Christian hip hop
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2008-07-11T05:30:17Z
SilverOrion
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{{Christian music}}
'''Christian hip hop''' (originally '''Gospel rap''', also known as '''holy hip hop''' or '''Christ hop''') is a form of [[hip hop music]] which uses [[Christian]] themes to express the songwriter's faith. Only during the 1990s did the term "Christian hip hop" become descriptive of this type of music. While the audience is typically Christian, the music is also used in (Christian) [[missions]] work for the purpose of [[evangelization]]. Christian rap and hip hop artists are often professed Christians who often use their background to spread the religion's beliefs.
==History==
The first commercially released and distributed Gospel rap album was [[Stephen Wiley]]'s 1985 album ''[[Bible Break]]'', distributed by [[Benson Music Group]].<ref>[http://www.kingdomcareers.com/about.html Kingdom Careers - Find out who we are<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Stephen_Wiley/Bible_Break/44557/ Stephen Wiley - Bible Break<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.josefsorett.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/beatsrhymesbiblestaap-websiteexcerpt.pdf Beats, Rhymes and Bibles: An Introduction To Gospel Hip Hop<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Reverend DeWayne GoLightly (aka [[Rev. Rap']]) was the first Christian hip-hop artist without a commercially released Gospel rap cassette. More commercially successful was the crew known as [[P.I.D.]] (short for Preachas In Disguise) who released two popular, funky Gospel rap recordings ("Here We Are" and "Back to Back", along with some later albums).
In the late 1980s, other crews emerged, including [[dc Talk]] and [[S.F.C]] (Soldiers For Christ). S.F.C was led by Californian African-American [[Chris Cooper (rapper)|Chris Cooper]] who originally rapped as Super C (short for Super Chris / Super Christian) and later became Sup the Chemist and then finally Soup the Chemist. Chris Cooper & S.F.C. were instrumental in bringing up and exposing newer Gospel groups such as [[T-Bone (rapper)|T-Bone]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. Christian emcee [[D-Boy|Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez]] was another well known early Gospel rap artist but was murdered in 1990 in [[Texas]].<ref name="DBoy">[http://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist.php?id=5581 CMA: Danny 'D-Boy' Rodriguez]</ref>
The 1990s saw the continuing trend of funky rap artists blending faith and rap, such as [[Disciples of Christ (hip hop)|D.O.C.]] (Disciples of Christ) who emerged out of [[Oklahoma]] as well as the [[Gospel Gangstaz]] from [[Compton, California|Compton]] and [[South Central]] [[Los Angeles, California]]. Additional artists made a considerable impact on the Christian hip-hop scene. Such artists that contributed were [[Dynamic Twins]], Freedom of Soul, IDOL King, Apocalypse. S.F.C.'s (Sup, QP, DJ Dove) 1992 album ''Phase III'' is considered to be a turning point in Christian rap.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} ''Phase III'' was DJed and produced by [[DJ Dove]], whose credits also include the ''Gang Affiliated'', Gospel Gangstas' 1993 debut album.
Around the same time as ''Phase III'', Dynamic Twins (Robbie and Noel) came out with their 1993 album ''No Room To Breathe''. This album had a more hardcore "street" feel to it than other albums at the time.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} Freedom Of Soul (MC Peace, DJ Cartoon) followed with their second album, ''The Second Coming'', (''Caught in a land of time'' was their first) also their last album as a group. Freedom of Soul had a jazzier feel; MC Peace (later known as Peace 586) was known for his smooth flow and delivery.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} P.I.D. around this time re-invented themselves as the group Preachas, although their only album under that name was ''Violent Playgrounds''.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
One of the major influences in the genre came with the formation of [[Gotee Records]] in 1994, cofounded by [[DC Talk]] member [[TobyMac|Toby McKeehan]], making it the first record label marketed explicitly for Christian Hip-hop and R&B that was backed by a major label. The label was among the first to market the [[Contemporary Christian Music]] market through distribution at [[Christian bookstores]] and playing on [[Christian radio]]. This Trend continued with other labels such as [[Tooth & Nail Records|Tooth & Nail's]] [[Uprok Records]] and others which gave an outlet to hip-hop artists who identified themselves as Christian and wanted a broader market. However, much of the sales of these Christian record labels was purchased by people brought up in the church and 70-80% of them being white.<ref name="AmericasHolyHipHop">[http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Americas_Holy_HipHop/7033/p1/ CrossRhythms: America's Holy Hip-Hop]</ref> Recently, a number of artists and labels such as [[Cross Movement Records]], [[Gotee Records]],[[LifeLite Records Media Group]], [[Syntax Records]] and [[Deepspace5 Records]], and The New Unstoppable Records have purposely tried to market more to people who did not grow up in church as well as more to urban markets.<ref name="gospelflava">[http://www.gospelflava.com/columns/hiphop.html Gospel Flava:Hip Hop Column]</ref>
In addition, many major Gospel stars were getting in on the hip-hop & rap genre. [[Kirk Franklin]] joined with the 1 Nation Crew in the album [[Kirk Franklin presents 1NC]]. Gospel legend Pastor [[Shirley Caesar]] recorded a stunning duet "I Know The Truth" with [[Tonex]] in which she raps.
==Artists and style==
''See also: [[Performers of Christian hip hop music]]''
There has been a segmentation of the musical artists in the genre. Some see themselves as preachers or ministers who [[proselytize]] to "non-believers"" or try to preach a positive message using hip-hop as a medium. While others choose to be simply hip-hop artists who are expressing themselves and since they are Christian, their music would contain expression of their faith (some of these artists include [[Manafest]], [[Lecrae]], Skribbal, and T Bone.) This also relates to the argument similar in [[Christian rock]] and other [[Christian music]] genres where some artists welcome being called Christian artists while others would not want to be labeled as "Christian" so to not tie them down to the Christian music market. Others see themselves somewhere in the middle, who may constantly acknowledge their faith in songs but are not typically considered Christian hip hop artists and see themselves as both preachers and entertainers and welcome acceptance in both the Christian music market as well as [[Crossover (music)|crossing over]] into secular markets.<ref name="rapzilla holywar">[http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/107/ Rapzilla.com: Holy Hip Hop’s Civil War]</ref>
While many notable studios and artists share influence in Holy hip-hop, no one style dominates. Christian hip hop features all conventional hip hop styles. There are many styles (just like secular) such as Westcoast and Eastcoast.
==Reaction and Acceptance==
===Christian Music Industry===
As with many inchoate and newly formed musical genres and subgenres of [[Christian Music]], Christian hip-hop initially had difficulty finding an audience. Founded in 2002, Pioneering talent firm TRÜ PRAISE Productions was the first all Christian Hip Hop booking agency and soon became the Premier Booking Management Agency and Marketing Firm for Gospel Hip Hop Artists. Despite early rejection, Christian hip-hop has managed to follow other forms of Christian music, such as [[Christian metal]], in becoming a dominant force within [[contemporary Christian music]]. Christian music awards shows such as the [[GMA Dove Awards]] and [[Stellar Awards]] have added rap and hip hop categories.<ref name="GMA">[http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=34 GMA Dove Awards History: Rap/Hip Hop recorded song of the year]</ref><ref name="Stellar">[http://www.gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2007.html 22nd Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2007)]</ref>.
===Performances===
Live events such as [[RapFest]] (held annually in August in [[New York City]]) as well as conferences such as [[Flavor Fest]] (held annually in November at [[Crossover Church]] in [[Tampa, Florida]]), the Holy Hip Hop Music Awards & Artist Showcase(held annually in January in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]), and the Texas Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards (held annually in [[Houston, Texas]]) have helped to foster the genre among evangelical youth and young adults. FIRE FEST conducts nationwide Gospel Hip Hop Artist Retreats, Artists/Industry Conferences, 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. Other notable events include [[The Yuinon]] and [[H.P.]], based in [[Detroit, Michigan]].{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
===Media===
Websites which cater to Christian hip-hop include [[Rapzilla]] [http://www.rapzilla.com] and SphereofHipHop.com. HolyHipHop.com exceeded 140,000 Digital Downloads in 2006. Christian hip hop themed videos and DVDs are also increasing in availability and popularity. [[Christopher "Play" Martin]] (formerly of [[Kid 'N Play]]) released a DVD on [[Amen Films]] entitled ''Holy Hip Hop'' which made it to Blockbuster Video Stores in March 2006.<!--Direct references only-->{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
===Churches and Christian Audiences===
Some church congregations have adopted hip hop-themed musical worship. 2007 Holy Hip Hop Music Awards received appearances by Kurtis Blow, GrandMaster Caz, Cheryl "Salt" Wray and even Mase walked in unannounced and went to Pastor Eddie Velez on stage in front of a packed audience to apologize for saying that Christian rap was not of God five years earlier. 2007 Holy Hip Hop Music Awards also 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.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} However, other people and churches see "Holy Hip-Hop" and still associate it with the mainstream [[Hip hop culture]] which they view as incompatible with [[Christianity]]'s teachings. <ref name="HolyHipHop_NOT">[http://www.gospelexpressions.org/ Holy Hip Hop. NOT!]</ref>
===Secular Audiences===
Holy hip-hop has enjoyed some [[Crossover (music)|crossover]] acceptance as well. One of the early accepted artists were [[Disciples of Christ (hip hop)|D.O.C.]], who matured under the guidance of former [[Prince (singer)|Prince]] guitarist and vocalist [[Dez Dickerson]],{{Fact|date=February 2007}} while the gritty Gospel Gangstaz were ex-[[Bloods]] and ex-[[Crips]] who began ministering to gang-affiliated street youths and winning fans from [[Interscope]] to [[Snoop Dogg]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
One of the most notable mainstream reactions to Gospel rap was to [[KJ-52]] (pronounced "five-two") and his single "Dear Slim", which was written to [[Eminem]] in an attempt reach him with the message of Christ. The song became famous and controversial among Eminem fans when it was featured on the hit show ''[[Total Request Live]]''. KJ-52 began to receive [[hate mail]] (including death threats) from Eminem's fans, though KJ-52 claimed that the song was not a "diss".<ref name="KJInterview">[http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2003/kj52-0903.html ChristianMusicToday.com: KJ-52 Interview — Getting It Right]</ref> This also led to the single being disparaged by [[VH1]] as # 26 on their "Top 40 Worst Moments in Hip Hop"<ref name="VH1 Top 40 Worst Moments in Hip Hop">[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4361045648095264170&q=thoughtquotient video.google.com: KJ-52 - 2006 GMA Music Awards]</ref>, an issue the artist addressed in a follow-up song titled "Dear Slim Pt. 2".
The [[United Kingdom]] has also recently received Christian rap with groups such as [[Jahaziel (band)|Jahaziel]] and [[One Love (band)|One Love]]; although their music has been increasingly played in underground Christian hip hop circles, they have yet to achieve mainstream success. Recently Jahaziel Received airplay on Londons [[Choice FM]] with DJ [[Richard Blackwood]] as the host who has expressed a liking for his work, namely the song "In My Neighbourhood". The hip-hop gospel scene is also in [[Japan]], with artists such as [[Yoshi Blessed]] and [[Hinds 57]] who is now in the comedic pop group [[BAD]]. In other countries Christian hip hop has been present in recent years, for example in Germany and South Africa.
Nigeria has over the years also been influenced by spiritual hip-hop culture. Several groups have been formed blending Western flow with contemporary Nigerian culture, causing There is a strong following of Christian rap. Artists such as [[Roof Top MCs]] and [[Bouqui]] are making Gospel Hip-Hop mainstream.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
*www.holycultureradio.com
*www.holyculturedownload.com
*www.holyculturerecordpool.com
*www.illspot.net
*www.dasouth.com
*www.sphereofhiphop.com
*www.hiphopforthesoul.com
*www.flavoralliance.com
*www.GospelMusic.org
*www.GospelFlava.com
*www.GospelCity.com
*www.trupraise.com
==See also==
*[[Christian music]]
*[[Performers of Christian hip hop music]]
*[[Rapzilla]]
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[[Category:Christian hip hop| ]]
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