The 30-year-old Massachussets based rapper has been working on his second studio album ‘ADHD’ for a long time now. He released the lead single “I Love” back in October 2018, and returns with a brand new, possibly controversial, second single “Devil’s Work.”
In the new music video for “Devil’s Work,” we find Joyner Lucas in an empty church, holding a copy of The Bible, and throwing some serious questions at God himself. He assures that he is not threatening God, but simply seeking answers. But these questions, even God might not have answers to! So Joyner is left to believe that these actions are not that of God, but the devil himself–hence, the single title.
The song has already turned some heads. Rihanna called the song a “moment of the culture,” whereas Tomi Lahren, whose name is mentioned in the song, called it “truly disgusting” and “sick.” Joyner Lucas retweeted both.
Watch Joyner Lucas’s “Devil’s Work” Music Video
Download “Devil’s Work” Single on iTunes and Amazon
“Devil’s Work” is predominantly a question as to why good souls, especially in the music business, are being taken away from us. Joyner names Tupac Shakur, BIGGIE, XXXTentacion, Big Pun as people who should be on Earth to continue the good fight they put. Joyner wishes God had taken Donald Trump (president of the United States) and Suge Knight (alleged connections to the murder of Tupac). Joyner questions how this “cherry picking” works, because he does not see any justice in the way the world works, even when it comes to death. Tupac was shot dead in 1996, The Notorious BIG was shot dead in 1997 and XXXTentacion was shot dead in Florida in June 2018.
Joyner also questions why Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and R&B singer and actress Aaliyah Haughton were killed at the cusp of their superstardom. Selena was shot dead by the president of her fan club in 1995, and Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash in 2001.
Joyner Lucas goes into more names that he wished were traded instead of some others who were taken away. Malcolm X (a Civil Rights activist) to come back and take R. Kelly to hell. R. Kelly stained his name after being allegedly taken to courts for several sexual abuse cases of pre-teen girls. Lil Snupe is another rapper whom Lucas thinks deserves a second chance as he was gunned down in 2013. He also wishes Eric Holder (suspect of Nipsey Hussle’s shooting) was dead instead of Eric Wright AKA Eazy-E who was a key figure in rap music. Eazy-E passed away due to complications of AIDS.
Joyner Lucas is not letting anyone forget that innocents such as 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who was gunned down by a man named George Zimmerman in 2012. In 2013, Zimmerman’s charges were dropped.
Nipsey Hussle’s death on March 31, 2019 has lef the rap community in shock. He suffered multiple, fatal gun shots in South Los Angeles and passed away on spot. Joyner also name drops ‘The Marathon,’ an album series and his own clothing brand by Nipsey Hussle.
Other noteable names Joyner mentions are Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.
To no surprise, Joyney Lucas targets two news personalities of Fox News. First is Tomi Lahren, who is a self-proclaimed activist against hip-hop culture. Second is Laura Ingraham, who laughed and mocked the death of Nipsey Hussle while reporting news on it.
Joyner Lucas raps that his “blood races” thinking about all these unjust things happening in the world and questions God why he does not interfere. He believes that the good ones are being taken away early and the crooks are left. A bigger question he has is if that is the norm, why is he still alive!
We do believe that Joyner Lucas poses some interesting questions on this new single “Devil’s Work.” Tupac, BIGGIE, and many of the likes paid the price in their lives for speaking out against the system. Is Joyner on a similar path?
Let us know what you think about this song and the music video by Joyner Lucas. Too far? or just the right points?
Complete Lyrics to “Devil’s Work” by Joyner Lucas
I think Joyner’s on the right track, because whenever someone tries to fight for what’s right they always end up dying mysteriously.