Kendrick Lamar: Christian Prophet or Secular Rap Star?

Joel Wilson

The theologian James Cone once stated that “artists force us to see things we do not want to look at because they make us uncomfortable with ourselves and the world we have created.”

Pulitzer-prize winner Kendrick Lamar is a mainstream hip-hop star, apparently not a Christian one. And yet Lemar has explicitly stated, "it’s my calling to share the joy of God, but with exclamation, more so, the FEAR OF GOD. The balance."

We'll unpack this statement and ask 'What can Kendrick teach us?' and 'What might Kendrick be forcing us to see?' We'll also explore the spiritual connection between Kendrick and those who've grown up within 21st century hip-hop culture. What is the prophetic responsibility of marginalized (and often trauma-informed) voices if they become famous and suddenly have a megaphone?

**Viewer Note - Some of Kendrick Lamar's material used in this session contains explicit language**