Pope Francis disappointed the hip-hop community when he dropped a prog album instead of the rap record he was born to make. But then #PopeBars started trending this week.
Armed with the perfectly positioned meme, the Internet decided to write bars for the pope creating the funniest and holiest raps in history. In line with the adage, “immature poets imitate, mature poets steal,” Twitter users picked lines from their favorite rap songs and blessed them with holy water.
Here is a list of the best #PopeBars tweets and the musical geniuses that influenced them:
Bow down for @FeministaJones’ exquisite use of Notorious B.I.G’s “Big Poppa.”
https://twitter.com/FeministaJones/status/671399934051119104
Here @ClintSmith masterfully samples Biggie Small’s “Juicy.”
It was all a dream
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) December 1, 2015
I used to read Luke 4:17
Virgin Mary and Moses
looking over my papal mezzanine#PopeBars pic.twitter.com/YmNStFkA8N
@AndrewBloch understands that opportunity comes once in a lifetime by capitalizing on the only moment he’ll get Eminem and the pope to agree on Slim Shady’s hit “Lose Yourself.”
His psalms are sweaty, knees weak, cross is heavy. There's vomit on his robe already, Vatican spaghetti…#popebars pic.twitter.com/u7gBksSHSR
— Andrew Bloch (@AndrewBloch) November 30, 2015
@DamonStCloud throws back to the late Tupac’s banger “Hit Em Up.”
First off , Thank the Lord and the Christ we claim..Baptized when we ride come equipped with game. #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/o6Q00pHo3y
— DamonStCloud (@DamonStCloud) November 30, 2015
@HeadcACE seizes an opportunity to channel Rick Ross’s aptly titled “Holy Ghost.”
They say I'm gettin' money
— Ippei HATHAWAY 🇯🇲 (@HeadcACE1906) November 30, 2015
Must be illuminati
Talking to the Holy Ghost
In my Ferrari #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/K0f75Y1pom
Clearly @peraisakop had a moment of brilliance when he decided to steal from Jay Z’s “Moment of Clarity.”
https://twitter.com/peraisakop/status/671301112226557952
And @TheCatWhisprer drop bars for all the Black Album fans with a reimagined “99 Problems.”
If you got God problems I feel bad for you son / I got 99 problems but God ain't one#PopeBars pic.twitter.com/BIuTR3oLwR
— mark (@TheCatWhisprer) November 30, 2015
For @Flatbammy, Yeezy Season came early with his ode to Kanye West’s “Last Call.”
"Mayonnaise coloured benz call it miracle whip" #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/wbwZ49XBhC
— Paul Muad'Dibby Dibby Sound Bwoi (@flatbammy) November 30, 2015
Much respect goes to @JamesLedwaba_ for shouting out Drake’s breakout diss record “Back To Back.”
Is that a World Tour or The Lord's tour? #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/oGzMccADOt
— The Man (@jamesledwaba) November 30, 2015
And of course who could forget Drizzy’s “Forever.”
https://twitter.com/Ziweeee/status/671433216012771332
Stay tuned for the pope’s mixtape folks. If #PopeBars is any indication, it’s going to be #lit.
Cop or Drop? #PopeBars pic.twitter.com/b7c4byC1mZ
— esengskara (@Anthony_SoUgly) November 30, 2015
Illustration by Max Fleishman