The Gospel of Hip Hop: First Instrument, is the first book from KRS ONE, it is said to be a philosophical masterwork. The book is written as the Christian Bible though it is a life-guide manual for members of the Hip Hop culture. Another fascinating is that this 800 page long book is known as “The Techa”. This life-guide combines classic philosophy with faith and practical knowledge for an exploration of Hip Hop as a life path.
This book has drawn both criticism and worship from the Hip Hop culture
In an interview for allhiphop KRS says; "’I’m suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth... I think I have the authority to approach God directly, I don’t have to go through any religion [or] train of thought. I can approach God directly myself and so I wrote a book called The Gospel of Hip Hop to free from all this nonsense garbage right now. I respect the Christianity, the Islam, the Judaism but their time is up. ...In a hundred years, everything that I’m saying to you will be common knowledge and people will be like, 'Why did he have to explain this? Wasn’t it obvious?'"
So from going from being inspired by religion KRS says that hip hop has become its own religion and culture. Maybe it is true that hip hop is its own religion, but then the hip hop culture must have the basics of Islam in it and Christianity, because they were the bases for hip hop. This can maybe mean that hip hop has the true meanings of religion, the message of love. But then it makes me think of the hip hop culture we have today where the rappers are “singing” about women and the money they have. Is that the real hip hop? Is that a part of the hip hop culture and why does the rappers have crosses hanging around their necks? I think some parts of hip hop still have the true meanings of hip hop, like the hip hop that Public Enemy did.
2 comments:
I had never heard of this book and I think I will have to find it. Thanks for talking about it. I also like your inclusion of interview material; it gives a sense of directness to your post.
This is really interesting post. I also have never heard of this book, however this is something I can completely agree with. As I get older and see religion as a "man-made" thing, these idea that all three of these branches of religion are unneeded and that something so direct, in a hundred years, may appeal to Humans. Great blog post and great job.
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