(courtesy of KingMovement.com)

Whatever definition you may attach to the term “hip-hop,” its level of influence is beyond debate. From wardrobe to jargon, movie soundtracks to marketing, the wide reach of hip hop is undeniable.

The problem with such influence is that those who wield it are often not responsible enough to do so wisely. If this influence isn’t properly filtered, there’s a risk of developing an atmosphere that is saturated with desires to create or to become idols.

The obvious direction I could take with this article is to discuss how enamored mainstream hip hop artists (well, society in general) are with improving their image in order to receive “hero worship.” Whether pushing their materialistic, misogynistic or various other macho acts of status, the intent of many to project themselves as larger than life is obvious. However, for the purpose of our current gathering, I will discuss the danger that idolatry presents to the hip hop-loving portion of the Body of Christ.

(read the full article at KingMovement.com)

I'm an Englishman, I have been to the states and also have family in both New York and Florida but I have never been to Texas and yet I have a strong fondness of Houston Rap.

I don't have the greatest long term memory but I vaguely remember the first time I stumbled across Japhia Life's music back around 2002 or so. I believe I was on HHZ.com, avoiding debates as I scoured the forum looking for new music from the scene I had been introduced to only a couple of years prior. Such scouring of this site, (as well as mp3.com, myspace.com, and soundclick.com) led me to the likes of Raiderz of The Lost, Knine, Viktory, and many others who have since stepped out of plain sight. Varied styles (qualitywere available at every click and page turn, but on the particular day at the edge of my remembrance I was introduced to one of my longtime favorites - Japhia Life. 

Somewhere in the abyss that birthed the trend that saw Christian rappers throwing "Parental Advisory - Explicit Truth" stickers in the corner of their album covers came the idea that the hottest rap singles on that secular radio station you don't listen to needed redemption. Why create an original piece of respectable art when you can rip the youtube beat and sprinkle a little sermon in it? It's a recipe for instant relevance, plus a non-believer may stumble on the holy hip-hop remix of "I'm Different" while searching for the official version and have a revelation.

(courtesy of KINGMovement.com)

I recently attended an event where a well-known Black pastor was preaching. Hip, relatively young and Baptist, he delivered a scintillating sermon on social justice that at times had the audience cheering loudly. While I loved his message of empowering the poor and providing equal opportunities for the downtrodden, I was more than a bit turned off by the way he quoted three popular secular rappers as if they were Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois.

He wasn’t quoting KRS-One, Chuck D or Dead Prez, mind you. Nah, the cats whose lyrics he recited with such gusto and admiration rose to worldwide fame by promoting themselves as pimps and glorifying selling drugs to Black people. Yet in a sermon in which this Reverend chastised the rich and powerful for their refusal to share the wealth and hammered the holy rollers for ignoring scriptures that address social justice, he saw fit to exalt dudes who flaunt their affluence in the faces of poor, struggling Blacks, who advocate the type of promiscuous lifestyle that helps fuel the fatherless crisis and all the negative outcomes that come with it, and who brag about their role in a drug game that’s sent millions of brothers to prison or the grave. (read more at KINGMovement.com)

I will give you fair warning. In this piece I will be talking about race, racial slurs, and swear words related to Sho Baraka's Talented Xth album. If you feel that you do not want to read those words please stop reading.  

Challenging, rough, raw, provoking, and stirring are not the only words I can think off to describe Talented Xth. From start to finish you get a very pure African-American-inspired musical sound. The ideas presented are profound and are written to a group of people who are the progeny of black Americans.

Yesterday, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, marked the release of Sho Barka‘s Talented Xth album.

The well-produced and though-out project comes from an artist who used to be signed to the biggest Christian rap label around (Reach Records) but who now says that, although he’s still firmly a believer in Jesus Christ, he’s no longer interested in making music for the “Christian market.”

It’s also garnering some buzz for the song “Jim Crow” that was previously titled “N—a Island” and uses that term within its hook.

Read the list, we’ll talk after.

This post is aimed at those considering becoming a Christian Rapper full time or for a career.

1. Most Christian Rappers lose money!
   There are very few Christian rappers that turn a profit at the end of the year. Very few. Most lose money for years.
2. You think booking is easy??
   Churches aren’t excited to book artists they aren’t familiar with. There are hundreds of artists competing both nationally and locally. You have to be exceptional to be randomly selected. Most bookings are secured by relationship and hard-work.
3. You’re expecting quick results
   The first several years of this will require tremendous personal investment of time and resources with very little return, or promise of return. Add a comment

Within the past year we've witnessed a rise in Christian artists engaging the hip hop culture both abroad and at home in the states. It has allowed the Body to impact nearly all major media outlets that have for some time, been seemingly obstinate against the christian culture. For nearly a decade , Atlanta has been known for being a launching pad for a massive amount of artists,that have saturated the airwaves from Lil Jon to Future, and now Trinidad James. An artist by the name of JusThoughtZ has been afforded the opportunity to perform at a concert called Spoiled Milk at Center Stage in Atlanta, however, this is not just a mere concert. A recent write up by Atlanta's largest creative publication Creative Loafing states, "Atlanta's indie hip-hop scene is going through some changes...The Spoiled Milk concert series provides the opportunity for Atlanta's indie artists to get their names out to the public, and to display their talents by taking the concert experience in a different direction, allowing fans to participate in curating the event by voting for the artist they want to see perform."

I'm not delusional this may not be your first experience with me. Greetings, my name is Edward Shelton. My writing tone in dealing with theology in Christian HipHop to some may be a bit much. I know that there are many who have a far greater understanding of the genre then me. I have Masters of Divinity yet I work as a security guard for a living. Apparently I don't know that much. What I do know is that lower standards lower the culture.

With this minor mimicry of Propaganda's introductory song on the album Excellent I hope to set the tone of the analysis of this masterpiece of Christian HipHop.

I know that this review may seem out of pocket. But it has been in me for a while. We are going to look at Sean Slaughter’s Prototype album. I will say that this was quite an undertaking. The first major hurdle for me is that Sean Slaughter does a great job making everything excellently clear theologically. So trying to pull hidden gems out has been a challenge. Since I am a What in the Ham Sandwich?! podcast listener I know a lot of Sean's thought patterns and mind sets. So I had to put a lot of my assumptions to the side and look closely at just the content of the album. So let’s get into the meat of it shall we?

Rapper JayLafé recently wrote an article about innovation in music.

Wow! Is there a recent rise in a younger generation of youth starting to represent Christ on the microphone? I think it is exciting to see such a Christ centered passion in hip hop coming from young MC’s under 17 years old. Wouldn’t you agree?

Saturday night, I experienced one of the most humbling experiences in my life. I won DJ of the Year at the 2012 Kingdom Choice Awards. Then, in less than 10 minutes later, I was presented with the Kingdom Excellence Award at the same ceremony. I knew the latter was coming. But had no idea I’d win DJ of the Year. A mix of emotions flooded my mind.