KB – Crowns & Thorns (Oceans)

Kevin Elijah Burgess (aka KB) is an American rapper, beginning his music career in 2006. KB was originally part of a Bible college hip hop group named His Glory Alone (HGA), which caught Lecrae’s attention, jumpstarting his career.

He released three albums, one EP, and collaborated on Man Up (2011).  His work includes:

• Weight & Glory (2012)
• 100 (EP, 2014)
• Tomorrow We Live (2015)
• Today We Rebel (2017)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Kb-crowns-and-thorns-oceans-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Pop culture references aside, it gives an addendum to Hillsong’s Oceans, quoting from its Bridge, which is about connecting with God through the Holy Spirit.  KB’s lyrics say many things about himself and God:

• God’s reign exists everywhere, making all other things less spectacular.
• KB lives to glorify God because God gave Himself for KB.
• KB struggles to do right, intending to focus on heavenly things
• KB contemplates the less dangerous route in life, worldly or Godly living?  While most people would choose the world, KB believes that God is safer.
• In God’s Kingdom, the servant is greatest.  Unlike the world in which we compete for the top, we don’t compare to see who is the most humble.
• Becoming the servant and not the best is forward-thinking.
• KB inherits eternal life, a “policy” that was paid for by Jesus.
• God’s light shines in dark places.
• KB will not live a safe, boring, care-free life, but an abundant life that might kill him.
• KB wants his legacy to be about what he did, not what he said he would do.
• KB looks forward to the day Christ returns.
• KB learned that by becoming more like Jesus, he is less like himself, strengthening his faith.
• KB is prepared to suffer for his faith.
• God is like the false god Poseidon, who controls the oceans.

That last one is error.  It gives credibility to a false god’s existence and is borderline idolatrous, if not idolatrous itself.

Score: 8/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of it aligns with God’s Word except at the end of Verse 2, where KB compares God to a false god, Poseidon.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-6: The entire Chorus quotes from Hillsong’s Oceans.  To summarize, this song is primarily based on the account of Jesus walking on water, in Matthew 14:22-31.

These lines specifically refer to the promised Holy Spirit, who guides us (John 16:13 and John 14:26) and trials and tribulations that stretch the life of a Christ-follower (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4).

Lines 7-12: Repeats lines 1-6.

Line 13: That is, a connected, personal relationship we have with God (Acts 17:27, Romans 8:15, John 15:1-11, and Romans 11:16-24).

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-3: References God’s sovereignty over all creation (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).  All other things are less grandeur by comparison; counted as rubbish (Philippians 3:8).

Line 4: HGA stands for “His Glory Alone”, which carries a double meaning:

1. KB happens to be part of a band named “His Glory Alone”.
2. KB will proclaim “His Glory Alone” until he dies.

Lines 5 and 6: Because God gave “His all” in love for KB, as demonstrated on the cross (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-8), KB surrenders to God (Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

Lines 7-12: References the internal war between his flesh and following Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 7:14-25, Ephesians 6:12-17, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Line 13: That is, the increase in wickedness causes KB’s love to grow cold (Matthew 24:12).

Line 14: To “retire” means to die and “savings” are heavenly treasures (Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 19:21, and Luke 12:33).

Lines 15-17: Great questions!  Should we be friends with the world and hostile to God (James 4:4) or friends with God and make ourselves enemies of the world (2 Timothy 3:12)?  Which is safer, the world, or God?

Lines 18-22: Most people want the easy way out: to receive a reward without hard work.  Some Christians want the world to applaud them without compromising their faith.

Lines 23 and 24: KB chose God over the world, carrying his cross and facing any persecution the world throws at him (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23, and Luke 14:27).  This is KB’s response to his questions in lines 15-17:  fear Him who can kill both body and spirit, not man who can only kill the body (Matthew 10:28).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-3: He who humbles himself as a servant of God is the greatest in God’s Kingdom (Mark 9:33-37 and Mark 10:44).  When we’re at the lowest, the servant, how can anyone make us lower than that?  In earthly kingdoms, people compete to be the best, the highest position.  Yet, who competes to determine the lowest servant?  Exactly.

Lines 4-6: KB references the insurance company Progressive and its commercials that features Flo, contemplating if his audience comprehends his pun.

Insurance is a policy that protects someone from loss or damages.  For example, I have a policy that protects me from paying for damages that are not my fault.  I also pay a premium to keep my policy intact.

What policy does KB have and what is he protected from?  The policy is the New Covenant and he is protected from God’s wrath that would eternally separate him from God (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 20:10 ).  Who pays the premium?  Jesus does, once and for all (Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:26-28, and Hebrews 10:10-14).

Line 7: References Jack Nicholson who played in The Shining.  KB means that the light of God shines, even when he experiences darkness.  The darkness cannot overcome God’s light (John 1:5).

Line 8 and 9: KB refuses to live an unproductive, mundane life, where he takes his eyes off Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

Lines 10-12: Abraham left his hometown to Canaan (Genesis 12:1-5). He hung onto the promise God gave and did not know where he was going.  In the same way, KB will trust in God, even if he does not know where God leads.

Lines 13 and 14: References Revalation 19:11, where the Apostle John witnessed Jesus descend on a white horse.  He compares this to OJ Simpson, who was in a white Ford Bronco when he ran from the police.

Lines 15 and 16: To “fly” is KB exercising his faith.  His fear of the Lord, understood as deep reverence and respect, grows as he continually trusts in God.

Scripture tells is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of:

1. Wisdom (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, and Isaiah 33:6).

2. Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 2:5, and Isaiah 33:6).

3. Prolonged life (Psalm 34:8-14, Proverbs 10:27, Proverbs 14:27, and Proverbs 19:23).

4. Salvation (Isaiah 33:6).

5. Confidence (Job 4:6 and Proverbs 14:26).

6. Blessing (Psalm 112:1 and Psalm 128:1-4).

7. Hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13).

8. Cleansing from sin/Righteousness (Exodus 20:20, Psalm 19:9, Proverbs 14:2, and Proverbs 23:17).

9. Wonder (Psalm 33:8-9).

10. Obedience (Deuteronomy 14:23 and Colossians 3:22).

Lines 17-19: Airline puns aside, KB communicates that he decreases and God increases over time (John 3:30).

Lines 20-24: More airline puns and an army reference describing his legacy.  KB wants to be remembered as a doer and not merely a hearer/writer (James 1:22-25).

Lines 25 and 26: KB is prepared to face his trials and tribulations (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4), grinning like Joe Biden famously did.

Lines 27: In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of the sea.  The trouble is by comparing God who gave Moses the power to split the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), it gives credibility to Poseidon’s existence.  It says “God is like this false god, Poseidon, who controlled the sea”.  God has no equal (Isaiah 40:25) and we ought to avoid such comparisons.

Line 28: Reflects back to Hillsong’s Oceans and the message it contains therein.  See opening commentary on Chorus.

Score: 8/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

As is always the case with rap music, it’s hard to know if any audience will understand every pop culture reference.  KB seems to think that they won’t.  Despite that, I am confident that those outside the camp of Christ will know that KB struggles with his faith, wants to do right by God, and is prepared to suffer for it.  They will comprehend that a servant is better than a ruling King, God’s light shines in the darkness, and KB’s legacy will be filled with action.  I am less confident about their interpretation of “insurance” as eternal life with God.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God in that KB admits his struggle, orients his life to righteous living, and asking great reflection questions that will pierce through the hearts of his audience; however, comparing God to an idol veils it.

Score: 8/10

Closing Comments

KB’s Crowns & Thorns (Oceans) is a great song with an unfortunate error, that KB compares God to an idol.  KB desires to leave behind a legacy that he finished well.  His will is to serve others, prepared to pay the price of persecution by doing the right thing, bringing God glory.  Unbelievers should be able to comprehend the gist of KB’s message.

This song is inspirational, but not appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 8/10

Artist Info

Track: Crowns & Thorns (Oceans) (listen to the song)

Artist: KB

Album: Tomorrow We Live

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 4:51

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Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.