I remember you ask some really serious questions, and I guess they are ones that want to be asked. about everything.IOW, I do not see these questions pertaining only to holy hip-hop.Any type of music - even hymns and "new" hymns - need these questions asked.
o to figure this in the setting of some form of uniqueness to hip-hop, to me, seems to somewhat point the thumb at hip-hop at the disbursal of everything else.
I do believe the origins, associations, fruit, etc. need to be weighed.As to origins, the earliest hip-hop barely resembles what we possess 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 view that the ordinary person has of hip-hop.
But, AFAIK, many genres of medicine 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 thought 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 loss to go pop it in their CD player in the car and transfer their tastes, but it does mean they can appreciate the lyrics and the venue.
Good holy hip-hop as a genre, however, I really get more edifying than most contemporary Christian music.Shai Linne, Stephen the Levite, Lecrae, etc. - these guys put more thought 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 alone be good.In fact, many Psalms were written in such a way to do for easy memorization - so the theme of packaging doctrine in such a way is just new or foreign.
As for public worship, there's ever 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 sensation that it is built for congregational singing (except possibly 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 world service by a pastor with the purpose of the congregation listening, how is that different?The point is, it's edifying.Now, if you're paying more care to the groove than the lyrics, then obviously you'll get nothing out of it - but that's true level of hymns; sometimes I feel myself more moved my the tune of "It is Good" or the bagpipes of "Amazing Grace" than the lyrics.
So then you give 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 wring more language and ideas into a song than other genres, to be sure.But no class of medicine 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 simply don't believe that the business that mass 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 love the medium, it can be edifying, doctrinally sound, and moving.And it lets those who really 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 believe there is some truth that churches and orgs use hip-hop to make the interior city, I believe 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 interior 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 ethnic backgrounds.
Anyway, good article, and I'm glad you take it up.I suppose there's some presuppositions in there that maybe you aren't seeing, but I'm glad you're willing to obtain critical feedback.God bless you for that!
In Christ,Tom
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