Often we hear some Gospel artists have become too "hip hop" and "R&B" sounding. A few examples:
· Mary Mary's recent collaboration with T-pain on the song "The God in Me."
· Kirk Franklin's sampling of Bob James' and Kenny Loggins on his hit, "This is It," Bill Withers' on "Gonna be a Lovely Day, or Earth, Wind, and Fire's classic "September."
· Marvin Sapp's recent single which became an R&B radio station favorite "Never would Have Made It."
They receive tough criticism from older and sometimes more "seasoned" artists for sounding too much like the world, some songs not mentioning our Lord and Savior Jesus, and the "get up and dance" beats. Be not conformed...right (Romans 12:2) ? Or should we judge not lest ye be judge (Matthew 7:1)? So how do we reach the world if we come out with only the old hymns of the church, which GPCC loves by the way? The brothers on the corner want something to bang in their speakers, so why not a song about the love of God and the rejection of Satan? We have posted two videos from two different gospel recording artists. Mali Music and Canton Jones both love God and their music is a reflection of that. Take a look at the links below, which include lyrics, and give us your thoughts. Be Warned. There's no choir, there's a bass, and there is a message in each song. So we pose the question... has gospel music conformed or is the gospel industry being too judgmental? What do you think?
2 comments:
I think that with change comes a forward movement. I love all kinds of music and it doesn't make a difference as long as the message is being put out there. Some people are just too quick to judge simply because it is not "tradional" or what they are used to. Perhaps they should stop concentrating so much on the messenger and start listening to the message.
There was a time when I thought Kirk Franklin's music was some of the worst "gospel music" there was. While at the same time, I was bumping Biggie, Nas, Jay Z.,Ice Cube and many more hardcore rappers too numerous to name. When I got saved, I found that a lot of the content of what I was listening to was not agreeing with my spirit anymore but I still loved hip hop, hard beats, and clever rhymes. Today, I don't have an issue with a gospel artist sampling a Patrice Rushen, or Earth Wind and Fire. I have a greater appreciation for gospel rappers. Today, we have to sometimes come out of what's the "norm" or "what's traditional" to reach people where they are. When gospel artists create music, the spirit in which it was created will be reflected in their music. If you're all about selling records, it will show. If you're about ministering to people where they are, it will show. I find it comical that some people believe that as Christians, we shouldn't want to dance, nod our head, play air guitar, listen to R&B or whatever it is that floats your boat musically and STILL LOVE JESUS. Kanye's "Jesus Walks" was to me one of the biggest paradox's in music, but I know people who were ministered to and moved to Jesus as a result of that song and the testimony in it. Sunday morning, driving down Perring Parkway on the way to church, with a 3 and 12 year old in the back seat, the wife and me bumping Canton Jones' "The Password:Jesus" just seems so appropriate. Peace.
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