Rap Stars spread the Gospel through Hip-Hop
By Jonathan Landrum | Associated Press from the May 1, 2008 edition
Atlanta - – Yung Joc appears on stage for a performance as an assembly of youths swarms toward him, screaming at the top of their lungs.
Only this time, the rapper delivers a message nothing like his raucous songs "I Know You See It," "Dope Boy Magic," or his smash hit "It's Goin' Down."
"I'm not trying to be a preacher, but God is real in my life," he says, while his 2-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter stand near him at an event called Exodus.
After Mr. Joc's testimony, the host of the event, Corey "CoCo Brother" Condrey, asks everyone to pray for the rapper. Many in attendance drop to their knees or stand in place, tossing their hands upward.
This is a scene Mr. Condrey, who created the event, has longed to see. He has set up a platform to marry hip-hop and gospel together through his nationally syndicated radio show, "The Spirit of Hip-Hop" and the yearly event Exodus. Condrey is using well-known celebrity rappers, putting them in the forefront to spread the gospel to young people.
"We're trying to instill Jesus into them," the Atlanta-based disc jockey said. "We're making it cool, fly, and showing them how they can go to their schools among their friends and love the Lord. And, it's coming from people who they can relate to."
On his radio show, Condrey has held interviews and prayer sessions with rappers such as 50 Cent, Ludacris, Kanye West, and Young Jeezy.
"I've been through a lot of different things," 50 Cent said on the show. "I feel like God is the only reason why I'm strong enough to get through those situations."
Exodus, a free event, has grown over the past three years, drawing between 3,000 and 7,000 fans. Condrey has changed the venue of the event each time, holding it once at a nightclub, a church, and a skating rink. After all, it's also an opportunity for fans to see their favorite artists.
"That's how we reach them," says Bone Crusher, who performed a rock-infused version of gospel. He is also known for his controversial hit "Never Scared," which drew attention for its vulgar lyrics at an Atlanta Falcons game a few years ago.
"To reach those type of kids, you have to go into the gutter and get them out of (difficulty). Yes, some of it is unorthodox and derogatory. But it's something I have to do to get the people out."
Certainly, hip-hop could use the good publicity, especially since the genre has been under increased scrutiny for its sometimes misogynist and violent lyrics. LL Cool J believes the hip-hop industry can benefit from rappers offering their spiritual testimonies to their fans.
"For popular artists to go down and speak to kids about God, righteousness, and love for God is great," rapper LL Cool J said. "Especially, when the kids actually respect the artist and maybe seeing a topic in different aspect," he says.
But minister Orlando Bethel calls Condrey and the rappers' actions hypocritical. He thinks youths shouldn't be taught about God by rappers such as Joc, who is currently facing a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in December last year.
"There are people who say they're saved, and they're living in sin and think it's OK," said Mr. Bethel, who protested the event along with 15 others. "Then there is another category of people that are not saved. That's not right."
Some from the gospel industry think otherwise. Dr. Bobby Jones, host of the long-running BET gospel show bearing his name, says he has mixed thoughts about how non-churchgoers receive the message but is open to rappers speaking more about their relationship with God.
"I think it's very narrow-minded for someone to categorize another one's relationship with their spirituality," says Jones. "Who are we to say what's right or wrong about what somebody develops?"
Gospel singer J Moss says a rapper's testimony may be the only one someone gets. "It could be their only church," he said. "God is for everybody."
After speaking at Exodus, Joc was inspired to record a track with R&B gospel singer Justin Clark.
"It was one of the defining moments in my life," Joc said. "Somebody might say, 'How can you talk to kids when you have a gun charge?' But accidents happen and people make mistakes. With young men and women looking up to me, I have to let them know that I'm a man of God."
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Link to Article: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0501/p04s01-usgn.html?page=1
www.csmonitor.com | Copyright © 2008 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.
Tags: article, bet, bobby, cool, dr., exodus, gospel, hip-hop, j, joc
13 Comments
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Comment by Sw!ng on May 6, 2008 at 3:13pm - This is an awesome article. I'm sure it'll bring about mixed emotions from people but it's a beginning. As long as the people who are holding these events (Exodus, etc.) are taking an opportunity to pour into these artists and not allowing them to "top-off" with just knowing they need God. There has to be a continuation of growth with the artists and the people the "preach" to. Not just "I did a verse on a gospel song. I should feel free."
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Comment by DJ Wade-O on May 7, 2008 at 3:46pm - Yeah I think the thing you worry about with this as well as his show is that mixed messages are sent. I've never listened to his show but seem people love it, some people say it sends mixed messages. I don't know. I just pray that Coco keeps seeking the Lord and does things according to his will. At the end of the day, it matters not what we think, but what God thinks. If God is pleased, your work wasn't in vain.
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Comment by IN THE LIGHT RADIO on May 8, 2008 at 7:40pm -
COULD IT BE THAT SECULAR RAPPERS ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE TIDE TURN IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND WANT TO CAPITALIZE ON THE MOMENTUM HOLY HIP HOP IS BUILDING?
COULD IT BE THAT AS SECULAR RECORD SELLS BEGIN TO GO DOWN FURTHER AND FURTHER AND HOLY HIP HOP OR GOSPEL RAP SLOWLY BUILDS UP STEAM THAT SECULAR RAPPERS WILL START HEDGING THEIR BETS BY APPEALING TO THE PART OF THE MARKET THAT IS GRAVITATING TOWARD MUSIC WITH MORE SUBSTANCE?
I DO THINK IF WE TAKE A GOOD LOOK WE CAN SEE THE BEGININGS OF A RESURGENCE OF CONSCIOUS RAP IN THE SECULAR MARKET AS SOME OF THE OLD GUARD LIKE KRS-1 RESURFACE AND BEGIN TO FIND RELEVANCE. HOW DO HOLY HIP HOPPERS FARE AMIDST SUCH A CLIMATE AND WILL SECULAR RAPPERS STEAL OUR THUNDER BY POSING AS "MEN OF GOD"?
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Comment by DJ Wade-O on May 9, 2008 at 11:56am
- Great analysis. That could be the case in a lot of situations, particularly if you are talking about artists who grew up in church. Unfortunately, a lot of artists won't ever be relevant in the secular arena because all they talk about is Christ. Which real talk...ain't a bad thing. But for those who are wishing to make inroads in that arena, doing songs that don't compromise who you are, but still have themes like anti drugs, anti gun violence, awareness to the political and social climate, etc, that folks outside of the body can relate to. We need folks on both sides of the coin.
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Comment by DJ Will From Jacksonville on May 12, 2008 at 1:36pm - i know CoCo B. he's my cuzn.great concept as long as God is the main topic and Jesus is the reason.
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Comment by DJ Will From Jacksonville on May 12, 2008 at 1:37pm
- So dont get mad if I'm on tour with Tpain, Boosie & Plies.
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Comment by DJ Wade-O on May 12, 2008 at 1:40pm
- We'll only be mad at you if you DJing for him and getting everyone hype to "let me buy you a driiiiiiiiiink." lol.
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Comment by DJ Will From Jacksonville on May 12, 2008 at 1:44pm
- fa real though. you dont have to worry about that cuzn. i got vivdeos of the gospel being minister after the performance
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Comment by DJ Wade-O on May 12, 2008 at 2:16pm
- Will you know I know you bro. You one of the dudes that look to for guidance in many situations. My comment was in jest.
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Comment by DJ Will From Jacksonville on May 12, 2008 at 2:18pm
- you my dude cuzn. i know u was messing with me. i have a sense of huma.ilove ya too.call me . i lost ur numba in my last phone.904-790-0451
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