The Five Percent Nation, or the Nation of Gods and Earths is an American organization that believes 5 percent of the Earths population has the ability to enlighten the rest of the world [21]. The origins of the group begin in the early 1960s with Clarence 13X, who separated himself from Malcolm X [15]. Some scholars trace the beginning of the Five Percent Nation to Noble Drew Ali and the founding of the Moorish Science Temple of America. Ali had a mysterious childhood, some accounts stating he was born to ex-slaves who died while he was only a young boy. He established his first head quarters in 1928 in Chicago called “The Canaanite Temple” [15']. Crucial to Ali’s teaching was his theory of the origin of modern black people. While the Five Percent Nation may be unknown to most Americans, it is not a new or unheard of concept in the hip hop world. Popular rappers such as the Wu Tang Clan, Nas, and Jay Z have been known to use the group’s terminology in their lyrics and teach the believes of the Five Percent Nation. Five Percent members frequently refer to themselves as God according to their doctrine and believe that what they practice is not a religion but ‘a way of life’ [15].
The Five Percent Nation
Left: Power couple and good friends of Kanye, Beyonce and Jay Z at a Brooklyn Nets game in April of 2014. Jay Z is wearing a huge medallion with the Five Percent Nation symbol around his neck which got criticism from the group for using the symbol as a fashion statement [21].
I Am A God (Lyrics) - Kanye West
I am a God is a song written by Kanye West on his album Yeezus. It may be possible that the song alludes to the Five Percent Nation because of their belief of the Nation of Gods and Earths [2]. While the title of the song and some of the lyrics can be seen as racy and controversial, rap as a culture has always had an undertone fixation on status and would-be messiah's for decades.
Many hip hop God complexes root from the Five Percent Nation ideology which is the black man is God and the black woman is Earth. "Gods of the Five Percent Nation have a gnostic theology: They believe that there is no invisible God, but that each black man is god of his own universe--his personal life and family"[22].
Apparently, during the Yeezus tour Kanye explained his message behind the meaning of the song 'I am a God'; he believes that we all have God inside of us and because of this we are all Gods. When you listen closely, the message (once the previous knowledge is presented) is that you are the only one who can decide what you do and you are able to accomplish anything because you are a creator [20]. Kanye sees himself as a huge creator of the present and what is to come for the music business and recently in fashion design.