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Storing Treasures: T.I. - Whatever You Like Main Point: Earthly treasures mean nothing if we are not rich toward God. The Music Video: “Whatever You Like” “Whatever You Like” is the current chart-topping hit by T.I., Atlantic Records’ poster child for hip hop success. Born Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr., this rapper, businessman, and actor, formally known as T.I.P., just released his sixth album, “Paper Trail.” The album has all the elements necessary to make a run for number one. But don’t assume that his extensive resume makes him a well-rounded person. He’s had as many scuffles with the law as he has invites to the Grammys. His lyrics and messages are consistent with the values (or lack thereof) found in much of rap/hip hop music. Every song on the new album, including “Whatever You Like” carries the EXPLICIT warning. That being said, we at THE SOURCE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY believe some elements of pop culture can be used to start Biblical conversations. (Hey, the Apostle Paul did it in Acts 17!) This music video can definitely provoke conversations about materialism, but we strongly suggest you use your discernment in deciding how to use it. The music video is available for download on iTunes for $1.99 and on numerous other websites for free. (Your church’s tech person can help you run the video from your computer to a video projector.) WARNING: As always, when we use pop culture to jumpstart conversations, it's a given that much of this pop culture can contain inappropriate stuff. Although most copies of the music video are edited, the unedited version of this song's lyrics are foul. I recommend presenting this video as "This is what the world says... let's see what the Bible says." We will include a statement expressing our disapproval of the song's message in the following introduction statement. Introducing the Music Video: It’s on iTunes. It’s on MTV. It’s on YouTube. It’s even the ring tone for a lot of people’s cell phones. I’m talking about T.I.’s “Whatever You Like.” You’ve probably heard this song standing in the electronic’s department of your favorite store, or at your school or in maybe even in traffic…cause it’s hot right now! The question I have is, "What is T.I. saying?" "What is the message?" I don't recommend you buying or downloading a song if you don't agree with its message. So, let's dissect it this once and check out exactly what T.I. is communicating with this song. Then we’ll spend a few minutes talking about it together. (Note: This is the clean version of the song so sexual lyrics are removed from this version. But the question still remains, does the clean version communicate actual truth? Is T.I.'s recipe for happiness valid?)
(edited version) Hey Jim You know the old suga daddy I said you could have whatever you like (you like) I said you could have whatever you like (you like) Yeah [Chorus:] Stacks on deck Patrone on ice And we can pop bottles all night Baby you could have whatever you like (you like) I said you could have whatever you like (you like) Yeah Baby I could treat you so special, so nice Yeah I'd gas up the jet for you tonight And Baby you could go where ever you like (you like) I said you could go where ever you like (you like) Yeah [Verse 1:] Anytime you want to pick up the telephone You know it ain't nothin to drop a couple stacks on you Wanted you could get it my dear Five million dollar home, drop Bentley's I swear Yeah I want yo body, I need yo body Long as you got me you won't need nobody You want it I got it, go get it I buy it Tell 'em other broke joke a be quiet [Chorus:] Stacks on deck Patrone on ice And we can pop bottles all night Baby you could have whatever you like (you like) I said you could have whatever you like (you like) Yeah Baby I could treat you so special, so nice Yeah I'd gas up the jet for you tonight And Baby you could go where ever you like (you like) I said you could go where ever you like (you like) Yeah [Verse 2:] Shawty you da hottest of the way you drop it Brain so good (good) school you went to college Hundred deposit, vacations hit the tropics Cause errbody know it ain't trickin if ya got it Ya need to never ever gotta go to yo wallet Long as I got rubberband banks in my pocket Five six, adds with rims and a pocket kit Ya ain't gotta downgrade you can get what I get My chick could have what she want And goin every store for any bag she want And know she ain't never had a man like that To buy you anything ya own desire I that Yeah I want yo body, I need yo body Long as you got me you won't need nobody You want it I got it, go get it I'll buy it Tell 'em other broke joke a be quiet [Chorus:] Stacks on deck Patrone on ice And we can pop bottles all night Baby you could have whatever you like (you like) I said you could have whatever you like (you like) Yeah Baby I could treat you so special, so nice Yeah I'd gas up the jet for you tonight And Baby you could go where ever you like (you like) I said you could go where ever you like (you like) Yeah [Verse 3:] I'm talkin' big boy rides And big boy ice Let me put this big boy in yo life Girl you smell so fresh and look so nice Let me put this big boy in yo life That's right And I want yo body, need yo body Long as you got me you won't need nobody You want it I got it, go get it I'll buy it Tell 'em other broke joke a be quiet [Chorus:] Stacks on deck Patrone on ice And we can pop bottles all night Baby you could have whatever you like (you like) I said you could have whatever you like (you like) Yeah Baby I could treat you so special, so nice Yeah I'd gas up the jet for you tonight And Baby you could go where ever you like (you like) I said you could go where ever you like (you like) Yeah Hey Jim (Hey Jim) T.I.’s message in this song was clear: no matter how much it costs, you can have whatever you want or like. The video showed him spending LOADS of money on cars, bling, clothes, and private jets. Let’s take a few minutes to talk about T.I.’s spending habits to see if they line up with God’s expectations for us. Divide into Small Groups: Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word. CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders. Discussion Questions:
Read the following passage Luke 12:15-22 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Wrap Up Tonight we watched a video about a guy who was rich beyond imagination, but he spent all of his wealth trying to acquire things – or people – for himself. We also read a story from the Bible about a man in a similar situation who had more than he could ever need, but instead of being rich toward God, he only stored up things for himself. But the Bible clearly showed that these kinds of attitudes displease God. He wants us to be rich toward Him instead of trying to store up stuff for ourselves. We can do that in lots of ways, as we discussed in our groups tonight, but I want to talk about one specific way we can do it together starting right now. We can invest our money into the lives of people doing God’s work. (Stir your group to action in one of the following ways.)
So, let’s please God by being rich toward Him instead of trying to accumulate more and more stuff. I guarantee you that we can please God by showing Him how much we care for Him and His people by supporting this project. Close in prayer |
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