#aubreybarnes

This blog is the second blog in a series of blogs about Joyner Lucas’ song “Devils Work. Listen to the song here.

From the title alone, I knew that at some point, the religious community would soon bring about their scrutiny of Joyner’s work. I know there has already been a couple of short, Christian-based podcasts who have had dialogue about this single. For the sake of where I’m trying to go, I want to talk about one response in particular from Bizzle, who identifies as a Christian rapper. In response to Joyner’s single, using the same beat and writing from his perspective of God, here is what Bizzle had to say:

“Before I even start addressing it,

I don't owe you any answers,

so don't get used to it

But I feel like you being genuine,

But the truth is you can't handle the truth, Lucas

But you kept it a buck and I love that

If I kept it a buck back, could you take what you stepping in?

I know it's other folk that feel like you,

so first thing I'ma do is let you know who you questioning”

I have to admit it: didn’t listen to all of Bizzle’s response. That is because I didn’t need to listen to the whole thing to know what he was trying to say. I used to be heavily a part of Western Christian culture, a church leader, and a “christian artist,” so I knew the rhetoric from the jump:

“My God is perfect, and you have no business mentioning God in your music because you’re a sinner.”

There is this habit that I had as a Creative, a ‘duty’ as my church leaders would tell me, to police the way everyone else talked about God. If their lyrics or lifestyle didn’t fit with my idea of how Christians should live, I needed to correct those people. If their theology didn’t resonate with mine, I was told to pull out a Bible verse and check them.

“I'm staring at this Bible as I keep glancing

Dear Lord, I got questions and I need answers

Tryna understand your vision, all I see is damage

Just a bunch of dead bodies in the street camping

A bunch of lost souls on their feet standing

We supposed to be your children, I thought we family

You're supposed to be my Father, bruh, I need answers”

- Joyner Lucas

A few weeks ago, Joyner Lucas, a rapper out of Worcester, Massachusetts, dropped another instantly viral single called “Devil’s Work.” If you haven’t checked out the video yet, do that first here and then come back to finish reading. I wouldn’t call myself a Joyner Lucas fan, but I most definitely respect his creativity when it comes to creating concepts and visuals that beautifully illustrate his lyrics. Dude is dope, no doubt about that. There is A LOT happening in this video and song, so much that it’ll be hard to hit everything that I want to get off my chest in this one write up. So I will have a couple other blogs to follow this one. Anyway, about the song and video:

In the video, Joyner Lucas is walking through a Catholic Church in his hometown, holding a bottle of Hennessy and a Bible. Throughout the whole video, Joyner is having a conversation with God, asking him why the good and innocent must die while the crooked and guilty can walk freely. Asking God if he can bargain lives with Him; trading Tupac, Biggie, and Xxxtentacion’s life for the lives of Trump, Tomi Lahren, Laura Ingraham, and a few others.

What I like most about Joyner as a creative is that he doesn't shy away from being one hundred percent honest. You will always get the raw, authentic, uncomfortable, righteous and ratchet energy that is Joyner Lucas. He doesn’t care how anyone will feel or perceive him. As someone who wants to always create out a place of honesty, I really respect Joyner Lucas.

To be continued...