Gospel hip-hop (Real or Fake)

[hardheaded]

My only problem wit some Christian/Gospel rappers is they still look like their secular counterparts.  There needs to be a DEFINITE distinction between gospel rap and secular rap.  For the most part, that distinction is not very clear until u listen to the lyrics.  This opens the door for a lot of drama.  Just my opinion!!!

I can feel that to a certain extent like i said before we as gospel rappers shouldn't be sagging and having bandana's hanging out of our pockets but other than that tennis shoes, ball cap, jeans, t-shirt, button down, jersey, i dont see anything wrong with wearing any of that

[Blackwiz87]

My only problem wit some Christian/Gospel rappers is they still look like their secular counterparts.  There needs to be a DEFINITE distinction between gospel rap and secular rap.  For the most part, that distinction is not very clear until u listen to the lyrics.  This opens the door for a lot of drama.  Just my opinion!!!

Ehh I dont know about that. If you look outside and see young males and females who are saved Christians, they dress just like the "sinners" do. What do you mean when you say secular counterparts? Are you talking about sagging alone? Or is there a lot more? I dont see whats wrong with wearing baggy jeans, a white tee and some timbs. (im talking out loud now, not necessarily aiming it at you ;-) ).

Why is that secular or wordly? Why are black suits Godly? I think people focus on look too much. Now if we want to talk about females wearing mini skirts or shirts that show off all of their chest, that's another story....and a different one for that matter.

But like I said, why does a shirt have to be buttoned up? Society...Gospel society, has formed a dress code for some odd reason...and I don't agree with it. Its just like how society as a whole says that "wearing a suit" is more professional than jeans and a t-shirt.

A look...a change....look regarding change is not clothes, but its something deeper. You can look at someone and tell that they've changed...something in their eyes, in their walk..in their swagger and their smile....but they can still wear the same clothes. Feel me?

[under13]

A look...a change....look regarding change is not clothes, but its something deeper. You can look at someone and tell that they've changed...something in their eyes, in their walk..in their swagger and their smile....but they can still wear the same clothes. Feel me?

Funny, my pastor was talking 'bout how you see a person walking in the Mall, and just know they are saved ....I waiting to obtain that level of discernment

And I KINDA agree about the clothes. I think extra baggy clothes look stupid, but if thats what people wanna do.......

Me personaly, I had to give that stuff up. People judge you by how you dress, like it or not. When i'm in public I wanna look decent, you never know when you might miss an opportunity, because you were dressed like a thug. That especially goes for my black brothers, you are already being judged by the color of your skin, dont give em another reason to pre-judge you. I honestly would never hire somebody who is dressed like a thug, dresses grungy, dresses like a goth or like a pimp (even though thats half of the brothers in church )

Sorry for ranting off topic

[Blackwiz87]

Funny, my pastor was talking 'bout how you see a person walking in the Mall, and just know they are saved ....I waiting to obtain that level of discernment

And I KINDA agree about the clothes. I think extra baggy clothes look stupid, but if thats what people wanna do.......

Me personaly, I had to give that stuff up. People judge you by how you dress, like it or not. When i'm in public I wanna look decent, you never know when you might miss an opportunity, because you were dressed like a thug. That especially goes for my black brothers, you are already being judged by the color of your skin, dont give em another reason to pre-judge you. I honestly would never hire somebody who is dressed like a thug, dresses grungy, dresses like a goth or like a pimp (even though thats half of the brothers in church )

Sorry for ranting off topic

But see thats fine how you feel...if you don't like that look, then you don't like it. All of that is fine...its the old traditional church people who try to make it like its biblical.. Yes we are peculiar people and we must separate ourselves from the world...but thats not clothing wise. Just like Gospel Rap...a lot of it I dont like...simply because it sounds like they are trying to be like the world. But its not the sound, its the feeling I get. I dont feel like when they rap, that they are really trying to glorify God...but thats just the few I've heard....now If I were to go to a live show, I may think differ. But I feel this way because of how their "feeling" comes across to me. I look at it the same way if a gospel singer sings....and theirs no FEELING.

[under13]

But see thats fine how you feel...if you don't like that look, then you don't like it. All of that is fine...its the old traditional church people who try to make it like its biblical.. Yes we are peculiar people and we must separate ourselves from the world...but thats not clothing wise. Just like Gospel Rap...a lot of it I dont like...simply because it sounds like they are trying to be like the world. But its not the sound, its the feeling I get. I dont feel like when they rap, that they are really trying to glorify God...but thats just the few I've heard....now If I were to go to a live show, I may think differ. But I feel this way because of how their "feeling" comes across to me. I look at it the same way if a gospel singer sings....and theirs no FEELING.

I feel you, we all have different styles that we prefer. I said before, that I dont like Gospel Rap, but who am i to tell someone that thier praise is invalid because I dont like the way it sounds or because I dont understand it?

[T-Block]

Ehh I dont know about that. If you look outside and see young males and females who are saved Christians, they dress just like the "sinners" do. What do you mean when you say secular counterparts? Are you talking about sagging alone? Or is there a lot more? I dont see whats wrong with wearing baggy jeans, a white tee and some timbs. (im talking out loud now, not necessarily aiming it at you ;-) ).

I'm not just talking about clothes, I'm also talking bout stage presence.  I see Christian male rappers grabbing they stuff (a lot of times to keep they pants from falling), doing all the worldly dances, etc. yet they rapping bout God.  The two just don't mix, there has to be a way to get your message across on stage w/out resorting to worldy gimics to get the crowd hype.

I'm a T-shirt & jeans man myself, so the clothing option is up to the individual.  One thing I hate is sagging pants so people can see ur underwear.  That whole pants sagging thing is really ridiculous for anyone to do, let alone Christians.

[under13]

  One thing I hate is sagging pants so people can see ur underwear.  That whole pants sagging thing is really ridiculous for anyone to do, let alone Christians.

I saw that in chuch last sunday, I was like . It wasnt even lke they were baggy, he just wore em, hanging off his ***.

[THE WOLFMAN]

someone please pass the popcorn.

and some jujubees...

[hardheaded]

I'm not just talking about clothes, I'm also talking bout stage presence.  I see Christian male rappers grabbing they stuff (a lot of times to keep they pants from falling), doing all the worldly dances, etc. yet they rapping bout God.  The two just don't mix, there has to be a way to get your message across on stage w/out resorting to worldy gimics to get the crowd hype.

Besides the grabbing the crotch  thing (which i hate to see anybody do) we are going to look like rappers because we are rappers there is no way around it gospel singers look like singers piano players look like piano players drummers look like drummers, etc. its what we do we are mc's (master of ceremonies or mic controller whatever u prefer) and one of the things a mc does is get the crowd hype. The reason I like rap is because its so energetic and loud thats what I like you take away us getting the crowd hype your taking away half of the entertainment value and the entertainment is what keeps the people listening and the longer the people listen the more of the message they hear the more of the message they hear the more they get ministered to.

[T-Block]

take away us getting the crowd hype your taking away half of the entertainment value and the entertainment is what keeps the people listening and the longer the people listen the more of the message they hear the more of the message they hear the more they get ministered to.

You missed my point:

there has to be a way to get your message across on stage w/out resorting to worldy gimics to get the crowd hype.

You see that?  Worldly gimics is what I'm talking about.  So much emphasis is put on entertainment that some fail to minister.  Waving your hands in the air is cool, getting hype is cool, but when the crowd starts acting like a mosh pit, something is wrong.  Again, just my opinion.

[under13]

I see nothing wrong with Gospel music being entertainment. Would you prefer that people are entertained by Secular music or by Gospel music?

[T-Block]

I see nothing wrong with Gospel music being entertainment. Would you prefer that people are entertained by Secular music or by Gospel music?

I think entertainment is fine, but pure entertainment isn't for gospel artists.  The main focus should be the message, not the entertainment factor.  Like I said, that's not all gospel hip-hop, but a lot that I have seen.

[under13]

I agree

[AS25000]

Hip Hop is not gospel no matter how the lyrics are changed.

Gospel used to have a meaning and a certain sound but now the world is trying to take over our gospel sound



Leave hip hop in the world and leave our gospel sound alone

[Ramar]

there is nothing wrong with RAPPING in itself... rapping is simply poetry... the problem is HipHop, which is a culture rather than a form of musical delivery... hiphop has always been about SELF and image...the hottest clothes, the finest cars, having the "hardest" reputation and trying to make others jealous, instead of focusing on God... none of those things make us closer to God... HipHop and humility don't mix... I only bump Lecrae and CM... they keep it 100%

[NJDBalla]

Ok as far as saggin' pants go, I personally don't care about the sag as long as it decent. i mean, don't have it looking like you need to change your "diaper". Have some dignity. But hey, some people may sag because their jeans are high-waters or more like flood-waters. Also, don't have your boxers showing(or tighty-whiteys for that matter). Because, nobody wants to see your boxers/briefs. To me, thats nasty and stupid. you already know where"excessive" sagging came from so why do it? That really "Grinds my Gears" to see someone do something that they know is wrong. like smoking or drinking(thats another subject lol)

there is nothing wrong with RAPPING in itself... rapping is simply poetry... the problem is HipHop, which is a culture rather than a form of musical delivery... hiphop has always been about SELF and image...the hottest clothes, the finest cars, having the "hardest" reputation and trying to make others jealous, instead of focusing on God... none of those things make us closer to God... HipHop and humility don't mix... I only bump Lecrae and CM... they keep it 100%

True. Mostly thats what music is; rhyming words with good notes and chords played behind it

[Kevykev388]

Me, personally i find no hatred, no judgement, and no criticism towards gospel rappers. I mean i think WE AS CHRISTIANS/MUSICIANS should do away with our biased and opinionated ways of what "gospel music" is to US. Think about it. In the gospel industry. Traditional gospel artists, mainly quartet groups are put down because they are so much associated with money, sex, and drugs. Look at contemporary artists, praise teams, and choir members. They are often associated with homosexuality, and believe it or not, it's often accepted IN THE CHURCH by the average church folks ha ha. Then there's Gospel Rap. Listen to the lyrics, not the music, and not clothes they wear. That should be a point proven right there. Gospel can be a genre of music by itself, but there can also be different genres up under it. God doesn't reach each and every person the same exact way. Every person doesn't/can't receive God the same way as another either. Just like God coming into our lives. Sometimes God may come in our lives as a homeless man, through sickness and bad health, through trouble with the law, through just about anything. So my point is.....God is going to use who ever he can, to get through to his people. Now the people he uses as his minsters/vessels are not all perfect themselves. They're living everyday to be better on the next day just like any other saved person! I'm sorry to be so long winded....so much to say but not sure how to put it...hope i got somewhat of a point across ha ha.

[T-Block]

you already know where"excessive" sagging came from so why do it?

It's funny u should say that, because it's not just excessive sagging, it's sagging period that started u know where.  So, any kind of sagging isn't good, not just the excessive.  A lot of young people sag cuz they see the older people sagging.  Heck, young people get their habits (good and bad) from us grown folk anyway.

[NJDBalla]

It's funny u should say that, because it's not just excessive sagging, it's sagging period that started u know where.  So, any kind of sagging isn't good, not just the excessive.  A lot of young people sag cuz they see the older people sagging.  Heck, young people get their habits (good and bad) from us grown folk anyway.

Very true and spoken with wisdom...