Earlier this month my man Celah Orsaynuttin hit me up for a chat about my work covering the Christian hip hop movement for the last 14 years.

It's part of his "Donkey & Rocks" series of videos with different industry figures to understand how businesses and movements are really started.

NOTE: The audio in Celah's end is a little low, but my side is fairly clear.

In our talk, we discuss:

• 3 tips that will help any writer or journalist sharpen their skills 
• Where I believe Rapzilla and DaSouth.com both err in aspects of their web presence
• And a variety of other topics related to this scene

 

Although still taking place in other formats, Hip Hop Hope Tuesdays, the 2-year-old weekly outreach of Eyes On Me Ministries that focuses on uplifting, enlightening, and encouraging young people entrenched in urban rap music culture, has come to an end in Houston’s 5th Ward.

On April 10, 2012, the night of the HHHT memorial service for frequent volunteer Carlos “DJ Primo” Avila, event founder Bobby “Tre9” Herring broke the news that The Prince Complex, a community center/gym owned by Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince, had been sold and would no longer be available for regular gatherings.

In an e-mail to his ministry’s supporters this week, Herring wrote:

However, I made a commitment to every kid from 5th Ward that attends that we will not stop meeting with them. There are too many youth in inner city neighborhoods that have spiritual mentors come in and out of their lives. We will not be guilty of abandoning them while they are growing to know Jesus through us. [Go to 4:04 in the video below to see Tre9 address the HHHT youth.]


So the following week we picked up about 11 youth and took them to my mother-in-law's house to begin organic church with them. Our staff of eight faithful volunteers have stepped up to be disciple makers themselves, and we are currently rotating the weekly house fellowship with these young people. 

Now Hip Hop Hope has become what I believe God intended it, an organic church meeting in different places each week, making disciples of young people who do not go to any particular building for what we know as "church." 

Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." 

I praise God we can have church with these youth wherever someone opens their doors. I look forward to the impact Jesus will have on their lives and their communities for many years to come. 
In addition to his regular prison and school ministry, Herring is now bringing Hip Hip Hope events to other churches. The first will be held this Friday, May 11 at Conroe Community Church. To find out more about Eyes On Me Ministries, visit alleyesonmeinc.com.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Lecrae’s upcoming “Church Clothes” mixtape may be the most important Christian hip hop album in history. The free album, which drops tomorrow Thursday, May 10, is vital for a handful of reasons.

One, it’s being hosted by DJ Don Cannon aka “The Number 1 Co-signer.” When Cannon drops his seal of approval on a project people listen. Even if they aren’t already familiar with the artist, his brand carries weight that can open doors and ears for Lecrae.


Secondly, it has enough high profile features, on both production and the mic, to also garner interest from listeners unfamiliar with Lecrae. When you have beats from guys like S1 (Kanye's "Power"), Boi-1da (Grammy winning producer for Drake, Eminem), 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Eminem, Drake, Destiny's Child), and Street Symphony (Gucci Mane) and guest verses from the likes of No Malice (formerly Malice from The Clipse) its yet another sign that these established hip hop heads are willing to put their name on the line for a talent like Lecrae.

Third, it’s going to be released for FREE. That means that people who may have only heard of Lecrae in passing from the BET Awards cypher, Statik Selektah’s compilation, or events like SXSW or Paid Dues may be willing to download the project and give it a spin they wouldn’t otherwise if they had to actually drop duckets on the release.

Finally, he appears to be taking a more "relational" approach to his content - offering lyrics and writing songs that the non-Christian listener can probably identify with more than a sermon rap about a heavy doctrinal issue.

Exhibit A: The "Church Clothes" lead single. The song is better than the almost too-literal video below, but listen to how Lecrae takes on the voice of an unbeliever in the first verse and addresses the negative connotations many already have about hypocrisy and failings within the Church at large.




I’ve covered this movement for almost 15 years (listening even longer) but really can’t recall a single album that had this much potential for full commercial crossover. The Gospel Gangstas and GRITS came close, but for some reason “Church Clothes” just seems to have a better mix of momentum, co-signers, and circumstances that might push Lecrae into the level of all-out mainstream success and embrace.

This obviously places enormous pressure on Lecrae. He may not even want to be the face of Christianity in hip hop, but if anyone is carrying that mantle these days it’s Mr. Moore. As such, I want to encourage you to really be praying for him and this project.

Pray that God would give him the right words, attitude, and mind this opportunity affords.

Pray for Lecrae’s family. For his business partners. For his spiritual leaders and accountability teams.

Pray that ears would be open and hearts would be softened by the message of this music.

Pray that media outlets accurately cover this release and convey the truth it communicates.

“Church Clothes” – Thursday, May 10. May it be an album our God uses for His glory.

According to the YouTube blurb posted with the video on March 1, 2012, Season 7 finalist (and CCM singer) Jason Castro performed the acoustic version of Lecrae and Andy Mineo’s “Background” at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX.

The original: The cover:

Cancer sucks. One of its most recent, well-known victims is Adam "MCA" Yauch.

As a white kid listening to hip hop as a yungin, Yauch's Beastie Boys were one of the first groups I gravitated towards as MTV began to embrace the genre.

Although I started listening to Christian rap early on (copped Stephen Wiley's "Bible Break" cassette tape single in 1986), I probably heard the Beasties first - something my mother wasn't too pleased about when she had to explain their "your mom threw away your best porno mag" complaint from "Fight For Your Right" to her 10 year old.

I balanced out my hip hop diet as years went along though and continued to appreciate the Beastie's growth as artists. In college, we rocked to Check Your Head and Ill Communication. When I got married and bought our first DVD player the Beasties' Video Anthology (The Criterion Collection) was one of the first discs I purchased. It's still a worthy spin with 100's of different angles and over 40 remixes on the different audio tracks. Plus, the dudes simply kill it on the visuals.

I love their instrumental albums too. The In Sound From the Way Out and The Mix-Up show off their talent as true musicians. And thankfully, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just last month. Something the great Mick Boogie celebrated with this fresh Grand Royal mixtape.

My prayers are with Yauch's wife, daughter, friends and family. He will be missed.

If you haven't yet seen it, check out the way Christian rappers Heath McNease, Playdough, and RedCloud paid tribute to the Boys' classic "So What'cha Want" video in this track from the Nintendo Thumb: Straight Outta Console mixtape.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking in the “Whose Rhyme Is it Anyway?” tour stop with Playdough, Heath McNease, and RedCloud on the campus of my alma mater – Sam Houston State University.

The event is a freestyle hip hop concert in the vein of the “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” TV show of improv skits and comedy. Here, the three dudes take audience suggestions for games and setups and let their off-the-top skills fill in the rest.



I have to say, it was one of the most enjoyable hip hop related sets I’ve been to lately. The only thing that may have topped it was our MC skills competition at SXSW which, coincidentally, also featured rappers performing freestyle verses and challenges.



Combine that with the fact that this tour primarily targets secular colleges and venues, and I’m led to believe that Christians in the hip hop community need to utilize this time-honored tradition and skill more often.

Too frequently, we’re accused of biting and unoriginality. When we freestyle, we showcase our creativity and can offer a unique, all-ages brand of entertainment that most people welcome and are drawn to.

The Homeless Heroes project stuff that Jerrell Johnson and his man Set do down in Tampa is another good example of the way this skill can be used to share a message of hope with people who might otherwise turn away from traditional “Christian hip hop.”



Bottom line: If you’re a faith-based rapper and are NOT utilizing some form of freestyle rap in your performance and ministry I think you’re missing a great opportunity to expand your audience - which can ultimately lead to more lives being changed through Christ.

Hip hop worship artist Rawsrvnt will join Lecrae in representing Christian rap as a performer at the 2012 Dove Awards. Rawsrvnt’s segment will be part of The Story Tour montage.

Last December Rawsrvnt joined the tour which was billed as a Christmas spectacular with carols and a musical journey from Genesis to Revelation. It featured Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, Natalie Grant, Selah, Anthem Lights, and special guests Max Lucado and Randy Frazee.

The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will take place on April 19 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and be nationally televised on GMC TV on April 24 at 8:00PM Eastern.

“Bass Ain’t Dead.” At least that’s the message you get when you talk to Thrill Da Playa. As a member of the multi-platinum secular group 69 Boyz, Thrill helped pen and release Florida bass records like “Tootsee Roll,” “Come On Ride It (The Train),” and even the Grammy-nominated “Space Jam” movie theme.

Now, as a rededicated Christian who is making music for the mainstream market, he’s hoping to revitalize the fun, party-atmosphere his style of hip hop always hoped to foster – just now with a clean, positive edge.

That comes in the form of his recently released Bass Ain’t Dead mixtape and the new single “El Shaddai.”

The track features hip hop worship artist Rawsrvnt using both his pop and regional sensibilities to create one of the most interesting Christian rap songs you’re bound to ever hear.

“I believe ‘El Shaddai’ is gonna have some people worshiping God in a real Florida way,” Eddy “Rawsrvnt” Puyol said.



The two initially connected after Thrill invited Rawsrvnt to come out to his User Friendly album release party and support the positive direction he was moving toward with his new music.

“He came down and we just bonded and clicked automatically,” Thrill said. “He’s been able to help me navigate some things without even preaching or saying it. I just watch his walk and lifestyle and that’s helped me a lot.”

While “El Shaddai” is intended for listeners who are already believers to use in vertical worship of God the Father, Thrill’s other music, like the songs heard on Bass Ain’t Dead, are designed to simply offer a positive form of expression for a mainstream audience.


Thrill said that after his rededication to follow Jesus he was tempted to only create and release for the Christian market.

“I’m thankful for some things I went through because it became very clear to me, almost like His voice was in the room with me, that God was saying ‘If you go over there then who is going to be here [in the secular market]?’”

He said that listening to mainstream radio revealed to him how little programming is dedicated to offering a positive message. By his count it’s less than 30 minutes in a 24 hour day – a number he desperately wants to change and with a method that has the full support of Rawsrvnt.

“I love what Thrill’s doing,” Rawsrvnt said.

Rawsrvnt said that Thrill is uniquely sharing the love of God to the mainstream world the only way he knows how to – by simply being real and staying true to his background and talent base in the world of fun, dance style hip hop.

“I’m not only a fan, but also a friend, and I tell him all the time how important his role is in the Kingdom,” Rawsrvnt said.

“That’s what we’re both in this for – to love God and love people. And our song ‘El Shaddai’ is a way of thanking our Lord for the ways He’s worked in both of our lives.”

“El Shaddai” is available on iTunes as a joint release from both Rawsrvnt’s Soul Deep Records and Thrill Da Playa’s Responsible Recordings.


Soul Deep is asking fans to show support for the record by reposting the following information on their social networks:

Get @Rawsrvnt & @THRILLDAPLAYA of the 69 Boyz bass worship record "El Shaddai" on iTunes & leave your feedback! Thanx! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shaddai-feat.-thrill-da-playa/id519245385

@Rawsrvnt & @THRILLDAPLAYA of the 69 Boyz release a bass worship record that'll have you jammin FLA style! Enjoy! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shaddai-feat.-thrill-da-playa/id519245385

Listen to @Rawsrvnt & @THRILLDAPLAYA of the 69 Boyz bass worship record "El Shaddai" on YouTube & leave your feedback! http://youtube.com/watch?v=4uczdolAH_c