He came up in the internet age - a time where a new generation of rap fans are more tolerable of taboo topics than previous ones were.
But unlike his predecessors, Tyler had more freedom to experiment with Satanic references. Like Paul and Big L, Tyler was playing a character. “Since I didn’t have a father, I sorta went to ‘this devil guy’ as a role model.”
I kinda took that and flipped it,” the artist said to Cakes & Brains. “My grandmother once told me I was from hell since I was so evil. Shortly after releasing his 2009 debut mixtape Bastard - ironically on Christmas - Tyler did an interview where he talked about the Satanic references, as well as revealed that he was atheist.
However, Tyler played with fans’ perception of him, alluding to how he’s seen as a devil worshipper on Goblin‘s title track: “Oh, that’s a triple three six, isn’t he a devil worshipper / Cause I’m too f**king ignorant to do some research?”
When Tyler and his Odd Future collective first sprung up in the early 2010s, the group was immediately branded as a bunch of devil-worshipping misfits.įrom having merchandise adorned with 666 and inverted crosses to the lyrical content (Tyler’s 2011 debut album Goblin is full of satanic references) the group’s references to Satan were a topic of discussion on numerous forums during their rise. But Tyler, the Creator took it even further. Paul thought Three 6 took it far with its references to Satan. In 2010, Lord Finesse, who produced some of Lifestylez, discussed “Danger Zone” and its ties to horrorcore rap - a subgenre based on horror-influenced topics such as death, torture, and Satanism - which was rising at the time thanks to groups such as the Gravediggaz. Two years later, the Harlem rapper released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, which included the track “Danger Zone.” The song featured lyrics such as “It’s the triple six in the mix straight from h-e-double hockey sticks,” and “Every Sunday a nun lay where my gun spray / Fuck Carlito, we doin’ shit the Devil son’s way.” Columbia hardly promoted the album because of its lyrics, and Big L was dropped from the label shortly after. When I catch fits, my mom picks up the crucifixīig L straight from hell, the motherfuckin’ Devil’s son”īecause of the lyrical content, “Devil’s Son” was banned from radio at the time. Additionally, nine percent of black people are unaffiliated with any religious group. This is in stark contrast to the percentage of black people who don’t believe in God (two percent), and don’t believe religion is very important in their lives (four percent). They’re also leading in the importance religion has in one’s life, with 75 percent stating that it’s very important. But the pairing is complex considering the genre is rooted in black American culture, and religion is an integral part of black American culture.Īccording to a national Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study, black people are the leading race in believing in God. The truth is that the biblical figure has been referenced in rap since the early ’90s.Īlthough Satan’s influence on music is commonly associated with rock - thanks to bands and artists such as Black Sabbath, Slayer, and Marilyn Manson - rap has also had a fascination with Satan. However, the relationship between the two isn’t a recent phenomenon. More recently, Lil Nas X has received backlash for his “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” music video, which features him giving a lapdance to Satan.
Contemporary rappers such as Lil Uzi Vert, SahBabii, and Trippie Redd have incited controversy for referencing Satanic images in their music and aesthetic. Photo Credit: Screengrab via YouTube Satan and rap music have had a complex relationship since the early ’90s, with the biblical figure still seen as taboo by rappers, critics and fans today.