Hip hop/rap culture and religion
Apparently religion plays a role in hip hop culture but I'm just wondering how important it is. And doesn't religious belief contradict the artistic content of violence, misogyny, drug use and homophobia, flashing with luxery etc, especially during the 90s and 2000s, is something I wonder about.. Because even though religion historically did promote violence and oppresion of women, it modernly teaches modesty, equality and peace. Rapping about life is one thing but really promoting the above things through art is something else. And hip hop did that. I am an atheist myself, born in a black mixed christian, muslim and atheist family and there are plenty of examples of famous rappers dealing with religion and spirituality in general: Snoop Dogg converted to Christianity, Ice Cube to Islam, Nas is in between Christianity and Islam, or maybe just universally religious, Kanye West is or was a Christian, DJ Kool Herc was tied to Five Percent Nation (pseudo Islamic and pseudo science sect) and Christianity, 2Pac is associated with Christian imagery, Jay-Z is universal, KRS-One is associated with Hinduism, a bit of Christianity but mainly just spirituality, Drake is Jewish, Lil Wayne is a Christian, RZA is a Muslim, B-real is a Babalawo (Ifá), Kendrick Lamar is a Christian, Wonder Mike (Sugar Hill Gang) is a Christian, Rakim is a Muslim, Eminem is a Christian, Lauryn Hill is just spiritual, Joseph Simmons (Run-DMC) is a Christian, Busta Rhymes is a Muslim, The Notorious B.I.G. was raised as a Jehova and later on just spiritual, Black Thought is just spiritual with an upbringing of Islam and a bit of Christianity, Missy Elliott is a Christian, Mike D (Beastie Boys) raised Jewish and is spiritual. So my main concern is how important religion is in hip hop culture and whether being religious contradicts the artistic stimulation of violence, money, drug use and so on.