Post by outgirl on Jan 10, 2005 5:41:53 GMT -5
Are rappers sending a mixed message?
By DAMON C. WILLIAMS
p076.ezboard.com/fpoliticalpalacefrm57.showMessage?topicID=14.topic
What would Jesus do with a mike and mixing board? Preposterous as it may sound, thanks to releases by Kanye West, the returning Mase and others, the Word is finding its way into mainstream hip-hop culture.
But the journey hasn't been a smooth one so far. It's one thing for Christian hip-hop to be accepted by the mainstream, but a different thing entirely when mainstream artists use gospel's drawing power simply to boost sales. Witness controversial R. Kelly, indicted in Chicago on child porn charges, who has embraced gospel-flavored sounds on his otherwise racy releases.
But no one can argue the market viability of holy hip-hop. At least 100 people attended Gospel Fridays at the North American Motor Lodge on City Avenue, according to host William "Brother Will" Butler, CEO of the Germantown-based independent music label Web Gospel. The weekly event is on hiatus right now but will start up again next month.
To hear Brother Will tell it, the secular world's embrace of gospel themes can only be a good thing.
"The music being put out [by Kanye West] with 'Jesus Walks' in it, one thing for sure, the music side of it is very powerful... [Mase and Kanye] took the tool and made it more attractive to hip-hoppers on the gospel side," Brother Will said. "I wouldn't criticize them. I applaud them. Many hip-hop artists don't have the heart to put Jesus in their lyrics."
But what about the seemingly hypocritical stance harmonized in other songs on a CD such as West's "College Dropout." Beside the much-talked-about "Jesus Walks," the disc also has a tune, "Two Words," in which Kanye boasts that he has "one neck, two chains, one waist, two gats... "
Yet another verse states:
"Two words, Chi town, raised me, crazy,
So I live by two words, 'F--- you, pay me'
Screamin', Jesus save me."
Are artists like West sending a mixed message?
"I would never judge them on walking with the Lord, but I commend these brothers," Brother Will said. "Most [hip-hop artists] were raised in the church, and it's hard for them to say that they've walked away from it altogether."
One area of controversy is in holy hip-hop's definition. And there are certainly no clear answers in Christian-themed songs and music videos. Many songs include sexual innuendo. Many videos depict street-savvy, blinged-out hip-hoppers who mimic thug behavior.
"You can't divorce the message from the messenger," said Philly-based Pastor Rick Zachowsky, who works with Cross Movement (www.crossmovement.com), a local, Christian-oriented hip-hop music company.
"Those who proclaim the gospel have to have a lifestyle that reflects that. The gospel tells us we have to take a position... One track on a secular album doesn't make that CD pure."
Still, this movement, in its purest form, is worth embracing, he continued.
"If you look at the Old Testament, music has always been a way to deliver the gospel," Zachowsky said. "Music and singing has an impact on a person's psyche and thinking... The young Christian cats are using a methodology that was employed in the Old Testament to convey the message."
HanSoul, a local pioneer of holy hip-hop, has a unique perspective on the scene. A rising secular artist in the early '90s, HanSoul has become one of the most sought-after youth ministers in the region. He also has a Sunday radio program, "The Holy Hip-hop Experience," from 9:50 p.m. to midnight on 103.9-FM, where he plays gospel hip-hop and talks with listeners about issues relating to the music.
The Bible's David "wrote hymns that in many ways were like hip-hop," HanSoul said. "I'm going to speak the language of my generation... hip-hop is the language and culture of this generation, so it makes common sense, if you're going to reach the generation of today, it's wisdom to reach them in a language they are already accustomed to."
By DAMON C. WILLIAMS
p076.ezboard.com/fpoliticalpalacefrm57.showMessage?topicID=14.topic
What would Jesus do with a mike and mixing board? Preposterous as it may sound, thanks to releases by Kanye West, the returning Mase and others, the Word is finding its way into mainstream hip-hop culture.
But the journey hasn't been a smooth one so far. It's one thing for Christian hip-hop to be accepted by the mainstream, but a different thing entirely when mainstream artists use gospel's drawing power simply to boost sales. Witness controversial R. Kelly, indicted in Chicago on child porn charges, who has embraced gospel-flavored sounds on his otherwise racy releases.
But no one can argue the market viability of holy hip-hop. At least 100 people attended Gospel Fridays at the North American Motor Lodge on City Avenue, according to host William "Brother Will" Butler, CEO of the Germantown-based independent music label Web Gospel. The weekly event is on hiatus right now but will start up again next month.
To hear Brother Will tell it, the secular world's embrace of gospel themes can only be a good thing.
"The music being put out [by Kanye West] with 'Jesus Walks' in it, one thing for sure, the music side of it is very powerful... [Mase and Kanye] took the tool and made it more attractive to hip-hoppers on the gospel side," Brother Will said. "I wouldn't criticize them. I applaud them. Many hip-hop artists don't have the heart to put Jesus in their lyrics."
But what about the seemingly hypocritical stance harmonized in other songs on a CD such as West's "College Dropout." Beside the much-talked-about "Jesus Walks," the disc also has a tune, "Two Words," in which Kanye boasts that he has "one neck, two chains, one waist, two gats... "
Yet another verse states:
"Two words, Chi town, raised me, crazy,
So I live by two words, 'F--- you, pay me'
Screamin', Jesus save me."
Are artists like West sending a mixed message?
"I would never judge them on walking with the Lord, but I commend these brothers," Brother Will said. "Most [hip-hop artists] were raised in the church, and it's hard for them to say that they've walked away from it altogether."
One area of controversy is in holy hip-hop's definition. And there are certainly no clear answers in Christian-themed songs and music videos. Many songs include sexual innuendo. Many videos depict street-savvy, blinged-out hip-hoppers who mimic thug behavior.
"You can't divorce the message from the messenger," said Philly-based Pastor Rick Zachowsky, who works with Cross Movement (www.crossmovement.com), a local, Christian-oriented hip-hop music company.
"Those who proclaim the gospel have to have a lifestyle that reflects that. The gospel tells us we have to take a position... One track on a secular album doesn't make that CD pure."
Still, this movement, in its purest form, is worth embracing, he continued.
"If you look at the Old Testament, music has always been a way to deliver the gospel," Zachowsky said. "Music and singing has an impact on a person's psyche and thinking... The young Christian cats are using a methodology that was employed in the Old Testament to convey the message."
HanSoul, a local pioneer of holy hip-hop, has a unique perspective on the scene. A rising secular artist in the early '90s, HanSoul has become one of the most sought-after youth ministers in the region. He also has a Sunday radio program, "The Holy Hip-hop Experience," from 9:50 p.m. to midnight on 103.9-FM, where he plays gospel hip-hop and talks with listeners about issues relating to the music.
The Bible's David "wrote hymns that in many ways were like hip-hop," HanSoul said. "I'm going to speak the language of my generation... hip-hop is the language and culture of this generation, so it makes common sense, if you're going to reach the generation of today, it's wisdom to reach them in a language they are already accustomed to."
