Hip-hop is a spiritual culture that has provided urban youth globally with a sense of identity and direction, along with knowledge of self and cultural heritage. Carl Petter Opsahl examines various rap songs and graffiti to explore the spiritualities and religious traditions that shape hip-hop, including Christianity, the Nation of Islam, the Nation of Gods and Earths, and indigenous spiritualities. He develops a theoretical framework of hybrid spirituality, highlighting survival and resistance strategies in oppressive contexts. The book introduces recent research on spirituality, hip-hop culture, and Islam in the U.S., alongside the teachings of the Nation of Islam and the Nation of Gods and Earths. It features in-depth analyses of hip-hop cultural expressions, including a chapter dedicated to graffiti murals by notable New York artists such as TATS CRU and QUEEN ANDREA. Another chapter delves into rap and Christianity, analyzing works by Lauryn Hill, 2Pac, and various Christian rappers. Additionally, Opsahl explores Islamic influences on rap through artists like Public Enemy and Wu-Tang Clan. This exploration of hip-hop spirituality broadens the scope of studies in spirituality, embedded in the rhythms, rhymes, colors, and shapes of the culture.
