It seems like I have a thing for allusions, and that
would be very true. It’s fascinating how many things have allusions in them that
reference biblical text. One of my favorite rappers out right now is J. Cole. He
has a wide array of songs that I find myself listening to over and over. One song
in particular caught my attention. The song is entitled “forbidden fruit”, and
it references the creation story with Adam and Eve. The song is very explicit and I apologize for
that, but it is an allusion. More importantly the song references the bible about two times.
The part I am focusing on is the reference to Adam and Eve.
The Adam and
Eve story is told as many people know in Genesis Chapters 2 and 3 describe the
creation, and the fall of man. It was obvious listening to this song that J. Cole
has knowledge of the text, and it was also interesting how he totally flipped
the story around in the song. The fall of man was caused by eve eating the
forbidden fruit after being tempted by the serpent. Once Eve does Adam eats the
forbidden fruit as well, and they are kicked out of the Garden.
One of the
verses in the songs makes a little joke about how Eve had Adam in check, and I must
say it was quite funny: “Do you
believe that Eve had Adam in check”. Cole is being very clever in
referencing the account with the title and the entire song. I am not sure what his motivation behind the
song, but it does show he has some knowledge of the story, and he has the
ability to make it about something other than what the creation story was all
about. The song in its entirety is about
him and his girlfriend having what seems to be date night, and during the
course of the evening they cross the forbidden fruit and part take of it. The two
enjoy the partaking of it which is another thing I found strange; because in
the actual account of the story both Adam and Eve are in dismay once they
discover they are naked. Maybe I am overshooting it here but I believe J. Cole
referenced the account of creation to demonstrate how out modern society would interpret
the creation account. The point is that
J. Cole did reference the bible and the account of Adam and Eve, and is able to
make it somewhat a song about the enjoyment of the “forbidden fruit”. take a listen below!! I hope you enjoy it.
