I personally never grew up with religion. I’ve only been to church on a handful of occasions, and all I’ve learned about religion was through school, from those who practice and discuss their beliefs, and through music. Despite my lack of a religious background or past, though I’ve never really connected with such beliefs expressed in such music to begin with, I still find myself able to enjoy hip hop music influenced by or focused on religion. I think I’m often drawn to it more in the sense that the subject matter is less abrasive at times and the instrumentals creatively differ in terms of mainstream hip hop. I find the sound of gospel music and choir vocals to be quite beautiful on their own, so I think the gospel-inspired and integrated hip hop tends to peak my interests more than songs that don’t. I chose to look into current religious hip hop music and artists as a means to both learn more about such music I listen to and the similarities and differences between the artists that make it. I found that their reasons behind doing so ranged greatly. Kanye wanted to share his beliefs through music and create a new experience of religion and hip hop to the extent of creating a Sunday Service. Kendrick Lamar is more subtle with his odes to religion, more so in terms of asking for forgiveness or highlighting the comparisons and contrasts between mainstream hip hop and religious beliefs. Everyone’s experience with the music, both the makers and audiences, is different yet the set of beliefs and practices that seem to oppose or drastically differ from the music culture of hip hop have come together to create something unexpectedly complementary.