Nov
01
2011
Rapping the Attributes of God
The resurgence of expositional preaching has contributed to a surge of expositional hip-hop music in recent years. Shai Linne (blog | Twitter) is one of several young artists connecting urban audiences with theology through the language and beat of hip-hop.
Linne's new album, The Attributes of God, centers its lyrics and even the tone of its music on the multifaceted character of God. In fact, each song focuses on a different divine attribute. You can stream one of the tracks, "The Judge of All the Earth (feat. Sovereign Grace Kids)," below. The theme on display is God's justice. (Lyrics can be downloaded here.)
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I corresponded with Linne on why he chose to do an album on God's attributes and why hip-hop is an ideal genre for this subject.
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The Attributes of God is your first full-length album since 2008. Tell us how you decided to record an album with this theme.
As I looked around at what has been going on in Christian music lately, I noticed that a lot of it is more about us than about God. Don't get me wrong, there are many songs that make references to God and speak about the implications of the gospel, which is great. But a lot of it is not actually about God himself. The main subject of most of the Christian songs I hear is usually something other than God. That's problematic on a number of levels. As the time came to do another record, I was studying Exodus 33-34, and I noticed that when Moses asked to see God's glory (Ex. 33:18), God responded by describing his character. Jesus says in John 17:24 that his desire for the church is that we would behold his glory by sight in heaven. 2 Cor. 3:18 teaches that we are transformed by beholding God's glory by faith now. I wanted to make an album that would encourage people to behold God's glory by faith, as his character is described in the music.
You've written, "The Attributes of God project is an attempt to use music as a means of communicating truth about the character of God." Why use hip-hop as your musical genre to accomplish this goal?
In many ways, I think hip-hop is actually an ideal genre for a project like this, because the format allows for so many more words to be used than in other genres. Because of this, the potential for transfer of ideas is much greater. Hip-hop lends itself to exposition. The challenge was finding suitable musical backdrops to properly convey the emotional depth of such a glorious topic.
How does this album differ from your previous ones (The Solus Christus Project [2005], The Atonement [2008], and Storiez [2008])? Obviously the thematic focus is different, but what about your style? Has it evolved over the years?
It is different from my other projects sonically. I don't know if that has to do with my style evolving as much as the particular producers I worked with this time around. When we began the process, I communicated that I was looking for an overall sound that was epic and cinematic, like a film score. Once I got the music, I tried my best to adjust my vocal performance to the sound of the tracks. I think the result is a mixture of styles that will strike long-time listeners as both new and familiar.
What books influenced this project?
It came primarily from studying Exodus 33:18-34:14 and comparing that with other passages in Scripture. In fact, if you look at the track listing, you'll find that---except for the song about God's "Omnis"---it corresponds exactly to the attributes referenced in that chapter, in order. However, over the years, I've been helped by books like The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock, The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer, The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink, and The Glory of Christ by John Owen. Those books (and more) have definitely influenced my thinking about these things.
Was there a particular attribute that struck you as you worked on the album?
The song that affected me the most in writing is the song on God's jealousy. It says in Exodus 34:14 that God's very name is Jealous. I don't think I had thought very deeply about that before. In my studies, I discovered that in Scripture, God usually speaks of his jealousy in the context of idolatry. The emotion of jealousy is actually the mixture of two emotions: love and anger. The greater the object of love, the greater the anger towards the one who would seek to undermine or threaten that love. When we consider that God rightly values (and therefore loves) his glory above all else, it helps us understand why his wrath is so great towards those who would seek to undermine or threaten his glory by sinning against him. It also helps us appreciate all the more that God poured out his jealous anger on his beloved Son in our place!
What do you want people to walk away with from this project?
The main thing I want people to walk away with is the fact that God is unspeakably beautiful and glorious beyond all imagination. He's worth making a big deal about. He's worth writing albums about. He's worth being celebrated in every cultural context. Knowing him and making him known is what we were made for. All of his attributes are on breathtaking display in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Through faith in Christ, we have the privilege of knowing and enjoying this God for eternity. Nothing that this world has to offer comes close to comparing with that.
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Watch the album's trailer, "The Perfection of Beauty," featuring Shai's wife, Blair Linne.
19 Comments
Today is a great day for hiphop. Shai is one of the best.
Don't forget to check out ChristCentric's new album that came out today as well - The Ephesians Project! An exposition through the book of Ephesians from a reformed perspective.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-ephesians-project/id465328622
I love how genuine Shai and Blair are. They are being bold about how magnificent they believe God is and beckon you to follow. Blair just edifies class and is not apologetic about being a woman. She inspires me to quote scripture out loud and praise God!
I preordered this album two weeks ago and have 5 CD's in the mail to arrive later this week!
Birthday presents, Outreach, Christmas is coming...
Thanks for the great interview with Shai Linne.
[...] Rapping The Attributes of God – Acclaimed Christian Rapper, Shai Linne, comes out with his first album since 2008 called, The Attributes of God. [...]
Grateful to God for the gospel being central to preaching and music again. Hip Hop artist such as Shai, Timothy Brindle, & many other people have been preaching/rapping expositionally since long ago (even before this resurgence in the local churches). I love Shai's point on the state of Christian music & it being man focused. Not to us, not to us, but to God's Triune name be the glory.
I was directed to this page with the expectation of this being disastrous (after all God & Hip-Hop don't mix...).
I can only say how wrong I was. This is one of the most scripturally sound pieces of modern Christian music that I've heard for a long time - searching, challenging, and provocative, but unambiguously God-centred. This isn't just "Christian Hip-Hop" - it's Hip-Hop for Christ.
[...] like John Piper, CJ Mahaney, and Randy Alcorn. I love what Shai Linne said about the album in an interview when asked why rap is a good platform for his message, “In many ways, I think hip-hop is [...]
I have believed and noticed for many years (I am 60) that the music has changed from the hymns written by theologians and gifted writers that had been through tough times to the self-centered, "praise" choruses of today. I have not been able to sing and truly worhsip God in song for the last 10 years or more. How sad. But it also reflects how far away from the truth of God's word we have come also...churches seem to be focused more on FEELINGS rather than THINKING.
Cannot wait to purchase Shai Linne's new album!
[...] Gospel Coalition had an in-depth interview with Shai Linne which you will find here. I surely hope and pray that the album will bring glory to [...]
[...] Rapping the Attributes of God-Shai Linne used to be a roommate of my husband’s in Philly. I can still remember listening to one of his albums in the car in those days before we admitted we were in love. Knowing my husband loved this hip hop theology made me love him more. Read this interview, watch the trailer, and buy the album. Christ’s beauty shines in a unique way through this man and his wife. [...]
[...] bar for excellence in that area. Attributes has taken a huge leap forward musically as well. In this recent interview, the artist said he was “looking for an overall sound that was epic and cinematic, like a [...]
[...] This link is one that I am thoroughly excited about. Its an interview with Shai Linne on TGC about his new Rap Album “The Attributes of God.” I have listened to some of it and its some pretty solid stuff. When I have the money to purchase the whole album, I plan to do so. There is a link to listen to one of the songs right in the review and its worth it. Even if you are not particularly into rap, its solid theology, so its well worth a listen. [...]
[...] centered in Linne’s hip-hop roots. It is an ambitious and well executed piece of work. Here’s an interview about the album from the Gospel Coalition (which includes an embed of one of the tracks). Track [...]
[...] After two clarifying tracks, Linne resumes the conversation of God’s justice. Because God is just, He MUST judge ALL sin. We can trust His judgment; He WILL do right. I absolutely love the lyrics to this one, and hope you’ll follow along with them as you listen to this one, which you can hear on this page. [...]
[...] I look forward to diving into this album (yes, you can expect a full review). Check out this great interview by Matt Smethurst of The Gospel Coalition, talking with Shai Linne about “The Attributes of [...]
[...] interview that, “hip-hop lends itself to (biblical) exposition.” (Read the full interview here.) His music is no exception. Other Christian artists like Shai Linne are slowly breaking into the [...]
What a delight to discover God's great attributes resonating with the next generation! God's attributes are the central feature at my blog http://www.bethanymacklinministries.com/blog. God's attributes + Gen Y = a powerful generation of Christ followers.
[...] In an interview with Justin Taylor at The Gospel Coalition, Shai Linne discussed writing his new album. “As the time came to do another record, I was reading Exodus 33-34, and I noticed that when Moses asked to see God’s glory, God responded by describing His character…I wanted to make an album that would encourage people to behold God’s glory by faith, as his character is described in the music.” (For the full interview from Justin Taylor click here) [...]