Christian hip hop
Christian Hip Hop | |
---|---|
Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | 1980s, United States |
Christian hip hop (originally gospel rap, also known as Christian rap, gospel hip hop or holy hip hop) is a cross-genre of contemporary Christian music and hip hop music. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United States during the 1980s.
Christian hip hop music first emerged on record in 1982 with a track entitled "Jesus Christ (The Gospel Beat)" by Queens, New York artist McSweet. The first full-length, Christian hip hop album,
History and notable examples
The first commercially released and distributed gospel hip hop record was MC Pete Harrison of Queens, New York. Under the recording name McSweet, he released The Gospel Beat: Jesus-Christ (1982), written and arranged by Harrison and produced by Mac Sulliver on Lection Records of
Jon Gibson (or J.G.) is also considered a pioneer of Christian pop rap,[20][21][22] with his first rap solo being "Ain't It Pretty" (1985).[23] CCM's first rap hit by a blue-eyed soul singer and/or duo, "The Wall" was later released on Gibson's successful album Change of Heart (1988),[24] and featured MC Hammer (previously as the Holy Ghost Boys).[25] Other tracks included the hit "Love Come Down" and "In Too Deep" from Jesus Loves Ya (1990).[26] Gibson also collaborated with MC Peace on "Enough Is Enough" (1990),[27] "Happy to Know Jesus" (1992)[28] and "You Are the One" (1992).[29]
Other rap groups emerged in the late 1980s, including
The trend of rap artists blending faith and rap continued in the 1990s, with
More Christian rap artists include Dynamic Twins, Freedom of Soul, IDOL King, Apocalypse, 12th Tribe, and Holy Alliance. 12th Tribe and Holy Alliance were produced by
Grapetree Records was the first Christian rap label founded by Knolly Williams and Jeff Adams 1994.
Gotee Records formed in 1994, co-founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan, better known as TobyMac, making it the first record label marketed explicitly for Christian hip hop and R&B that was backed by a major label.[33][34] The label was among the first to market the Contemporary Christian music market through distribution at Christian bookstores and playing on Christian radio.
In 2004, the founding of the label Reach Records by the Americans Lecrae and Ben Washer also had a considerable influence in the development of Christian hip-hop.[35][36] In 2015, the label have been setting records with sales and award-winning albums.[37]
Influence and style of artists
Although generally described to be Christian rappers, artists such as Lecrae, Andy Mineo, KB, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Social Club Misfits, NF, John Givez, Derek Minor and Propaganda describe themselves as hip hop artists who are expressing themselves, yet are openly Christian.[38] Just like in Christian rock and other Christian music genres, some artists welcome being called Christian artists while others do not want to be labeled as "Christian music", as to not limit their music to the Christian music market.
The record label Ministers of the Underground was one of the few labels to showcase underground hip hop with the group, Secta 7. Members included: Apocalypse, Optixs, Blackseed, Lord Metatron, Righteous Knight, Kaoticgal (who later was known as Keturah Ariel), O.N.E., The Final Chapter, A.T.O.M. the Immortal and Stress. Ministers of the Underground had a small-time show on Christian television, but was taken off the networks when Christian television opted for more orthodox style programming. The Ministers of Underground hosted events at a series of venues under the name CRU VENTION, or the convention of Underground Hip Hop for Christ, until around the year 2001.
A few Christian rappers have emerged from Atlanta, including Remnant Militia and D.I.R.T. While many notable studios and artists share influence in holy hip hop, not one style dominates. Christian hip hop features all conventional hip hop styles, such as Midwest (Hostyle Gospel), West Coast (T-Bone), East Coast (BB Jay), Dirty South (Pettidee) and King Wes. Some, such as DC Talk, include a mixture of hip hop, rock and gospel music in their songs.
Christian hip hop is also embraced and performed in the United Kingdom, by Gospel rappers including: Jahaziel, Dwayne Tryumf, Guvna B, Triple O, Sammy G, Simply Andy, MpFree[39] and Just C.
In the UK, Christian hip hop is often merged with a music style known as grime, which gives the music a different sound from American hip hop. Many agree that grime music originated in London's black community and is predominantly described as a secular genre. Although British, grime music has a strong Jamaican influence as many of the artists are of British-Caribbean heritage.[40] The GL Live music event 2010, held in the United Kingdom, included a fusion of Christian rappers (both American and British) celebrate their faith together whilst demonstrating their own unique styles. The event was attended by Trip Lee and Tedashii, who performed several songs during the event including "Jesus Muzik" and "No Worries".
Reaction and acceptance
Industry
Christian music awards shows such as the
Markets
There is no identifiable Christian hip hop market, as the majority of Christian hip hop has been underground, or marketed towards the mainstream Christian music scene.
In Australia, a multi-denominational group of Christian hip hop artists, led by Mistery from Brethren, have started a hip hop church, Krosswerdz.[45] The church has been modeled on Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida.
A small Christian hip hop scene has also emerged in the UK.
Festivals
Rap Fest is an all-day, outdoor, evangelistic outreach concert which takes place every summer. 2011 marked the 18th year for this event held annually in South Bronx area of New York City.
Flavor Fest Urban Leadership Conference is held yearly at Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida, founded by Pastor Tommy Kyllonen, lead pastor of Crossover Church of Tampa.[46]
Fire Fest International Ministries was founded by Charles Onley (a.k.a. King C) in conjunction with Terence A. Townsend, "Apostle T", founder of Save Our City Crusades and Conferences (SoCity) to reach the international community of holy hip hop with a message of encouragement, enrichment, education and unity. Fire Fest conducts artist retreats, artists/industry conferences and new artists showcases, and is a traveling music festival organized to encourage and enrich holy hip hop artists in their ministries, while giving them insight on navigating the music industry.
"
Crossover
Holy hip hop has enjoyed some
One of the most notable mainstream reactions to Gospel rap was to
Christian symbols and themes have also been invoked by rap artists who do not consider themselves "Christian rappers", and do not claim to represent any particular set of religious beliefs. Examples include
Mainstream and radio
In 2003 DJ/Producer Vic Padilla shared his love for Christian Hip Hop with then KRUX FM Program Director Lee- and was subsequently asked to host a show he dubbed Holy Culture Radio. Fans would have to stay up to odd hours to listen, as the show was only broadcast live. Vic then partnered up with JZ Designs to bring HolyCultureRadio.com to life- bringing fans 24/7 access to Christian Hip Hop.
In 2008, HolyCultureRadio partnered with The Corelink Solution, and James “Trig” Rosseau, and a year later launched HolyCulture.net; a place where listeners could get the latest news, videos, and interviews from their favorite Christian artists.
Artists like Lecrae, who released his album Anomaly on September 9, 2014, through Reach Records.The album achieved mainstream success as it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of over 88,000 copies in the United States.[59] On October 6, 2017, Christian hip hop artist NF released his third studio album Perception, through Capitol CMG alongside NF's newly launched label NF Real Music LLC. Perception debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 55,000 album-equivalent units, including 38,000 pure album sales.[60]
In 2018, the Holy Culture Mobile App was launched- the first app solely streaming Christian Hip Hop and R&P (rhythm and praise) around the clock.
In 2019, Christian hip hop had a historic breakthrough in radio, when Los Angeles based radio station
The Stellar Awards did something unprecedented at its radio awards main show when it opened up with hip hop[64] and featured performances with DJ Dwight Stone who won "Gospel Announcer of the Year",[62] Miz Tiffany (first CHH female nominated for a Stellar Award), Emcee N.I.C.E. & Jor'Dan Armstrong.
In April 2022, with the increased demand for Christian Hip Hop and Rhythm & Praise, Sirius XM announced the launch of Holy Culture Radio, where audiences could listen throughout the day to faith-inspired music and enjoy any of the fourteen shows within the channel. To date, Holy Culture is a go-to destination for all things Christian Hip Hop.
Acceptance and themes
Various prominent mainstream hip hop artists who profess through some of their music to be Christians (including
The use of religious themes in music that is otherwise regarded as illicit has sparked controversy over the validity of the religious messages expressed through the music. Some Christian listeners hold that "rap music, because of what it inherently communicates, is incompatible with the Christian Gospel", and attack the use of Christian themes and symbols in mainstream music as being disingenuous.[67] On the other hand, "since the mid-1990s Michael Eric Dyson and others have pointed to some cultural sensibilities shared by Christian churches and hip hop music; namely male privilege, middle-class biases, sexism, and homophobia."[68] Some analysts believe that the suffering expressed through rap music manifests itself in a certain spirituality that can be compatible with mainstream religious messages, although it approaches religious ideas in a much less direct way than most forms of religious expression. "Just as the MC slides into notes and dances around beats, "spirit" is not attacked straight on; it is courageously approached from below, from the margins, from youth, from uncertainty, through the structures of capitalism and mainstream media."[69] Some think that the use of mainstream religious symbols in predominantly African-American music has increased the extent to which that music has disseminated through predominantly white American culture.[70]
The 2007 Holy Hip Hop Music Awards received a written endorsement letter from the mayor of Atlanta, acknowledging the event's support by the City of Atlanta, and recognizing its 7th year.[71] However, EX Ministries and other churches contested the incorporation of secular hip hop culture into the Christian rap genre, holding that "Holy Hip-Hop" is still associated with the mainstream hip hop culture that they view as incompatible with Christianity's teachings.[72][73][74] Whereas many Christians hold that holy hip hop can be used to evangelize,[75] others disagree, arguing that the use of this style distorts the gospel message.[76]
From December 2013 well into 2014, Scott Aniol and Christian hip hop artist Shai Linne had a lengthy exchange about Christian rap (rap being the core element of hip hop), with Dr. Aniol arguing that the style is sinful and inadequate for Christian messages, with Shai Linne responding that the musical messaging of hip hop is relative, being interpreted differently by people from different backgrounds.[77]
Forms and subgenres
Catholic hip hop
In the early 2000s, rap artists of the Roman Catholic faith began emerging. Today, a number of active Catholic rappers and DJs are involved in what is known as the "Catholic hip hop scene".[78] Fr. Stan Fortuna is the most notable in the scene.
Lutheran hip hop
Lutheran hip hop artists include Andy Pokel, who in 2017 launched the Here I Stand album based on the events of
Gospel rap in Brazil
In Brazil, gospel rap comes out of Pentecostal and Charismatic Evangelical Protestant movements, and emphasizes the message of the Gospel and salvation through faith over black politics and identity. Gospel rappers view their music as divinely ordained, and believe their lyrics are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit speaking through them. The Brazilian gospel rap movement sees itself as divinely favored over the fallen state of rap in the US and other parts of the world, and sees its origins in the Bronx which they see as similar to their own tough neighborhoods. This reflects the gospel rap movement's emphasis on neighborhood and seeking God and opportunities for their neighborhoods.[84]
See also
References
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External links
- Christian hip hop at Curlie
- Rapzilla, a Christian Hip-Hop Magazine