What does it mean to meet God in the raw places — the grief, the rage, the hunger for justice, the fight for our own souls?
In this episode of “The Theology of Hip-Hop,” host Chris Burton takes listeners on a lyrical and spiritual journey through the life and music of Earl Simmons, also known as DMX, one of rap’s most complex and spiritually honest voices. Nearly 25 years after “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood” and several years after Simmons’ passing in 2021, Burton asks: Was DMX one of hip-hop’s great theologians?
Through iconic tracks like “Stop Being Greedy,” “24 Hours to Live,” “Slippin’,” “Ready to Meet Him,” and “Lord Give Me a Sign,” Burton explores:
- DMX’s raw lament and confessional honesty
- The battle between flesh and spirit echoed in Paul’s letters
- Hip-hop’s moral imagination in the face of injustice and scarcity
- Prayers buried in bars — theology in the language of the streets
- Endurance, repentance, and grace for those who rarely feel allowed near it
With Scripture, psalms, and the prophets in one hand and DMX’s bars in the other, Burton shows how this late hip-hop icon wrestled with God publicly — not from polished pulpits, but from the margins. The result is a portrait of a man who stumbled, prayed, lamented, fought evil, and kept coming back to Christ.
“You don’t have to clean yourself up to approach God. God does the work with you,” says Burton.
Whether you’re a lifelong DMX listener or hearing him anew, this episode invites you into a deeper reflection on faith, weakness, spiritual warfare, and God’s relentless pursuit of us.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- “Jonathan Mannion Shares the Stories Behind His Iconic Music Photography”
- Submit a question for the show at info@pres-outlook.org
Full episode transcript
Read the full transcript for “The theology of DMX: Lament, prayer and the God who stayed.”
Credits
- “The Theology of Hip Hop” is a co-production of the Presbyterian Outlook and Shirley Goodness
- Writer, narrator, editor and producer: Chris Burton
- Guest: Sandra Burton
- Producer: Dartinia Hull
- Consultant: Jesy Littlejohn
- Editing and sound design: Colin Harden
- Graphic: Lee Catoe
If you’d like to sponsor an episode of “The Theology of Hip-Hop,” please email info@pres-outlook.org.
