50 + Christian Hip-Hop Artists That Provide Hope For The Future
Image retrieved from Christian Rap Ain't Dead Myspace page.
This post was inspired by a lack of knowledge about the genre that I fell in love with back in 2000. I gravitated to Christian Hip-Hop after I became a Christian and I listened to everything ranging from Ambassador, LPG, Tunnel Rats, Mars ILL, New Breed, The Remnant, Cross Movement, Shai Linne, Braille, Sho Baraka, Nomadic the Journeyman, and many more.
Years went by and I started to distance myself from Christian Hip-Hop, I was tired of the same thing! I felt that the artists were not sharing their full testimony. I felt that honesty was being replaced by an overbearing message. I felt like the fire and brimstone message was not connecting with the masses (out of sight, out of mind).
Now over the years I have seen a resurgence in lyrical quality, artists such as Trip Lee, Da Truth, Viktory, Jin, Giano, Bizzle, Andy Mineo, and more provide lyrics that are applicable to life. I still thought that the production was super par...
I also felt like the primary focus was on feeding Christians as opposed to reaching those that were at a cross road. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to a monumental mixtape from Houston based emcee Lecrae called Church Clothes.
The mixtape has already produced a large buzz based on the step up in terms of production (the project boasts features from 9th Wonder, Boi-1da, S1 and more). The reach potential for this project is what gravitated me towards checking it out (I will admit that I am not the biggest Lecrae fan yet he gained a new fan yesterday!).
The mixtape caused me to ponder about the state of Christian Hip-Hop, most importantly who or whom the torch bearers should be. Humble Beast, Illect and Reach Records have rosters full of gospel based talent.
I am not a gospel or CHH aficionado so I asked for assistance from my homie Kellus from the DaSouth.com in terms of putting together this list. He provided some incredible leads and exposed me to artists I have never heard before. This list is comprised of artists that have the quality or qualities to reach a vast majority of people.
This list may have some omissions and I apologize if I did not include you or an artist that you like. The focus of this list revolves around education, you educate me and I educate you. Please share the name and link of the artist that you believe should be added in the comments section and this list will continue to grow.
ILuvBruceLee provided me with a list six months ago yet I wasn't ready to pitch the list to the world and it is lost forever :(
THE LIST OF CHRISTIAN HIP-HOP ARTISTS THAT PROVIDE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Yung Rick
Shames Worthy
Red Baron
Fred Council
Jeremiah Bonds
Heesun Lee
Promise
Swoope
Cash Hollistah
Cas Metah
eshon Burgundy
Jae Life
Alex
NomiS
Insufficient Funds
Silas Zephania
Kimba
Through Hymn
Commissary
J. Givens
Datin
Armond
Erick Dayz
Jerry Blackwell
Eons D
Just Word
Rigz
Scope
Mouthpi3ce
GS
Reconcile
Conduct Lionhardt
Jordan Santana
Die-Rek
Ill Seer
RELIC aka REL McCoy
The Runaway
Big Sto
Ali Rozet
True Story
Smurf Village
ProCyse
CONQUEST aka Jay Renegade
Elevationists
Selah aka The Corner
Wes Pendleton
Max Haben
Jimi Whisperz
The White Label Project
Daisy Fontaine
Idiomz
Karl Nova
AckDavis
Nucci Reyo
Morningstar Music
Shadows of the Locust
7vnseal
This post was inspired by a lack of knowledge about the genre that I fell in love with back in 2000. I gravitated to Christian Hip-Hop after I became a Christian and I listened to everything ranging from Ambassador, LPG, Tunnel Rats, Mars ILL, New Breed, The Remnant, Cross Movement, Shai Linne, Braille, Sho Baraka, Nomadic the Journeyman, and many more.
Years went by and I started to distance myself from Christian Hip-Hop, I was tired of the same thing! I felt that the artists were not sharing their full testimony. I felt that honesty was being replaced by an overbearing message. I felt like the fire and brimstone message was not connecting with the masses (out of sight, out of mind).
Now over the years I have seen a resurgence in lyrical quality, artists such as Trip Lee, Da Truth, Viktory, Jin, Giano, Bizzle, Andy Mineo, and more provide lyrics that are applicable to life. I still thought that the production was super par...
I also felt like the primary focus was on feeding Christians as opposed to reaching those that were at a cross road. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to a monumental mixtape from Houston based emcee Lecrae called Church Clothes.
The mixtape has already produced a large buzz based on the step up in terms of production (the project boasts features from 9th Wonder, Boi-1da, S1 and more). The reach potential for this project is what gravitated me towards checking it out (I will admit that I am not the biggest Lecrae fan yet he gained a new fan yesterday!).
The mixtape caused me to ponder about the state of Christian Hip-Hop, most importantly who or whom the torch bearers should be. Humble Beast, Illect and Reach Records have rosters full of gospel based talent.
I am not a gospel or CHH aficionado so I asked for assistance from my homie Kellus from the DaSouth.com in terms of putting together this list. He provided some incredible leads and exposed me to artists I have never heard before. This list is comprised of artists that have the quality or qualities to reach a vast majority of people.
This list may have some omissions and I apologize if I did not include you or an artist that you like. The focus of this list revolves around education, you educate me and I educate you. Please share the name and link of the artist that you believe should be added in the comments section and this list will continue to grow.
ILuvBruceLee provided me with a list six months ago yet I wasn't ready to pitch the list to the world and it is lost forever :(
THE LIST OF CHRISTIAN HIP-HOP ARTISTS THAT PROVIDE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Yung Rick
Shames Worthy
Red Baron
Fred Council
Jeremiah Bonds
Heesun Lee
Promise
Swoope
Cash Hollistah
Cas Metah
eshon Burgundy
Jae Life
Alex
NomiS
Insufficient Funds
Silas Zephania
Kimba
Through Hymn
Commissary
J. Givens
Datin
Armond
Erick Dayz
Jerry Blackwell
Eons D
Just Word
Rigz
Scope
Mouthpi3ce
GS
Reconcile
Conduct Lionhardt
Jordan Santana
Die-Rek
Ill Seer
RELIC aka REL McCoy
The Runaway
Big Sto
Ali Rozet
True Story
Smurf Village
ProCyse
CONQUEST aka Jay Renegade
Elevationists
Selah aka The Corner
Wes Pendleton
Max Haben
Jimi Whisperz
The White Label Project
Daisy Fontaine
Idiomz
Karl Nova
AckDavis
Nucci Reyo
Morningstar Music
Shadows of the Locust
7vnseal
Make sure you visit DaSouth.com, RapZilla, Sphere of Hip-Hop, Holy Culture, and Heatcasters for everything Kingdom related.