Why I Love Kanye

Okay, so I guess I can't be quiet. There's a story that's floating around right now about the new cover of Rolling Stone that features Kanye West, one of the biggest hip hop artists of the moment, sporting a crown of thorns. Some people have argued they find the picture offensive; others say they find it exploitive.

Part of it might come from the fact the Kanye's pretty flashy and apparently has a larger-than-average ego (and thinner-than-average skin: he can get pretty cranky about people who dislike his music and style), so people interpret the cover as his presenting himself as Christ -- someone better than the rest of us who is persecuted for his exceptionalism.

But here's the thing: both of Kanye's two albums College Dropout and Late Registration have sold millions of copies, and millions of people listen to his music. He's one of the few voices in hip hop (or music generally) who let's his belief in God infuse his music. He does a cover of "I'll Fly Away" on one of his albums, sings about the conflict diamonds and how our consumerism effects the poor in war-torn parts of Africa. He has spoken out againt homophobia (probably the only hip hop artist to state clearly that that form of bigotry is unacceptable), and he struggles with how to live in this world as a Christian. He confesses the difficulties he has living as a star and a child of God. I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty important message for all of us, and a crucial message for young black men who see him as a role model. Better him than Nelly.

Here are the lyrics for one of his best-known songs, Jesus Walks:

{Intro}I need to recruit all the soldiers
All of God's soldiers
We at war
We at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with ourselves
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil try to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me with me with me with me) [Fades]

{Verse 1}You know what the Midwest is?
Young & Restless
Where restless Niggas might snatch your necklace
And next these Niggas might jack your Lexus
Somebody tell these Niggas who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death is
Top floor of the view alone will leave you breathless
*Gasping for air*Try to catch it*Gasping for air*
It's kinda hard Gettin' choked by detectives yeah yeah now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass and arrest us
Saying "we eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast."
Huh? Yall eat pieces of shit what's the basis?
We ain't goin' nowhere but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone till November I got packs to move I Hope

{Chorus}(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil try to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't think there’s nothing I can do to right my wrong
(Jesus Walks with me)
I wanna talk to God but I'm afraid cause we ain't spoke in so long
(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the Devil try to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don't think there’s nothing I can do to right my wrong
(Jesus Walks)
I wanna to talk to God but I'm afraid cause we ain't spoke in so long
(Jesus Walks with me with me with me) [Fades]

{Verse 2}To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers
(Jesus walks with them)
To the victims of welfare feel we living in hell here, hell yea
(Jesus walks with them)
Now hear Ye hear Ye wanna see Thee more clearly
I know He hear me when my feet get weary
Cause we’re the almost nearly extinct
We rappers are role models we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just tryin to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathy Lee needed Regis that's the way I need Jesus
So here go my single dawg radio needs this
They said you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tape
But if I talk about God my record won't get played huh
Well if this take away my from spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope it take away from sins
And bring the day that I’m dreamin about
Next time I'm in the club everybody screamin out

{Chorus 2}(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the devil try to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walks)
And I don’t think there’s nothing I can do to right my wrong
(Jesus Walks with me with me with me with me) [Fades]

I wanna talk to God but I’m afraid cause we ain’t spoke in so long .....

So I say we leave the man alone. With so many people in this world walking around mute (or worse, sounding trite) about the real issues we face and how God is there to guide us, Kanye's got my admiration. I wish we were all a little more like him.

Love,

Becky