Holy Hip-Hop?

Holy Hip-Hop or Christian Rock or anything similar is an oxymoron.

 

I can't stand rap, Christian or mainstream, but I did love Michael Peace when he was around.


Now listening: Junior Brown - "Guit With It"

 

How did a post about rap/hip hop get into music forum

Rap is junk. Although going back a bit a nephew lent me a couple of his Christian rap cds, one of them wasn't too bad (or as good as it's possible for any rap to get )

 

Meaning it wasn't too good either.

 

Rap. . . .

Being forced to listen to rap is a fate worse than death.

The only joy I derive from rap is mocking it .

 

Perhaps that is what hell is like: eternal rap, hip-hop, heavy metal, death metal and similar noise.

 

Perhaps that is what hell is like: eternal rap, hip-hop, heavy metal, death metal and similar noise. </font>[/QUOTE]...no, I think it's 100% country!

 

I love a group called GRITS. They are a Christian group who sings rap. They reach a lot of groups who would not normally listen to "Christian music."

 

Reach them for what?

 

I am 44 and truly do not personally care for Christian rap; however, I saw its value for good in the lives of my two children and my dozens of Christian school students. I listened to a group called Cross Movement with my son and was extremely impressed with the words. My son told me that he could get the good messages God wanted for him through this group more than through music I (his Dad) may personally like.

I have also heard Toby Mac in concert and listened to his heart for this generation.

So, before we proverbially throw the baby out with the bath water, let's step back and check our prejudices at the door and let God work through these relational servants in the lives of our young people.

Does that mean I will be listening to Christian rap tomorrow? No. Do I want it in my church? No. But I also won't make foolish statements about it.

(and for the record, I am a college degreed music educator with 21 years teaching experience.)

 

Good Grief.

 

Wow! Someone else who has heard of Cross Movement!
They are pretty good with th emessage. I don;t know about many others.

Anyway, people really need to check whether all of this hatred toward rap is purely cultural; from an attitude that poor urban people are nothing but worthless trash themselves. Just like those who argue Classical only, and put down anything non-Western, as jungle music or whatever.
To even lump it in with thrash metal and death metal is ridiculous. I guess if you're thinking about the worst in secular gangsta rap, with its violence and sex and profanity, etc. then I could understand it more. But once again, that is a misuse of it, and even secular rap was not always like that. (And we're talking Christian). So [especially those here who defend CCM] don't make the same mistake as the hymns-only crowd. And the people trashing rap aren't even attempting to prooftext their feelings like at least the anti-CCM crowd does.

 

I had not heard of thrash metal so I will throw it in with the rest:

Perhaps that is what hell is like: eternal rap, hip-hop, heavy metal, death metal, thrash metal, and similar noise.

 

IMHO - I think they left the "c" of the front of rap. So, now you know how I feel.

Before I was saved I listened to pure trash. BG and the Bigtimers, Eminem, anything that would make someone mad to hear it. And that was just the rap category. I will pass a channel knowing it is supposedly a Christian station but yet they will be playing garbage that sounds like the music I used to listen too. When I see a video for this stuff, I see no outward appearance that would suggest that these people have been changed.

To know that someone can put a few Christian references to a catchy beat and call it music while still looking like hoodlums sickens me.

 

I don't think Christian rap is evil. I just really really really really really dislike it. In fact, I find it laughable.

Secular rap artists, to be successful, must generally have credibility with the intended audience (a.k.a. "street cred"). As a whole, the genre of rap depends on its tough image.

IMO, it is basically impossible to maintain the proper image while being a Christian act. To me, it seems that "street cred" depends on being willing to associate one's music with explicit sex, drugs, violence, etc. (For those who don't believe me, look at Will Smith, one who is commonly not considered to have all that much "street cred" because his rap is not as saturated in the negativity). A Christian act cannot promote these things, so it appears that "street cred" is basically impossible to attain.

For these reason, I feel the following:

1. Secular rap is objectionable on a moral basis.

2. Christian rap is laughable because it lacks "street cred."

 

I like the Christian rap. It has a positive message and it tells about Gods love. If you had a kid would you want them to listen to Christian rap or the other stuff. (if your kid liked rap music). These groups can get the message of Gods love and salvation out to people who would not normally go to church or listen to Christian music. If it is reaching a group of lost people and helping other Christians to stay in their walk what is the problem with it? It is not like they are taking Gods name in vain or dishonoring him.

 

The reasons you mention are reason for us to be praying for 50 Cent, Ludacriss, Eminemm, etc. and support the likes of KJ-52 who are reaching out to the fans of Eminem and even Eminem himself (KJ-52 sent Eminem a demo and gave him the gospel).

 

Thats a supreme understatement.

Mike