Music is
an art form and cultural activity that has roots in ancient practices
cultivated in early civilizations. Found in every culture throughout human
history music has played a significant role in society. Songs were once
passed down from generation to generation becoming traditional songs performed
during holidays and social gatherings. Hymns and worship songs originated
within the church and appeared predominately in religious ceremonies. Today we
enjoy a variety of music and music serves many purposes within society. As a
means of communication and enjoyment music unites people of all ages and walks
of life. The power of music continues to be a strong force in society, in fact,
music is more widespread and a part of everyday life than ever before.
Mainstream
music has taken over the industry. Major music labels represent artists who are
both talented and conventionally attractive in order to guarantee the
maximization of profits. Music is a readily available commodity to millions of
listeners who have subscriptions to streaming music services like Spotify,
Soundcloud, Pandora, and Apple Music. Curation and customization of playlists
have become an essential part of the music experience for the typical listener.
Notorious rapper, Kanye West recently released
his ninth studio album entitled ‘Jesus is King.’ West’s attempt to promote
Christian music as part of mainstream music has generated chaos across the
nation. Critics are struggling with West’s openness to speak about Christianity
and his layered biblical references of Jesus Christ throughout the album. A journalist for NPR noted that “Critics of Kanye's behavior have called out the
rapper's overt alignment with the Christian faith as a way to get back in the
good graces of his black fan base, after what they see as egregious missteps
and comments, including calling slavery ‘a choice.’” West’s album, in its
entirety, refrains from profanity of any type. The controversy surrounding
West’s latest release perhaps can be viewed as an issue of free speech and the role
it plays in mainstream music.
West’s
music has undoubtedly influenced listeners across the globe as the degree of
fame he holds is represented by his massive fan base of over thirty million
followers. Many would argue that with notoriety in the music industry comes
responsibility. That responsibility translates to the idea of freedom of speech
and how it should be applied in music. Should musicians like West have the
power to express themselves freely and further have the ability to encourage or
sway their listeners to support a certain agenda? To what end should an artist be
held accountable for the interpretations or actions carried out by the listener
in response to their music?
According
to a reporter for NBC, “Large swaths of America see religion as important to
their life (77 percent in a recent Pew survey), but that number is declining.
Part of that, without a doubt, is because trust in religious institutions is
hitting an all-time low this year…” The motives behind West releasing a
Christian album may seem disingenuous to many of his fans and critics alike,
however, West anticipated this very reaction before the release of ‘Jesus is
King.’
On the ninth track off the album, West raps:
“Told the devil that I'm going on a strike / I've been working for you my whole
life,” he continues, “Told people God was my mission / What have you been
hearin' from the Christians? / They'll be the first one to judge me / Make it
feel like nobody love me.” In these lyrics, West reveals his newfound faith,
hinting to the listener that he is a born-again Christian. West also predicts
that those who identify with the Christian faith will most likely be judgmental
and harshly criticize his album. In the previous track entitled ‘God Is’ West
preaches: “I can't keep it to myself, I can't sit here and be still /
Everybody, I will tell 'til the whole world is healed… From the rich to the
poor, all are welcome through the door / You won't ever be the same when you
call on Jesus' name / Listen to the words I'm sayin', Jesus saved me, now I'm
sane.” In these lyrics, West suggests that his relationship with God has healed
him and made him “sane.” Here, he is most likely, referencing his diagnosis of
Bipolar disorder.
The most notable line within these lyrics is when West says,
“You won’t ever be the same when you call on Jesus’ name.” This is where the
protection of West’s free speech is called into question by critics who stand
in opposition against West’s advocacy of the Christian faith. West is clearly
calling on his fans directly by commanding “you.” Yet, according to the book,
Mass Media Law, West does not display any “true threats” in his speech as the
lyrics do not represent the following: “Statements where the speaker means to
communicate a serious expression of intent to commit an act of unlawful
violence to a particular individual or group of individuals.” Rather, West’s
speech while it may inspire his fans to pursue Christianity, does not incite
that the listener must convert to Christianity, and it does not provoke
violence against individuals who are not of the Christian faith. Though the
release of this album has ignited great controversy, West’s speech should be
protected under the first amendment.
This is such an interesting topic! I've heard so much chatter about the release of his new album and how controversial it's been but never in a legal sense. It makes sense that his speech would be under question but I also agree that it should be protected under the first amendment. Even as the "popularity" (if you could call it that) of Christianity falls, artists are still entitled to sing about it if it isn't a "true threat," like you said in your article. It is interesting, though, that so many artists sing about various forms of violence and it never gets as much public backlash as this album has in the short time it's been out. Music as a form of self-expression and a way to communicate through cultures has always brought people together but it's fascinating how it seems to bring people apart in this instance. I find it interesting that there's so much backlash against Kanye for this album when there's a whole genre of music devoted to Christianity and worship. Additionally, artists crossing over genre lines midway through their careers isn't unheard of- just look at Taylor Swift. However, not being a huge Kanye fan myself, I don't resonate with all the hype about him in general so perhaps I'm just out of touch. This was such an interesting read! It makes me want to listen to some songs off the album to see what all the talk is about.
ReplyDeleteKanye West is such an interesting artist to dive into, especially with this new album and the "Sunday Services" he's been hosting outside of Coachella Valley. He is a large-scale artist who has admitted to having Bipolar Disorder, and we are watching his breakdowns, triumphs, and coping mechanism all very live. His album also calls this idea of missing the old Kanye. He is arguably one of the most genius Hip-Hop artists in the past twenty years with his albums College Dropout to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. However, should JESUS IS KING be included in his best music repertoire. That I don't know. As a Christian Rap album, it sends a message. However, isn't it wildly ironic that he is also charging hundreds for his merchandise, fashion line, concerts, and Sunday Services? Christianity is not just following the Bible and Jesus, but living in a way that seeks love for all people. Kanye has made himself apart of this untouchable elite, dripping in wealth. This being said, he is allowed to evangelize his version of Christianity all he wants on his album. I think it's interesting you call to what is a "True Threat" with Kanye and this most recent album. There are several lyrics in Hip Hop that are explicitly violent, but does that make them true threats or expressions of vulnerability and emotions? This was an exciting blog post, especially with the relevance of West and this new album.
ReplyDeleteKatherine,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love your coverage of the album and I think you have summarized the controversy very well. A lot of times with social media, you only see one side of the story that the majority believes -- for me, I’ve only heard from people in opposing the album and Kanye’s sudden switch to Christianity. There are some rappers, Chance the Rapper for example, who use religious messages in their songs that don’t receive heat for it. I think the shock value of Kanye’s sudden shift to godliness from classic rap, that often times included xenophobic themes, is a big part of the controversy.
Second, I think that he should be protected by the First Amendment as well. While it may be a radical change for Kanye and this may ruffle some feathers with his huge fan base of 30 million people, it is up to the people to decide whether or not to listen to his music anymore. As you said, his speech does not display “true threats” or “communicate a serious expression of intent to commit an act of unlawful violence,” along with the fact that it does not infringe on the rights of others.
So, while many may argue that it’s wrong for him to suddenly try to convert listeners in his music -- whether it’s genuine or just a ploy to win over estranged fans -- it’s not technically against the law. Overall, I think your post was very effective in summing up the issue while remaining an interesting read. Nice job, Katherine!