The Power & Impact Of OUR Music: so-called “Black Music”

Like just about everyone else, music has the ability to connect me to a world of memories & feelings. Simply hearing the first few opening notes of an old song, can instantly allow me to time-travel, taking me back decades, transporting me back to another place, a distant experience; some good, some bad. Music can cause us to remember particular years, months, days, and hours. We at times, might believe that we feel the warmth or cold of the day from a stored away memory… music is truly powerful. When memories fade, especially the memories of those with disabilities like dementia, it’s proven through clinical studies and personal witnesses, that music can help to return memories and feelings of yesteryear.

Music has the ability to calm spirits & soothe souls. You might be familiar with the history of King Saul and David’s soul-soothing music (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Perhaps you might also recall how later when David was king, he understood the power of music so well that he instituted the practice of professional musicians (1 Chronicles 25:1-8, also read 1 Chronicles 15:16-24). King David commanded certain Levites and their sons to become professional, skillfully trained musicians for kingdom ministry — music is not only powerful, but it’s a powerful tool. We all know firsthand how music can calm down or amp up our everyday lives. Sometimes when we don’t know what to say or how to say it, there is a song that can speak for us, or to us… and that’s where the impact & power of music deeply matters. Our music can speak to us and for us, not only individually, but also collectively as a people, and as a nation. We easily understand the impacts of national anthems, but we can easily miss the narrative-shaping impact of how our collective music, and our musical genres, can be anthems of function or dysfunction for our Israelite nationality.

Our music, be it: Funk, R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, etc… from the voices, to the beats & instrumentations, to the dances & apparel (especially in music videos & performances), everything that is associated with so-called “Black Music” is known for, is truly something, isn’t it? I mean, our music is aptly also so-named “Soul Music”, because of various reasons: from the messages from the souls from which it comes, to the souls of the people it touches, to the soul & voice of our people, particularly in pivotal times & eras. Our music has power and influence like no other art form. Our beats have the ability to make the young & old move & groove. The musical chords and arrangements can stir all types of emotions & thoughts in hearts & minds… but the lyrics, more than everything else pertaining to our music, are what defines our music as “ours”, it’s our words, our voice that speaks to the world and tells our narrative… but these days, we do not control our narrative. Our music, by and large, is produced and distributed by the powers that shouldn’t be, by people who are not our people, or by those who merely appear to be our people, but do not have the betterment of our people in mind. To put it a different way, our commercially sold & controlled music is not focused on restoring function to our souls, instead, it sells our souls and sows dysfunction into the souls of our people.

Pause & repeat for a moment, and consider how powerful & impactful our musical portrayal is. I mean, really consider how overwhelmingly controlled our commercial music is, by those who are not working towards our restoration to functionality & righteousness, but rather it’s controlled by those who seek to keep us dysfunctional and profit off it. Our music, unfortunately, promotes us as “ratchet” this, “bad & bougie” that. We are showcased to the world as gangstas & killers, pimps & hoes, thugs & divas, selfish & sinful, etc…

While I was a Christian I was cautious of the music I chose to listen to, understanding ever since childhood, the long-lasting power of music. Even more so now, I am careful of the music I choose to listen to. Songs have the ability to continue playing in our heads, well after the music has stopped. This might not be your condition, but for me, I noticed & learned that if I allowed myself to relish in dysfunctional music, then my thoughts, responses, and attitude, would begin to excuse, condone, and justify dysfunction. Consider these two quotes:

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life”

Oscar Wilde

“At first, art imitates life. Then life will imitate art. THEN life will find its very existence from the arts.”

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Below, read the Time Magazine cover I saw while checking out of the grocery store the other day:

“Music that changed America”… The music changed first, then, the music changed people… The Motown sound was a force of change indeed. And now, it’s almost laughable how some of the music of that era was considered taboo, overly sexual, or profane by some people, especially compared to what is called “Black Music” today… am I right? Much of today’s R&B and Hip-hop is dysfunctional. It’s destructive. It’s disgraceful. It’s disgusting. So much so, that if I were to quote the uncensored lyrics of the top 10 songs off Billboard’s “Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs” chart, as if they were my own words, I would be called profane, violent, dangerous, murderous, scandalous, perverted, and all sorts of other words which describe that which is dysfunctional… but because those words/lyrics are sung or rapped over a beat that’s fire, a beat that’s catchy, a beat that’s chart/award-worthy, a beat that will yield financial profits, well… The music industry will continue to produce & promote it, to the detriment of the artists & fans.

Family, I get it… I love music, good sounding music like everyone else… but it should be music that is truly good/functional (tov in Hebrew), in other words, the music for us & by us, should be music that promotes our functionality. I challenge you, as I’ve challenged myself and my family: go through your musical playlists, look up the lyrics to the songs you love, and ask yourself “Does this song promote function or dysfunction? Is my musical preference good or evil”. It can only be one, not both. If it’s the latter, let it go. We Israelites have given up dysfunctional food, dysfunctional apparel, dysfunctional practices & traditions, but the stronghold of dysfunctional music also must go… This walk ain’t for the weak, so it’s a good thing you ain’t weak family.

Let us remember these passages below, and let us test the music we listen to against the functional & dysfunctional identifiers we see listed in Scripture. All things (music included), are either functional or dysfunctional for us Zion, if the secular music we choose to listen to promotes or celebrates sin & wickedness, it’s time to expose & rebuke it. There are secular songs that do not encourage dysfunction, if you seek them, you will find them, we have options 😎. Since we know that our words matter, we also must know that our lyrics matter, and when we know better, we must choose to do better: Choose life & functionality today!

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, Let The Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in ALL wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs.”‬‬

Qolasim (Colossians)‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭16‬ ‭TS2009

“Become, then, imitators of Elohim as beloved children. And walk in love, as Messiah also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to Elohim for a sweet-smelling fragrance. But whoring and all uncleanness, or greed of gain, let it not even be named among you, as is proper among set-apart ones – neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. For this you know, that no one who whores, nor unclean one, nor one greedy of gain, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the reign of Messiah and Elohim. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these the wrath of Elohim comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Master. Walk as children of light – for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth – proving what is well-pleasing to the Master. And have no fellowship with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather convictd them. For it is a shame even to speak of what is done by them in secret. But all matters being convicted are manifested by the light, for whatever is manifested is light. That is why He says, “Wake up, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Messiah shall shine on you.” See then that you walk exactly, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are wicked. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the desire of יהוה (YAH) is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is loose behaviour, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to each other in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs, singing and striking the strings in your heart to the Master, giving thanks always for all to Elohim the Father, in the Name of our Master יהושע (Yahoshua) Messiah, subjecting yourselves to each other in the fear of Elohim.”‬‬

Eph`siyim (Ephesians)‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭21‬ ‭TS2009

“And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these: adultery, whoring, uncleanness, indecency, idolatry, drug sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that those who practice such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Torah. And those who are of Messiah have impaled the flesh with its passions and the desires. IF WE live in the Spirit, LET US ALSO walk in the Spirit.”

Galatiyim (Galatians)‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭25‬ ‭TS2009‬‬

“Do not worry at all, but in every matter, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Elohim. And the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Messiah יהושע. For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is clean, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise – think on these.”

Pilipiyim (Philippians)‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭TS2009‬‬

Until next time, shalom ✌🏾
~Yahrahn