The common phrase “one's word is one's bond” stems from biblical principles and centuries-old English texts on integrity. In the Book of Numbers, God instructs the Hebrew tribes that oaths and vows made bind the soul until fulfilled:

“When a man voweth a vow unto the LORD, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:2)

Hip hop music and culture has captivated the world since its origins on the streets of the Bronx in the early 1970s. Over fifty years later, hip hop remains one of the most groundbreaking and influential cultural movements, evolving beyond music into fashion, media, social activism, and more. Yet many overlook the profound religious and spiritual foundation underlying hip hop's development over half a century. The slang phrase "word is bond," meaning to solidly commit to and uphold one's word, contains layers of meaning pointing back to these faith roots - specifically the "Nation of Islam," Five Percent Nation, and language of the church. This book traces hip hop's complex spiritual journey from the early Universal Zulu Nation pioneers swearing oaths to uplift their people, to commercial rap hits laced with allusions to Allah, Christian gospel sampling, and alternate universes of mysticism.