The legendary KRS-One is known as one of the pioneers of Hip Hop music and culture. His ‘Temple of Hip Hop’ is known as a ministry, archive, school, and society, and is available on the web for anyone to explore and read. The Temple of Hip Hop upholds that Hip Hop is a genuine political movement, religion, and culture, and it has actually been accepted by the United Nations as a religion. In it, KRS goes on to explain that Hip Hop is a collective cultural behavior and ancient identity, much like religion.
The Teacha has even written a book on Hip Hop as a religion, The Gospel Of Hip Hop: The First Instrument. He states, “The book combines philosophy with faith, practical knowledge and various spiritual teachings. It explores the spirituality of Hip-Hop, the divinity of Hip-Hop. I’m suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth”
KRS-One’s take on Hip Hop as a religion is something that can be justified. Perhaps he goes a little too far in his remarks about this new world order, but if we look deep into Hip Hop and how it is commercialized, how it has an enormous following, then maybe his ideas do not sound too far-fetched. Hip Hop started as a refusal to comply with the consumer society of today, a form of resistance and expression. It has since been marketed and commercialized. People live Hip Hop and follow it like any sort of religious person might follow their faith. I think KRS might be on to something if we take Catherine L. Albanese definition of religion and his ideas on Hip Hop culture together into consideration.