I want to see more variety in content represented in Hip Hop! I've always said that, and until the variety gets back to what it was in the 80s and 90's I will continue to demand it. There's enough gangsta rap to go around and the tactics for promoting Gangsta Rap have become 'old hat': flagrant drug references, gang signs in video's, pointless beefing with artists that engage them, maybe a club fight, an arrest or two and the biggest and most blundering move, NAME DROPPING. The good old bait and beef tactic, where you say a bunch of things about an artist that you can't really prove and then you hope that you create a ground swell of fans that agree with your character assassination. Calling a name, claiming an artist isn't real, going to their city, talking to former associates, blah blah blah blah. We've all seen this ignorance on YouTube, twitter, and a variety of hip hop blogs and websites. WE LOVE IT........Hmmmmm, not so much?
So you might wonder, what does all this have to do with JESUS? Well it's very simple, throughout the underground ranks of Hip Hop there's a ground swell of alternative rap, and IN MY OPINION, the content that is missing from the current Hip Hop sound set, is 'Gospel' Hip Hop. I know it exists, but from a variety of forces Gospel Hip Hop has not received its shine, but after a few 'facebook convo's' and in boxes from conscious friends that I talk with, I have a genuine opinion that I feel will help the Gospel artists out there, to make Gos-Hop a viable entity in the community and not just in the 'rap game', as a Christian I'm compelled to say what I have to say........SERIOUSLY.
So here's what's happening, Gospel Artists aren't getting any shine, the churches haven't openly embraced Gos-Hop, and the mainstream outlets won't embrace anything positive if it's of any religious denomination. so what Gos-Hop artists are doing is basically resorting to the same tactics that secular artists use, and they are 'playin themselves' in the name of the lord. All over the Internet every rapper with a beat and mic and a Bible has decided to become the 'Illuminati' calling out, Masonic ritual exposing, contradiction calling, armchair egyptologyist, FOR WHAT? Basically the same promo that gangsta rappers try to achieve for name dropping artists they think aren't 'real'. You can exchange the term 'not real' in Gangsta rap with 'not Christian' in Gospel Hip Hop and there'd be virtually no difference. What I'm getting at is, the Jay Z, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Snoop Dog and on and on and on and on (insert any black artist that is successful), disses are wearing thin with me, and it's really leading me to believe that a lot of these gospel rappers are just like Apollo Gospel singers. Singing bad and then saying Jesus' name in order to overt being booed. Well I'm gona be the sand man....BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Or maybe their just utilizing the same promo structure as the labels which use any form of division or degradation of self and others as promo.
BE AN ORIGINATOR.....All rappers should strive to be originators, but if you're trying to spread faith in your music, I demand it double. Quit doing what the industry demands of the secular artist and claiming that you are defending your 'faith'. Defending your faith should be more about calling out the plethora of Deacons, Bishops, Pastors and Preachers that utilize their faith at the financial, social, political and spiritual demise of their congregations. Find out people that are actually making FAITH look bad to call out. Defending your faith is enhancing the Gospel Hip Hop circuit to be an economically and socially viable entity. A trustworthy community and not a community of quasi-Christians that wish for secular exposure. Instead of praising the Lord and Helping believers on their walk with Christ. Gospel rappers have become egged into allowing their most popular song to be titled JAY Z DISS, KANYE WEST EXPOSED, RICK ROSS - THE REAL RICK ROSS..........Gospel rappers beefing with secular rappers......hmmmmmm wack.
How many times did you listen to those songs in order to break them down, how many mix tapes with secular beats are you going to put out? When will Gos-Hop fans demand Christ in Gospel Hip Hop, instead of a bunch of pseudo-secular themes from all of your favorite rappers that you're afraid to tell you preacher you secretly listen to?
If you wanna come in the game on the heals of a sub genre of rap that doesn't get enough room in the game as is, PLEASE, just make good songs, make songs that enhance the ability of the Church to spread faith, NOT by beefing with artists you never met, don't know, and people whom you would owe ALLLLLLLLLL of your success if they actually mentioned your name. If Jay Z or Kanye West ever responded to one of these 'cyber-beefs', what would really become of it? A rap battle! No one converted, the church body not strengthened, NOTHING OF CHRISTIAN SIGNIFICANCE.
Attack the day to day spiritual struggles that people face and stop trying to piggyback off of a famous rapper (that your probably secretly admire) in the name of Jesus.
That's my 2 cents. I hope people read this and it sparks debate and even a few arguments. I enjoy a good debate, and I know religion is an emotional subject, so don't take my words to far, but don't let your own emotions limit you.....
Peace and Blessings..........
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