Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Gucci Mane--"Mane" Up!

This is somewhat a response, and somewhat just a rambling rant. Recently (and mostly unfortunately), I listened for the first time to a hip-hop artist named Gucci Mane. The song I listened to was called "I Don't Love Her" (or something self-centeredly titled like that...). The song was basically three verses from three different rappers about how they love the way that their woman behaves sexually, but they don't actually love her.

And that pretty much sums up the whole song... laced with sexual language and curse words, it spews forth almost 4 minutes of self-centered objectifying lyrics about women whom Gucci Mane "don't love."

After listening to this song, I can honestly say that my first response to this song (besides the bewilderment of why anyone would be attracted to listening to Gucci Mane's voice...) was that of anger and disappointment. Anger at the fact that this is supposed to be a "Mane" ("man" for those who don't speak foolish-bragadocio), and yet he clearly thinks it's manly to talk of women as if he were a pubescent public school boy. Also, I felt disappointment at the fact that I know several girls who are fans of Gucci Mane, and who would maybe even sing along with this self-deprecating song, instead of calling him out for his boyishness.

Let's get this straight. While I can not claim that I have listened to the entirety of Gucci Mane's music (I really had no desire to search out anything beyond his Facebook videos... which I didn't even really watch...), I can say that from the songs that I heard by Gucci Mane, he did not represent anything close to what a man should truly be. All of the songs I listened to were focused on (I'll give you one guess... give up?) Gucci Mane. Even the song that was focused on the woman whom he doesn't love, was ultimately focused on what Gucci Mane liked in the girl. He liked what she did for him.

This is about as far from manhood as is humanly possible. Real manhood is focused on sacrifice, not selfishness. Gucci Mane needs to take a look at Ephesians 5, where Christ is put forth as the example of what a man is supposed to be for his woman. Christ gave Himself for His bride. He did not selfishly use the Church for His benefit and then toss her aside for someone who fulfilled Him better. This is what is being put forth as "mane-hood" by Gucci and his fellows. Use a woman until she doesn't do what you want her to do anymore. This sounds more like exploitation than it does an exhibition of manhood. With Christ and the Church as the example, Christ chose a woman not for what she could give Him, but so He could love her and give Himself for her. This is real manhood. Real manhood does not float from woman to woman, consuming everyone in his path until they have nothing left to give. Real manhood commits to one woman and seeks to love her more deeply for the rest of his life--that a woman would settle for something less (or allow less from the "man" they are dating) than this should signal that she doesn't understand what she should be looking for in a man.

So, Gucci, don't brag about how many women you have duped into believing in your false version of manhoord. Instead, brag when you have been able to keep the same woman's affections for 50 years. Don't brag about yourself and your sinful lifestyle. Repent of your sin and trust in Christ, and let your boasting be done in the Lord. As Jeremiah says, " let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousnesson earth". (Jer. 9:24) This is where real manhood is centered--in the Gospel and self-sacrificing giving, not self-centered consumption.

Gucci Mane--Mane Up!

No comments: