For some people, perhaps members of an older generation, it is unthinkable to put gospel and hip-hop in the same sentence. But the reality is this new trend is fast gaining popularity. It was previously unheard of to sing anything other than the age old hymns in the praise of God, or in the preaching of the gospel to convert others.
The phenomenon of other genres being integrated into gospel started around the 1980s, gospel hip-hop was pioneered then by artistes such as
T-Bone, Stephen Wiley and
MC Peace. One of the big breaks for gospel hip-hop came about in 1994, when
Toby Mac co-founded Gotee Records, the first record label to exclusively market Christian hip-hop and R&B. The label marketed this contemporary Christian music at Christian bookstores and through seeking airplay on Christian radio stations.
Other record labels soon copied, dedicating themselves to gospel hip-hop and helping these rappers seek a broader market. But they faced a problem. Most of their sales were only to people brought up in the church. The hope, which had not been met, was to encourage prospective members of the community to join the church.
In recent times, rappers have become more accepted by both those who did not grow up in the church, as well as the by the conservative church goers. The latter were perhaps converted when they realised gospel hip-hop brought people, especially the youth, back to church as it was something they could relate to.
Hip-hop artists such as Lecrae, Tedashii, 4th avenue Jones and Kirk Franklin have become household names and have crossed over successfully. They have received a number of awards and could easily compete with mainstream artists. The gospel hip-hop scene is one to look out for. Take a minute, appreciate the skill of these musicians as well as the message they bring.