Before discussing the similarities between Hip Hop and Religion I would like to dive into what exactly Religion is. The textbook definition reads as follows:
The belief in a god or in a group of gods; and organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods; an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group.
Already, comparisons can be made. However, Catherine L. Albanese, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara explains with more detail how exactly we can describe Religion. In her book America: Religions and Religion Albanese presents us with two different faces of religion. The first, ordinary religion, is described as more or less synonymous with culture, it shows people how to live well within boundaries. The second, extraordinary religion, represents the religion that helps people transcend, or move beyond, their everyday culture and concerns. Albanese goes on to explain that both ordinary and extraordinary religion exist as religious systems, meaning they are made up of parts. These parts consist of the 4 C’s: creed or explanations about the meaning or meanings of life, codes or rules that govern everyday behavior, cultus or rituals to act out the insights and understandings that are expressed in Creeds and Codes, and lastly community, or groups of people bound together by the creed, code, and cultus they share. Therefore, religion can be understood as a system of symbols (creed, code, cultus) by means of which people (a community) orient themselves in the world with reference to both ordinary and extraordinary powers, meanings, and values. I believe that Hip Hop can exist in this same definition: Hip Hop can be understood as a system of symbols ( Mcing/rapping, Djing, break dancing, graffiti) by means which people( hip hop culture/community) orient themselves in the world with reference to both ordinary and extraordinary powers, meanings, and values.