Having never been a gangsta herself, Ebony A. Utley, Ph.D., confidently argues that most gangsta rappers have not been gangstas either. In her critically-acclaimed book, Rap and Religion: Understanding The Gangsta’s God, Utley argues that a gangsta is not a real person, but an identity donned by hip hop artists to establish themselves as authoritative figures. Incorporating her expertise in rap music, religion, and urban history, Utley explains how a God-sanctioned gangsta identity can be empowering.
Follow Dr. Ebony Utley: "The Utley Experience" | Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta's God | @U_Experience
Rhymes: Snoop Doggy Dog "Murder Was the Case," Lauryn Hill "I Used to Love Him," and The Coup "Mindfuck"
[…] Listen to my interview with Rhymes and Reasons: The Stories of Hip Hop. Rhymes and Reasons is a series of interviews with hip-hop heads who talk about their lives in the context of songs that matter to them. […]
Dr. Ebony Utley's Rhymes and Reasons