Me and a friend, Charles McKnight, had this dialogue on email. Until he starts his own blog, I thought it a good idea to make this discussion public here (with his permission, of course). Join in, if you like:
Aye Bruh,
Ye goes super-dooper hard on this introspective track about the dynamics of the "love triangle" between a single mother, her son and her "Boyfriend(s)." This track also illustrates the way the "boyfriend's" negative actions and attitudes inevitably rub off on a child and effects the way they treat women when they become men. I think Abraham Sangha might be on to something when he notes that songs like Kanye's, and those from Lupe and some other cats in "secular" Hip-Hop are still filling a "Blind Spot" in the lyrical content of many reformed Christian rappers. It seems that reformed Christian rap artist have nailed down how to artfully articulate the gospel message of justification by faith (which indeed provides the Church with a tremendous "opportunity" to witness to urban and suburban youth and young adults). Yet, it seems they have been slow to develop lyrics that jolt our social consciousnesses by simply illustrating the intricacies of the human experience which "secular" rap (at its best) does quite well. What you think?
-Charles
Interestlingly enough, while I was watching the first video, I got a call from my dad in Cali. If any of you were at the men's retreat, I shared how my dad is a recovering alcoholic and we are just now restoring our relationship. A few gospel hip-hop artists with tracks that I believe speak to "real life issues" are Flame (MySpace), LeCrae (Just Like You) , PRO (In the Club, Merked), and Json (Parent Me). You can hear 90 sec previeiws of them all on iTunes.
The argument can be made that these Christian hip-hoppers rarely release tracks such as these, but the same can be said about secular artists. The difference of course being that at least in the Christian spehere you are getting 100% life, whereas with the secular artists, well, don't get me started on their long lists of internal contradictions.
Just my contribution to the discussion.
BTW, Charles, start a blog, bro!
Dee (Phil 3:13-14)
Dee,
I think you make a great qualification, that Cross Movement artist have indeed come out with some tracks along these lines and when they have, they have honestly been some of my favorite tracks. It goes without saying that most of "secular" rap today is garbage. It also goes without saying that music from guys like Cross-Movement is GRADE A truth! However, when "secular" rap does shine (through purposeful lyrical depictions of life at the margins), it seems to do so in a way that much of Christian rap (often) does not.
My criticism, (I think), may be one of preference; music that most challenges and stretches me in this season of my life. I would love to see a better balance between evangelism tracks, tracks that encourage believer's to live holy lives, AND tracks that vividly portray the hurt and pain experienced by humanity (especially in urban contexts). Frankly, most of these guys are "preaching to the choir" if you look at who primarily buys their albums. Because of this, I would love to see them take a greater responsibility for highlighting many of the social "do" aspects of a life lived in light of having been justified by God's grace and being sanctified through His Spirit. These guys have a big platform now amongst white and middle-class evangelicals and I think they have a unique opportunity, through their music, to prophetically shed light on the social ills that plague those people on the margins which it is honestly easy for many evangelicals to overlook (including myself). BUT, that may not be (primarily) what God has called these cats to due at this time through their music. And that's cool.
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