Secular rapper Marcus Jamal Hopson, known synonymously by his stage name Hopsin, took to social media this week to address occult imagery and an image of an upside-down cross that was projected behind him during a recent concert in Colorado.
The independent rapper, whose popular song “Ill Mind 7” questions the Bible and the existence of Jesus, has been transparent over the years about his personal struggle with faith. Despite his “human experience” of doubt, Hopson said he was appalled to find out that people thought he had actually fully embraced the occult after seeing “anti-Christ” imagery projected behind him at the concert.
During his Aug. 26 performance in Colorado of “Ill Mind 7,” an upside-down cross appeared on the screen behind him. There was also a triangle, possibly a reference to the Illuminati, and occult-type imagery flashing on and off while he was on stage.
While some of his fans thought he, like many others in Hollywood, might have embraced the demonic occult, the emcee took to Instagram in a profanity-laced rant to set the record straight. Hopson said he was made aware of the images after he received a text message from one of his friends who asked, ‘Why was an anti-Christ image on the back projector’ during his performance.
“I had no [expletive] idea that this was going on behind me. … I trusted that everybody was gonna know the [expletive] vibe and know what Hopsin represents. And I trusted that they would know what I don’t represent,” the LA native declared in his video.
“To know that this was projected behind me while I’m rapping and I’m performing songs like ‘Ill Mind 7’ and it has an anti-Christ logo behind me — that’s not the [expletive] vibe, man. That’s not what the [expletive] I’m on,” Hopson continued. “That’s some satanic s— that I don’t f— with.
“That controls my perception. … That man handles my perception and controls it and makes everybody think that I’m this. And it’s no longer about what I’m talking about because they’re seeing these images pop up behind me and they’re gonna think that I did it.”
Hopson was furious with his team on the road and directed a lot of his anger toward them for allowing the images to be projected behind him. Hopson further revealed that he missed rehearsal before the show, so he was not aware of what the show would be like until he was actually performing.
“To everyone who saw it, I take full accountability because that’s my fault for dealing with [expletives] who don’t know what … Hopson is, he added.
“But I genuinely apologize if any of that made you uncomfortable because it would have made me uncomfortable. It really would have! It makes me uncomfortable just knowing that it existed and nobody [expletive] told me.”
The emcee, who once collaborated with former Christian rapper NF, was upset that he now looks like an industry puppet.
“Now I look like one of those industry … plants that do some satanic ritual s—. I don’t know if that is true or not, but I look like one of them right now,” Hopson noted.
He assured his fans he was not just trying to sweep this under the rug. Hopson proceeded to slam satanic rituals and sacrifices.
“When I speak about God or me being conflicted, I’m just reflecting the human experience. I’m talking about my human experience, and sometimes my faith is a little shaky, as all of ours is at times. And that’s OK because that is the human experience,” the 38-year-old maintained. “But I don’t ever represent any [expletive] satanic s—. No anti-Christ s— because I know what it means in people’s hearts.”
Hopson revealed he still “doesn’t know if God, Jesus or the [Islamic prophet] Mohammed are real” because of external influences, but claims he is a seeker of truth and respects Jesus.
“I’m a seeker of truth and I know what certain things mean in people’s hearts, so I know what Christ means in people’s hearts. So you would never hear me say, F Christ or blatantly show something that disrespects the idea of Christ by having an anti-Christ image at my [expletive] concert,” Hopson concluded.
According to the Christian apologetics website Got Questions, an upside-down cross is commonly linked to the symbolism of atheism, humanism and the occult in modern, secular contexts. Black metal bands often display an inverted cross as a representation of their devotion to Satan.
Jeannie Ortega Law is a reporter for The Christian Post. Reach her at: jeannie.law@christianpost.com She’s also the author of the book, What Is Happening to Me? How to Defeat Your Unseen Enemy Follow her on Twitter: @jlawcp Facebook: JeannieOMusic
Free Religious Freedom Updates
Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.