What does HOMILY mean?
Thinking more about it, the videos are really about possession. Young and Sasha Fierce are possessed by the devil, Young initiated Sasha Fierce. The videos are recruitment campaigns for more initiates. The reason the artists flash their signs is to show their allegiance. They are part of the gang, they have been possessed, just like a Crips gang member will wear Crips' insignia and flash Crips' signs.
I am sure JayZ is a nice guy really. He says that it is the "comedian" in him that causes him to play this part, that he is an entertainer. He has to sell it to himself that way, but he knows it is not true. He is possessed and makes the signs because he has sold out. If you read the youtube comments on his videos, you will be hard-pressed to find one comment in support of him. There is near unanimity from young people that he is an illuminati puppet and that he has sold out. Everyone knows it. Lots of other rappers slag him off as well. I'm sure he would prefer it to be different, but he made his choice, he took the silver.
babyheave, I also don't believe in Satan. but I could well be wrong, maybe there really is a Satan. I doubt that these people really believe in Satan, but who knows maybe they do. But it is what is signified by Satan, what he represents that matters, not whether he is real or not. We construct meaning from the world, what we imagine can become real. Evil intentions can become real. JayZ says "we grew black-hearted". Hitler said something like "they laughed at us once ... but they're not laughing now". This isn't down to JayZ and Rocafella. Of course, he is a puppet. This is above his pay grade. Someone is promoting Satanism, someone has unleashed the hounds of hell, Cerberus is off his chain. Someone wants to "save the planet" and you won't be laughing then.