I know some people are surprised by the fact that I like reformed rap and Christian hip hop. To be honest, I was not initially drawn to its style, but to its theological content. I began to appreciate the style more after the fact. And as I see more depth and more theology in its lyrics, I love the genre even more. To give you an example, I want to examine the song “Take up and Read” from Shai Linne’s recent album “Lyrical Theology: Part 1.”
The song itself is an exhortation for Christians to follow the example of Augustine and “take up and read, take up and read!” And it is full of well-crafted lyrics that allude to various books and authors. I have compiled a list of these, roughly in the order they appear (I’ve excluded some duplicates, John Piper’s “Desiring God” is referenced twice) in the song. I recommend you listen carefully to the songs lyrics, then look at this list and listen to the song again. This is the only way you’ll appreciate lyrics like “I’ll shout out a van ’til they hear the defense of the faith” or “B, we’re in a war field.” These references are woven flawlessly into the lyric, and if you don’t listen carefully you won’t catch many of them!
Take up and read – From Augustine’s “Confessions.”
Bondage of the Will – By Martin Luther
Desiring God – By John Piper
Religious Affections – By Jonathan Edwards
Table Talks – By Martin Luther
B.B. Warfield – Old Princeton Theologian
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God – Jonathan Edwards
Forgotten Trinity – By James White
Reverence and Awe – D.G. Hart and John Muether
Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges
Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
Carl Trueman – Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary
The Gospel According to Jesus – John MacArthur
The Truth War – John MacArthur
Made in Our Image – Steven J. Lawson
Redemption: Accomplished and Applied – John Murray
Art for God’s Sake – Philip Ryken
The Defense of the Faith – Cornelius Van Til
The Pleasures of God – John Piper
“Amazing Grace” – By John Newton
Lectures to My Students – C.H. Spurgeon
Preaching and Preachers – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Reformed Pastor – Richard Baxter
The Godly Man’s Picture – Thomas Watson
The Mystery of Providence – John Flavel
The Bible and the Future – Anthony Hoekema
Chosen by God – R.C. Sproul
Holiness – By John C. Ryle
The Cross of Christ – John Stott
The Glory of Christ – John Owen
Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
The Valley of Vision – Collection of Puritan Prayers/Devotions
Repentance – C. John Miller
The Mortification of Sin – John Owen
A Praying Life – Paul Miller and David Powlison
Knowledge of the Holy – A.W. Tozer
Knowing God – J.I. Packer
The Sovereignty of God – A.W. Pink
I don’t know that this list is exhaustive, I hope I have not missed any allusions, but it’s quite possible I did. The whole song is an example of lyrical and literary genius. Now take up and read!
Joey