Falling in Love with Christian Hip Hop
I remember when me and a friend used to drive back and forth from the county of Chesterfield, VA to the county of Henrico, VA to attend church.
A lot of times, we would leave the house of God and turn on Nipsey Hussle, Rocko and Future, a Tupac mix cd, or something else that takes us clean out the presence of God (don’t judge us, we were babes, unsanctified)! But that’s the music we loved at that time. But one time, we happen to have the local gospel station on and Willie Moore Jr. introduced a song that was so beautiful, and it was rap! Me and my friend raved all the home; we were so impressed! The beat, the lyrics, the message, and the heart of the song was so pure but bumping! I tried to make note of the artist so I could find it later on Youtube (this was the age right before streaming music via Apple Music and Spotify began). We were so disappointed that we could not find the rapper or song anywhere online.
Fastforward a few years later, me and husband were on the verge of divorce and so we found some young pastors that were willing to counsel us together. So, after some sessions and supernatural encounters with God while attending their services, we decided to attend their ministry on Sundays. Well, a few Sundays of arriving early, and the pastor was playing music that sounded like us! Now I was familiar with Canton Jones, but I had no idea Eshon Burgundy, Datin, Mahoghany Jones, HeeSun Lee, Trip Lee and others existed! My heart was touched that I could get bass, bars, and Jesus all from one song, and what was better is that I am hearing it inside the sanctuary. IT CHANGED MY LIFE! I knew from then on, that I had found my tribe. I knew this was this sound that I wanted to hear and be a part of FOREVER!
I begin to search, and then I bought a subscription and started streaming every Christian hip hop artist, and I took over the music at my church. We don’t have a band; we have me, DJ in training (long, long, training). Next, God said “oh, you came in right at the perfect time!”
At the same time that I start digging my heels in, a young man right here in my hometown name C. Goss with the same (if not more) love for this genre begin having a local annual concert called Domination RVA featuring the latest and hottest Christian hip hop female and male artists and some amazing Rhythm and Praise singers. I was home! I had a space to get hyped, get lit, get turnt, rock out, vibe, spazz, and all those other words we use to party and it was all in the name of the Lord. Heaven on Earth!
Though, I feel like I am on the old side when I am in those crowds, I don’t care. I am home. I am free. I am new. This is me. Christian Hip Hop reminds me I belong. To have a whole sea, a whole world of young and old, on fire, Holy Spirit filled, lyric spitting, beat riding rappers, producers, and songwriters, from coast-to-coast poets, warriors, intercessors, ministers, musicians, and worshippers fills my heart! I can praise and worship Jesus with 808s and BPMs over 100. I can bounce and bob the same way I would before but feel better than I did when I use to be drunk off the alcohol. I can play my music at any cookout or car ride and not feel embarrassed about the cussing. I can celebrate my marriage and not listen to rappers lie about the women and men they sleep with. I don’t have to worry that the videos are going to steer my children into a lifestyle that is false and harmful to their future. I don’t have to worry about hearing explicit sex imagery that is too raunchy for my sons. I hear Christian rappers talking about every subject under the sun. From Jazz rap, Boom Bap, Trap, Melodic rap, Country Tunes, West Coast vibing, Texas swangin, Lyric heavy, Gangsta ministry, Grass roots poetry, NOLA bounce, Hood saving, Emo music, to UK Jesus drill, Spanish rap, Afrobeats, Motherland rap, Reggae, and all in between, I literally can find any and every sound within the genre. I can get videos, photography, merch, podcasts, radio, concerts, books, that all are extensions of the goodness and broad creativity of GOD! Within Christian rap, I can turn up, I can cry, I can think about politics and justice, I can hear scripture, I can laugh, I can party, I can hope, and most importantly, I can look to Heaven, gaze upon the glory of the True and Living Most High God and Father of all and wait for the marvelous day that I will be before Him at His Throne of Grace. And all of this is made available because of the sacrifice and resurrection of our King, our Savior Jesus Christ. Wow!
Christian Hip Hop, you are my sisters and brothers in Christ and I want to thank you for walking out your purpose, calling and assignment, to spread the news of Jesus over some banging beats. Thank you for facing your fears of stage fright, overcoming depression and anxiety, and/or being vulnerable enough to share your art and your testimony all for the glorification of God. Thank you for not being swayed by the world to do the opposite of what God says. Thank you for being authentic and creative. Thank you for working on your craft to perfect it and putting all of your might into your gift. Thank you for trusting the voice the Spirit and moving when He says move. Thank you for sharing your journey with Christ to the world and subjecting yourself to so much criticism. Thank you for being brave enough to try new sounds. Thank you for learning and teaching others about business. Thank you for displaying the character of Christ. Thank you for failing and getting back up. Your work does not go unnoticed. God bless.
