rapper Alive)
Recently, veteran hip-hop producer Dame Grease told SOHH he views Meek as the hottest new rapper out.
“I can tell you who’s the best new artist, that I like, with the lyrics and style. I like Meek Mill,” Grease told SOHH. “He’s like the f*ckin’ only rapper that’s been out for the past couple years. You gotta understand, man, I’m from the era of rapping on the corner in Harlem where the dude raps, you might get slapped at the same time. At the same time, that made me think about how DMX and The LOX came out with straight bars. So of course being straight bars, it’s always a part of it but knowing how the game goes, I’ve gotta re-forecast my direction toward image, different things. You know what I’m saying? Movement. Originality. Those different things, you know what I’m saying? But my basis is straight bars. You know what I’m saying? Straight bars. I ain’t gonna lie, for years, ain’t nobody kick no bars like, ‘Ohh. Ohh, that’s deep.'” (SOHH)
Check out “Amen” below:
