Trip, this is the way to solve the issue, talking, expressing feelings, opening up and PRAYING! not hating…Thank you!
I am a middle aged white woman. I have a very different perspective. I was also harassed as a young white female (constant sexual harassment) , and have suffered discrimination in other ways. For instance being passed up for jobs because of being overweight even though I was most qualified. But, I never let it get me down because the only one I have to impress is GOD, and that is what I try to teach the younger kids I am around. We are all faced with discrimination, ALL of us, in some way or another. But what young black men face endangers their lives, I think that is the point many are trying to get across.

Trip, I’m so sorry for your personal pain and also for the larger pain that the entire African American/Black community must be feeling in light of the sickening outcome yesterday.

As a white Christian, I would also like to join you in the call to justice for minorities such as yourselves. And I would also say that as I watched that video of Eric Garner being killed months ago, for just those few minutes, I could place myself in his shoes and feel the injustice.

As a Christian who labors in areas of increasing religious hostility, I think it’s important for all of us to understand that if our group also becomes a target for lawless police officers, we will find ourselves in a similar role, too. Which is just another reason why we MUST press for justice.

We must press for equal and fair treatment for all – for human dignity. We must not accept the status quo. First and foremost for our brothers and sisters in the African American/Black community, but also for our society as a whole. We cannot survive in a land of tyranny. May we all learn many lessons from the tragedy of Eric Garner’s homicide. Thank you.

Thank you for your words, Trip. I admire you as a man, a citizen, and a Believer. Your words have always touched my soul and made me think. Prayers to all of us. Much love.

Beautiful emotions, beautiful…I like it! Preach it and remember freedom to speak and such, love your beats, love all 116 click music, feel the pain for ya’ll, yep I do. Never experienced life like you, being in poverty yeah, persecuted as a Christian yea, segregated in a rich school yea, attacked as a white in an all black neighborhood n robbed with a loaded gun yea, attacked on city buses by blacks yea, experience PTSD from this aggression yea, alcoholism took my childhood, abuse took my innocence and smokin weed with my parents was our quality time yea, defending my mom-calling 911! Moms nose broke, dad put on the choke, five yr old girl screaming STOP! Blood throughout, Devils on ground, I’m a big girl now. Pulled me out, yes He did! From the muck and the mire! From the sex, drugs, death, deception, failure, He saved me, for something better. We all feel pain, let’s fight for one thang! We all have a testimony, whether it’s rascism sarcasm sexism(crae),alcoholism, addiction, affliction, traumatic contradictions, but preach the TRUTH and LOVE brother in Christ! What can we do? Do what you do! Love me love you! Both ways, Christians rise up! Love love love in The Lord!

Trip brother, I met you at Cedarville a couple weeks ago, and have always loved and promoted your music. Your talk on preaching was great! But I hope you will consider the other side of the coin. When you say that ‘It coulda been you’…you need to understand in the same way that it could have been me, and I’m an old white man preacher. Walking down the streets of big cities or rural towns, we all can be victims of prejudice and hatred…simply because of the color of our skin…no matter our character or what we are doing at the time. It’s a dark reality of the fall and sin.
But on the other hand….it ‘would not’ have been you who was arrested and killed on the streets’, because you would have responded to the officer as a Christian, and as a man who respects and obeys the authorities that God has ordained, as the apostle Paul did. If you examine the circumstances of each of these men you mentioned, it is obvious that they made a choice to resist, disobey, fight or attack the LEO who was doing their job that they are charged with doing faithfully. And while the officer may have been guilty of bias, prejudice or hatred, if the victim had cooperated with the law, they would still be alive and able to pursue any injustice against them in court. All of us are subject to injustice….and how we respond to it….often determines the outcome….as it did in each of these tragic cases.
Thank you for considering this, and please feel free to correct me if I have it wrong, or if my advice is unbiblical or contrary to the teachings of Jesus Himself. God bless you my brother, and let’s work together for healing….not dividing.

Trip,
You’ve been an inspiration to me since I’ve first listened to you. And while I generally love your songs, this one made me more sad than anything, and not just because of the tragedies of death that have occurred. It’s unbelievable to turn on the tv or read the news and see everything that we can do wrong in this world. I don’t know anything about those specifically mentioned cases aside from what the media tells me, though I must say I have certain opinions on each one. What is most painful to me is the the fact that no one is noticing the movement of motives from seeking the truth and establishing justice, to turning on and alienating others, more specifically white skinned people and cops. The way I see it, the only thing promoting racism are those who stand on a platform first giving their race and their offense. At first, I was going to post a bunch of links to stories I’ve recently read about horrible murders that have taken place recently of white skinned people by the hands of black skinned people, not because I wanted to say black skinned people are awful or less than white skinned people, but to say that everyone here is suffering and all are victims. How many white skinned people have you asked about sketchy run ins with cops? I guarantee you they’ve had them, cops make mistakes. Im not trying to take a side here, my point is that the only ones keeping racism alive are NOT those who supposedly act out of hate against those of another race, it’s one act of self-motivated hate, justice belongs to the Lord. But when a whole community or group continue to believe that their skins makes them any different from others. Those who believe their skins allows them to act or behave in control of others or gives them special permission to be offended. The race isn’t the crime. And our skin isn’t who we are, whether we grew up in Africa or Mexico, our skin pigment isn’t our culture or legacy. I don’t want to know you as Trip Lee the black man, and I don’t want to be known as Jacob the black man, or Jacob the white man. I’m Jacob, you’re Trip. We only advance this growing divide by acknowledging that it’s even there. But there is no divide. All brothers. All sisters. All sons and daughters of the Lord. I’m sorry you’re hurting man, thanks for all you’ve inspired in my life!

Coulda been anybody… Trip Lee *thumbs up*

I feel you on the lyrics man. I’m sorry that this has happened to you in the past and I am hurting with you as with all those who have been afflicted with this violence. Living love and walking with others, meaning to hurt with them and weep with them, is what we are called to do with those in suffering. I ask for prayer as I am currently struggling with things on a personal level but I’ll also keep you and people involved in this in prayer as well. Love you bro. May never meet you but I love you.

#tears

Totally forgot to reflect on song. My beloved brother I believe this song encompassed what true hip hop is and what it was designed to be…

#CouldaBeenMe
#Truthmusic
#Rise
#Unashamed

I appreciate your willingness to have dialogue bro. We have issues in the country that need to be death with all on sides and the only way to do that is through Christ Jesus!

We need to show everyone the love of Christ – so I put together a little positive video of love… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7oPOZppRZRk

Trip just wanted to let you know I am hurting for you and feel burdened to be part of the solution. I am a youth director at a suburban church with mostly white kids, I spent my Wednesday night study with them last night diving into Gods word helping them understand why there is hurt on both sides, how as believers we are to let love cover all and let the light of Christ shine, how we are to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Then spent tonight @ a event called Faith Rx which you may be familiar with, giving that same message to adults. I know the road to healing is long for all involved and will only be made real when we focus our eyes on the King and live like Christ. I am so sorry for the pain on both sides and want you to know I have been and will continue to pray for heart change among those with blind eyes. Keep your head up, God is faithful and good, and you continue to do what God has blessed you with, you ARE making a difference.

Could’ve been one of my 4 sons! Thank you Trip. I pray that people will stop trying to win an argument and really hear the heart of our men.

Can you pray for me bro I would really appreciate it I feel Iike I need more of god because I don’t have enough of him I’m a 13 year old boy from Kerman California and you guys are my role model I’m a christian but I keep on going back with sin and I’m tired of running into sin I want to change my life I want to be a new creation can you pray that god does work on me so I could be a better christian <3 it coulda been me who got shot we never know when we gonna die we never know when god is gonna call our name and say its time for you to go that's why we should always be ready we need to say every night and every time you go out god if I don't want up or I don't come back home pleaz accept me into your throne of glory and eternal life <3

At first, when I saw these posts, I didn’t get it. I pretty much just thought it was annoying, and I’m not too proud of that now. After listening to this song and Derek Minor’s recent release, I was reminded that grace is a big part of this, and the part I was missing most. I didn’t take the time to think about it from different perspectives. As a middle-class white guy attending a university, I had a difficult time understanding that we are looked at differently by others, you and I. However, once I took the time to do so, my eyes were opened to a different place than the place I’ve been in my whole life. I want to sincerely apologize for not taking that time to see things from your perspective, and I want to encourage everyone to approach all of this with grace in mind. It is key. I thank you for posting this song, Derek Minor for releasing his, and all of the 11Six crew who have spoken about this issue and shared their wisdom.

I am a pastor of a church in a small town in Arkansas and I don’t get stopped by the police for no apparent reason……..ANYMORE. That has not always been the case. My brother and I were stopped and told to get out of the car at gunpoint and all we did was drive into a town in northern Wisconsin. We were 19 or 20 years old. Five years earlier we were walking home and a police car slowly trailed us for three blocks or so before stopping us. They said we looked like some suspects in a robbery.

I said it doesn’t happen anymore fully believing that it still can and that things can quickly go terribly wrong.

I was introduced to Christian Hip Hop through KAA and I listen to the words in your songs all of the time. “Rise” is cold, cold, cold.

Your words speak truth about Christ boldly and 116.

I appreciate this bold statement which looks at the big picture and does not separate and focus on one incident.

When you said every black man you know has experienced this…I am one of them.

Reach out to me anytime.
Keep preaching brother.

Its not only in american, it happens everywhere around the world…I witness where a brother burnt his fellow brother alife by petrol because he is a christian while he is a muslim, where 3 innocent student where set ablaze for crime they commit not in portharcourt Nigeria, where suicide bombing takes place, where soldiers killed a whole citizen in a community for a political reason, Nigeria is one of the country that strange things which are to happen in the bibble happens. We need ur prayers all over the world…Living with muslims is not easy.

Had the privilege of hearing you at WinterJam in Spokane, Washington and was very blessed by your music. Checked out your website today and saw your post about Ferguson. Thank you for sharing. God has only recently opened my eyes to the reality of racism and discrimination in the US and in the Church. He has broken my heart, and I am trying to learn as much as I can so I can have a biblical, God-honoring attitude. Your post touched me deeply and gives me something to share with brothers and sisters whose hearts and eyes have not been opened yet. Praying for a Rev 7 Church and for Holy Spirit to bring conviction to His people in “the West”. Please don’t grow weary or give up yet…the Body of Christ needs your message, vision, and passion.

Trip, thank you so much. Thank you for loving others when they’ve hated you. Thank you for receiving Christ’s heart for his church – a unified one – and walking like Him, when it’s hard and when it’s easy. I honor you and your family and the depths you’ve gone to love Jesus well. Thank you.

ok, so I see how this goes. First, I guess all the posted comments have to be in favor of your sad sappy cry baby song or they don’t get posted. Then it appears not you or one of your (positive) commenters gets the irony on the fact that literally thousands of human beings perish daily around the world from person on person violence yet one over weight, asthmatic black man dies while resisting arrest, it happens to get caught on camera and now we have sainted him, played the race card, decried all police nationwide as overly forceful and called for a national uprising. Just one question: if this individual had worked just as hard to make a living for himself and his family in a legal, lawful otherwise customary fashion instead of illicit unlawful activity might he still be alive today? At least we would be spared your sappy self pity.

Wow. It must be miserable being a victim your whole life. Misery certainly loves company, though.

Your song almost made me feel sorry for myself too considering every hurtful thing ever done to me. What’s the difference between you and me? I choose to learn from the past, and move on. Maybe I was in the wrong. Maybe I was wronged. Who cares.

I’m stronger than that.

p.s. I’m a white male, and I too have had confrontations with law enforcement as a teen never once being charged. I thank God for every one of those situations and how I learned from them.