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"Kendrick Lamar has established himself at the forefront of contemporary Hip-Hop culture. Artistically adventurous and socially conscious, he has been unapologetic in using his art form, rap music, to address issues affecting black lives while also exploring subjects fundamental to the human experience, such as religious belief. This book is the first to provide an interdisciplinary academic analysis of the impact of Lamar's corpus. In doing so, it highlights how Lamar's music reflects current tensions that are keenly felt when dealing with the subjects of race, religion and politics. Starting with Section 80 and ending on DAMN., this book deals with each of Lamar's four major projects in turn. A panel of academics, journalists and hip-hop practitioners show how religion, in particular black spiritualties, take a front-and-centre role in his work. They also observe that his astute and biting thoughts on race and culture may come from an African American perspective, but many find something familiar in Lamar's lyrical testimony across great chasms of social and geographical difference. This sophisticated exploration of one of popular culture's emerging icons reveals a complex and multi-faceted engagement with religion, faith, race, art and culture. As such, it will be vital reading for anyone working in Religious, African American and Hip-Hop studies, as well as scholars of Music, Media and Popular Culture"--

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Foreword: Breathe Again -- Preface -- Introduction: The Evidence of Things Not Seen: The Twin Viruses of Blind Faith and Color Blindness -- 1. "First Natural, Then Spiritual": The Context and Contours of Black Faith in the COVID-19 Era -- 2. Who's Saving Whom?: Black Millennials and the Revivification of Religious Communities -- 3. Live and Let Die: Spirits of White Christian Male Defiance in the Age of COVID-19 -- 4. Where There Are No Answers: Reflecting on Theological Claims in the Age of COVID-19 -- 5. The Corons and American Indian Genocide: Weaponizing Infectious Disease as the Continuation of a eurochristian Religious Project -- 6. Love Crafts Countries: Loving beyond the White Divide-A Story of Blackness, Korea, and Transformative Power on the Damascus Road -- 7. Insure Domestic Tranquility: The Uncivil, Un-Christian, and Unconstitutional Crisis in a COVID-19- Era America -- 8. Deep in the Heart of Texas: Race, Religion, and Rights in the COVID-19 Era -- 9. Dying Laughing: Comedic Relief and Redemption in the Time of COVID-19 -- 10. Toxic Religion, Toxic Churches, and Toxic Policies: Evangelicals, "White Blessing," and COVID-19 -- 11. I Know Why the Culture War Stings: Racial Realities and Political Realignment in the "Religious Freedom" Debate -- Acknowledgments -- About the Editor -- About the Contributors -- Index