{"id":590,"date":"2014-06-18T10:15:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-18T10:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/rhetoricraceandreligion\/2014\/06\/fear-of-a-black-god-and-white-devils-jay-z-and-the-five-percent-nation-part-1.html"},"modified":"2014-06-18T10:15:00","modified_gmt":"2014-06-18T10:15:00","slug":"fear-of-a-black-god-and-white-devils-jay-z-and-the-five-percent-nation-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/rhetoricraceandreligion\/2014\/06\/fear-of-a-black-god-and-white-devils-jay-z-and-the-five-percent-nation-part-1.html","title":{"rendered":"Fear of a Black God and White Devils: Jay Z and the Five Percent Nation-Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

by Andre Key<\/a><\/span><\/span>
R3 Contributor\u00a0<\/span><\/span>

<\/span><\/span>When hip hop mogul Jay Z appeared at a Brooklyn Nets game with a medallion sporting the symbol of the Five Percent Nation of Gods and Earth, the media went into a frenzy trying to interpret what it meant to the one-time minority co-owner of the team.\u00a0 The\u00a0<\/span>New York Post<\/em>\u00a0controversial title, \u201c<\/span>Jay-Z bling from \u2018whites are devil\u2019 group<\/a>\u201d is certainly meant to gain readers and tarnish the image of the Brooklyn-born rapper.\u00a0 Of the several reprints of the story, nearly all include words such as \u201ccontroversial\u201d or \u201cradical\u201d in their title or\u00a0<\/span>bylines<\/a>\u00a0to suggest that Jay Z is supporting some type of fringe hate group.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>The fact a person of Jay Z\u2019s stature is seen representing what is considered a \u201cradical\u201d group by media outlets obsessed with caricatured representations of black men as \u201cgangstas and buffoons\u201d might shock the senses.\u00a0 For historians of the hip hop genre, Jay Z\u2019s nominal association with the Five Percent nation is neither surprising nor shocking.\u00a0 As\u00a0<\/span>Felicia Miyakawa<\/a>, professor of musicology has discussed in detail the early period of hip hop was inundated with Five Percent lingo, symbols, and icons.\u00a0 Record labels were packed hip hop groups either with direct affiliation or sympathetic to Five Percent teachings in their lyrics, sported Islamic kufis and fezes, and implored listeners to gain knowledge of self, avoid vices such as alcohol, pork and drugs, and criticized the policies of the Reagan-Bush years.\u00a0 But we know how that story ended: the mid-nineties witnessed the explosion of gangsta rap music in the mainstream media as \u201cWhat\u2019s up G?\u201d went from meaning \u201cGod\u201d to \u201cgangsta\u201d.\u00a0 Rappers hung up their kufis and Africa medallions for Los Angeles Raiders hats and gold chronic (marijuana) charms.\u00a0 Hip Hop artist who remained faithful to what would be labeled \u201cconscious\u201d hip hop (Common, Mos Def, Taalib Kweli) were moved to the margins as more funk-laden hardcore songs took over the airwaves and cable music video programming.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Into this musical sea change we find a young Jay-Z who like many East Coast rappers of the time reflected both the conscious Five Percent-inspired hip hop and then dominant West Coast hardcore rap scene.\u00a0 Jay Z\u2019s meteoric rise can be attributed to his mastery of certain principles for hip hop success: simplified lyrical content and catchy musical production.\u00a0 However, Five Percent teachings still can be found in numerous instances beginning with his alternate moniker\u00a0<\/span>J-Hova<\/em>\u00a0(in reference to Jehovah) and his lyrics as he proclaims his divine status in numerous songs.\u00a0 An example of this is seen in the Usher collaboration\u00a0<\/span>Hot Tottie<\/em>:<\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span>They call me King Hov, copy?<\/span><\/span>
Big ballin\u2019 is my hobby<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So much so they think I\u2019m down with the illuminati<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My watch do illuminate<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My pockets are tottie<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But I\u2019m God body, ya\u2019ll better ask somebody<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I was born a God<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I made myself a king<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Which means I downgraded to a human being<\/div>\n

<\/span>
<\/span>For the uninitiated these lyrics might simply be construed as boastful verses of his dominance of the hip hop industry.\u00a0 For a younger conspiracy minded generation of listeners without knowledge of the pivotal role of Five Percent doctrines in the genre, they are proof that Jay Z along with other successful black entertainers have pledged their allegiance to demonic forces.\u00a0 In his most recent musical offering\u00a0<\/span>Magna Carta Holy Grail<\/em>, Jay Z muses on the criticism of his faith stance with \u201cHeaven\u201d.\u00a0 The song starts with a nod to Five Percent teachings and a swipe at conspiracy
\n theorists,\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span>Arm, leg, leg, arm, head \u2013 this is God body<\/span><\/span>
Knowledge, wisdom, freedom, understanding \u2013 we just want our equality<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Food, clothing, shelter \u2013 help a [n-word] find some peace<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Happiness for a gangsta, ain\u2019t no love in the streets<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Conspiracy theorist screaming Illuminati<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

They can\u2019t believe this much skill is in the human body<\/div>\n

<\/span>
<\/span>So what is to be made of Jay Z\u2019s nominal Five Percenter allegiance?\u00a0 Is Jay Z secretly harboring anti-white hatred that he now feels comfortable expressing in public?<\/span>

<\/span><\/span>To be Continued\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/span>

<\/span><\/i><\/span>Follow Andre on Twitter \u00a0@AkeyPhD<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Andre KeyR3 Contributor\u00a0When hip hop mogul Jay Z appeared at a Brooklyn Nets game with a medallion sporting the symbol of the Five Percent Nation of Gods and Earth, the media went into a frenzy trying to interpret what it meant to the one-time minority co-owner of the team.\u00a0 The\u00a0New York Post\u00a0controversial title, \u201cJay-Z […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nFear of a Black God and White Devils: Jay Z and the Five Percent Nation-Part 1<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"by Andre KeyR3 Contributor When hip hop mogul Jay Z appeared at a Brooklyn Nets game with a medallion sporting the symbol of the Five Percent Nation\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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