Faith
Joe Fields, Big Minista, and a few other artists expected to spread the Gospel when they were invited to perform at a community concert in a small, Kentucky town. But with 10 minutes remaining of their performance, an attendee rudely stopped them.
“That’s not of God,” the man said. “They can’t be of God.”
In the ensuing commotion, gang members and dope dealers who had watched the concert from the street confronted Fields and his friends, upset and offended by their message.
“Stop denoucin’ our lifestyle or we’re goin’ to have to escort you out of the city,” they said.
A short time later, blue lights shined on Fields and his friends.
“It’s time to go,” the police said, and they were escorted out of the city.
The way the people in that small town reacted toward the message Fields and his friends delivered touched a nerve. Why would the people in that small town feel anger toward the music? Could it be the message that was delivered or could it be the way the message was presented?
It’s a delimma other Gospel hip hop artists face, even as their genre gains popularity through famed performers including Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin. The music, with its thumping bass beats, synthesized vocals and samples from secular sounds, is met with mixed response in the Christian community. Fans tout the music’s appeal to youths who may hear the message because of the music while opponents argue that the message is lost to the music.
The question remains for parents, ministers of music, and pastors: Can Gospel Hip Hop Be Holy?
Yes and no, said Melinda Middleton, associate minister of Saint John Missionary Baptist Church in Lexington.
On one hand, the music is a tool to reach today’s youths, who may not be drawn by more traditional gospel music, she said.
“I feel it’s opening a door to a thing that they understand,” said Middleton. “I believe that in this day’s society and generation that the way the songs are presented can be a positive to help them overcome some of the obstacles in their lives.”
Adam Greenway of Andover Baptist Church in Lexington agreed.
“There are many generations that come from backgrounds or settings where that kind of music resonates with them and their life experiences,” he said.
On the other hand, though, the music must be clear about the message of Christ and His saving grace, said Middleton. In other words, the message must be as loud and clear as the beat.
“We have to make sure that it’s not worldly to where there’s a lot of dance that exposes the body and there’s a lot of things that are not becoming,” said Middleton. “I’ve met quite a few youth that said they were drawn to God because of [Gospel] Hip Hop music. They were actually listening to the words. There was a beat and a song that really helped them get an understanding of what it really meant.”
Derrick Johnson, a Gospel Hip Hop artist with the group New Praise, said the music helps reach people on the streets.
“If you’re goin’ out to the people we’re tryin’ to reach some of them could come from the streets and they’d never set foot in a church before, but they’ve listened to rap music,” said Johnson.
Fields tries to get young people excited and involved at concerts. He uses lights and a fog machine as well as a lot of bass.
“Ultimately, Holy Hip Hop is a vehicle to draw them in,” said Fields.
Johnson likes to express to the young people that there’s nothing wrong with getting loud for Jesus and praising Him. Johnson talks to the crowd encouraging them to get loud for Jesus and to go crazy in their worship.
“There’s a strange misconception that church people are supposed to be bored, be boring, real quiet, and not have any life,” said Johnson. “When your Father’s a King you’re supposed to act like it, have fun, [and] enjoy yourself, [but] just keep it holy.”
Still, Johnson and Fields say they are careful how they present their music and themselves. In particular, they make sure that the way they dress is not provocative or vulgar and does not take the focus off their message and music.
“We don’t do the saggin’ of the pants,” said Fields. “That showin’ your underwear and doin’ the plumber thing [is] not cool.”
What Measure Should People Take When Considering Gospel Hip Hop to be Holy?
Middleton said that it is important for parents to pay attention to what their children listen to.
“[Parents] need to hear the music because there are some positives that really help,” said Middleton. “Look over the music and listen to the words [and ask yourself], ‘Is this going to help them or is this going to hinder [them]?”’
How Will Gospel Hip Hop Make A Holy Change in People?
Johnson sees Gospel Hip Hop guiding youth in a positive direction.
“It’s goin’ to get some young people into ministry some how,” said Johnson.
Fields said Gospel Hip Hop changes lives through the words. It’s really not the music, it’s the testimony in the words through which lives are affected, said Fields. “I believe that we’re not only makin’ an impact just in the Christian community but we also makin’ an impact in the secular community.”
People have positive and negative opinions of Gospel Hip Hop Music in their response to this type of music.
What Are The Negative Opinions Of Gospel Hip Hop?
Greenway said many do not understand it.
“It’s seen as confined to a certain culture, certain ethnic group and is not really become mainstreamed in terms of reaching all classes, all races, and all personal types,” said Greenway.
Sandra Brooks, member of Bethel Harvest Church in Lexington, KY, said since she is older she has a hard time hearing the words.
Debra Smalley, faithful to praise and worship music, said some of the groups take it too far.
“To me they try to emulate what’s already out there in the world,” said Smalley. “They try to make it worldly to try to appeal it to the mass.”
What Are The Positive Opinions of Gospel Hip Hop?
You get to hear some successful results when listening to Gospel Hip Hop, said Leslie M. Gore, writer of various genres including Gospel Hip Hop.
“The only difference between Hip Hop and Gospel Hip Hop is that you’re adding a solution to the problem,” said Gore. “We’re gonna talk about how hard life is, but at the end of the song you got Jesus.”
Gospel Hip Hop is reaching people by preaching Jesus and telling them about eternal life that Jesus offers them, said Fields.
How Are Gospel Hip Hop Fans Inspired By Testimonies Artists Share In Their Lyrics?
“It uplifts me,” said James Higgins, 34, faithful to Gospel Hip Hop. “It’s positive. The more young people get involved in it the more the message and the positive [affects] will be spread out to the world.”
Ian McComas, a Gospel Rap lyracist, found himself drawn to the music because he found it to be therapeutic when writing his own lyrics. As a young man, McComas faced some obstacles but a Gospel Hip Hop artist, Jeremiah Morton, gave him words of encouragement after rapping at a church in Lexington.
“I realized it was much bigger than the music,” said McComas. “He wanted to help me, and I saw that.”
That connection with Morton was what drew McComas to Christ. After meeting Morton he began listening to Gospel Rap more. The lyrics the artists speak impacted him powerfully, he said.
“I’ve been very convicted about sin because the artist are touching on a lot of issues,” said McComas.
Gospel Hip Hop Music is a tool that many artists use to reach people.
“When you have somethin’ new everybody’s skeptical of it. But when you see the affect of it causin’ change in a young person’s life, then how you goin’ to be upset with people whose given their life to Christ,” said Johnson? “If you have a problem with that then I have a problem with the fruits on your tree.”
Gospel Rap is a way of connecting with people, said McComas. It isn’t the music that made him find Jesus, but it was the Spirit of God, he added.
“The only way that anyone can get saved is because of the Holy Spirit,” said McComas. “The Bible says that it is the Holy Spirit that draws men to God. Gospel Rap was a vehicle that guided me.”
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