Christian hip-hop

Last updated

Christian hip hop (originally gospel rap, also known as Christian rap, gospel hip hop or holy hip hop) is a cross-genre of contemporary Christian music and hip hop music. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United States during the 1980s.

Contents

Christian hip hop music first emerged on record in 1982 with a track entitled "Jesus Christ (The Gospel Beat)" by Queens, New York artist McSweet. The first full-length Christian hip hop album, Bible Break , by Oklahoma artist Stephen Wiley, was released in 1985, with the title track becoming a hit on Christian radio in 1986. Other early Christian hip recording artists from the mid-1980s included P.I.D. (Preachas in Disguise), who recorded to funky rock rhythms, as well as JC & the Boys and Michael Peace. During the 1990s and 2000s, rapper KJ-52 rose to prominence in the field.

Christian rock band DC Talk blended hip-hop and rock, and were successful in mainstream Christian music. All three band members have had successful independent careers, Michael Tait and Kevin Max Smith in Christian pop, and TobyMac as a Christian rapper and label owner. Along with Lecrae, NF, KB & Emcee N.I.C.E. [1] who have emerged recently on the mainstream rap scene along with American popular music figures DMX, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West. [2] [3] [4] Outside of the United States, there are Christian rap scenes in the UK, [5] Australia, [6] Brazil, [7] Mexico [8] and Canada. [9] Asian, Black, and Latino rappers are becoming a major part of the genre, and this success is expanding the appeal of both Christian hip hop and Christian EDM within general hip hop and broader popular music. [10] [11] [12] [13]

History and notable examples

The first commercially released and distributed gospel hip hop record was MC Pete Harrison of Queens, New York. Under the recording name McSweet, he released The Gospel Beat: Jesus-Christ (1982), written and arranged by Harrison and produced by Mac Sulliver on Lection Records of PolyGram. [14] [15] [16] The first notable full album released was Stephen Wiley's Bible Break (1985), written by Wiley and produced by Mike Barnes on Brentwood Records. [17] [18] [19] In the same year, David Guzman founded JC & The Boyz. Some of America's premiere Christian rappers, such as: Michael Peace (one of Christian rap's first solo artists), SFC, Dynamic Twins, MC Peace and T-Bone came out of this crew. A more commercially successful group known as P.I.D. (Preachers in Disguise) released five recordings.

Jon Gibson (or J.G.) is also considered a pioneer of Christian pop rap, [20] [21] [22] with his first rap solo being "Ain't It Pretty" (1985). [23] CCM's first rap hit by a blue-eyed soul singer and/or duo, "The Wall" was later released on Gibson's successful album Change of Heart (1988), [24] and featured MC Hammer (previously as the Holy Ghost Boys). [25] Other tracks included the hit "Love Come Down" and "In Too Deep" from Jesus Loves Ya (1990). [26] Gibson also collaborated with MC Peace on "Enough Is Enough" (1990), [27] "Happy to Know Jesus" (1992) [28] and "You Are the One" (1992). [29]

Other rap groups emerged in the late 1980s, including dc Talk, E.T.W. (End Time Warriors) and S.F.C. (Soldiers for Christ). ETW was led by producer/artist Mike Hill who went on to pastor one of the largest inner city youth groups in the country out of Tulsa Oklahoma. S.F.C. was led by 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. Christian emcee Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez was another well-known early Gospel rap artist, but was murdered in 1990 in Texas. [30] Prior to his death, he helped launch the career of his sister, Genie Rodriguez-Lopez, known as MC GeGee – one of the first female Christian rap artists, by collaborating on her first album I'm for Real. She would go on to release a second album in 1991, titled And Now the Mission Continues. [31] [32]

The trend of rap artists blending faith and rap continued in the 1990s, with D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ) who emerged from Oklahoma as well as the Gospel Gangstaz from Compton and South Central Los Angeles. In 1991, JC Crew emerged featuring Maximillian (West Coast beat box champion) and T-Bone.

More Christian rap artists include Dynamic Twins, Freedom of Soul, IDOL King, Apocalypse, 12th Tribe, and Holy Alliance. 12th Tribe and Holy Alliance were produced by Scott Blackwell of MYX Records. S.F.C.'s (Sup, QP, DJ Dove) 1992 album 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. 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.

Grapetree Records was the first Christian rap label founded by Knolly Williams and Jeff Adams 1994.

Gotee Records formed in 1994, co-founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan, better known as TobyMac, making it the first record label marketed explicitly for Christian hip hop and R&B that was backed by a major label. [33] [34] The label was among the first to market the Contemporary Christian music market through distribution at Christian bookstores and playing on Christian radio.

In 2004, the founding of the label Reach Records by the Americans Lecrae and Ben Washer also had a considerable influence in the development of Christian hip-hop. [35] [36] In 2015, the label have been setting records with sales and award-winning albums. [37]

In 2019, Kanye West, a popular artist and producer, released his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (shortened as JIK). JIK was described as an "expression of the Gospel" by West himself.

Influence and style of artists

Although generally described to be Christian rappers, artists such as Lecrae, Andy Mineo, KB, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Social Club Misfits, NF, John Givez, Derek Minor and Propaganda describe themselves as hip hop artists who are expressing themselves, yet are openly Christian. [38] Just like in Christian rock and other Christian music genres, some artists welcome being called Christian artists while others do not want to be labeled as "Christian music", as to not limit their music to the Christian music market.

The record label Ministers of the Underground was one of the few labels to showcase underground hip hop with the group, Secta 7. Members included: Apocalypse, Optixs, Blackseed, Lord Metatron, Righteous Knight, Kaoticgal (who later was known as Keturah Ariel), O.N.E., The Final Chapter, A.T.O.M. the Immortal and Stress. Ministers of the Underground had a small-time show on Christian television, but was taken off the networks when Christian television opted for more orthodox style programming. The Ministers of Underground hosted events at a series of venues under the name CRU VENTION, or the convention of Underground Hip Hop for Christ, until around the year 2001.

A few Christian rappers have emerged from Atlanta, including Remnant Militia and D.I.R.T. While many notable studios and artists share influence in holy hip hop, not one style dominates. Christian hip hop features all conventional hip hop styles, such as Midwest (Hostyle Gospel), West Coast (T-Bone), East Coast (BB Jay), Dirty South (Pettidee) and King Wes. Some, such as DC Talk, include a mixture of hip hop, rock and gospel music in their songs.

Christian hip hop is also embraced and performed in the United Kingdom, by Gospel rappers including: Jahaziel, Dwayne Tryumf, Guvna B, Triple O, Sammy G, Simply Andy, MpFree [39] and Just C.

In the UK, Christian hip hop is often merged with a music style known as grime, which gives the music a different sound from American hip hop. Many agree that grime music originated in London's black community and is predominantly described as a secular genre. Although British, grime music has a strong Jamaican influence as many of the artists are of British-Caribbean heritage. [40] The GL Live music event 2010, held in the United Kingdom, included a fusion of Christian rappers (both American and British) celebrate their faith together whilst demonstrating their own unique styles. The event was attended by Trip Lee and Tedashii, who performed several songs during the event including "Jesus Muzik" and "No Worries".

Reaction and acceptance

Industry

Christian music awards shows such as the GMA Dove Awards and Stellar Awards have added rap and hip hop categories. [41] [42] With the notable exceptions of tobyMac and his label Gotee Records, and Lecrae, no Christian rapper or hip-hop group has garnered the attention of the mainstream Christian music industry. The nominal sales of Christian rap labels have been almost exclusively to church-going Christians. [43] Christian rap exists almost exclusively underground. [44]

Markets

There is no identifiable Christian hip hop market, as the majority of Christian hip hop has been underground, or marketed towards the mainstream Christian music scene.

In Australia, a multi-denominational group of Christian hip hop artists, led by Mistery from Brethren, have started a hip hop church, Krosswerdz. [45] The church has been modeled on Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida.

A small Christian hip hop scene has also emerged in the UK.

Festivals

Christian rapper Tedashii performing live in 2012 at an Ichthus Music Festival TDot2012.jpg
Christian rapper Tedashii performing live in 2012 at an Ichthus Music Festival

Rap Fest is an all-day, outdoor, evangelistic outreach concert which takes place every summer. 2011 marked the 18th year for this event held annually in South Bronx area of New York City.

Flavor Fest Urban Leadership Conference is held yearly at Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida, founded by Pastor Tommy Kyllonen, lead pastor of Crossover Church of Tampa. [46]

Fire Fest International Ministries was founded by Charles Onley (a.k.a. King C) in conjunction with Terence A. Townsend, "Apostle T", founder of Save Our City Crusades and Conferences (SoCity) to reach the international community of holy hip hop with a message of encouragement, enrichment, education and unity. Fire Fest conducts artist retreats, artists/industry conferences and 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.

"God's House of Hip Hop 20/20 Summer Fest" featuring 75 Christian Hip Hop, Latin Christian Hip Hop & Gospel Hip Hop Music. [47] [48] in Los Angeles, California Founded by Emcee N.I.C.E. and Chantal Grayson of God's House of Hip Hop Radio. Although postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 Corona Virus pandemic, 20/20 Summer Fest gained national attention securing one of Los Angeles's most premium venue's Banc of California Stadium. [49] [50] [51] [52]

Crossover

Holy hip hop has enjoyed some crossover acceptance as well. One of the early accepted artists were Disciples of Christ (D.O.C.).

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 to 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". [53] This also led to the single being disparaged by VH1 as No. 26 on their "Top 40 Worst Moments in Hip Hop", [54] an issue the artist addressed in "Washed Up". In contrast, the GRITS song "Ooh Ahh" received positive exposure on various TV Shows and movies, such as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Big Momma's House 2 . [55] It was also featured as the theme song for the second season of MTV's hit show The Buried Life . [56]

Christian symbols and themes have also been invoked by rap artists who do not consider themselves "Christian rappers", and do not claim to represent any particular set of religious beliefs. Examples include MC Hammer's No. 2 single "Pray"; Richie Rich and his first single "Don't Do It"; and many of Tupac's lyrics with his first posthumous record The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory , including the image of Tupac nailed to a cross pinned him as a hip hop martyr. Recent hip hop artists include Jay-Z with Kingdom Come , DMX with "Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later", Nas with God's Son and Kanye West with "Jesus Walks" as well as Jesus Is King . However, although these artists may profess to be Christians, they are not generally considered to be part of the Christian hip hop movement. [57] Some Christians believe that hip hop culture in any form conflicts with biblical teachings, while others consider hip hop to be a way of reaching the youth and mainstream culture. [58]

Mainstream and radio

In 2003 DJ/Producer Vic Padilla shared his love for Christian Hip Hop with then KRUX FM Program Director Lee- and was subsequently asked to host a show he dubbed Holy Culture Radio. Fans would have to stay up to odd hours to listen, as the show was only broadcast live. Vic then partnered up with JZ Designs to bring HolyCultureRadio.com to life- bringing fans 24/7 access to Christian Hip Hop.

In 2008, Holy Culture Radio partnered with The Corelink Solution, and James Rosseau (Trig), and a year later launched HolyCulture.net; a place where listeners could get the latest news, videos, and interviews from their favorite Christian artists.

Artists like Lecrae, who released his album Anomaly on September 9, 2014, through Reach Records.The album achieved mainstream success as it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of over 88,000 copies in the United States. [59] On October 6, 2017, Christian hip hop artist NF released his third studio album Perception, through Capitol CMG alongside NF's newly launched label NF Real Music LLC. Perception debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 55,000 album-equivalent units, including 38,000 pure album sales. [60]

In 2018, the Holy Culture Mobile App was launched- the first app solely streaming Christian Hip Hop and  R&P (rhythm and praise) around the clock.

In 2019, Christian hip hop had a historic breakthrough in radio, when Los Angeles based radio station God's House of Hip Hop Radio (powered by Dash Radio and curated by CHH artist Emcee N.I.C.E.), became the first Christian hip hop station in history to win a Stellar Award (one of gospel music's most coveted trophies) at the 34th Annual Stellar Awards. [61] [62] The win signaled a shift not only in gospel but radio as a whole, with more artists outside of Lecrae such as Andy Mineo, Gawvi, Wande, Shepherd, 1K Phew, Swoope, Bizzle, Derek Minor and others receiving commercial notoriety in film, television and gaming. [63]

The Stellar Awards did something unprecedented at its radio awards main show when it opened up with hip hop [64] and featured performances with DJ Dwight Stone who won "Gospel Announcer of the Year", [62] Miz Tiffany (first CHH female nominated for a Stellar Award), Emcee N.I.C.E. & Jor'Dan Armstrong.

In April 2022, with the increased demand for Christian Hip Hop and Rhythm & Praise, Sirius XM announced the launch of Holy Culture Radio (www.holyculture.net/radio), where audiences could listen throughout the day to faith-inspired music and enjoy any of the fourteen shows within the channel. To date, Holy Culture is a go-to destination for all things Christian Hip Hop.

Acceptance and themes

Various prominent mainstream hip hop artists who profess through some of their music to be Christians (including Kanye West, Nas, DMX and others), have incorporated Christian symbols and messages into their music and videos through images, lyrical content and overarching themes. The 2002 Nas hit song and music video "One Mic", featured obvious references to his Christianity in the song, including the chorus "Yo all I need is... One God to show me how to do things his Son did..." [65] Kanye West's 2004 hit song and music video "Jesus Walks", has received a notable amount of attention for its Christian content. [66] DMX incorporated prayers in many of his albums, and his 2006 song and music video "Lord Give Me a Sign", was highlighted by not only strong Christian lyrical content but actual scriptural quotes ("no weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises up against me in judgment, Thou shall condemn") from the Holy Bible. Prominent Christian rapper Lecrae, whose 2014 album Anomaly reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 and received numerous other accolades, expresses an explicitly Christian message in the majority of his music. However, while generally categorized as a gospel or Christian rapper, he distances himself from the genre of gospel rap saying, "Christian is my faith not my genre".

The use of religious themes in music that is otherwise regarded as illicit has sparked controversy over the validity of the religious messages expressed through the music. Some Christian listeners hold that "rap music, because of what it inherently communicates, is incompatible with the Christian Gospel", and attack the use of Christian themes and symbols in mainstream music as being disingenuous. [67] On the other hand, "since the mid-1990s Michael Eric Dyson and others have pointed to some cultural sensibilities shared by Christian churches and hip hop music; namely male privilege, middle-class biases, sexism, and homophobia." [68] Some analysts believe that the suffering expressed through rap music manifests itself in a certain spirituality that can be compatible with mainstream religious messages, although it approaches religious ideas in a much less direct way than most forms of religious expression. "Just as the MC slides into notes and dances around beats, "spirit" is not attacked straight on; it is courageously approached from below, from the margins, from youth, from uncertainty, through the structures of capitalism and mainstream media." [69] Some think that the use of mainstream religious symbols in predominantly African-American music has increased the extent to which that music has disseminated through predominantly white American culture. [70]

The 2007 Holy Hip Hop Music Awards 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. [71] However, EX Ministries and other churches contested the incorporation of secular hip hop culture into the Christian rap genre, holding that "Holy Hip-Hop" is still associated with the mainstream hip hop culture that they view as incompatible with Christianity's teachings. [72] [73] [74] Whereas many Christians hold that holy hip hop can be used to evangelize, [75] others disagree, arguing that the use of this style distorts the gospel message. [76]

From December 2013 well into 2014, Scott Aniol and Christian hip hop artist Shai Linne had a lengthy exchange about Christian rap (rap being the core element of hip hop), with Dr. Aniol arguing that the style is sinful and inadequate for Christian messages, with Shai Linne responding that the musical messaging of hip hop is relative, being interpreted differently by people from different backgrounds. [77]

Forms and subgenres

Catholic hip hop

In the early 2000s, rap artists of the Roman Catholic faith began emerging. Today, a number of active Catholic rappers and DJs are involved in what is known as the "Catholic hip hop scene". [78] Fr. Stan Fortuna is the most notable in the scene found nation continue doing the Catholic hip-hop.

Lutheran hip hop

Lutheran hip hop artists include Andy Pokel, who in 2017 launched the Here I Stand album based on the events of Reformation Day, [79] as well as Flame, whose album Christ for You, focuses on Lutheran doctrines such as the sacramental union, the Lutheran teaching on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. [80] Flame named his album Christ for You as he wants his fans "to experience the joy and freedom that I've found in the sacraments." [80] His track "Scattered Tulips" is a critique of Reformed Christianity's five points (TULIP). [81] The release of Christ for You led the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod to declare that "Lutheran hip hop is a thing now!" [82] The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has commissioned two rap videos—Kaunis Jeesus and Hoosianna. [83]

Latin Christian hip-hop

Latin hip-hop is a subgenre of Latin music and Christian hip hop, taking influence from Latin rapa s well as inP uerto Rican

Gospel rap in Brazil

In Brazil, gospel rap comes out of Pentecostal and Charismatic Evangelical Protestant movements, and emphasizes the message of the Gospel and salvation through faith over black politics and identity. Gospel rappers view their music as divinely ordained, and believe their lyrics are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit speaking through them. The Brazilian gospel rap movement sees itself as divinely favored over the fallen state of rap in the US and other parts of the world, and sees its origins in the Bronx which they see as similar to their own tough neighborhoods. This reflects the gospel rap movement's emphasis on neighborhood and seeking God and opportunities for their neighborhoods. [84]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecrae</span> American rapper (born 1979)

Lecrae Devaughn Moore is an American Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, and actor. To date, he has released ten studio albums and three mixtapes as a solo artist, and has released three studio albums, a remix album, one EP, and numerous singles as the leader of the hip hop group 116 Clique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flame (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1981)

Marcus Tyrone Gray, known as Flame, is an American Lutheran Christian hip hop rapper with Clear Sight Music. He has released nine albums. Flame has been nominated for several Dove and Stellar Awards. The Our World: Redeemed album was nominated for a Grammy Award.

<i>After the Music Stops</i> 2006 studio album by Lecrae

After the Music Stops is the second studio album released by Christian rap artist Lecrae on September 24, 2006. The album received a Stellar Award nomination for "Rap/Hip-Hop/Gospel CD of the Year" and a Dove Award nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year.

William Lee Barefield III, better known by his stage name Trip Lee, is an American Christian rapper and singer. Signed to Reach Records, he has recorded both as a solo artist and as a founding member of the 116 Clique. Originally from Dallas, Texas, he served as a young adult pastor at Concord Church until 2021. His third album, Between Two Worlds (2010), was nominated for two Dove Awards and won the Stellar Award for Best Hip Hop Album in 2011.

<i>Rebel</i> (Lecrae album) 2008 studio album by Lecrae

Rebel is the third studio album by Christian rap artist, Lecrae. The album was released by Reach Records on September 30, 2008. The album was nominated in the best Rap/Hip-Hop Album category at the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards but lost to Group 1 Crew's Ordinary Dreamers.

Mark Julian Felder, more commonly known as Bizzle, is an American Christian hip hop recording artist and entrepreneur.

<i>Rehab</i> (Lecrae album) 2010 studio album by Lecrae

Rehab is the fourth studio album by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae. It was released on September 28, 2010 on Reach Records. According to the Reach Records website, the album's "motto" is "The Christian life is an entrance into rehab." Centered on release and freedoms from inhibiting addictions and habits, Rehab is a highly conceptual album. Rehab is nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The album was named the Best Album of 2010 in the "Best of 2010: Rapzilla.com's Staff Picks" awards, and Lecrae was also named Artist of the Year. The song "Background" and the album itself were nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year, respectively, at the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecrae discography</span>

The discography of Lecrae, an American Christian hip hop artist, consists of 11 studio albums, two of which were collaborative; four mixtapes; two extended plays, one of which was collaborative; 130 singles, including 75 as a featured performer; 73 music videos, including 37 as a featured performer; and 86 guest and other appearances. Lecrae debuted with Real Talk in 2004 through Reach Records; the album was re-issued the following year by Cross Movement Records. After the Music Stops followed in 2006 and his third solo album, Rebel, was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel chart, the first Christian hip hop album to do so. Rehab, his fourth solo album, was released in 2010 and reached No. 1 on the Gospel, Christian, and Independent charts, and garnered a nomination at the 53rd Grammy Awards. Rehab: The Overdose, was released on January 11, 2011, and peaked at No. 1 on the Christian and Gospel charts. Lecrae began garnering mainstream attention when he performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher and was featured on the Statik Selektah song "Live and Let Live" from his Population Control album.

<i>Rehab: The Overdose</i> 2011 studio album by Lecrae

Rehab: The Overdose is the fifth studio album by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae. It was released on January 11, 2011, on Reach Records. The album is intended to be a direct follow up to Rehab, as Rehab is conceptually about the defeat of addiction while Rehab: The Overdose is about finding "grace, love, peace and hope" in Jesus. Some fans even consider it to be a part of Rehab.

The Cross Movement was a Christian hip hop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<i>Church Clothes</i> 2012 mixtape by Lecrae

Church Clothes is the first mixtape by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released for free on May 10, 2012, and hosted by DJ Don Cannon. It featured No Malice of Clipse on the song "Darkest Hour", and included production work by 9th Wonder, Boi-1da, S1 and Street Symphony. Label-mates Tedashii and Andy Mineo, as well as other fellow Christian hip-hop artists such as Dre Murray, Thi'sl, Swoope, Christon Gray, and Braille, also made appearances on the album. The mixtape was downloaded 100,000 times in 48 hours, and met with critical acclaim. It received controversy in Christian media upon its release due to its condemnation of hypocrisy in the Christian Church and Lecrae's collaboration with the mainstream producer Don Cannon. A shorter, remastered EP version was released on iTunes on June 25, 2012. The EP debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts.

<i>Gravity</i> (Lecrae album) Album by Lecrae

Gravity is the sixth studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on September 4, 2012. The album features appearances from Big K.R.I.T., Mathai, Ashthon Jones, Sho Baraka and Mali Music, along with labelmates Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, Derek Minor, who was formerly known as PRo, and Tedashii. Producers on the album include DJ Khalil, Street Symphony along with his production team Heat Academy, and The Watchmen. The first single off the album, "I Know", was released on July 24, 2012, and was followed by "Tell the World" featuring Mali Music on August 15, 2012, and "Mayday" featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones on August 30, 2012. Reach Records released five music videos for the album: "Lord Have Mercy", featuring Tedashii along with No Malice of Clipse, on August 1, 2012, "Tell the World", featuring Mali Music, on October 19, 2012, "Mayday", featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Ashthon Jones, on December 13, 2012, "Fakin'", featuring Thi'sl, on February 1, 2013, and "Confe$$ions", featuring David Banner, on April 30, 2013.

Derek Laurence Johnson Jr., better known by his stage name Derek Minor and former stage name PRo, is an American Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and screenwriter. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Reflection Music Group (RMG) with Doc Watson, and signed to Reach Records in a joint venture between the two labels in 2011. In 2012, Johnson announced that he had changed his stage name from Pro to Derek Minor. In 2014, he announced that as his two-album contract with Reach was complete, he would no longer be publishing releases through that label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reach Records</span> American label of Christian hip hop

Reach Records is an American independent record label specializing in Christian hip hop. The label was founded in 2004 by Ben Washer and the hip-hop artist Lecrae. In addition to Lecrae, the Reach Records roster contains artists like Tedashii, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, 1K Phew, WHATUPRG, Anike, Hulvey, Limoblaze, and Jackie Hill Perry. The hip-hop collective 116 operates under the label and consists primarily of the label's solo acts. The artists Sho Baraka, Derek Minor, Aha Gazelle, KB, and Gawvi were formerly signed to the label, and DJ Official was under the label until his death.

<i>Church Clothes 2</i> 2013 mixtape by Lecrae

Church Clothes 2, officially Church Clothes, Vol. 2, is the second mixtape by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on November 7, 2013 by Reach Records. Hosted by Don Cannon, it follows Lecrae's previous mixtape, Church Clothes, and Grammy Award-winning full-length album Gravity, both of which came out in 2012. Two versions of the album were released, a free version with host Don Cannon, and a commercial version off iTunes without the DJ. The first single off the album, "Round of Applause", was released on May 14, 2013. On May 21, a remixed version of the song, featuring rapper B.o.B, was released. A second single off the album, "I'm Turnt", dropped on October 18, 2013. The mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times on DatPiff.com in the first two weeks and debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 chart, No. 1 on the Top Christian and Gospel charts, and No. 3 on the Top Rap chart.

<i>Anomaly</i> (Lecrae album) 2014 studio album by Lecrae

Anomaly is the seventh studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on September 9, 2014, through Reach Records. The album features appearances from Crystal Nicole, Kari Jobe, and For King & Country, along with label-mate Andy Mineo. Anomaly met with a positive critical reception, and the song "Nuthin", released for streaming as a single on July 1, 2014, was nominated for the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards in the best Impact Track category. The album also fared well commercially, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with over 88,000 copies sold. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart, marking the first time that any artist has ever topped both the 200 and Gospel charts. Anomaly won Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards, and Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year at the 2015 Stellar Awards. Two songs earned a nomination for the 2015 Grammy Awards; "All I Need Is You" was nominated for Best Rap Performance, and "Messengers", featuring For King & Country, won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hostyle Gospel</span> American poet

Hostyle Gospel is an American Christian hip hop group from Champaign, Illinois. Its members include Demetrius Morton, Raynard Glass (Proverb), and Fontaine Pizza. Hostyle Gospel is best known for their aggressive Christian rap style. The group is also known for creating their own sound called Christian battle music, which also can be referred to as Christian war music or The Hostyle Gospel sound.

<i>Restoration</i> (Lecrae album) 2020 studio album by Lecrae

Restoration is the ninth solo studio album by American Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released on August 21, 2020, through Reach Records. The album features appearances from YK Osiris, Marc E. Bassy, John Legend, Jozzy, Kirk Franklin, DaniLeigh, BJ the Chicago Kid and Gwen Bunn. A deluxe edition of the album, with six additional tracks, was released on November 13, 2020, which included additional guest appearances from Rapsody, Ty Brasel, as well as labelmates Andy Mineo, Hulvey, WHATUPRG, Wande and 1K Phew. The album peaked at No. 1 on the US Christian Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK Christian & Gospel Albums chart. It received universal critical acclaim. It also received a Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song nomination at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for the song "Sunday Morning".

Samuel Onwubiko, known by his stage name Limoblaze is a Nigerian gospel singer-songwriter and rapper. He is well known for the hit song "Jireh " with Lecrae and Happi, a reworking of "Jireh" by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music; the song made it to the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs of 2022, Official Charts No. 15, and won several other nominations including The Headies and The Stellar Awards.

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard #1's". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ Freeman, Kathryn (April 16, 2021). "DMX Bared His Sins and Soul to Make His Music a Testimony". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ Perkins, Mai (March 21, 2018). "Is Snoop Dogg's 'Bible of Love' Actually Biblical?". RELEVANT. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ Dolbee, Sandi (June 13, 2021). "How hip-hop gravitated toward religion". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  5. ↑ "10 Christian Rappers from United Kingdom you should know". Rapzilla. January 24, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Rise of Christian Hip Hop – D4C". Vision Christian Radio. August 8, 2018. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  7. ↑ "5 Brazilian Christian Rap Artists to Watch in 2020". Rapzilla. January 23, 2020. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  8. ↑ The Jakarta Post (June 3, 2021). "Migrants find safe haven with Mexico's hip-hop pastor". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Jesus and Music: Meet Rapper Not Klyde From Canada". KAZI MAGAZINE. May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  10. ↑ Bellini, Jason (June 9, 2016). "The Fearless Call of Asian Americans in Christian Hip-Hop". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  11. ↑ Huckabee, Tyler (March 21, 2022). "Meet the Next Generation of Christian Hip-Hop". RELEVANT. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Christian Rap's Latino Minority Quickly Becoming a Major Force". Rapzilla. May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  13. ↑ Marovich, Bob (May 21, 2020). ""Meet Me Where I'm At" – Trampolines". The Journal of Gospel Music. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ Busy R. "The Holy Hip Hop DataBASE – The ultimate online Christian Hiphop resource". Hhhdb.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  15. ↑ "MC Sweet – (Adam & Eve) The Gospel Beat (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  16. ↑ Busy R. "The Holy Hip Hop DataBASE – The ultimate online Christian Hiphop resource".
  17. ↑ "Stephen Wiley – Bible Break". Crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Beats, Rhymes and Bibles: An Introduction To Gospel Hip Hop" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Stephen Wiley – Bible Break". Discogs.
  20. ↑ Rizik, Chris (2003). "Jon Gibson profile". SoulTracks . Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Jon Gibson". Spotify .
  22. ↑ "Jon Gibson records and CDs". Musicstack.
  23. ↑ "Live In 85 – Jon Gibson – Artist Info".
  24. ↑ "Change of Heart – Jon Gibson – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  25. ↑ "MC Hammer | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts .
  26. ↑ "Jesus Loves Ya – Jon Gibson – Love Come Down & In Too Deep – AllMusic". AllMusic .
  27. ↑ "Jon Gibson – Real 80s CCM". real80sccm.com. January 28, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Happy to Know Jesus". Spotify . 1995.
  29. ↑ "Jon Gibson Albums and Discography". AllMusic .
  30. ↑ "CMA: Danny 'D-Boy' Rodriguez". Christianmusicarchive.com. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  31. ↑ "CMA: M.C. GeGee". Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  32. ↑ "MC Gee Gee Video – Interviews". Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  33. ↑ Justin Sarachik, TobyMac's Influence on Christian Hip-Hop and How Gotee Records Signed John Reuben Over KJ-52, rapzilla.com, USA, February 9, 2016
  34. ↑ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 296-297
  35. ↑ David Daniels, On faith: How Lecrae & Reach Records went from potato chips to the Grammys, hiphopdx.com, USA, February 04, 2015
  36. ↑ Harris, Travis (Spring 2014). "Refocusing and Redefining Hip Hop: An Analysis of Lecrae's Contribution to Hip Hop". The Journal of Hip Hop Studies. 1 (1): 23. ProQuest   1513811093.
  37. ↑ Daniels, David (February 4, 2015). "On Faith: How Lecrae & Reach Records Went From Potato Chips To The Grammys". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Preach The" Christian Rapper'?". Brain Magazine. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Baptist rapper puts faith into inspiring Scots prisoners". STV Glasgow. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  40. ↑ "John Burdick – The Color of Sound Race, Religion and Music in Brazil 2013"
  41. ↑ "GMA Dove Awards History: Rap/Hip Hop recorded song of the year". Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  42. ↑ "22nd Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2007)". Gospelflava.com. January 13, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  43. ↑ Cummings, Tony (January 2003). "Blessing the Martyrs". Cross Rhythms . No. 72.
  44. ↑ "The Problems of Christian Hip Hop". May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  45. ↑ Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  46. ↑ "FlavorFest". FlavorFest. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Upcoming Summerfest: God's House Of Hip Hop Line-Up Announced". RightOn! Magazine. January 25, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  48. ↑ "God's House of Hip Hop 20/20 Summer Fest announces lineup". Daily News. January 27, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  49. ↑ "GH3 Radio Slates Inaugural 20/20 Summer Fest". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  50. ↑ "20/20 Music Fest Is Coming To Create A Space For "Like-Minded Believers"". Grammys. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  51. ↑ "20/20 Summer Fest Lands at Los Angeles' Banc of California Stadium: Exclusive". Pollstar. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  52. ↑ "God's House of Hip Hop 20/20 Summer Fest Official Site". 20/20 Summer Fest. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  53. ↑ "ChristianMusicToday.com: KJ-52 Interview – Getting It Right". Christianitytoday.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  54. ↑ "KJ-52 – 2006 GMA Music Awards" . Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  55. ↑ Shull, Adam (July 29, 2010). "Grits, Hearts of Saints bring local connections to town". Paducah Sun. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  56. ↑ "GRITS "Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like)" Finds Unparalleled Success as a Digital Single, Chosen as Theme Song for MTV's The Buried Life". Fusemix.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  57. ↑ Shah, Deepa (April 29, 2008). "Holy Hip-Hop: Hostile Gospel". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  58. ↑ "Can Rap be Christian? Evaluating Hip Hop". religiousaffections.org. October 9, 2009.
  59. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (September 17, 2014). "Lecrae Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  60. ↑ "NF Scores First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Perception'". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Emcee N.I.C.E. and Chanie G Takes Christian Hip Hop Global". lasentinel.net. April 10, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  62. 1 2 "2019 Stellar Award Winners". thestellarawards.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  63. ↑ "1K Phew & Tobe Nwigwe Made NBA 2K20 Soundtrack Alongside Drake, Post Malone, Lil Wayne & More". rapzilla.com. July 23, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  64. ↑ "The 34th Annual Stellar Awards announces 2019 performance lineup featuring an all-star tribute to Aretha Franklin". www.philasun.com. March 29, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  65. ↑ "Nas – One Mic". Genius. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Under the Blasphemous W(RAP): Locating the "Spirit" in Hip-Hop" . Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  67. ↑ "Can Rap be Christian? Evaluating Hip Hop". October 9, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  68. ↑ "Kanye West's Critique of Prosperity Preaching". July 16, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  69. ↑ Paris, Peter J. (1994). The Spirituality of African Peoples. Fortress Press. ISBN   0-8006-2854-3.
  70. ↑ "The Emergence of Religion in Mainstream Hip-Hop" (PDF). www.arts.cornell.edu. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  71. ↑ Rapzilla.com – Holy Hip Hop awards Recap 2007 Archived January 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  72. ↑ "A message to Christian Rappers". Exministries.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  73. ↑ "ExMinistries Arguments". Exministries.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  74. ↑ "Holy Hip Hop. NOT!". Gospelexpressions.org. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  75. ↑ "Testimonymag.ca – Holy Hip Hop". Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  76. ↑ "Is Rap Really a Canvas?". Conservative Christianity, Worship, Culture, Aesthetics – Religious Affections Ministries. June 8, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  77. ↑ "religiousaffections.org – Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Introduction". Conservative Christianity, Worship, Culture, Aesthetics – Religious Affections Ministries. December 3, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  78. ↑ Phatmass.com – "Converting Catholics to Catholicism"
  79. ↑ Favre, Jeff (July 21, 2017). "The hip-hop reformer". Living Lutheran . Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  80. 1 2 Becklo, Matthew (February 4, 2021). ""Christ for You": Flame Unpacks His New EP on the Lutheran Belief in the Real Presence". Word on Fire . Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  81. ↑ Veith, Gene (February 3, 2020). "The Rapper Flame Becomes a Lutheran". Cranach. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  82. ↑ Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (February 6, 2020). "Lutheran hip hop is a thing now!". Twitter.
  83. ↑ Järvenpää, Tuomas (April 28, 2022). "'Real Gs and pastors in the church': hip-hop esthetics in the rap music video productions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland". Religion. 52 (3). Taylor & Francis: 450–469. doi: 10.1080/0048721X.2022.2068460 . S2CID   248459985.
  84. ↑ Burdick, John (2013). The Color of Sound Race, Religion, and Music in Brazil. USA: New York University Press. p. 160. ISBN   978-0-8147-0923-8.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.