All day yesterday I fielded emails from loyal Jay Z fans who wanted to give their points of view about the controversy surrounding his lyrics.

Acia writes:

Dear Ms. Rose,

Let me start by saying that I read your blog everyday. I was going through your post and I came across “Former Drug Dealer&& Rapper Denies Jesus”….let me say that I found this totally offensive. I am a college student at South Alabama and I totally deny Jesus. What does his past and his present have to do with his faith???Why bash a brother who knows the truth and refuses to be a slave to religion that we were given once we stepped off the slave ship so that we would be more obedient and complacent. It’s closed minded people like yourself that continue to push back our progression.

If Jay-Z wants to dress the way he dresses and put out the image that he is displaying that is him!….It is not for you to judge or anyone else!&& believe me no matter what you post or anyone else post…He will continue to sell because there are people out here like me that can look deeper into things and not play GOD by passing judgement!

– I Born Understanding

Darren B. writes:

Hey Sandra, I love your site at times. I can’t lie I read it daily but you have went over the top with your Jay-Z post. Whatever insider told you he says “If Jesus payin’ LeBron, I’m payin’ Dwyane Wade” gets their lyrics of songs off the internet. In the line before he says i got a “plug” special ed i got it made If “JEEZY’S” paying lebron im paying dwayne wade. A plug is a hook up or connect and jeezy made the song Kobe Labron when he is referencing to the price he pays for his drugs. Their referencing these players numbers to reflect the prices. Kobe being 24 labon 23 wade 3. Jayz is only saying hes got the best prices. Also the lyric about Jesus cant save you life begins when church ends is also speaking on the girl who is caught up in the nightlife. You have to listen to the entire verse and not pick out a few lines. That is the reason why rappers have to “DUMB” their lyrics down because the majority of the public is ignorant. Thats why stupid songs like Im Wasted get daily spins. No thought just im wasted. Thank you so much and I would hope you correct this post because it is very inaccurate.


Candace F. writes:

I wanted to say something about the fuss over Jay Z lyrics. Why is this a hot topic? I believe music is open to interpretation… so while I see and understand why ppl are ringing the alarm…i also don’t think he was denying Jesus per se… I think ..if one looks at the verse as a whole.. he is discussing girls that get lost in the big city lights when they go to NY from small towns … and they get used and abused… he is saying that when they are in that state of mind the Jesus can’t them … the girls are that “sheltered” all through childhood then come to the big city and go buck wild …and when ppl are telling them it’s wrong they don’t listen and they think it’s cool because they weren’t exposed …yada yada .. you see where I’m going with this.. I just think it’s time we as a people start looking within instead blaming everything else for their failures or their kids’ failures — the parents don’t know how to cipher the bs in the media as a whole beit music, internet and/or T.V. so how can they teach their kids.. It’s all about critical thinking… but what do I know it’s just my opinion.. Will you post something on the girl that was ganged raped?

Thanks,
Candace F.