http://www.exministries.com/
EXMinistries did this amazing biblical expose explaining what Hip-hop really is (and the spiritual devastation it is having on African-American culture - I'm NOT going to say "church" because we are One Body).
Hip-hop is not music! It is not a genre; it is not a specific sound or art form. Hip-hop is not rap either, but it is a religion/culture or a belief system that was birthed out of a desire to manifest one’s self in a society that was deemed unfair to African-American’s in the early 1970’s. Hip Hop is a way of governing your life. Therefore, it cannot be exploited as a Christian way of living.
Because of it’s origin and what Hip Hop originally represented in it’s earlier stages, we cannot embrace it as Christians.
The very word “Hip Hop” was used by Afrikka Bambatta, the pioneer of the culture and professed Zulu Nation god, to describe the parties that he was hosting in clubs across New York in the early 70’s. Since then, he has developed a religion that rested upon the Hip Hop culture. The culture is not from God, therefore, it should not be used by the people of God to describe anything that is of God!
Hip Hop is also, to them, a religion and a way of worshipping ourselves instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. It currently manifests in the African-American community with this silly subculture religion called the "5 percent nation" which is a derivative of Islam. Many black celebrities embrace this religion and Hip Hop accommodates it.
For example, there is this popular black comedian named "Charlamagne the God" and his stage name is inspired by the "5 percent" nation ideology as he declares himself a follower.
The positive aspects of Hip Hop are dung as far as the word of God is concerned. The negatives far out weigh the positives. Hip hop has become synonymous with empowered black culture, and yet was developed as a means of glorifying that which is carnal and sin filled. In psrticular, fatherlessness, hurt, anger, and prejudice. Sure, we struggled, but once we are set free, we must walk in the newness of life in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22, Colosians 3:9
Because of the negative environments and social situations that plagued the black race at the time, Afrika Bambataa and others created a way of temporarily overcoming these social obstacles by partying, making music, and believing in one’s self and one’s own power. These parties were called Hip-Hop parties and they were viewed at the time as opportunity to preach a newfound doctrine of self-worship and hate for the establishment (the white race).
Hip-Hop targeted rap music and used music to preach a message that empowered the black race as “true god’s” and made Jesus Christ the “white man’s religion”. Hip-Hop taught the youth at the time, and still teaches directly, that you can be who you want to be in the sense of not being what people want you to be. That has a certain truth to it, but if taken the wrong way, it turns into rebellion against basic laws and truths that govern our society as a whole. Hip-Hop began to change the very appearance of its followers by creating a look, a way of governing yourself, and a language that should be spoken. What this created was a subculture of our American culture, and it caused our youth to go against the basic pattern of society and manifest their own will regardless of what it cost them socially and spiritually.
As an educator, I am placed on the frontlines of this tragically growing spiritual identity crisis among the (not just black) youth.
You can view the sermon exposes in parts on YouTube or register at ViewGospel and view them for free,
I doubt that anyone on this venue will give this ministry message the time of day because...well...nevermind...if you have children whom embrace hip hop culture, you may want to be in the know.
Love-in-Christ,
kyp |