On the Freedom of a Christian Rapper

by Onsi A. Kamel

Jesus is King, Kanye West’s latest album, channels the theology of Martin Luther. 
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29 Oct 2019

Carl’s Rock Songbook #79: Martha Bayles and I on Rap, Pt. 2

by Carl Scott

In Bayles’ telling, rap’s old school period was not just prior to the advent of rich sampling, but also prior to what we might call the gangsta-rap scam . Old-school rapping did the dozens, did f-bomb-dropping comedy, did “battle rap” exhibitions of verbal prowess, and was . . . . Continue Reading »

7 Apr 2013

Shay Riley: OF COURSE Hip Hop Has Been Bad for Black America

by Carl Scott

So in my series of posts on rap, I’ve tried be somewhat complimentary before laying out the critiques, fair and balanced, appreciative of a few of the classics , etc . . . . . . and then here comes Shay Riley of the black center-right site Booker Rising, who answers the above question as . . . . Continue Reading »

25 Mar 2013

Carl’s Rock Songbook #67: How to Think about Disco

by Carl Scott

Have any of you seen the Eric Rohmer film 4 Aventures de Reinette et Mirabelle? It’s sort of a retelling of the “Country Mouse, City Mouse” story. Two young women, one from the country, one from the city, are thrown together and become friends. They represent a certain sophistication . . . . Continue Reading »

15 Oct 2012