Rap, Religion, and the BET Awards

by Ebony A. Utley
R3 Contributor

The 2012 BET Awards were black people on their best behavior. Rappers bragging about their God flow. Gospel singers praising Jesus. Comedians joking about getting their sermons from rappers. Honorees urging the audience to wait on God. BET took its audiences to the church and the club last night. And both visits were business as usual. The BET Awards celebrate black culture. Black culture has always embraced the sacred along with the secular. That’s not news. In fact, I wrote a book about it. Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta’s God explains why rappers incorporate religious themes. Let me break down the top four reasons. The rest you’ll have to get the book to read.
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