Why I still love Hip Hop

Before grace filled me with peace and joy, Hip Hop comforted me. It carressed my soul with meaningful life, gratefulness even. The realness-- the testimonies gave me hope.

"My life is really not that bad", I said to myself.  Yes, my dad was gone forever but, I was fortunate enough to never have to depend on the streets to survive.

Although I am not rich; I am favored. I have never wanted for anything. I worked hard. I earned what I wanted. Truly, I was blessed, and still am.

"I never sleep cause it's the cousin of death, beyond the walls of intelligence,life is defined"

                                                                                                              - Nas

The passion behind those words gives me the courage to speak.

I want to tell a story as deep as these words one day. 

Do not get me wrong, I love the old hymns such as:

"...Oh I want to see him, look upon his face, there to sing forever of His saving grace, on the streets of glory, let me lift my voice..."

...but there is something about the tone of poetry on instruments and a beat that makes me feel like it is okay to be human, not worldly, but human. 

Hip Hop speaks the truth of today's youth. Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Nas, Mos Def, Lupe, to name a few...They  talk the  truth about their society...our world.

Many stories of the bible help me to feel grateful for what I have not gone through. The Old Testament still makes me grateful for the blood  shed for you and me. I do not think I could handle being lost in the wilderness or famine, I just could not fathom going through such adversity. Before I read and understood the good word... before it spoke to me and I was able to hear HIM, Hip Hop was and will always be my friend.

Thank you for provoking my thoughts enough to look at the world differently even through Christ. 

Here is an exerpt from my book Her Muse Overfilled with Ink : 

It was written

It was written that the world was made in seven days

That I came from his rib

And that I should love believe and respect the Trinity 

His time isn't now

--infinity

Grown in the womb of a virgin

She could not believe 

But grew to accept HIM

For HE loves you, me, them

We

 -- fall as He has risen

Our sins diminished

Don't get it twisted 

Merely a tiny piece of HIS perfection 

On a path of righteousness to express our gratitude and affection

Continue to read and learn your direction

Imperfection swells as the devil yells

Everything but sweet nothings out of her mouth

Another bad seed sewn..

Grown into an unwanted child that wasn't too fond of her mother because she was supposed to be aborted 

Just like her brother 

Raw, no birth control 

Lack of knowledge, of self as well as self control

He who has no goals 

Fell upon this book that was left for you and me

Read.Live. Love & Pray

That His truth will set you free

It was written  

Tweaked repeated

In books verses

All by different persons

Its not about our fathers 

But  it starts with 

Our Father 

Who art in heaven 

Artists & Shirts 

Shay Nefeteria