Blog Post 8

Daisiah Akbar

RELIGION AND RAP MUSIC: AN ANALYSIS OF BLACK CHURCH USAGE

                The purpose of gospel rap, according to this particular article is to spread the gospel to a younger audience. In some people’s opinion, it’s easier to evangelize to younger audiences using rap because it gives them something they can relate to. As the article states, the black church is more focused on societal problems than other churches. “Priestly churches are basations of survival and prophetic churches are networks of liberation… Prophetic churches challenge the status quo and often use temporal standards to determine religious conviction.

KINGDOM BUSINESS: HOLY HIP HOP’S EVANGELICAL HUSTILE
                This article focuses on the business behind gospel rap. The gospel rappers have to add just enough of current problems that many inner city youth have to struggle with, while including the perfect combination of the gospel. As stated in the article, their goal is to get a paycheck, but always remembering the ultimate “paycheck” of eternal life with Jesus.

WE’RE FEELING… GOSPEL RAP

                This article is a little old, it’s based on the 2007 Grammy’s. In this article, Da T.R.U.T.H. speaks on the history of gospel rap. Just like many other types of music, gospel rap started off as a grass-roots movement. Just like the 1^st article stated, there’s plenty of opposition to gospel rap. Gospel rap started in the 90s. The most important thing for people to remember is that saving souls is the end goal.

GOSPEL RAP RAPS GAYS

                Gospel rap takes on all topics, even the controversial ones, the idea is to paint a picture in your mind, get you to go to church, and get a further explanation.  Some gospel rappers performed at an event, and they were asked to refrain from singing a song that spoke on the topic of homosexuality. The goal of gospel rappers isn’t to tell you what you want to hear, nor degrade anybody based upon their current lifestyle, their goal is to tell you what God wants and let you decide.

GOSPEL MESSAGE, RAP STYLE
                This article is all about breaking down barriers when it comes to teaching the gospel. It talks about the many different efforts of CCM to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to hear the gospel, there’s rock and roll gospel, gospel rap, and pop gosopel.