I’ve been immersed in the world of Christian Hip Hop for over a little three years now.  The more shows I attend, the more I can clearly see the difference between those who get on the mic and rap for their own glory while including Jesus’ name somewhere in their verses versus those who God has sent out to reach the lost and to empower believers.  While I’m writing this my mind is going a mile a second because there’s so much that I want to get out.  I’ll try getting straight the point.  If I jump around, just hop with me OKAY.

I’ve been to shows and walked out of the building because I couldn’t stomach the artist.  All I saw was the artist in their flesh.  They got on the stage and rapped about JESUS, but their mannerisms didn’t bear witness with me.  It was apparent that they’ve gotten saved and knew how to rap so then they’ve decided to become a Christian Rap “STAR.”  On the other hand I’ve been to shows where the anointing was on the minister/rapper and I felt God’s presence.  

One day while driving this thought hit me...Anybody can be a Christian Hip Hop artist!  Real Talk ladies and gentlemen!  In the secular game, the thing that separates mainstream from local cats is guap (money, in other words) If you have the dinero to back your project, then you’re  guaranteed to have a smash album even if your album sounds like nursery rhymes from beginning to end.  However, in the field that we labor in, anybody can add Jesus’ name in their bars and BAM! what do you have?  A Christian Hip Hop artist.  Get an album together, advertise a little bit on the right Christian platform, shake hands with a few youth pastors, tell them you do Christian Rap and son you’re in there!  I know you’re probably thinking is it really that simple?  The truth is I’m just being hypothetical.  I don’t know how some people get the platform which is the stage to minister the Gospel.  I do know that I’ve seen too many people use the stage as their pulpit when they’re ill equipped.  I say ill equipped because I know personally a few people who as we speak are out here wearing the robe of a minister (rapper).  I consider rappers ministers of the Gospel.  You may think differently, but as for me, I take this Christian Hip Hop genre to heart.  That’s another topic.  So, they’re wearing the robe of a minister but is ill equipped when they themselves haven’t been through discipleship; when they’re not submitted to any form of leadership; when their character hasn’t yet been fully developed; when they’ve launched out to minister the Gospel without training or covering...the list goes on.  

The very thing that breaks my heart about seeing my brothers who are doing Christian Hip Hop for any other reason than the fact that they’ve been called is when I see them fall away from the faith.  The enemy plays for keeps and when cats get in the game thinking they can just say Jesus name a few times and act like everything is all good, then they really don’t understand or see what they’re up against.  Persecution comes on the account of the word.  If this article is talking about you, then let me just encourage you to reconsider building your foundation first on the Rock.  Find your identity in Christ instead of the reassurance that you get just because you can now call yourself a Christian Hip Hop rapper.  You want to go where God is sending you because there you will have access to a certain grace to be enable you to accomplish that which God has called you to accomplish.  I’m Rose D!  I’m out!