Friday's Weekly Rap Up - April 3, 2015 - "Identity"- Json

I've been listening to Json's "No Filter" album for the last few weeks. There is a good deal of this album that you and I would most likely not identify with. Json gets incredibly personal on this album. No Filter address the difficult things in life, where Json begins detailing his birth, being born to a mother who used crack cocaine. He goes on to tell us of his past growing up in St. Louis selling crack cocaine, finding hope and salvation in Christ, and sharing some of the most difficult things in his life, including the sexual abuse suffered by his wife while she was young, and the effects it has had on their lives now that they are married. The larger struggles of lust, greed and the desire to be wanted and accepted are prevalent throughout the album as well.



There may not be much of those experiences that you or I can actually identify with, but, there is much to be celebrated, encouraged by, and to be learned from what Json presents. As I listened to "No Filter", the song that stuck out most to me was "Identity". It is probably the song I can relate to most, as I have not experienced many of the things that Json is so transparent about on the rest of the album.

In a recent Rapzilla interview Json says “I talk about identity. That’s at a height in our culture. When we start talking about identity — you gotta see [God] properly. If we don’t see him properly, we can’t see us properly. I wrestled with identity when I was growing up. You don’t hear men talk about it, so I wanted to give men a voice.”

All too often we make attempts to cover up our struggles, in some sort of attempt to hide them, or distort them with filters. Our culture is feeding off of presenting ourselves to be an enhancement of what we really are. That's why there's not only social media, but there are countless photo editing applications for our smart phones so we can touch up our photos and post them to social media within a few seconds. In fact, Json credits his album's name from the popular Instagram hashtag of "#nofilter". 

In our lives we tend to have a much higher view of ourselves than realize, especially when we as Christians keep in perspective the character to which God has called us. It's certainly not easy to admit that we're probably much more sinful than we imagine. We don't really know who we are, and don't know who defines us. But we're not without hope and guidance as to our true identify, found in Christ. The book of Ephesians provides a wealth of truths where we can root our identities. Our identities are "either found in Christ, or found in worldly passions, which is at its root, idolatry." These are exactly the types of issues that Json addresses, specifically in his song "Identity".

Identity is something that is increasingly being compared and used to attribute value to our lives. We're increasingly made aware of how we don't measure up or compare to others. Jai sings during the chorus, "Who loves me? Who cares for me? I wonder these questions as I sit and stare at reflections of all my imperfections. I'm glad you see beauty. You love me." That's where our identity is found; in our Creator.  We know he created us and declared good his creation. We've all got God-bestowed dignity, beauty, value and worth. It's too often that we forget this truth, and look elsewhere to find our identity.

Friday's Weekly Rap-Up - May 23, 2014 - "Darkest Hour" - No Malice, Lecrae - CNN, Bill Weir, Interview with No Malice

"Darkest Hour" - Lecrae, No Malice

Earlier this week I came across a post on Rapzilla chronicling a CNN Tonight interview from host Bill Weir that took a behind the scenes look at two rappers, Pusha-T and No Malice, brothers who once performed as The Clipse. As Rapzilla points out regarding the rap culture, "Few media outlets have embraced the challenge of looking deeper into the complex struggle of right and wrong that has always been the invisible narrative of the culture." Rappers are usually glorified for their lyrics and actions, especially when it comes to pushing and using drugs, drinking, violence, sex and making money, without any question of motives, or the impact they have on culture.

Wier asked both brothers about their lives. Pusha-T showed off his fashion boutiques, clothes and business ideas, while No Malice showed Weir the Virginia Beach home where he and his brother began selling crack cocaine and started rapping. No Malice was a bit uncomfortable talking about his past, as one might be when admitting to selling crack on national television.

No Malice said “When I think about my infidelities…the heartbreak that I caused my wife, that I caused myself. When I think about her forgiveness, how the Word of God repaired us and nothing else. When I think about that; to me, it’s a no brainer. I can’t return to that lifestyle and that kind of way. I don’t have a choice.” When asked about returning to rap for a Clipse reunion, No Malice is adamant that he is not interested. It seems that he is satisfied in his life in Christ, rather than performing for crowds and raking in cash and notoriety. His decision just doesn't make sense to a watching world that does not see Christ as their ultimate treasure. It surely doesn't make sense to those reading XXL. It doesn't make sense to those watching MTV. And it surely won't make much sense at BET's 106 & Park. Jesus tells us that those who know him will be hated and mocked.

In the book of Colossians, Paul reminds the church at Colossae, as well as Christians, that before we are in Christ we were all alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. But now, Christ has reconciled sin for us through his death, making us holy and blameless before our father. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are new creations in Christ.

When we hear interviews like this with No Malice and see fruitfulness of the Spirit, it is an encouragement to all who are struggling with some form of sin, not just pushing drugs or promoting cash, women, cars and clothes. We can be sure that Jesus is better. We can be sure that Jesus uses different art forms and methods to bring glory to himself, and to encourage others in faith.

Following Jesus certainly won't make much sense to those who find comfort in fame and material possessions. Through his testimony, we can be sure that pushing rocks is of no satisfaction compared to standing firm on the rock of our salvation.

"Darkest Hour" - Lyrics

Bonus: "Lord Have Mercy" - Lecrae, Tedashii and No Malice

Friday's Yearly Rap-Up - December 27, 2013 - A Defense of Christian Hip Hop

As the year comes to an end, I have noticed my drop-off in Friday's Weekly Rap-Up entries (It became more like a "Friday's Semi-Monthly Rap Up"). But, at the end of the year, there is a reason to celebrate and reflect on the gift that music is for the Christian, and the Church as a whole. There are many men and women who produce quality, scripturally-centered hip-hop, which allows Christians to learn, and to be encouraged and built up in their faith.

Many great things happened in the world of Christian hip-hop, including the release of many mainstream albums, such as Derek Minor's Minorville and Lecrae's Church Clothes Volume 2. Both of these albums continue to allow Christians to be salt and light in the normally dark world of hip-hop.

Without a doubt, one of the most interesting moments came in late November, when the National Center for Family Integrated Churches held a worship conference, where a panel discussed the merits of Christian, and more distinctly, Reformed hip-hop. It did not go well. The answers of the panels ruffled the feathers of many within the Christian community, both young and old, and black and white. It was clear that a continued dialogue needed to be had, and that there were many misconceptions about the Christian hip-hop genre. Panelist Geoffrey Botkin (who has since apologized) went as far as to call Christian rappers "disobedient cowards" and most panelists seemed to expose themselves as being fairly inexperienced in the form of Christian hip-hop, aside from Toby Mac (who is on the fringe of the Reformed hip-hop scene at best). The entire panel discussion was taken down, but there are some clips of it below. It was not an instance that built up the body of Christ, and only helped to raise more questions.



Nonetheless, what followed was a thorough discussion between panelists and hip-hop artists, producers and supporters. The best may be the response from Rapzilla's Philip Rood. Rapper Shai Linne also has engaged with Scott Aniol, one of the panelists, in a discussion about Christian rap. The introduction is here, followed by many days worth of questions and rebuttals. Folks at the Gospel Coalition also weighed in, complete with reactions from all over the country and from various denominations. Finally, many panelists have issued apologies and clarifications regarding their comments.

It was refreshing to see the reaction of the hip-hop community, with an eagerness to seek clarification from the panelists, instead of seeking their condemnation, and for the panelists and those unfamiliar with Christian hip-hop, to desire to learn about the motives and ministry of Christian rappers.

As someone who frequently listens to Christian rap, and has learned a great deal about the Lord and His character through the medium of Christian rap, I am glad to see clarification sought by those who originally had disparaging remarks for Christian rap. Having once listened to a great deal of secular rap, I was attracted to the form of hip-hop, and found a great deal of comfort in a familiar art form. Much is the same in college athletic ministry. Having previously taken Christ and my faith for granted, the encouragement and ministry of those within college athletics, and specifically college basketball, helped foster an appreciation and love for the gospel. However, as much as I search, nowhere is the athletic form of basketball found in scripture. This is analogous to the question of hip-hop in ministry. Many have benefited from Christian hip-hop, and many have been exposed to doctrine and scripture. Many rappers address weighty topics in songs that are saturated with scripture, and bring a challenge of the light of the Lord in what is normally a rather dark hip-hop picture. For that, we can be thankful.

Finally, here is a list of the 30 most downloaded songs on Rapzilla this year. Check out some tunes. Happy New Year.