For the past several months, Graffiti 2 Baptist Church has been studying the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms teaches us to grow closer to God by remembering the past, expressing in the present, and anticipating the future. By reading Psalms we learn to express all of our feelings to God—every human emotion can be found in the book. The 150 chapters of Psalms are actually songs. They are lyrical poetry. In other words, they are rap.
During our time of studying this book, the church asked for people to share creative expressions connected to the Psalms we were studying. Valdorian Whitfield reflected on Psalm 144 and wrote the following rap:
God gave me the words
As a weapon for these demons
Lord know’s I was a sinner I was a rebel with a reason
I know the devil’s lurkin’
Every chance I get the sneezin’
And lately I’ve been feeling
Like he’s getting stronger ev’ry season
But I got this God on my plate
So he ain’t eatin’
And I got my cross
On the shield
He start the bleeding
Just know that I’m a man
My shadow pass while I’m breathing
And I don’t need a pump I can feel my asthma leavin ‘
And now that the battle’s over
I could see my world turning over
So strapping this Bible like a soldier
A cowboy with the holster
Raise your hand to the sky
If you can see it in my eyes
That I’ve been smokin’ less trees
So I get down on my knees
and planting mustard seeds
So I can plant some faith in you
All the things that they said that wasn’t true
He takes old and he turned it into new
Made a promise and he followed through
Oh Lord what am I do to
When they don’t listen
He said these bars are ammo
Then he sent me on a mission
Shoot a message to them young Christians
Let ‘em know that someone’s listenin’
And when they get that hole on their hearts
And feel something’s missing
I got plenty of more love
My gifts are for giving
And as long I’m writing then the message will be livin’