Rap is bad.

That was a recurring lesson from my childhood. Often, from people who likely had never spent any significant time listening to the music they were ridiculing.

Honestly, it’s understandable. There’s plenty of negative influences in the genre focused on sex, drugs, and violence. And in some ways, that’s the side that tends to define the genre.

But there’s a positive side. One that beautifully weaves the complex storytelling nature of the genre with lessons and messages that can strike deep.

The challenge is that these lessons aren’t typically apparent on the surface, but rather they come through metaphors and references, or they’re nestled within a complex narrative arc.

Kenrick Lamar’s DAMN is a great example, which has only become apparent to me thanks to the work of Cole Cuchna on his Dissect podcast.

If you only listen at the surface, even this album sounds like it focuses on the three “breaks:” sex, money, and murder. There’s anger and violence, but it’s actually all part of a complex story of growth and development with the Bible serving as a focal point.

Take the song LOYALTY as an example. Back when it came out, I probably heard this song a hundred times on the radio. It was catchy, but I didn’t get anything from it.

In fact, if I had to classify it at the time, I would’ve probably said it had a negative message. That’s certainly what it sounds like based on the first few lines.

But take a look at the bridge, which serves as the climax for the song:

Tell me who you loyal to
Is it money? Is it fame? Is it weed? Is it drink?
Is it comin’ down with the loud pipes in the rain?
Big chillin’, only for the power in your name
Tell me who you loyal to
Is it love for the streets when the lights get dark?
Is it unconditional when the (Fe)rrari don’t start?
Tell me when your loyalty is comin’ from the heart
Tell me who you loyal to
Do it start with your woman or your man?
Do it end with your family and friends?
Are you loyal to yourself in advance?
I said, tell me who you loyal to
Is it anybody that you would lie for?
Anybody you would slide for?
Anybody you would die for?
That’s what God’s for

The message is simple. Kendrick lists several of the many distractions that could serve as our top priorities and that could claim our loyalty.

But eventually he realizes that these distractions take us away from our true north star – loyaty to God.

It’s straight out of the Bible, and actually sits atop the 10 Commandments: “You shall have no gods before Me.”

Or put another way, there is no one, or no thing, who you should be loyal to before God.

Whether you agree with the message and the religious undertones, or even whether you enjoy listening to rap music, is irrelevant. But it highlights an interesting point – we’re missing out if we refuse to look deeper than the surface.

For some people, including myself, the delivery in rap is much more impactful than a rah-rah speech or some obviously feel-good song or movie that comes out. I’m sure that’s not the case for everyone, but fortunately there are many places to look.

It obviously isn’t just about music either. There’s complexity and beauty in so much of the world around us. But we can only see it if we’re willing to open our minds and look.

-Brandon