Last August, Smashing Pumpkins lead singer, Billy Corgan, raised an eyebrow or two and ruffled a few feathers during a CNN interview when he said:
(A Popular American Magazine asked) What’s the future of rock?” And my answer was, “God”. And they said, “What do you mean?” And I said, “Well, God’s the third rail of -” What is it? “Social security is the third rail of politics in America”. Well, God is the third rail in rock and roll. You’re not supposed to talk about God. Even though most of the world believes in God. It’s sort of like, “Don’t go there”.
I think God’s the great, unexplored territory in rock and roll music. And I actually said that. I thought it was perfectly poised. And, of course, they didn’t put it in the interview.
RAJPAL: What would you say to Christian rockers, then?
CORGAN: Make better music.”
Corgan makes some fair points (‘stop copying U2. U2 already did it,’), but certainly stung the hearts of Christian culture artists and consumers alike. This problem always exists for Christian artists, how do we become relevant and inspire creativity at the same time? It is a fine line to walk; most artists want to break free into the mainstream to inspire more than just Christians. After all, how can an artist go into all the world when all we are really doing is making music for Christians?
The answer: stay true to your unique style, and make music that is better than an imitation of your secular competitors.
“I’m tryin to keep it together, forgive my awkwardness…but uh…”
Lecrae, resident of my beloved ATL, reformed Christian rapper topped the Billboard 200 charts yesterday debuting his new album, Anomaly: seriously. He is one of only five Christian artists to do so (Switchfoot, Leanne Rhymes, Third Day, and For King and Country)* and the first Gospel act to debut an album at #1. What an appropriate name for an incredible feat. How did he do it? He made better music.
I’m not trying to sell out the Christian ‘hip hop’ of my youth, after all, these artists blazed the trail for introducing hip-hop into Christian culture. Still, most of us church-raised nineties babies remember the struggle evident within the lines of the lyrics: it seemed like hip hop without the incessant sexual references or commoditization of female body parts wouldn’t ever succeed in the market place. The style was too soft for hip-hop lovers, and too brash for church-goers. The closest thing to hip-hop in our household in the nineties was DC Talk’s “Love is a verb,” a nod to the Beastie boy rap-rock popular in the early nineties. I cannot tell you how many times, “down with the DC talk” vibrated the walls of my bedroom, and my parents were all too happy that I was devouring Christian lyrics and not fighting them for ‘my right to party.’
As I grew older, I devoured hip-hop AND I LOVED IT. I mindlessly mouthed along as these predominantly male rappers made sex into a cheap transaction and sold the activity as an exchange of capital; women only had power for a night…if that. Otherwise, power was achieved through stacking money to the ceiling. Sure, there were a few clever rappers who took popular culture and flipped it on its head; the nineties were an interesting time for hip-hop. As a literary nerd, I became completely transfixed on the thousands upon thousands of phrases and words that entered into popular culture because of these artists. As far as I was concerned, hip-hop artists were modern day Shakespeares.
Now, hip hop has evolved into something that I don’t recognize; if it isn’t EDM, it is a repetition of the same four ideas: sex/misogyny, money, drug-dealing, or trash-talking. If that wasn’t enough, one can often hear the same thing repeated across multiple songs: just insert a female body part, or stacks on stacks, or something about some other rapper ‘doing work.’ Clearly, I am not the intended audience for these lyrics (I’ll have a pumpkin spice latte and get some more blonde highlights please!)
Still, I cannot help but think that hip-hop is simply recycling itself into something we’ve heard before…Lecrae tackles the lack of creativity in his song, ‘Nuthin.’
Lecrae has a sophistication to his lyrics, and he begins to explore, what Corgan calls, the ‘third rail’ of hip-hop: God. And he does it with fully developed ideas, a solid lexicon, a unique style, and beats that will get anyone moving. He seeks to inspire other artists (“you’re greater than the songs you create,”); promote *gasp* monogamy ; and infuse his effortless lines with deep rooted scriptural principles.
Beyond that, his music is entertaining. It isn’t regurgitated. It is a fresh and interesting take on where hip hop should be moving. I cannot compare him to another hip hop artist, because he has invented a new style that is sure to become a new standard across secular and Christian music.
And y’all…I get to go to his last concert date this NOVEMBER at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. I cannot wait to be present as he brings his tour to his home, in this, the hip-hop capital of the nation (look it up ;)).
If you don’t know Lecrae, be sure to tune in Tonight, tonight…find a way to offer up the night tonight…sorry…Billy Corgan has me singing again…
Tune in to Jimmy Fallon TONIGHT to watch #LeCraeOnFallon. Tonight, tonight. Sorry, just couldn’t help myself.
I am glad to see more Christian hip-hop getting recognition, and Lecrae’s accomplishment with Anomaly shouldn’t be minimized, but I think you’re seriously underestimating the amount of high quality hip-hop music that us being created by Christians today, both in and outside the Reach Records camp.
You said:
“Beyond that, his music is entertaining. It isn’t regurgitated. It is a fresh and interesting take on where hip hop should be moving. I cannot compare him to another hip hop artist, because he has invented a new style that is sure to become a new standard across secular and Christian music.”
This is only partially true. No, his music isn’t regurgitated, but it’s laughable to say he invented a new style. Lecrae’s music is great, but it’s not head and shoulders far and above the work of label mates Andy Mineo, Tedashii, Trip Lee or contemporaries like Da TRUTH, We Live As Kings or pop/R&B/gospel acts like Mali Music or B. Reith.
Are you unfamiliar with these acts, or do you really think do inferior hip-hop?
Jelani, thanks so much for reading. I appreciate your feedback more than you know.
In truth, I am largely unfamiliar with all the inner workings of all hip hop acts across Christian and secular camps. What I meant to say was that Lecrae has an innovative style, and was hoping to appeal more to those of us who merely dabble in hip hop. I’m so glad you called attention to other Christian acts, as I’ve argued that I am hopeful that this is where the future of hip hop (all hip hop) is headed. Perhaps his commercial success will move all consumers to check out other Christian artists and not marginalize their relevancy in the market as simply “Christian” artists.
Admittedly, my rhetoric is intended to focus on a singular argument…and I am not naive enough to think that Lacrae is the only Christian rapper out there. Still, at the moment, he is the most well known Christian rapper, and must be doing something inventive to top the charts.
Thanks again.
By the way, love your blog.
I just love the truth that Christians need to be putting out good stuff. I thank you Jelani for pointing out the people that you did, and Bekah, I found myself going “Yes, yes, YES!” to not just wanting to be the Christian version of whoever is popular. It makes sense that musicians, both Christian and secular, would be influenced by the same style of music and make things that sound similar, but when much of the new music on CCM radio sounds like Mumford and Sons, you wonder if it was organic or if it was the record label. I dunno. But I love your assertions!!
Thanks for the compliment. 🙂
I hope my comment didn’t come off as accusatory, but I have been an aficionado of Christian hip-hop music for almost three decades now, and I am particularly sensitive to anything I perceive to be a slight to our community.
I have enjoyed Lecrae’s music ever since his very first single in 2006 (“Jesus Musik” … look it up, it’s a fun lil video with a funny gag about an extension cord), but it’s hard not to be offended when I feel like the community of artists and believers that helped make his ministry possible is minimized and overlooked.
I am glad that his music is reaching people who are not well versed in hip-hop … this is what all artists aspire to, to create music that reaches beyond initial cultural boundaries. Indeed, music from artists like Lecrae can help bring believers together. Hip-hop is, in many ways, the lingua franca of world music, so it fills me with hope that this unifying factor could make its way into the church.
On the other hand, the danger is that Lecrae will become tokenized, whereby people will only appreciate him and a few of his songs but refuse to come to terms with the broader culture that he represents.
What I see in comments like yours, even though they were well intended and in the broader context of celebrating something good, is a form of Christian “columbusing” whereby people assume that since something is new to them, it must be new.
Again, I hope you understand that I’m not angry at you and I hope my words aren’t coming off as being defensive. But on the other hand, if I sound defensive, it’s because… well… I am. 🙂 I am tired of having to defend my cultural framework. I’m tired of having to explain to people how and why it’s possible to be a passionate worshiper and a lover of hip-hop. And just when it seems like we’ve gotten past that issue, I’m now tired of having to explain to people that Christian hip-hop, though it’s reaching into new places, is not new.
[/rant over]