Redeeming the Hip Hop Culture

In 1984, I discovered a whole new type of music that literally “rocked” my world (pardon the pun). A friend gave me the Stryper EP - Yellow and Black Attack, and it blew me away. Never before had I heard Christian music that was so culturally significant. I was, as many were in that day, a student of hard rock and heavy metal. As a guitarist, I played in several bands growing up that specialized in covering the genre of that day; Def Leppard, Ozzy Osborne, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc. Stryper was not only as good, but even better in many ways. Their musical talent was without question, and the lyrics had a sincere spiritual impact on me. Interestingly, they were somewhat ridiculed by the secular rock world, while vilified by conservative Christians. Of course Stryper is only one example of many, but the point is that here was an art form being used to glorify God rather than the world, and the artists performing it were being attacked on multiple fronts. Today, we have seen the same dynamic occur in the Hip-Hop subculture movement.

As a genre, Hip-Hop has been linked to the “gangsta” counter-culture movement, criticized for its denigration of women and any ethnic group, and in general loathed or feared by those who are outside of its’ influence. So, naturally, those within the walls of the church have had a tendency to close their ears and minds to this form of entertainment and the sub-culture it spawned. In a note of confession, I am including myself in that unfortunate assessment. However, for me that would certainly be hypocrisy. Just as bands like Stryper worked to redeem the art form (and sub-culture) of Heavy Metal and use its’ impact for God’s glory, there are talented Hip-Hop artists today making great art with the potential to impact many people with the gospel. They too are sometimes jeered by the secular Hip-Hop movement, while vilified by well-meaning Christians.

If we are truly seeking to redeem our culture, doesn’t that include sub-culture, and shouldn’t we learn to understand and relate to those sub-cultures? If you’re quick to answer no—consider what we do in foreign missions. Do we not seek to learn languages and societies that are completely different from our own for the purpose of sharing Christ? Have you ever studied the strategies of great missionaries like William Carey and Hudson Taylor? How about the volumes of work that have been written on understanding how to relate to other cultures? For centuries, there has been an emphasis on learning to function effectively within them, and ultimately relate on an intimate enough level for the purpose of spreading the gospel. This should not be limited to foreign soil.

We are in a time like no other in history, where information is exchanged instantly and geography is no longer the only barrier to interpreting cultural differences. Therefore, we must be diligent to communicate within sub-cultures and learn to influence the hearts and minds of young people through music and art. Although this issue has come a long way since 1984, we must continue to be diligent and do what we can to ensure the message of the gospel is clear and presented in a relevant context.

Some other resources on this topic:

http://blog.trailblazinministries.com

http://www.theambassadoronline.com/articles.asp?columnid=2146