opinions about Christian Hip-hop

[SonshineTHEHOPEBOY]

i know on this site Christian Hip-hop is the minority but let me know your thoughts on it.... sometimes i like to be a sociologist lol

[Tyger]

To me hip hop has always been about four things: Story, Message, Style & Lyricism. It would seem in my opinion that Christian hip hop should have this on lock. The bible is a quick reference for great stories that people can go back to and relate in some way to their lives. God's love, Jesus' life and how we struggle, relate and learn from it all make for what I would think is great source material for any emcee to send a powerful message. Most emcees regardless of the genre touch on one of those two. Even the ones that just talk about how great they are tell a story and push a message even if there's little "REAL" substance behind it (or if anyone wants to hear it for that matter). I mean "I'm the best and this is why" is a standard story in hip hop anyone can use and flip in their own way, yet somehow God Loves You in my opinion hasn't brought about the same level of creativity and originality. At least not in the abundance that I would hope for.

As for the last two, it seems this is the biggest gripe I've always had. Style and Lyricism are already mutually exclusive in commercial hip hop. Its almost an endangered species in the Christian variety. Sure there are emcees out there that understand that its not just the message but how you spit it but Hip Hop in general has been somehow missing out on this all around. I actually heard a guy one time say I'm talking about God so it doesn't matter how I spit it. What he forgot is that music educates AND entertains. Mind you this is all just my opinion but at the end of the day after listening to a lot of up and coming Christian emcees hoping to find something that resonates with me the same way some commercial or even underground artists do I've found myself disappointed to a large degree. I want to hear the stories about the Christians day to day struggle, how we party together and have fun (Christians do that but somehow we don't write songs about it), how we love and deal with relationships, how we fail sometimes (or often depending on what you're willing to admit to yourself). I mean where are those songs at?

Anyhow that's my rant. End of the day I love Christian Hip Hop just like I love commercial hip hop because I can connect and relate to the stories and the message wrapped up with skill and lyricism. I think if emcees put more into those four things no matter what the subject they would reach more people. Meanwhile I'll bump my chosen few and hope I run into a few more that'll catch my ear.

[SonshineTHEHOPEBOY]

yea thats whats up! im trying to be more of a story telling type emcee in the near future. i am looking for work now so im not really doing music now, but i see where youre coming from. sometimes people dont want to be too personal behind the mic..... that can be a bad thing in alot of instances. but we all have our own styles and approaches. to me at the end of the day no matter what a song is about it music point directly to Jesus Christ being the only means of salvation. i know in most cases Hip-hoppers tend to be more philisophical and dont really affirm any absolute truths..... they think the Bible is irrelevant but if you really dig deep into history and actually read scripture the Bible dosent contradict. old and new testaments interpret each other. so to me no matter how real i am in talking about everyday issues, i try to also convey the supremecy of Christ. he is the only way!!!!!!