Anybody here listen to Christian Rap?

[Sean77]

If so, who's your favorite?

I got Stephen The Levite, Lecrae and Trip Lee in my rotation right now. Here's some myspace pages with tracks for anyone interested.

http://www.myspace.com/stephenthelevite

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=22864243

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=54669583

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=60587578

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=9688477

[eauclaire447]

yeah...i have grits, t-bone, dj maj, john rueben and a few various artists cds.

[Sean77]

yeah...i have grits, t-bone, dj maj, john rueben and a few various artists cds.


Wow, those cats have been out for a minute, you prefer the older artists to the newer ones?

[Josh]

I'm a huge fan of hip-hop music in general. I've heard just about everything minus local sound (meaning artists or groups only big in their home territory). The unfortunate thing is, there's not one single artist / group in the Christian Rap genre I'd award my seal of approval.

The only remotely close artist I'd mention as worthy (talent wise) is Ambassador. His album The Thesis was somewhat notable, but nothing head-knocking. His first track Thesis Pieces was hot.

On the contrary - the Gravediggaz debut album 6 Feet Deep was some raw new experimental, maybe even ground-breaking hip-hop. To some, the album was just foul, and that may be true, but music is music. Nothing more, nothing less. Music is entertainment, and therefore should be treated as such.

[Timmeh]

I have a hard time taking Christian rap seriously just because of the image rap in general has and the close range of topics rap songs are about nowadays. An ignorant person could essentially make a strong case that all rappers are Christian rappers based on a few lyrics.

Gang Starr in his song "Moment of Truth" talks about how he prays and stuff like that yet he talks about killing people, and himself.

The only one I take seriously is Matisyahu, but he's Jewish.

[Josh]

Gang Starr in his song "Moment of Truth" talks about how he prays and stuff like that yet he talks about killing people, and himself.

Just for clarification - Gang Starr is a group (producer + emcee). The guy you're referring to is G.U.R.U. ( Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal ).

You're welcome.

[Timmeh]

Oh ok, I'm not really into the whole rap scene anyway, so I just call it like I hear it.

[eauclaire447]

Wow, those cats have been out for a minute, you prefer the older artists to the newer ones?
i have some newer artists on various artists cds.

[Howard5Dirk41]

christian rap? isnt that an oxymoron?

[Sean77]

I have a hard time taking Christian rap seriously just because of the image rap in general has and the close range of topics rap songs are about nowadays. An ignorant person could essentially make a strong case that all rappers are Christian rappers based on a few lyrics.

Gang Starr in his song "Moment of Truth" talks about how he prays and stuff like that yet he talks about killing people, and himself.

The only one I take seriously is Matisyahu, but he's Jewish.

I feel what you're saying, with guys like Kanye making one maybe two tracks where they talk about God/Jesus/whatever the case may be. But I tend to think even an person who's not up on rap realizes that making one track about God isn't what makes one serious about God, just like how going church on a regular basis alone doesn't mean you're serious about God. Some people do such things because it's good PR, though others might be having some occasional thoughts about where their life is headed.

But you're right even the Church in some cases doesn't take Christian rap seriously, even though there is an underground (by that I mean not-so-well-known) Christian Hip Hop community of rappers that is growin more and more. And of course, in that you'll some people who are just in it because they want to make a name for themselves, but there are cats who are real about what they're saying. They don't just put out a one-Jesus-track album. Those myspace pages I posted, their entire album is like that. But more than that, there's cats who also go to certain parts of the world and this country and try to do something about all the crazy stuff in this world.

Sad thing is you'll probably never hear them on the radio, because radio time is like real estate, you gotta put in some ducats to get some play.

[Sean77]

christian rap? isnt that an oxymoron?

Look at it this way...if Ray Charles could take music from old gospel songs and make hot R&B and jazz hits, would it be so far fetched for the opposite to happen? Christian rappers grew up in the same streets, same crazy conditions, and grew listening to Rakim and KRS and other hip hop legends. They've just decided rhyme and makes songs about something different than the average rapper on the radio does, which happens to be God. You see Matisyahu rappin about Jewish principles, which may seem a little off to us, but the man is from Brooklyn. After all, what really makes a song Christian or non-Christian or whatever is the subject matter and lyrics, wouldn't you say?

Howard5, mind if I ask where you from?

[Sean77]

I'm a huge fan of hip-hop music in general. I've heard just about everything minus local sound (meaning artists or groups only big in their home territory). The unfortunate thing is, there's not one single artist / group in the Christian Rap genre I'd award my seal of approval.

The only remotely close artist I'd mention as worthy (talent wise) is Ambassador. His album The Thesis was somewhat notable, but nothing head-knocking. His first track Thesis Pieces was hot.

On the contrary - the Gravediggaz debut album 6 Feet Deep was some raw new experimental, maybe even ground-breaking hip-hop. To some, the album was just foul, and that may be true, but music is music. Nothing more, nothing less. Music is entertainment, and therefore should be treated as such.


Yeah, Ambassador's always been my personal favorite. You might've heard of Da TRUTH, he's hot too. Funny thing is, Christian Rap is pretty much made up of local-level cats. There are many cats that you never hear about unless their CD is on cdbaby or some other independent website.

True, music is mainly entertainment, but you can see how hip hop over the years - especially in the 90's - has been used to spread certain messages and promote certain ideals. Clan X, KRS and others didn't just treat Hip Hop as entertainment. To them it was also a platform to educate, a means of expressing the things they value. And afterwhile, certain rappers realize that having the ears of the people is power, and with power comes responsibility. I tend to think that the talents we have been given can be used for more than just superficial, temporary things like women and cars and making money. But art imitates life, and one's mentality will tend to dictate what they do and talk about, unless they change their mentality.

[bringthetruth]

What do ya'll know about the "TUNNEL RATS"

http://www.tunnelrats.net/home.htm

straight up gulley:applause:

[Sean77]

What do ya'll know about the "TUNNEL RATS"

http://www.tunnelrats.net/home.htm

straight up gulley:applause:


Only ones I listen to from Tunnel Rats are New Breed and Pidgeon John, but moreso New Breed. Macho drops tight lyrics on any track he's on.

[geeWiz15]

Just for clarification - Gang Starr is a group (producer + emcee).
technically thats true but I always thought that was dumb. IMO unless more than one guy is actually performing on the track it isn't a group. Wu Tang is a group. Reflection Eternal is a Talib Kweli album produced by DJ HiTek.

do these producers like actually go to concerts and manually play their beats? if so then we can call them a group. becuase a band can have only one singer and tons of people playing instruments. but if nobodys playing any music, they're just playing prerecorded ****, it's just not a band/group.

[GoRapz]

Christian Rap.....that just sounds a bit wierd considering most rap nowadays is about money, cars and hoes.

[LilBTheBasedGod]

Christian Rap.....that just sounds a bit wierd considering most rap nowadays is about money, cars and hoes.

They talk about it all the time and put it in they songs
They drive around and play it loud like it ain't nothin wrong
And all they talk about is sinful stuff,
Got everybody actin bad thinkin that they a thug (weeelll)

[Rake2204]

Thread title sounds like a good conversation starter at a party.

[Akrazotile]

Yall GOTTA peep the homie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCWqlDK52c4

Puts it straight DOWN.

[Clifton]

I had a teacher whose line on Christian rock was "Christian Rock, which is neither." I tend to think the same thing of Christian rap (having never heard any, of course). The point is there is something about the rhythms and melodies of the genre that is essentially worldly and not directly compatible with Christianity.

I tend to think he's right. Even when the songs are catchy and kind of cool, the Christian aspect and the rock aspect seem to betray one another.

This isn't to say a Christian can't make rock music that is *compatible* with his beliefs. U2 is Christian. And I remember liking Switchfoot. Lifehouse was Christian too, I used to like their radio hits. None of these bands make weird attempts at rock-hymns using Biblical language, though.

I wonder what Christian rap is like, I haven't heard any (can't listen to the posted songs right now). But if they start talking about Jesus and Holy Holy Holy and All Creation Gives You Praise I bet it will be wack.

[Giaodollo]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ECQCvIcWvEs

[Norcaliblunt]

666 666 666

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d9jfO9gArxU

[Norcaliblunt]

Smoove like Satan

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MkXYiBE7sa4

[Mirror]

Why would anybody listen to Christian rap?