Billy Bragg on free speech, Morrissey, and the resurgence of the Far Right - GQ Magazine

New GQ Article by Billy Bragg:

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/music/article/billy-bragg-interview-morrissey-free-speech

Excerpt: "So, call it what it is, says Bragg. Morrissey is now a man who knowingly shares white supremacist material on his platforms and, when challenged, doubles down. And while he is free to do so, that doesn’t mean he’s a victim when there’s a backlash. “Liberty without accountability is impunity, which is the most dangerous kind of freedom. Freedom isn't a universal good. There are kinds of freedom that are really, really dangerous.”
 
Authors David Horowitz and Colin Flaherty often address these issues in their books.
Interesting that they're both Americans - where there is full free speech. I can't think of a British equivalent.

No doubt it's a touchy subject. The first thing people say if you bring up such 'racist' subjects is: So you think all black people are bad and violent? Of course not. There's violent elements in all societies. But there is a definite pattern here from a recognisable group within black communities that even uses its own recognisable style of violence.

For example when you hear of a man arrested after swinging a machete in public in London you just know it's a young black man, and furthermore with a criminal past, a smoker of weed, and most likely from a single parent family, etc etc. But (problematically for some) your 'racist prejudice' would most likely turn out to be correct - which obviously must be embarrassing for ordinary black people who are not criminal and violent. Though of course there'll be some who'll have swallowed the convenient left-liberal handbook and see these thugs as victims - which is fair enough as I suppose even paedophiles could be classed as victims due to the majority of them having been abused themselves as children. But ultimately that sounds like a get out clause; it doesn't help.

Doreen Lawrence said that if London's knife crime epidemic involved the mass death of white boys nobody would stand for it and more would be done. She's actually right. The police would be given the go-ahead to harass, kick arse and smash down many, many doors knowing they would face no "community backlash" from the likes of... Doreen Lawrence! (and of course Lammy, Abbott etc). This is what they did in Glasgow with the (white) gangs. But in London the direct and continual harassment of known offenders and robust targeting of obvious black gangs on sight would never be implemented. So because of race (and its vociferous industry) and the political correctness of the liberal left the problem will never be properly addressed and like any problem left with free rein it will simply intensify.

But hey, I'm a f***ing racist for even bringing this shit up!
 
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I'm very sad that this kind of stuff is happening in your area. I've watched areas of London become infected by it, and it changes the demographic very quickly because people with families simply move away. I've just read the Gazette comments and as usual there's a mix of realists and delusionists having their say. Someone said they'd rather be considered a clown than a bigot. I would rather the reverse.

Denial is a psychological comfort blanket to many people when confronted by shocking truths, one of which is the fact that black people are by their very nature more aggressive and violent than whites, and in many cases, far less empathetic it seems (look at videos of whites being mugged in SA and blacks walking idly by). This notion goes against the semi-Christian values all of us in the UK have been brought up with, that of human equality. So it's not exactly surprising that people throw up firewalls, refusing to open their eyes for fear of what they might really see.

So when black muggings begin happening in a predominantly white area things are usually allowed to escalate because of this uniquely white denialism, coupled with a British habit of 'not making a fuss'.

Naturally I hope they're caught - not by the police who will only process them through our weak judicial system that will pamper them for a year or so, but by someone who will give them what they rightfully deserve which is a round from a shotgun at close range into each of their already ugly faces.
Everyone is racist at heart somewhere, but you are right. Denialism doesn't help at all. The PC double-standard is atrocious.
 
In this video Billy Bragg shows his "Morrissey is a Racist" t-shirt to the crowd. Why is Billy Bragg doing this? Billy Bragg also talks about his love and support for "Extinction Rebellion". Billy Bragg then sings his 1640's folk song "The World Turned Upside Down" live at the 'Bowery Ballroom' in New York City 27th September 2019:



Morrissey isn't a racist at all. Morrissey said (around 2007): "I abhor racism and oppression or cruelty of any kind and will not let this pass without being absolutely clear and emphatic with regard to what my position is. Racism is beyond common sense and I believe it has no place in our society. To anyone who has shown or felt any interest in my music in recent times, you know my feelings on the subject..."

"Love Music Hate Racism" accepted a donation of £28,000 from Morrissey (around 2007).

I don't understand what is going on with Billy Bragg. Billy Bragg is a supporter of "Extinction Rebellion" and the LGBTQ movement. Billy Bragg loves folk music, punk rock and skiffle music. In recent years Billy Bragg has become a big fan of the Grime artist/rapper Stormzy.

I'm one of the few people who is a fan of both Morrissey and Stormzy. I like the fact that Morrissey and Stormzy have kept a dignified silence over this. Billy Bragg though has been and continues to be very vocal. I like Stormzy because he is a Christian and some of his songs are about his Christian faith.

I'm trying to work out when Billy Bragg first started hating on Morrissey. I'm guessing it was back in the 1980s? Billy Bragg seems to be jealous of Morrissey.

Morrissey isn't right-wing or left-wing and he hasn't voted in elections for years. Morrissey’s politics might of seemed left-wing in the 1980s in that he was anti-Margaret Thatcher ("Margaret on the Guillotine"), anti-monarchy ("The Queen Is Dead") and with his uncompromising attitude towards animal rights ("Meat Is Murder"). The Smiths played at the Greater London Council’s "Jobs for a Change" festival in 1984 and appeared on one of Billy Bragg's socialist "Red Wedge" tours in 1986.

Billy Bragg seems to have antisemitic views and seems to support Palestine rather than Israel. Maybe another reason why Billy Bragg doesn't like Morrissey is the fact that Morrissey is a big supporter of the Jewish State of Israel. Like Morrissey I'm a big supporter of Israel. Another difference is that Billy Bragg is a Remainer and Morrissey is a Brexiteer (although he didn't physically vote for Brexit).

Elvis Costello (who was also part of Billy Bragg's "Red Wedge" tours) once cancelled two concerts he was scheduled to play in Israel in protest at its treatment of Palestinians. Elvis Costello is also very critical of Morrissey. Elvis Costello was once accused of racism himself because of something he said about the late, great Ray Charles.

I don't know that much about Paul Weller and Joolz Denby they were also part of Billy Bragg's "Red Wedge" tours.

Billy Bragg said “Whenever a Smiths track comes up I flip on … I just can’t … I love Johnny Marr, he’s the nicest man I ever met in pop music. So I really feel for him that the great work that he’s done should be tainted in this way.”

What Billy Bragg doesn't understand is that The Smiths are now also tainted for Morrissey himself after what Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke did to him. Billy Bragg seems to be friends with Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke. Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke both follow Billy Bragg on Twitter. Johnny Marr also follows something called "Hope not Hate" on Twitter. "Hope not Hate" is an advocacy group based in the UK. It campaigns against racism and fascism, and seeks to "combine first class research with community organising and grassroots actions to defeat hate groups at elections and to build community resilience against extremism".

I wish that Billy Bragg would be more supportive of Morrissey's solo career rather than constantly focusing on The Smiths and the past.


You keep coming out with the Stormzy's a Christian crap..........how does his music have any correlation to that? Have you heard the language? I don't understand how anyone could ever like the two.
 
In this video Billy Bragg shows his "Morrissey is a Racist" t-shirt to the crowd. Why is Billy Bragg doing this? Billy Bragg also talks about his love and support for "Extinction Rebellion". Billy Bragg then sings his 1640's folk song "The World Turned Upside Down" live at the 'Bowery Ballroom' in New York City 27th September 2019:



Morrissey isn't a racist at all. Morrissey said (around 2007): "I abhor racism and oppression or cruelty of any kind and will not let this pass without being absolutely clear and emphatic with regard to what my position is. Racism is beyond common sense and I believe it has no place in our society. To anyone who has shown or felt any interest in my music in recent times, you know my feelings on the subject..."

"Love Music Hate Racism" accepted a donation of £28,000 from Morrissey (around 2007).

I don't understand what is going on with Billy Bragg. Billy Bragg is a supporter of "Extinction Rebellion" and the LGBTQ movement. Billy Bragg loves folk music, punk rock and skiffle music. In recent years Billy Bragg has become a big fan of the Grime artist/rapper Stormzy.

I'm one of the few people who is a fan of both Morrissey and Stormzy. I like the fact that Morrissey and Stormzy have kept a dignified silence over this. Billy Bragg though has been and continues to be very vocal. I like Stormzy because he is a Christian and some of his songs are about his Christian faith.

I'm trying to work out when Billy Bragg first started hating on Morrissey. I'm guessing it was back in the 1980s? Billy Bragg seems to be jealous of Morrissey.

Morrissey isn't right-wing or left-wing and he hasn't voted in elections for years. Morrissey’s politics might of seemed left-wing in the 1980s in that he was anti-Margaret Thatcher ("Margaret on the Guillotine"), anti-monarchy ("The Queen Is Dead") and with his uncompromising attitude towards animal rights ("Meat Is Murder"). The Smiths played at the Greater London Council’s "Jobs for a Change" festival in 1984 and appeared on one of Billy Bragg's socialist "Red Wedge" tours in 1986.

Billy Bragg seems to have antisemitic views and seems to support Palestine rather than Israel. Maybe another reason why Billy Bragg doesn't like Morrissey is the fact that Morrissey is a big supporter of the Jewish State of Israel. Like Morrissey I'm a big supporter of Israel. Another difference is that Billy Bragg is a Remainer and Morrissey is a Brexiteer (although he didn't physically vote for Brexit).

Elvis Costello (who was also part of Billy Bragg's "Red Wedge" tours) once cancelled two concerts he was scheduled to play in Israel in protest at its treatment of Palestinians. Elvis Costello is also very critical of Morrissey. Elvis Costello was once accused of racism himself because of something he said about the late, great Ray Charles.

I don't know that much about Paul Weller and Joolz Denby they were also part of Billy Bragg's "Red Wedge" tours.

Billy Bragg said “Whenever a Smiths track comes up I flip on … I just can’t … I love Johnny Marr, he’s the nicest man I ever met in pop music. So I really feel for him that the great work that he’s done should be tainted in this way.”

What Billy Bragg doesn't understand is that The Smiths are now also tainted for Morrissey himself after what Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke did to him. Billy Bragg seems to be friends with Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke. Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke both follow Billy Bragg on Twitter. Johnny Marr also follows something called "Hope not Hate" on Twitter. "Hope not Hate" is an advocacy group based in the UK. It campaigns against racism and fascism, and seeks to "combine first class research with community organising and grassroots actions to defeat hate groups at elections and to build community resilience against extremism".

I wish that Billy Bragg would be more supportive of Morrissey's solo career rather than constantly focusing on The Smiths and the past.

I got to the part where he said Extinction Rebellion is the new punk rock and had to turn off, because I couldn't bear any more of his blatant righteousness and slandering hatred of Morrissey.

Can this man not accept another person's right to an opinion? Clearly not. The bullying authoritarianism of the liberal-left is unashamed.

Not everyone is a globalist like you Billy!
 
I got to the part where he said Extinction Rebellion is the new punk rock and had to turn off, because I couldn't bear any more of his blatant righteousness and slandering hatred of Morrissey.

Can this man not accept another person's right to an opinion? Clearly not. The bullying authoritarianism of the liberal-left is unashamed.

Not everyone is a globalist like you Billy!

I hope that gets back to the old boy and he sues his arse off. That has to be libellous.
 
Interesting that they're both Americans - where there is full free speech. I can't think of a British equivalent.

No doubt it's a touchy subject. The first thing people say if you bring up such 'racist' subjects is: So you think all black people are bad and violent and want to harm white people? Of course not. There's violent elements in all societies. But there is a definite pattern here from a recognisable group within black communities that even uses its own recognisable style of violence.

For example when you hear of a man arrested after swinging a machete in public in London you just know it's a young black man, and furthermore with a criminal past, a smoker of weed, and most likely from a single parent family, etc etc. But (problematically for some) your 'racist prejudice' would most likely turn out to be correct - which obviously must be embarrassing for ordinary black people who are not criminal and violent. Though of course some who have swallowed the convenient left-liberal handbook might see them as victims - which is fair enough, as I suppose even paedophiles could be classed as victims due to the vast majority of them having been abused themselves as children. But ultimately that sounds like a get out clause; it doesn't help.

Doreen Lawrence said that if London's knife crime epidemic involved the mass death of white boys nobody would stand for it and more would be done. She's actually right. The police would be given the go-ahead to harass, kick arse and smash down many, many doors knowing they would face no "community backlash" from the likes of... Doreen Lawrence! (and of course Lammy, Abbott etc). This is what they did in Glasgow. But in London the direct and continual harassment of known offenders and robust targeting of obvious black gangs on sight would never be implemented. So because of race (and its vociferous industry) and the political correctness of the liberal left the problem will never be properly addressed and like any problem left with free rein it will simply intensify.

But hey, I'm a f***ing racist for even bringing this shit up!
Aren't we all? I agree about all of the 'politically correct' nonsense. Yes, I am racist for bringing it up. It is ridiculous! The only thing this nonsense has accomplished is switch the colors from white to black. Blacks have become the 'new' whites. The reversal of the 1950s. How does this help? How does this change anything? All this changes is the perception of blacks in our present day, nothing more. Television, film, etc., does not help their cause. This is the premise of David Horowitz's book, "Black Skin Privilege and the American Dream." Racism is a universal problem not an isolated one. The nonsense of political correctness does not only not help...but it kills any cause. God help us all!
 
I hope that gets back to the old boy and he sues his arse off. That has to be libellous.
I hope so too. It's outrageous. Though I'm sure Moz will get him back somehow in his own way.

Billy Bragg is like a fossil from the past. His politics have not moved on from the 80s. Nowadays we face completely different problems but Bragg is still preaching the same dated mantra.
 
You have a knack of sounding like you don't quite believe in your own arguments. There's a clumsy facetiousness here, almost like you're trying to deny that water is wet.

My argument wins.

But what's new...

I am sorry that having an argument that "wins" is your goal. It's apparently driven you mad.
 
I'm very sad that this kind of stuff is happening in your area. I've watched areas of London become infected by it, and it changes the demographic very quickly because people with families simply move away. I've just read the Gazette comments and as usual there's a mix of realists and delusionists having their say. Someone said they'd rather be considered a clown than a bigot. I would rather the reverse.

Denial is a psychological comfort blanket to many people when confronted by shocking truths, one of which is the fact that black people are by their very nature more aggressive and violent than whites, and in many cases, far less empathetic it seems (look at videos of whites being mugged in SA and blacks walking idly by). This notion goes against the semi-Christian values all of us in the UK have been brought up with, that of human equality. So it's not exactly surprising that people throw up firewalls, refusing to open their eyes for fear of what they might really see.

So when black muggings begin happening in a predominantly white area things are usually allowed to escalate because of this uniquely white denialism, coupled with a British habit of 'not making a fuss'.

Naturally I hope they're caught - not by the police who will only process them through our weak judicial system that will pamper them for a year or so, but by someone who will give them what they rightfully deserve which is a round from a shotgun at close range into each of their already ugly faces.

Wait,
"black people are more violent by nature" and yet you hope they are caught by someone that will shoot them with "a shotgun at close range?"
Another "argument" that "wins."
And you talk about "denialism."
#irony
 
Wait,
"black people are more violent by nature" and yet you hope they are caught by someone that will shoot them with "a shotgun at close range?"
Another "argument" that "wins."
And you talk about "denialism."
#irony
Look at the context of those comments. They are the reply to a particularly cowardly mugging by four blacks who stabbed a man in the back. Context is everything.
 
Look at the context of those comments. They are the reply to a particularly cowardly mugging by four blacks who stabbed a man in the back.
But your comments advocate violence. I understand why you would feel that way. I'm not condemning you for that. But the problem is more one of pure logic. It just doesn't make sense to say "they are violent" while calling for violence.
My country was founded on violence committed by white people and your country had a worldwide empire that used violence and theft to enrich itself.
You just have to be blind to point at any group and say, "yes, those people, they're the violent ones." And when you don't even want the police to handle it because your idea of true justice is murder, you're just proving that all people, as far as I'm aware, have a potential for violence.
 
But your comments advocate violence. I understand why you would feel that way. I'm not condemning you for that. But the problem is more one of pure logic. It just doesn't make sense to say "they are violent" while calling for violence.
My country was founded on violence committed by white people and your country had a worldwide empire that used violence and theft to enrich itself.
You just have to be blind to point at any group and say, "yes, those people, they're the violent ones." And when you don't even want the police to handle it because your idea of true justice is murder, you're just proving that all people, as far as I'm aware, have a potential for violence.
There's a difference between brutal violence on the streets and punishment for that violence. The liberal-left habit of bringing up the 'crimes of the Empire' is not valid. Different age, different times. You could also state the fact that there are more slaves in Africa now than were shipped over by the traders on Jewish ships, but that's another story. Bringing up the past is just a tactic to silence arguments that involve the present.

Yes, all humans have a capacity for violence, but some societies generally civilized and others more primitive. And races have different traits, just like different breeds of dog - traits that yes, can be bred out or left to continue. A pit bull is generally more violent than a dachshund.

Perhaps in your country vicious thugs are suitably punished, but in mine the punishment is laughable. Recently a gun wielding drug dealer in London was using it to smash up a car in some inter-gang dispute. It went off, the bullet ricocheted and killed him stone dead in the middle of the road. I found that quite funny. Sometimes violence works.

Oh, and my country did not enrich itself. The 'Empire' was actually a private enterprise whereby rich people enriched themselves. Read up on it. The working class in Britain gained nothing - they lived in slums and worked like slaves all throughout those years until after the 2nd World War when the Empire was dead and the welfare state began and decent housing was provided etc.
 
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You keep coming out with the Stormzy's a Christian crap..........how does his music have any correlation to that? Have you heard the language? I don't understand how anyone could ever like the two.
This is Katherine Jenkins version of Stormzy's song "Blinded By Your Grace". There is no swearing in the song and it describes perfectly what it is like when you first become a born-again Christian. It shows people that Stormzy's song can be beautiful and their is more depth to them than people think:



I don't like swearing/profanity at all. I don't like it when Billy Bragg swears in his video above or when anyone swears. I don't like it when Morgoth swears in his videos or when anyone swears. From what I understand Morgoth isn't a Christian. I'm a born-again, bible-believing Christian. Christianity is open to everyone no matter what background they are from or what race they might be or what their political views might be! My love for Israel also goes along with my faith.

Stormzy's debut album is called "Gang Signs & Prayer". From what I understand the "Prayer" bit is to do with his faith. I'm a Londoner so I also relate to Stormzy on that level too. Grime music is homegrown right here in London. I think some people are confusing "Drill" music which first started in the South Side of Chicago in America in the early 2010s before it came over here and Gangster/Gangsta rap which first started around the mid-1980s/1990s in America with "Grime" music which first started here in London in the early 2000s.

Grime is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in London in the early 2000s. It developed out of earlier UK electronic music styles, including UK garage and jungle, and draws influence from dancehall, ragga, and hip hop. The style is typified by rapid, syncopated breakbeats, generally around 140 bpm, and often features an aggressive or jagged electronic sound. Rapping is a significant element of the style, and lyrics often revolve around gritty depictions of urban life. For more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grime_(music_genre)

I'm not big into Grime music, but I find it interesting that quite a few Grime artists and some rappers are Christians.

From what I understand Stormzy only has one album out called "Gang Signs & Prayer". I don't know what his music will be like say in 10 years time. All I hope and pray that his faith in Jesus grows stronger.

Morrissey has a much larger body of work. I much prefer Morrissey's solo music to his Smiths days. For me The Smiths' music has been tainted because of Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke. I wish that Billy Bragg would listen to Morrissey's solo music!

Morrissey has now come out as also being a Christian and I respect him for that. I also respect Morrissey for standing up for Israel. Morrissey is a very brave man I love him.

This is taken from a 2017 article by "Premier Christianity" which I think is connected to "Premier Christian Radio" here in the UK: "On the album 'Gang Signs & Prayer', Stormzy's faith is most openly displayed on two songs, "Blinded by Your Grace", part 1 and 2. For anyone who has been to a black majority church, the chords for "Blinded by Your Grace Pt.1" will be extremely familiar. It’s the type of thing you’d expect to hear at a Sunday morning service and features a stripped down musical arrangement. "Blinded by Your Grace Pt. 2" is a bit more upbeat and has an uplifting feel-good sound."

"But these two songs stand in contrast to most of the other songs on the album/project. Again, in similar fashion to Chance the Rapper, there is a lot of bad language, which many Christians take a dim view of! At the same time, the most explicitly Christian songs on the record do not contain any swear words. So if they manage to get airplay, some will say that this will only help to bring the Christian faith into the mainstream."

"The amount of transparency that artists are showing in their music is refreshing. When it comes to artists exploring Christian themes, we often now talk about ‘journeys’, ultimately knowing that change does not come overnight. The Christian life is a process - one which is started by the gospel becoming central to all aspects of your life. For that reason, change is one of the most important components. It’s impossible to meet with Jesus and stay the same."

To read the rest of the article see link: https://www.premierchristianity.com...ping-rapper-who-wears-his-faith-on-his-sleeve
 
There's a difference between brutal violence on the streets and retribution for that violence. The liberal-left habit of bringing up the 'crimes of the Empire' is not valid. Different age, different times. You could also state the fact that there are more slaves in Africa now than were shipped over by the traders on Jewish ships, but that's another story. Bringing up the past is just a tactic to silence arguments that address the present.

Yes, all humans have a capacity for violence, but some societies are generally more civilized these days than primitive. And races have different traits, just like different breeds of dog - traits that yes, can be bred out or stubbornly left to continue. A pit bull is generally more violent than a dachshund.

Perhaps in your country thugs are suitably punished, but in mine the punishment is laughable. Recently a drug dealer wielding a gun in London was using it to smash up a car in some inter-gang dispute and it went off, the bullet ricocheted and killed him stone dead. I found that quite funny. Sometimes violence works.

Oh, and my country did not enrich itself. The 'Empire' was actually a private enterprise whereby rich people enriched themselves. Read up on it. The working class in Britain gained nothing - they lived in slums and worked like slaves all throughout those years until after the 2nd World War when the Empire was dead and the welfare state began and decent housing was provided etc.

Why call it societies when you mean races? These black people whose deaths you are calling for are part of the same society.
If you want to say black people are more prone to violence then why limit that to the present day?
I think you're getting into semantics with your definition of your country, and I endorse that. But you seen to think that the country enriching itself means all the people share in that and I don't think you believe that would ever be the case or would even want it to be.
On the one hand a great many people did share in it. Being poor in Britain has to be different for the most part than being poor in Bangladesh, right?
But of course most of the benefits go to the upper classes. As always. But that's how you'd want it right? Or should I call you comrade?
 
The stats you provided prove that a certain group contain within their number a disproportionately colossal amount of violent and hateful people that cannot control their uncivil behavior.

This seems to be the case wherever this group of people are found, in whatever part of the world.

But even more baffling is the total ban on debate or discussion about this subject, because problems can only be solved by being addressed, and this problem is not going away.

 
This is Katherine Jenkins version of Stormzy's song "Blinded By Your Grace". There is no swearing in the song and it describes perfectly what it is like when you first become a born-again Christian. It shows people that Stormzy's song can be beautiful and their is more depth to them than people think:



I don't like swearing/profanity at all. I don't like it when Billy Bragg swears in his video above or when anyone swears. I don't like it when Morgoth swears in his videos or when anyone swears. From what I understand Morgoth isn't a Christian. I'm a born-again, bible-believing Christian. Christianity is open to everyone no matter what background they are from or what race they might be or what their political views might be! My love for Israel also goes along with my faith.

Stormzy's debut album is called "Gang Signs & Prayer". From what I understand the "Prayer" bit is to do with his faith. I'm a Londoner so I also relate to Stormzy on that level too. Grime music is homegrown right here in London. I think some people are confusing "Drill" music which first started in the South Side of Chicago in America in the early 2010s before it came over here and Gangster/Gangsta rap which first started around the mid-1980s/1990s in America with "Grime" music which first started here in London in the early 2000s.

Grime is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in London in the early 2000s. It developed out of earlier UK electronic music styles, including UK garage and jungle, and draws influence from dancehall, ragga, and hip hop. The style is typified by rapid, syncopated breakbeats, generally around 140 bpm, and often features an aggressive or jagged electronic sound. Rapping is a significant element of the style, and lyrics often revolve around gritty depictions of urban life. For more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grime_(music_genre)

I'm not big into Grime music, but I find it interesting that quite a few Grime artists and some rappers are Christians.

From what I understand Stormzy only has one album out called "Gang Signs & Prayer". I don't know what his music will be like say in 10 years time. All I hope and pray that his faith in Jesus grows stronger.

Morrissey has a much larger body of work. I much prefer Morrissey's solo music to his Smiths days. For me The Smiths' music has been tainted because of Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke. I wish that Billy Bragg would listen to Morrissey's solo music!

Morrissey has now come out as also being a Christian and I respect him for that. I also respect Morrissey for standing up for Israel. Morrissey is a very brave man I love him.

This is taken from a 2017 article by "Premier Christianity" which I think is connected to "Premier Christian Radio" here in the UK: "On the album 'Gang Signs & Prayer', Stormzy's faith is most openly displayed on two songs, "Blinded by Your Grace", part 1 and 2. For anyone who has been to a black majority church, the chords for "Blinded by Your Grace Pt.1" will be extremely familiar. It’s the type of thing you’d expect to hear at a Sunday morning service and features a stripped down musical arrangement. "Blinded by Your Grace Pt. 2" is a bit more upbeat and has an uplifting feel-good sound."

"But these two songs stand in contrast to most of the other songs on the album/project. Again, in similar fashion to Chance the Rapper, there is a lot of bad language, which many Christians take a dim view of! At the same time, the most explicitly Christian songs on the record do not contain any swear words. So if they manage to get airplay, some will say that this will only help to bring the Christian faith into the mainstream."

"The amount of transparency that artists are showing in their music is refreshing. When it comes to artists exploring Christian themes, we often now talk about ‘journeys’, ultimately knowing that change does not come overnight. The Christian life is a process - one which is started by the gospel becoming central to all aspects of your life. For that reason, change is one of the most important components. It’s impossible to meet with Jesus and stay the same."

To read the rest of the article see link: https://www.premierchristianity.com...ping-rapper-who-wears-his-faith-on-his-sleeve


I'm from outer London but modern black music means nothing to me.
 

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