Emmanuel Iheke

August 30th, 2018

So a lot of us were probably really excited to see Philadelphia rapper, Lil Uzi Vert, drop long-awaited album “Luv Is Rage 2” a few months back. We all loved the hit single, XO Tour Lif3.  And once we started listening to the album we were introduced to more hits, like “Neon Guts”, “Dark Queen”, and we can’t forget “Sauce It Up”. However many of us were caught off guard when we could have sworn we heard Lil Uzi say “lucifer” (we refuse to capitalize the name) in the beginning of the song. And the debate arose… did Lil Uzi say his name, “Lil Uzi Vert” or “lucifer”.

Soon the answer wouldn’t matter, as we saw Lil Uzi claim satan to be his dad on a Nardwuar interview and started to see all of the upside-down crosses on his stage sets and jewelry. What is the meaning of this pro-satan gimmick? Well it’s become a movement in hip hop. We have all heard conspiracy theories about rappers selling their soul to satan in trade of riches and fame. Well, it looks like a lot of rappers are embracing that idea and running with it. Lil Uzi vert is not the only artist that has some fascination with “satan-claiming”. Many other artists have sported the upside down cross and made claims to follow satan.

Many of you are reading this editorial and are thinking, “I didn’t even know any of this was going on”. Well – now you know. Influencers aren’t just preaching on about partying and having fun anymore. People are out here talking about devoting their lives to Satan. We could also talk about the many musicians – NOT JUST IN HIP HOP – that spread negative-subliminal messages in what most people think are kid-friendly songs.

So what does all of this mean? Why is this a thing? I can’t give the answer as to why musicians are making this a fad, however, I can talk on the importance of knowing what it is you are listening to. It’s 2018, the world is all over the place. People have new, different ideas and to be honest, I think we can all agree that they aren’t all good ones. This is why we need to be cautious with what it is we are consuming. Yes – consuming. You are what you eat. Now I’m not saying never listen to Lil Uzi again. He’s actually very talented. The point is bigger than him. We need to understand that there are messages behind everything. Let’s not spend our money and time partaking in things just because they’re cool, let’s actually take note of the messages being displayed in art and products.

Maybe we can all start with finding a balance. Let’s listen and watch whatever we want, but then make sure we discipline ourselves by partaking in other content that we know will inspire us to  grow, excel and succeed. Eventually we should be able to gain enough self control to filter our lives more responsibly. I believe without a doubt, that submerging oneself in positivity will have a positive impact on anyone. Let’s take the steps necessary to do so. Let us know what you think in the comments below!