Comments for Holy Hip Hop’s Civil War at http://www.rapzilla.com/rz , comment 1 to 53 out of 20 comments http://www.rapzilla.com/rz Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:38:49 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-6090 Thanx Doc Watson and Sev Statik for sharing with listeners of the whole genre like myself. We need both sides lets not beat this up and get no place in the end but divided! Peace - luvlifemuzik Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:44:02 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-6085 To the below poster, How on earth can you say the article is biased when it says this: "So who is right? Is it the artists who focus so much on the gospel that they can’t seem to get a lyric out of their mouth without the name “Jesus” in it or the artists who express all aspects of their life and art in a song and rarely directly hit you with a “get saved” or “praise God” message? The truth is… both. Both are right." Wow. - thelonereviewer Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:31:11 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-5837 The only issue I have with your post is assuming what people will say. You can only assume that people will respond, because they will. But don't add anything to it by saying "I know what they are going to say", its ust not right in God's eyes to even do this. Don't try and get in people's heads an treat people with the same respect we have to treat you, to respond to what you said, not to what we thought you would say without responding at all. God Bless - Lamar Gibbs Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:23:40 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-5571 This article was so biased, and riddled with so much "liberal" non-sense I don't even know where to begin. Check this out....Flame, was just nominated for a Grammy and Lecrae is probably the hottest name in HHH....and both a strong in theology and many sinners like there ministry. I am the same way....as a matter of fact....more "sinners" have complimented my CD and said that they learned a lot about Christ and redemption www.myspace.com/theluminary. Trying to talk about this article is like trying to get out of a swamp! So, I'll just say this....many people do not mind hearing about how Jesus wants to take all of their troubles away. Many do not mind using scripture for inspiration....but here is the thing: MANY, DO NOT WANT TO SURRENDER THEIR LIVES TO HIM (JOHN 3:18). Stop letting "sinners" manipulate you into thinking that WE are always the reason why they are not Christians. The belief that WE are the reason that people do or do not become christians....is completely unscriptural and has begotten many heresies and man centered theologies all in the name of LOVE! True love is when YOU can sacrifice yourself and everything you think that you are or ever want to be, to become a spectacle and fool that will preach the TRUE AND ONLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST -- till the death if necessary! This Gospel would not be man-centered but God centered....it won't be focused on the things that are temporary and earthly but eternal. Matthew 26:16.... Now some of you who will read this will attack me. You will say that I am un-loving and insensitive to peoples needs....some of you will even try to preach to me....because you will think that I am misguided and too CONSERVATIVE. Well, to that I will say....Jesus was not a conservative but he definitely was not a LIBERAL....so don't come at me with your liberal, seeker-sensitive, emergent theology....because it will never stand against the WORD OF GOD - The Luminary Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:11:11 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4859 To Lavoisier...The Rap Terrorist: Well said!!!!!!! - Dwayne Lacy Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:55:41 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4858 :) Man Lovoisier Im surprised it took you this long to respond. I remember your post on illspot and it was mad helpful in helping me understand this whole argument. As always good response man, and I hope people are taking these things to heart. - Duck Dodgers Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:04:03 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4857 Praise God for that response! Man, I really hope this gets taken into the heart, because its been said on here different times before in different comment sections. Who is to say what's for the streets, its about what God has for them, and they need to know Him, not who came from which 'hood. Thanks Lavoisier for that much needed wisdom. I hope people think about the part where it says are teachers not required to proselytize, but rappers are, since they are both gifts to. Very interesting. Love this! - Lamar Gibbs Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:41:27 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4855 1st Let's stop putting the burden of evangelism and ministry upon artists as if it goes hand in hand. Meaning: If your called to be a minister by God, then that is not going to be based on whether or not you rap. And if your not called to be a minister or hold an office such as teacher, evangelist, etc., then having a gift of rapping is not going to change that. How come we're not arguing whether or not Denzel Washington should be making Christian movies like Stephen Baldwin? Is Stephen gonna have bigger mansion in heaven? Not if each man is faithful to carry out the SPECIFIC assignments that they were given. How come we excuse teachers who take jobs AGREEING not to proselytize to students? If a rapper did that we'd stone him. And I'm a GOSPEL RAPPER STR8up, but its not fair (or biblical) to say that you MUST be a minister b/c you have a musical gift. ALL gifts come down from the father of lights, and though music is definitely unique, it is not the only gift that can be used for evangelism that is not always used "just to make a living". Christian carpenters could only fix churches for instance. Or Christian visual artists could only draw religious paintings then. Not saying that dudes that aren't like CM aren't ministers b/c Sev Statiks' album "Shotgun" was BLESSING me the other day. It HAS to be on a case by case basis. There are things that pertain to life and godliness that Cross Movement DO NOT ADDRESS. And there are deep and heavy theological things that EVERY believer should know that you may not hear from say, The Breax. There's a lot of dudes scared to represent the Lord b/c of what it would mean for their money and popularity. And there's a lot of dudes hiding behind theological rap because they're afraid to be transparent and open up their lives for others to peek into so they deflect the attention to Jesus, when sometimes God wants people to see more of the Jesus IN us...not just the Jesus we can rap about. And another thing...I'm HOOD man...so what's with all these non-hood church people talking about who's for the streets and who's not? That's case by case too!!! When I 1st got saved and tried to tell my man, HE ALREADY KNEW THE BIBLE AND WAS SELLING DRUGS WITH ME THE WHOLE TIME! So there I am saved, and he was unsaved, and could have possibly grasped a Flame or shai linne cd better than I could at the time. Judge with wisdom man...wisdom. You don't always know who needs what. Slow your role on who you think is for the streets. My dude Richie Righteous's cd was instrumental in the salvation of one of the biggest gang members in Chicago when he was laid up shot in the hospital...and Richie Righteous grew up in church as a Pastor's kid. It's prideful and/or unwise to ALWAYS say who's for the streets.I'd play shai linne's new song Testify for ANYONE. Ever felt led to say something to someone that you thought that they wouldn't understand or that you thought would make you look stupid, and it turned out it was just what they needed? Why can't it be the same with this music. Leave some room for God's Holy Spirit..."Nah I can't put this Tunnel Ratz song on there...it ain't enough bible verbatim, people need the Word!!" Lol..or "Nah I can't put this T.r.u.t.h. song on there...it ain't hood enough!!" Shaaaatt up...please...let God speak...unless you can peek into the heart of man. - Lavoisier...The Rap Terrorist Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:41:08 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4810 OK, I'll admit i was on the side of "if it doesn't contain Christ in the lyrics or at least be influenced by Christ or God's Word (i.e. w/ the POD song at the beginning), then it really isn't Holy Hip Hop", reading some of this article has changed my mind a little. But I have a question for Wut metaphysical or anyone who can answer it. He said that the psalms, on the surface do not contain the words God or even "conservative topics" and that even Jesus' parables were spoken in terms that the populace could relate to and didn't contain the religious terms of the day. And he's absolutely right, he brings up a good point about creativity and different emotions, however, even though the Psalms don't directly talk about God, when meditated over it becomes clear how the topics and emotions althought aesthetically have nuttin to do w/ God, at the core have everything to do w/ God's nature/our relationship w/ Him/etc. and thus convey that purpose. Same thing w/ Jesus' parables, aesthetically it may seem like he's talkin bout farmin, but at the core he's talkin about growin in the faith or spreadin the Word. I know this is long, but here's the question: for the HHH rappers that don't put Christ in their lyrics as much as Reach or Lampmode do, how can those in the world find out about the true meaning of what your lyrics are saying?? This is not rhetorical, I really wanna know. I mean do groups like POD glorify God when they explain their lyrics sayin it was all inspired by Him (look Heb. 2:10, evrythin exists for God) evn tho the lyrics don't outwardly show it (and that's not a dig cause I think that can be a really effective way of reaching ppl)? Cause it would seem effective to have a hybrid, kinda like Frontlynaz or Rhema Soul does, talk about things the world relates to, but later in the song put it in the context of truth, the context of Christ. - Osagie Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:50:12 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4765 Yo that Lyric by CM hit it on the head man!! We as christians are busy enough being attacked by the enemy, why should we have to fight each other. A house divided cannot stand, and since God is not the author of confusion lets get it going. Glorify God and thats it, our main purpose on this earth is to Praise the Lord!!! AMEN!! - FOTUCLIQUE08 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:29:59 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-4257 God is diverse.that's why no two people are the same.God uses both of them since He is the one who has given them the ability and skills.They both minister to me.both have their foundation in christ,thats why there is a difference between a christian artist and a secular one.let each of them do what they been called to do.the bible says in one of paul's epistles we are one body but with different functions and gifts and this applies to holy hiphop too - jo-sef Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:09:04 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2600 This "debate" has bothered me for some time now, because I don't see how many can't see that both sides serve the same purpose, just a different way. I first got into gospel or christian hip hop with S.F.C., P.I.D., Apocalypse and so on. back then, everybody was coming pretty much straight from the bible. I was a young Christian back then, and really liked the "preachy" rap. It helped me grow in my spiritual walk, and it gave me an alternative to LL cool J and Run DMC. I now attend a multicultural church, and our Church mission is to be a crossing point where diverse people become devoted Christ followers...In other words, a bridge. THAT is how I look at Sev static, Playdough, sintax, tunnel rats and others. They can be (and are) a bridge to people who wouldn't ever listen to Trip Lee, or CM, or Flame. I've had many, many people come up my driveway while I was detailing my truck, asking me what I was listening to...most of the time, it's Mars ILL, or Playdough, or TR'Z. this gives me a chance to open up conversation about Christ. Both sides of this issue are valid, and serve a purpose. I listen to artists on both sides of this issue, and it's sad that there is a "civil war". - John Robinson Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:51:28 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2576 I am not one to discuss these topics outwardly becuae of the way people like to draw lines. I will say that I have seen it myself. I believe there are different genres inside of our culture. There is a standard that has to be met to be a Christian artist. One does not fall into a catagory by accident. If a rapper is a Christian rapper then that is what he/she is and the goal should be obvious. The goal is to perserve the church, reach outside the church and bring testimony. I know we can add a whole lot more, but basically it is bring God to the people. If your rapping for the church than that is what God called you to do..If your rapping the work to the streets than that is what you are to do. Everyone gets so caught up on what they think is correct, but where is God in all this? I do not think there is a civil war but a change. I think the music is growing into new ministries and reaching further. With that being said the devil is going to try to break our unity. I know that some take this music a little to far..we have to real them in, but the bottom line is we need to reach the streets, we need to keep our youth in the church strong, and we need to remember that the music is not about our own image but Jesus's image. I really do not know how else to say it.. God bless Doc - DOCWATSON Fri, 23 May 2008 10:12:12 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2483 It is very important that Christian rappers that profess the Gospel, live it as well. We are in the last days people...IMHO, I truly believe, there is no time for "Soft" or "Fence-sitting" Gospel or Christian Rap..We were created to praise HIM! Not ourselves!!! Now, while I believe that CMR shouldn't be the ultimate standard or all Christian rap artists (God and Jesus Christ should be the standard of all doctrine), CMR and other artists out there that speak of a conservative Christian rap doctrine only request that the fence sitters and the Neutral Christian rap artists need to FULLY embrace The Gospel of Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection...what's wrong with that? One of the great prophets in the Old Testament said "Chose ye this day, who you will serve...". God also said in Isaiah..."I will not yield My glory to another..." I implore all those rappers who profess Christ to be Lord and Savior of their lives to stop creating "Neutral" rap songs in order to satisfy the neutral crowd... Just one Christian man's opinion. Peace and God Bless - Crusader918 Mon, 05 May 2008 12:08:48 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2401 Rappers should not be classified as Holy Hip Artists if their music is not christianlike. Some rappers call themselves holy hip hop artists whose lyrics don't contain christian lyrics aren't really christian rappers. - Matt C Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:27:05 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2399 yeah, i have actually been on both sides of the debate. but i have concluded that there is unity in diversity. as long as a person is not promoting sin and rebeling against God i do not see the problem. We have to remember that there is one body and many parts. It would be something else if the hand got made at the foot because it was not able to pick things up or grab things correctly. I think that is the good thing about holy hip hop or life music. It is so broad and diverse. sometimes i honestly dont feel like hearing theologically deep songs. I just want to hear stuff that i can relate to. Then again sometimes i need to be feed some spiritually deep concepts so i can better my walk with Christ...I think as a body we should see the value in everyones gifts and bring it all together....... Dueces - intense Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:27:00 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2386 why do we fall into the trap of division the enemy sets? if who ever aint your cup of tea, dont buy it. we should be lifting each other up, praying for each other and understand that people are at different levels spiritually. heck im sure a lot of the rappers that dont say Jesus but consider themselves christian dont even have a good church home that teaches the word. they just doing what they know and what they believe to be right in the eyesight of GOD. we should pray for them and believe that GOD would draw them closer. if such and such dont say Jesus and it's good clean music, it should not be a problem. just accept it as it is (good clean christian entertainment) and pray for the fellow. the same folk dissing who ever for not being Jesus Jesus Jesus in their raps will take their righteous tails to a secular movie and enjoy it or watch some secular tv and enjoy it. aint that backwards? "i diss such and such for being a christian rapper who has clean raps not necessarily saying GOD all the time, but i love that secular movie or tv show!" bottom line, if you feel such and such aint up to par, they dont say jesus enough, pray for them. it's your duty. the problem GOD allow you is the one HE wants you to pray for. - dino Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:37:05 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2353 As a spirit filled believer, I don't depend or look to HHH to 'hear a word from the Lord, or instruct me on…well anything.’ It’s great to hear a cd that edifies my spirit, unlike most of the secular garbage out their. And it’s good to sing & make melody in my heart unto the Lord w/ Christian music too. I would like to remind everyone of the fact that the gospel has the power to bring ppl to salvation, not the music. If you survey ppl who listen to HHH, how many get saved bc of the music? Probably not many. Reaching the lost world is in giving the gospel & how we live our lives, not just bc we can rap & put Christ's name in their. I think Christian artists should overtly speak of God at least sometimes in their music. If an artist does not do that, then to me that artist just happens to be a Christian, not a Christian artist. I appreciate some of those types of artist too (i.e. Switchfoot). If an artist who happens to be a Christian wants to sing/rap about things that aren't conflicting with God, or don't make Christ look bad, then that's fine too (i.e. Switchfoot). It’s the heart of the message, & how it’s delivered. As far as calling ppl out, CM didn’t speak out against a particular artist or group to my knowledge & I’ve followed them since Heavens Mentality. I did notice a major shift in their lyrics from Christ to pro Hip Hop (that’s another subject). Next, w/ Sup The Chemist, I heard a few songs featuring him years ago & saw a documentary w/ him as one of the guests speaking there. It did absolutely nothing for me. Just that name Sup The Chemist make me not wanna think twice about listening to him. If somebody else likes him, hey to each his own. When it comes to artists calling other artists out, that's ok. Ppl are ppl, rather their well known or not. In the scriptures Paul called out may ppl. As long as things are done properly I'm not tripping Music is not my pastor, my God, or anything close to that, nor should it be anyone else's. Let’s keep this thing in perspective. It's just music folks, why make it anymore than that. - God'sMan Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:33:33 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2350 All I can say is this, don't be fooled by familiar spirits. If the Holy Spirit had fueled this article then there would have been no reference to a civil war (CM never called out any names, as a matter of fact no Christian artist has). Congratulations on being the first. Instead the author of this article did exactly what the secular media did in the Biggie/Tupac fued. He or she took advantage of the carnal nature of the readers, the nature that has a lust for blood and conflict, and promoted it for selfish gains while in the process creating a riff in something as minor as a difference in the application of the Gospel. And the readers ate it up with statements like "this is the best HHH article that I've read". Christian people don't be so foolish. Study the Word of God and pray so that you can see the false prophets and familiar spirit and discern what is the Will of God and what is not. The devil will come as an angel of light. Therefore, just because someone mentions that they are a Christian doesn't mean that we should take what they say, or in this case what they write, as God's Will. Tell me, what is the difference between what CM is doing and what the pastor at a church does when the Holy Spirit prompts him to speak on being bold as Christians and preaching the gospel in and out of season. I know that I've heard that sermon many times and never did I get offended, even when it pertained to me. Nor would the Holy Spirit prompt an attack on CM or any other MC that raps the uncut Gospel. I've read some of the comments here and most of you are easily decieved. We cannot afford to think like those who are dead in their sins. In other words, He is coming back soon and that is the way we should approach this thing. Christian people don't believe the hype. Christ will return soon and we as the Body of Christ are responsible for reaching out to any and all that will listen. Therefore, we do not have the time to preach a watered down gospel. Give them the Gospel and don't be ashamed. Now for the writer of the article to compare the book of Ruth with CM and artist like them is unnerving. The Bible is the Bible. We are the Body of Christ. We were commissioned by Jesus Christ himself to preach the same un-cut Gospel that Paul, James, Peter, etc. preached. They preached Jesus un-cut, not "This is what I did before I got saved". To do that is to put the focus on you and not him. What happened to being sold out for Christ? I agree that there is a difference in approach since all don't have the same gifts but our jobs as his people is minister first and rapper second. Not rapper first, minister maybe. - Crosseyes Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:14:31 +0100 http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/727/83/#comment-2347 I believe there is a lack of definition for the genre. Holy Hip Hop seems to be in civil war because it has groups with different opinions about what they should do to fit into the genre. I believe that one could be a Christian and an emcee, or one could be a Christian emcee that makes music for the Christian hip hop genre. If you are a Christian and an emcee, you could be making music about your life, having fun with words, or just expressing yourself artistically. I do not believe that this kind of music fits into the Christian hip hop genre. If you are a Christian emcee, who makes music for the Christian hip hop genre, I believe you should have topics relating to Christianity in your songs. If you do not, I do not think you should be categorized into Christian hip hop. I would say that both kinds of music are necessary. An emcee that is Christian would make music refreshingly clean and easy to listen to (for Christians and unbelievers). It would not be preachy to unbelievers, possibly making Christianity more acceptable. Christians might not want to listen to something that is overly preachy or perhaps addressed to someone else, while wanting to listen to 'clean' music. A Christian emcee would be necessary to provide "spiritual encouragement and edification" to other Christians, and possibly act as a evangelical tool to unbelievers. A group with Christian members does not make their music Christian and does not - well, should not - place their music in the Christian music genre, unless I am mistaken. - Somethin' Fishy Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:33:13 +0100