Hip-Hop: Rapping On Into Hell!

FMH Children’s Club International
–– A Company Of Prophets ––
P.O. Box 640109
El Paso, TX 79904

The following letter-form was brought about as a means of teaching my children the Word of God through the mail. And of course, quite naturally so, that’s the reason I begin these letters with "Dear Children" and end them with "Love Dad". So for the rest of you who participate in these weekly messages, please keep their original intended purpose in mind.

30 July, 2006

Dear Children,

Today we’re going to talk about a certain type of music, and the power behind that music. And seeing how the title of our message is “Hip-Hop: Rapping On Into Hell!”, it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out where we’re “headed to” with this one. But anyway, the Lord’s picked a real-life adventure from my past as a means of personalizing this sermonet. In fact the following Scripture will set the stage for what I personally experienced in the world of “hip-hop” almost five (5) years ago:

“One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.” (Joshua 23:10 KJV)

Now as well as I can remember, it was somewhere towards the end of 2001, that, while on my way to the barber to get my ears lowered, I passed a utility pole. “So big deal!!!”, you might say. I mean who can’t help but notice the multitude of limb-less trees planted all along the roadside? They’re everywhere! But you see this utility pole was different. I mean this utility pole had a poster attached to it. And even though I had no earthly interest in what this particular poster had to say, the Lord God Almighty told me to turn around, go back, and check it out. So I did!

And just what do you think I found? Would you believe information on a “hip-hop” artist by the name of “Guru” who was scheduled to perform downtown El Paso at the “E-9 Club”? And just what do you think I thought about all that? Would you believe I could have really cared less? I mean at that particular time I had never even heard of “hip-hop”, “Guru”, or the “E-9 Club”. But more importantly, the reason I wasn’t interested was because I had turned my life over to “Jesus”. My days of clubbing were over, and I meant it!

In fact it was because of my dedication to “The Christ” that I was without a job, without a wife, and without a family. I had been fired from The Toro Company back in 1999 for speaking God’s Word, and my wife’s ugly divorce had only recently become final. I mean it was right about then that things were really, really getting bad! I was out of money, and about to become homeless, and God Almighty wanted me to go clubbing???

That’s right! You see the reason Father God wanted me to check out the poster on the utility pole was because Father God wanted me to attend the Guru concert! I mean I for one could not believe what the Almighty was telling me to do!!! And even though I tried to convince Him otherwise, I finally gave in to the Will of the Father by using my credit card to purchase the ticket that He wanted me to buy that I knew I couldn’t pay for.

So, it was right about here that I asked the question: “Lord, why am I going to this hip-hop show?” I mean that’s a simple enough question, but He never gave me an answer! In fact the only thing He would tell me about the concert was what to wear, when to arrive at the club, and what to carry in with me (my Counselor’s New Testament Bible). And then came the night of the show.

The Lord had me to arrive at the “E-9 Club” an hour and a-half early. I had no idea why, but once I got there the Lord instructed me to just sit in the truck and pray. And that’s exactly what I did until a few minutes before the scheduled start time. However, when I finally made my approach to the club entrance I was met with a greeting that I did not expect. Because, in so many words, this was what the nice man at the door had to say to me:

“The show’s been canceled. Guru arrived, was setting up for his performance, but then all of the sudden changed his mind. He announced that he would not be giving the show and just walked off the stage.”

Now you’ll just have to believe me when I say, “That was not what I had expected would happen!” No way Jose! I mean I was prepared to do some witnessing for Jesus…but I didn’t even get through the front door. So when I got back to the truck I prayed, and I asked the Lord to please tell me what was going on. And the Word that He gave me was very straight forward and to the point: “Guru couldn’t perform because you, and the angels that were with you, ran off the demonic spirits that were with him.”

So what do you think about that? Well, to tell you the truth, I felt pretty good! I mean it was because of my obedience to God Almighty that Guru and his demonic entourage didn’t infect the El Paso people with their spiritually poisoned music. The show ended before it even got started because they didn’t have Satan’s power to perform! But that ain’t all!

Because it was months later, the 26th of March 2003 to be exact, that I finally got the rest of the story. You see at the time I was “homeless for Jesus” and attending Calvary Chapel on the West Side of El Paso. In fact it was in the church parking lot, during that Wednesday afternoon youth rally, that I met and talked with Michael Fierro…who just so happened to be a music enthusiast and former groupie. I mean Michael, before he became a Christian, was the classic example of a “rich kid” party animal; following the touring bands, drugging and drinking all along the way. In other words, Michael knew the music scene from the inside out because he had lived it!

So with that in mind, the Lord prompted me to tell Michael about “Guru”, the “E-9 Club”, and my “mission for God”. And it was his response to my story that woke me up to the reality of “one man shall chase a thousand”. Because, you see, according to Michael, Guru’s “E-9 Club” performance was a part of his U.S. tour, but the tour abruptly ended when Guru canceled his “E-9 Club” gig. In other words, not only did “me and the angels” stop Guru’s El Paso performance, but we also put an end to every other performance that Guru had planned for his U.S. tour. One man and one act of obedience through the Power of the Holy Spirit did all that. Wow!

Now, having said that, it’s time to uncover the facts on “why” God Almighty wanted Guru and his music “run out of town”. I mean what’s so bad about hip-hop anyway?

Well, as good a place as any to start this investigative journey would be with a few definitions:

Hip-hop - an American cultural movement, which started in New York City in the early 1970’s among urban African Americans, that’s composed of four main parts: breakdancing, graffiti art, and the two components of hip-hop music; rapping and DJ-ing.

So, did you catch that? Hip-hop is a “cultural” thing! And just in case you’re having a hard time with that “c” word, please allow me to help you out:

Culture - to cultivate: the application of labor or other means to improve good qualities, or growth; as the culture of the mind; the culture of virtue.

Now, let’s see if we can put all that together. Hip-hop is a movement that was started by African Americans as a means of improving the minds of those who become a part of it.

That’s the basic definition of “hip-hop”. So now let’s take a look at the four main tools used to “cultivate” the minds of those who engross themselves in “it”:

Breakdancing – dancing performed by a single individual that incorporates unique aerial moves and other gymnastic feats most often carried out while standing on one's hands.

Graffiti – “tagging”: artwork (scenes, individual names, group names, etc.) spray painted or drawn with felt tip markers on public property.

Rapping - saying rhymes (producing a message) to the beat of the music.

DJ-ing (Disc-Jockeying) – providing the basic beat of the music by which the message (rap) is given.

So there you have it; “the culture of hip-hop”: the dancing, the tagging, and the musical message. In fact, here it is some thirty years later and hip-hop’s still going strong: bending, twisting, and warping the minds of it’s devoted followers. And even though the influence of the “breakdancing” and “DJ-ing” ain’t what it used to be, the “graffiti” and “rapping” have adequately taken up any slack.

You see graffiti falls into two main categories: “artistic” graffiti and “gang” graffiti. The “artistic” kind can be found on anything that stays in one place long enough to be painted: slow moving animals, train cars, tractor-trailers, highway overpasses, buildings, and etc. I mean, after all, somebody else’s property is a great place to display the artistic talents of the “hip-hopper”!

However, the “gang” graffiti is just a little bit different. You see this style of graffiti is very cryptic and subtle, and most often confined to certain areas within the inner-city neighborhoods. Gang symbols are included in gang graffiti so as to mark their territory, intimidate other gangs, and even recruit additional gang members. In fact this type of graffiti writing is an opportunity for new gang members to prove their dedication. You might even call it an “entry-level writing assignment”.

Now, taking a look at graffiti statistics, the “artistic” type accounts for 90 percent of the nation's graffiti with “gang” laying claim to the remaining 10 percent. Both kinds of graffiti are applied most often between the hours of 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., with U.S. cities, not including private citizens and companies, shelling out an ever increasing $15 million per year to remove it!

In the pure and simple of it, graffiti is nothing less than “vandalism”; the destruction of other people’s property “for the thrill of it”. In fact several years ago the Lord showed me the power behind this enormously popular “hip-hop” activity. His name is “Demon Graffiti”…and, without a doubt, he’s one more big, bad, and ugly spirit.

But moving right along, let’s take an in-depth look at the “hip-hop music” called “rap”…and what better artist to focus on than “Mr. Rap” himself - “Guru”?

Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) - An alternative rapper, best known for his pioneering work in the fusion of jazz and rap, and as one half (the "lyrical half") of the hip-hop duo “Gang Starr”. Guru was born as Keith Elam in 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts. He got his start in Gang Starr, with DJ Premier, and built up a sizable following by 1993, when he released his first solo album.

Guru So that’s just a little bit about “Guru” and his early beginnings with “Gang Starr”. He was born into this world “Keith Elam”, but, due to his great and awesome gift to universally rhyme without limits, he sorta like changed his name to “Guru”. And seeing how the “guru” word actually means a “spiritual leader”, what do you say we check out the “spirit” behind Guru’s “rap” in the hip-hop music of “Gang Starr”. I mean, after all, the “hip-hop culture” is designed to “improve the minds of those who become a part of it”. In fact, in his own words, the following is what Guru had to say about his musical message in Gang Starr:

“Gang Starr represents 3 things: Street knowledge, intellect, and spirituality. When I say street knowledge, I am talking about survival out here. A lot of people have book smarts but when they get placed into a situation that deals with something different, they don’t know what to do. In this day and age, I think you have to have a bit of each one of those. When I say spirituality, it doesn’t have to be any specific religion. It’s just that if you are around anybody who does not believe in anything spiritual and something bad happens to them, the first thing they say is ‘Oh my God!’ Then, they become spiritual. Sometimes, people are in situations where they have to give credit to a higher power. That’s what that is about. When I say intellect, I don’t mean that you have to go to any specific college or anything. Some of these people cannot afford college or the opportunity is not there. They cannot even qualify for scholarships. So, they don’t go. If you are a grown @#! [profanity] man or woman, it is on you to have a thirst for knowledge and to seek out to find the answers to your questions. That’s what Gang Starr is about. We’re like a survival kit. Street knowledge, intellect, and spirituality.”

Now, you tell me: does Gang Starr’s “survival kit” sound like something that will “improve the minds” of it’s listeners? Well please allow me to give you just a general idea of what their “street knowledge, intellect, and spirituality” is all about. Because you see the following spiritual “survival” message is from their 1994 album Hard to Earn, and the title of it is Blowin Up The Spot:

Ah so now ya got me @#! [profanity] off, blast off lift off
Time for me to twist off a vocal fist off
into your domepiece, Homepeace, I heard your chick wants to @#! [profanity] me
I get, wild like rugby, respected like Bugsy
Don't even ask me, cause I'm livin lovely
Born to succeed, foes bleed, true indeed
The oral combat will romp that, your one of my seeds
when I first, busted on the scene
Nigga, you knew I had more than a gangsta lean
I mean my lean is gangsta though so check it
I'll stick an MC for his spot and sign in blood on his wack record
Boo-ya-ka, to your face as I ruin ya
---------@#! [profanity]---------
---------@#! [profanity]---------
---------@#! [profanity]---------
---------@#! [profanity]---------
---------@#! [profanity]---------
Your style stinks kid, ya garbage
And if you keep talkin @#! [profanity], I'ma make ya pay homage
Cause the G to the U to the R-U, came too far to
let you slide through, rhymes will scar you
And who the @#! [profanity] are you anyway?
I catch more wreck in a minute than if you rhyme for ten days
Throw the cash in the pot
You betta dash nigga, cause I'm blowin up the spot
I'm bout to blow the @#! [profanity] up
* Premier scratches *

So what did you think about that? Well, seeing how I cut out a lot of the garbage (“cusswords” and “sexually explicit language”) in this much-shortened version of Blowin Up The Spot, there was actually no way for you to fully experience the spirit of the “hip-hop culture” in Guru’s message. But then again, the purpose of this sermonet is not to bend, twist, and warp your minds through Guru’s “perverted rap”, but to warn you of the ungodly “spirit” operating in and through the “culture of hip-hop”:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV)

You see Guru’s “survival kit” of “street knowledge, intellect, and spirituality” has everything to do with satisfying “self” – “lovers of pleasure” – as in “self-ish”! I mean, after all, the basic concept of “survival” is “looking out for number one”. And when it comes to Blowin Up The Spot, well, all I’ve got to say is Guru’s got one more bragging, boastful, belligerent, big mouth! In fact it was quite a few years ago that the prophet Isaiah spoke the following Words of warning to the “father of rap” (Lucifer). And it’s these same “Words of warning” that apply to all these present-day bragging, boastful, belligerent, big-mouthed rappers like “him”:

“For thou [Lucifer] hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:13-15 KJV)

You see it’s that one particular Scripture from the book of Isaiah that best describes the angel “Lucifer” who rebelled against his creator [God Almighty] and got his name changed to “Satan”. At some point in the ancient past, Lucifer decided not to continue serving the Almighty through “praise and worship” as he was created to do…and all because of the fact that he wanted to be praised and worshiped himself. Lucifer wanted to do what he wanted to do: Lucifer wanted to be God! In fact when Anton LaVey founded the “Church of Satan” back in 1962, he established it on a single basic “law of Satan”: “DO WHAT THOU WILT”. I mean that’s it in a nutshell! Because the single most important thing a person needs to do in order to make Satan their “god” is “whatever they want”.

Now would anyone care to guess what happens to the person who’s sworn allegiance to Satan by obeying the selfish desires of their heart? Well, have you ever heard the expression “like father like son”? I mean we as humans take on the “nature” of whatever god (God) we serve. And when it comes to the “nature” of the fallen angel Lucifer, well, the following from Smith’s Bible Dictionary will help us to understand “the devil” in Satan:

“The indirect action of Satan is best discerned, by an examination of the title, by which he is designated in Scripture. He is called, emphatically, ho diabolos, "the devil". The derivation of the word in itself implies only the endeavor to break the bonds between others, and "set them at variance;" but common usage adds to this general sense, the special idea of "setting at variance by slander." In the application of the title to Satan, both the general, and special senses, should be kept in view. His general object is to break the bonds of communion between God and man, and the bonds of truth and love, which bind men to each other. The slander of God to man is best seen in the words of Gen_3:4-5. They attribute selfishness and jealousy to the Giver of all good.” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary)

So did you catch that? Satan is called “the Devil” because the name accurately describes Satan’s true “hateful nature” of “setting at variance by slander”. And just in case you’re having a hard time deciphering that “slander” word, here’s how Webster defines it:

SLANDER, v.t. To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report respecting one; to tarnish or impair the reputation of one by false tales, maliciously told or propagated. (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

And getting back to the subject of “Guru”, it should be pretty obvious by now which god he serves. I mean just look at all the slander in Blowin Up The Spot! It’s saturated with the devil! It oozes with hatred and pride! And even though Guru might not admit to worshiping Lucifer, his Gang Starr “logo” speaks it loud and clear. In fact let’s see what Guru has to say about the logo’s “star and chain” design:

Gang Starr “The chain represents unity amongst struggle. The links represents the link we all have through struggling. The star represents the power of the music and the power of the creativity that shines through all of the adversity.”

So that’s what Guru had to say about their “star and chain” logo. But now for the Truth…as in what “thus saith the Lord”:

The name “Lucifer” actually means “the bright and shinning star that ushers in the morning”. God Almighty gave the “Morning Star” (Lucifer) his “light” to announce the arrival of “The Light” of the new day…which just so happens to be the “Sun of Righteousness” (Jesus). In fact the following Scripture should shed a little more light on how “The Light” (Jesus) works in the lives of those who receive His “Light”:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts…the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God…to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ…that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (James 1:17; 2 Corinthians 4:6,4,6,11 KJV)

So the “Light” of the “Sun of Righteousness” will bring about “everlasting life” in the person who accepts Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour by walking in His Word. That’s the true “Light”! But then there’s Lucifer’s “light”, which is altogether something different…as in very dark and deadly indeed!!!!!!

Because you see, in the beginning, God created Lucifer – the “anointed cherub” – to produce the heavenly “praise and worship music” that would glorify His Holy Name:

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalms 150:1-6 KJV)

In other words, Lucifer was “the gifted one” who composed and produced the “perfect music” that glorified God in Heaven. And that’s exactly what he did until the day he decided “I WILL be God”:

“…Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou [Lucifer] sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets [drums] and of thy pipes [wind instruments] was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Ezekiel 28:12-15 KJV)

So, Lucifer rebelled against his Creator, and, very quickly I might add, the Lord God Almighty stripped him of his prestigious position by kicking him out of Heaven. In fact his departure was so fast that he had the appearance of “greased lightening” streaking through the sky! Now that’s FAST!!! And you see this was right about the time that Lucifer (the anointed cherub; the angelic covering of God) became Satan (the constant enemy of God, of Christ, of the divine kingdom, of the followers of Christ, and of all truth; full of falsehood and all malice, and exciting and seducing to evil in every possible way).

Now that’s what you call a radical departure from one’s roots…and along with it came some very serious problems for the world! Because you see when “Lucifer” went from “good” to “bad”, and thereby lost his respected position in Heaven, he did not lose his “light”…or so it might seem:

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15 KJV)

You see, in the beginning, the “angels” were created by God to be the messengers of God’s “Light” (God’s “Word/Command” that brings everlasting “Life” to all that receive it). They are called “angels of light” because they deliver God’s “Holy Light” that works in an individual’s spirit. In other words, it’s a spiritual thing!

However, as it concerns the “apostate” angel Satan, well, he can only appear to be what he used to be because he’s an “angel of light” no more! In other words Satan, the “prince of all evil” (malignant and wicked beyond compare), must “counterfeit” an experience with a person that seems to be “holy”. So just how in the world does he pull it off?

Well I’m certainly glad that you asked! Because you see Satan’s counterfeit “light” works through an individual’s five-fold “senses” (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch). With Satan it’s a sensual thing, not spiritual! I mean have you ever heard someone say that a certain food “taste heavenly”? Well the same can apply to what a person sees, hears, smells, or feels. And even though a sensation might seem like it originated in Heaven, the chances are pretty good that it’s straight from the pit of Hell! In other words Satan works through the “passions of our senses” to draw us into his corrupt and sinful nature:

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17 KJV)

And with that in mind, what do you think Lucifer did with all his “musical talent” once he became Satan? I mean, surely he hasn’t worshiped God with it!!! In fact the truth of this matter is that Satan has taken his God-given “resource” and used it to entice the people to worship him! It’s called the power of his music! And, because of it, the Almighty has the following in store for him:

“Hell from beneath is moved for thee [Lucifer] to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols [stringed instruments]: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isaiah 14:9-12 KJV)

You see Satan’s upcoming punishment in Hell has everything to do with his ongoing crime on earth (“weakened the nations”) and the means by which he accomplishes it (“thy pomp and the noise of thy viols [stringed instruments]”). In other words, Satan not only turns the people away from God, but he also holds them captive through his prideful alluring spirit and his overpowering and seductive music!

So now that we’ve said all that, let’s get back to Gang Starr and the true meaning behind their “star and chain” logo. Because the fact of the matter is that most sinful people don’t even believe in “Satan”, much less admit to his evil influence and control in their lives. And when it comes to Guru, well, he probably didn’t have the foggiest idea that his “chain” is symbolic of the bondage that takes place once a “music person” (such as he) walks in the “light” of the “fallen star” Lucifer.

But anyway, whether he understood it or not, Guru did a very fine job of describing how “the light” of this “star” (Lucifer) influences music in two distinct ways:
#1 - Through the “power of the creativity” which is the “spirit of Satan” flowing into his devoted followers (like Guru) to write and compose the music.
#2 – Through the “power of the music” which is the “spirit of Satan” flowing out of his music to mesmerize, entrap and bind the multitude of listeners.

And as it concerns “the chain”, well, Guru hit the nail on the head by describing it as “unity amongst struggle”. Because you see once a person allows themselves to come under the influence of Satan’s evil light, whether it be the music composer or the music listener, they become one with Satan through an invisible “chain” that’s virtually impossible to break. And it’s that same person, along with every other individual under his control, who then becomes slaves to the ways of Satan. In fact they (all of them) become “one” in the spirit of Satan to fight between themselves: “unity amongst struggle”. I mean, after all, at this point in the game, Satan, the “god of hate”, has become their “spiritual father”:

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44 KJV)

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:29-32 KJV)

In fact to help you better understand this concept of Satan’s “no love/all hate”, let’s check out what Matthew Henry had to say about the spirit of Satan:

“Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)

OK, so now that Guru has gotten us this far in our spiritual understanding of “hip-hop”, what do you say we shift our attention to another “rapper” by the name of “Eminem”. I mean this guy – Marshall Mathers (M&M) – actually admits to knowing where his musical talent comes from. He even calls him by name!

You see it was in Spin Magazine's cover story on Eminem – “The Devil And Mr. Mathers” – that the truth came out about his bathroom encounter with the “spirit of Slim Shady”. I mean what a place to be propositioned by the Devil! But anyway, in his song, Low, Down, Dirty, Eminem included part of his bathroom conversation with Slim: “Hearing voices in my head while these whispers echo, ‘Murder Murder Redrum’” (redrum - murder backwards).

In fact taking that one step further, Eminem, in his song “Guilty Conscience”, runs through a series of scenarios in which different characters wrestle with their consciences over thoughts of robbery, rape, kidnapping and murder. What a selection to choose from! And would you believe the evil voice encouraging these individuals to do such demented things is none other than Slim Shady? Well it is! And as this rap continues along it’s twisted path, the conscience of one individual speaks out against the evil thoughts: “Don't even listen to Slim, yo, he's bad for you.”

Now that’s the way the conscience is suppose to work! However, by the end of Eminem’s rap everything changes. Because you see, in the end, Slim Shady’s damnable advice wins out over the goodness of the conscience so that the conscience finally gives in and agrees with Slim Shady, the man commits a double murder, and Satan gets the glory for a job well done. In other words, the moral of Eminem’s rap is “it’s good to be bad”. So it should be obvious by now that Eminem’s “bathroom episode” brought about a “contract signing” with the Devil that allows the spirit of Slim Shady to use Eminem’s body to channel the perverted rap that will damn many souls to the everlasting flames of Hell!!! Got it???

But let’s not stop there. Because if you want more proof of Eminem’s “Satan worship” just look at the title of his debut album – “The Slim Shady LP”. I mean Glory be to Satan! But that ain’t all! Because you see it was due to the multi-platinum success of “The Slim Shady LP” (lots of people bought it) that Eminem's agent Paul Rosenberg got Eminem his very own record label – “Shady Records”. Glory be to Satan once again for his awesome musical powers (the light) that he willingly bestows on all who worship him!!!

But let’s not stop there. Because you see the first artists to be signed under Shady Records was a rap group by the name of “D12” (The Dirty Dozen). The group (which included Eminem) has released two albums under Shady Records – Devil's Night and D12 World – with two of the members getting murdered somewhere along the way. In 1999 “Bugz” was gunned-down and run-over after an argument at a Detroit picnic, and more recently “Proof” was gunned down after an argument and shooting at a Detroit nightclub.

So are you starting to get the picture? Do you see the “star and chain” at work in this music called “Hip-Hop”?

“Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls.”

And while we’re on the subject of the “Proof” (A.K.A. Deshaun Holton), here’s just a few of the details of his funeral:

Eminem, 50 Among Thousands at Proof Funeral
April 20, 2006

Proof And Eminem Thousands of mourners, including Eminem, 50 Cent, and Obie Trice attended the funeral of fallen D-12 rapper, Proof, yesterday (April 19) in Detroit. Eminem spoke about one of his closest friends who was shot and killed on April 11 at the CCC club in Detroit. "[Proof] taught me how to be a leader," Em said, according to AllHipHop.com. "I'm sure everybody who ever met him -- even just once -- can testify to the fact that he illuminated a room when he walked in it. He was a magnet. He lured you in. You wanted to learn about him, follow his swagger. Without Proof, there would be no Eminem, no Slim Shady, no -D12. You're the man."

So did you catch that? “Proof” was “The Man” who Satan used to help mold and shape Marshall Mathers into the devilish rap star that he is today (Eminem, Slim Shady, and D12).

And now that we’ve presented you with that very unpleasant bit of information, what do you say we take a closer look at Proof? Because by putting together three short segments of three songs from the D12 World album [Loyalty, 40 Ounce, and Get My Gun], we’ll be able to clearly see “the devil” in Proof:

“…For life as D12, no ice and spreewells / Every night that I chill in, I fight by free-will / Knowing I can be killed / Leaving my group, pieces of proof with a reason to shoot / And a license to ill / We lost Bugz and I’ll be damned if we lose another man from our clan / Without forcing our hand…” (Loyalty)

“I was raised by drunks so I became a drunk / 80 Proof on this vodka, that’s the name I want / I’m in the club to beef, you gotta murder me there…” (40 Ounce)

“Watch you holla when the hollow tips go through your skin / I’m in love with the sin, tell Bugz I’mma see him.” (Get My Gun)

So are you starting to get the picture? Do you see the “star and chain” at work in Proof’s life through the music of Proof?

“Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls.”

And just to show you how close Proof came in predicting his own demise through his own demonized rap lyrics, here’s an account of his untimely death:

“On April 11, 2006, at approximately 4:30 am EDT, at the CCC Club on 8 Mile Road in Detroit, Michigan, Proof suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head after fatally shooting Keith Bender Jr. in the head. It was reported that Proof fired shots into Bender after first striking him several times in the face with his pistol. Proof was then allegedly shot three times in the head and chest by the club bouncer, Bender’s cousin, Mario Etheridge. It is suspected that the gunfight resulted from an argument over a game of pool. Proof’s blood-alcohol level at the time of death was .32 – four times the state legal limit of .08.”

So that’s the method Satan used to get Proof to murder himself. It’s called suicide…and Proof knew that it was coming! And if you don’t believe it was suicide, then let me prove it to you!

Because you see it was in 2005 that Proof ventured out to create his own record label and release his first solo CD. And that’s exactly what he did! The name of the album was “Searching For Jerry Garcia”. It was produced by Iron Fist Records and went on sale on the tenth anniversary of Jerry Garcia’s death – August the 9th 2005. And just in case you didn’t know it, Jerry Garcia performed as front man for the “Grateful Dead” band before his own untimely death. In fact Proof had the following words to say about Garcia – the “king of the dead heads” – whom he so greatly admired: “Despite his genius, Jerry Garcia died from drugs, stress, and poor diet. At one time or another we all struggle through one of those things, so in a way, we all have a little Jerry Garcia in us.”

So you see Proof considered Jerry Garcia to be a “musical genius” who suffered from a few character flaws that are indicative of all people…including himself (Proof)! That’s what Proof had to say. However, I call Jerry Garcia the “tormented genius” (like Proof) who allowed the Devil, Lucifer – the “great musician” – to use his body to produce the “music of death” that would usher many lost souls into the everlasting fires of Hell. And of course it was all that demonic activity in Jerry Garcia’s body that resulted in the “drugs, stress, and poor diet”. I mean, after all, what do you think Jerry Garcia had in mind when he picked “Grateful Dead” for his band’s name? Would you believe “A song intended to show a lost soul to the other side”?

Now did you catch that? Jerry Garcia’s music was designed by Satan to put “lost souls” at ease about dying. In other words, the music of the “Grateful Dead” actually conditions it’s listeners to look forward to death…and even though their souls are destined to be damned in Hell forever:

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment…Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power…Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched…There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Mark 9:48; Luke 13:28 KJV)

Now that’s what you call some powerfully “seductive music”! I mean Hell is a terrible place to be…forever! And just to think that somebody, any body, could look forward to dying when they know they’re lost! But that’s exactly what Jerry Garcia and his “Grateful Dead” music does. It did it when Jerry Garcia was alive…and it’s still doing it today! In fact just look at the Proof!!!

Because you see the album cover for Proof’s Searching For Jerry Garcia actually tells the story of what’s contained in the songs that were intended to “show Proof’s lost soul to the other side”. In fact here’s a small sample of the #5 song Forgive Me, followed by the last song on the album (#20) Kurt Kobain:

Dead Proof “Here I stand as a dysfunctional man / Quick-tempered, short-fused, and pissed at God / Demons pullin at my soul till it’s ripped apart / …God you ain’t gotta forgive me, just don’t forget me, you hear me? / …I did right by you but you still took Bugz / Then caught me in adultery, fought me / for not knowin through the dark streets you walked me, talked to me / Lord forgive me, for I’ve sinned / Over and over again just to stay on top / I recall memories, filled, with sin / Over and over again… and again.” (Forgive Me)

“This is my last letter here / @#! the world, let’s get the @#! outta here / …My hearts melting, tell the truth, I need help man/ I hearts big but by sins bigger / @#! the world, I don’t feel like I can win niggaz / It’s like I’m lost and I find only demons / I wanna quit, it’s like I’m tired of breathing / …I wish I could take it back, I wish I could take it back / But it’s too late / …Answer to all, I’ve always lied with the truth / And before I pull the trigger tonight I’m proud of you.” (Kurt Kobain)

So now that the Proof is dead, what do you think about those lyrics? Well, to be perfectly honest with you, they break my heart! I mean before the Lord gave me this writing assignment I had absolutely no knowledge of the Proof (none, zero, zilch). In fact it was right about the time I read the news of his death that I saw nothing but evil in Proof; just another “bragging, boastful, belligerent, big-mouthed rapper” like Eminem. However, it was during my research for this message that Proof’s Forgive Me lyrics suddenly brought home the truth that he had known Jesus at some point in his life. The Lord had walked with Proof down some of his darker paths, counseling him; trying to get him to turn around before it was too late. Proof had heard the voice of God, and Proof had confessed his sins to God, but Proof refused to turn away from his sins and walk with God. And that’s the way it went with Proof…until it was too late: “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:17 KJV)

You see sin has an unimaginable power to it. As time goes on the sinner gets drawn deep into their sin – much deeper than they first intended to go – so that they’re kept longer in their sin than they ever imagined they would stay. And, of course, the real “kicker” to this “sin thing” is the enormous price that the sinner must finally pay. In fact as all this relates to the Proof and his sin, well, he ended up paying with his life!

“Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls.”

In fact getting back to this thing about Proof’s suicide, it should be abundantly clear by now that this was exactly what he did. I mean throughout Proof’s rapping “hip-hop” lyrics he’s bragged about his gangster-style life that would result in his untimely death. He knew it was coming! And then on his farewell album “Searching For Jerry Garcia” – (the one that would “show his lost soul to the other side”; as in “Grateful Dead”) – he ended it with his very own “suicide note” entitled “Kurt Kobain”. So you see it was on the 11th of April 2006 that Proof made the choice to end his life by walking into the CCC Club “skewed to the gills” with a loaded revolver to “beef” over a pool game and “fight by his free will”. In other words, it’s now a done deal and SATAN GOT HIS MAN!!!

But let’s not stop there! I mean please allow me show you how Satan openly boasted and bragged about having an “irreversible possession” of Proof’s soul nearly two years before his death. Because you see it was on Eminem’s rap video Like Toy Soldiers that Proof was depicted as being shot and killed in a drive-by shooting. I mean Slim Shady actually used Eminem (Proof’s friend?) to visually predict Proof’s violent death almost two years before it literally happened!

But that ain’t all! Because you see Satan also boasted and bragged about having won Proof’s soul through the numbers “11” and “19”; his death on 4/11/06 and his burial on 4/19/06. However, before we go there let me give you little insight on Satan and the numbers.

You see one of history's greatest Satanists was W. Wynn Wescott. He was extremely influential in the latter part of the 19th Century and wrote a book entitled The Occult Power of Numbers. In fact on page 15 of that same book we find the following helpful information: “Numbers are a key to the ancient views of cosmogony -- in its broad sense, spiritually as well as physically considered, to the evolution of the present human race; all systems of religious mysticism are based upon numerals. The sacredness of numbers begins with the Great First Cause, the One, and ends only with the nought or zero -- symbol of the infinite and boundless universe."

So just what in the world was Wescott trying to say? Would you believe “Satan works his magic through the numbers?” In fact on page 100 of his book on numbers, Wescott goes on to explain: “... so 11 is the essence of all that is sinful, harmful, and imperfect.”

So are you starting to “see” this “number picture” in your mind? Well, as it concerns the number “19” and the month of “April”, the following should make the picture even more complete: “One of the most important yearly dates on the Satanic Calendar is April the 19th. It begins a 13-day period of ‘blood sacrifices to the Beast’ which is commonly called the ‘High Holy Days of Satan’.”

Well there you have it: a “picture by the numbers” that depicts the death of one of Satan’s most dedicated followers – Proof “the rapper”. And of course that’s what “hip-hop” music is all about: the “star and chain” of Satan, damning and dooming souls to an everlasting fiery death in Hell!

Now even though it’s too late to save Proof’s life, his death can be used to save others from the same fate. Because it was in Detroit’s Fellowship Chapel on April the 19th 2006, that, during Proof’s funeral service eulogy, Obie Trice called for an end to the violence that took Proof’s life. Trice, a fellow “rapper”, was shot in the head during a New Year’s Eve shooting, with the bullet still lodged in his skull as a constant reminder of his brush with death. And Trice, while overcome with tears, made the following heart-felt statement during the service: “I want to talk to the black men in here that’s coming up in the hood, coming up in the struggle. We’re killing each other, dawg! And it’s about nothing! Nothing!! Nothing!!! We’re all dying. And we’re leaving our kids. Our mommas. Our grandmas. Over nothing.”

So it looks as though Obie has come to grips with the truth, but yet there’s only one way for him, and other rappers like him, to make this “Truth” become a reality in their lives:

“A new commandment I [Jesus] give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another…The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly…Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 13:34-35; 10:10; 14:6 KJV)

So that’s pretty much it for this message. However, before we go, Donnie Swaggart wants to say a word:

“Let me tell you something. This rap music, they’re demon spirits behind it…Rap music has been the greatest destructive force in the African American community than all the drugs and the alcohol of the last fifty years, and also the white suburban community, filling their minds and their spirit with songs like ‘Cop Killer’. Talking about how you’re going to be tough and ‘kill a cop’. Treating women like they’re dogs. They’re nothing but to be used and thrown aside, calling them every name under the sun but lady. No wonder our kids don’t have respect for anything, because their mind and their heart has been polluted by the spirits of this world.” (Donnie Swaggart – Jimmy Swaggart Ministries)

That’s it! “Hip-Hop: Rapping On Into Hell!” Do you really want to go there? The choice is yours! But if you want my advice, just “give it all up for Jesus” and then “Keep On Keeping The Faith In Jesus!”

Love,

Dad (Bruce Hallman)

Update (4/19/2010):
Gang Starr's "Guru" dead at 43. The legendary rapper succumbed to cancer on Monday the 19th of April 2010 after suffering a heart attack a few weeks earlier.