{"id":678,"date":"2024-06-22T16:25:21","date_gmt":"2024-06-22T23:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thesweatpantsessions\/?p=678"},"modified":"2024-06-22T16:25:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-22T23:25:21","slug":"small-medium-large-three-christian-hip-hop-reviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thesweatpantsessions\/2024\/06\/small-medium-large-three-christian-hip-hop-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Small, Medium, Large: Three Christian Hip Hop Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Small, Medium, Large: Three Brief Christian Hip Hop Reviews<\/h1>\n The Cross Movement, House of Representatives<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \ These past months, I\u2019ve taken a deeper dive into Christian Hip Hop.\u00a0 Submitting proposals, and writing commentary on various artists has occupied my time.\u00a0 The resulting outcome has been more curiosity, wonder, and in-depth analysis of the genre and the inclusive artists.<\/p>\n \ Discussions, sharing videos, and critical apologetic analysis during these recent times heightened an observation that I did not want to admit; there\u2019s a strong bias and stereotype of Christian Hip Hop.\u00a0 The first proverbial question comes to the fore, \u201cWhat is Christian Hip Hop?\u201d\u00a0 Thereafter, the necessary question surfaces, \u201cWhat makes Christian Hip Hop, \u2018Christian\u2019?\u201d\u00a0 Easy as these questions appear to define, when the layers of this Hip Hop sub genre are scaled more questions arise than qualified answers.<\/p>\n \ I have written elsewhere on the important qualifiers of Hip Hop to align within the expressive discipline of Christian Hip Hop, 1. Use of the core Hip Hop signifiers\/Elements (Rap\/rhyme, DJ, Fashion\/Style, Art\/Graffiti, Media). 2. Sound Gospel\/Scripture doctrine included, 3. A case\/expressions of personal Testimony.\u00a0 The inclusion of these three points, I argue, secure a Hip Hop artist\u2019s work within the context, genre, and apologetic discipline of Christian Hip Hop.\u00a0 The following question, \u201cWhat makes Christian Hip Hop, \u2018Christian\u2019?\u201d is the sticking-point and the structure of the bias and stereotype for and against Christian Hip Hop.<\/p>\n \ Talks with those who are outside of the Christian Hip Hop genre presented a firm stereotype against the genre, expression, and style.\u00a0 The underlining argument was generalized as any Hip Hop artist who desired to be consider \u201cspiritual,\u201d or \u201creligious,\u201d need only include some signifier, icon, or image of a religious nature.\u00a0 This automatic inclusion of a prop reduces the importance of those who have elected to invest their career in the Christian Hip Hop genre.\u00a0 In addition, Prosperity\/Mega Church Christian Hip Hop artists are poised to include doctrine that is counter or inconsistent with Gospel\/Scripture doctrine.\u00a0 There may be a Testimonial and the included Hip Hop signifiers\/Element in their work.\u00a0 However, the lack of a sound Gospel\/Scripture doctrine or knowledge of this apologetic foundation is neglected.\u00a0 More often than not, this is the discursive reality between strongly embedded Christian Hip Hop artists (Disciple Hip Hop artists) and others seeking fame and attention by way of artificial product placement (Apostasy Christian Hip Hop artists).\u00a0 If one is not aware of these mechanics the emotional relationship to religion, spirituality, faith-based and Christian theology over runs the acceptance\/denial assumptions of this genre.\u00a0 Passing along these thoughts situates a socio-religious language rooted in uninformed self-defined knowledge.<\/p>\n \ What can be done to reverse these misconceptions about Christian Hip Hop?\u00a0 What is necessary to present in faith-based discipline for sound Christian Hip Hop?\u00a0 In an effort to supply the reader \u2013 both within and outside of the Christian Hip Hop genre \u2013 I elect to provide a base review of three different artists each aligning and stating their work as being secure within the Christian Hip Hop genre.<\/p>\n Lucky Luciano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Soul Muzik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lazarus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The selected artists are, Luck Luciano<\/a> (the small), David Robledo<\/a> (the medium), and Lazarus<\/a> (the large).\u00a0 These categories were applied to showcase the progression of Christian Hip Hop from a minimal perspective (the small) to a maximal viewpoint (the large).\u00a0 The applied criticism, listing, and analysis of each is of my own construction.\u00a0 I offer this level of apologetic critical faith-based discourse as hermenutic path to logically ascertain how each of these perspectives are visibly present today.\u00a0 It is my intent with these short descriptive commentaries and analysis that the reader be more keenly aware of the variations within the presumed Christian Hip Hop genre.\u00a0 The simplicity of this building material, I argue, contextualized the importance and need for socio-religious political apologetic discourse and the expansion of theomusicology beyond the current standard of Praise-based music.<\/p>\n The Small, Lucky Luciano, Come So Far<\/h2>\n \n Come So Far<\/a>, Lucky Luciano (feat. Lance Blake).<\/p>\n Alright, so, let\u2019s get this whole thing started. Roll up your sleeves and let\u2019s dig into Hip Hop criticism. This track is defined as \u201cChristian Hip Hop.\u201d Take a look for yourself. On the surface it\u2019s much more of prosperity Hip Hop track\/artist. The glamor, the glitter, the expensive car, the fancy home; are these necessary? Counterpoint these with the text. On one hand there\u2019s praise and glory. On the other there\u2019s wealth and earthly value. Is the truth, then, somewhere in the middle? I\u2019ll be bold enough to say, if you\u2019re classifying your work as \u201cChristian Hip Hop,\u201d there is no middle ground. The work, and all inclusive elements, need to be either hot or cold; on or off. There\u2019s no middle-man in this game.<\/div>\n \n Lucky Luciano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\nThe Medium, David Robledo, Soul Muzik<\/h3>\n**** Never Give Up<\/a>, David Robledo, Soul Muzik<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Never Give Up, David Robledo, Soul Muzik. It\u2019s a better track than the previous example by Lucky Luciano. The lyrics stated up front certainly show how \u201cfor real\u201d (realz!) he is with his music and faith. Not an overwhelming track, and definitely one not destined to be a top 10 hit. However, in contrast to the earlier example, there is hope for Christian Hip Hop.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n Soul Muzik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWalk By Faith<\/a>, Lazarus<\/h4>\n****** ** \n ** \n * Here\u2019s an example of a young artist who has potential.\u00a0 Look at the shirt, \u201cWalk by Faith Not by Sight.\u201d\u00a0 He boldly calls-out JZ, both as a script for Jesus, and as a cultural check to the larger Hip Hop artist who has tried to qualify his recent work in a Christian Hip Hop domain.\u00a0 It\u2019s got the West Coast 90s easy-vibe including the electric piano melody.\u00a0 Clear lyrics, steady flow, and located in a context we can all associate.\u00a0 A far cry from some other prosperity Christian rappers.<\/div>\n * \n * * Lazarus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA closing thought<\/h5>\n ** The brevity of these critiques is for the purpose of the reader to evaluate and digest the tracks on their own and in collective.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be shy, it\u2019s time to start sharing thoughts, comments, and the included examples with others.\u00a0 To move the needle from mismanaged stereotype to contemporary relevance, the conversation is necessary.<\/div>\n ** <\/div>\n ** The unanswered question I\u2019ll offer in-kind, \u201cWhat\u2019s are the next steps?\u201d\u00a0 Do we build a larger drum to beat making more sound on this matter?\u00a0 Do we charge ourselves with the action to articulate this knowledge in social spheres?\u00a0 Do we frustrate the borders of religious bias and apostasy discourse?\u00a0 Perhaps a little of each, but with time, patience, ongoing research, careful attention, apologetic discourse, and faith-based grounded doctrine.<\/div>\n ** <\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ** ******Small, Medium, Large: Three Brief Christian Hip Hop Reviews These past months, I\u2019ve taken a deeper dive into Christian Hip Hop.\u00a0 Submitting proposals, and writing commentary on various artists has occupied my time.\u00a0 The resulting outcome has been more curiosity, wonder, and in-depth analysis of the genre and the inclusive artists. Discussions, sharing videos, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5420,"featured_media":699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[131,177,168,171,53,174],"class_list":["post-678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music-criticism","tag-christian-hip-hop","tag-christian-music-critique","tag-christian-rap","tag-christian-rappers","tag-music-criticism","tag-music-review"],"yoast_head":"\nSmall, Medium, Large: Three Christian Hip Hop Reviews<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Small, Medium, Large: Three Brief Christian Hip Hop Reviews These past months, I've taken a deeper dive into Christian Hip Hop.\u00a0 Submitting proposals, and A short critique of three Christian hip hop rappers and their recent works.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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