Why i love Stereomud's "Anything but Jesus"

While this might sound like just another angry rebellious anti-religious song, it's message is profound and symbolic. Stereomud's "Anything but Jesus" is a song using biblical symbolism to illustrate anger and frustration towards people who expect you to be perfect. The screams, rhythm, instruments, all paint the picture of someone having an outburst. An outburst against those who put others on a high pedestal of moral and spiritual perfection. It's an outburst that we can relate to. The lyrics are basic but profoundly speak to our emotions. 


Lyrics: 

"I'm not your savior I'm as simple as a lost sheep!
But you think I know everything!
I'm just like you I'm trying to figure out this bullsh*t!
So why ya looking up to me!

"I don't want to hear!
Don't want to hear the questions!
I got no answers anyway!
See I don't know!
See I don't know what you want!
I never said I knew everything!"

The artist opens up beautifully and powerfully. He begins by stating that he is not a personal savior. He is just as frail as any morally corrupt person. He is just as confused and ignorant as a person void of morals. He cannot be a guide or a leader who tends to your every need. He is limited.     

"I don't want to be! I don't want to be Jesus in your lost head!
I don't want to be! I don't want to be Jesus! Your Jesus I said!
Anything! Anything but Jesus in your lost head!
I don't want to be! I don't want to be Jesus! Your Jesus I said!"

Someone who makes another person into a being of perfection is "lost" by biblical terms. He or she fails to understand the original purpose Jesus came to the earth. The artist in his agitation, anger, and fears of criticism says "Are you listening to me?!? I don't want you to be your personal savior!" 

"There's no mistakes there's only lessons I believe that
You've got to find out your own way!
So, don't you make me into someone that I can't be!
That will never appeal to me!

I don't want to hear!
Don't want to hear the questions!
I got no answers anyway!
See I don't know!
See I don't know what you want!
I never said I knew everything!"

The songwriter doesn't believe that mistakes define you. It's the wisdom in experiences that mold you into the person you are now. How do you gain this? Explore the darkest sides of life. Discover the evil within you and realize your just as vulnerable as anyone else. 

"Strike down on me when I don't have the answers!
Don't strike out at me look for the answers!"

When someone fails to be a perfect role model, he or she get attacked for their mistakes. The wisdom in this lyric is rather than channel negative energy, use that energy for personal self growth. Meditate and find the answers you seek to life's greatest problems. Truth can be attained when a person has an open mind and soul. The song-writer ends in such a powerful note: 

"I'm not your savior i can't help you so why ya looking up to me!" 

What makes this song so great is the strong connection it builds with it's listeners. Society will often hold many people to such a high degree of perfection that they leave no room for mistakes. The symbolic usage of Jesus in this song reminds us that he came to cover human imperfections, not bring a "holier than thou" attitude. To break away from the moral expectations and the stigma of being a scapegoat. This is genuine rebellion against society.  

Dissing your foes in battles

Dissing your opponents can be a fun, challenging, and exciting in battles. I'm going to give you some tips on creating powerful disses in rap battles.

1) Feel the fire - You have to be passionate about rap battling. Don't give weak bars, but take pride in them. Be aggressive with the intention of obliterating your foes to the point of no return. This is a rap battle and you are a warrior. Be crazy and wild with your lyrics, dissin' anyone in your way. Be energized to land some bone crushing punch lines. Once your on fire, you will be able to perform at your fullest potential.

2) Diss yourself - Be comfortable with the idea of laughing at yourself and pointing out your own flaws. When you are disciplined in this area, you are ready to take on your enemies. This will mold you into a person who isn't scared of what people think. Do not hide weakness, but use it as an advantage.

3) Be original - Do not make generic disses that everyone already has used. Be original and unique in your disses as you use your own creativity.

4) Study your enemies - Before you do anything, know your enemy. Pay attention to their clothes, style, what kind of person they are, how they walk, how they talk, how they carry themselves, everything. Take these kinds of people for example:

Male players - These guys dress nice, flirt with women, look good, have jobs, and are arrogant. They may brag about how many girls they've slept with but their weaknesses in my perception is that they don't love themselves. They're insecure so they need approval from others to feel better about themselves. They feel they're in control of women when the opposite is true. Their arrogance is their downfall.

The wanna be gangsters - These people act like they want to be in a gang but in reality, they're not. They want to fit in a place where they don't belong because they dislike themselves. They want to prove they're hard and top dog when they're probably deceived by the media.

Popular guys/gals - These people may seem popular and have many friends when they have few to none at all. Most likely, they're faking it to please everyone and are afraid to admit who they truly are.

Religious people - Talk about how there are contradictions in their religion and/or how they fail to live up to their moral code. Expose the fact that they care more about winning converts than about souls.

5) Be disrespectful - Don't be afraid to trash talk in their face. Disrespect their values and anything they hold dear. Call them out on their weaknesses while being mindful of your own.

A few final words, be yourself and no one else. Love yourself for who you are and learn from both your victories or defeats.