"Live Your Life" by T.I. featuring Rihanna
Note: We focus on reviewing songs, and therefore cannot comment on the appropriateness of the album in its entirety. Please use your best judgment whenever purchasing or listening to music.
The Artist
Clifford Harris, Jr. (aka T.I.) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 25, 1980. He was raised in a rough part of town, and he admits to being a thief and a drug dealer as a teenager.
But since his 2001 debut LP, "I'm Serious," T.I. has been able to rise above his poor beginnings (if not yet escaping his trouble with the law). His fan base and his record sales have increased with each new album. He's also recorded a hit with Destiny's Child ("Soldier"), won a few Grammy awards, co-produced a movie soundtrack ("Hustle & Flow"), started his own sneaker line with Reebok, appeared on "The O.C.," and will be starring in the movie "Bone Deep" (expected out early in 2010).
The Album
"Paper Trail," released on September 30, 2008, is T.I.'s sixth album. The self-proclaimed "King of the South" recorded his sixth album while under house arrest for weapons possessions charges, and he faces a year-long prison sentence beginning in 2009. Not an auspicious beginning for a record.
However, as I write this (less than a week after the album's release), 6 of the album's 13 songs are in the top 100 most downloaded songs on iTunes; 4 are in the top 50; and 2 are in the top 3! This CD shows T.I.'s ability in three areas: crafty lyrics, pop-style backup music, and networking. The album features Rihanna, Lil' Wayne, and Usher. It also contains adult material and explicit lyrics.
The Song
When you put two Grammy award winning artists together, you expect a great song. The number 1 hit "Live Your Life" by T.I. featuring Rihanna is no exception. The ever-present T.I. background synth sounds are complemented by Rihanna's sweet voice, his cool lyrics, and the ridiculously catchy melody from "Numa Numa."
As usual, there's more to this song than we can discuss. But T.I. raps about an issue that is important for all Christians. Listen to what he says.
Lyric: "Seems as though you lost sight of what's important when depositing them checks into your bank account, and you up out of poverty. Your values is in disarray, prioritizing horribly."
T.I. is talking here about rappers who come from poverty and lose sight of what is truly important once they strike it rich. Every Christian on earth, regardless of their age, gender, or nationality, has to deal with "real" life. Whether it is success and money or poverty and failure, Christians are constantly tempted to let our values be dictated by our situation in life instead of by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Whether we are dealing with homework or real work, a messed up dating relationship or a messed up marriage, worrying about college or worrying about paying bills, we are all "in the world" up to our necks. And sometimes, all the stuff we are dealing with causes us to forget who we are and what our purpose in life is. We start "prioritizing horribly." Paul wrote a letter to people who were making some pretty bad choices. Listen to the rationale he gives them for not allowing the world to dictate their values.
"Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
That's the bottom line for Christians. We cannot allow ourselves to live as slaves to sin. We were bought from that slavery at the most expensive price imaginable, the life of God's only son. How can we go back to that?
Christian bodies exist as places where God LIVES. Should we drag the Almighty God through the muck with us? Maybe now is a good time for all of us to re-examine our priorities and see if our lives are matching up with Jesus' life.
In the chorus of this song, Rihanna sings,
Lyric: "So live your life, ay ay ay / Instead of chasing that paper."
T.I. has written a song that seems to say, "Do what is right, instead of chasing after money." His life doesn't exactly seem to be matching up to his words right now, but that doesn't make his words untrue. In fact, a lot of people feel very stressed and unsure about their future right now because of the global financial crisis. Do you think maybe that if we, as Christians, had our priorities and lives straight we might have some encouragement for those people?
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 5:31-33)
Life is all about setting the right priorities and then living by them. How are you doing?
Questions:
- In what areas of your life are you not living by the right standards?
- Are there any areas of your life where you have the right beliefs, but don't live by them? Why?
- What priority in Christ's life do you see other Christians ignoring?
- Can anybody be perfect? Why or why not? (See 1 John.)
- As Christians, God says He has chosen to tell the world about His Son through us. What in your life right now is keeping people from seeing Christ in you?
