"We Missed a Lot of Church, So the Music Is Our Confessional"

In this study, Luethe examines the connection between "Rap and Religion" taking an interdisciplinary approach to the subject matter. Through a close reading of the lyrics and the musical "texts" by a variety of the genre's artists the author seeks to enhance an understanding of the influence of both religion on rap and rap on religion. Additionally, the analysis provides a narrative of the historical background of the relationship between music and religion in what has been referred to as "the Black Atlantic".