Is it wrong for a pastor to appear on a Parental guidance/Explicit album?
Well what if it was our beloved Bishop Eddie L. Long?
Those possibilities have finally come to pass with the recent buzz circulating the newly released, "Release therapy", the #1 hip-hop album from hip hop star Ludacris. We have been following this story for a week already and decided to post a few details about the situation on the PRAYZE Report. The sensationalism from the media has also helped made this a growing storyline.
"Release Therapy", the eighth album release from the hip-hop rapper/entertainer, is hailed to be Ludacris' first personal album. He shows signs of maturity and growing out from the hood-lifestyle and taking on responsibilities as a father and a visionary. The rapper is best known for his crazy antics and youthful pleasures in hit songs like "P-Poppin" (don't ask what the "P' means), "Roll Out (My Business)", "Move Bitch", "Number One Spot", "Hoes In My Room" and "Area Codes", but it takes a slight twist on this project. "Life is about growth and change and that's what's happening right now," he says. "Once you get to your late 20s, a lot of things start becoming more clear. You're just trying to be a better person. ... My main goal is to show the complexities of human nature."
While his album shows two sides of him (Release and Thearpy), his debut single, "Money Maker", shows him playing the role of his former and well-known lifestyle. It features Pharrell Williams and talks about "jiggling body parts and subsequent things to do with them". The video to "Money Maker" is a simple video. It is basically colored backgrounds of orange, green and black throughout the shots. There are shots of Ludacris on the ground rapping with girls surrounding him. Pharell is also singing the chorus around girls on stacks of money. Ludacris has a counting machine that counts how many times he has got a girl to shake her money maker (buttocks) for him. Girls are also dancing throughout the video. The album also features a slate of hip-hop rappers known to be naughty such as R. Kelly, Young Jeezy, Beanie Sigel, Pimp C and C-Murder.
"Therapy" delves deep into Luda's current concerns. On the confessional "Freedom of Preach," bookended by words from New Birth megachurch leader Bishop Eddie L. Long, Luda asks for forgiveness for hip-hop beefs, struggles with Karma's mother and being rude to his fans. He also asks God to forgive others -- including Oprah Winfrey, whom he has criticized for marginalizing rappers.
While the intent may be a blessing for Ludacris, Long is now experiencing growing pains and strains from many in the gospel music community. Currently in the PRAYZEHYMN Gallup To The Polls, 55% of voters have a problem with Long's appearance on Ludacris' album. We are not sure if Ludacris is a member of Long's mega-church, but people are concerned about the intentions and reasons behind this issue of faith.
In conclusion, Luda comments on the intergrity of his recent release. "The sex songs they'll help you relax, the club songs people can unwind and have a good time, and some songs, when I am talking about so many issues, it's release, me getting stuff of my chest," he says. "The truth will set you free."
We have yet to see the day when Benny Hinn appears on a Three 6 Mafia project and T.D. Jakes guest stars on a 50 Cent project. It could very well be on the way.
[LUDA GOSPEL]
Ludacris Goes Deeper (CNN.com)
More On Ludacris (Wikipedia.com)
PRAYZEHYMN Gallup To The Polls
Ludacris Goes Deeper (CNN.com)
More On Ludacris (Wikipedia.com)
PRAYZEHYMN Gallup To The Polls
10 comments:
I just look at it plain and simple. If the intent was good and the heart was right, then "so-be-it." Ludacris is human just like everyone else.
Besides, we never know what God is working behind the scenes, all we see is "what's visible." Let's try to look beyond the CD or song. There are many ways to be a witness to someone or to bring someone to Christ. You just never know...
Having a problem with this collaboration is almost the same as not being able to do anything about it...honestly.
I as a parent, were sitting in my daugthers car. To my surprise, my son played Ludacris cd. As I sat in this car, I told my son that I could not take any more of these songs. It just gave me a funny feeling as I heard these songs. And turn it off. Just as I said this, Bishop Long came on. All I could do was pray, Lord God, what is going on.The songs that came before and after the song. Greived my spirit.My son thought it was another greedy minister,as he put it, trying to get paper.I can not judge on why Bishop Long did this, but I hope that he prayed first.
Is this the actual picture on the cd cover. or was it inserted to draw attention to your site to get a better respomse from you readers?
I think "saints" focus on the wrong things sometimes. The appearance of Bishop Long on that song does not bother me a bit. If the song itself contained lude and ungodly context... THEN i would have a problem with it. Come on now... I am a singer and I work with R&B/Hip Hop artists all the time and take TREMENDOUS flack for it.. but... hear this: So many "unsaved" people are not coming to God BECAUSE of the "holier than thou" church mentality. We can't be examples to others if we aren't around them shining our light in their personal space now can we?
T. Allen
I think "saints" focus on the wrong things sometimes. The appearance of Bishop Long on that song does not bother me a bit. If the song itself contained lude and ungodly context... THEN i would have a problem with it. Come on now... I am a singer and I work with R&B/Hip Hop artists all the time and take TREMENDOUS flack for it.. but... hear this: So many "unsaved" people are not coming to God BECAUSE of the "holier than thou" church mentality. We can't be examples to others if we aren't around them shining our light in their personal space now can we?
T. Allen
I feel like this backlash is now coming because he's been so vocal about homosexuality, and people don't like it (including the webmaster of this site) so they attack him for any and everything. There is nothing wrong with what Bishop Long did, the Bible talks about being a light in dark places (or something in dry places, something like that, lol).
I took offense to the picture on your website only to have a colleague point out to me that the picture is not the actual CD cover. It's poor taste on your part to go Madison Avenue on the web just to draw readers to the article. As far as your original question, if Bishop Long's message had a positive impact on an individual, then I don't see a problem. It doesn't matter that the individual is a person that uses "bad language". Some rappers that talk about the street life, explicit sex, and other things that the bible deems ungodly, are only doing so for financial gain or social awareness. Their individual lives may or may not parallel these topics.
Actually The recreated album cover resembles Minister Ricky B. from Murphreesboro's
www.B4entertainment.com
Seems I heard the local NewBirth in
Florence ALABAMA was sponsoring event with former member of Three 6 MAFIA
engaging local youth for the Gospel
It looks like Long's image was photoshopped over the image of cris with the girl. But if I was Long I'd be pretty mad that my image was put there like that.
And if Long doesn't have a problem with it then I he's publicly endorsing ungodliness.
Light doesn't mix with dark. The dark should be attracted to the light.
Post a Comment