The Hebrew Israelite On Top Of The Rap World (2024)

The Hebrew Israelite On Top Of The Rap World

The rapper Kendrick Lamar has long explored spiritual themes on his chart-topping, Grammy-winning albums. But on his latest album, “Damn,” he evoked new biblical themes. “I’m an Israelite, don’t call me black no more,” he rapped. Elsewhere on the album, a snippet of Lamar’s cousin appeared, preaching fire-and-brimstone lessons about how black people in this country are the true Children of Israel.

The lines left most listeners scratching their heads. Kendrick Lamar, an Israelite?

The 30-year-old rapper was inspired by the Hebrew Israelite movement, a black spiritual community that has grown for more than a century. Members don’t call themselves Jewish, and the movement has had a historically fraught relationship with Jews. They see themselves as the genealogical descendants of the ancient Israelites — and, apparently, now the country’s biggest rapper does, too.

One core, often controversial, teaching of the group is that black people in this country are under a curse, which they point to as an explanation for historic injustices, like slavery. The only solution, leaders preach, is complete obedience to God. A surprising idea for a rapper like Lamar to embrace, but at a moment of social upheaval, and with the rise of a new white supremacist movement, this year has caused many to go soul-searching.