Take ‘Em to Church: 10 Hip-Hop and R&B Songs with that Gospel Feel
November 6, 2011 2 comments
When I was a kid, I probably got some of my best sleep in two of the most inappropriate places: school and church—especially church. As soon as the sermon started my eyes would start getting heavy and the next thing you know I’m snoring while the rest of the congregation was trying to receive the good word. Seriously, the back of my head has touched more pews than Bishop Eddie Long has touched…never mind. God don’t like ugly.
But one part of the service I always stayed awake for was ‘Praise and Worship.’ Besides the fact that it was loud, I actually enjoyed listening to people sing in church. Hearing someone pour their soul out through song, accompanied by church organ, with backing vocals from the choir and the pastor squeezing in a mini-sermon on the bridge evokes a special feeling. There’s a certain soulfulness in that, one that you can only get on Sunday afternoons. Now while the “church sound” can’t be 100% duplicated in secular music, a lot of artists were brought up in the house of the Lord and you can hear it on their records—especially in the Hip-Hop and R&B genres.
The homie Craig and I were discussing this one day and decided to put together a list of 10 songs that, while not gospel, still take it to church. My picks are in blue and Craig’s in green.
John Legend – Used to Love U ft. Kanye West
And on the seventh day, before resting, God co-produced “Used to Love U” with Kanye West. This track is the Gospel—lyrically and sonically. By the time the choir starts singing “I used to—love you, but I don’t—love you” on the breakdown, I start getting mental pictures of silver collection plates being passed around and somebody’s grandmomma falling out at the alter. So it only made sense that the video had a church theme, with Yeezy playing the reverend and John Legend getting busy on the organ.
Saigon – Clap ft. Faith Evans
One of the highlights of Saigon’s ridiculously delayed but heat rock-filled Greatest Story Never Told was “Clap,” a let’s-start-living-right empowerment anthem with guest vocals from one-time Mrs. B.I.G., Faith Evans. True story: John Brown from the White Rapper Show actually hit me up on Twitter when I noted that Faith sings “Hallelujah holla back” during the choir-laced coda. Ghetto revival.
R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
Put this song on and niggas start thinking they can dodge bullets. That’s how inspirational it is. I don’t even consider “I Believe I Can Fly” a regular song anymore. It’s damn near a hymn. Kellz’ song is so moving that Gospel recording artist Yolanda Adams covered it on her live album The Experience—twice.
Outkast (well, just Big Boi) – Church
On this Speakerboxxx album cut, Big Boi invites us to “Get up and go to church” when life gets tough before literally taking us there with double time drums, piano, and a whole lot of soulful shouting toward the song’s end straight out of a hype worship service.
Patti LaBelle – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
If you’re talking about taking it to church, Patti LaBelle should be one of the first names out of your mouth. During any given performance, Ms. Patti might kick off her heels and fall out in someone’s lap in the front row—overcome by the moment. She took this Wizard of Oz classic and added all kinds of passion and soul to it. Judy Garland who?
Z-Ro – One Deep
Where most of the artists on this list use the gospel angle to try and atone for the badass shit they claim on the rest of the album, Houston’s Z-Ro ain’t havin that. He laces Mike Dean’s sick instrumental with a soulfully-thuggy-ass-gospel-choir-sounding chorus that goes, “Y’all niggas don’t have to fuck with me cause I can do bad just being one deep.” Damn, Ro.
Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise ft. L.V.
Does this song talk about gangs and violence? Yes. But does it still take it to church? Absolutely. Although Coolio usually gets all of the credit for the song’s success, it’s L.V. who gives it that extra “umph” with his gritty rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise.” Backed by the harmonizing of a choir and quoting Psalm 23:4 in the very first line, Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” delivers a ghetto Gospel that Tupac would be proud of.
Talib Kweli – Get By
Supposedly Kanye West initially made this beat for Mariah Carey. Thank the Lord Kweli got a-hold of it, though, turning it into a classic conscious rap anthem complete with an epic choir on the chorus and a remix that bridged the gap between New York’s mainstream elite and underground heroes. “Get By” almost made you wanna change your life. Almost.
Puff Daddy – I’ll Be Missing You ft. Faith Evans, 112 & Sting (Live Performance)
Son, this was basically church. The Rev. Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy choir held a memorial service for their fallen friend Christopher Wallace at the ’97 MTV Video Music Awards and put on one hell of a show. To this day, I’m still laughing at Puff and 112 dressed in all white dancing around a stationary and out-of-place looking Sting. While it was a very touching and memorable performance, the thought of Diddy ad-libing and talking over Sting while he was trying to sing “Every Breath You Take” is too hilarious for me not to laugh. That choir was jammin’ though. R.I.P. Big.
D’Angelo – Send It On
This funky ass waltz from D’angelo’s masterpiece Voodoo might’ve sounded like church, but one look at the lyric sheet suggests otherwise. Sure he was talking about getting in the cuca, but that humming part was lifted right out of Sunday service. Let the jumpoff say amen!
