I think you ask some very good questions, and I suppose they are ones that need to be asked. about everything.IOW, I do not see these questions pertaining solely to holy hip-hop.Any type of music - even hymns and "new" hymns - need these questions asked.
o to see this in the background of around sort of uniqueness to hip-hop, to me, seems to somewhat point the finger at hip-hop at the expense of everything else.
I do think the origins, associations, fruit, etc. need to be weighed.As to origins, the earliest hip-hop barely resembles what we have today.It was light, fun, and mostly innocent (relatively) lyrics.In the late 80's and early 90's, there seemed to be a sharp round toward the "gangsta" side of hip-hop - the drugs, money, women, violence, etc.Unfortunately, that's probably the lingering thought that the average person has of hip-hop.
But, AFAIK, many genres of music have had ebbs and flows in its perception.Jazz, R&B, Rock (!), even Classical and Celtic music have had their denouncers for various origin/association/fruit reasons.My idea is, most genres can be redeemed.I've seen quite a few people who have never listened to hip-hop - even older (and elderly) Christians - hear some of these lyrics and praise God for it.That doesn't mean their going to go pop it in their CD player in the car and change their tastes, but it does mean they can appreciate the lyrics and the venue.
Good holy hip-hop as a genre, however, I actually get more edifying than most contemporary Christian music.Shai Linne, Stephen the Levite, Lecrae, etc. - these guys put more thinking and doctrine into their lyrics than the feel-good gibberish found in CCM.I've actually learned from their lyrics and meditated on their themes.That can only be good.In fact, many Psalms were written in such a way to do for easy memorization - so the idea of packaging doctrine in such a way is hardly new or foreign.
As for public worship, there's always a fine air there.For me, beats and rhythms are more of a concern, and that's true for any genre.Hip-hop is not "congregational" in the sense that it is built for congregational singing (except perhaps a hook).So, in that sense, yes, maybe it's more preacher-ish than praise-ish.But then again, if Scripture is read at a public service by a pastor with the use of the congregation listening, how is that different?The point is, it's edifying.Now, if you're paying more like to the groove than the lyrics, then obviously you'll get nothing out of it - but that's true story of hymns; sometimes I find myself more moved my the line of "It is Right" or the bagpipes of "Amazing Grace" than the lyrics.
So then you make the can of worms of performance vs. congregational worship.If you get a person telling a hymn as a solo, is that a performance, or is it meant to be listened to and inebriated in by the congregation, and that edification is itself worship?
Hip-hop lends itself to being able to squeeze more lyric and ideas into a song than other genres, to be sure.But no sort of music is meant to replace preaching so in that sense, all genres are "stepping stones."You can't go on a diet of hymns, either.I just don't think that the line that people will only listen to the hip-hop and not seek biblical preaching is a valid one.
Anyway, holy hip-hop, IMO, is great.For those who enjoy the medium, it can be edifying, doctrinally sound, and moving.And it lets those who actually DO the hip-hop be creative.Hip-hop lyrics, at its core, is poetry.Strip off the beat, and many of them read like psalms.Let these guys use their gifts.
BTW, while I think there is some truth that churches and orgs use hip-hop to take the inner city, I think that's a narrow view.Hip-hop permeates all of society.More white kids in the suburbs listen to hip-hop then black kids in the home city.Who do you think buys the albums?It's a generational and cultural thing and holy hip-hop reaches that generation across a mass of racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Anyway, good article, and I'm glad you need it up.I think there's some presuppositions in there that possibly you aren't seeing, but I'm glad you're willing to get critical feedback.God bless you for that!
In Christ,Tom
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